Gary Hamel, Jossey-Bass, February 2012. In with autonomy and liberty, out with bureaucracy and control. Gary Hamel, management guru, is adamant that in an increasingly uncertain environment, what matters most is reinventing the way you manage. This approach is light years away from the theories of the 20th century that called for command & control.Read more…

Wharton professor of management Mathew Bidwell is adamant that, although on average better paid, external recruits do not perform as well as internal employees promoted to equivalent positions. What are the goals of HR managers looking to tap the internal talent pipeline? 1. Limit adjustment time: External recruits need about two years to reach cruisingRead more…

“I never get involved in politics,” “I hate power plays, they create a bad atmosphere in teams.” Associated with ego and underhanded manipulations, politics have a bad name in companies. Yet, given recent financial constraints, political maneuvering for limited resources is on the rise. Is this cause for concern? In a difficult economic situation, leadersRead more…

Save the date! On May 24th 2012, in Pavillon Cambon Capucines (46 rue Cambon, 75001) will be held the first French Forum JUMP: Let’s dare to use all our talents! The JUMP Forum in Paris is a cross-company event dedicated to the professional lives of women. This single day event, in Paris and Brussels isRead more…

One result of the “infobesity” that characterizes today’s business environment is that it is more and more difficult—yet critical—to get people’s attention. According to Dan Roam, the solution to this communication challenge is to illustrate words with pictures! Even if you hate to draw, visual thinking can enable you to communicate more efficiently and convincingly.Read more…

Today’s “hacktivists” include both consumers and competitors, and no firm should neglect to use social media and their own power of influence to counter attempts to upset their business. What exactly are the forces currently stirring up the business environment? How can you both monitor and influence the information that circulates about your organization? InformationalRead more…

By Roland Reitter and Bernard Ramanantsoa, Economica, January 2012 What is trust? Why is it a strategic asset for companies now more than ever? How is trust built? How is it evaluated? Bernard Ramanantsoa and Roland Reitter, whose research has focused on the concept of corporate identity for the past several years, have just publishedRead more…

Lower costs, greater efficiency… The promises of outsourcing are many, and industry giants like Boeing are even externalizing strategic tasks like innovation. But what happens when companies become too dependent on external service providers? Boeing had a bitter outsourcing experience with its latest full-size aircraft, the Dreamliner, launched three years late at double the foreseenRead more…

Do you have trouble listening to opinions that differ from your own or asking others for advice? Do you feel like you should appear poised and in control at all times? All too often, addiction to achievement causes driven professionals to sabotage themselves without even knowing it. Stop doing the wrong things well and startRead more…

What do Apple, Dell, P&G, RIM, and Amazon, the five champions of operational excellence according to Gartner’s 2011 rankings, all have in common? These companies do not approach the issue as an isolated department-by-department problem. Flexibility, interoperability, and value chain networks contribute to their profitability and guarantees they stay ahead of their competitors. Companies thatRead more…