Though statistical analysis will be left to quantitative analysts, managers have a critical role to play in the beginning and end of the process, framing the question and analyzing the results. In the 2013 article “Keep Up with Your Quants,” Thomas Davenport lists six questions that managers should ask to push back on their analysts’ conclusions:

1. What was the source

… [ Read more ]

Authors: Thomas Davenport, Walter Frick
Source: An Introduction to Data-Driven Decisions for Managers Who Don’t Like Math
Subject: IT Questions

There are many organizing templates you can use that are designed to persuade and inspire your listeners. One that’s ideal for leadership communication is the past/present/future framework. It’s particularly effective when you’re speaking about your company’s vision and your future prospects, or when you’re announcing a new project that requires everyone’s buy-in and commitment.

The Past

Take a moment to remind your employees of a host of … [ Read more ]

Author: Bruna Martinuzzi
Source: The Communication Strategy Sure to Inspire Employees
Subject: Communications Questions

The unspoken beliefs that wield the most influence over business behavior are the metaphors that people use to envision the following major aspects of the work experience:

1. What is business all about?
2. What is a corporation all about?
3. What is management all about?
4. What role do employees play?
5. What really motivates people?
6. What is the nature of change?
7. What’s the role of technology?
8. What is the essential nature of work?

The answers to … [ Read more ]

Author: Geoffrey James
Source: Make Your Company Smarter
Subject: Organization Questions

There are four key areas that contribute to leaders’ ability to do the work we are asking them to do. This model has been adapted from the work of Elliott Jaques (Requisite Organization.)

1. Are they smart enough to manage the complexity of the judgments they will be asked to make? Can they get their head and arms around the work, or will it overwhelm them?
2. Do

… [ Read more ]

Author: Brian Brittain
Source: The leadership immunity to making things happen
Subject: Change Management Questions

Jim Collins has spent a career probing the inner workings of great companies. Below, he boils 25 years of research into 12 questions that leaders must grapple with if they truly want to excel. Collins’s advice: Be systematic. Every month, have your leadership team discuss one of the following questions. Repeat the process annually for five years.

1. Do we want to build a great

… [ Read more ]

Authors: Bo Burlingham, Jim Collins
Source: Jim Collins: Be Great Now
Subject: Management Questions

Employees

If you’re involved in activities that you’re already naturally inclined to do well, your attitude toward work is different and you contribute more to your workplace compared with someone who may have similar skills but less natural ability. Doing what you do best is essential to being a star performer at work. As an employee, you should ask yourself these questions:

• Do I know what

… [ Read more ]

Authors: Aniruddh Haralalka, Leong Chee Tung
Source: Why Strengths Matter in Training
Subjects: Human Resources Questions, Leadership Questions, Management Questions

In order to serve the channel-savvy, highly mobile, multidevice-happy consumer, chief marketing officers (CMOs) have their work cut out for them. These CMOs need to have an accurate understanding of consumers—their intentions, impressions of products and services and their behavior; to pinpoint exactly which marketing channels—online or offline—are yielding maximum MROI.

For example, knowing the impact of paid search engine marketing (SEM), online display media, natural … [ Read more ]

Source: Multichannel Attribution: Measuring Marketing ROI in the Digital Era
Subject: Marketing Questions

Priority 1: Market opportunity validation

• How are we, as a combined company, positioned in our existing markets, and how can we sustain our differentiated capabilities to sustain our growth?
• What new opportunities are available to pursue as a result of the deal, and which of them have the highest growth potential?
• How will our target markets shift as a result of this merger or acquisition?

Priority 2: Go-to-market … [ Read more ]

Authors: Iain Bamford, Jessica Kosmowski, Nik Chickermane
Source: Growth Through M&A: Promise and Reality
Subject: Mergers and Acquisitions Questions

Supply chain barriers to trade are both complex and widespread. A more comprehensive approach to foreign investment decisions means recognizing costs in four important categories of the supply chain. Executive teams can begin by asking some key questions relating to each category:

Market access

• Do you know how many regulatory agencies you have to deal with as you move goods into or out of your chosen

… [ Read more ]

Author: Mark Gottfredson
Source: Finding the hidden costs in broken supply chains
Subject: Operations Questions

1. Are you able to break down your operating inventory into the three major categories when reporting levels—safety, replenishment and excess or obsolete stock?
2. Is your company using the most effective method to calculate your safety stock levels?
3. Do you recalculate safety stock levels on a regular basis to ensure they are up to date?
4. Who decides key inventory-related policy such as striking the right balance between

… [ Read more ]

Authors: Francois Faelli, Pratap Mukharji, Raymond Tsang, Ronald Fink, Sam Israelit, Thierry Catfolis
Source: Ten ways to improve inventory management
Subject: Operations Questions