Compressed Air Best Practices - April 2008 - (Page 43)

Compressed Air Industry PLASTICS BLOW-MOLDING | 04/08 | ARE YOU STRATEGIC? 3. Design Systems From the coral reefs of Cozumel, Mexico to the Amazon rainforests to our own bodies, life is comprised of systems. Strategy is no different. Great strategies are comprised of a system of activities that tightly fit together and act as a shield to competitors attempting to copy your successful business. As an example, if there is only one activity comprising a strategy, the chance a competitor can successfully copy it is relatively high, around 90% or .90. With three activities comprising the strategy, the probability of a competitor successfully emulating the strategy drops to 73%. Creating a system of strategy involving 10 activities significantly diminishes the competitor’s ability to copy the leader. While the aim is not to have dozens of activities simply for numerical sake, thoughtfully creating an interconnected web of complementary activities is of great value in maintaining a differentiated strategy from the competition. Strategic leaders ask two questions relative to their system of strategy: How many activities currently comprise the strategy? What are the three to five strategic themes that are going to be the centerpieces of the strategy system? Soul Searching or Truly Knowing? Organizations can continue to operate in first gear with only a handful of people strategically contributing to the business, or they can tap into the deep reservoir of insights that are waiting to be awakened in managers at all levels. Ensuring that managers are leading with the three principles of strategy — differentiation, focus and a system — will go a long way in raising the strategic competency of your organization. About the Author: Rich Horwath is an author, speaker and strategy trainer who helps organizations develop their leaders’ strategic thinking skills to achieve competitive advantage. He is the president of the Strategic Thinking Institute, a former Chief Strategy Officer and professor of strategy at the Lake Forest Graduate School of Management. Rich is the author of three business strategy books, including his most recent, “Strategy Espresso.” For more information, contact Rich at (847) 756-4707, or to receive a free copy of his monthly e-publication Strategic Thinker, visit www.strategyskills.com. www.airbestpractices.com ww w .a i rbe stp r a c tic es com ww w a b stpr ic es. m p ra c es.com 43 43 http://www.strategyskills.com http://actices.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Compressed Air Best Practices - April 2008

Compressed Air Best Practices - April 2008 Contents From the Editor Utility-Air News The Compressed Air Audit of the Month: Minimizing Blow-Molding Pressure Fluctuations AF Compressors: Focused on 40 Bar, Oil-Free Air for the PET Industry Real World Best Practices: PET Plants Using Boosters for High-Pressure Air Guaranteeing Audit ROI for Blow-Molders Managing Vacuum Pressure Differential Are You Taking Full Advantage of Pneumatic Valve Technology? Are You Strategic? Resources for Energy Engineers: Training Calendar & Product Picks Wall Street Watch Advertiser Index Job Market

Compressed Air Best Practices - April 2008

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