HBR On Strategy

Project management expert Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez discusses common failures in project-based work, blaming executives' lack of understanding and dedication. He provides strategies for better outcomes, such as proper framing, prioritization, and team engagement. The podcast explores the evolution of project management, challenges in project prioritization, and the shift towards project-based work in companies.

Harvard Business School professor, Stefan Thomke, discusses Booking.com's innovative culture driven by large-scale testing and experimentation. Topics include strategy, digital travel, platform, and challenging management norms. Learn how the company sustained growth through a data-driven approach to innovation.

Peter Scoblic discusses the importance of scenario planning in future-proofing business strategies. He emphasizes the need for diverse perspectives, balancing short-term factors with long-term modeling, and preparing for potential crises. Scoblic uses examples like the US Coast Guard to illustrate the benefits of strategic foresight and imaginative scenario planning.

Lynn Good, CEO of Duke Energy, discusses the company's transition to renewables and net zero emissions. Topics include strategy adjustments for new technologies, testing assumptions, fostering collaborations, and navigating investments in grid infrastructure for clean energy transition.

Anne Morriss, expert in change leadership and problem-solving strategies, shares a five-step process for solving tough problems. Emphasizing the importance of trust and speed, she highlights the need for open dialogue and swift action in effective change leadership. Key topics include strategy execution, managing people, collaboration, and problem solving.

Harvard Business School professor Willy Shih discusses choosing manufacturing locations using a case study about Fuyao. Topics include production costs, inventory management, risks like customs delays and labor strikes, and evaluating cross-cultural management in global strategy.

Andy McAfee, MIT researcher and author, explains how Silicon Valley tech companies succeed through unconventional problem-solving and geek culture. He emphasizes the importance of company norms, human judgement vs data-driven insights, and the balance between leadership and innovation. Key topics include strategy, technology, start-ups, and competitive strategy.

Explore how Epic Games transformed from a video game company to a platform, monetizing Fortnite through in-game purchases. Learn about their unique growth strategy, challenges in the gaming industry, and Tim Sweeney's vision for a metaverse.

Harvard Business School professor Sunil Gupta discusses how Amazon's strategy and founder Jeff Bezos disrupted traditional business strategies, emphasizing customer obsession and long-term thinking. Topics include diversification, customer focus, innovation, and leadership. Explore the keys to Amazon's success and lessons for companies of all sizes.

Experts discuss the legacy of disruptive innovation in technology start-ups. Topics include strategy, competitive strategy, business history, innovation's impact on business, and the challenges faced by established companies in adapting to disruptive changes.