Once the problem has been defined, the next thing is to decide on the strategic choices – do you compete on price i.e. low-cost producer and sell at the lowest price. In which case, your source of competitive advantage is affordable pricing? Or do you focus on being differentiated by making products and offering services that your customers adore, in which case they are willing to pay any price? To do so, you must understand your market or customer segments, their incomes and offer products that are highly differentiated and appropriate for each segment. For example, Apple’s iPhone may be…
The strategy insights, part 1
“Strategy is about making choices, trade-offs; it’s about deliberately choosing to be different.” Michael Porter Many leaders want to keep their options open. Because they want to avoid accountability. Keeping one’s options open is not prudent leadership, it is an indication of lack of confidence in the decision-making processes. Keeping your options open means more resource commitment, trial and error, and limited focus. It is not easy to win when you do so many things at the same time. However, do not confuse choice with identifying a specific sector or business and going a mile deep into the business or…
When the prospective client kills your weekend moods
When you are in private business, life throws at you all kinds of emotions. One day you are lonely, afraid, worried, and very scared about the life’s choices you made. There is always a voice in your voice coming at you like a mid-night lightning that sparks in the skies with a penetrating light into your bed, followed by a loud bang that leaves you so scared only to realize that light travels faster than sound if you can hear it, you are still alive. Another day, you are all up into the sky flying with the eagles. Life looks…
The awakening – 7 lessons from coronavirus
Are you winning or losing? The world has been turned upside down. Who would have imagined a premier league or La Liga league football game being played live in an empty stadium? How about postponing the Olympics? I predict the coronavirus will soon come to an end. But do not get ready to tap into the opportunities. Stay ready. Here are some lessons I have learned thus far: Global competition is real. You can choose to ignore it at your peril or embrace the competitors for your success. We just conducted a cybersecurity resilient training to a client in Dubai.…
Is your board social media and cybersecurity ready?
For any dynamic organization, the management of Public Relations is a key priority for its Board. Many Board members lack the skills they need to succeed in positively influencing public perceptions. In today’s interconnected world, businesses are increasingly becoming digital and technology trends including all forms of social media have become a major boardroom affair today, than ever before. In these #covid19 times, your organization must attain the critical social media digital skills for the effective execution of its mandate through strategic social media engagements with key stakeholders. And for this reason, training in social media and cybersecurity for the…
Here is how to improve Uganda’s education quality
The covid19 holiday has been an eye-opener. I have had to get my hands dirty to teach the young ones. I have been amazed at the kind of questions American, Asians, and European Schools set in the exam. To pass any question, the candidate must have understood the principle. There is no shortcut. And by far, the questions apply to the real-life environment. Below is a typical sample question from one of the exams for Form 8, the equivalent of Senior Two (S2) in Uganda. Sample 1: Blueberries are sold at a local fruit shop in three different punnet sizes:…
