Sharing a strategy lesson

Over the past 3 years, I have used this blog, along with linkedin, Facebook and twitter as my primary web presence tools for Strategic Moves. That has worked extremely well for 3 years. As my portfolio of strategy work has expanded and I have been building strong client relations, I have found that I need an expanded web presence.

A blog, almost by definition, is about sharing opinions, observations and thoughts. Great blogs thrive on having something worthwhile to say and saying it with clarity and conviction. Sometimes, I have not posted items because I felt there was "too much opinion" in them.

To post here freely, I needed another calling card. One that would allow clients and potential clients to understand what Strategic Moves offers.

After all, Strategic Moves is not an opinion factory. It is a research-based business consultancy that thrives on the crossroads of research, strategy and marketing. Our job is to take that step back for our clients, allowing them to carry on with business as usual while we help uncover the answers to key strategic questions.

That's why I have launched a new web site for Strategic Moves. That web site frees up this blog to be wholeheartedly about opinions and observations.

The next few weeks will see this blog evolve a lot.

Social media and PR

Here's a worthwhile article on social media relations and how and why current PR is missing the boat.
Opinion: Why social media relations is more important than good PR

I think the developments in all manner of media mean that anyone with a vested interest, in particular infrastructure, that allowed them to make money in another era - like 10 years ago - needs to rapidly retool. That retooling needs to take place at the business model level. And it requires new skills and expertise and a whole different mind set about risk and managing risks to a business.

The financial crisis and global recession isn't so much the cause of the demise of so many businesses, from banks to department stores to media empires. It simply accelerated a trend that began in the 1990s.

Meeting the Challenges Ahead

On June 11, 2009 the MRIA Ottawa chapter is organizing a half day conference to discuss "Meeting the Challenges Ahead."

Marketing and public opinion research as a discipline and an industry faces important challenges. Hear from leading marketing researchers how the field is changing and how we can meet these challenges over the next decade. Conference participants can ask questions, discuss solutions and network at this half-day conference organized by MRIA’s Ottawa chapter.

We're putting up the details as quickly as we're getting the program together.

Investing in talent

In my view, one of the best things I can do to hedge against that economic downturn is to invest in learning. That's why I am taking a course on Leadership/Impact at Schulich School of Business at the end of March - part of the Strategic Leadership professional development program I am pursuing there.

Meanwhile, I am working on that audience development assignment - very timely.

Economy and Strategy

What a time to be a strategist. As the level of uncertainty has risen to levels not seen in North America in some time, and the effects of the credit crunch and the global recession taking hold, all manner of organizations need to rethink their positions and monitor their own and related industries closely. This is when strategy is at its best - strategy as a comprehensive diagnosis of factors affecting an organziation, and readying multiple strategies each relevant to various best and worst case scenarios to respond flexibly and awarely to the challenges and opportunities.