How to create good strategy...
Some examples of tackling organisational challenges in 3 very different fields - but the principles are always the same!
Morning strat biters,
I’m just back from a holiday in Vienna (lovely city!) and I’ve been reading some articles about implementing strategy in government, universities, and with employee benefit schemes.
Hope you enjoy!
AI generated image using the prompt: “Can you create me a cartoon image of a university professor at a blackboard, struggling with a strategy problem”.
The problem with universities – how to win in multiple two-sided markets 🔗
TL;DR: Roger Martin articulates the challenge universities face – providing value to the funders and beneficiaries of their two core fields, education and research.
Why it’s important: Martin is a fantastic strategist, and I urge you to read more of his work. Here he breaks down why universities have it hard (as they operate in two fields and have two sets of customers for each) and what they can do to win. “Start with listening to each group and making sure you provide value to all of them”. Either that or get out of the university game.
Creating benefits programmes that ACTUALLY work 🔗
TL;DR: HR / recruitment start-up, Athyna, has created a perks and incentives programme that delivers tangible value for individuals and for Athyna, driving engagement and retention.
Why it matters: Most organisations see employee benefits as something they have to comply with, offering the bare minimum and branding it as a “competitive package”. Athyna sees them as a growth engine. By focussing on what people value most (parental leave, shared ownership, and investment opportunities), Athyna was able to improve recruitment, engagement, and retention metrics while also driving and measuring business performance.
How to save bureaucracy from itself 🔗
TL;DR: This strategic author recognises the stagnation of large, bureaucratic organisations like central government and has outlined seven, systems-thinking approaches for treating the rot.
Why I cared: I’ve faced similar problems recently with numerous clients and the systems theory line of “when a system fails, we need to work at the level of the problem” really resonated with me. It’s no use watering dying flowers in your garden, if they are dying because the garden is crowded, and a tree is blocking all available sunlight – you need to consider all the factors. This article shows you how.