Welcome to the Meridian 1 blog

Thoughts and ideas about business strategy, plans, processes, organisation development, alignment and other relevant issues.
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Want to find out more? Take a look at our bookshelf – we have hand-picked the best titles on strategy, process, change [...]

Paying for consultancy by results in the NHS

Can the NHS can get even better value from consultancy by increasing the use of ‘payment by results’?

Strategic Analysis: UK Political environment

It is vital for the UK economy that the upcoming election debate considers the real issues rather than dangerous and potentially damaging illusions.

You can’t outsource responsibility

A recent server problem causing data loss for Microsoft personal customers is a stark warning for business users about the risks of outsourcing.

Keep change simple

A discussion of the importance of simplicity in business generally and change in particular.

Show me the evidence!

Justifying flaky nonsense by claiming that business is made up of people and our behaviour is too complex to fathom is weak. There is plenty of well-researched evidence around to figure out what works.

What clear strategy looks like

Last week this blog criticised Verizon for mixed messages about their response to the downturn. They mixed vague platitudes about revenue and market share growth with reports of cost-cutting. RR Donnelley, the Chicago based provider of print and related services, painted a much clearer picture today in their announcement of second [...]

Verizon COO seems to confuse goals with strategy

In a conference call yesterday to discuss a reduction in its year-on-year second quarter profits, Verizon Chief Operating Officer, Denny Strigl, said that “These are challenging times,but we stay focused on our strategy of growing revenue and taking market share, and improving profits. The state of the economy may make it more difficult in the [...]

Strategic issue in Ireland

This is just a short post to note the significant change to the social element of the business environment in Ireland following the passage of a new law making blasphemy a crime. President Mary McAleese signed the Defamation Bill 2006 into law yesterday.
Most businesses won’t be directly affected, but it could be an indicator [...]

Business psychics – better than management consultants?

Is the recent interest in business psychics limited to a tiny minority who would always be susceptible; is it a sign of desperation in the teeth of the economic downturn, or is it an indication that traditional consultancy is not seen as able to provide the required solutions?

Harvard Business Review business review

The Boston Globe reports that Harvard Business Review has laid off 10 staff. Adi Ignatius, the magazine’s editor in chief, calls the change a complete overhaul that includes reorganising and increasing the importance of the online business.
At the heart of the rebuilding strategy is the reorganisation of the three most prominent consumer franchises associated [...]