HACKETT LABS

If you prefer to be an automator (i.e. a creator of workflow automations) rather than being automated out of a job, then please consider registering for a free spot at ZapConnect. (Former students may remember the class in which we used Zapier to automate data transfer from a survey app to a CRM app...).

ZapConnect 2021 Discover how to tap into the unlimited potential of easy automation—whether you’re a first-time automator or a seasoned pro. Join us at ZapConnect!

"Managed well, stress can be an ally rather than an enemy. Here’s how to use it to your advantage."

The quote above is from an article in McKinsey Quarterly that suggests using downtime as a stress recovery interval. This is always important, but it is probably extra important during the pandemic when stressors abound and the usual recovery intervals are unavailable.

How to turn everyday stress into ‘optimal stress’ Managed well, stress can be an ally rather than an enemy. Here’s how to use it to your advantage.

This article is a great (and brief) introduction to the Pyramid Principle approach to persuasion.

https://jeffkavanaugh.net/pyramid-principle-craft-coherent-explanations/

My graduate students and I have been discussing the Toyota Production System. This webpage from Toyota UK is quite good for anyone who wants to get a quick overview of the most important concepts (with great photos):

13 pillars of the Toyota Production System - Toyota UK Magazine Underpinned by thirteen core processes and philosophies, The Toyota Production System pioneered modern manufacturing as we know it.

This is a good introduction to a SaaS Go-To-Market (GTM) Strategy called Product-Led Growth.

What Is Product-Led Growth: A Definition & Why It's Taking Off? Product-Led Growth is quickly becoming the top go-to-market strategy that companies like Slack and Dropbox use to power their business.

I really like the work of Visual Capitalist.

The graphic and article below are focused on the impact of COVID-19 on the U.S. economy, but it is not difficult to imagine similar impacts on other developed economies.

https://www.visualcapitalist.com/putting-the-cost-of-covid-19-in-perspective/

Interestingly, the Chinese economy apparently grew by 2.3% in 2020. https://www.cnbc.com/2021/01/18/china-economy-release-of-fourth-quarter-full-year-2020-gdp.html

Putting the Cost of COVID-19 in Perspective Many estimates have been made on the cost of COVID-19 in the U.S. This visualization puts the economic cost of COVID-19 in perspective.

This article is an excerpt from a new book by Jeff LAWSON, CEO of Twilio (which also owns Segment, SendGrid, Authy, etc.). If you do not know Twilio, I recommend visiting their website, especially if you need to lease a telephone number for anywhere in the world.

The article describes how Amazon was able to scale up while retaining its startup spirit. The book will address how to build a culture in which developers can thrive and deliver innovative new products.

The “dozen-bagel” secret to preserving startup spirit as your company grows In an excerpt from his new book, Twilio cofounder and CEO Jeff Lawson explains how his fast-growing startup got unwieldy—and then got back on track.

This short article introduces the idea of the implied/unstated responsibilities that come with your official responsibilities at work. I think it is good food for thought as we prepare for the start of a new year.

The Hidden Curriculum of Work Official job descriptions don’t include the most valuable contributions you make or the complicated challenges you face.

Recently, as part of my Entrepreneurship course, my students have been using "no-code" online digital tools to create an automated workflow that creates a CRM record when hypothetical website visitors surrender their contact information.

This may not seem like a typical business class activity. However, the article below suggests that non-programmers using low- and no-code digital tools in work environments is already becoming... routine. The future is already here; it is just not evenly distributed.

"In every industry, in companies large and small, and at every level of the hierarchy, the need has never been so great for proficiency with digital technologies and the new ways of working that they require. The most established professions of the business world — including accounting, finance, operations, business law, and management itself — are changing dramatically. Employees at every level must keep up with digital concepts: robotic process automation, AI, predictive analytics, cybersecurity, virtual reality, the Internet of Things, industrial platform design, customer experience, electronic ledgers (blockchain), and drones."

Six keys to unlocking upskilling at scale Research suggests that with the right mind-set, technological literacy, and community engagement, you can shepherd your entire workforce into the digital future.

My students and I have been talking about the challenge of "toggling" back and forth between Traditional Management (and a focus on Business Model Ex*****on) and Entrepreneurial Management (and a focus on the exploratory search for - and validation of - New Business Models).

Microsoft has become much better at this since Nadella became the CEO.

THE PAST
"Microsoft under Ballmer was more explorative than it is under Nadella. From the way journalists reported what Microsoft did to what the CEO said in interviews, it’s clear that Microsoft had been a company that kept its options open. It had been very open to new ideas. It ventured further away from where it had been.

THE PRESENT
Only after Nadella arrived would Microsoft narrow its focus to a few areas. Yes, it scanned all available options. But most importantly, it started to make relentless progress in the chosen few."

For more details, check out this article:

When You Shouldn’t Keep Your Options Open for Innovation | Howard Yu Big companies have R&D labs. They can hire talent. But all of that is the easy part. The issue is that people can mistake the development of ideas for innovation.