Strategic Direction

The purpose of this paper is to review the recent developments within the non-military drone industry, and the increase thereafter of investment within the industry through mergers and acquisitions.

This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context.

The rapid growth of the drone industry has caught the interest of firms and one mode of entry for many of these firms has been through mergers and acquisitions of emerging drone companies. Although the commercial-drone industry is still in its early stages, market consolidations and major investments are occurring despite strict governmental regulations.

The paper provides strategic insights and practical thinking that have influenced some of the world’s leading organizations.

The briefing saves busy executives and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy-to-digest format.

Reviews the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoints practical implications from cutting‐edge research and case studies.

Scans the top 400 management publications in the world to identify the most topical issues and latest concepts. These are presented in an easy‐to‐digest briefing of no more than 1,500 words.

In 2004 consumer products giant Proctor and Gamble (P&G) reported a 17 percent increase in volume, a 19 percent increase in sales, a 25 percent raise in earnings and a total shareholder return of 24 percent. Pretty impressive by anyone's standards. For P&G's competition, the question, of course, is how did they do it? For Wall Street and the City on the other hand, the most pressing concern is whether or not this growth bubble will burst.

Provides strategic insights and practical thinking that have influenced some of the world's leading organizations.

The briefing saves busy executives and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy‐to‐digest format.

The aim of this viewpoint is to highlight the key steps in re‐imagining a business, as articulated by senior executives; to present the nature of the challenges and a summary of best practices discussed by strategy executives.

The recent financial crisis has presented twin challenges for organizations: how to profitably grow the business, but at the same time how to respond to the public's perceived trust and legitimacy concerns about business. These challenges were discussed in depth by senior executives attending a recent management conference. This summary is provided by a professor whose teaching and research focus on strategy and innovation, and distills the findings of the conference down to a guideline for strategic action.

Executives have discovered that re‐imagining the business can address both concerns simultaneously. Re‐imagining involves three steps: embracing outside‐in innovation, re‐conceiving the company's core and vision, and aligning the organization and its incentives. Re‐imagining is not change, it is extending and leveraging your company's strengths.

Strategic action steps for re‐imagining are provided in a concise outline format.

Ideas about new forms of innovation and the need to address social concerns about business usually stay at a general level. This paper provides actionable information derived from success stories of companies that have already gone down this path.

The purpose of this paper is to introduce executives to the idea of creating a writing and publishing strategy as part of their public relations (PR) and profile building

The paper provides a perspective on creating an executive writing and publishing strategy – why and how to do it.

The paper reveals that business leaders who write and publish have a higher profile and hence more business opportunities than their competitors

The practical implications are how to view writing and publishing as part of the marketing mix; how to organize one's ideas into a coherent plan; and how to maximize the return on investment of time and effort.

This is paper is based on a proven methodology (ten years in practice, 100+ books and articles produced by business leaders). In a competitive market, executives have a hard enough time keeping their eye on the business and the bottom line. In times of stress, many people forget about marketing and strategic marketing of the company's top executives is rarely done. It is a well known fact that people buy from people, and top executives are starting to realize the importance of being seen and heard, and sharing personal views on key issues. A good writing and publishing strategy is the most effective way to do this and leading writing and publishing strategist Mindy Gibbins‐Klein shares her best ideas in this timely article.