Business (Not) As Usual

Strategy takes time. So why, after investing all that time and effort, do organization's change their strategy to chase the next shiny thing? 

When competing companies use the same cloud solutions, how can they possibly differentiate from the company next to them? The short answer is, strategy. For the long answer, check out this episode.

At this point, you've probably interacted with AI; whether you know it or not. In this episode, Vince and Mike discuss ChatGPT and AI tools, and how they can help (and hurt you)

There's been a ton of change since we last recorded an original episode. In this one, Vince and Mike discuss some of the significant changes in the last year, "moments that matter", and prognosticate about the next 24-36 months.

Last Lost episode, for now at least...

This one was about Managing Distributed Teams.

Not a lot of people know this, but before we went on hiatus and got massively busy with a million other things, Vince and Mike actually recorded a couple episodes in late 2021 that were never released. Until now. This is the first of 3 episodes that we'll drip out while we record some new stuff. Enjoy!

We've got a short one for you today. It's been over a year since we last published an episode. So, what have Vince and Mike been up to? 

In this episode, Vince and Mike explore approaching your processes like a product.

Data is the key resource, nay, the lifeblood, of the successful organization. But, we often collect a bunch of data without any idea of how to best use it.

Stakeholder management and organizational politics...two topics near and dear to both our hearts. In this episode, Vince and Mike explore the management of project stakeholders...the good and the not so good.

As the title would suggest, this episode covers a lot of ground. In this special cross-over edition, we catch the livestream of Vince's Analysts After Work, with a familiar guest, and also, Gregg Brown, who is a leader in change and the future of work.

Huh?! What's a high level deep dive? Find out in this very tactical episode, where Vince and Mike break down how to manage business processes, from defining the hierarchy, to building in controls, and everything in between.

In this episode, Vince and Mike explore the proverbial chasing of the tail, when your transformation seems to be constantly adjusting to the whims of leadership, to grow scope, but somehow without impacting budget and timelines. Also, the flipside, where you become so rigid, you fail to pivot when required. And btw, the original name of this episode was I've Got a Plan, so Rot...

How can leaders push the proverbial envelop, and get comfortable in extending beyond pre-defined boundaries, and challenging their existing way of working, even if it means failing in transformational efforts?

In this episode, we'll explore the question of how to align business processes and channel management, from the strategic to the tactical perspective. 

There's an old song that says, you gotta know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em...well, in this episode, we'll explore the latter part...when to fold, and when to run...and when NOT to.

What is a portal, and why does everyone think they need one for a business transformation?

What a ride (and don't worry, it's not over yet) Let's explore the evolution of the show, and it's hosts, through the first 50 episodes of the show.

Sometimes, in an effort to do things right, and get back to the right things, you need to peel away the complexity that plagues many transformation programs. Or, simply said, you need to get back to basics.

In the political battlefield that is the corporate world, you expect to have a few bad actors...so-called, toxic stakeholders. But what if that bad behavior is coming from the leaders at the top of your organization?

Transformations involve a TON of decisions. I know, shocking. And the impact of those decisions can be significant...so better to not make them and avoid a potential mess, right?

This episode, we welcome back a dear friend of the show, Skaidra Puodziunas, to revisit her last appearance (all the way back in May, in episode 014) and update our collective thoughts on distributed teams, and hybrid ways of working.

In this episode, we are joined by Linn Vizard to talk about Service Design, aligning with other disciplines, and 80's music.

In this episode, Vince and Mike are joined by Danelkis Serra, who brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in strategic business analysis. The trio discuss what's to come for the BA, and how organizations can leverage their skills to win, going forward.

What does vision have to do with transformation? In this episode, Vince and Mike answer that very question...

Everyone wants to streamline processes, but what does that even mean? Going faster, but delivering less value equals BAD. And sometimes the right thing to do is ADD to your processes. In this episode of the podcast, we'll discuss the need to improve, monitor, and manage your business processes.

What can you expect in 2021? We don't know, we aren't psychic...but we'll make some educated predictions, looking ahead via our respective crystal balls.

Hey all...Vince here, with a special episode of the Business (Not) As Usual podcast. In the spring, due mainly to the pandemic lockdown, I started a web show called Analysts After Work...the idea was to gather with people I'd normally hang out with at conferences and such, and just chat for an hour. Think of it as just hanging out at the bar after work with some colleagues. In this episode my guest was Mike...we used the backdrop of Festivus, the beloved holiday borne of Seinfeld, to do the Airing of Grievances, Gratitude, and Goals. It's a longer episode, but a ton of fun!

In the last proper episode of the year (bonus episode coming next week!) the guys take a look back on the year, the podcast, and all things 2020.

What do Apple, Amazon, and Thinkific all have in common? If you guessed it's that they built a platform on which others have built businesses and services, you are bang on!

When we think about customer engagement, we typically think of the marketing stuff...coupons, raffles...essentially, bribes. Engaging customers is much more complex, and in this episode of the podcast, we'll explore the subject.

In this episode of the podcast, we'll explore who owns talent management in your organization.

In this episode, we take a bit of a departure from our usual transformation analysis, and look at how you, individually and as a team, can close out 2020 with increasing momentum.

The final result (kind of) for this mini-series on the missing pieces of the transformation puzzle comes together for BBC...but first, a a behind the scenes recording of our final practice run, the evening before BBC.

Proving that everybody makes mistakes, here's an episode we recorded in the summer, but forgot to publish. We've left in everything, including the pre-recording nonsense we normally cut. Because that's what the challenge function is meant to be; the truth, unfiltered.

We've said it...a lot...on this show. Culture is the thing. It drives business, and is the difference between success and failure in business transformation.

People. They are another missing piece of the transformational puzzle. They can make or break your transformational efforts. Period. Full stop.

In part 2 of our series The Missing Pieces of the Transformation Puzzle, Vince and Mike discuss the role of business process, and how vital it is to be included. Without it, you're doomed to failure.

In mid-October, Vince and Mike will be at the Building Business Capability conference (virtually) to deliver their session, "The Missing Pieces of the Digital Transformation Puzzle." In this episode, the first in a series, we'll explore in more tactical detail those pieces that are the difference maker between success and failure...first up, decision making.

We talked roles, like characters, in a previous episode...but in this one, we'll dive down into the functional role of the sponsor, and how their accountabilities may change at different levels.

Fear is a powerful emotion, which can create chaos or order. Nowhere is this more true than in our organizations. In this episode of the Business (Not) As Usual podcast, our valiant hosts will struggle with the causes of, and overcoming, fear.

Why is it that so many people and organizations are in a rush to get "back to normal", or what normal was before COVID? I get the return to normalcy, but what about all the advances we've made in that short period of time, particularly around remote working? Get the Vince and Mike take on the matter in this episode of the Business (Not) As Usual podcast.

25 episodes...whodda thunk it? We take a look back at some of our favourite moments in the show so far, and new perspectives on some of those previous discussions.

How do you delineate and define the roles and responsibilities in a transformation, and with your BAU?

What's the difference between Digital and Business transformations? Or IS there a difference? In this episode, Vince and Mike give their perspectives on this hotly contested debate.

Around the world, public institutions and government agencies are in the midst of transformation. Not in the ideological sense, but in the business, and specifically digital sense. Which begs the question, "why?" given they usually don't have to compete for market share, so why invest in making things better for their citizens? We'll explore that and so much more in this episode of the podcast.

Training. Everybody needs it, wants it, but it can be hard to come by. As we transition to a more distributed training format, what impact will that have on businesses, transformations, and your staff?

We've spent a lot of time talking about the challenges faced by larger organizations, but what about the smaller shops, that don't have the same challenges and advantages? In this episode, Vince and Mike will dive into some of the ways small business owners are winning in this transitional period.

Some companies will revert back to their way of doing business BC (Before COVID) but they will have made a tremendous error if that happens. In this episode, Vince and Mike explore what should, could, and might come next when we inevitably emerge from this pandemic period.

Engagement...is it Hawaiian shirts and beer cart afternoons, or is it something...else? In this episode, Vince and Mike discuss their philosophies on being engaged at work, and pivot to discuss celebrations and recognition, which, believe it or not, has an impact on engagement. Enjoy!