I don’t think it so much having to ignore the core business & associated competencies in order to enter new markets, as it is coming to understand the core, underlying purpose of the organization, and how that allows (perhaps impels) the company to serve this purpose and its markets better by extending into new products, services and markets.

Apple is doing so by coming to understand that it’s purpose of changing how the work, thinks and plays (“Think different” is the most recent manifestation of this purpose into a “motto”) does not – and should not – constrict it to being only a computer company.

Think about what the true purpose of your firm is (beyond just making widgets)… and how that purpose might be fulfilled in new, broader ways in serving the marketplace…

Gregg

First let me thank you for referring to my blog post on Fast company titled Strategic Planning is dead – Long Live Strategy Execution.

Second I want to completely concur with your observations that strategy and the way it has beed used to refer to almost anything of importance has caused it to lose its meaning.

And yes I agree that knowing what your company stands for is at the core of what strategy is intended to convey. In fact if you read the follow on blog titled “Strategic Planning is Dead – Setting a Sound Strategic Direction is Not” you would see how I address the core underlying objectives of what strategy was intended to create. You can read that blog at http://tinyurl.com/2de3bxv.

Thank you for the good work you do at breaking up management myths. In today’s world it is very needed

Norman

http://bit.ly/a3Za4G

Thoughts?