Listening to media reports in relation to the coronavirus crisis from around Europe today, we can be cautiously optimistic that there is now some light at the end of the tunnel. However, there is still a long process ahead over the coming weeks and months. Firstly, a process of grieving for those lost, as well a process of physical and psychological recovery for survivors and front-line workers. The return to normalcy will no doubt be gradual and staged with some measures remaining in place to guard against future reoccurrences, while treatments, tests and vaccines are developed and deployed over the next 12 to 18 months. Countries like Austria and Denmark have begun to lift some restrictions and no doubt will be the scouts who develop the best practices that other European countries will follow.
Logistics Consultants
The Meaning of Words
The Strategic Context: The Meaning of Words
It can be illuminating to trace the roots of the original meanings of some of the words we use everyday without thinking. In English, many of the technical words that we use in business have their origins in ancient Latin and Greek. One such word is strategy which comes from the Greek work strategós meaning generalship in the military sense.
Strategic Planning is a Contradiction in Terms
When we work in the planning mode we start off anchored in the current reality of today’s organization (1) and we project into the future constrained by all the associated limitations and restrictions.
Understanding International Operations Strategies and Supply Chain Relationships
Understanding International Operations Strategies and Supply Chain Relationships
There are myriad ways in which companies configure their operations to compete in this internationalized economy depending on the sector, the products and services they provide and the opposing pressures for global standardization and local responsiveness that they experience. Some adopt more centralised strategies holding value creation at the core in their home markets, while carrying out production and assembly in overseas markets. Others adopt strategies whereby they become truly transnational with more competences and capabilities devolved to international business units where local responsiveness in important.
Strategic Planning is an Oxymoron
As leaders in our work and in our business it is important that we operate at all times with high levels of awareness about the processes of our work, the distinction between the different types of work that we do and the consequences of the choices we make in relation to how much of our time and energy we dedicate to these different types of activity.
Ireland’s Gateway to and from the continent post-Brexit – Flanders
The Brexit rollercoaster continues. Theresa May has been succeeded by Boris Johnson in the UK premiership.
At the time of writing it appears that we are entering a new period of extreme political brinkmanship with three months to go to the October 31st deadline. What the outcome will be is anyone’s guess in this moment of volatility and uncertainty. However, one thing that we can be sure about in Ireland, whatever the outcome of the Brexit process, is that stability and certainty on the future trading relationship with the United Kingdom is very far off. Consequently, we must accelerate our plans and actions as business people to mitigate the worst effects of Brexit and to ensure that our businesses can survive and thrive into the future.
