Four Qoogols
DRAFT DRAFT DRAFT
Explanation of Qoogol
In Kenichi Ohmae´s classic The Mind of the Strategist: The Art of Japanese Business, 1982 (based on his 1975 The Corporate Strategist in Japanese) he says the single most important word for the consultant (and, one might add, for the strategy executive coach) is "why".5 With a PhD in nuclear engineering from M.I.T., Ohmae can relate well to Issac Newton, including Newton´s admonition that truth lies in simplicity (as quoted at the head of "Tools"). In fact Ohmae´s classic book, the standout of the over 100 he has written, is a laudatory example of simplicity. It presents powerful concepts in a clear, straightforward and entertaining manner.
The chairman of Bain & Company, Orit Gadiesh, has similar views. (For a brief "bio" of this remarkable woman from Israel, a Harvard Baker Scholar considered one of the most influential business figures in the world, see "Orit Gadiesh" at "Bain & Company" under "Strategy Consultants: The Good, The Better, The Best?" at "Papers.") In a recent article entitled "The Importance of Curiosity" (which can be purchased at hbr.harvardbusiness.org/2009/09/bain--company-chairman-orit-gadiesh-on-the-importance-of-curiosity/ar/1) she states:
"Growing up in Israel, I constantly had my hand in the air at school, no matter what the subject. When the teacher called on me, I would quickly ask my question and then—while I still had her attention—blurt out, “I have two more questions!”
Asking questions—and lots of them—is the only way to get to a workable solution to any problem, and it’s the best way to build trust and rapport."
1) What is the most urgent issue, priority one, for your business?
2) What are your goals for the next month, quarter, year, decade?
3) How is strategy now formulated (e.g. bottom up, top down, ad hoc) and with what tools?
4) How do the vision and mission statements and strategy tie into one another (alignment)?
5) How do they yield USPs and sustainable competitive advantage?
6) What have you learned from previous (inevitable) missteps in devising and implementing strategy?
7) How are competitors targeting and servicing the customers?
8) What are your innovation and change drivers?
9) What questions should be asked which have not been?
10) Answering the above questions will be translated into what actions?
More Qoogols INSERT MARKETING AUDIT, make reference to 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing