Business in brief library

Strategy and Planning Techniques

Shared Services

Shared Services

Shared services aim to promote efficiency and improved service for internal customers. The concept describes the many advantages and drawbacks of these organisational structures and process, as well as the conditions necessary for success.

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Shared Services Client-Advisor Relationships

Shared Services Client-Advisor Relationships

Leading firms use value-adding strategies and techniques to improve client-advisor relationships in their shared services centres. Learn about the advantages and drawbacks of using these, how to implement them, and the key factors for achieving success.

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Shared Services Innovation

Shared Services Innovation

Learn how continuous innovation enables shared service centres to co-create new service offerings and experiences with internal customers, for internal customers. Benefits and challenges of applying shared services innovation are presented, along with step-by-step guidance and success factors for implementation.

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Shutdown Point

Shutdown Point

The concept describes the fundamental principle of the shutdown point. It explains at what point shutdown occurs, the strengths and weaknesses of the concept and provides straightforward advice on calculating the shutdown point.

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Six Sigma

Six Sigma

The Six Sigma Principles focus on reducing variation, improving quality, and enhancing customer satisfaction through data-driven decision-making. Using tools like DMAIC, organisations achieve consistent results by eliminating defects, streamlining processes, and aligning with strategic goals.

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Skunkworks

Skunkworks

The concept has been designed to assist managers and business owners to set groups of experts who drop out of mainstream company operations in order to develop something new in secrecy or at speed. This theory provides an overview on how skunkworks groups work and how to implement them in an organisation.

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Social Media Management

Social Media Management

Social media management is an essential activity in all modern organisations. The concept explains how to fit social software and social strategies around core business problems and uses case study examples from across different industries to highlight how firms are executing their strategies.

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Sourcing and Procurement Industry Standards and Benchmarking

Sourcing and Procurement Industry Standards and Benchmarking

The concept explains types of benchmarking and standards integral to strategic sourcing and procurement, how organisations can achieve significant savings and facilitate better supplier integration, including success factors and guiding implementation steps.

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Sourcing and Shared Services Market Trends

Sourcing and Shared Services Market Trends

This technique explains what sourcing and shared services trends are, and the importance of actively seeking out these trends to inform organisations how to develop their strategies and stay competitive in the market.

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Sourcing Governance Value

Sourcing Governance Value

Good sourcing governance is key to building sustainable value for all stakeholders in the value chain. Learn what sourcing governance is and the steps and success factors required to implement it effectively.

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Stakeholder Analysis and Management

Stakeholder Analysis and Management

Outlines stakeholder analysis practice, benefits, and implementation guidance. Highlights the shift from narrow management to inclusive stakeholder engagement, noting sceptical or marginalised groups and digital channels for dialogue (Aaltonen et al., 2024).

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Strategic Alignment

Strategic Alignment

Strategic alignment is a fundamental business concept that determines the competitiveness of an organisation. The concept explains how organisations can better achieve strategic alignment to increase growth and profitability - even in the toughest markets and economic climates.

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Strategic Alliance

Strategic Alliance

Strategic alliances are important in today's increasingly interconnected world. Research and case study examples of leading international firms are presented and critical factors for success are outlined.

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Strategic Business Units

Strategic Business Units

A strategic business unit is a separate, specialised subsystem in the company which acts as an independent company. Having SBU assists organisations to plan their strategies and make manufacturing decisions. The concept provides a review of the critical issues on an SBU benefits and success factors.

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