As more ‘business-oriented’ curricula are pushed farther and farther down the educational ladder, it is not uncommon for grade schoolers to tackle a SWOT analysis as part of a new business start-up project. Should we be impressed or concerned? In my experience, grade...

One of our approaches to Marketing workshops is to ‘seed’ key themes and concepts in advance. For an upcoming Marketing Plan in Action (MPIA) 5-day workshop for a European-based healthcare client, we have chosen Playing to Win (Harvard Business Review Press, 2013) by...

The debate over the ‘ideal’ marketing plan rages on and there is some discussion that any plan in today’s fast-changing environment is of little value anyway. This is not a new idea. Dwight D. Eisenhower, Supreme Allied Commander during WWII famously said, “Plans are...

NASCAR followers will likely recognize the famous red oval logo of STP, originally an acronym for “scientifically treated petroleum”. As a gasoline additive, STP is designed to prolong engine life and improve performance. Could “STP” also be a proven boost to...