George S. Day Books

From emerging technologies to changes in consumer tastes, tremendous opportunities and threats often begin as weak signals from the periphery How good is your organisation at sensing, interpreting, and acting on these signals? George S. Day and Paul J. H. Schoemaker call this capability peripheral vision—and their research shows that less than 20 percent of firms have developed it in sufficient capacity to remain competitive. In this book, they reveal a systematic process for developing peripheral vision and offer practical tools and strategies for building "vigilant organisations" that are constantly attuned to changes in the environment. Through detailed case studies ranging from LED lighting to low-carb foods to children's dolls, the authors show how vigilant organisations win scoping widely and asking the right questions; scanning actively in the right places; interpreting what signals mean; probing carefully for more information; and acting wisely on signals before competitors do. This book will help your organisation see farther to seize the opportunities and avoid the risks that come from the periphery.

Organizations must anticipate threats, identify opportunities, and act swiftly in today's turbulent environment. In this insightful work, strategy experts George Day and Paul Schoemaker provide essential tools for thriving amidst the challenges posed by rapid digital advancements. They emphasize that vigilant firms possess greater foresight than their competitors, while those lacking vigilance often overlook early warning signals of external threats and internal challenges. For instance, Charles Schwab capitalized on the potential of "robo-advisors," while Honeywell faltered against Nest Labs' innovative "smart" thermostat. The authors guide leaders in assessing their organization's vigilance capabilities and fostering insight throughout their teams. Drawing on diverse case studies, such as Adobe and Intuit's cloud transition, Shell's clean energy investments, and MasterCard's proactive approach to digital challenges, they illustrate how to effectively allocate attention, discern weak signals from noise, and strategically respond ahead of competitors. The focus is not only on acting quickly but also wisely, with suggestions for developing dynamic portfolios of options. An actionable agenda is provided to enhance vigilance and agility, ultimately leading to stronger market positions, increased profits, motivated employees, and long-term organizational success.

Completely revised and updated, this text is designed to meet the needs of business students and marketing researchers. Focusing on the logic of the research process, it discusses when to use research, how to recognize effective research, what alternatives exist, and how to apply results. New information on scanner technology and data management along with advertising research are contained in the book. Also included are case studies based on actual management problems in a wide variety of situations, giving marketing students hands-on experience in the decision making process.