Why is profitable growth so hard to achieve and sustain? Most executives believe the solution to that problem lies in the external environment: find an attractive market, formulate the right strategy, win new customers. But when Bain & Company's Chris Zook and James Allen researched this question, they found that the root causes are mostly internal, not external. They argue that it takes a "founder's mentality"–behaviors typically embodied by a bold, ambitious founder–to restore speed, focus, and connection to customers.

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HBR Guide to Building Your Business Case Ebook + Tools

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This enhanced ebook version of the HBR Guide to Building Your Business Case includes downloadable tools and templates to help you get started on your own case right away. You've got a great idea that will increase profitability or productivity – but how do you get approval for the budget and resources to make it happen? By building a business case that clearly shows your idea's value. Available exclusively through HBR.org.

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The Management Tip of the Day from Harvard Business Review

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THE MANAGEMENT TIP OF THE DAY: Harvard Business Review

June 30, 2016

The Best Way to Solve Recurring Work Problems

Problems at work tend to be repetitive. No one complains because their boss was angry one time or a colleague failed to pitch in once. The next time you’re in a familiar noxious work setting where someone is doing the same thing as usual, try something different: improvise. Break the routine. For example, if you have an employee who’s chronically late to meetings and reprimanding her in the past hasn’t solved the problem, the next time she’s late, stop the meeting and praise her for all that she’s doing right. Everyone will be caught off guard, and it may actually resolve the problem once and for all. By introducing an unfamiliar dynamic, you encourage your counterpart to respond differently in turn.

Adapted from "To Fix a Chronic Problem, Try Winging It," by Michael Lipson

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The Network Imperative

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Digital networks are changing all the rules of business. New, scalable, digitally networked business models, like those of Amazon, Google, Uber, and Airbnb, are affecting growth, scale, and profit potential for companies in every industry. The question isn't whether your organization needs to change, but when and how much. In "The Network Imperative," authors Barry Libert, Megan Beck, and Jerry Wind guide leaders and investors through the ten principles that your company can use to grow and profit. This book provides managers with what they really need: new tools and frameworks to generate unprecedented value in a rapidly changing age.

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