July 1, 2024 by Mike Manazir – (4-5 minutes) Managing intellectual property is essential for safeguarding a company’s innovations, maintaining a competitive edge, generating revenue, expanding into new markets, attracting investment, managing legal risks, and encouraging ongoing innovation. Businesses that strategically manage their IP can leverage these assets to achieve long-term success and sustainability. Below … Read more

June 23, 2024 by Mike Manazir – (4-5 minutes) Blockbuster was a dominant player in the video rental industry during the 1990s and early 2000s. At its peak, Blockbuster had thousands of stores worldwide and was synonymous with movie rentals. Below, I share how Blockbuster continuing to ignore data over time, eventually led to the … Read more

June 17, 2024 by Mike Manazir – (4-5 minutes) In a previous newsletter, I talked about how to effectively navigate regulatory environments. This week, I discuss how to effectively manage regulatory compliance. Let’s take a look at some of the industries that operate under high levels of regulation: Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals: The FDA (Food and … Read more

June 9, 2024 by Mike Manazir – (4-5 minutes) Kmart, once a retail giant, faced severe challenges that contributed to its decline and eventual bankruptcy. A critical aspect of its downfall was the breakdown in relationships with suppliers and issues within its supply chain. Kmart struggled with inventory management, leading to stock outs of popular … Read more

May 28, 2024 by Mike Manazir – (4-5 minutes) Studies suggest that a significant portion of mergers and acquisitions do not meet the expectations set out by the leaders of the acquiring or merging companies. According to the Harvard Business Review, between 70% to 90% fail. That’s a staggering statistic that can give even seasoned … Read more

May 20, 2024 by Mike Manazir – (4-5 minutes) Valeant was a Canadian firm known for aggressive acquisitions and subsequent cost-cutting. Rather than focus on research and development, Valeant purchased existing drugs and substantially raised their prices, banking heavily on aggressive sales strategies. Unfortunately, stakeholder management torpedoed their success. Internal Stakeholders: Ignored and Overlooked Valeant’s … Read more

May 12, 2024 by Mike Manazir – (4-5 minutes) Managing a budget and finances effectively requires clarity on the roles and the expectations that go with them. Budget management and financial management are closely related but different – Scope: Time-frame: Focus: Decision Making: In smaller organizations, one person may be responsible for both budget management … Read more

May 6, 2024 by Mike Manazir – (4-5 minutes) In 2018, it was revealed that the political consulting firm Cambridge Analytica harvested the personal data of millions of Facebook users without their consent. This data was then used to target political advertisements and influence voter behavior in various elections including the 2016 U.S. presidential election. … Read more

April 29, 2024 by Mike Manazir – (4-5 minutes) Let’s examine modern examples of organizational complexity to see what we can learn. Ford Motor Company revolutionized industrial manufacturing with the implementation of the assembly line. Henry Ford’s introduction of the moving assembly line dramatically increased productivity and allowed for the mass production of automobiles at … Read more

April 21, 2024 by Mike Manazir – (4-5 minutes) When I reflect upon historic high-performing teams, I think of sports teams like the 1990s Chicago Bulls led by Michael Jordan. The Bulls won six NBA championships, dominating the NBA during that time. NFL teams with championship legacies also come to mind. The Green Bay Packers … Read more