Reinvent best practices that have become bad habitsWithout meaning to, and often with the best of intentions, most organizations continually waste precious time and money on processes and activities that don't create value and no longer make sense in today's business environment. Until now, the relatively slow speed of marketplace evolution has allowed wasteful habits to continue without consequence. This reality is ending.Detonate explains how organizations built up bad habits, identifies which ones masquerade as "best practices," and suggests alternatives that can contribute to winning in the marketplace. With a focus on optimism and empowerment, it focuses on an approach and mindset which are critical to successfully compete in an era characterized by profound technological advances and uncertainty.* Core themes challenge how you think about and approach problems* Case studies illustrate the challenges you face and how to overcome them* Recommendations are pragmatic and steer clear of suggesting a brand-new, complicated wiring diagram* Actionable advice provides the first steps down an evolutionary pathIf you want to compete differently in today's marketplace and to challenge the things your company does which you have a nagging feeling are actually just a waste of time - and maybe value-destroying - Detonate gives you what you need to ignite change.

Preface xiPart I Light the Fuse 1Chapter 1 Tinderbox: Hazardous Unwritten Rules 3Chapter 2 Spark: Acceleration of the Vicious Cycle 19Chapter 3 Coordinates: Targeting the Blast 39Part II Blow Up Your Playbooks 59Chapter 4 Dismantle Your P&L: Why Revenue Should Be the Last Thing You Worry About 61Chapter 5 Trash the Calendar: A Strategic Planning Schedule Is Largely a Waste of Time 77Chapter 6 Defy Expertise: Syndicated Data Create Zero Advantage 89Chapter 7 Upend Insight: Customers Can't Tell You What They Believe 103Chapter 8 Lose Control: Discard Opportunity Management Systems 119Chapter 9 Stomp Out Platitudes: Celebrating Failure Is an Excuse for Mediocrity 135Chapter 10 Embrace Impermanence: Org Charts and Career Paths Are Past Their Sell-By Date 149Part III Build Something Better 159Chapter 11 Where to Start: Pick Your Site to Apply the Detonate Mindset 161Chapter 12 Implications for Leadership: Accelerate by Asking Better Questions 175Chapter 13 Minimally Viable Thoughts 185Notes 197Acknowledgments 203About the Authors 205Index 207