3 new study findings on competitive advantage

Open your eyes with insights helpful to competitive advantage at our new home page for Lindsay Foresight & Stratagem (LF&S). We explore emerging marketplace trends, why marketing performance is declining, an approach to strategic planning right for the times, and many more topics.

If your team or board of directors would benefit from depth and discussion on any of these, the site also details LF&S speeches and workshops.

The new site is devoted to insight, foresight, and the most effective stratagem for competitive advantage. (After all, ‘stratagem’ is our company’s name. Its very definition is strategy designed to prevail over a competitor.) Visit the site frequently in the weeks ahead as we release new study findings. For now, here are three:

ONE: We all face a growth imperative, but our multiyear study reveals how much more difficult this is due to emerging marketplace dynamics (new business and revenue models, disruptive technologies, changes in consumer behavior and more). One result: Categories are morphing, broadening and becoming more confusing, meaning a brand’s competitive set is changing quickly in ways most don’t realize. Another phenom? The convergence of business strategy with marketing strategy with brand strategy. (If embraced, this can increase velocity of growth and preemptive advantage.)

TWO: Studies around the globe report the decline in marketing effectiveness. Our studies reveal what’s proven to reverse the decline. (We’re happy to teach you the best practices—all supported by compelling data that spans category and country.)

THREE: Did you know there are at least 16 methods of strategic planning? Few C-Suites and Boards know which is best for them. No wonder research finds the way most executives plan actually increases risk to their company and career. For example: Most confuse having a plan (a course of action with objectives and tactics) with having a strategic plan (one that overcomes difficulties faced now and in the future in focused and effective ways). Also, a surprising number of execs assume they’re doing strat planning when it’s annual operations planning. (They’re not “futureproofing!”)

What’s more, while most executives cite past planning experience, not knowing what they don’t know means out-of-date problem-solving methods are perpetuated.

In contrast, there’s a newer, proven approach for creating the future as you’d like it to be; a planning approach right for the pace of change; realistic about the limited time execs have today. The approach has the creation of competitive advantage built right into the planning process!

The site gets rave reviews for its content, useability, and world-class design. The credit goes to Planet Propaganda, particularly Dana Lytle (CEO and ECD), Baird Lackner-Buckingham (Senior Creative Technologist) and Paul Lackner (Digital Creative Director) whose award-winning illustrations and animation include the one at the top of this post.

To join the conversation on competitive advantage, add your comment on Marsha Lindsay's LinkedIn Page.