Today's Management Consulting Pulse
Mitsubishi Chemical and Accenture Launch AI‑Focused Joint Venture
Mitsubishi Chemical has partnered with Accenture to create a joint venture aimed at driving AI‑enabled business reinvention and operational transformation for clients. The collaboration combines Mitsubishi’s industry expertise with Accenture’s digital capabilities to accelerate AI adoption across enterprises.
PTW/PI All-Stars Book Club – Chapter One
The PTW/PI Book Club launched its first chapter by spotlighting Michael Porter’s three seminal strategy contributions. The piece, drawn from a Harvard Business School “Celebrating Michael Porter” conference, argues Porter saved the strategy academy, bolstered the shift from planning to choice‑driven strategy, and provoked the integration of customers into strategic thinking. The author also critiques the academic dominance of the resource‑based view and notes the lingering resistance to merging strategy with marketing. Reader reactions highlight appreciation for the historical context and the relevance of Porter’s legacy to today’s practitioners.
AI Success Requires Human Transformation, Not Just Technology
Why do so many organizations report AI adoption, yet see limited returns? New data suggests it’s not just execution. Fear of becoming less relevant, or even replaced, leads employees to “use” AI without truly embracing it. The real shift? Treat AI...
Are You Leveraging the Diverse Talent on Your Board?
Harvard Business School Working Knowledge surveyed 30 veteran directors—half Black and 40% women—who collectively serve on boards valued at $18 trillion. The research shows that while board diversity promises richer problem‑solving, many committees lack psychological safety, limiting the impact of varied...
Invite Input: The Habit that Turns Silence Into Solutions
The article introduces the "Invite Input" habit, a core element of the Synergystack™ Team Development System, to combat Fear of Speaking Up (FOSU) in organizations. It outlines five practical steps—signaling safety, making specific asks, asking early, building input infrastructure, and...
Is Inventory Processing Time Slowing Your Brand’s Growth?
Small and mid‑size brands are losing cash flow when inventory induction time— the period between arrival at a fulfillment center and being sale‑ready—gets stretched. Delays lock capital, force costly expedited freight, and can miss seasonal demand, squeezing margins. A hybrid...
Prediction Powers AI: Master It for Business Edge
Prediction is not just a human trait; it’s the foundation of AI. As we harness artificial intelligence, we’re tapping into our natural ability to foresee patterns and trends. Leaders who understand this can leverage AI to their advantage and drive smarter decisions. In...
AI's Operational Gains Become Baseline; Focus on Strategy
AI is enabling innovation with new possibilities and also driving operational improvements across all roles. My hunch is that in the longer term, the operational gains will be adopted by most businesses and not be a true differentiator. While it's vital to...
771: Fixing Fairness in the Workplace, with Lily Zheng
In this episode, host Dave Stachowiak talks with Lily Zheng, a strategist and author on systemic fairness, about why most Americans actually support diversity (82% in surveys) despite a perception that opinions are split. Zheng explains why typical DEI initiatives—single...
Master Your P&L in Five Minutes, Not Months
If you can’t explain your P&L in 5 minutes, you’re not a boss—you’re a passenger. Managing money isn’t about complex spreadsheets; it’s about control. The 5-Step Survival Plan: Track Everything: Know exactly where every cent goes. Find the Levers: Focus on the...
Avoidance Becomes Culture: Attitude Shapes Character
“Weakness of attitude becomes weakness of character.” Attitude isn’t mood. It’s the repeated stance you take under pressure. In leadership, small acts of avoidance—dodging hard conversations, tolerating mediocrity, deferring tough decisions—don’t stay tactical. They compound. What begins as convenience hardens into...
Even Great Ideas Don’t Sell Themselves. You Need Three Types of Power to Make Them Win.
The article argues that great ideas rarely succeed on merit alone and must be backed by strategic use of power. Stanford professor Jeffrey Pfeffer defines power as the ability to get things done in contested situations and outlines three forms—hard,...
AI ROI Proven, Yet CIOs Lag Behind
The AI ROI is Real, But Are CIOs Ready? Insights from Lenovo’s 2026 Playbook by @Timothy_Hughes https://t.co/EMAEj0YnH9 @DLAIgnite #SocialSelling #DigitalSelling #artificalintelligence #ArtificialInteligence #Technology #Innovation #Tech #TechNews #Leadership #Cloud #CloudComputing #SaaS
Critical Thinking Beats Prompt Engineering as 2026 Moat
Hot take: The most valuable skill in 2026 is not prompt engineering. It is critical thinking. Claude 3 Opus tops out at 70% on causal reasoning. LLM accuracy drops as data gets fresher. The humans who never outsourced their judgment? They are now...
Essentialism: Do Less Better
The episode dives into Greg McKeown’s *Essentialism*, arguing that in an age of GenAI the real scarcity is disciplined choice. It emphasizes living by design, applying the 80/20 principle, and making strategic trade‑offs—essentially deciding what not to do—to focus on high‑impact...
Developers Demand Rigorous Blueprint for AI Code Trust
96% of developers don't trust AI code: Here's a step toward the fix “To scale, a “blueprint” is needed that treats autonomous code with the same (or greater) level of scrutiny as human-written code” https://t.co/vPV2dkst8U #ResponsibleAI #AIGovernance https://t.co/6nrJMYXYir
Assess Multi‑Tier Risks to Boost Resilience and Cut Costs
Organisations should evaluate vulnerabilities across multiple tiers, ranging from high-level strategic planning, operational & process risks to frontline execution. By integrating theoretical lessons with practical, data-driven frameworks, the resources outlined in this newsletter aim to enhance operational resilience, ensure regulatory compliance,...
🧐 The Boundary of Tedium
In this episode, the host details his AI agent R Mini Arnold (RMA), a Mac Mini‑based system that uses Anthropic’s Claude models to automate tedious knowledge‑worker tasks such as presentation assembly, personal CRM building, and note‑file organization. He demonstrates how...
Culture, Not Strategy, Determines Transformation Success
70% of business transformations fail. Not because of strategy. Because of culture. Big vision announced. Great slides shared. Everyone agrees. Two weeks later? Same behaviors. Strategy sounds good in meetings. Culture shows up on Monday morning. If leaders don’t model change… If incentives don’t shift… If standards aren’t enforced… Nothing changes. Without cultural alignment,...
Strategy: Apply What You Have to Thrive Now and Tomorrow
Strategy isn’t theory. It’s how you use what you have to survive today and win tomorrow. #Strategy #Leadership #Business #StrategicThinking #FutureOfWork https://t.co/s5GHVg0CRu
Advisory Services: Pruning for Growth
Accounting firms are rapidly losing compliance work to AI and automation, prompting a shift toward advisory services. Experts advise firms to prune low‑margin clients and replace them with high‑value, advisory‑ready relationships. Scaling requires moving from ad‑hoc consulting to structured, team‑based...
AI Adoption Slower Than Expected, Short‑Term Limits Overlooked
People on this site systematically overestimate the speed at which companies can deeply adopt AI & underestimate the impact of AI’s jagged abilities in limiting AI’s utility in the short run. Work will certainly start to change but companies have a...
AI Sparks Entrepreneurial Energy: 4 Organizational Strategies
4 ways to inject new entrepreneurial energy into your organization, using AI as a catalyst. via @forbes https://t.co/3mNojgxEHQ
Ryan McCormack’s Operational Excellence Mixtape: February 20, 2026
Ryan McCormack’s February 2026 Operational Excellence Mixtape warns that change fatigue is eroding continuous‑improvement efforts. He urges leaders to anchor teams to core values, embed quality as the operating architecture, and use process confirmation to lock improvements into daily work, citing Toyota’s...
Top AI Users Customize Solutions and Embrace Partnerships
What are the top 5% of successful gen AI user companies doing differently? The common denominator is that they are mastering the art & science of customizing AI to their businesses, while fostering partnerships versus go-it-alone approaches. https://t.co/xoEhkT5gvf @ZDNET
Make Your S/4HANA Journey Business‑Led with Trusted Advisors
Embarking on an S/4HANA journey? Ensure it's business-led. If your team needs guidance, bring in a trusted advisor to help manage your system integrator and unlock full value. #S4HANA #SAP #ProjectManagement https://t.co/ZoG8PY0yNO
Recruiting Is Already Underway for the Next Olympic Games
Korn Ferry is partnering with the LA28 organizing committee to recruit roughly 5,000 employees for the 2028 Summer Olympics, targeting agile skillsets and strong soft‑skills. The firm is shaping an employee value proposition that brands the roles as a “job...
Platform Wars Hinge on Owning the Stack’s Central Node
Salesforce is now bridging four domains at once: Salesforce Implementation (CRM) Databricks (data lake) Agentforce (AI agents) Data 360 (data platform) The platform wars are not about features. They are about who owns the most connected node in your stack.
Leaders Must Blend Acceptance with Accountability for Performance
#TimTalk - How do leaders balance acceptance with accountability and performance? with Mau Espinosa https://t.co/l8JyxhLE7I via @DLAIgnite #SocialSelling #DigitalSelling #Sales #Leadership #Culture #Motivation #Marketing #Success #Entrepreneur #Management https://t.co/j41Z3fekyv
Ready to Grow Your Surgery Center Without Losing Your Sanity
Surgery centers are expanding rapidly, but growth brings regulatory, staffing, and technology challenges that can overwhelm internal teams. Without a structured plan, new service lines often trigger credentialing, supply chain, and workflow gaps, leading to delays and cost overruns. Ambulatory...
Bridging the Data Integrity Gap for Reliable Insights
The Data Integrity Gap: From “Big Data” to “Reliable Physics”.. click to learn everything you need to know about issues you likely don't know you have or will soon have in your organisation.. https://t.co/LrOOv5lGcm
Prioritizing Client Refunds over Profit Builds Trust
Why I told my employer to give a client their money back by @Timothy_Hughes https://t.co/l6WPjtF7eI @DLAIgnite #SocialSelling #DigitalSelling #Sales #SalesTips #SalesLeader #Salesforce #Leadership #Marketing #RevOps #SalesEnablement #MarketingStrategy https://t.co/gq0sgyx50W
Designing a Smarter Logistics Network: The Hidden Growth Lever Most New Brands Overlook
Emerging retail brands are shifting logistics from a cost center to a strategic growth lever by redesigning their middle‑mile networks. AI‑driven consolidation, real‑time routing and intelligent zone‑skipping cut empty miles and reduce touchpoints, directly lowering operating costs. Faster, more predictable...
Influencers Mislead: OpenClaw AI Consulting Isn't Easy Money
Part of the issue is that certain influencers are pitching OpenClaw and AI consulting as “easy money.”
Tiny 1% Gains Compound Into Massive Results
British Cycling went from losing to winning by improving 1% in everything. They cleaned bikes better, fixed sleep habits, tracked hand washing, and small gains stacked up. In business, a 1% lift in price, margin, and cost control can drive a 27%...
6 Ways to Make Strategy Resonate with Skeptical Leaders
Leaders often dismiss formal strategy as bureaucratic, yet the article argues that this skepticism creates a "strategy deficit"—a gap between the choices an organization makes and the clarity it communicates. Drawing on 30 years of advisory work, the author outlines...
Sharp Optimization Cuts Costs, Boosts Profit Without Layoffs
Optimization isn’t about cutting corners. It’s about sharpening them. This year, we reduced operational costs by 15% , no layoffs, no drop in quality. What changed? • Process Mapping → Exposed bottlenecks • Smart Automation → Freed the team for high-impact work • Lean Waste...
Change Management Essential to Avoid Software Adoption Delays
Resistance to new software is common, especially when users want to stick to old processes. This dynamic often leads to project delays and cost overruns. Adapting to new tech requires careful change management. #ProjectManagement #ChangeManagement https://t.co/SgQrPEUnQD
Nvidia's $30B OpenAI Stake Turns Hardware Into Equity
Nvidia reportedly invested $30B in OpenAI, its own major customer. The chip maker powering AI now has equity in the models running on it. When hardware becomes equity, your AI vendor list has a silent shareholder at the table. Source: https://t.co/KNtNLIRTOQ
Lakehouse Surge Shows Data Infrastructure Beats AI Hype
AGI is in the noise bucket this week. Lakehouse architecture? Up 400%. While the industry debates the AI endgame, data infrastructure quietly becomes non-negotiable. The boring skills win again.
From Missile Room to Boardroom: Managing Critical Infrastructure
"Navigating the High-Stakes World of Critical Infrastructure & Asset Management with Quarterbac" From missile room to board room: getting to know Dave Robinson, CEO/Foudner of Quarterbac. Get the inside scoop from this inspiring thought leader interview: https://t.co/bP6BdAH637
AI Call Transcripts Are Everywhere—Establish Clear Usage Rules
At this point, in any call, it is likely someone is AI transcribing, whether they tell you (& whether that is legal or not). We really need clear norms & rules about how these transcripts can be used, since AI makes...
SI‑Model Alliances Bring Trusted AI to Regulated Enterprises
Big signal for enterprise AI 👇 @AnthropicAI + @Infosys are moving AI agents straight into regulated industries: Telecom, financial services, compliance-heavy environments. It’s all about making AI operational with the latest proven practices. Why this matters: Enterprise AI adoption was never blocked by model...
Mastering Uncertainty: Transient Advantage in Portfolio Decisions
A little behind the scenes from recording the Profit Streams Podcast with Luke Hohmann, discussing transient advantage and how you manage uncertainty in portfolio decision-making. #Podcasts #TransientAdvantage #profitstreams
Your S/4HANA Partner, Not a Traditional Integrator
Clients hire us for S/4HANA projects because we act as an extension of their team. We have the expertise to implement S/4HANA, but without the typical system integrator agenda. We focus on your success, not just project size. #S4HANA #Consulting...
Consensus Overload Slows Digital Transformation Decisions
Slow decision-making is the primary reason digital transformation initiatives stall. Delays happen when assumptions of quick decisions don't match reality, often a symptom of excessive consensus-based leadership. #DecisionMaking #DigitalTransformation #Leadership https://t.co/3e5ADMz5P3
Data Readiness Causes 42% of AI Project Failures
42% of enterprise AI projects fail. The culprit? Data readiness (or lack thereof) @PureStorage @PureStorageUK #ArtificialIntelligence #Innovation #Technology #Tech #TechNews https://t.co/fgDiy1Ew0X
Six Tips to Test AI’s Leadership Capability
Human management may be messy at times, but is AI any better? Here are six tips from business leaders and questions to weigh whether AI has what it takes to lead. (My latest in @forbes) https://t.co/zSHyx8Su64
AI Accountability Demands Direct P&L Mapping in 2026
2026 is the year AI accountability gets real. No more hiding behind "pilot mode." If you can’t map AI spend to the P&L, your seat at the table is at risk. 💺🔥 See the roadmap: https://t.co/dJs86sTyRD #CXOtalk #Leadership #FutureOfWork
AI Panic Is Stalling Hiring Like Economic Recession
Just as fear and panic will cause businesses pull back spending and bring about a recession, the fear and panic being spread about AI is causing managers to pull back on hiring. (My latest in @forbes) https://t.co/5oeVL6Kwyj
Chief AI Officer Becomes Essential in Modern Enterprises
This new C-suite role is more important than ever in the AI era - here's why https://t.co/5dBV9IFx4d via @ZDNET