Leading Blog

MARCH 18, 2011

The thing you want to be these days is a “fast follower.” By viewing technology construction as an artistic endeavor rather than a mechanical one, we are freed to not only build applications that have a stronger ROI, but also to do a better job of managing IT people.

Chief Information Officer 284

Chief Information Officer CIO ROI Technology 284

Harvard Business Review

APRIL 18, 2012

This was just one round in a developing fight over the rules and norms that govern the international political economy. Writing in 1979, Roger Hansen (in Beyond the North-South Stalemate ) succinctly characterized the choices faced by developed and developing countries in the face of these demands.

Globalization 13

Globalization Banking Restructuring Politics 13

Harvard Business Review

DECEMBER 6, 2018

They are planning to be “fast followers” — a strategy that has worked with most information technologies. It’s true that some technologies need further development, but some (like traditional machine learning) are quite mature and have been available in some form for decades. System Development Time.

Company 8

Company Maturity System Engineering 8

Harvard Business Review

JULY 27, 2015

But Samsung’s new mobile wallet strategy may be a sign that they are finally becoming a true leader and shedding their image as a fast follower. Its foray into this industry comes on the heels of product entries by Google and Apple. The most pressing concern may be competition from companies other than device manufacturers.

Technology 8

Technology Retail System Industry 8

Harvard Business Review

NOVEMBER 22, 2010

The theme of the big event was "Technology-led Transition and Innovation-driven Development," which sounds broad. But dont count them out for long; if theres one thing Chinese companies are good at, its implementing a "fast follower" strategy. This last article is the one that really grabbed my attention.

NGO 15

NGO Chemicals Guidelines Telecommunications 15

Harvard Business Review

MARCH 12, 2012

I recently participated in a spirited panel discussion with Bruce Brown, Procter & Gamble's Chief Technology Officer, and Erich Joachimsthaler, Vivaldi Partners' managing director and CEO. Global giants have to increasingly ask emerging markets branches to go from acting as local distributors to serving as local developers.

Marketing 14

Marketing Hedge Chief Technology Officer Supply Chain 14

Harvard Business Review

FEBRUARY 12, 2013

Many social enterprises start small and grow fast. This puts a premium on the need to develop, or recruit, talented people who can take on evolving roles and responsibilities. Leaders plead lack of time and money to make development a priority. How do you develop, or hire, the staff you will need? But it was growing fast.

Banking 8

Banking Fast Follower Tools Survey 8