Comments on: If we're all specialists who's responsible for the big picture? http://www.zeusjones.com/blog/2009/if-were-all-specialists-whos-responsible-for-the-big-picture/ Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:29:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: techiefarhan http://www.zeusjones.com/blog/2009/if-were-all-specialists-whos-responsible-for-the-big-picture/#comment-1260 techiefarhan Mon, 25 Jan 2010 23:47:08 +0000 http://www.zeusjones.com/blog/?p=1650#comment-1260 I would contend that historically businesses always integrated themselves with other business to provide a larger solution. The last 25-30 years are more of an exception where we witnessed an emergence of mega corporations and more focus on stop solution providers. What we are seeing now is the reversal of a 30 year tide back to the old school of business management, although the extent of business integration is likely going to be at much granular level this time. The business culture today seems more entrepreneur and innovation focused, and technology is making it possible to be a highly specialized provider and still run a low cost of operations. <br><br>However we get our businesses integrated, it will certainly be a lot of fun and hard work doing it. I would contend that historically businesses always integrated themselves with other business to provide a larger solution. The last 25-30 years are more of an exception where we witnessed an emergence of mega corporations and more focus on stop solution providers. What we are seeing now is the reversal of a 30 year tide back to the old school of business management, although the extent of business integration is likely going to be at much granular level this time. The business culture today seems more entrepreneur and innovation focused, and technology is making it possible to be a highly specialized provider and still run a low cost of operations.

However we get our businesses integrated, it will certainly be a lot of fun and hard work doing it.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.zeusjones.com/blog/2009/if-were-all-specialists-whos-responsible-for-the-big-picture/#comment-2854 Anonymous Mon, 25 Jan 2010 18:47:00 +0000 http://www.zeusjones.com/blog/?p=1650#comment-2854 I would contend that historically businesses always integrated themselves with other business to provide a larger solution. The last 25-30 years are more of an exception where we witnessed an emergence of mega corporations and more focus on stop solution providers. What we are seeing now is the reversal of a 30 year tide back to the old school of business management, although the extent of business integration is likely going to be at much granular level this time. The business culture today seems more entrepreneur and innovation focused, and technology is making it possible to be a highly specialized provider and still run a low cost of operations. However we get our businesses integrated, it will certainly be a lot of fun and hard work doing it. I would contend that historically businesses always integrated themselves with other business to provide a larger solution. The last 25-30 years are more of an exception where we witnessed an emergence of mega corporations and more focus on stop solution providers. What we are seeing now is the reversal of a 30 year tide back to the old school of business management, although the extent of business integration is likely going to be at much granular level this time. The business culture today seems more entrepreneur and innovation focused, and technology is making it possible to be a highly specialized provider and still run a low cost of operations.

However we get our businesses integrated, it will certainly be a lot of fun and hard work doing it.

]]> By: Planner Reads » Blog Archive » Specialists v. integrators part II. http://www.zeusjones.com/blog/2009/if-were-all-specialists-whos-responsible-for-the-big-picture/#comment-1259 Planner Reads » Blog Archive » Specialists v. integrators part II. Tue, 13 Oct 2009 23:02:24 +0000 http://www.zeusjones.com/blog/?p=1650#comment-1259 [...] think this insight is also quite important when overlaid upon the discussion around specialisation vs. integration that I started yesterday. Specialised businesses can each be thought of as separate innovations. In [...] [...] think this insight is also quite important when overlaid upon the discussion around specialisation vs. integration that I started yesterday. Specialised businesses can each be thought of as separate innovations. In [...]

]]> By: e-Strategy Internet Marketing Blog http://www.zeusjones.com/blog/2009/if-were-all-specialists-whos-responsible-for-the-big-picture/#comment-1258 e-Strategy Internet Marketing Blog Mon, 28 Sep 2009 12:26:21 +0000 http://www.zeusjones.com/blog/?p=1650#comment-1258 <strong>Minnesota Monday – Communications Bloggers Posts From Last Week...</strong> Interesting posts from Minnesota commmunications bloggers for the week ending 9/27/09. ...... Minnesota Monday – Communications Bloggers Posts From Last Week…

Interesting posts from Minnesota commmunications bloggers for the week ending 9/27/09.
……

]]> By: Andy http://www.zeusjones.com/blog/2009/if-were-all-specialists-whos-responsible-for-the-big-picture/#comment-1257 Andy Sat, 26 Sep 2009 07:15:51 +0000 http://www.zeusjones.com/blog/?p=1650#comment-1257 Mark , I agree. To Adrian's last point the combination and management of specialists is a specialised task, and the client is best placed to undertake it (and be ultimately on the hook for the results generated). It would require a different mindset and skillset... strong strategic orientation coupled with the ability to form, inspire, facilitate and lead a intra-company team. Mark , I agree. To Adrian's last point the combination and management of specialists is a specialised task, and the client is best placed to undertake it (and be ultimately on the hook for the results generated). It would require a different mindset and skillset… strong strategic orientation coupled with the ability to form, inspire, facilitate and lead a intra-company team.

]]> By: Andy http://www.zeusjones.com/blog/2009/if-were-all-specialists-whos-responsible-for-the-big-picture/#comment-2769 Andy Sat, 26 Sep 2009 02:15:00 +0000 http://www.zeusjones.com/blog/?p=1650#comment-2769 Mark , I agree. To Adrian's last point the combination and management of specialists is a specialised task, and the client is best placed to undertake it (and be ultimately on the hook for the results generated). It would require a different mindset and skillset... strong strategic orientation coupled with the ability to form, inspire, facilitate and lead a intra-company team. Mark , I agree. To Adrian’s last point the combination and management of specialists is a specialised task, and the client is best placed to undertake it (and be ultimately on the hook for the results generated). It would require a different mindset and skillset… strong strategic orientation coupled with the ability to form, inspire, facilitate and lead a intra-company team.

]]> By: Specialists v. integrators part II. | From The Head Of Zeus Jones http://www.zeusjones.com/blog/2009/if-were-all-specialists-whos-responsible-for-the-big-picture/#comment-1256 Specialists v. integrators part II. | From The Head Of Zeus Jones Fri, 25 Sep 2009 01:07:21 +0000 http://www.zeusjones.com/blog/?p=1650#comment-1256 [...] From The Head Of Zeus Jones « If we’re all specialists who’s responsible for the big picture? [...] [...] From The Head Of Zeus Jones « If we’re all specialists who’s responsible for the big picture? [...]

]]> By: Mark Hancock http://www.zeusjones.com/blog/2009/if-were-all-specialists-whos-responsible-for-the-big-picture/#comment-1255 Mark Hancock Thu, 24 Sep 2009 20:53:03 +0000 http://www.zeusjones.com/blog/?p=1650#comment-1255 Superb and thought provoking questions. Integrated agencies struggled in the last 3 years due to there being no budget line for them - everything was demarcated and was therefore easy to buy: a yard of advertising, a yard of design, direct marketing, digital etc etc. but nothing in the middle ground. And the middle of the road is a dangerous place to be sometimes. <br><br>But of course the most important thing about the integrated model - in your parlance of a multitude of specialists working together - requires a different type of client who can act as ringmaster to coordinate the various activities. This if course leads to the inevitable bunfight over 'lead agency' status but, if the client is clever enough he/she doesn't really need that - they can do that themselves by sharing the business objectives up front and using a zero-based budgeting methodology to measure efficacy against objectives not channel.<br><br>looking forward to your continuing thoughts on this.<br><br>best<br><br>Mark Superb and thought provoking questions. Integrated agencies struggled in the last 3 years due to there being no budget line for them – everything was demarcated and was therefore easy to buy: a yard of advertising, a yard of design, direct marketing, digital etc etc. but nothing in the middle ground. And the middle of the road is a dangerous place to be sometimes.

But of course the most important thing about the integrated model – in your parlance of a multitude of specialists working together – requires a different type of client who can act as ringmaster to coordinate the various activities. This if course leads to the inevitable bunfight over 'lead agency' status but, if the client is clever enough he/she doesn't really need that – they can do that themselves by sharing the business objectives up front and using a zero-based budgeting methodology to measure efficacy against objectives not channel.

looking forward to your continuing thoughts on this.

best

Mark

]]> By: Mark Hancock http://www.zeusjones.com/blog/2009/if-were-all-specialists-whos-responsible-for-the-big-picture/#comment-2766 Mark Hancock Thu, 24 Sep 2009 15:53:00 +0000 http://www.zeusjones.com/blog/?p=1650#comment-2766 Superb and thought provoking questions. Integrated agencies struggled in the last 3 years due to there being no budget line for them - everything was demarcated and was therefore easy to buy: a yard of advertising, a yard of design, direct marketing, digital etc etc. but nothing in the middle ground. And the middle of the road is a dangerous place to be sometimes. But of course the most important thing about the integrated model - in your parlance of a multitude of specialists working together - requires a different type of client who can act as ringmaster to coordinate the various activities. This if course leads to the inevitable bunfight over 'lead agency' status but, if the client is clever enough he/she doesn't really need that - they can do that themselves by sharing the business objectives up front and using a zero-based budgeting methodology to measure efficacy against objectives not channel. looking forward to your continuing thoughts on this. best Mark Superb and thought provoking questions. Integrated agencies struggled in the last 3 years due to there being no budget line for them – everything was demarcated and was therefore easy to buy: a yard of advertising, a yard of design, direct marketing, digital etc etc. but nothing in the middle ground. And the middle of the road is a dangerous place to be sometimes.

But of course the most important thing about the integrated model – in your parlance of a multitude of specialists working together – requires a different type of client who can act as ringmaster to coordinate the various activities. This if course leads to the inevitable bunfight over ‘lead agency’ status but, if the client is clever enough he/she doesn’t really need that – they can do that themselves by sharing the business objectives up front and using a zero-based budgeting methodology to measure efficacy against objectives not channel.

looking forward to your continuing thoughts on this.

best

Mark

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