Issue 65, Winter 2011

In this issue
Cover story
- Booz & Company’s annual study shows that spending more on R&D won’t drive results. The most crucial factors are strategic alignment and a culture that supports innovation.
Best Business Books 2011
Our annual review: James O’Toole on Ethics and Aspirations, Phil Rosenzweig on Strategy, David K. Hurst on Management, David Warsh on Economics, Catharine P. Taylor on Marketing, Barbara Kellerman on Leadership, and Michael Schrage on Technology.Resetting the Cost Structure at Shell
A senior finance executive explains how a zero-based cost management effort is leading to significant performance improvements.The Thought Leader Interview: Meg Wheatley
An expert on innovative leadership warns that too many companies are reverting to fear-driven management. Instead, executives should hold to their values and build healthy corporate communities.A Better Way to Battle Malware
Emulating the methods used to transform production quality could clean up the Internet — and might even pay for itself.
Comment
A Moore’s Law for Renewable Energy
Increasing capacity per dollar in computer technology has driven exponential growth for 50 years. The same could happen in the energy industry.China’s Auto Industry Responds to Record Growth
Dazong Wang, CEO of one of China’s largest automakers, discusses how auto companies will keep pace with Chinese consumers’ appetite for cars.The Right Side of Financial Services
Financial institutions need new strategies — to rethink portfolios, customer-centricity, and risk — for the neglected side of their balance sheets.Making Customer Segmentation Deliver
As the ability to gather sophisticated data grows, here’s a four-step process for making segmentation drive improved performance.
Conversation
Taming the “Bullwhip Effect” in Supply Chains
How upstream companies can hedge the risks from demand cycles.