Corporate Explorers: Navigating Through Toxic Assumptions with Narendra Laljani

Episode Description:

In this insightful episode of our Corporate Explorer series, we dive deep into the crucial topic of “Outside-In: Overcoming Toxic Assumptions with Market Insight” with our distinguished guest, Narendra Laljani. As a co-author of the chapter, management educator, consultant, and program director at Henley Business School, Laljani brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to our discussion, illuminating the path for organizations aiming to navigate the treacherous waters of innovation and strategic adaptation.

Key Highlights:

• Introduction to the Series [00:00:00]: We kick off the episode with gratitude towards our sponsor, Wazoku, for supporting the exploration of effective, sustainable innovation ecosystems. A brief overview sets the stage for our deep dive into overcoming toxic assumptions through market insight, highlighting the journey through previous series parts with Mike Tushman and Andy Binns.

• The Core Challenges [00:02:00]: Laljani and host Aidan McCullen discuss the dual challenges of the “inside-out” and “outside-in” perspectives that organizations face. Through captivating examples such as Encyclopaedia Britannica, Kodak, and Thomas Cook, we explore the pitfalls of success recipes and the importance of adapting to environmental changes.

• Narendra Laljani’s Rich Experience [00:04:00]: Laljani shares his extensive background in corporate exploration, offering personal anecdotes and lessons learned from both successes and failures. His insights into leadership challenges and strategic execution are not to be missed.

• Overcoming Embedded Assumptions [00:05:00]: Delving into the metaphor of organizational DNA, we discuss how deeply embedded assumptions and beliefs shape corporate culture and decision-making processes, often to the detriment of innovation and growth.

• Mental Models and Industry Paradigms [00:09:00]: The conversation broadens to include the concept of mental models within organizations and entire industries, emphasizing the importance of challenging existing paradigms to uncover new opportunities.

• The Value of New Perspectives [00:12:00]: Highlighting the critical role of newcomers in injecting fresh thinking into stagnant environments, we discuss strategies for preserving and leveraging newness within corporate structures.

• A Framework for Innovation [00:14:00]: Laljani introduces a practical framework for challenging assumptions, derived from the work of C.K. Prahalad and Gary Hamel, offering listeners a tool for strategic innovation and thought provocation.

• Continuous Learning as a Competitive Edge [00:16:00]: The episode concludes with a powerful discussion on the importance of learning, unlearning, and relearning, underscoring continuous learning as the only sustainable competitive advantage in the future.

Where to Find Us: Tune in to this compelling episode on platforms like Apple Podcasts and Spotify to gain insights into overcoming toxic assumptions with market insight. For those looking to dive deeper into strategic innovation and corporate exploration, connect with Narendra Laljani on LinkedIn or explore the upcoming Strategic Innovation Program at Henley Business School.

Fit to Compete – Why Honest Conversations about Your Company’s Capabilities Are the Key to a Winning Strategy

In part 1, we set the context for the book and discuss:

• Mike’s background and inspiration for the book.
• The problem of organisational silence and how it hinders strategic execution and transformation
• The concept of strategic fitness and how it helps organizations align their strategy and culture
• The process and benefits of holding honest conversations with everyone in the organization
• The challenges and barriers of overcoming the silent killers, such as fear, hierarchy, and complacency
• The vision and courage to create a culture of corporate stewardship and continuous learning.

Find Mike here:

https://www.beermichael.com

The HBR article I mentioned:: https://hbr.org/1990/11/why-change-programs-dont-produce-change

The HBR article Mike mentioned: https://www.hbs.edu/ris/Publication%20Files/16-121_bc0f03ce-27de-4479-a90e-9d78b8da7b67.pdf

Welcome to the Corporate Explorer Series, your gateway to the dynamic world of corporate exploration! 🚀 Dive into the inaugural episode, where we delve into the transformative insights from the “Corporate Explorer Fieldbook” by Andrew Binns and Eugene Ivanov.

Brought to you by Wazoku, a pioneer in cultivating effective, sustainable innovation ecosystems, this series features Michael Tushman, a leading academic, professor, and advisor, sharing his journey from the corporate frontier to academia.

Discover Tushman’s profound experiences with General Radio, a successful enterprise navigating market changes. Explore the pivotal questions on industry transitions, adaptability, and the application of structural ambidexterity. Learn the practical “how” in the Corporate Explorer Fieldbook, segmented into three key sections: Strategic Ambition, Innovation Disciplines, and Explore Organization and Leadership.

Our gratitude to Wazoku, a catalyst for large organizations in creating innovation ecosystems. Wazoku’s intelligent enterprise software fosters connected collective intelligence, uniting employees, suppliers, start-ups, universities, and a global crowd of 700,000+ problem solvers.

Accelerate your understanding of corporate exploration and innovation! 🎙️ Find Wazoku at https://www.wazoku.com. Subscribe now and embark on a journey of connected collective intelligence! #CorporateExplorer #InnovationPodcast #ConnectedIntelligence #Wazoku