Francis WadeFramework Consulting · Consultant who solves tough strategy and productivity problems for corporations | Author | Web-Speaker | Jump Leap Long-Term Strategy Podcast

snip 3/5 How to Tackle the Problem of Conglomerate Strategy

Name: snip 3/5 How to Tackle the Problem of Conglomerate Strategy
Uploaded: 2021-06-03T12:25:10+00:00
Duration: 34 s
Channel: Francis Wade
Description: In this segment, the speaker advises corporate leaders—specifically managing directors of business units—to dramatically lengthen their strategic…

3 Jun 2021 · 1 min

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In this segment, the speaker advises corporate leaders—specifically managing directors of business units—to dramatically lengthen their strategic planning horizons to 15–30 years. The recommendation includes supplying concrete examples, templates, and support to enable the creation of detailed, feasible long‑range plans. While current trends must be considered, the exercise is framed not as forecasting but as actively designing a preferred future. The speaker acknowledges that such an undertaking will be challenging for most MDs, but even imperfect attempts are valuable because they push executives into a productive zone of discomfort that can stimulate strategic innovation.

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The simplest request is for business units to lengthen their planning horizons. Ask them to look 15 to 30 years out. Give them the examples, support, and templates they need to produce a feasible detailed plan. While it needs to account for current trends, the team shouldn't be limited by them. After all, this is not an exercise in predicting the future, but crafting one, which includes preferred outcomes. For the average MD of a business unit, this is likely to be a tough activity. But even clumsy attempts will push executives into the right zone of discomfort.