Editor’s Choices for Week Ending Jul 27, 2012

Article of the Week
How strategists lead (McKinsey Quarterly)
Big Idea:  Cynthia A. Montgomery of HBS describes the key roles of “the strategist” –meaning maker (purpose), the voice of reason (competitive reality), and operator (think about construction not just design). As she explains, these are the characteristics that enable leaders to forge the link between strategy and execution.

Editor’s Choice Articles
How Will You Measure Your Company’s Life? (HBR Blog Network)
Big Idea:  Scott Anthony applies the questions raised about personal purpose in HBS Professor Clay Christensen’s new book to business purpose. If you want to hear what Christensen has to say himself about purpose, check out his TEDx Boston talk as referenced in Inc. (Success: You’re measuring it wrong).

Entrepreneurs Must Be Adept At Rapid Realignment (Forbes)
Big Idea: The essence of strategic alignment is captured in the famous quote: “The main thing is to keep the Main Thing the main thing.” Martin Zwilling lays out what’s required to keep leadership and the organizations centered on what matters in the face of rapid and turbulent change.

Rethinking the Marketing Organization (bcg.perspectives)
Big Idea:  De-layer the traditional organization to make it more flexible and responsive says BCG. The analysis is focused on the marketing function, but the ideas apply more broadly for those who want to think through their organization’s structure to make sure it facilitates driving their strategy.

Government Did Not Build Your Business (Reason)
Big Idea: Ronald Bailey has some interesting information to share on the value of human capital and start-up businesses occasioned by the current Romney-Obama debate on “You didn’t build it.” Even if you don’t agree with the author’s judgment on the debate winner, the analysis is provocative.

Other Articles
What’s Wrong With How You Measure Success (Inc.)