Change made in pursuit of opportunities can also eliminate other opportunities. But the same can be said for the lack purposeful change. While decisions and change are not the same, they are closely related. Indecisions and inaction has consequences on a level equal to purposeful decisions and change. Remember, change happens. You either change to prosper and survive or natural forces change you and your environment and for the worse. The Opportunity Wedge conveys that each decision and indecision, each change (purposeful or not) impacts future options and opportunities for a company. In business, management should consider the impact of changes on future opportunities. They fight against the normal narrowing of the wedge. The company that moves from Lifecycle to Lifecycle, and carefully considers the impact of their action and inaction on the future, will have an Opportunity Wedge that is more like an elongated open ended box—the upper line represents maximum opportunities and the lower line represents no alternative (or new) opportunities will be more parallel—avoiding the normal linear narrowing of the wedge. They keep their options open. Using the example of Underwood—the fact that they decided they were a typewriter company rather than a document production company narrowed the wedge to a sharp point and that led to their eventual disappearance as a company and then as a brand. On the other hand, Steve Jobs at Apple would not limit that business to a “computer company.”
You are invited to an Eligant Evening of Mystery
If you are going to be around Nashville or Franklin on November 15, make reservations for "An Evening of Mystery" at Lillie Belles restaurant in historic downtown Franklin. Call 615-595-9557 for reservations or 615-327-0100 for more information. The evening with author Tom Collins includes a gourmet multiple-course dinner, a copy of The Claret Murders plus a live performance as the audience tries to solve the mystery--who killed Mr. Boddy, where was he killed and with what weapon? The Claret Murders, a new mystery novel by Tom Collins. is available in paperback from Amazon and e-book editions are available for the Kindle, Nook, and Apple’s iPad— or go to i65north.com for a signed copy