The hottest Strategic Planning Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Business Topics

SQL and Python Combined Change RevOps

beyondrevenueoperations • 19 implied HN points • 27 Oct 24
💼 Business Data Analysis Automation Technology Integration Strategic Planning
  1. Combining SQL and Python makes data management much easier. SQL helps you access and pull data, while Python helps analyze it and create reports.
  2. Using SQL, you can break down data silos from different systems to get a complete view of your customers and performance. This is crucial for making smart, data-driven decisions.
  3. With Python, you can automate tasks, build predictive models, and visualize data, which saves time and enhances your ability to understand trends and insights.

TBM 322: Work Shape Mix

The Beautiful Mess • 647 implied HN points • 20 Nov 24
💼 Business Project management Organizational Behavior Team Dynamics Product Development Strategic Planning
  1. Companies often deal with three types of work: large projects, independent product work, and new zero-to-one efforts. Each type requires different management and has its own risks.
  2. As a company grows, it shifts from doing new projects to having more complex ones. It’s important to balance these types of work to avoid chaos and inefficiency.
  3. Recognizing when to formalize new processes is crucial. Waiting too long could lead to bigger problems, so it’s key to find a balance between addressing issues and letting some friction stay.

A Tale of Two 4-Stars

CDR Salamander • 982 implied HN points • 03 Apr 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Military Foreign Relations Leadership Strategic Planning National Security
  1. The People's Republic of China is strategically moving to become the premier world power.
  2. Admiral Charles A. Richard provides a fact-based, direct analysis of China's military capabilities and suggests proper responses.
  3. General Mark Milley's approach to discussing China's rise lacks clear analysis and consistency compared to Admiral Richard.

How to run your marketing team day-to-day

MKT1 Newsletter • 5 implied HN points • 16 Jan 25
💼 Business Marketing Strategic Planning Goal setting Team Dynamics Project management
  1. Break your big goals into smaller monthly tasks. This helps everyone see what they need to do each month to stay on track.
  2. Set regular meetings for your team to talk about important topics and updates. Make sure these meetings have a purpose and keep everyone aligned.
  3. Connect daily tasks to your overall goals. This means making sure every project and request relates back to what you are trying to achieve.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

When to Use Forecasting for Decisions

Abstraction • 19 implied HN points • 13 Dec 24
💼 Business Decision-making Forecasting Risk management Strategic Planning Data Analysis
  1. It's not always worth it to forecast when making decisions. Sometimes it's better to prepare for the worst or trust experts who know what they're doing.
  2. For less important choices, you can follow proven rules or experts. This makes decision-making easier and saves time.
  3. When facing big decisions, like moving cities, it's smart to gather data to guide your choice. Using information about others’ experiences can help you make better decisions.

What To Do When You're Stuck At A Business That Doesn't Care About Data Science

High ROI Data Science • 357 implied HN points • 27 Feb 23
💼 Business Data science Leadership Technical Debt Strategic Planning
  1. Many data scientists in companies that don't prioritize data science end up doing basic reporting and analytics.
  2. Technical management in such companies often lack the understanding and incentives to support data initiatives.
  3. Navigating a lack of data culture and strategy in a company requires significant effort but can lead to valuable career opportunities.

✅ Influence through insight

Wadds Inc. newsletter • 59 implied HN points • 05 Feb 24
💼 Business Corporate Communication Public Relations Management Strategic Planning
  1. Corporate communication now provides a broader view of how the public sees a company, which can challenge management's own perceptions. This helps businesses understand their stakeholders better.
  2. There are mixed opinions about whether companies should publicly take a stand on social issues. Some believe there's a backlash against this expectation in today's environment.
  3. The role of corporate communication is shifting from being seen as just a cost to being recognized as valuable for the organization. Skills in data and insights are becoming more crucial for success.

Weekend Update #67: Command Change

Phillips’s Newsletter • 93 implied HN points • 10 Feb 24
🌍 World Politics Strategic Planning Foreign Relations
  1. Thursday was significant for Ukrainian command with the announcement of a new leader, General Oleksandr Syrskyi, after General Zaluzhny was relieved, highlighting a bold move by Zelensky.
  2. The emphasis on the importance of commanders not being turned into celebrities, as success in warfare is a team effort and not solely dependent on individual brilliance.
  3. Zelensky has started outlining potential strategies for Ukraine's war efforts, including the creation of a new branch for Unmanned Systems Forces and plans to attack Russian assets.
  4. The political situation in Washington remains uncertain, but there is a slight optimism for more aid to Ukraine if certain factors align in Congress.

The "Macros" for healthy engineering teams - part 3: Fats

The Healthy Engineering Leader • 19 implied HN points • 17 Apr 24
💼 Business Management Leadership Team Dynamics Strategic Planning Productivity
  1. Strategic thinking is like 'good fat' for engineering teams, helping them store energy and prepare for future challenges. It keeps teams motivated and focused on long-term success.
  2. Technical debt is considered 'bad fat' that can lead to inefficiencies and low morale. Just like bad fats in the diet, if ignored, it can cause serious problems down the line.
  3. Engineering leaders should encourage their teams to develop strategies that address technical debt, ensuring ongoing productivity and health for the team and the software they produce.

Don't Plan For the Worst

The Radar • 19 implied HN points • 10 Mar 24
💼 Business Strategic Planning Resource Allocation Leadership Risk management
  1. Planning for the worst may not be the best strategy for intelligently allocating resources.
  2. Organizations often over-invest resources in low-percentage operational scenarios, leading to unnecessary pressure.
  3. Quantify the costs and payoffs of different scenarios to ensure that resources are mapped to value and not solely based on worst-case fears.

✅ Using AI for tactical and strategic applications in public relations

Wadds Inc. newsletter • 39 implied HN points • 13 Oct 23
💼 Business Public Relations AI Technology Content creation Strategic Planning Risk management
  1. AI tools can help public relations pros improve their writing by checking spelling and grammar, making them better at their jobs. Many people already use these tools without realizing how much they help.
  2. Focusing on using AI for just generating content can ignore its potential in strategy and management, which could provide even bigger benefits for PR practices.
  3. While AI can save a lot of time and make work easier, there's a risk of spreading misinformation, so it's important to use AI wisely and question its outputs.

Amazon’s Strategic Moves to Counter Temu’s Competitive Edge: The BuyBox Innovation

Gad’s Newsletter • 41 implied HN points • 19 Feb 24
💼 Business E-commerce Competition Consumer behavior Strategic Planning
  1. Amazon is facing competition from companies like Temu, pushing them to innovate strategy like introducing a second BuyBox.
  2. The BuyBox tool simplifies shopping by highlighting one listing, and its introduction boosts marketplace orders, lowers entry barriers for sellers, and can lead to lower prices and higher quality for consumers.
  3. Self-preferencing of Amazon's products in search results may have mixed effects, impacting competition, innovation, consumer choice, and marketplace dynamics.

Comparing approaches of present and future focus in organisations

Great CTOs 'Focus on outcomes' • 19 implied HN points • 22 Jan 24
💼 Business Strategic Planning Feedback loops
  1. Different approaches to how work happens in organizations significantly impact prioritization and work value.
  2. Gap Thinking can lead to organizations focusing on lists of tasks, while Present Thinking involves constant assessment of current conditions for improvement.
  3. Assess organizations based on how they balance present and future thinking and adapt through feedback loops.

The 3 Horizons for strategic planning

Alex Ghiculescu's Newsletter • 33 implied HN points • 19 Mar 24
💼 Business Strategic Planning Success Metrics
  1. A 3 Horizons plan is a tool used for strategic planning to align views of the future and inspire big thinking within a company.
  2. The 3 Horizons consist of H1 to protect and grow, H2 for opportunities to capture, and H3 to create the future. Each section focuses on different aspects of company development.
  3. 3 Horizons are not time-bound and should be reviewed annually to update them as the company's vision evolves. Success is measured by whether the plan is actively used in decision-making.

The fallacy of mission, vision and values

Ruben Ugarte's Growth Needle™ • 19 implied HN points • 03 Oct 23
💼 Business Corporate strategy Organizational Behavior Leadership Strategic Planning Decision-making
  1. Mission statements should provide clear direction but often don't help in day-to-day decisions. It's important to make them practical for true guidance.
  2. Vision is seen as a longer-term aspiration that provides motivation. But it needs to be clear so everyone knows what they are working towards.
  3. Values should guide behavior and decision-making within an organization. Instead of being vague, they should be specific and actionable to be effective.

Not Just Investors, But Product Owners

Equal Ventures • 19 implied HN points • 02 Feb 23
💼 Business Venture Capital Strategic Planning Leadership Employee Development
  1. Equal Ventures focuses on verticalizing staff, with team members specializing in specific sectors like retail, climate, and insurance, allowing for deeper expertise in those areas.
  2. Transitioning planning efforts from a top-down approach to being led by Product Owners like Chelsea, Simran, and Adam enables more personalized strategies for dominating each vertical at the seed stage.
  3. Empowering employees to take the lead in shaping the firm's direction not only tailors approaches to specific markets but also fosters individual growth opportunities that benefit both the team and the firm.

When The Music's Over ...

Trying to Understand the World • 12 implied HN points • 06 Mar 24
🌍 World Politics Conflict Military Ideology International relations Strategic Planning
  1. The West may not be prepared for the potential outcomes of the conflict in Ukraine, and the ideological and strategic differences may lead to significant consequences.
  2. It is important to understand the distinction between tactical, operational, and strategic levels of warfare and how they can impact the overall outcome of conflicts.
  3. Russian military capabilities and strategies are showcasing superiority in various aspects over Western equipment and approaches, leading to a potential shift in global perceptions and defense strategies.

✅ Monday briefing: Wadds Inc. 2.0, planning tool for creative agencies, local democracy boost, govt blames comms, dodgy digital data, PR and management, Twitter deal, charger standard, and more...

Wadds Inc. newsletter • 39 implied HN points • 10 Oct 22
💼 Business Public Relations Media Digital marketing Strategic Planning
  1. Wadds Inc. is relaunching as a family business to focus on supporting their family and community-based projects. This new approach aims to create a more regenerative business model.
  2. A new strategic planning tool for creative agencies has been introduced, helping them navigate important issues over the next eighteen months using a detailed framework.
  3. The European Union is enforcing a standard charger requirement, meaning all devices will need to use USB-C connectors by 2024, which will impact companies like Apple.

Who before what

Tech Ramblings • 19 implied HN points • 30 Apr 23
💼 Business Management Leadership Organizational Culture Team Building Strategic Planning
  1. Choosing the right people is crucial for success. Having a strong team matters more than knowing exactly what to do first.
  2. Wells Fargo thrived because they recruited talented leaders who embraced change, while Bank of America struggled with weak leadership.
  3. This 'who before what' principle also applies to personal relationships. Make sure the people you bring into your life add value and support your growth.

#15: Maintenance by design

The Uncertainty Mindset (soon to become tbd) • 119 implied HN points • 12 Feb 20
💼 Business Organizational Design Systems Thinking Strategic Planning Change Management
  1. Maintenance isn't just about fixing broken things. It can also mean improving what already exists and ensuring everything runs smoothly.
  2. Design systems to be flexible and aware of changes in their environment. This helps them adapt quickly without breaking down.
  3. Having a diverse setup, like different types of wheat in a field, makes systems more stable and less fragile. They can adjust better to unexpected challenges.

18/36 :Product Discovery - Risks & Mitigations

Product Mindset's Newsletter • 17 implied HN points • 21 May 23
💼 Business Risk management Technology Project management Software Development Strategic Planning
  1. Understanding product risks involves assessing the impact of uncertainty on developing a product.
  2. Risk management in IT projects is crucial for maximizing results, effective communication, and allocating funds for high risks.
  3. Managing risks involves identifying, analyzing, and mitigating them through strategies like avoiding, reducing likelihood, and reducing impact.

Quitting

Fish Food for Thought • 5 implied HN points • 20 Dec 23
💼 Business Decision-making Leadership Strategic Planning Project management Technology
  1. Quitting can sometimes be advantageous, even though it's often seen negatively in society.
  2. Knowing when to quit is as important as knowing when to persist, especially in decision-making and project management.
  3. Strategic quitting requires establishing clear criteria, listening to experienced voices, and making rational decisions for better outcomes.

#16: Working for an uncertain future

The Uncertainty Mindset (soon to become tbd) • 39 implied HN points • 19 Feb 20
💼 Business Organizational Behavior Human Resources Innovation Management Practices Strategic Planning
  1. Organizations often stick to old hiring methods that don't fit today's changing world. This can be a problem because roles aren't always clear or stable.
  2. A better approach is 'negotiated joining', where new hires help shape their roles through small tests. This makes it easier for them to adapt when situations change.
  3. Flexible organizations are like willows that bend and adapt, rather than rigid oaks. They can adjust better to uncertainties and continue to thrive.

Beat the Luck Factor: How Strategic Patience Can Make You Ready for Opportunities

Leadership Tales • 0 implied HN points • 23 Apr 23
💼 Business Career growth Decision-making Strategic Planning Skill development
  1. Strategic patience is about preparing yourself for opportunities and seizing them when they come.
  2. Invest in your long-term professional development, even if it means sacrificing short-term gains.
  3. Be ready to seize opportunities quickly with the right skills, like Tesla did in the EV market.

When does Win-Win compromise the greater good? 🤔

PeopleStorming • 0 implied HN points • 09 Nov 20
💼 Business Workplace dynamics Team Collaboration Strategic Planning
  1. Win-win solutions may not always serve the greater good because they could lead to suboptimal results for all parties involved.
  2. Optimization comes from maximizing 'winning' for all parties over time, not just at a single point in time. Wise compromises consider consequences in the long run.
  3. Teams facing conflict in prioritization may benefit from zooming out and strategically considering trade-offs holistically to resolve conflicts.

You’re Iterating to Nowhere

realkinetic • 0 implied HN points • 21 Feb 18
💼 Business Strategic Planning Process Improvement Goal setting Agile Methodology
  1. Teams working towards a shared vision are more efficient and deliver more value. Clear vision empowers team members to make better decisions independently.
  2. Having a shared vision prevents teams from iterating aimlessly. It provides direction and purpose to the team's efforts.
  3. Strategic planning with high-level vision and concrete goals is essential for project success. Combining agile for day-to-day tasks with strategic planning ensures consistent delivery of value.