Arjen van Berkum | Technology & Contract Management Evangelist

16 maart 2015 by Arjen van Berkum Leave a Comment

Leaders know how to let their company sell a naked product

Golden circle - Simon Sinek (TED) Times of excessive margins are history. Every entrepreneur, CEO or CFO knows that by now. Organisations need to operate with lower budgets, costs need to be decreased to acceptable levels for business continuity. Companies have been confronted with this unruly reality for a few years. What is causing that reality? What changes would create a new balance for business continuity? Recognising this profound uncertainty, every organisation should stress the importance of making decisions when the time is right. In this article I hope to give you some insights on how to deal with the current turbulent market circumstances and the constantly changing customer’s demand.

27 februari 2015 by Arjen van Berkum Leave a Comment

Do you dare to let go of company rules?

Brazilian entrepreneur Ricardo Semler has built a global empire by engaging to two things: trust and constantly asking himself how he – as an employer – could contribute to his employees’ happiness. He even developed innovative schools to institute this mindset. The idea was to start teaching people this way of thinking as early as possible – in kindergarten.

Nowadays his employees choose their own hours, salary and boss. What? Yes, they really do. Besides that, they have the opportunity to learn how to make choices and how to take responsibility. Bureaucracy has been diminished to a minimum. Less company rules and supervision appeared to be a great recipe for productive and happy employees. What can we learn from this innovative success story?

21 februari 2015 by Arjen van Berkum Leave a Comment

Return of the scout: do you need innovation or agility?

Innovation or agility?

In my opinion there is a subtle, but significant difference between innovative companies and agile companies. I consider agile to be a more robust survival strategy than innovation. If you want to be able to adapt to both strategies, either separately or at the same time, you really need to understand that there is a clear distinction. Because of the decision support on these matters, I think the scout is on the rise again. Let me explain. First, what does scouting actually mean? Second, how can it benefit your ecosystem? And third, how are agility and innovation related in this context?

12 februari 2015 by Arjen van Berkum 2 Comments

Create or join? Business ecosystem to survive the knowledge-era

We all know the industrial-era has shifted to a knowledge era. So, why do a lot of organisations still behave in the old fashion way? These days we are living in a more volatile society with an almost unpredictable economy. Still organisations are producing and delivering according their good old business model. This is reality: networking capability, software systems that have little supply chain to manage, and global open source platforms innovating around customer problems in real time. Traditional business models are becoming more and more ineffective at driving business results. Why has the greater part not followed the transition yet?

4 februari 2015 by Arjen van Berkum Leave a Comment

KPMG gives away the unique HR opportunity

Let HR and innovation go hand in hand

Recently I read an interesting whitepaper published by KPMG. Culture and HR outlined in one paper as drivers for innovation. Splendid. Not so often you get so clearly explained how HR as a strategic can drive innovation. I share most of their view on the subject. The paper illustrates why innovation matters and how HR can play a role in these processes. Or should I say, must play a role?

Innovation is not about copying successes of other organisations. On the contrary, because it could end up in a disaster for you. Each company should develop its own approach to innovation, given the unique set of circumstances they have to anticipate on. The organisation’s (desired) culture is a significant factor for this approach. It is not only about employees being able to identify themselves with the organisation. Also collaboration and acceptance of failure are key; these two are prerequisites for an environment that needs to encourage creativity, to drive innovation.

How can top management, employees and process reach that optimal synergy? What key questions should an organisation answer before setting the scenario? How does innovation expands?

I truly recommend reading the whitepaper ‘HR as a driver for organizational innovation’ and think about how you can create your unique opportunity.

Let HR and innovation go hand in hand

► Download KPMG’s whitepaper

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