Innovation and Efficiency: It is possible to have it all Case Solution And Analysis, HBR Case Study Solution & Analysis of Harvard Case Studies

The firm, which is also involved in a high degree, as innovation and efficiency in the following approach, which is often called a symmetric strategy. Surprisingly, relatively few companies are able to balance these two emphases. Internal battles for resources often tip the scales in favor of efficiency compared with innovation, or vice versa. Management gurus often warn that simultaneously pursue how to set firm for mediocre performance, but the turbulent nature of today's markets and fierce competition to create a new need for firms to reconsider this dual approach for long-term success. Unfortunately, the practical conclusions from empirical studies on the performance benefits and implementation issues remain scarce. Perhaps this is one of the reasons why few companies are successful in efficiency and innovation. In this article, we provide an overview of the actual use of interdisciplinary marketing executives in publicly traded U.S. firms, firms that successfully use balanced strategy outperform those that either overestimate efficiency and innovation. In addition, we emphasize the role of marketing as an example of an often overlooked necessity for the successful implementation of a functional. Finally, we provide methods for managers to answer three key questions: (1) Is my company symmetric, (2) If my company is symmetric, and if so (3) How can my company become symmetrical "Hide by Matthew Sarkees, John S. Hulland Source: Business Horizons 11 pages. Publication Date: January 15, 2008. Prod. #: BH309-PDF-ENG