In Blue Ocean Strategy very interesting examples and
suggestions are given of companies that have moved from the highly competitive
‘red oceans’, where there is a lot of competition and battles taking place to
win market share, [hence it being red] to ‘blue oceans’, where companies have
created their own markets and uniquely found alternative solutions for their
customers to invest in. These are untapped markets that are not in competition
with anyone else [yet]. Examples shared, includes Cirque du Soleil (top-end
circus performances), Curves (women’s only gyms), [yellow tail] wine (cheap
Australian wine) and also what New York did to address crime.
What I found especially interesting from a change management
point of view was the turnaround of the New York Police Department that is
shared in the book. One of the strategies that they implemented was fishbowl
management. They describe it as follows:
“For strategic change
to have real impact, employees at every level must move en masse. To trigger an
epidemic movement of positive energy, however you should not spread your
efforts thin. Rather you should concentrate your efforts on kingpins, the key influencer in the organisation.
At the heart of
motivating the kingpins in a sustained and meaningful way, is to shine a
spotlight on their actions in a repeated and highly visible way. This is what
we refer to as fishbowl management,
where kingpins’ actions and inaction are made as transparent to others as are
fish in a bowl of water. By placing kingpins in a fish bowl in this way you
greatly raise the stakes of inaction. Light is shined on who is lagging behind,
and a fair stage is set for rapid change agents to shine. For fishbowl
management to work it must be based on transparency,
inclusion and fair process.
Transparency, inclusion and fair processes are things which
are important to me on all levels of the business and something which gets
included in all facets of our work space.
I believe in playing open cards with the team and encouraging dialogue
on all levels. I go through a fish bowl management exercise with the team
regularly regarding sales as well as books that they read; actually started
doing it before reading this specific section in the book, so was fascinated to
read more about it, and putting a name
to it. The results are incredibly interesting and enlightening as to who and
what comes out of the process, and what the team learns and shares. Just to add, I also participate and account
for sales and books that I read. It’s a highly recommendable process and book.