Archive for February, 2015

Are Trade Shows Worth the Investment?

Saturday, February 28th, 2015

I responded to a reporter’s question recently about the value of trade show participation for businesses. It’s a question that I have often pondered myself. “Are trade shows worth the investment?” Having attended trade shows, both as a participant and as an exhibitor, my opinion tends to lean toward (more…)

What’s in a SWOT? Exploring an Important Input to the Strategic Planning Process

Monday, February 9th, 2015

A SWOT analysis – Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats – is a critical element of a strategic plan, if done correctly. Far from being a “silly exercise” (and I’ll admit in the early days of my career I sometimes felt that it was…) the SWOT is an important input that leads to the development of strategies. It can be a determinant of whether or not you will be able to successfully achieve your goals and objectives. But, it has to be done correctly to deliver that value. (more…)