A Bushel and a Peck

A Bushel and a Peck

Abstract

What troubles businesses is a very intriguing and mysterious thought “what are we working for, what are we in it for.”  See, the very thought that we are commercial entreprises may seem to be toughest concern, making new money and cultured progress do not go hand in hand.  The more I think of it more and more, it becomes obvious, modern long lasting businesses survive on the following few things :

1                 1.      Values.

2                 2.      Concern for each other.

3                 3.      Thoughtfulness.

4                 4.      Standardizing all the above.

The ruthlessness that we saw in the way erstwhile organizations like British Petroleum and other petroleum giants approached the energy business saw them thrive for a few 50 years or so, however it caught up with them and within no time they have been demolished and decimated. 

Values are easy to talk about and difficult to implement in an organization, unless it is linked to the customer and the money that he pulls in.  Think of it this way, all customers bring in money, some less some more, a few customers along with them bring in their values, their thoughtfulness and one look at them and it is easy to fall in love with them.  Remember, the thought in a previous case study of mine that we don’t fall in love or hate the customer, its just a job to be done.  However its hard to ignore a good customer, cause you want him to come back for more.  A fundamental change that I implemented in my outlook to build a lasting business was “Prototyping” and “Countertyping”.

Prototyping as anyone would understand is the concept of creating a demonstration model before it goes into mass production or to the factories.  I always create a prototype of what I want to do, draw a roadmap before embarking on a project that we need to sell to the client.  If I was for example asked to state clearly how many kWs there in an 1 HP driven motor, the answer would lie in the prototype.   Theories apart a prototype is very important, in this case study we will discuss the prototyping of a marketing plan and how we did it.

I would also explain how to utilize countertyping to get to a very innovative and creative solution, this is explained by understanding that established norms that run through commercial enterprises work however may not be the best solution.  Sales and Marketing is best understood by the way companies like Honda and Toyota have restructured their manufacturing and taken advantage of best practices before standardizing the same.  S&M  countertyped is an interesting case study and I am sure you will enjoy reading this.
So how may many bushels in a peck asked the customer, and I said “come to me come to me.”