Growth Strategies That Work--Again and Again, 2nd Edition (HBR Article Collection)

In too many companies, growth is stagnating--even shrinking. Clearly, typical growth strategies--international expansion, acquisitions, product proliferation--are losing steam. What's the remedy? More dependable ways to propel and sustain growth. The most successful companies tackle this challenge in three ways: they strengthen their core business by building a foundation of operational excellence; they recognize when it's time to redefine their core; and if it is time, they change their core gradually. How? They successfully enter new areas by leveraging the intangible assets (customer relationships, proprietary technical know-how) they built while establishing their central businesses. Consider General Motors. The automotive giant used its installed base of 80 million vehicle owners to launch OnStar--an in-vehicle service for drivers that includes traffic updates, concierge services, and route-planning information. Two million drivers subscribe, generating recurring revenue streams for GM. The four Harvard Business Review articles in this collection are: "Uncovering Hidden Value in a Midsize Manufacturing Company" by James E. Ashton, Frank X. Cook, Jr., and Paul Schmitz; "The Growth Crisis--and How to Escape It" by Adrian J. Slywotzky and Richard Wise; "Growth Outside the Core" by Chris Zook and James Allen; and "Finding Your Next Core Business" by Chris Zook.