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The Escher Cycle
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The Escher Cycle

Creating Self-Reinforcing Business Advantage

Finn Jackson
Thomson Texere, 2004
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Editorial Rating

6

Qualities

  • Applicable
  • Well Structured

Recommendation

Finn Jackson is a very practical business architect. Instead of focusing on theoretical abstractions, he shows why concrete activities, choices and processes matter. He writes that strategy’s only use is to help you refine and adjust your actions. He explains how to use such basic ideas as wise deployment of resources, strong leadership and realistic strategies to create your own “Escher Cycle” of repeating renewal and competitive advantage. Then Jackson shows how to sustain your ongoing competitive edge by letting your business change as competition and the future demand. getAbstract thinks he paints a graphic picture of the unending elements of success.

Summary

Strategy and Action

Running your business presents two major challenges. First, how do you create and maintain a sustainable competitive advantage in a rapidly changing marketplace against competitors who quickly adapt to every innovation you make? Second, how do you get over, around or through the mountain of tasks you face each day? Answering these questions will become easier when you realize they are connected, and that strategy and tactics (the actions you take to implement your strategy) are flip sides of the same coin. Strategy without action is meaningless; taking action without having a purpose or structure is ineffective.

All of your competitors have similar strategies, but companies that execute their activities better than their competitors are the ones that win. What are those activities? They are actions that enable the company to “make money by using resources to satisfy customer needs.” Effective activities involve executing, balancing, fine-tuning and connecting. That means your business must be great at operations, leadership, strategy and the creation of a “self-reinforcing layer of business advantage” that constantly recurs.

This is the “Escher...

About the Author

“Business architect” Finn Jackson consults with businesses around the world to help start new companies and revitalize troubled ones. He is based in England.

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