by Bruce | September 25, 2006 | Articles, Cultural Considerations, Finance, Globalization, M&A, Strategy
In the current issue of Legal Week, you can find both a breathless and statistics-distorting lead editorial, which I commend immediately to your e-dustbin (71% is "almost three-quarters," while 61% is "well under two-thirds"—how about the...
by Bruce | September 20, 2006 | Articles, Finance, Leadership, Strategy, Technology strategy
Is IT capable of providing a sustainable competitive advantage, as it has for American Airlines, Dell Computer, FedEx, and Wal-Mart, or is it a necessary—but not distinguishing—function that should be managed to operate smoothly at minimal cost (like...
by Bruce | September 12, 2006 | Articles, Compensation, Cultural Considerations, Finance, Globalization, Leadership, M&A, Partnership Structures, Practice Group Management, Strategy
It’s not our wont to try to "cover" late-breaking news—that’s not an arena where I care to compete, nor is it why I think you come to "Adam Smith, Esq."—but just as every rule has exceptions, so today’s word of merger...
by Bruce | September 11, 2006 | Articles, Cultural Considerations, Finance, Globalization, Leadership, Practice Group Management, Strategy, Technology strategy
In kicking off the core/required course "Strategic Technology & Innovation" that I’m teaching as an adjunct professor at SUNY/Stony Brook’s Graduate College of Business—a two-year program leading to an MBA for senior law firm managers...
by Bruce | September 9, 2006 | Articles, Finance, Leadership, Strategy, Technology strategy
Does this sound like your firm? IT is managed as one massive homogeneous lump, where the executive committee’s key concern seems to be managing (read: reducing) costs. Now, reducing costs (or increasing productivity, or mitigating risk) may be fine...
by Bruce | September 5, 2006 | Articles, Compensation, Cultural Considerations, Finance, Globalization, Leadership, Partnership Structures, Practice Group Management, Strategy
My piece about "Superstar Economics" and laterals has produced an unusually heavy volume of reader response, so it deserves a follow up. Herewith its desserts: The original piece, as I hope you recall, posed the question: Assume for...
