Summer school 2004 - Corporate life cycle
Resources
In depth
Learn how to cheat death
The idea of a corporate life cycle suggests that every company's existence is finite but a fading business can stage a revival by rethinking its purpose.
How to deal with decline
Viewed from inside a failing company, the process may look irreversible. In fact there are nearly always measures that can turn things around.
How to refill the talent pool
The loss of a key manager at a critical moment, for whatever reason, can be devastating. Advance planning is vital to prevent a company from sinking.
Be principled for a change
Like removing growths from a living organism, restructuring can be painful, invasive and have many unfortunate side effects.
A world of difference
To become a truly global company, a mature business needs to integrate its various activities around the world, drawing them together in a single network of activity.
Expect the unexpected
Crises are an inevitable part of management and the larger the business grows the bigger the crises seem to become.
Barriers that can be a boon
Sooner or later, the growing company will reach market saturation in its domestic market, and there will be little choice but to move into overseas markets.
Shared values in marriage
Despite the high failure rate, mergers and acquisitions are still worth attempting and can create lasting value.
Be careful to avoid inertia
As companies become larger and enter new markets, a kind of inertia may begin to set in. The initial dynamism of growth begins to fade away. Every effort becomes harder.
Conflict is not the only way
Every business has to deal with the views and demands of groups outside the organisation. Ultimately, businesses are part of society, and have to take account of society's views.
