So I have been getting a lot of links from Linked In about the top ten this and and top ten that. 1001 reasons why your business is not successful or 10 things to get your social media up and what not. I started thinking, who gives these people the right to know what these companies needs or not. It’s got to be impossible for one strategy consultant or expert to figure out the problems for one company let alone create a list that takes care of all other companies of the world. I am all for the sharing of ideas and expertise or even experiences but come on, there is no one list that can sort out to all marketing or strategy problems. I know I sound like I am ranting a little bit but maybe we should come up with concrete analysis and solutions on a wider scale, creating frameworks that can be applied to different countries in different industries. Porter’s five forces models hasn’t lasted this long by accident and it will continue to be used for a long time because it is solid and relevant across different era.

Now my problem with the occasional (fad) strategists is that their solutions to perceived problems are all rather short term in scope because they all come up with more things you can improve at such a fast pace that the initial solutions aren’t even been given time to fail. I suppose it’s all down to the constant changes on the internet or maybe I should try some of the tips instead of mourning about them, but then, where is the fun in that?!

Hopefully a more substantial post will come next week, something about China and a skills gap there caught my eye. Would you go to work in China? But, the real question is how come a country with the largest population in the world and one that supplies the most number of foreign students to all the education destinations has shortage of skilled labour?!