Insights

Research and commentary

Written by the people doing the engagements, which is why it is occasional rather than weekly.

Featured 16 September 2026Operations11 min

Why process standardization keeps failing

Across thirty-one engagements we found the same pattern: the standard was well designed and imposed on people who could see exactly what it would cost them locally. The fix is not better change management.

Arno Fischer, Partner

2 September 2026Technology The real cost of a system you cannot decommission Legacy systems rarely cost what the license says. We costed nine of them properly. Priya Raman

brown cardboard boxes on white metal rack

19 August 2026People Retention during an integration is a design problem People leave integrations because of ambiguity, not because of the merger itself. Mei-Ling Koh

oval brown wooden conference table and chairs inside conference room

5 August 2026Strategy Cost-to-serve is the analysis most firms skip Roughly a quarter of mid-market revenue is loss-making and invisible at gross margin. Dana Whitfield

two men facing each other while shake hands and smiling

22 July 2026Technology Why core system programs overrun by exactly one year The pattern is so consistent it is nearly a law. Here is where the year goes. Priya Raman

person working on blue and white paper on board

8 July 2026Operations Measuring eleven sites the same way, once A practical method for building a cost baseline everyone will actually believe. Kwame Boateng

17 June 2026Strategy When a board should decline its own growth plan Three tests we apply before agreeing that a company is ready to expand. Dana Whitfield

Quarterly, not weekly

Four emails a year with our research and what we have learned from recent engagements. Nothing else.