Corporate Revitalization

Managing in a Time of Turbulence

In a new series of papers based upon an ongoing study of large publicly-listed companies (NYSE and NASDAQ), professor Robert G. Barnwell assesses the fundamentals of successful performance improvement, strategic change management, and strategy execution programs.   The study seeks to identify the best practices within each stage of the strategic change management process to achieve rapid and lasting results.  These stages include:

1. Analysis. Analyze and diagnose the present situation and underlying cause of any financial or operational challenges as well as future opportunities.
2. Planning. Develop a performance improvement or strategic revitalization plan based upon a clear understanding of the Company’s business, industry and market– as well as an understanding of the company’s financial and strategic resources.
3. Alignment. Allocate resources, assign of roles, responsibilities and accountabilities in alignment with the strategic restructuring plan and key supporting initiatives.
4. Implementation. Lead the rapid implementation of the plan with a focus on key plan objectives and critical supporting initiatives.  Proactively plan for the achievement of early and high-visibility “wins” to generate rapid momentum.
5. Review, reward and refinement (3Rs).  Monitor progress against stated benchmarks, incentivize performance, and refine strategy and supporting initiatives to reflect evolving situation.

In addition to several articles and research papers, study findings appear within Robert’s forthcoming book Lead, Follow or Get the Hell Out of Our Way: Driving Rapid and Lasting Strategic Change (Fall 2011).

Executive Biography

Robert G. Barnwell

Robert G. Barnwell is a clinical professor in the MBA program of CUNY Baruch College’s Zicklin School of Business and a regularly invited guest speaker at such universities and business schools as Harvard, London Business School, MIT, Stanford, and the Wharton School of Business.  His academic and professional expertise is focused on competitive strategy, strategy execution, and strategic change management.

Robert has considerable strategy consulting and corporate finance experience working with companies undergoing significant strategic, operational and financial change.  On a limited basis, he works with select companies to advise and co-manage their strategy execution and corporate revitalization programs.  His industry experience includes: automotive & transportation, consumer products companies, industrial manufacturing, plastics and chemicals, pharmaceuticals & medical supplies as well as numerous other industries.