We are often asked to speak at external conferences around the world on a broad range of strategic management topics. We also organise regular Square Peg client conferences which are detailed below.
  SPS Sponsorship - SPS Strategic Value in Corporate Reporting Awards 2010
As long-standing members of the UK’s Strategic Planning Society (SPS) we sponsored the Best Overall Strategic Value Added by a FTSE250 Company award at the SPS Strategic Value in Corporate Reporting Awards 2010. The awards recognise best practice in strategy presentation through annual reports and were made at an event in central London on 28th April.
Read More about the SPS Awards
Managing High Velocity Change in M&As
Cardiff University
Doug Ross was invited to address the Cardiff University, Advanced Institute of Management on May 20th on the topic of 'Managing High Velocity Change in M&As'.
London Communicators and Engagement Network
We were delighted to have been invited to lead a session for the London Communicators and Engagement Network. Doug Ross spoke at the Aviva Tower on 9th March 2010 addressing the question: ‘In a world where all organisations are for sale - Are you ready to manage a merger, acquisition or joint venture’
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Strategy into practice lecture series: 'Sex and Turkeys – Cultural Integration in M&As and JVs'
Kingston University Business School
In management's rush to 'do the deal', costly mistakes can surface long after final papers have been signed. With forethought common pitfalls can be avoided. Square Peg consultants addressed the Faculty of Business and Law at the University of Kingston in November using analogies of dating, sex, and gifts of turkeys to outline how a common sense approach must rein in any integration process. This highly entertaining presentation effectively conveyed the mechanical issues of integration and the related dynamics expected of any such change.
 "Culture management in mergers and Acquisitions" - download article here
Growing Business Live
Central London
Doug Ross spoke at Growing Business Live, the year's leading event for UK entrepreneurs, on the topic of 'Organic growth' and more specifically, 'Diversified growth strategies'. The presentation looked at whether organic growth is the best option for all businesses and how you go about it, either by selling more existing products to the same or new markets, or by adding to your product range.
Square Peg Conference
Imperial War Museum, London
The new world demands a new view of strategic leadership - moving beyond planning
The findings of our survey, conducted among 937 senior HR professionals around the globe in partnership with Personnel Today, were launched on Wednesday 8th November at the Imperial War Museum in London. The presentation provoked a variety of reactions from our audience and the ensuing discussion was lively.
Our research focused on the interaction of strategic leadership, planning and the creation of value in times of change. 'Moving Beyond Planning' is the working title of our 2006 thought leadership research that we believe will significantly change the way executives look at their strategic leadership and planning process.
To reflect the multi-faceted nature of the research, instead of a single report, we are producing three interlinked pieces focusing on different aspects of the research, namely: planning, alignment and processes, together providing an in-depth view.
"Beyond Planning" - download an abbreviated version of the presentation here
The Finance Directors' Forum
Oriana, Southampton
Doug Ross was invited to address the Finance Directors' Forum aboard the Oriana. The title of his presentation was: 'Forget about numbers - get back to work!' and it discussed some of the following ideas and questions: When it comes to driving change, are FDs typically complacent? They often wait to be asked to "fix the problem" rather than designing their own destiny. Or they sell themselves short when their experience, expertise, and strategic insight could add significant value to strategic change. If money is a key influencer in change and finance leaders are key influencers of where money is invested, then why aren't finance leaders leading key aspects of a change implementation? And if the notion that leadership should align with strategy is compelling but operationally irrelevant, what is the most effective way for FDs to lead change?
"Forget About Numbers - Get Back to Work!" - download the presentation here
The HR Directors' Forum
Oriana, Southampton
Doug Ross presented at the HR Directors’ Forum organised by Richmond Events on ‘Beyond Planning – Strategic Leadership for the Real World’ and also moderated a lively workshop on the topic of Talent Management. He was supported by David Wells of Novartis, who outlined an exciting case study on Chiron Vaccines’s approach to high velocity change.
Some of the key ideas around moving beyond planning to a system that is focused on execution are summarised below – email info@squarepeg.com if you would like a copy of the presentation:
Develop and instill the organisation's DNA:
1. Paint the big picture – use scenario planning to set the stage and identify assumptions – tell the story of the future
2. Identify your 'Success Formula', make it explicit, and know when to review it
3. Provide the inspiration – instill values and branding to engage and gain commitment
Manage the operation as a dynamic, real time going concern:
4. Eliminate the annual planning and budgeting process
5. Invest rather than expense your resources
6. Use portfolio management to maximise investment effectiveness
7. Use disciplined project management to advance the organisation
Focus on capability development not just HR programmes:
8. Use battleship diagnostics and tactics to guide leadership development
9. Discard your annual HR processes and use rolling estimates to guide decisions
The IT Directors' Forum
Oriana, Southampton
Following a collaborative article and project work with Square Peg on the topic of ‘IT leaders and strategic change’, we were delighted to secure Tania Howarth, CIO Europe of The Coca-Cola Company, a speaking slot on the IT Directors’ Forum on the Oriana.
A synopsis of the Computer Weekly lead article can be found by clicking here.
Telecom Finance Conference
Central London
Doug Ross was invited to speak at the Telecom Finance conference on the topic of ‘Culture Management in Mergers and Acquisitions’.
"Culture management in mergers and Acquisitions" - download article here
Square Peg Conference
Tower of London
‘Stop Throwing Good Money after Bad. Breaking the Wasteful Leadership Development Spiral’ – we launched the results of our leadership development research and discussed the implications with guest speakers: Jim Mackay from Berkeley Consulting in Canada, Ed Hoskins, VPHR of Chiron Vaccines and Vivienne Hole from EuroNextLiffe.
"Stop Throwing Good Money after Bad" - download research report here
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