MIT Sloan Management Review

The Internet does a great job of facilitating knowledge sharing through tools such as wikis and forums. But these tools have their limitations.

People are connecting with one another in increasing numbers, thanks to blogs, social networking sites like MySpace and countless communities across the Web. Some companies are learning to turn this growing groundswell to their advantage.

Many pundits characterize the Chinese economy, now the world’s fourth largest, as a juggernaut that threatens America’s economic leadership. After all, China’s GDP growth in recent years has been three to four times our own, and its share of global exports has skyrocketed.

Several factors — including constructive conflict — enhance a company’s ability to learn how to serve new markets.

Why are some employees adept at getting the information they need while others struggle to locate the right in-house experts?

For franchise operations like McDonald’s, Supercuts and Ace Hardware, should the goal be to copy exactly or to adapt locally?

Does vertical integration make sense, particularly when an industry is moving offshore to regions of cheaper labor?

More than ever, CEOs must develop their peripheral vision, scanning for faint — but vital — signals that will help them give their companies an edge.

For those learning to lead, experience trumps formal training. But some experiences matter more than others, as two unconventional but highly successful organizations — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club — have recognized.

How can you avoid the agony of putting your company through a massive restructuring? Simple: Learn how to make sure it never needs one.

With a clear definition of what a customer need is, companies are able to get the inputs that are required to succeed at innovation.

The benefits of engaging customers in product development, product support and related activities are increasingly visible. Having the right technology-based system can enhance the customer experience and help companies improve both their innovation and customer relationship management capabilities.

By unpacking the idea of a good or bad reputation into a profile of what the media says about their company, executives and public relations managers can understand and then influence their corporate reputation — and with it, their company’s real performance.

Relationships with academic institution scan play an important role in continuing to generate new value for shareholders if you know how to approach those relationships.

Though competitive barriers in Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe are many, a look at the companies that are thriving there reveals some secrets that make success more likely.

The strategic planning model is due for a “new release,” one that enables companies to keep pace with changing environments, quickly create and adapt strategy and empower people throughout the organization to make effective choices.

Competing in China is the only option for multinationals that want to build or preserve their global position.