After further additions and enhancements with new topics and models, version 19 offers even more services and support in Proactive Market-oriented Corporate Management (PMCM). As usual, we briefly present the main topics in the form of overview graphics.
We look forward to your questions, suggestions, and exchange.
How does the big picture become reality?
In nearly forty years serving as an independent management consultant, I had the honor and opportunity to work with several C-suite members on diverse topics. One recurring question is about getting strategic ideas into business. Things often seem so clear and straight. However, sometimes it's a pretty long way from the sketch to reality.
I learned about the gap between ideas, concepts, and their realization in day-to-day management. Even awesome solutions sometimes turn into obstacles on the way. But why? What happened, and what might help?
As we all know, communication and understanding are particularly important. I saw sophisticated strategy papers, covering nearly all aspects of potential future developments, struggling with acceptance, and failing in the end. All these cases have at least one thing in common – insufficient communication.
Corporate Development (CD) is a significant success facilitator. Big strategic ideas need to be framed, consistently defined, and appropriately communicated to get to business. CD plays a key role in turning great ambitions into sustainable Corporate Value.
Take a look at our paper on this exciting topic and tell us about your experiences and views. I look forward to your feedback and our exchange on this.
Thanks,
Holger
Managing projects in this volatile economic environment is becoming increasingly challenging. A supporting, consistent architecture and framework is required. Alignment with the overall corporate strategy and a strong market perspective ensure a stringent Business Value focused management of projects, programs, and the entire portfolio.
Many projects suffer from issues like
- Running out of traceability and control
- Increasing number of new projects released
- Permanent resource constraints
- Inflexible organizational structure, silo mentality
- Lack of transparency and visibility
- Long, complicated decision paths
- Ambiguous rules and competencies
- Compliance requirements and budget restrictions
- Various, non-connected apps and data sources
- Insufficient market perspective and market input
A flexible, market-focused organizational approach is required. KOPPENBRINK developed a market-oriented program management frame delivering on those issues and others – K-MPM.
+ Consistent organizational architecture for all projects and tasks
+ Dynamic, flexible resource allocation and management
+ Standard function frame for recurring procedures
+ Strong market-perspective including market data in PM decisions
+ Clear goal, purpose, and benefits for all stakeholders
+ Transparency and controllability in real-time
+ Business Value always remains the central focus of the program management
K-MPM delivers – impactful and easy.
Proactive Market-oriented Corporate Management (PMCM) poses major challenges to companies, their environment and their managers. From the strategic corporate management to the team managers, it is important to consistently serve the general corporate goals and to take the people for whom you are responsible with you – especially in times of uncertainty.
The level directly below the board plays a special role. The so-called "Management Level One" or "M1" shapes the strategic corporate goals and general framework more concretely at the tactical level. M1 carries the results to the subsequent management level M2. It is not uncommon for the M1 sandwich position between C-level and M2 to deal with questions about the ideal path, the best solution and the best way to communicate decisions. M1 is expected to orchestrate the strategic guidelines with the operational level. Together with the other M1 executives, they ensure effective alignment for achieving the corporate goals.
With our "M1 Playbook" we want to provide a little help and orientation that results from the experience of many years of management consulting. We are addressing members of the board as well as those who report directly to C-suite members. The playbook does not claim to be complete or the absolute truth. These are perspectives that have emerged from practice in various companies, industries and organizational forms and may provide one or two suggestions for better dealing with typical challenges in everyday management.
Management, whether at corporate, unit or department level, poses enormous challenges. Many of them are, at least felt, hardly or not at all influenced by us. To counteract this, a proactive, market-oriented management and mindset is a good option. Proactivity maintains the primacy of action. The orientation toward the needs of the market reduces friction and resistance in the interaction with our stakeholders.
Nevertheless, this is not an easy path. Complexity and uncertainty go hand in hand with "Proactive Market-Oriented Corporate Management (PMCM)". In all thinking and acting, the focus should (and must) be on the effect on the corporate value. Only a stable company with a sustainably growing value offers a secure framework for all people directly or indirectly affected. In order to make it easier to master complexity and always enable safe leadership, KOPPENBRINK began to develop today's "ICI/net Framework" about twenty years ago. With currently 24 modules, it offers comprehensive PMCM support at all management levels. In addition, the two coaching programs "K-EMC – KOPPENBRINK Executive Management Coaching" and "K-JuMP – KOPPENBRINK Junior Management Program" provide guidance and safety for the daily leadership.
Follow your path of market-oriented leadership purposefully and consistently, even if it is sometimes more difficult than expected. We are happy to support you with experience and expertise – whenever you need support.

As the ‘central nervous system’ of our economy, supply chains make a significant contribution to the success of our economic activities. Especially in times of massive exogenous shocks, symptoms such as overstrain, lack of flexibility or structural instability become increasingly apparent. Some supply and service chains even fail completely. Such phenomena often are not due to a single event, but rather obvious signs of fundamental development need in supply chain management (SCM) systems. We must critically review our processes, structures, methods, and leadership behavior and adapt them where changes in the environment lead to unintentional disruptions or failures.
Advances in globalization, outsourcing, economic growth, and well-functioning collaboration with others in the supply chain have given us a sense of stability and security. Current developments persistently teach us otherwise. But what happens next? Are all management systems to be scrutinized? What innovative ideas arise? And: For which market situation is which approach the best choice?
I think we should analyze honestly, with expertise, without blinkers, and act prudently. First, let us actively search for functions that work reliably even in stressful situations, for patterns that deliver superior results even under extreme pressure – for the load-bearing walls. In some market environments, we need to rethink our SCM and make supply chains more flexible and at the same time structurally more stable. To be clear: The basic principle of agility is not new and certainly not a panacea. In highly dynamic market environments, however, agile supply chain management (aSCM) can contribute significantly to improving the situation and to the necessary evolution.
Markets often are characterized by permanent change as well as a lack of transparency. This leads to uncertainty, even at the corporate management level. Consistent decision-making data bases and practice-proven procedures are required. The entire management should be able to deliver adequate individual solutions and measurable success at any time. Following KOPPENBRINK's ICI/net, the modern comprehensive framework for the proactive market-oriented corporate management, you will be able to control the increasing complexity and manage your company or unit safely, even in volatile, intercultural and globally networked markets – onsite and remote.
Issues on wich ICI/net can help in a very tangible way: Setup, upgrading and rebuild of sales structures; key account management; lead & client management; design of hybrid work (onsite and remote) in marketing and sales; setup and optimization of all marketing functions; brand management; improvement of the internal and external communication; development of new marketing & sales channels and market segments; alignment of corporate strategies and the entire corporate development according to changing market and evironment conditions; transformation of process, unit and corporate controlling functions; HR/HCM management; employer branding; evolution of corporate culture etc.
+++ individual +++ modular +++ transparent +++ measurable +++ hybrid +++
This method covers issues such as
We would love to guide you through the implementation phase of ICI/net, and beyond.
As the connecting link between strategic management and operational business, strategic marketing is an important factor in a company’s success. One of the greatest challenges lies in harmonizing divergent objectives and strategies. Specifically, strategic marketing currently has to manage the balancing act between organizational change, digital transformation, and the growing pressure to maintain efficiency. What is the best way to tackle this challenge?
Read our white paper on the subject!