Abstract
When executives are preoccupied with what happens on the frontstage and not the backstage, firms can suffer because not enough of the core processes and systems are put in place to help enact strategy. Backstage leadership allows for successful strategies to be enacted and developed over time, constantly adapting. This chapter outlines core backstage processes that generate sustainable performance, as business leaders learn to be behind-the-scene orchestrators in their firms. Silent backstage processes include scanning and sensemaking in the marketplace, building commitment to action, shaping culture and gauging the emotional health of the organization, among others.
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Notes
- 1.
Litterick, David. (2003). “Vivendi Snatches Record for French Losses.” The Telegraph, March 7. Retrieved December 10, 2019. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/2845264/Vivendi-snatches-record-for-French-losses.html; Davies, Lizzy. (2010). “Former Vivendi Boss Messier Admits Making ‘Mistakes’ as He Faces Fraud Trial.” The Guardian, June 2. Retrieved December 10, 2019. https://www.theguardian.com/business/2010/jun/02/messier-fraud-trial-begins.
- 2.
Galunic, Charles. (2008). “Leadership, Culture Change and Transformation at AVIVA: Norwich Union Insurance.” INSEAD Case 03/2008-5502.
- 3.
Pascale, Richard and Evelyn Christiansen (1989). “Honda A and Honda B.” Harvard Business School. Case #.
- 4.
Hill, Linda A., Greg Brandaeu, Emily Truelove and Kent Lineback. (2014). “Collective Genius: The Art and Practice of Leading Innovation.” Harvard Business Review Press. Boston, MA (pp. 9–18); [Quote from Catmull] Catmull, Ed. (2018). “Ed Catmull on How He helped Foster Creative Collaboration at Disney and Pixar.” Fast Company, November, 13. Retrieved August 26, 2019. https://www.fastcompany.com/90262530/ed-catmulls-approach-to-creative-collaboration-at-disney-and-Piixar; [Information on Disney’s Storytrust Meetings] Buchanan, Leigh. (2014). “The Source of Piixar’s Magic? Straight Talk.” Inc. Magazine, April 11. Retrieved September 10, 2019. https://www.inc.com/magazine/201404/leigh-buchanan/Piixar-ed-catmull-creativity-inc.html.
- 5.
Badenhausen, Kurt. (2015). “World’s Most Valuable Brands”. Forbes, May 13. Retrieved December 10, 2019. https://www.forbes.com/sites/kurtbadenhausen/2015/05/13/the-worlds-most-valuable-brands-2015-behind-the-numbers/#55d4f7385106.
- 6.
Grandoni, Dino. (2011). “One in Ten Europeans Were Conceived in IKEA Beds.” The Atlantic, September 27. Retrieved December 10, 2019. https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2011/09/one-ten-europeans-were-conceived-ikea-beds/337380/.
- 7.
Stenebo, J. (2010). The Truth about IKEA: The Secret Success of the World’s Most Popular Furniture Brand. London, UK, Gibson Square.
- 8.
See INSEAD cases: Huy, Quy and Micheal Jarrett. (2015). “How IKEA’s Strategy Was Formed.” INSEAD Case 01/2015-5833; Huy, Quy, Micheal Jarrett and Lisa Duke. (2015). “IKEA: A Furniture Dealer.” INSEAD Case 01/2015-5831.
- 9.
Huy, Quy and Michael Jarrett. (2015). “IKEA: A Furniture Dealer.” INSEAD Case 01/2015-5831.
- 10.
Stenebo, Johan. (2010). The Truth About IKEA: The Secret Success of the World’s Most Popular Furniture Brand. London, UK, Gibson Square. Chapter 2 (Loc367 Kindle Book).
- 11.
Ibid., Chapter 2.
- 12.
Chaudhuri, Saabira. (2019). “Inside IKEA’s Strategy to Stay Relevant as Consumers Change.” The Wall Street Journal, February 22. Retrieved August 26, 2019. https://www.wsj.com/articles/inside-ikeas-strategy-to-stay-relevant-as-consumers-change-11550852828; Kwun, Aileen. (2018). “5 Retail Lessons from IKEA’s Wild Year.” Fast Company, December 28. Retrieved August 22, 2019. https://www.fastcompany.com/90281245/5-retail-lessons-from-ikeas-wild-year; Wilson, Mark. (2019). “IKEA Is Launching a New Superpowered Shopping App This Year.” Fast Company, May 29. Retrieved September 10, 2019. https://www.fastcompany.com/90355507/ikea-is-launching-a-new-super-powered-shopping-app-this-year.
- 13.
Huy, Quy, Michael Jarrett and Lisa Duke. (2015). “How IKEA’s Strategy Was Formed.” INSEAD Case 01/2015-5833 (p. 4).
- 14.
Ovide, Shira and Daisuke Wakabayashi. (2015). “Apple’s Share of Smartphone Industry’s Profits Soars to 92%.” The Wall Street Journal, July 12. Retrieved December 10, 2019. http://www.wsj.com/articles/Apples-share-of-smartphone-industrys-profits-soars-to-92-1436727458.
- 15.
Fiegerman, Seth. (2013). “10 Things You Didn’t Know About Apple Design Chief Jony Ive.” Mashable, November 6. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
References
Dahlvig, A. (2011). The IKEA Edge: Building Global Growth and Social Good at the World’s Most Iconic Home Store. New York, McGraw-Hill Education.
Galunic, C. (2008). “Leadership, Culture Change and Transformation at AVIVA: Norwich Union Insurance.” INSEAD Case 03/2008-5502.
Huy, Q. and M. Jarrett. (2015a). “How IKEA’s Strategy Was Formed.” INSEAD Case 01/2015-5833.
Huy, Q. and M. Jarrett. (2015b). “IKEA: A Furniture Dealer.” Insead Case 01/2015-5831.
Litterick, D. (2003). “Vivendi Snatches Record for French Losses.” The Telegraph.
Lizzy, D. (2010). “Former Vivendi Boss Messier Admits Making ‘Mistakes’ as He Faces Fraud Trial.” The Guardian.
Pascale, R. T. and E. T. Christiansen. (1989). “Honda A and Honda B.” Harvard Business School Case Study.
Stenebo, J. (2010). The Truth About IKEA: The Secret Success of the World’s Most Popular Furniture Brand. London, UK, Gibson Square.
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Galunic, C. (2020). Leading, Front and Back. In: Backstage Leadership. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-36171-6_1
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