The Art (and Comedy) of Business Transformation
Having immersed myself in the murky waters of business transformation over the last 3 decades: the phrase “business transformation” itself is enough to make CEOs alternately puff up like peacocks—or sweat like undercooked chickens. When done right, it's vision meets execution in a glorious waltz. When done poorly, it's just very costly chaos with fancier PowerPoints.
The Best Practice Playbook
Microsoft under Satya Nadella: From lumbering software dinosaur to a cloud-powered, AI-beholden leader. Purpose-aligned strategy + execution = renaissance.
Lego’s comeback: Ditching ill-fitted ventures (Ski gear? Watch bricks?) and refocusing on creativity and play—plus movies and video games—proved that doubling down on what you do best works wonders.
The “What Were They Thinking?” File
Kodak: Invented the digital camera in 1975... and buried it. They prioritized protecting film, not pioneering digital. Cue extinction.
New Coke (1985): Tried to replace a beloved formula—and the backlash was so epic that the original was back on shelves within three months.
Jaguar Land Rover (JLR): Here’s the latest contender in corporate misfires: In late 2024, JLR scrapped its iconic growler logo for a minimalist ‘J’. The ad campaign featured fashion-forward visuals and slogans like "Copy Nothing"—and not a single car in sight. April 2025 Europe sales plunged 97.5%, dropping from 1,961 units to just 49. Y‑to‑date figures for January–April showed a 75% decline. CEO Adrian Mardell retired amid widespread backlash, paving the way for Tata Motors’ finance chief PB Balaji to take the helm. All this unfolded as JLR’s profits dropped nearly 50%, battered by trade tariffs and a costly EV transition.
Learning from the Jaguar Fiasco
Stripped heritage + alienating loyal customers = brand identity vacuum. Critics noted Jaguar “destroyed more equity than it built” by abandoning emotional, recognizable elements.
As Redditors quipped: “Jaguar’s April 2025 Europe sales plunged 97.5%… marking a near‑total collapse during its rebranding phase.” This wasn’t just a stumble—it was an executive pratfall.
Stupid Mistakes to Avoid
Activity ≠ Transformation: Hiring consultants and launching initiatives without real change is like buying gym gear and expecting abs.
Copying Big Names: Amazon’s playbook won’t necessarily work for your corner bakery. Tailor the strategy to your DNA.
Ignoring the Human Factor: Technology tools fail when you forget to train and motivate people. Transformation is mostly psychology.
Final Word
Think of business transformation as changing a plane’s engine mid-flight—while repainting the fuselage and selling upgraded tickets. The winners understand their core, read the market, and rally their people. The rest—like Kodak or Jaguar’s “Project Roar”—serve as cautionary tales.
Remember: Transformation without purpose is just chaos wrapped in slick slides!
Comments welcomed as always…
MC
