Digital Center of Excellence

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FIR On Strategy with Andrea VascellariThis is part of a series of posts that explores the “Adaptive Digital Strategy Framework” , an operative guide that I created to plan, execute and manage online strategy programs more effectively and efficiently. Each of post of this series comes with an audio podcast in which you will find the audio version of the post with additional audio commentary about the discussed topics. The name of the podcast is “FIR On Strategy with Andrea Vascellari”.

I briefly mentioned the Center of Excellence when we talked about digital governance models, but in this post we’ll dive deep into it understanding what exactly is a Digital Center of Excellence, why it’s important, what are its main responsibilities and how we can establish one in our organizations.

What’s a Center of Excellence?

In general, Center of Excellence (COE), also known as a competency center or a capability center, refers to a team or an entity that provides leadership in a determined focus area.

For us this focus area is digital, so we can describe the COE as a centralized hub for digital excellence between executive layers and business units.

The COE empowers the existing management and execution roles within each division to introduce digital elements as they apply to each circumstance while still centralizing the resources and intelligence necessary to guide stakeholders. This COE team is often run and managed by a Social/Digital Strategist. The executive management team responsible for the direction of the brand though, remains at the center. Continue reading “Digital Center of Excellence”

How to Identify Digital Governance Models

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FIR On Strategy with Andrea VascellariThis is part of a series of posts that explores the “Adaptive Digital Strategy Framework” , an operative guide that I created to plan, execute and manage online strategy programs more effectively and efficiently. Each of post of this series comes with an audio podcast in which you will find the audio version of the post with additional audio commentary about the discussed topics. The name of the podcast is “FIR On Strategy with Andrea Vascellari”.

We have already explored the main governance models that describe how organizations are internally structured to embrace new media and emerging communication technologies. If you are not familiar with digital governance models, before moving on, I encourage you to read/listen to my previous post/cast. You will learn more about existing digital governance models and about the “Temporary Decentralization Model”, a model that I created and that it’s extremely helpful to analyze and solve specific strategic problems that can’t be solved by a single unit, by the top management or by the center of excellence alone.

Ok, ready? Let’s get cracking.

We get digital governance models, what’s next?

After I introduce an internal team to the different digital governance models, even if it’s the first time they hear about such models, the characteristics of each model are clear to them. The problems start to emerge when it’s time to analyze, vote or decide on which model they think they are or want to be in. In general it’s very difficult for them to come to an agreement. This usually translates into a waste of time and productivity.

This is a problem that I still see constantly faced by internal teams in large but also in mid-sized organizations, so I decided to dedicate an additional post to this topic. Today I’m going to share with you a specific methodology that I use and that will help you define more efficiently and accurately your digital governance model. Continue reading “How to Identify Digital Governance Models”

Digital Governance: The Temporary Decentralization Model

>> Listen to the audio version to find out additional commentary and notes about the topics discussed in this post!


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FIR On Strategy with Andrea VascellariThis is part of a series of posts that explores the “Adaptive Digital Strategy Framework” , an operative guide that I created to plan, execute and manage online strategy programs more effectively and efficiently. Each of post of this series comes with an audio podcast in which you will find the audio version of the post with additional audio commentary about the discussed topics. The name of the podcast is “FIR On Strategy with Andrea Vascellari”.

The governance models adopted to decentralize strategic digital responsibilities play an essential role in how an organization performs. Especially for large organizations, decentralization is what guarantees to the management the flexibility required to conduct projects successfully in today’s ever changing environment.

In this post we will explore existing digital governance models and I will introduce you to a new model that helps you analyze and solve specific strategic issues that can’t be solved by a single unit, by the top management or by the center of excellence alone. This is what I called the “Temporary Decentralization Model”. Continue reading “Digital Governance: The Temporary Decentralization Model”

Why, What and How to Monitor

Social Media Today

Credit: This post was published on Social Media Today.
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FIR On Strategy with Andrea VascellariThis is part of a series of posts that explores the “Adaptive Digital Strategy Framework” , an operative guide that I created to plan, execute and manage online strategy programs more effectively and efficiently. Each of post of this series comes with an audio podcast in which you will find the audio version of the post with additional audio commentary about the discussed topics. The name of the podcast is “FIR On Strategy with Andrea Vascellari”.

It all starts with monitoring and listening, I’m sure you heard that before. But what should we monitor exactly? Why it’s so important and how can we do it? Let’s start our journey by looking at something that I often see overlooked by organizations. Continue reading “Why, What and How to Monitor”

The Adaptive Digital Strategy Framework

Special thanks to Brian Solis.
Brian SolisBrian Solis is principal at Altimeter Group, a research firm focused on disruptive technology. A digital analyst, sociologist, and futurist, Solis has studied and influenced the effects of emerging technology on business, marketing, and culture. This post was cross-published on Brian’s blog. I want to thank him for the support, the inspiration and for the motivation he gave me. Brian is not just a great communicator, he is a wonderful person and a dear friend of mine. I encourage you to find out more about him and his work at www.briansolis.com.

>> Listen to the audio version to find out additional commentary and notes about the topics discussed in this post!


Download the MP3 file (11.2Mb, 18:17)Get the show on iTunes!

 

Continue reading “The Adaptive Digital Strategy Framework”

LeWeb Report

This is an audio report that I recorded together with Eric Schwartzman (@EricSchwartzman) for the On the Record Online Podcast. We recorded also a shorter version for our For Immediate Release friends. Continue reading “LeWeb Report”

Marketing Over Coffee Awards

Marketing Over Coffee Awards

The Marketing Over Coffee Awards honor those who have done exemplary work in Marketing over the past year. Often the winners sit at the intersection of Marketing and Technology, having identified a future trend and put it to work. The awards also seek to honor those who educate, have a commitment to their community, are professional, and do work of the highest quality.

Continue reading “Marketing Over Coffee Awards”

Productivity and Growth Always Come First?

Image Credit: Gapingvoid

We are recklessly working with complete disregard for our mental, physical and social health.

This “always connected” digital age is only part of the problem that is almost turning us into slaves of the system we are living in. In my opinion, there is something fundamental that we shouldn’t forget at a much deeper and human level.
Continue reading “Productivity and Growth Always Come First?”

More Personal, More Private

The best experiences I’ve had online come from content I’ve shared on my blog and the conversations it generated. I’m not just talking about public interactions – those certainly offer great value – but, especially about private ones. Continue reading “More Personal, More Private”

What I care about for those who care

I like the conversations that I have on the go, but I have to admit that for some reason conversations feel better when I’m at home talking with a small and more intimate group of friends. It’s that intimacy that I think got lost with online communication today. Continue reading “What I care about for those who care”