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Blue ocean pedagogical materials, used in nearly 3,000 universities and in almost every country in the world, go beyond the standard case-based method. Our multimedia cases and interactive exercises are designed to help you build a deeper understanding of key blue ocean concepts, from blue ocean strategy to nondisruptive creation, developed by world-renowned professors Chan Kim and Renée Mauborgne. Currently, with over 20 Harvard bestselling cases.
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Taylor Swift’s Blue Ocean Strategic Moves
How She Stood out and Succeeded in the Crowded Entertainment Industry
Author(s): KIM, W. Chan, MAUBORGNE, Renée, PIPINO, Melanie
Case study trailer
Summary
How did Taylor Swift elevate herself from a country music singer performing in a Nashville café to a billion-dollar force in the global entertainment industry? While talent, timing, tenacity, and luck have played a role, a closer look reveals that calculated and innovative blue ocean strategic moves have been pivotal to her meteoric rise.
Strategic moves are not limited to businesses alone; they also apply to individuals making significant decisions or taking decisive actions in their professional domains. This case analyses three of Swift’s decisive moves, uncovering common factors and patterns behind her extraordinary achievements. By doing so, it aims to provide valuable insights and lessons not only on how Swift broke away from the competition to achieve success but also on how blue ocean strategy principles can be applied to individual professional journeys, empowering people to stand out and thrive in their own domains.
The case comes with a teaching note, lecture slides, and an audio version for a more engaging and flexible learning experience.
Teaching Objectives:
Applying Blue Ocean Strategy to Achieve Individuals’ Professional Success
Just as organizations create blue oceans, individuals can apply blue ocean strategy to their professional journeys. By moving away from traditional career management approaches, they can forge unique paths that unlock new opportunities and drive professional success.
Achieving Differentiation and Low Cost
Learn and apply the Eliminate-Reduce-Raise-Create (ERRC) Grid, a blue ocean strategy tool, to challenge existing norms and identify areas for growth. By eliminating outdated practices, reducing unnecessary efforts, raising key factors, and creating new elements that add value, the ERRC Grid enables both businesses and individuals to craft strategies that drive success.
Learning the Leadership Concepts of Tipping Point Leadership and Fair Process
Underlying the implementation of blue ocean strategy are two important leadership concepts: tipping point leadership and fair process. These concepts are not only applicable to organizations but also to individuals seeking success in their professional domains.
Tipping point leadership focuses on identifying the people, acts, and activities that have a disproportionate influence on performance. Targeting these leverage points enables leaders and individuals to overcome hurdles quickly and at a low cost, driving transformative change. Any strategic move, whether in business or an individual’s professional domain, will face four critical types of hurdles: cognitive, resource, motivational, and political. Successfully addressing these challenges is essential for transforming risks into opportunities and achieving impactful business outcomes or professional goals.
Fair process is a decision-making approach that fulfills the fundamental human need to feel valued and respected. By appealing to both intellect and emotions, fair process fosters voluntary knowledge sharing and cooperation, driving alignment and commitment. Practicing fair process is critical for both organizations and individuals, as it helps reduce resistance, encourages collaboration, and ensures successful strategy execution.
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Teaching Note
Lecture Slides (English): Available to download for free in the Educators’ Space
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