Comments on: Small is the new big http://holdenassociates.co.uk/blog/2008/01/03/small-is-the-new-big/ Holden Associates, Partnering business Tue, 06 Jan 2009 05:49:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.2 By: THE SMALL BUSINESS BLOG » Blog Archive » Small is the new big indeed! http://holdenassociates.co.uk/blog/2008/01/03/small-is-the-new-big/#comment-257 THE SMALL BUSINESS BLOG » Blog Archive » Small is the new big indeed! Sat, 05 Jan 2008 09:44:44 +0000 http://holdenassociates.co.uk/blog/2008/01/03/small-is-the-new-big/#comment-257 [...] is starting a series of posts around this theme - Small is the new big / Part 2 - they are well worth reading. ST. « The Week Ender: 2008 And The Party Is Over Or [...] […] is starting a series of posts around this theme - Small is the new big / Part 2 - they are well worth reading. ST. « The Week Ender: 2008 And The Party Is Over Or […]

]]> By: Small is the new big - part 2 | Holden Associates Blog http://holdenassociates.co.uk/blog/2008/01/03/small-is-the-new-big/#comment-256 Small is the new big - part 2 | Holden Associates Blog Fri, 04 Jan 2008 11:20:01 +0000 http://holdenassociates.co.uk/blog/2008/01/03/small-is-the-new-big/#comment-256 [...] on from my posting yesterday on small is the new big I wanted to cover a bit about how a small business can behave like a bigger business but remain [...] […] on from my posting yesterday on small is the new big I wanted to cover a bit about how a small business can behave like a bigger business but remain […]

]]> By: alastair http://holdenassociates.co.uk/blog/2008/01/03/small-is-the-new-big/#comment-255 alastair Fri, 04 Jan 2008 09:13:07 +0000 http://holdenassociates.co.uk/blog/2008/01/03/small-is-the-new-big/#comment-255 I have seen this argument before - and it always sounds persuasive, but I have never been convinced. I think it is based on the premise that big organisations tend to hide behind procedure and protocol more, because apparently they can afford it, or perhaps from one of those flawed "business school" lifecycle models. Whatever, it fails because organisations are not real, but people are, and you deal with people; and it fails because business is just business and size does not matter! OK it does if size is a barrier to entry or a source of competitive advantage - nothing wrong with a good exception or two! It fails because yes you are correct that personal service often is a clincher, but size does not preclude that - you can get exemplary personal service from "Tesco" and a cold shoulder from the local 7-11, just as much as the other way around. Personally I like to deal with businesses that will provide what they promise without ripping me off! I have seen this argument before - and it always sounds persuasive, but I have never been convinced. I think it is based on the premise that big organisations tend to hide behind procedure and protocol more, because apparently they can afford it, or perhaps from one of those flawed “business school” lifecycle models. Whatever, it fails because organisations are not real, but people are, and you deal with people; and it fails because business is just business and size does not matter! OK it does if size is a barrier to entry or a source of competitive advantage - nothing wrong with a good exception or two! It fails because yes you are correct that personal service often is a clincher, but size does not preclude that - you can get exemplary personal service from “Tesco” and a cold shoulder from the local 7-11, just as much as the other way around.

Personally I like to deal with businesses that will provide what they promise without ripping me off!

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