Bringing Strategy Back: How Strategic Shock Absorbers Make Planning Relevant in A World of Constant Change

Chapter 2AccuracyCreating Order and Transparency

For an omnipresent mass-market brand like Pizza Hut, ramping up business in China and other rising economies would seem to be the brightest bet for profitable growth. And, indeed, they've cultivated a large presence in many Chinese cities. This is true for McDonalds, Dunkin' Donuts, and Subway as well. Yet, although Pizza Hut and other YUM! brands (including KFC and Taco Bell) continue their march overseas, it is arguably more notable that Pizza Hut also managed to grow in the United States even following the 2008–09 recession when many of its competitors remained flat at best.¹

Their secret sauce had everything to do with creating a discipline of accuracy around knowing themselves, their priorities, ...