UnSquaring the Wheel

Professor Chris Bondy of RIT’s School of Media Sciences knows this is a crucial time for graphic communications businesses. “Many management methods are deeply ingrained in our industry. Unfortunately, many no longer apply in the current market and environment. But our research revealed some exceptional companies that go against the common wisdom and outperform their competitors in a big way.” That piqued his interest and he sought others who shared that understanding. In late 2012, Bondy found that Wayne Peterson of the Black Canyon Consulting Group and Dr. Joe Webb of Strategies for Management were of the same mind. Together, they began the examination of business models, technology, marketing, and management. They came to the issues from different vantage points, questioning assumptions and assessing alternative management actions. The result was a new process to assess and understand the condition of a complete business enterprise. They named it “UnSquaring The Wheel.” “The proof-of-concept and beta workshops affirmed that we were on target, and gave us actionable feedback,” says Dr. Webb. “UnSquaring looks at printing organizations individually. It's not a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach. It works for print businesses from large to small, and all in between. It considers every element of a print business as integrated, not as separate functions or departments.”