Marcie Borgal Shunk. Marcie Borgal Shunk.

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Smart Strategy

Several years ago, Lisa Bodell, a professor at Wharton, published her book, "Kill the Company." In it, she describes an exercise by the same name. The premise was simple: a team of leaders is instructed to deploy the same level of competitiveness, aggressiveness and tenacity they would typically reserve to dismantle their competitors on their own company. The result: a laundry list of vulnerabilities—weak spots that threaten the long-term viability of the company or its ability to thrive, expand and prosper—and an opportunity—to right the ship and fortify the company's position.