January 2009
Leaders are continually faced with the difficult task of managing their businesses to meet today’s commitments. But they must also anticipate tomorrow so that they are in the best position to build long-term value. Finding the right balance is even more challenging in an environment of severe market volatility and economic uncertainty. So what do the winners do to thrive across economic and market disruptions?
Their immediate obligation is to help their companies navigate through the downturn, which is the subject of the cover story in this issue of Outlook. The article “New choices for new challenges” explores the strategic options that can help companies not only survive the current uncertainty but also emerge even stronger than before.
But high performers also see downturns as opportunities to improve their competitive position and establish a stronger platform for future growth—by investing in new products and services, adapting to shifting customer needs, acquiring new capabilities and talent, and entering new markets.
Today, many of those new opportunities are found in emerging markets. For example, high performers recognize that multinationals from emerging economies are having a dramatic impact on merger activity around the world, a phenomenon explored in the article “The New Face of Global M&A”.
Finally, high performers prepare for the future by tapping into new sources of talent and equipping their people with the right capabilities to keep their operations nimble and responsive to changing customer demands. The article “Does your company have an IT generation gap?” is a fascinating analysis of the next generation of workers who bring to their employers an entirely different attitude toward technology. Although understanding these “Millennials” and the workforce that will succeed them may not seem like a pressing issue for today’s managers, it is precisely the kind of farsighted thinking that gives high performers their edge.
No company is immune from the current economic downturn. But what matters is having a strong market position and the right strategy for driving growth and future value. I hope you find the articles in this issue relevant as you find the right balance in leading your organization to high performance for both today and tomorrow.
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