As companies cut costs to get through the current global economic slowdown, there is often a temptation to abandon recent forays into sustainability. Yet a new A.T. Kearney analysis finds that companies committed to corporate sustainability practices are achieving aboveaverage performance in the financial markets during this slowdown. So before tossing out those sustainability practices and initiatives, it might be wise to first determine the real value of the efforts — especially the possible rewards for staying the course.
Companies are constantly challenged to balance locally relevant advertising with consistent global branding. Yet, when making the change between global and local business models, companies often fail to consider the underlying operational model required to guide effective execution. Like a sailboat about to take a new tack, everyone involved in such a shift must know their roles and responsibilities, and have the skills to perform them. Otherwise execution will be chaotic, ineffective and could jeopardize the company’s market position.
With fewer good acquisitions targets, tighter credit markets and skyrocketing deal prices, companies pursuing mergers or acquisitions must be certain that the target in their crosshairs can create value—and quickly. As operational and business knowledge becomes synonymous with a successful merger, more buyers are not only performing strategic due diligence, but also operational due diligence to truly understand where value lies within the target company, and to uncover any hidden issues that might disrupt growth.
The 2008 meeting of the European Best Innovator Club was held at the Le Méridien Hotel near the Grand’Place in Brussels. For two days, winners of A.T. Kearney’s annual Best Innovator competition met and debated how to leverage innovation strategies to drive profitable growth. Presenters addressed key challenges such as the proper role of innovation leaders, how to use customers’ energy to unleash innovation and the impact of global trends. In breakout sessions, participants discussed ways to anchor innovation strategies, and outlined ideas for fostering breakthrough innovation. The following offers a brief summary of the insights generated by bringing together some of Europe’s leading innovators.
Private-Equity-Investoren sorgen für Aufschwung. Durch sie finanzierte Unternehmen wachsen mehr als doppelt so schnell wie Vergleichsunternehmen. Konsequente Beseitigung von Wachstumsbarrieren, schnelle Erschließung brachliegenden Potentials und stringente Steuerung sind wesentliche Treiber für den Erfolg der Private-Equity-Firmen. Alle Unternehmen – unabhängig von der Eigentümerstruktur – können hiervon lernen.
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