Shared Services – a tool for the times ? Starting up Shared Services is an enormous challenge at the best of times and an uncertain 2009 makes it even harder. On the other hand, the drivers for Shared Services – and doing it right – are stronger and more valid. Read more on Shared Services – a tool for the times ? ...

Survive then Thrive – the role of IT in Operational Survival   Organisations are under unprecedented pressure to reduce costs and sustain their business in the downturn, yet there will be some organisations that will outperform their peers by taking advantage of new technologies and grasping the opportunities that these uncertain times will bring.  To meet this operational survival challenge – of how to ‘survive then thrive’ – IT will play a critical role and organisations must seize the opportunity. Read more on Survive then Thrive – the role of IT in Operational Survival ...

The effect of the global financial crisis on low-income countries Evidence is increasing that the global recession is having a particularly strong effect on the world’s poorer countries, which have fewer ways to protect themselves. The World Bank has predicted that 53 million more people will fall into poverty in 2009 (defined as subsistence living on less than 1.25 dollars a day), which comes on top of “soaring food and fuel prices in recent years". Read more about The effect of the global financial crisis on low-income countries...

New Thinking Needed for the Hard Road Ahead  The 2009 Budget on 22 April confirmed the worrying state of public finances in the UK and has major implications for spending in the public sector over coming years.  The growth in the National Debt and contraction of the economy will eventually mean that either tax will be raised or public spending reduced, or possibly both.  Reduction in public spending will mean that Government Departments will need to do more than achieve efficiency savings.  Read more about New Thinking Needed for the Hard Road Ahead...

Top Ten Tips to Business for Managing in a Downturn Atos Consulting, offers its top ten tips to businesses as they enter 2009 on how they can improve business performance without jeopardising the long-term objectives of the organisation. Paula Sussex, CEO of Atos Consulting said: “More than ever before, businesses need to find innovative ways of improving performance. Read More about Top Ten Tips to Business for Managing in a Downturn...

Reducing IT costs without destroying value Organisations are continually under pressure to control the amount they spend on IT, but never more so than in the current downturn as organisations look to curtail investment programmes and reduce costs.  However IT cost reductions should always be approached with value in mind; if cutting IT costs destroys business value,  then the reductions will be a false economy.  Read more about Reducing IT costs without destroying value...

		Where to Invest in a Downturn As the recession begins to bite, all companies will be looking to make significant improvements in cash flow and operating margins with varying focus on the level and timescales for benefits realisation. All will have a variety of improvement projects ongoing at any time, the essential questions will be focused on the following: are we doing the right projects, will they deliver the benefits we need and how do we focus our limited resources to best effect?  Read more about Where to Invest in a Downturn...

Tactical or Strategic Procurement – which will you be? 2009 will be a year of challenges and opportunities for Procurement. Should Directors be keeping with the procurement strategy developed in 2008 or should they abandon it for the tactical activities that the business may well be pushing for?  Read more about Tactical or Strategic Procurement – which will you be? ..

Ten steps to reduce your supply chain vulnerability In tough times businesses need to focus absolutely on profit, cash flow and eliminating unpredictable events from a declining demand profile. Supply chains have a critical role in delivering this agenda but face vulnerabilities across demand-side, internal operations and supply-side that can have a serious business impact. This article discusses the vulnerabilities and provides ten actions a business can take to counter them.  Read more about Ten steps to reduce your supply chain vulnerability ..

Planning a fast track business turnaround Although the headline problem will inevitably have a financial impact (declining revenues, spiralling costs or a combination causing a profits crunch) the causes are likely to be far less specific. The foundation of a successful turnaround will be to quickly pinpoint the crunch areas and the underlying causes using a very targeted approach to correct or stabilise without adversely affecting those parts that are performing well.  Read More...

The dilemma of engaging employees during unsettling times In today’s rapidly changing economic climate many executives are facing an acute dilemma. Among many other priorities, how do they make the people changes that they feel are necessary to rapidly improve performance whilst maintaining employee motivation and engagement? Read More...

How to Manage Successfully in Uncertain Times Most businesses now believe that an economic downturn in the UK is now less a case of 'if', or 'when' but a reality. With a regular swirl of economic and market statistics, media stories and rumours circulating, what clear steps can businesses take to prepare themselves for the uncertain times ahead? Read More...

Risk Transparency in Banking Liquidity crises are a recurring feature of every financial market and in 2007 it was the turn of the credit markets.   The ‘Credit Crunch’, also known as the sub-prime mortgage crisis, banking crisis or liquidity crisis, exhibits similarities to and also differences from previous crises. This paper explores some of the underlying factors which led to the credit crisis and identifies steps that banks can take to better manage a similar crisis in the future.  Read more...