Business Issue Papers

The prospects for near-term recovery are still shaky more than three years since the onset of the global economic crisis, and debt crises loom large. The 2012 A.T. Kearney Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Confidence Index® finds that while FDI flows have picked up slightly in the past two years, this modest optimism could quickly revert to retrenchment.

Carve-out transactions can lead to lower premiums and higher gains for buyers, and for sellers they increase the likelihood of successfully closing the deal. Capturing these advantages, however, requires looking beyond the financials to understand the challenges associated with the transition.

Vietnam is gaining popularity on the global map of sourcing destinations. However, despite some improvements, its inadequate freight infrastructure and high logistics costs still hold it back. For Vietnam to reach its true growth and outsourcing potential, it must invest in roads, rails, and rivers.

Today’s corporate networks face a significant imbalance between manufacturing locations and the timely flow of goods. Our approach provides compelling logic for global-network design—while charting a path to sustainable competitive advantage.

Small and medium-sized enterprises are major contributors to the world’s economy. How can banks win them over? By capturing their hearts, not just their minds.

As regulators scrutinize leverage and demand higher amounts of capital for a given business volume, profitability must be sustained by increased productivity. This requires lean processes and rebuilding IT architecture to improve quality and reduce costs.

For global and European gas markets, 2015 will be a watershed year that will bring a worldwide surplus and a sharp drop in prices. What will happen to the vertically integrated business model? It will become yesterday’s strategy of choice.

Changes in the Indian power market in terms of new capacity and retail market deregulation are opening up new opportunities for bulk customers and paving the way for a new era.

Outsourcing is best viewed as a coalition—an alliance formed for mutual benefit. Both parties align objectives, agree on an operating model, capture business value, and maintain flexibility—while working together to achieve short-term gain and long-term advantage.

The growth of the smartphone applications (apps) market has fundamentally changed how people access and consume content, and altered the competitive dynamics for telecommunications companies, app stores and handset manufacturers. But the advent of HTML5 will significantly change the way apps are distributed.

Every city has different objectives to fulfill, and a wide range of strategic options available to achieve them. How can city leaders turn their visions of the future into reality?

The non-aviation business at airports—shopping, dining, parking, advertising—is constantly expanding as a vital source of revenues. What business model can bring the most in this growing area?

Europe’s courier, express, and parcel (CEP)industry has returned to pre-downturn volumes, but revenues still lag in the wake of tough renegotiations in 2009. The latest A.T. Kearney study on the CEP industry finds several trends leaving a huge impact on companies and their future prospects.

The growth of LED technology has led to a revolution in the lighting market. Leading companies will navigate short-term changes safely and build a long-term competitive advantage.

Employees are quietly bringing their personal electronic devices, such as the iPad, into the office. Forward-thinking companies are responding with their own initiatives to harness the momentum.

This study examines the current state of the Asia Pacific mobile industry and highlights A.T. Kearney’s Mobile Broadband Readiness Index (MBRI), which measures mobile adoption rates by country.

Before long, electronic mobility—or eMobility—will be a strategic necessity. The question for new entrants is: Which eMobility business model is the most profitable?

Unprecedented volatility in agricultural markets has driven prices to historic highs, meaning that the old ways of defending territory no longer work. However, the volatility has created more than a few commercial opportunities.

Procurement professionals are more important to business than ever before, as commodity volatility increases and dramatically new ways of working emerge. The 2011 Assessment of Excellence in Procurement (AEP) study shows how a new wave of thinking is on the way.

The aging baby boomer generation is spending, tweeting, and staying active—and in the process obliterating past assumptions about older consumers and how to meet their needs. For marketers, future growth may rely on how well they market to aging consumers.

A should-cost review can improve affordability—reducing total program costs without cutting back on program scope or capabilities, or eroding suppliers’ profits.

A strong organizational culture is a business advantage that helps generate and maintain top-level performance. Yet, while many try to create a high-performing culture, few succeed. The key is understanding that the perceptions of the workforce are as significant in shaping behaviors as the formal mechanisms.

A new framework called Return on Supply Management Assets, or ROSMA©, measures the economic performance of procurement resources. It provides procurement professionals with the ability to tap into opportunities that have been largely hidden.

Major changes are hitting Europe’s power generation market. The focus now is on operational performance—improving the availability, flexibility, and commercial and technical efficiency of conventional power plants.

Public sector budgets are under intense scrutiny, and many government organizations are looking to the proven concepts of lean to help improve operations.

The European chemical sector is rebounding, posting significant growth in the past year, with financial performance for many industry leaders equal to or greater than pre-crisis levels. To maintain the momentum, chemical companies are making ambitious growth plans.

Economic clusters have helped jumpstart industries and accelerate economic development by creating strong economic environments for business, academia, and innovation. Next generation clusters will emerge to tackle new needs regarding capital, talent and the environment.

How do you get better customer service out of your call centers without micromanaging their business? Take a fresh look at how you compensate your call center providers.

Apparel retailers have been on a sourcing roller coaster for nearly 30 years. Today, as factory capacity declines and raw-material costs and wages rise, retailers are looking for a smarter approach to apparel sourcing.

Global consumer packaged goods companies are struggling to meet the challenges of supply security and price volatility in agricultural commodities. The time is right to consider a fresh approach to commodity sourcing that focuses on the underlying causes of volatility.

The world's population is growing older, thanks to falling birthrates and longer lifespans. The A.T. Kearney Global Maturing Consumer study interviews 3,000 people 60 and older to show how this demographic "agequake" means far-reaching effects for retailers and manufacturers.

Today, reducing costs is no longer enough. Companies want value, and they want their chief procurement officers (CPOs) to deliver it. CPOs can get the job done by first identifying and then collaborating with their key suppliers.

Insurers that manage all sources of complexity are able to provide products with essentially the same market value, but at substantially lower costs.

In today’s roller coaster ride of raw material pricing, firms that master the volatility can improve earnings margin by up to 5 percent, increase security of supply and improve supply chain operations.

With human resources outsourcing (HRO) contracts set to expire, buyers that find new providers—with improved skills and lower prices—could cut costs by 35 percent or more.

Discount retailers know how to deliver the goods—literally. Traditional retailers can share in discounters' success by replicating some of the key elements of supply chain efficiency.

Uncontained complexity in plant maintenance can breed inefficiency, extend plant outages and increase costs. A six-step approach mitigates the "bad" complexity while increasing sales and revenue potential.

The 2011 Global Retail Development Index reflects dramatic changes in the global economy and the different ways in which developing countries have been affected. As retail giants make big investments to enter new markets, they are learning that retail expansion is a portfolio game.

Since the first Global Retail Development Index was released in 2002, international retailers have increased their presence in developing markets. This GRDI 10th anniversary report looks back at a decade of change for global retail development and reviews lessons learned.

More industrial manufacturing companies are outsourcing their maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) services. What does this mean for manufacturers?

Dozens of schools and frameworks claim to be the best for strategy development. The A.T. Kearney Strategy Chessboard helps select the right one for the right situation.

How does India improve its infrastructure, education and other areas to ensure that the country becomes rich before it becomes old?

To keep up with rapidly shifting business dynamics, the next generation of shared services organizations (SSOs) will have to be more flexible, collaborative and technologically astute.

Urban India remains a coveted market for organized retailers, yet they still struggle to make a dent in dense areas. "Compact hypermarkets” could be the answer by finding the middle ground between hypermarkets and local kiranas.

Operations due diligence complements the scope of commercial and financial due diligence—bridging the classic due diligence gap by focusing on a target’s operational capabilities.

Many IT organizations are so busy fixing today's issues and keeping up with change that they have no time to build the capabilities needed for tomorrow—a critical shortcoming when the goal is adding value to the business.

The foodservice industry is emerging from one of the leanest periods in its history. Foodservice manufacturers are tightening their belts and putting trade spending squarely in the crosshairs.

The global sports industry is worth up to $620 billion today, and with growth that is faster than global GDP, its long-term prospects appear strong.

A confluence of forces is forcing health insurance companies to take bold steps to ensure their long-term viability while reducing the overall cost of healthcare.

China's remarkable growth is spreading to e-commerce, which has grown at a compound annual growth rate of 90 percent in the past five years. Logistics is proving a formidable challenge, however.

Business leaders who achieve extraordinary short-term financial gains for their companies often become celebrities. But how does a company secure long-term value for their shareholders, and how does this correlate with CEO leadership?

A new “consumer healthcare” segment is emerging halfway between mass retail-based consumer goods and pharmaceuticals—and giants in these two industries are forming a new battleground.

Despite a growing emphasis on quality, few companies have reached a level of excellence in quality management. Indeed, seemingly minor problems can contribute to quality issues.

The central tenet of A.T. Kearney’s Theory of Everything in Operations: achieving operational excellence requires improving performance within functions while promoting collaboration across functions.

When the recession hit and credit markets froze, private equity (PE) firms in Europe retreated after years of prosperity. PE fund companies that have rebounded have been decidedly hands-off.

Procurement is not as easily outsourced as many other transactional or non-strategic functions. That’s because it ties directly into a company’s profit-and-loss statements.

As companies focus on growth and business development, the availability of quality information is crucial for making sound business decisions.

Insurance companies seeking to lead their industry will focus on three innovative technologies—social networking, telematics and service-oriented architectures (SOAs).

As private labels and healthy food products make off with highly coveted retail shelf space, CPG companies are using a mix of strategies to defend their A-brand territory.

A changing global supply chain is forcing transportation companies to rethink their fundamental business models and investment priorities, and reevaluate their capacity for change.

Forty European executives gathered at the inaugural meeting of the Bad Ragaz Group amid great uncertainty in Europe. The participants discussed Europe's future challenges and opportunities.

Today's competitive business environment requires consumer packaged goods (CPG) firms to perform increasingly complex tasks. This has made it challenging to keep fill rates above 90 percent.

Business case analyses (BCAs) rooted in hard data can give weapons program leaders a deep look at their sustainment systems and the flexibility to adjust strategies as needed.

In the face of austerity programs and more empowered citizens, governments are under pressure to coordinate different units and processes to work together more effectively.

The Purchasing Chessboard alters the imbalance of power that occurs between buyers and their suppliers to create a valuable competitive advantage.

Leading financial institutions focus on complexity—not eliminating it but deciphering the bad from the good.

The courier, express and parcel industry can survive post-crisis without cutting into the business muscle they spent years building.

The Internet underpins a significant portion of all economic activity around the world today. How can future change bring benefits to all parties?

In this collection of "fact sheets," A.T. Kearney's Martin Walker explores many of the world's pressing issues and how they affect global business.

The life-insurance industry in Europe is at a critical juncture. How can it overcome market challenges to right the ship?

Remote locations for natural-resource processing industries present significant supply chain challenges.

GCC family businesses can double their profitability with better governance and planning, and an improved understanding of their core capabilities.

EU regulations are leading national authorities to deploy smart meters. What are the implications for telecoms and data service providers?

As the CHIMEA region's economic power strengthens, it has focused on developing a strong petrochemicals industry.

As China grows, so grows its transportation and logistics industry. What challenges loom for the industry in China?

Chemical companies' long-term success depends on the ability to identify and exploit future growth segments, including "cleantech."

Success in booming emerging markets requires companies to meet customers' needs as well as local competitors.

Africa's large and growing "consumer class" offers a great opportunity for CPG firms.

The European chemical industry is on an upward trajectory, but staying there will require work.

Cost and schedule overruns are common hurdles for U.S. Department of Defense programs, but there is plenty leaders can do to fix this.

The insurance industry's decades-old business model is undergoing change. To succeed, insurers must serve customers across an ever-expanding landscape.

The economic recovery is fertile soil for the Russian rail container market as all signs indicate up to 10 percent annual growth rates through 2015.

What do outdoor advertising, retail networks and game theory have in common? They are all areas retail banks can tap to optimize their ATM networks.

The passenger aviation industry has faced unprecedented turbulence in the past decade. Customer service will be the key to a rebound.

Brokers are still a vital part of insurance distribution in Europe.

As the market remains volatile, steel producers must vigilantly manage the steel price volume equation.

Uncertainty in the healthcare industry is leading to more M&A. What can pharmaceutical firms do to prepare?

While profit margins have shrunk because of regulatory scrutiny and volatility in volumes, there is a “secret sauce” that can help return the mortgage business to profitability.

Companies have long applied lean management techniques to manufacturing and operations. Why not apply them to managing change?

What steps can companies take to achieve their compliance goals?

With 547 of 736 players in the 2010 World Cup belonging to European football clubs, the importance of Europe to world football has never been stronger.

Property and casualty insurance for small businesses is a challenge in today’s economy. To grow, insurers should focus on distribution, products and platforms.

More than a decade since the sourcing technology revolution, how have companies successfully embraced these tools and reengineered their business processes?

This Index rates the top 30 Chinese cities in respect to foreign direct investment in four sectors.

Global CEOs convened at the Global Business Policy Council's CEO Retreat in Russia to discuss the many global economic issues of the day.

Cloud computing is gaining popularity, but decisions about software assets still have to be made internally.

For Indian retailers, sound category management is the key to improving sales and margins, and making customers happy.

A high proportion of working age people—which means more consumers—is the demographic “sweet spot” that is usually accompanied by very fast economic growth.

The prospects for smart grids in Europe are indeed promising, but developing sustainable smart grids remains a major challenge.

As IT becomes a more vital part of the telecommunications industry, costs and complexity are also rising. Telecom companies today must strive to make IT a driver of value.

How can firms quantify creative work to determine the best way to compensate advertising agencies? Several models have emerged.

The GCC insurance industry offers opportunity for growth. Success will come by tackling four areas: automation, claims management, distribution and asset management.

More people today are downloading e-books, a trend that will only accelerate in the next decade and undoubtedly change the publishing value chain.

As private labels gain market share, CPG firms can stay ahead of the pack by striking a balance between competing and collaborating.

The travel industry has been beset in recent years by one distruptive event after another, yet it has managed to survive it all. In fact, the skies are brightening.

Ten middle-income emergent countries are proving to be a new force in the global economy.

New options for software licensing offer companies greater savings and more flexibility.

The Gulf region's market for investment banking offers significant long-term potential. The economic downturn has offered an opportunity to change.

After years of improving the infrastructure, the payments industry in Europe now faces restructuring.

How much a company spends and where it should be spent is a fundamental question that must be answered in a radically different way.

As more services and providers are available to consumers, quality is becoming a major factor.

There remains a low level of understanding of how the Internet economy works. This must change as the Internet continues to grow.

To answer this classic manufacturing question best, companies must account for long-term strategy.

IT plays a vital role in creating a smooth transition for merging organizations. Often, it can make or break post-merger prospects.

E-readers are advancing at a blistering pace. How can publishers and device makers alike get in position to take advantage of this trend?

For leading consumer goods companies, sustainability is a cradle-to-grave process, and a pillar of future growth.

There are five steps retail banks can take to recover from plummeting sales, narrowing margins and consumers' dwindling confidence.

Amid volatile raw materials markets, companies must become more agreessive in managing their purchasing strategies.

The providers of onsite services in the chemical industry are confronting rocky economic conditions and the impact of globalization.

A holistic, simulation-based approach to complexity can help companies predict the longer-term impact of every decision.

The turmoil in the offshoring industry makes this an ideal time for financial services firms to launch or expand on their outsourcing and offshoring deals.

True reform in purchasing at the Department of Defense will occur only if it alters its fundamental approach to program acquisition.

The financial crisis and possible political changes present an extraordinary set of challenges for the U.K. public sector in 2010.

Gauging the success of Ukraine banks in managing risks in credit, markets, operations, liquidity and assets.

The framework for strong risk management in a bank is no different today than it was prior to the credit crunch and recession.

Banks in Gulf Cooperation Council countries have weathered the economic storm fairly well, but there remain many pressures exposing some intrinsic weaknesses.

Best-in-class distribution can help companies become more efficient, more effective and more flexible to change.

Is recent merger and acquisition activity in steel and mining the result of an adjustment to economic trends?

A new operating paradigm awaits companies doing business in China. Supply chains must be flexible, lean and optimized.

Tying Lean Six Sigma initiatives to the broader strategic goals of your company can ensure longer-lasting success.

Companies that understand that a recession represents a buyer's market are best positioned to emerge stronger when the upswing arrives.

The 2009 meeting of the European Best Innovator Club brought together experts to discuss how innovation can help meet the sustainability challenge.

Findings in an A.T. Kearney survey reveal that the importance of citizens is growing. Rapid change demands that quick responses from both the public and private sectors.

In light of a challenging market, there are several soultions that will help telecommunications firms in Europe advance network infrastructures.

Canadian banks have weathered the financial crisis well. Now is the time to employ the right strategies to handle the succeed in the long run.

Magazine websites are vital for attracting readers, but how can they help strengthen print sales and boost the brand?

A focused, collaborative approach to supply chains can be more profitable for companies and more valuable to their customers.

The eocnomic turmoil is lifting for the European chemical industry. Where does it go from here?

A.T. Kearney's Global Business Policy Council held its annual CEO Retreat and discussed the post-crisis outlook in Europe.

In the wake of a global real estate crisis, what is the next move for developers active in emerging countries?

New products and channels are increasing costs and complexity. Banks today must please customers while maintaing margins.

To what extent has there been individual "wealth destruction" in the economic downturn and what will be its long-term impact?

The European rail freight industry can rebound from the economic crisis and restore its profitability.

Staffing is always a difficult issue for retailers, but using a scientific approach can help meet needs profitably.

The sixth Excellence in Logistics study identifies the success factors pivotal in helping European companies survive the crisis.

A silver lining is emerging amid gloomy times for automakers. The low-cost-car segment is expected to grow 500 percent in the next 10 years.

As magazine readership slips, publishers need to go beyond circulation management to multifaceted revenue and profit management.

With a fast-growing economy and a government with a long-term view, Chile has an environment conducive to business.

IT innovation can provide the groundwork for firms to weather tough times and emerge stronger in the long run.

Shopper marketing has emerged as a prevalent trend on the agendas of CPG manufacturers. But implementing it successfully means installing the right structure to make it work.

Scheduled railroad maintenance programs can help rail companies manage their infrastructure more efficiently while cutting costs.

More companies are using Sustainable Complexity Reduction to cut complexity while also capturing environmental and social benefits.

A pricing compliance strategy establishes the policies, processes and tools your sales force needs to realize the full value of every sale.

By emulating leading practices from the retail industry, wholesalers can boost profitability and gain competitive advantage.

A sustainable restructuring plan can reduce short-term uncertainty while taking advantage of long-term opportunities.

The shadow economy in Europe is almost $3 trillion large today. Electronic payment systems could be the answer to reducing its size.

Companies that use “pull” rather than “push” replenishment systems can improve planning and customer service while reducing inventories.

The telecommunication industry has fared comparatively well during the economic crisis. But with changes imminent, telecom firms cannot afford to rest on their laurels.

For years, the pharmaceutical industry has produced technologies that have redefined the way we live, but the signs of malaise in this industry today are obvious. To meet the 21st century’s global healthcare needs, the industry model will have to change.

SaaS applications are emerging as a major tool for reducing IT costs, but successful deployment only happens when SaaS is tied into an overarching strategy.

Finding true success in next-generation banking.

During the recession, the financial asset base has not lost as much value as feared.

Mexico has made great strides in logistics practices over the last several years, but there is still great room for improvement.

The silent war on who pays for what, when and how in delivering products has gone on for years. We believe it's time for it to end.

Employing cost-cutting can make a company more competitve—in this downturn and over the long term.

How will the recession impact China's logistics industry?

Attack IT complexity by taking a step-by-step approach and building an IT application blueprint.

At frightening speed, a real estate crisis in the United States became a worldwide recession. The companies that emerge from the downturn will be those that make short-term decisions based on long-term strategy.

Sustainability is set to reshape the automotive industry. Which technology will become the powertrain of the future?

More companies are using localized, personalized marketing techniques to engage customers in the brand experience.

As the economic crisis continues, financial services companies are optimizing their procurement functions—and it's paying off.

India is capturing a larger piece of the pie in the aerospace industry and is becoming one of the most important markets for new growth in the industry.

For a weapons system program, strong support systems often mean the difference between a flourishing program and one that never quite meets its potential.

When confronted with the scope of transformation companies often opt for piecemeal moves that are easier to implement but fall short of true transformation. But the principles of service-oriented architecture can help companies manage transformation in a manner that is both thorough and long-lasting.

Affluent customers, those with assets of €100,000 or more, make up a small percentage of total clients for banks, but they account for the majority of their financial assets. As people live longer and accumulate wealth past the age of 60, this segment is becoming increasingly important.

After 20 years of nearly uninterrupted boom, global trade has collapsed in the wake of a global economic recession. While players in the international freight industry are trying to adjust, several factors point to fundamental changes that will have a short-term impact and longer-term implications for the industry.

In our experience, combining Lean and Six Sigma offers an advantage in performance, skills and sustainable results that sets the platform for success: a focus on value to the customer, the elimination of waste and the pursuit of perfection.

European mobile network operators face an uncertain future, as the revenues from mobile phone minutes converge with the cost of production.

Nearly every business sector has experienced depressed sales and fewer orders during the current recession, and fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) retailing is no exception.

Since China opened up its logistics industry to wholly owned foreign enterprises in 2005, mergers and acquisitions (M&A) have surged. Foreign companies view M&A as a way to quickly build a presence in this rapidly expanding market.

The world’s economic descent in the wake of Crash of ’08 is slowing. While the modest recovery of recent months has been encouraging, it was entirely predictable.

How can companies grow sales while keeping costs low, mitigating risks and maintaining customer satisfaction? The answer is to increase sales effectiveness.

In these tough economic times, retailers have no way of knowing where the recession is going or how long it will last. The only certainty is that the landscape is shifting.

Over the years, branded consumer goods manufacturers have learned the lesson that marketing organizations that work well in large countries underperform in small to mid-sized markets.

M&A is a powerful instrument that can be used to gain access to complementary technology, channels and other critical assets. The downside is that acquisitions often result in product complexity.

Across much of the world, the media sector is facing unprecedented challenges. Newspaper readership is on the decline. Advertising revenues and consumer spending have been hit hard by the recession.

Tier 1 automotive suppliers’ struggles seem to have no end in sight. Auto sales are plummeting, U.S. automakers are threatening to go bankrupt, and tier 2 and 3 suppliers are experiencing financial problems.

Consumer trends and industry dynamics are changing the rules of the game, for sales in particular. Today, the quality of salespeople has as much to do with success as the quality of the product.

Traditional strategic planning tools may no longer be sufficient. Business wargaming can help decision-makers prepare their companies for special situations that are not in line with well-known trends or past experience.

In a keynote address to the Institute for Supply Management’s 94th international conference, A.T. Kearney Chairman and Managing Officer Paul Laudicina called on supply management professionals to lead in the “creation of a new global economic model that builds upon globalization’s successes, but also addresses its challenges.”

How sustainability can benefit mobile telecommunications, despite consumer disinterest.

Knowing what matters to your customers.

Transforming automotive suppliers for short-term survival and long-term viability.

A.T. Kearney evaluates role of information technology in business innovation.

Getting more business value from debit.

Reducing total delivered costs through improved production and distribution planning.

The alternative energy car landscape for China in 2020.

A comprehensive approach from sourcing to pricing.

Delivering better results for P&G's shared services organization.

Financial crises are nothing new. They have been around since the invention of banking in the 16th century. This crisis is deep because the global capital markets have spread it.

As the Brazilian economy has matured, so has its banking system. Excellent service and customer loyalty are no longer enough to gain a competitive advantage.

Improving retail by adapting strategies from other industries.

All businesses that use software know that the licensing process can be complex and time consuming. And while independent software vendors do their best to simplify the process, it is.

As the U.S. automotive crisis continues to unfold, many automotive suppliers teeter on the brink of bankruptcy, leaving creditors and shareholders at risk.

Over a few tumultuous weeks last fall, the economic outlook for every major corporation across the world changed, including in the Indian outsourcing sector.

As companies cut costs to get through the current global economic slowdown, there is often a temptation to abandon recent forays into sustainability.

Companies that take control of their complexity can release hidden earnings potential, in some cases increasing margins by 2 to 5 percent.

When situations arise, every management team has to ask: What are our positions on these topics? Who is going to communicate our positions? What communications vehicles should be deployed?

An assessment of the global economy and President Obama's plan to save it.

Companies that gain a deeper understanding of their suppliers' capabilities and their own needs can dramatically strengthen their business and gain a competitive advantage.

The biggest question is whether the new Obama administration and other world leaders can take the correct actions to avert an even greater crisis, without inadvertently creating a monetary meltdown.

Understanding crucial customer touch points, and the most important expectations of your customers at those points, are the first steps in establishing high quality, effective customer service.

Our study of capital project management techniques at companies from a range of industries in the Americas, Asia and Europe suggests that business is at a correction point in how.

Like helming a sailboat, global companies must be ready to act quickly and in a coordinated manner when a change in direction is necessary in their advertising and creative strategies.

Global stimulus plans totaling nearly trillion should help the faltering global economy and might even lead to widespread recovery. But there are three problems with this happy scenario.

Perspectives on what lies ahead and what you can do to position your business.

In services, the foundation of successful innovation is a more flexible and iterative approach in which people contribute knowledge based on their capabilities and reputations.

The empowered consumer is no longer a vague concept, but a reality that is changing the face of commerce.

In the Innovation Management Study 2008, A.T. Kearney analyzes the qualities and practices of successful innovation, and also recognizes companies that demonstrate mastery of innovation.

A three-phased, integrated cost management approach can identify a 15 to 20 percent efficiency gap in operational costs, out of which 30 to 60 percent savings can be realized within.

The Global Cities Index provides a comprehensive ranking of the leading global cities from around the world.

What appeared to be the largely American subprime mortgage problem of 2007 has become the global financial crisis of 2008, when wholesale capital markets ceased to function, and governments were.

How companies can reap the benefits of alliances to create enduring and mutually beneficial joint partnerships.

By examining the renewable energy boom against the background of other recent technology booms, an evaluation of whether a transition to a bust-cycle is occurring or long-term growth in renewable.

As the European chemical industry begins to struggle through difficult economic times, it is more important than ever to focus on long-term growth and activities such as innovation.

At the right time and with careful strategic alignment, an acquisition factory, an industrial-process approach to mergers and acquisitions, produces profitable growth and value generation faster and with less risk.

Capturing data and generating reports have taken on a life of their own as executives become inundated with information.

The most successful companies are those that have matured beyond linking IT strategy and the business, and have established an integrated operating environment.

For consumer electronics manufacturers, success depends on producing leading-edge products and then wrapping them in a premium brand strategy.

A midsized GCC bank with worldclass customer service could increase yearly profits by $50 million to $150 million a year.

To keep up with the phenomenal growth in India and China, domestic auto production has taken off.

The key challenge after the merger is not achieving cost synergies but sustaining the new company's growth.

A.T. Kearney has identified the most powerful cost and performance trends in the mobile industry.

While helping the planet is certainly important, the top- and bottom-line benefits for those that take steps to go green are a big motivator.

The 2008 meeting of the European Best Innovator Club met and debated how to leverage innovation strategies to drive profitable growth.

An interview with Uri Dadush, Director, Economic Prospects, the World Bank.

Successful partnerships depend not only on finding the right partner, but also on creating the right "trigger points" to entice new customers.

The rise in the number of mergers over the past five years has been dramatic. Unlike previous merger waves, however, companies in emerging markets are playing an increasingly important role.

Global forces are reshaping the healthcare industry, and many long-established social contracts between governments and citizens are being challenged in the process.

In the United States and Western Europe, real estate has been making headlines for the wrong reasons. But the global real estate industry offers far more than negative headlines.

Learn about proven approaches and best practices that aerospace and defense companies can take to improve their value chains.

Today's service industries are in a conundrum. To stay competitive and profitable, companies must focus on keeping labor costs low, but the increased demand for speedy service requires more labor.