Business Issue Papers

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 after the dramatic destocking by manufacturers over the past few quarters and the massive stimulus packages introduced by world governments...

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. “Mega forces” are long-term structural changes that will reshape the industry permanently. “Wild cards” are shorter-term trends that will likely only affect the near future. By understanding both types of change, retailers can plan more effectively and gain an edge on the competition...

Over the years, many 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 without the risks or travails of organic growth. 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 to 30-year lows, U.S. automakers are threatening to go bankrupt, and tier 2 and 3 suppliers are experiencing financial problems of their own...

Corporate leaders and boards of directors are recognizing that consumer trends and industry dynamics are changing the rules of the game, for sales in particular. And nowhere is this change more evident than in the consumer packaged goods industry, where the quality of salespeople has as much to do with success as the quality of the product...

In today’s uncertain business environment, 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. The Indian outsourcing sector, a bastion of growth for years, was no...

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 million to 0 million. ...

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. As many deeply held beliefs begin to waiver,...

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 headline stories....

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....