Five Ideas: Uncertain Times
How to handle the current economy by saving money and reaching untapped markets
June 2009
“The current economic situation is an enormous opportunity for the world on two levels...People all over the world are beginning to reevaluate their values, what success is, what the bottom line is, and are increasingly interested in integrating sustainability into their definition of success and the bottom line. Also, when systems are broken, there is an opportunity to reinvent, to innovate, and to imagine. This is the moment for us to ask what will it take for us to extend the financial systems and markets to reach every person on the planet." —The Blue Sweater author Jacqueline Novogratz
“We're looking at new techniques to solve very big problems, such as who's responsibility is global warming? Does capitalism work? One of the rules that I wrote is that our categories for solutions no longer fit our categories for our problems. Also, people we used to look to for the answers aren't really equipped with the answers, or their answers don't really work. Or we've lost touch with some of the answers and we simply need to be reminded. We all need to write down and share with each other the rules that we think apply to where we are right now and to our companies and organizations. Also, which rules apply to our notion of how to create value and how to have lives that create value."— Fast Company co-founder Alan Webber, author of Rules of Thumb: 52 Truths For Winning at Business Without Losing Yourself
“In the current economic climate, power can swing towards the bosses, whereas the last decade it's been much more a talent war. But even in the current economic cycle, it's important that executives try to use power appropriately, because people will remember how you used your power at this time." —The Boss author Andrew O'Keeffe
“Having been a CFO through several major downturns, I'm a firm believer that sometimes a crisis can provide you with an opportunity to transform your organization in ways that wouldn't be possible during good times, because the circumstances demand that you create leaner, more-efficient operations." —Oracle CFO Jeff Henley
“Companies need to be 'smart,' closely monitoring demand and keeping costs in sync with revenue. They need to be 'agile,' monitoring changes in their markets and businesses so they can respond quickly to both negative and positive changes. And they need to be 'aligned,' investing resources in the most profitable opportunities and empowering line managers to make informed decisions on a daily basis."—John O'Rourke, senior director, EPM product marketing
