|
Directory
Battle Plans for a Downturn |
On the battlefield of a major economic downturn, do you go on
defense, hunkering down until the battle ends? Or offense, attacking
first and fast to capitalize on competitors' weaknesses? The right
answer is not to answer — at least not until you've examined all
competitive positions. |
|
Beating the recession: Buying into new European consumer strategies |
European consumers have already cut back their spending in response
to the economic downturn, and signs of an even deeper retrenchment
are present. Businesses need to tune into and sharpen their
awareness of evolving consumer attitudes and tactics if they are to
survive the recession and position themselves for economic
recovery. 2009 |
|
Business Strategies and Performance during Difficult Economic
Conditions |
This review of available literatures seeks to identify the
pressures, threats and opportunities facing businesses operating in
difficult economic conditions, identify the strategies adopted , and
assess which strategies proved to be problematic and those that have
allowed businesses to respond dynamically. 2009 |
new |
Offense is the best form of defense |
A recent Bain survey of leading tech companies reveals that most
companies are still reacting defensively to the recession-and only a
few are aggressively preparing to go on the offense or actively
planning disruption. It is these select leaders who will not just
survive the downturn; they will race ahead of the competition as the
economy improves. 2009 |
|
Steady as you go: Managing human capital in an economic downturn |
The onset of financial hardship puts human-capital strategies to
their ultimate test: Are people an investment to be managed or an
expense to be reduced? |
|
The
impact of economic recession on business strategy planning in UK
companies |
This project is concerned with the strategic responses made by a
small but varied sample of businesses in response to stringent
economic conditions resulting from economic recession. 2010 |
new |
Winning in a Down Economy |
What actions can we take today that will make our company a better
one to do business with in this economy? 2008 |
|
|
Publications
Recession Marketing
Martin Thoma has written a series of three
articles addressing recession marketing.
The first one -
RECESSION LOOMS:
INCREASE YOUR MARKETING BUDGET! - explains why it is wiser to
increase your marketing budget during a recession than to decrease it.
This article is from May 2008.
The second article -
WHAT TO DO NOW
- is from June 2008. Here Martin
explores some characteristics of recessionary psychology and what you
can do about them. This is about questions like
What tactics or approaches might you deploy given the changing economic
climate and consumer psychology? Is there anything about a down market
that recommends a shift in strategy or tactics?
The last article of this series is from January
2009. It is titled
THE MOST IMPORTANT
BUSINESS TO MANAGE NOW: YOUR HEAD. Martin writes 'Reflecting
on the state of things brought to mind that there is one other
critically important thing to manage in this economy: our own state of
mind. ... Scary times call for disciplined thinking on the part of brand
leaders. The state of the economy calls for an intentional state of
mind. Steering a brand through choppy waters requires a firm hand on the
tiller, commitment to first principles and the ability to swallow a lot
of your own fear in service to the brand.'
|
Literature
The Upside of the Downturn: Ten Management Strategies to Prevail in the Recession and Thrive in the Aftermath
by Geoff Colvin
Geoff Colvin, one of America’s most respected business journalists, says
even the scariest recession has an upside. The best managers know
conventional thinking won’t help them win in these tough times. They’re
taking smart, practical steps that will not only keep them strong, but
will also distance them from the pack for years to come.
The dozens of top-performing leaders Colvin interviewed reject the
common view that slashing costs and firing employees are all that
matter. They see the recession as a rich opportunity to reinvent their
organizations and lay the groundwork for future growth.
Recession Storming: Thriving in Downturns through Superior Marketing, Pricing and Product Strategies
by Rupert M. Hart
So you've cut costs, now what? You just can't cut your way to greatness
and "Recession Storming" will get you out into action with new
strategies to squeeze more revenue from your customers, increase margin
by resisting price pressure, change the game with recession-specific
product-offerings, and expand into new markets. There are over 100
marketing strategies from 80 companies from 5 recessions and 40 industry
downturns.
The Return of Depression Economics and the Crisis of 2008
by Paul Krugman
In this new, greatly updated edition of The Return of Depression
Economics, Krugman shows how the failure of regulation to keep pace with
an increasingly out-of-control financial system set the United States,
and the world as a whole, up for the greatest financial crisis since the
1930s. He also lays out the steps that must be taken to contain the
crisis, and turn around a world economy sliding into a deep recession.
|