Rising fuel prices, the mortgage crisis, a weak dollar, low consumer confidence – the difficulties of the current economic landscape are clear. Most businesses understand what they need to do to survive in these kinds of economic conditions. Budgets need to be watched more closely. Hiring initiatives and employee headcounts have to be evaluated. More energy has to go into sales efforts.

The problem with the typical business responses to harsh economic conditions, however, is that they don’t always go far enough – and are often influenced more by immediate business pain than longer range planning that can help a business not only get through the rough period, but also emerge with stronger processes in place. [Read more...]