Tips from the Top
The picture overall
The CEOs and MDs surveyed were asked to describe the core initiatives which they have taken to improve the performance of their companies. For shorthand, we refer to these initiatives as KPEs (Key Performance Enhancers). An analysis of all KPEs detailed reveals the following:
- “Growth-oriented” KPEs (eg development of new markets and products, brand investment, acquisitions, etc.) outnumbered those which were more about cost containment (eg redundancy programmes, factory closures, outsourcing, etc.) by a ratio of almost 2:1
- Over 40% of KPEs were focused on the marketing side of the business (eg branding, product and market development, pricing, etc.). Just under a third were specifically peoplerelated in terms of resourcing, incentive schemes, training and so on. Less than a quarter were about improving either the financial management or operational efficiency of the business
- The most common individual areas of focus were the product/service offering of the business (22% of all KPEs identified), improving people management (17%), enhancing operational efficiency (14%) and new market development (13%). Improving the financial management of the business, reviewing the quality and level of resourcing at both managerial and staff levels and development of existing customers appear to have been lesser – but still important – priorities.
