The CPA Journal

November 2001

Even in a Weak Economy, "Trendsetter" CEOS Manage for Growth

When asked for the single most-important issue their business must deal with in the year ahead, most fast-growth CEOs zero in on management issues. Only one in four (24%) cites the uncertain economy and weak market demand, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers' latest "Trendsetter Barometer" survey.

The most-important issues cited included-

economy and demand (including industry and cash flow), 25%
marketing and sales (including new product development, customer service, and advertising), 19%
managing growth (including reorganization), 18%
financial (including capital, margins, wages, and taxes), 15%
internal management (including productivity, pricing, controls, IT, and the Internet), 12%
hiring (including skilled workers, wages), 10% n external forces (including government, competition), 7% n mergers and acquisitions, 4% The total exceeds 100% because of rounding and multiple answers.

"While one in four of these CEOs sees the economy as their number-one issue, many others appear proactively focused on critical aspects of their business, seeking to maintain a positive momentum even in these tough times," said Paul E. Weaver, Pricewaterhouse- Coopers' global technology industry leader.

PricewaterhouseCoopers' Trendsetter Barometer is developed and compiled with assistance from the opinion and economic research firm of BSI Global Research, Inc.

This Month | About Us | Archives | Advertise| NYSSCPA

The CPA Journal is broadly recognized as an outstanding, technical-refereed publication aimed at public practitioners, management, educators, and other accounting professionals. It is edited by CPAs for CPAs. Our goal is to provide CPAs and other accounting professionals with the information and news to enable them to be successful accountants, managers, and executives in today's practice environments.

Visit the new cpajournal.com.