Accelerating out of the Great Recession: How to Win in a Slow-Growth Economy

Introduction
In The Aftermath of the Great Recession
Part One What Happened and What Happens Next
Chapter 1 The Damaged Economy
How it Happened
How Global Markets Absorbed So Much Risky Borrowing
The Banking Sector Will Take Years to Recover
The Overstretched Consumer
Rebalancing of Global Trade Flows
Depression Avoided, Recovery Limp
Executives Expect a Long Period of Slow Growth
Chapter 2 The New Realities
The Return of the Interventionist Government
The Emergence of the New Consumer
A Turn In The Profit Cycle
The Shake-Up of Industries
The Battle Between Deflation And Inflation
The Vicious Circle to Slower Growth
Part Two What To Do
Chapter 3 Even in the Worst of Times
General Motors: A Quick, Decisive, and Comprehensive Response
Chrysler: Making the Big Three
Ford: Hurt By High Costs and Inflexibility
The Rest of the Market: Also-Rans
Chapter 4 Defense First
Protect Financial Fundamentals
Protect Business Fundamentals
Protect Revenue
After Defense, Think Offense
Chapter 5 Go On The Offensive
Focus on Innovation
Capitalize on Changes in the External Environment
Unleash Advertising and Marketing Power
Take The Fight to Your Competitors
Invest in the Future Through Opportunistic M&A And Strategic Divestments
Employ Game-Changing Strategies
Of the Creative Forces Of Destruction And Leadership
Chapter 6 A New Managerial Mind-Set
New Realities, New Managerial Mind-Set
Leadership During a Crisis
Rethinking What Globalization May Mean
Honing Political Skills
Revisiting The Social Contract
Challenging The Shareholder-Value Mantra
Redesigning Compensation Systems
Redefining Corporate Governance
A Different Perspective On Ethics
Mobilizing For Growth
Appendix A About Our Methodology And Sources
Appendix B About Our Surveys
Notes
Bibliography
Index
About the Authors

"What better opportunity than now to strengthen your business and come out of the recession even stronger? David Rhodes and Daniel Stelter provide an easy-to-understand perspective on the current economic environment, and some practical strategies to help readers come out ahead. A timely read for all who care about their business."
—Paul Polman, CEO, Unilever

"This is the most comprehensive assessment of the global economy that I've seen and is a must-read for any business, economic, or governmental-related leader".
Jeff M. Fettig, Chairman & CEO, Whirlpool Corporation

“A fascinating account of the causal factors of the meltdown and what we can do to avoid repetition.”
Sanjay Khosla, Executive Vice President and President, International for Kraft Foods

"This book combines brilliant analysis and strategic insight with a clear message: Companies that want to play a role in tomorrow's markets must act immediately. There's no place for complacency. The opportunities in the post-crisis world are good--and better than many might think."
Dr. Jürgen Hambrecht, CEO, BASF

"The lessons from companies that came out winners during past recessions are invaluable in the current context. Rhodes and Stelter strike a welcome note of optimism in today's tough times by showing that companies can do a lot to thrive when the global economy is struggling."
Dr. Dieter Zetsche, CEO, Daimler

"There are great lessons for today's chief executives: well-managed companies can prosper in the downturn and accelerate faster than their competitors in the upturn. Rhodes and Stelter have dug deep into history to vividly show how companies can do it."
Dr. Martin C. Halusa, CEO, Apax Partners Worldwide LLP

From the world's leading business strategy consultancy comes this essential guide to prospering in the aftermath of what is being called the Great Recession

Accelerating Out of the Great Recession, by The Boston Consulting Group's David Rhodes and Daniel Stelter, is a call to action for today's executives. It shows how companies can win in a slow-growth economy by seizing the initiative--differentiating themselves from less fleet-footed rivals and executing their strategies with single-minded determination.

It combines comprehensive and big-picture analysis of the global economic meltdown with smart management advice on how to win in an era of greater competition. The book is underpinned by a historical review of great companies that survived and thrived in past downturns, along with two new surveys of top executives and insights drawn from discussions with corporate leaders around the world. As such, it offers the clearest, most authoritative assessment yet of some present-day trends and "new realities"--and what they mean for business.

Accelerating Out of the Great Recession shows today's executives how to:

• Learn from the decisive actions taken by companies such as General Electric, IBM, and Proctor & Gamble in order to accelerate out of past downturns
• Take the fight to your competitors--diversify and expand now, while other businesses are affected by the downtown
• Shake off conventional wisdom to protect and grow your market share
• Develop a new managerial mindset for today's tough times

Backed by exceptional research and outstanding, up-to-the-minute advice, Accelerating Out of the Great Recession explains the magnitude and enduring nature of changes that have taken place in the global economy and how you can outperform today to create and sustain an advantage over your competitors for the long haul.