Fast Consolidation: Creating Value In A Brutal Economy

“Fast Consolidation” occurs when organizations are quickly combined, business units are consolidated or the workforce is drastically reduced – all of which demand strong leadership from the top. This thought leadership piece, written by Ana Dutra (Chicago), Ken DeMeuse PhD. (Minneapolis) and Greg Janicik (New York), explores the opportunities for companies that have the courage and strategic agility to act quickly, including the following key takeaways:

• The role of leadership during fast consolidation is to ensure that proper alignment occurs so that the strategy identified to carry the organization through the downturn can be implemented.
• Successful leaders often find that the skills and styles that served them well under growth economies will not suffice in managing transformation and alignment under fast consolidation conditions.
• Companies that take fast and systematic action [in an economic downturn] will emerge as clear winners in their industries.