economic downturn

Bye-Bye, Dubai

Lauren Greenfield — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 14:00:00 -0400

Deserts have a way of reclaiming whatever is built upon them. In the case of Dubai, on the Persian Gulf, the global financial implosion has sent that process into overdrive. After six years of frenzied expansion, during which the emirate's population grew at 7% annually and nearly $600 billion went into construction (the world's tallest building! the world's largest shopping mall! the biggest man-made island! an indoor ski resort!), reality has come rushing into view.

Sony To Shed 8,000 Jobs As It Feels the Economic Pinch

Kit Eaton — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 06:28:45 -0500

The faltering gobal ecomony has affected a pretty big target today--Sony [SNE] has announced a number of measures designed to "strengthen its corporate structure and bolster profitability across the Sony Group." Read: cut costs globally by ditching 8,000 permanent staff (5% of total staff), reducing headcount in seasonal and temporary staff, and reducing the number of manufacturing sites the Group uses.

Cisco's CEO John Chambers On How to Weather the Downturn

Fast Company Staff — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 05:00:13 -0500

• "Focus on what we can influence, and not over- or underreact to things we cannot. It's a question of living in the world as it is, not the way we want it to be."

• Assess the damage externally -- vendors, customers, colleagues. "In 2001, we went to our customers in energy, manufacturing, and automotive, to name a few. We asked, 'How are you handling this?' "

Personal Empowerment in Difficult Times

Seth Kahan — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 18:08:15 -0400

Most people would be amazed at how much we can really do ourselves if we only take the opportunities in front of us. You don’t have to know all the answers, but if you keep asking the questions, you will get closer.

This is Ross Wirth speaking, Program Chair of Business Administration at Franklin University in Columbus, Ohio.
I had a chance to speak with Ross last week. It got me thinking.