The Advantages and Disadvantages of Strategic Management

We define strategic management as the formulation, deployment, evaluation, ongoing
maintenance and adjustment of the organization's strategy as an integral component of the management of the business.

Online marketing has grown into a huge phenomenon around the world – with more and more people welcoming the benefits of operating in a virtual space without any limiting boundaries.

Security concerns top the list of business threats around the world. In today’s technology driven world where most data and company information is stored electronically, companies must beware of internal data theft. It is no longer acceptable for companies to think of information security as the sole responsibility of the IT Department.

Risk management is an integral part of good corporate communications and governance. But what is it and why is it important for any business? How can we learn from the UK model and political scene?

The debate on whether technology will replace humans has been going on for years now and continues unabated. However it’s time to take note of the fact that technology is merely a consequence of our work. Without our intelligence, many of the technological marvels that are present today would never have seen the light of day.

Many hopefuls from the subcontinent flock to the UAE to fulfil their career aspirations, to tend to the financial needs of their families back home and in some cases to escape political repression or widespread unemployment.

What do Pfizer, General Electric, UPS Logistics, and BMW all have in common? The answer is neither their target market, nor their industry, but rather their leadership status in their respective industries. But in order to be a leader one must be profitable.

When reading Middle Eastern newspapers these days, it is hard to miss the economic boom that the region is experiencing. Hardly a day goes by without a new mega project or other interesting developments being announced.

After all, said my London colleague, its near-term fundamentals are hardly inspiring, including a current account deficit and equity market overvaluation. The price gains we’ve seen in Indian equities – at least since registering challenging valuation readings in late 2006 – might well be attributed to the “madness of crowds,” he declared.

Life is full of choices. You can either choose to religiously read Capital – Middle East every month or choose not to. However before making a choice it’s always wise to analyse what you could stand to lose by disregarding one for the other. This anniversary issue of Capital – Middle East is a showcase of the ‘opportunity cost’ of not choosing us.

Since its inception, Capital-ME has continually offered information pertaining to the financial fraternity from the region and around the world. The focus has always been on providing international exposure to the reader alongside success stories and developments from the region.

An organisation that sets unprecedented targets and strives, not just, to achieve them but to surpass them is the one that goes on to achieve global fame and recognition. Great companies, worthy of being left behind as a legacy are built by leaders that have exceeded their customers’, suppliers’ and employees’ expectations.

By developing SMART (S = Specific, M = Measurable, A = Attainable, R = Realistic and T = Timely) goals with your employees, you are not only ensuring the advancement of your organisation but will also be gaining customer satisfaction and a hundred percent employee participation.

Principles such as fairness, kindness, respect, integrity, service, meaning, and so forth, are truly universal. They are also timeless — they never change. But every culture will manifest these principles in different ways and the best way to come up with practices in a particular culture that are congruent with these principles is to involve its people. 

Imagine walking into a room and having the confidence and skills to start a conversation with someone you’re meeting for the first time. How often have you been invited to a working lunch, a business breakfast group, seminar or business networking group and wondered if the event would be worth your time?

This issue of Capital Magazine is loosely based around this quote by the renowned Maltese psychologist, physician and writer – the man credited to have coined the term ‘lateral thinking’.

CEOs today must work cooperatively with a variety of stakeholders, including proactive boards, involved investors and other vocal constituencies.

There’s no question that the UAE has been experiencing something of a property boom over the last few years, most notably in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The recent Cityscape Abu Dhabi, 2007  - International Property Investment & Development Event showcased a plethora of noteworthy projects and developments worth over US$ 400 billion to regional and international investors, property developers, leading architects and designers – a true celebration of the very best in real estate, architecture, property investment, urban planning and design.

The power of open communication is often underestimated in many organisations. Let’s break this equation down as a sum of its parts. It’s individuals that make up an organisation; individuals of different cultures, nationalities, personalities and opinions that interact and work together on a daily basis.

E*TRADE, an online financial services company with global operations in 14 markets across North America, Europe and Asia has announced the opening of its flagship office in the Middle East, located at the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC).