In Management, Keep it Simple
from BNet
Occam’s Razor essentially says that all things being equal, the simplest solution is the best. The principle has implications in virtually every field of science, not to mention philosophy, aesthetics, marketing, economics, and yes, management. If for some reason you don’t buy the word of a 14th-century Franciscan friar, it might interest you to know that Albert Einstein also believed the universe loves simplicity. I don’t know about you, but I’m in no position to argue with the guy. More

Business Survey Shows Recession is Abating
from CNN Money
A key survey of leading businesses shows that the nation's economy remained weak in the first quarter, but it also hinted that the decline is slowing. The National Association of Business Economics' April Industry Survey "provides fresh evidence that the U.S. economy's recession is abating," said Sara Johnson, an analyst on the survey and an economist at IHS Global Insight. More

A Promising Sign for Small Business Loans
from BusinessWeek
It seems that the secondary market for Small Business Administration-backed loans may actually be thawing out a bit. Banks that make SBA-backed loans have historically been able to sell the guaranteed portion of these loans into the secondary market, freeing up their balance sheets to make new loans. The lack of liquidity in the secondary market is one of many factors that has been blamed for banks’ reluctance to lend to small businesses during this economic crisis. More

Learn From Buger King’s Advertising Fiasco
from Forbes
When your advertising campaign draws official protest from a nation's government instead of increased sales, it's time to rethink your marketing strategy. Unfortunately for Burger King's investors, who have seen their investment lose value while McDonald's thrives as consumers look for cheap eats, this is exactly what just happened. More

Need Cash? Look Inside Your Company
from The Harvard Business Review
It’s time to take a cold, hard look at the way you’re managing your working capital. It’s very likely that you have a lot of capital tied up in receivables and inventory that you could turn into cash by challenging your working-capital practices and policies. This article explores six common mistakes that companies make in managing working capital. The simple act of correcting them could free up enough cash to make the difference between failure and survival in the current recession. More

Three Secrets to Make a Message Go Viral
from Fast Company
Viral marketing has become a hip, low-cost way to reach a lot of people very quickly -- with little effort. But as marketers, including giants such as Anheuser-Busch, Coca-Cola, and Procter & Gamble, slash ad budgets, "viral" needs to mean more than "free" and "fueled by prayer." Making an idea contagious isn't a mysterious marketing art. It boils down to a couple of simple rules. More

How to Market Your Business in a Downturn
from The New York Times
Most industries go through downturns at some juncture. Planning a more aggressive approach to sales and marketing can help you keep your business in the black during difficult times. In addition, it can set you apart from the competition who may be complacently weathering the storm. More

The Rise of the Empty Creditor
from Newsweek
If a lender or creditor believes it can profit more from a complete failure - i.e., if it has an insurance policy that pays off only in the event of utter devastation - that creditor might be more inclined to push a company toward bankruptcy. And thanks to the financial innovations of recent years - the rampant use of hedging and credit-default swaps, the ability of investors to purchase insurance on debt - that's exactly what seems to be happening. Creditors are acting to protect their economic self-interest by encouraging companies to destroy themselves. More