Can SA meet the 'business unusual' challenges?

In the era of ‘Business Unusual’ companies should be leading with a visionary, pro-active and innovative approach, said Mark Cleeve-Edwards, executive: business development at Barloworld Logistics. Speaking at the launch of the 12th annual supplychainforesight survey compiled by Frost & Sullivan on behalf of Barloworld Logistics, he said the fast-paced speed of change had brought degrees of disruption to conventional ways of doing business but it had also opened up new opportunities for future growth and development, provided the changes were managed correctly. The survey, conducted amongst 370 high- to mid-level professionals representing companies across South Africa, found that 50% of businesses in South Africa were essentially “letting change happen” and that only 22% perceived change as a means of realising new strategic objectives. “Companies that simply let change happen are invariably not adequately predicting change, and are not taking advantage of the opportunity to change, and in so doing up their competitive advantage,” he commented. While 50% of companies defined change as ‘adaptive’, 93% of respondents recognised that only focusing on short-term survival would result in South African industries losing ground in global markets. Businesses that think strategically in the face of change find innovative ways to keep costs low, even in the face of change, said Cleeve-Edwards. “They always anticipate change and adapt quickly, manage market volatility and ensure that they get the right skills and new talent on board." Cleeve-Edwards added that good business plans did not deliver results. “People deliver results. People are vital to change.” INSERT & CAPTION Businesses that think strategically in the face of change find innovative ways to keep costs low. – Mark Cleeve-Edwards