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Top Concern Is Planning In Uncertain Times, According To Chicago Business Owners

CHICAGO — Planning in uncertain times is the top concern of middle-market companies, according to the fourth meeting of the Grant Thornton Business Owners Council.

“With the volatility of today's economy, companies need to have a plan of action if they want to survive and thrive,” says John Desmond, partner-in-charge of the Grant Thornton Business Owners Council. “At the most recent Council session, the topic in the forefront of the discussions revolved around the difficulty of planning in an unstable marketplace.

“These discussions suggested that world and economic uncertainty is changing the traditional paradigm of and approaches to business planning.”

During their fourth session, the Council outlined:

Planning priorities and critical business elements that must be reviewed in the new paradigm;

Essential internal and external information that should be included in the planning process; and

How a balance between short-term goals and a perspective on the long term can be maintained.

A white paper that includes the Council's insights on planning in uncertain times, current and emerging issues in the middle market, and methods of delivering unique value is available through Grant Thornton's Web site. You can access the white paper by going to www.grantthornton.com.

The Grant Thornton Business Owners Council consists of 30 leading business owners and senior executives. Grant Thornton is a global accounting, tax, and business advisory firm dedicated to serving the needs of middle-market companies.

Publication date: 01/06/2003

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