The first of these was a Luncheon at the Bahrain British Business Forum (BBBF) under the patronage of the British Embassy in Bahrain and attended by the British Ambassador Iain Lindsay.

BBBF Chairman Khalid Al Zayani commented, “We are grateful for MTI’s valuable insights and practical steps that can be applied to make organizations smarter and more sustainable.”

In his presentation entitled: “The Trim and Fit Organization – Encountering the Tough Times”, Hilmy Cader detailed how decision making in favourable business conditions determines whether or not a company survives when conditions are not so favourable.

“Tough times are only partly created by tough environments,” said Mr. Cader. “Unfettered business actions in good times are in fact a major contributor to the challenges faced by businesses, which becomes more apparent in tough times.”

Mr. Cader noted that research clearly shows that the way in which companies respond to adverse business conditions separates the ‘living’ from the ‘departed’. Most businesses, which he calls “Chop Cripple” companies, tend to indiscriminately cut costs, freeze all forms of developmental work, and adopt a ‘wait see’ approach.

By contrast, the smarter companies, which he calls ‘Trim Fit’ companies, use this period as an opportunity to critically evaluate every aspect of its strategy, structure, staff and systems to properly assess how each dollar spent and task performed enhance the value added. They also see the upside of acquiring under-valued assets, strengthening market position and preparing for when conditions return to normalcy.