Strategic planning is difficult in this volatile economic environment. To prevent surprises, create and run scenarios that challenge traditional assumptions. Bracket your plan with a variety of scenarios that force you to consider plans for remedial action.

Do you have leading indicators in place? You should. They can serve as an early warning system for your board, executives, and management team.

Strategic planning used to be seen as a static, annual process. However, in these turbulent times, it has become a more dynamic process that allows the forecast to change based on current conditions.

When it comes to corporate performance management (CPM), research shows that employees tend to be experts in one or more areas rather than generalists. This expertise is necessary so employees can understand changes in the organization and shifts in executives' and influencers' agendas, according to blogger Bob Paladino.

Decentralized corporate performance management (CPM) can lead to inconsistencies in CPM process applications, different versions of the truth, and projects that don't meet the overall needs of the company. To remedy this, companies should consider instituting a CPM office.

There are many important staffing decisions to take into consideration when pulling together a CPO team. Two key ones? Team size and leadership skills.

A company's chief performance officer (CPO) ideally should report to the CEO or CEO equivalent, according to CPM expert Bob Paladino. In his blog CPM Insight, Paladino shares examples of companies that position their CPOs well.

Western companies face a tsunami of change and challenges from growth-hungry contenders based in the rapidly developing economies, say three experts from The Boston Consulting Group.

In the current shaky economy, CFOs are looking long and hard at the possibility of cost savings from finance and accounting outsourcing (FAO) initiatives. The "lift and shift" model is here to stay.

If your company is considering a shared services or outsourcing model, before any decision is made there are a number of questions your finance team needs to answer. Ashok Divakaran and Matt Mani of Booz & Company outline some steps to help make certain that you are asking the correct questions.