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CFOs looking toward 2010 anticipate positive increases in a number of areas. Key areas of expected increases include:

• Net earnings expected to rise by 22 percent (more than double anticipated Q3 mean increase of 11%)
• Revenue anticipated to grow by 10 percent
• Capital spending expected to grow by 8.9% (compared with an increase of 1.1% in Q3)
• Technology spending anticipated to increase by 6.1 percent
• Inventory anticipated to increase by 2.5 percent (compared with Q3, where CFOs predicted reductions of -1.9%)
• Hiring expected to grow by 2.9 percent (up from 1.7% in Q3)
• Price of products expected to grow by 1.13 percent (up from the Q3 projected increase of 0.7%)

When CFOs were asked this quarter to identify areas for increases in 2010, marketing and advertising and business acquisitions were also top of mind, with 39 percent of CFOs planning to increase marketing and advertising and 33 percent of CFOs planning increases in business acquisitions. In addition, while 37 percent of CFOs reported they will cutback on executive perks, a small number of respondents remain (4%) who plan to increase executive perks in the coming year.

Efficiency is the New Norm

"The return to a place where CFOs are anticipating increased earnings and revenue provides encouragement that those companies that have endured the downturn are ready to come back strong," said Marie Hollein, CEO and President, Financial Executives International. "As far as the new normal is concerned, efficiency is the name of the game."

When asked what their organizations would continue to do as they begin to emerge from the recession, nearly nine out of ten CFOs reported that they would continue process efficiencies put into place during the downturn.

Two-thirds (66%) said they will continue technological efficiencies, and one-third (34%) plan to continue the restructuring of their business.

CFOs Taking Steps to Be "Greener" but Debate Continues Over Regulation

As the global conversation on sustainability heats up, this quarter's survey examined what steps companies are taking to become more environmentally responsible, and why they may be taking them.

The most frequent "green" action among respondents' companies is

• reducing energy consumption in company facilities (48%).
  

This was followed by

• reducing waste in production and packaging (30%)
  

promoting incentives and initiatives encouraging customers to be "greener" (21%).

Least popular initiatives were reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from factories and plants (6%), and supporting legislation on environmental issues (7%).

Support of Environmental Legislation is Split

While few are actively supporting legislation on environmental issues, sentiment toward governmental regulation of environmental responsibility is split among CFOs.

49% believe regulation a bad response,

37% support government incentives to spur innovation,

14 percent support limits on emissions,

9 percent support cap and trade and other financial incentives.

Perhaps disappointingly, 28 percent of CFOs indicated that their companies are not taking any actions to make their companies more sustainable. With regard to those companies who are taking actions, the survey revealed a number of motivators. More than one-third cited cost efficiencies as the main driver, 31 percent refer to personal priorities of their leadership as the cause, 29 percent say enhancement of public perception is the reason, and 24 percent point to a desire to emerge as a committed leader in the industry.

Gen Ys are wired differently from the rest of the workforce.  

Generation Y is the fastest growing segment of the workforce, growing from 14% to 21% over the past few years.

Gen Y is young, independent, wired differently than any other generation.

Generation Y is changing the face of the business world as we know it.

Employers are disecting the value of Gen Yers and are examining new ways to recruit and manage younger workers. Joe Hammill, director of talent acquisition for Xerox says, "Gen Y is very important. Xerox and other Fortune-type companies view this emerging workforce as the future of our organization."

What sets Gen Y apart?

Generation Y is more diverse than any generation before it.

• One in three is not Caucasian
• One in four lives in a single-parent household and
• Three in four have working mothers (OnPoint Marketing and Promotions).
• Gen Yers are exposed to more foreign media by the age of 10 than most baby boomers see in their lifetimes.

Above all else, Gen Y also grew up with a massive amount of technology right at their fingertips.

Youngsters these days are performing Google searches before they go to kindergarten. To Generation Y,

• the internet isn't new,
• home computers always were,
• and the Jetsons lifestyle doesn't seem too far in the future.

But the major player in Gen Y's technological boost to career stardom may surprise you: video games.

Gaming Strategies Become Real Life Skills

Boston.com conducted a nationwide survey of about 2,500 business professionals with a goal of distinguishing between those who grew up playing video games and those who did not. They found that professionals who grew up playing video games make better business people.

• They are more serious about achievement
• More attached to the company they work for and the people they work with
• More flexible, persistent problem-solvers
• More willing to take only the risks that make sense

Different?  Yes!

The challenge to organizations is to quickly figure out how to capture their talent and keep them challenged.  Those that do, will likely find themselves with a cadre of "game changers" that will have a significant positive effect on their future.  Keeping them challenged is the key.   With this diverse, motivated and capable generation, that has never been "in the box", providing them with "outside the box" challenges may be the key to retention and loyalty.

New business models are bursting on the scene.  New scientific applications.  New ways of gathering data.  New ways of collaborating and synthesizing opportunities.

Observe Gen Yers...they're here to stay and are already making their new ways felt in business, government -- yes, the Obama administration is full of Gen Y staffers!

Read the excellent articles by Jim Kissane for more insights. 

One of the main killers of productivity faced by today's workers is the Sick Building Syndrome.
 
The US Environmental Protection Agency defines the term "Sick Building Syndrome" (SBS) as situations in which building occupants experience acute health and comfort effects that appear to be linked to time spent in a building, but no specific illness or cause can be identified.
 
With 30% of U.S. workers suffering from health problems caused by Sick Building Syndrome, companies are vastly underusing their human assets and underestimating the benefits of switching to green cleaning. With the same effectiveness as traditional cleaning, and little or no cost increase, the return on investment for switching to green cleaning is immense.

Bacteria such as Leginella pneumophila can easily multiply in an office and lead to workers suffering from pneumonia or even Pontiac fever. Pontiac fever is marked by fever, chills, headaches and body aches. These bacteria can grow in the office air ventilation system without your knowledge.
 
Victims of Sick Office Syndrome suffer from a broad range of symptoms such as chronic fatigue, nausea, vision problems and memory loss. Their immune and detoxification systems start to malfunction causing them to suffer from more illnesses and long term effects due to prolonged exposure to harmful bacteria.
 
Sick Building Syndrome can be detrimental towards a company's profitability because workers will not be performing at their optimal level and may spend many days away on sick leave. In this competitive world of ours, more businesses are realizing that a clean workplace is a strategic business tool. It is very important to protect their most valuable assets--their employees.
 
How to prevent your workers from suffering from this unproductive syndrome? The answer is very simple, switch to green cleaning your office. What are the advantages of green cleaning?
 
Green cleaning can:
- Improve indoor air quality
- Provide healthier facilities for workers
- Increase  worker productivity and reduce the number of days that they have to call in sick.
- Improve morale and keep workers thinking positively
- Minimize the possibility of exposure to potentially dangerous chemicals
- Reduce water and air pollution with biodegradable, nontoxic products
- Improve the overall environment with best practices in cleaning and janitorial practices
- Lower operational costs by reducing mold, mildew and accumulation of dust, etc.
 
It is becoming easier to engage the services of a green certified janitorial cleaning company. By using the right equipment and environmentally friendly cleaning products, business and facility managers can be assured that their work environment is cleaner and greener.

The Clean Green Institute certifies companies and individual technicians in green cleaning strategies that include not only the cleaning solutions that prevent toxicity, but strategies and techniques to improve indoor air quality, reduce wasted water, and reduce problems such as mold and mildew from accumulating due to inadequate cleaning, sunshine and ventilation.

Practice Greenhealth is the nation's leading membership and networking organization for institutions in the healthcare community that have made a commitment to sustainable, eco-friendly practices. Members include hospitals, healthcare systems, businesses and other stakeholders engaged in the greening of healthcare to improve the health of patients, staff and the environment.

Learn the easy way, with Webinars from Greenhealth

Some samples of Greenhealth webinars for healthcare professional development include:

• Getting Started with Practice Greenhealth
• Design & Construction Series: Innovations in Energy Demand Reduction
• Greening Operations Series - Blue Wrap Recycling: From Dream to Reality in Less Than a Year

Teleosis also offers the "Leadership in Green Health Care Program"

This Interactive Course trains health professionals for the Green Economy. "Leadership in Green Health Care" is an online training program for health professionals who want to promote sustainability and protect our limited environmental resources. Course materials provide strategies that inspire environmental action in communities and workplaces. Register online at www.teleosis.org

Additional resources includ:

Energy Impact Calculator

This tool calculates the health impacts of a facility's energy use.

Greenhealth Tracker™ 

The environmental data tracking tool that helps you manage your waste.

Practice Greenhealth Forums

A place to ask questions, post articles, network with other members, and expand your knowledge.