The recession will be the catalyst for a new era in business, according to a report published by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI).
The CBI report - "The Shape of Business - The Next 10 Years" - identifies four key areas of UK business where new ways of working could develop because of the economic downturn.
The report flags four key areas of UK business where fresh approaches will develop because of the downturn:
1) Businesses do not see credit terms falling back to pre-crunch levels and, having become wary of higher debt levels, firms will look to alternatives to debt-driven growth to protect investment and innovation. More financing options will be created and deployed.
2) Companies will re-organise and re-examine their approach to working with partners - from suppliers to universities, and even competitors. Ongoing concerns over a 'domino effect' of supply chain failures and issues around trade credit insurance will compel firms to forge more collaborative supplier relationships.
3) Sustainability and ethics will become more integrated into the business model. Firms will seek to improve accountability and corporate citizenship further to attract and retain customers and staff.
4) A more flexible workforce will evolve, assisted by developments in technology and training, and building on the spirit of collaboration between employers and staff which has grown over the recession. For some firms that might mean a smaller core workforce and a larger 'flexiforce'.
"Attitudes to finance and to corporate leadership are changed for a generation by the shock of the past two years. What we now need is a more balanced, less risky pathway to growth - one in which the short-term returns may be lower, but the long-term rewards for management success will be a lot more sustainable and secure," said Richard Lambert, director general of the CBI.
