Every January, the World Economic Forum holds its annual meeting in the Swiss village of Davos.  Since its origins as a gathering of European executives more than three decades ago, the meeting has become the ultimate global bell-weather for leading ideas and trends, and the WEF itself has become recognized as a catalyst and sponsor of initiatives that live up to its lofty slogan, 'committed to improving the state of he world.'

Center Stage at the World Economic Forum

From The Davos Report:Highlights, outcomes and next steps from the 2004 meeting of the World Economic Forum.

Mergers & Acquisitions-- The Urge to Merge Returns
The year 2003 saw US$ 1.3 trillion in M&A transaction volume, up 9% from 2002, but far lower than the peak of US$ 4 trillion in 2000. Juergen Dunsch, Senior Economics Editor, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Germany, engaged the panelists on their views of the outlook for 2004.

Peter A. Weinberg, Chief Executive Officer, Goldman Sachs International, United Kingdom, said that from what he hears in the CEO community and among chief investment officers of the world's largest funds, he feels confident that merger activity is returning to its previous levels. Weinberg said he doesn't feel that there will be a 50% increase in the market. He explained that he expects to see more in-country acquisitions of smaller companies rather than huge deals.

Gregory J. Fleming, Executive Vice-President and President, Global Markets and Investment Banking, Merrill Lynch & Co., USA, said he thinks a return to the 'frenzy' of the nineties is unlikely. He pointed out that historically an upturn in M&A activity tends to follow an upturn in economic indicators. Fleming added that CEOs are looking to mergers and acquisitions as a driver of top line growth, explaining that they are likely to
occur in mature industries like financial services, pharmaceuticals, energy and power where top line growth is a challenge.

Kenneth J. Costa, Vice-Chairman, UBS Investment Bank, United Kingdom, agreed that there are likely to be consolidation mergers in the pharmaceutical and financial services sectors. He was more optimistic about reaching 50% growth across the globe.

Lisa took advantage of a photo op in Davos with actor Chris Tucker, during the workshop "If An Actor Ran Your Business".

In the tradition of using lessons from all parts of life to learn about business, MetaSystem Consulting Group has turned its focus to the golf course.  No, this isn't just an excuse to get out and play a few rounds; our upcoming book, On the Leaderboard, uses MetaSystem's Holographic Approach to examine the rich analogies that can be drawn between an approach to a golf game and how one tackles the many issues relating to leadership and management.

Golf is a fascinating and addictive game.  It is at once simple and difficult.  It renders the immediate feedback of inarguable results (and the opportunity for remarkably creative excuses).  The fact is that the parallels between golf and business, and the opportunities for insight into what makes them both so compelling, go far beyond the surface. What can you learn about business from golf?   Plenty.

The book explores the occasionally illogical and often odd behavior of amateur golfers as it is analogous to similarly ineffective habits in business, and contrasts these behaviors with best practices on the golf course and in the office. On the Leaderboard highlights the clear link between the discipline, understanding, focus and mental toughness that leads to success, week after week on the tournament circuit, and how these are also often the traits attributed to extraordinary leaders.

Lisa Murrell, and Paul Kwiecinski (owners of the MetaSystem Consulting Group) are working with a colleague, Marine Spring (founder of Drop of Light), and writer, Amanda Bader, to apply their decades of experience consulting to corporations large and small, coaching managers and teaching leadership skills to create On the Leaderboard.  Marine also spent two years caddying on the LPGA tour, closely observing professional golfers as they succeed and fail and carefully considering which behaviors lead to which results.  Paul and Lisa are both recreational golfers.

"Love and the Law"... which kind of organization is yours????