On the Monday between Christmas and New Year’s, Big Builder launched an online survey to determine the primary business objectives of its audience for 2009.
Moving inventory was identified as the most pressing issue for the calendar year, followed closely by the need to adopt an asset light business model. Securing access to credit was the third highest priority, followed by cutting operating costs, exiting under-performing markets, and acquiring land at distressed prices.
While not seen to be quite as crucial as improvements to the bottom line, revenue generation through portfolio sales as well as company brand promotion were seen as fairly important as well.
Respondents were fairly evenly split when asked which should have a higher priority: recruiting new talent or reducing head count. Noted one respondent, “Training is more important now than ever. While the circumstances permit, assemble your army and get them fighting fit.”