Survey of Atlanta CEOs Reveals Dissatisfaction with Government Bailouts
Filed under: Atlanta CxO POV, From the Experts, Uncategorized
A survey of nearly 200 members of the Atlanta CEO Council demonstrates concern about the federal government involvement in private industry with more than 68% of respondents saying they feel it is more than necessary. However, one third of those responding said they can see some growth as a result of stimulus funding, but 34% believe the impact of the stimulus is still unknown. While the health care debate rages on, business continues, although 21% of the respondents said they are delaying business decisions because of it. For a complete look at the September Atlanta CEO Council Survey, go to the
The Truth about Technical Recruiters By Kevin Langill, President, Project Solutions It is common knowledge that an executive needs to be surrounded by an excellent team to be successful. The problem is that you don’t have the time to hire your entire staff, so you often need assistance in bringing the talent to your company to help you reach your goals and vision. That is where recruiting agencies come in. However, if I had a dime for each time I hear that “Recruiting companies are wasting my time,” I would be sipping margaritas on a white sand beach. Have you ever been recruited by a recruiting agency? How many questions did they ask before sending you out on an interview? Read more The disruption and uncertainty in our economy are taking their toll on the Atlanta office market. We are beginning to see exciting opportunities for companies positioned to move forward with a decision on their real estate requirements. Vacancy rates are up, rental rates are on the decline, and sublease space is hitting the market in large chunks. Landlords are showing much more flexibility, and concessions are increasing at a steady pace. While institutional landlords are normally not interested in leases less than five years, many are open to shorter term solutions today, allowing both the landlord and the tenant to measure the future of the economy and delay long term decisions. Traditionally, landlords are slow to respond to economic downturns, especially if their rent roll is secure for the short term. However, we expect them to become increasingly aggressive as the year unfolds. Where there is disruption there is always opportunity. Below are a few recommendations on how to take advantage of this market: Read more WHY SOME WELL MANAGED COMPANIES FAIL By: Paul Odomirok, Senior Associate, Transformation Systems, Inc. Over the past several months, we’ve all witnessed the failure of numerous well managed companies. A number of reasons have been given for these failures: poor economy, credit crisis, banking crisis, oil crisis, energy crisis, employee costs, material costs, transportation costs, customer apathy, as well as current administration policy and ineffective CEOs. Despite all of the emphasis we’ve placed on business management over the past 25 years by employing well educated MBAs, implementing sophisticated management systems and hiring highly compensated business managers, currently there exists a large fissure in our modern American business management archetype. Read more The Landscape for Business Method and Software Patents Has Been Changed: In re Bilski Greg Kirsch The availability of patents for business methods and software implemented processes has been restricted somewhat by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (the federal appellate court in Washington, DC that hears all patent cases) in its recent decision, In re Bilski. In the decision, the court reaffirmed a “machine or transformation” test, originally laid out in a 1972 Supreme Court decision, which states that a patent claim for a process recites patentable subject matter if: 1) the process is tied to a particular machine or apparatus, or 2) the process transforms a particular article into a different state or thing. The court also reaffirmed the principle that “insignificant post-solution activity will not transform an unpatentable principle into a patentable process.” This machine or transformation test is intended to ensure that a patentable process claim is narrowly tailored to encompass only a particular application of a fundamental principle rather than pre-empting all uses of the principle itself. The court is attempting to preempt the patenting of merely mental processes. Read moreProject Solutions: The Truth about Technical Recruiters
Finding a good technical recruiting firm takes asking the right questionsAtlanta Commerical Real Estate: William Leonard & Co.
Advantage Shifts to Tenants in the Atlanta Office Market
By Bill Leonard, President, Wm. Leonard & Co.Why Some Well Managed Companies Fail: Transformation Systems
Business and Software Patent Update: Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll, LLP
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Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll, LLP
