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All CFOs realize the value of actively managing their organization’s investment portfolio, but those who understand the value of managing their project portfolio the same way can add insight to discussions in the boardroom about maintaining competitive advantage.
Project portfolio management — evaluating, selecting, balancing, and resourcing projects and programs that are aligned with strategy — is critical to any organization’s ability to achieve its goals. It can actually be a CFO’s secret weapon for having a significant impact on implementing strategy, aligning decision-making, and controlling costs.
Read: “How to Optimize Project Portfolio Management”
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For the CFO of a large international airline, weather, economic volatility, fuel costs, and world events like terrorist attacks, civil strife, and spreading viruses are among the many unpredictable factors that can play havoc with travel volume and, hence, financial forecasts and results.
That uncertainty, as well as the exorbitant costs for labor, capital equipment, and aircraft maintenance, combined to keep the industry in an almost perpetual financial funk for decades. Profits were fleeting and losses were heavy. Analysts never offered investors much hope that any upturn would be sustainable — although there were always investors, lured by the industry’s romance and excitement.
Read: “Delta’s Paul Jacobson: ‘I Never Dreamed It Could Be This Good’”
Liquidity Woes Hit Non-Energy Junk Bond Issuers
Moody’s Investors Service said its Liquidity Stress Index (LSI) jumped to 7.9% in January from 6.8% in December 2015.
How to Optimize Project Portfolio Management
Here are three tips for CFOs to drive a capability that helps companies make appropriate investment decisions that will affect strategy and improve return.
ChemChina Offers $43 Billion for Syngenta
The largest overseas acquisition by a Chinese company will give ChemChina access to Syngenta’s advanced biotechnology for developing seeds.
Delta’s Paul Jacobson: ‘I never Dreamed It could Be This Good’
Soaring profits reward the faith of a CFO who craved a career in the perpetually shaky airline business from age seven.
IPO Drought Ends With Two Biotech Deals
In the first U.S. offerings since December, U.S. and Chinese biotech firms raised about $252 million.
Lowe’s to Acquire Canada’s Rona for $2.3B
The home improvement giant is hoping to avoid the political complications that helped derail its 2012 offer for Rona.
Lender AGF Accused of Lying About Audits
The SEC also alleges American Growth Funding concealed from investors that many of its loans were non-performing.
Microsoft Makes AI Play With Deal for Swiftkey
The developer of a popular app for typing on mobile devices is the latest U.K. company with advanced AI capabilities to be snapped up by Silicon Valley.
Find more financial resources inside the CFO library.