Connect & Develop

The connect and develop strategy requires that a senior executive have daily accountability for its vision, operations, and performance. Procter & Gamble's radical stragtegy now produces more than 35% of the company's innovations and billions of dollars in revenue (see more in HBR, March, 2006).

Toughest CEO Jobs for 2006

Because of past miscalculations, product innovation, or product liability issues the toughest CEO jobs as ranked by Fortune, 2006 include: Citigroup, Coca-Cola, Gap, Merck, Microsoft, Morgan Stanley, Nike, Sony, Verizon, Wal-Mart. Typical challenges include: continue double-digit sales growth, recoup from litigation, mergers, loss of market share, and loss of top talent.

Top Department Stores for 2006

1. Nordstrom 2. Target 3. Wal-Mart 4. JC Penney 5. Federated Dept. Stores (general)
1. Home Depot 2. Best Buy 3. Costco Wholesale 4. Lowe's 5. United Brands 6. Staples (specialty)
1. Walgreen 2. Publix SuperMarkets 3. Safeway 4. Kroger 5. CVS (food and drug)
1. Starbucks 2. McDonald's 3. Brinker International 4. CBRL group 5. Yum Brands (food)