1. Merger activity continues to be a much-used strategic option. From 2008 to 2009, M&A activity completed totaled approximately $5 trillion. In our current economic situation we see the pace has slowed a bit, but it is still active. Has your organization engaged in this activity? Perhaps your organization has been the target of an acquisition? If so, has it been an example of horizontal or vertical integration, or both? How has it worked out?

2. Much of the last decade of business activity has been aimed at process rationalization. This refers to fine tuning the organization's activities so that each process takes place in the location that makes the most sense, i.e., where it most "rational" to do so. This has frequently resulted in various operations being relocated to different markets. Thus, much of this process is characterized by outsourcing operations from their traditional locations. Has your organization engaged in this process? If so, did the organization realize the anticipated gains?