Management by Paul Engle

Industrial Engineer's monthly column about engineering management (March 2011)

Is it real?

Many companies are cautiously optimistic about this year. Some have full order books, and customer demand seems steady or is increasing. Cash balances are high, and balance sheets continue to improve. Despite these promising trends, managements continue to delay expansion. Wait-and-see attitudes appear to be the prudent course of action, but are they?

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