These days it is most important to take the business battle to strategic design.  Some concerns with the Economy as it is are to find cheaper ways to increase efficiency without hurting quality.  Technology is one strong avenue to do that through.  Some careful attention should be given by management into various areas surrounding this.  Consider the following:

What areas of your work flow can be automated?

How utilized is your present technology?

Have you considered efficiency through leverage of technology?

Could you double your output with quality by doing things different?

These questions help us better determine as management what areas we should push to resolution on a more level approach.  I am going to make a bold statement about our present economic situation.  I believe that the businesses the utilize creativity, strategic design, and technology toward doing things smarter (different) will be the companies that take us further into the new millenium and will be tomorrow’s successful companies.  You have heard that the best way to win is thinking outside the box.  Technology when implemented successfully with intelligent engineers will not only yield success but a peace of mind.  You will want to ensure that you deal with solid Technology Experts when making these changes.  To an extent it will involve vision and entrepreneurship, but it can be done.  So this will be an area that all technology management will face if they have not faced it so far.  It is the dynamics of where Global Business is going, you just have to think outside the box and be the first to the fight.  I certainly wish you good luck on your future endeavors and will be here to help you determine a solid technology strategy.