Deloitte Consulting Is Lead Underwriter for Competitive Strategy Roundtable; Initiative Will Drive Discussion & Research into Competitive Planning and Readiness

PALO ALTO, Calif. (February, 2007) – The Business Performance Management Forum™ today announced the formation of a new strategic interest group to foster discussion and analysis of strategic planning and competitive change in the global technology industry. The Competitive Strategy Roundtable™, with lead underwriting from Deloitte Consulting LLP’s Technology, Media & Telecommunications (TMT) Practice, will field a major study in the first quarter of 2007 into practices and approaches for competitive preparedness in industry sectors impacted by disruptive change. Other thought leadership initiatives and events will follow.

With significant involvement from leading media partners, industry organizations and competitive planning and strategy executives, the Roundtable will seek to become a clearinghouse for thought leadership, discussion and debate on strategic competitive issues worldwide. Its focus will be on the top of mind competitive issues facing the CEO and top strategy executives and on offering suggestions for improving readiness and sharing best practices.

The Roundtable is assembling an influential advisory board of business leaders, strategists, economists, academics, authors, and consultants committed to providing insight into the critical factors that affect competitive strategy and planning within rapidly-changing environments.

Competitive Readiness Review

As its first undertaking, the Roundtable has launched a new thought leadership and research initiative, the Competitive Readiness Review (CRR), focused on processes and methodologies for identifying and managing major market disruption in the technology marketplace.

“Disruptive forces — such as rapid technology change, the globalization of talent and infrastructure, the advent of fungible value chains, and continued metamorphosis of business models enabled by broadband and wireless communications and a market shift to the consumer – have created new challenges and requirements for competitive and strategic planning,” said John Ciacchella, principal and Technology Sector Leader for Deloitte Consulting. “We’d like to know how companies are competing amidst these disruptions. Where are the major roadblocks, and how are some companies getting around them?”

The CRR research effort encompasses qualitative interviews and discussions with leading executives and thought leaders, as well as a broad-based survey of chief strategists, competitive officers and other executive stakeholders of leading companies within the technology sector. CRR is designed to gain insight on the disruptions challenging today’s technology industry.

The CRR will culminate with the development of a major report that synthesizes the initiative’s primary and secondary research. The report will provide a pragmatic view of the challenges that organizations face in addressing disruptions, effective methods to overcome these challenges, and strategies to navigate internal hurdles to improve competitiveness.

About The Competitive Strategy Roundtable
The Competitive Strategy Roundtable is a special interest group of the Business Performance Management Forum™ that focuses on researching and aggregating processes and methodologies for reducing competitive risk and improving competitive performance. The Roundtable’s research and programs cover such issues as talent management, intellectual property development and protection, financial capital creation, operational efficiency, strategic planning and innovation. More information is available at: http://www.bpmforum.org/csr.

About Deloitte
Deloitte & Touche USA’s TMT practice helps companies in the technology, media & entertainment and telecommunications industries evaluate complex issues, develop fresh approaches to problems, and implement practical solutions. Clients include some of the world’s top software companies, computer manufacturers, wireless operators, satellite broadcasters, advertising agencies, and semiconductor foundries – as well as leaders in publishing, telecommunications, and peripheral equipment manufacturing.

Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, a Swiss Verein, its member firms and their respective subsidiaries and affiliates. As a Swiss Verein (association), neither Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu nor any of its member firms has any liability for each other’s acts or omissions. Each of the member firms is a separate and independent legal entity operating under the names “Deloitte”, “Deloitte & Touche”, “Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu” or other related names. Services are provided by the member firms or their subsidiaries or affiliates and not by the Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Verein.

Deloitte & Touche USA LLP is the U.S. member firm of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu. In the United States, services are provided by the subsidiaries of Deloitte & Touche USA LLP (Deloitte & Touche LLP, Deloitte Consulting LLP, Deloitte Financial Advisory Services LLP, Deloitte Tax LLP, and their subsidiaries), and not by Deloitte & Touche USA LLP.

About The BPM Forum
The Business Performance Management (BPM) Forum is dedicated to advancing performance accountability, process improvement, operational visibility and compliance in global organizations. It provides support to thousands of senior executives and practitioners representing enterprises with more than $500 billion in combined annual revenues. The BPM Forum’s C-level members engage in research, thought leadership, and knowledge exchange programs around a variety of strategic issues and challenges. More information is available at: www.BPMForum.org.