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October 21, 2004 (Wheaton, IL) -- – GrowingCo, Inc., a leading
advisory firm for small and mid-sized businesses, is conducting
a new research study that identifies operational and process challenges
facing small and medium sized businesses in the greater Chicago
area (within 100 miles of Chicago).
To participate, the study is available at http://www.growingco.com/pages/chicagoindex.htm.
Results will be distributed at no charge to business owners willing
to participate. The results, which should be made available by December
1, should be considered immediately practical for business owners
seeking to understand and implement best management practices.
GrowingCo, Inc. frequently conducts surveys of mid-market business
owners. A recent study that identifies sales and marketing pain
points for the mid-market was recently released. This research,
which summarizes feedback from more than 200 Chicago area mid-market
business executives, reveals insights into the struggles that their
organizations face in executing successful sales and marketing campaigns,
including:
- 38% of mid-market organizations (defined as having greater than
$2.5 million in annual revenues) lack internal agreement on the
role of marketing
- 85% of sales forces have never been exposed to their companies’
marketing strategy or marketing plans.
“Our research indicates that measurement models in use by
today’s small and mid-sized businesses in Chicago are almost
entirely focused on activities, not results,” said Ben Bradley,
managing director of GrowingCo, Inc. “Clearly, unless marketing
and sales are rewarded in the same fashion, marketing and sales
organizations will not enjoy collaborative, productive and cross-functional
relationships. The research we are gathering in this latest study
is designed to help these organizations eliminate the poor coordination
and lack of accountability that has held them back from achieving
the success they desire.”
New Study Targets Operations and Process Pains of Entrepreneurial
Organizations
The new study, which will leverage data from the current survey
and focus on the technology, operational and process challenges
facing small and medium-sized businesses, will shed light on the
current financial, process and operational pains faced by growing
businesses.
“The data will be useful to companies interested in benchmarking
against companies of comparable size, by industry and even by region,”
said Bradley. “Study participants and sponsors use GrowingCo
data, forums, surveys and white papers to improve understanding,
collect peer insight, benchmark against peers and competitors, evaluate
demand drivers and understand individual customer requirements.”
According to Professor Harold Welsch, Professor of Management and
Coleman Chair in Entrepreneurship at DePaul, "Entrepreneurship
is being given increasing emphasis in the economic, academic and
political arena. This study and improved understanding of small
and medium sized business is important because small business has
traditionally been recognized as the backbone of the Chicago area
economy and represents the majority of all new jobs created."
GrowingCo, Inc. regularly hosts executive only round-tables in
Chicago, Milwaukee, and Naperville.
ABOUT GROWINGCO
GrowingCo, Inc. is an advisory firm -- a trusted provider and facilitator
of peer-driven intelligence, insight and interaction. GrowingCo
study, forum participants and sponsors use GrowingCo data, forums,
surveys and white papers to benchmark against peers and competitors,
evaluate demand drivers and understand individual customer requirements.
CONTACT
Ben Bradley
Managing Director
GrowingCo, Inc.
ben @ growingco.com
Direct: 630-221-9844 |
