The elephant in the room is a global economy that’s too big NOT to fail. It’s about to go rogue and make localization a cutting-edge survival skill, says contemporary issues writer Ellen LaConte. We must start living more locally…before it’s too late.

Service recovery means doing whatever it takes to solve a customer’s problem—and doing it quickly, says John Tschohl.

Service recovery. Those two words can make the difference between success and failure. And yet most people in management positions don’t know what the term means, let alone how to use service recovery to establish a loyal customer base and increase sales.

Today’s enterprise application forecast: cloudy with a chance of transformation. Rob Prinzo is the weatherman.

Acquisition decisions and integration processes must evolve dramatically to be in tune with the markets and the competition of the twenty-first century, say David G. Hartman and George F. Brown, Jr.

After reporting strong profits for the half year ending 30 June, Swiss-based mining group Xstrata intends to expand its Canadian operations.

Operating profit rose 31 percent to $4.25 billion with the company’s cost reduction initiatives achieving $52 million of real unit cost savings.

In a separate announcement, Xstrata said it had approved two Xstrata Nickel projects totaling US$649 million as it continues its investment in growth options within its Canadian portfolio.

Saudi Arabia’s Kingdom Holding Company (KHC) has announced the signing of a contract to construct the country’s tallest building.

Construction of the Kingdom Tower, which will measure over 1,000 metres in height, will begin imminently in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, the company said.

The building is set to be the centrepiece and the first construction phase of Kingdom City, Jeddah Economic Company’s new urban development of over 5.3 million square metres of land in North Jeddah, overlooking the Red Sea and Obhur Creek.

For many, achieving the American Dream means taking control of their destiny, quitting their 9 to 5, and opening the doors to their very own business. These brave entrepreneurial souls have shaped American enterprise, and today, they’re playing the very important role of helping to drive the nation’s economic recovery.

Mineral development company Energy Fuels Inc. has purchased a mining lease in southeast Utah's Sage Plain District from Uranium Energy Corp. for CAD$500,000.

The Crain Lease is situated on approximately 640-acres in San Juan County, Utah, near the historic Calliham and Sage Mines already controlled by Energy Fuels.

Germany’s Fresenius Medical Care has announced a $1.7 billion merger agreement with US-based Liberty Dialysis Holdings, Inc., the holding company for Liberty Dialysis and Renal Advantage.

Liberty Dialysis has annual sales of approximately $1 billion and operates approximately 260 dialysis clinics, although Fresenius has said that some facilities may need to be divested to secure regulatory clearance.

The deal is expected to close in early 2012, and is expected to be accretive to earnings in the first year after closing of the transaction.

Bermuda-based oil services provider Archer Limited is to acquire Great White Energy Services for $742 million on a cash and debt free basis, it was announced today.

The acquisition will give Archer an entry point into the rapidly expanding frac market and effectively double its coil tubing and directional drilling capacity in the United States where development of unconventional oil and natural gas shale plays continue to drive E&P investments. The combined company will be operational in all major oil and gas regions in the US.