In times of crisis, it is important to focus on the fundamentals. This is supported by a ten-year investigation by Arthur D. Little into six global companies, which found that the common factors that led to their exceptional performance during the recession of the early 2000s still hold true today. The eight factors identified were: Avery Dennison, Mettler Toledo, Fisher Scientific, Donaldson, IFF and Nitto Denko. These companies had gone "back to basics" and their approach can provide guidance on setting priorities in the current climate. However, the findings should not be seen as a simple recipe for guaranteed success, but rather as credible hypotheses to inspire executives in assessing their business strategy.
