5 Steps to a Business Turnaround

Here is how Informatica turned around its business to become a category leader delivering record results.

By Sohaib Abbasi, Informatica

After impressive growth in the early years, Informaticaís business reached a plateau in 2001. Growth remained elusive, despite attempts to pursue new markets.

Shortly after I joined Informatica in July 2004, we refocused the company on our core market. We defined a five-step plan for the business turnaround. By executing on this plan, we achieved record financial results: significantly growing both revenue and operating income.

New at SandHill.com: Software Finance
A one-stop destination for the latest software stock, M&A and VC data.

The new SandHill.com Finance section compiles the news, data and deals which drive the software industry. Debuting this month, the Sand Hill 30 stock index charts the progress of 30 companies which best represent the new world of enterprise software and services. The M&A and venture capital sections showcase software industry trends, the most recent deals and hand-picked news on the latest partnerships. We will continue to add and revise these pages in the coming months so send us your feedback.

Lobbying for Adult Supervision

With all the talk of corporate misbehavior these days, many are searching for a cause. Tony Baer of onStrategies takes a closer look at one reason ñ lack of good project management ñ in this weekís post to the SandHill.com Blog on Software Intrigue.

Learn from Erikís Mistakes

It is understandable for large, established vendors to question the capabilities of smaller ones. But Erik Keller of Wapiti urges caution. In this weekís post to his SandHill.com Blog, The Software Critic, Erik illustrates the ìLove ëem or Leave ëemî matrix of enterprise software vendors which shows the ìfunî aspect of some smaller vendors.

Publish Your Perspectives!

The SandHill.com Blog wants your opinions. Send your thoughts on the enterprise software industry to editor@sandhill.com and weíll publish them in our blog.

To 12,000 and Beyond

IBM, Google, Wipro and TCS report strong quarters while others werenít as lucky. Open Solutions goes private, Microsoft extends a hand and Sarbanes-Oxley is good? Read these stories and more software news of the week in the SandHill.com news summary.

Donít Miss: Improving Your Exits

Many companies put off the decision to exit a failing business for too long largely because of psychological reasons. Learn how to recognize these biases and how to create mechanisms that push tough decisions forward in this article from The McKinsey Quarterly.

Poll: Is a New Bubble Building?

As Googleís stock continues to rise, talk of a new investment bubble has begun. Is a new ìbubbleî beginning?
Take our Pulse Poll >>

Last week, readers gave their opinions as to which company they would pick as The Next Big Thing?
Give us your opinion and see the results >>

More at SandHill.com:

Accenture named ìConsulting Market Leaderî by CRM magazine.
Read the most important enterprise software industry news of the week >>

Q3 venture investment up 5 percent to $6.4 billion.
Monitor the latest software venture capital deals >>

IBM buys IT mortgage firm.
Size up last week's software M&A deals >>

Brad Brodigan named president and CEO of Biz360.
See who's made it to the top in our list of recent software executive appointments >>

Send us your feedback on this newsletter and the SandHill.com site.

Parting Thought

ìA ship in harbor is safe - but that is not what ships are for.î
ñJohn A Shedd

Courtesy of Malcolm Kusher, The Kushner Group