Large public sector organizations – government agencies, multi-lateral institutions and non-profits alike – face unprecedented management challenges, ranging from labyrinthine and entrenched organizational structures to complex administrative policies. The result is slow decision-making, unnecessarily high costs, and, quite often, an overall sense of organizational inertia and resistance to change. These challenges have come to define the very meaning of a bureaucracy. Problems develop over time, often slowly enough as to go unnoticed, but accumulating, layer upon layer, into significant roadblocks that impede optimal performance.

Saudi Arabia’s growing role in global financial and economic issues is driving a need for a continued collaborative U.S.-Saudi relationship in these areas. To increase understanding and business interchange between the two nations, the U.S.-Saudi Business Council will be hosting the U.S.-Saudi Business Opportunities Forum in Chicago, Illinois on April 28-29. The two-day event will serve as a major platform for senior business people and high-level government officials from both countries to explore opportunities for greater economic cooperation, as well as to develop new and lasting business ties.

While an economic recovery appears to be underway, even the most seasoned business leaders continue to wrestle with tremendous uncertainty, risk and complexity. Emerging companies from around the world (with new business models and behaviors) are growing in influence and changing the rules of competition. Sustainability has matured from a fringe idea into a major business issue. New connective technologies are helping to transform the very essence of how business gets done. And the blurring lines of authority among government, corporate and nonprofit sectors are rebalancing the rules of influence and power.

Leaders are not confronting one or two kinds of change; they are constantly adapting to an array of shifting conditions to help their organizations remain competitive. This new competitive environment requires executives to adopt new leadership, organization and change practices.

Sustainability is not a trend; it represents a new business reality. Fluctuations in energy prices, the prospect of new government regulations on carbon use, dwindling natural resources and a variety of other factors have all helped spur intense discussions of business sustainability. But how—and when—to act? The demand for sustainable business practices is shaping the agenda of CEOs in almost every industry. Leading now means re-examining past practices, recognizing and adjusting for external forces and finding creative solutions to stubborn problems. These big challenges also provide a significant opportunity to innovate, to gain competitive advantage and achieve game-changing results.

Business leaders in Brazil are operating in exciting, yet uncertain times. Economic changes from the recent global downturn continue to ripple through business and financial centers. Technological advances are enabling new communications channels and far-flung connections. The megacities of the developing world are giving rise to new markets. Concerns about climate change are influencing attitudes about natural resources with both corporate leaders and citizens alike.

Marketers were the first to realize the tremendous role social media can play in reshaping the way an organization communicates with and creates value for its customers. In this new media landscape, marketing teams must organize in a way that allows them to not only communicate with other departments - but also internally and externally - and make the most out of every social media engagement.

Corporate and political leaders in the Middle East are operating in uncertain global times. Economic challenges from the recent global downturn continue to ripple through business and financial centres. Technological advances are enabling new channels of communicationand far-flung connections. The megacities of the developing world are giving rise to new markets. Concerns about climate change are influencing attitudes about natural resources for leaders and citizens alike.

Corporate and political leaders in the Middle East are operating in uncertain global times. Economic challenges from the recent global downturn continue to ripple through business and financial centres. Technological advances are enabling new channels of communicationand far-flung connections. The megacities of the developing world are giving rise to new markets. Concerns about climate change are influencing attitudes about natural resources for leaders and citizens alike.

While an economic recovery appears to be underway, even the most seasoned business leaders continue to wrestle with tremendous uncertainty, risk and complexity. Emerging companies from around the world (with new business models and behaviors) are growing in influence and changing the rules of competition. Sustainability has matured from a fringe idea into a major business issue. New connective technologies are helping to transform the very essence of how business gets done. And the blurring lines of authority among government, corporate and nonprofit sectors are rebalancing the rules of influence and power.

Leaders are not confronting one or two kinds of change; they are constantly adapting to an array of shifting conditions to help their organizations remain competitive. This new competitive environment requires executives to adopt new organizational forms and practices.