Top 2009 Organizational Goals, Challenges & Strategies Revealed

BOSTON, MA -- (Marketwire) -- 07/01/09 -- The newly released 2009 State of the Market: Mid Year Insights Report by Aberdeen Group, a Harte-Hanks Company (NYSE: HHS), has been hailed as the 2009 guide to assist business leaders in comparing goals, strategies, tactics, and investment priorities with their peers while seeking opportunities to contextualize and embrace the findings to improve their own business. The report reveals where business has been over the past year, where it stands today and -- for those able to recognize opportunity -- what the future brings.

Given the current economic conditions, it is not surprising that the top two 2009 organizational goals are organic revenue (32%) and profitability / margin growth (30%). It is interesting to note however that revenue has decreased slightly in importance (from 37% to 32%) on a year-over-year basis while profitability / margin growth remained relatively constant (30% to 31%).

Insights from the Aberdeen Report exposed the top three challenges for 2009:

* 84%   Economic Conditions        * 16%   Brand Management
* 51%   Market Volatility          * 15%   Supply Chain / Sourcing Risk
* 45%   Execution of Strategy      * 13%   Increasing Regulatory Compliance
* 19%   Shortage of Labor / Talent

Similar to last year, organizations are strategically focused on increasing the sales and capabilities footprint through channel expansion and strategic partnerships.