September / October 2012

This online shopping test follows the company's decision earlier this year to shut down an 18-month experiment in online grocery shopping with curbside pickup in Tampa and Atlanta that wasn't profitable.

When PepsiCo elevated John Compton to the role of president in March, analysts speculated he was a likely successor to Chief Executive Indra Nooyi.

Photography by Vito Palmisano

And while there is no doubt that these are necessary pursuits, it strikes me that we should also look within our own organizations when exploring the concept of "collaboration" in its purest meaning.

They offered similar lessons with respect to adapting to change and the focus on fundamentals and basics that translate to success. To succeed, apply your knowledge and experience, and adapt as you acquire new information in a changing business environment.

Challenges for retailers and CPG manufacturers abound in a slow-growing economy that has bred continued uncertainty.