Editor's Column

A certain characteristic of the Chinese Year of the Tiger is volatility; a year associated with massive change and great upheaval. Are we set to be entering uncertain times yet again?

Between the time of me writing and you reading this editorial Thailand could indeed have begun a period of great change as the fall-out from certain court cases is felt. The reaction of those involved is unpredictable.

To gauge how government feel about the year ahead Director talked with Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanich and he shared his views on the prospects for the Thai economy. However, due to the events I mentioned above, you may be reading this with a new minister at the helm. Then again, maybe not.

But let's hope that whatever happens business is allowed to continue and prosper. Indeed, many people Director has spoken to during the first months of 2010 have been quietly confident that business is gaining momentum. It's cautious, but optimism is there.

As proof, in a recent survey by Synovate Business Consulting more than two-thirds of the business leaders questioned reported their business would be better off in 12 months time. Only 8% felt that their business would be worse off in the same period. The results showed plenty of positive sentiment as 69% of business leaders said they anticipated new investment in their business over the next 12 months. More tellingly, over 91% of respondents stated that they expect their revenue results in 2010 to show growth.

Is their confidence misplaced?

Another trait of the tiger year is chance, or opportunity, and there is no doubt many opportunities will present themselves as we progress through the year. As always, being in the right place, at the right time, with the right ideas and the right people to carry them through is crucial. Two of our expert columnists this issue discuss the importance of ideas and people and how to get the best from them. Making sure you and your team are prepared to grab opportunities when they arise will be key to success.

Bold actions may also be required and I don't think anyone can accuse new Thai Airways International president Dr Piyasvasti Amranand of not being bold. When we met him his vision for the future of the airline was clearly mapped out, and more impressively, his drive to make fundamental changes in how the business is run was overpowering. In a revealing and comprehensive interview he answered a range of questions that have been on the lips of loyal THAI customers for many years, and it was refreshing to hear many of the well-known (unsustainable) practices challenged. Even better that it was the man at the top doing so.

Dr Piyasvasti, like many of us, has a challenging year ahead. There are likely to be many surprises as this year's tiger roars!