Management Tools for 2007

For the past fourteen years, strategy consulting firm Bain & Co. has been tracking the most popular management tools worldwide, including just about everything from strategic alliances to corporate blogs, and from benchmarking to offshoring.

This year's report outlines the major trends and examines some exotic newcomers.

In terms of the management tools used, here's what the top 15 look like for 2007:

1. Strategic planning
2. Customer relationship management
3. Customer segmentation
4. Benchmarking
5. Mission and vision statements
6. Core competencies
7. Outsourcing
8. Business process reengineering
9. Scenario and contingency planning
10. Knowledge management
11. Strategic alliances
12. Balanced scorecard
13. Supply chain management
14. Growth strategy tools
15. Total quality management