Secular drivers including globalization, regulatory changes, and new technologies, which we believe are holding up well, based on our detailed analysis of operating group trends.

FORBES: Connect

Apotheker has a vision of the world that is coherent and, to the minds of many, true: Many small mobile and desktop devices at the edge, connected to a core with huge amounts of computing, data storage, data analysis, and communication, operating in real time.

FORBES: HP: The Case For Incoherence

Additional sensitivity analysis indicates this strength could continue and drive operating leverage.

FORBES: Groupon Shares Up Ahead Of Q4 Earnings Report

This analysis shows that Amazon can justify its stock price if its operating margin expands.

FORBES: Amazon Hits $200 If Free Cash Flow Creeps Up To 10% Of Revenue

Analysis of free cash flow also facilitates management's comparisons of our operating results to competitors' operating results.

ENGADGET: Google's Q4 2011 results: $2.71 billion profit, $8.13 billion in revenue, Wall Street disappointed

Both organizations believe that the key to successful prevention is a careful analysis of worldwide events and an application of this knowledge to the local operating environment.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Policing in an Age of Terror: Prevention is Best

Others monitor key economic and financial indicators like market shares operating profit margins, earnings and revenue growth, cash flow, etc. (fundamental analysis).

FORBES: How To Ride The Growth Of The Smartphone Industry

"Microsoft has had more success with mobile operating systems than in mobilizing its Internet properties, " says Avi Greengart, research director of mobile devices at Current Analysis.

FORBES: Microsoft Crafts New Mobile Strategy With Yahoo!