Despite the economy, two-thirds of respondents to a recent survey indicated that their companies still were doing carve-outs and divestitures. The most common reason for the break-ups was to jettison assets that weren't core to the companies' strategies. About half of the survey-takers said that generating cash was a motive -- not surprising, given the economy. That said, not all attempts at carve-outs are successful. Two-fifths of companies had been unable to complete a divestiture they had attempted within the past three years.

Shortcomings in processes such as demand forecasting, inventory management, credit, and collections are keeping the working capital inside many companies locked up. Deloitte Consulting's Dan Kinzler explains how companies can set their cash free.

State-of-the-art AP departments are moving to a range of electronic processes, as more and more finance executives seek to better monitor the ebb and flow of company cash.

The non-profit group TWIST (Transaction Workflow Innovation Standards Team) is trying to develop a bank services billing standard that will provide transparency and easier analysis for banks outside the United States.

As CFOs and treasurers continue to find external funding tight, more are looking at freeing up cash from their own operations -- particularly their supply chains. A recent report identifies steps companies can take to do this.

Just a few years ago, firms with hefty bank balances were often seen as hoarding cash, thus diminishing shareholder value. However, a forthcoming study on cash holdings and R&D smoothing has found that young, research-intensive firms with hefty cash holdings are better able to continue with their R&D investments even when other sources of financing tighten. This should enhance, rather than hurt, their value.

Just how much have mark-to-market accounting rules contributed to the current upheaval in the banking sector?

How far ahead can companies peer into the economic gloom? How are budgeting processes holding up in the downturn? Help us find out by participating in this 10-minute survey. If you respond by April 3, you will have the opportunity to enter into a drawing for one of two $100 Visa gift cards.

The 6th Annual BPM Summit, Generating Value Through Visibility, brought together some of the business world's foremost practitioners to explore the transformational role of finance in the enterprise. If you missed the live event, you can still enjoy unlimited access to the audio and slide shows from the keynote speaker presentations at our on-demand archive.