newtons cradleFor Period 10, the top six have been much more stable this year than previously the first four Atkins India's 'Spartans', Atkins China's 'One Atkins' Arup's 'SUPERnOVA', and Atkins India's 'Singularity' have all held the first four places. Atkins India's 'ATRIUM' climbs three places to get back into the top six at fifth. Mott MacDonald's 'Nott MacDonalds' slip one to stay in the top six at sixth place. Dropping out of the top six are Arup's 'Overrated' at seventh.

The movements near the top are not great this round with movement of two or three up or down being the most common. Fluor BV's 'EPIC' climbs five places to 17th and would need to repeat that in the last two rounds and a little more to make the top six. The big mover was Atkins China's 'Umbrella Corporation' up to 24 from 50, do that one more time and they could be leading. Other big movers include CB & I's 'Horton' up fourteen and WYG's 'Only one WYG' up by thirty five, the largest rise this round. Now they've worked out what they are doing who knows where they will end. Amey's 'je t'amey' who looked to be driving upwards have stalled perhaps gathering themselves for the final push

The Sponsors Award, a competition between the sponsors who have entered three or more teams, remains with the leader is Atkins India followed by Arup, Fluor, Akins UK and AURECON.

One thing to keep an eye on is the market conditions. If the spend on marketing in the right sectors isn't adequate it will result in fewer jobs to bid for. If the market is tightening this could be significant. This is just one factor all the others need controlling as well head office staffing, estimating effort, bids, project manager selection, project staffing, company capital, borrowings, investments, dividends, retained profits. They all matter; no one said a director's job was easy. Enjoy the challenge. Your finance director needs to watch the turnover: capital ratio if it is low say five then your capital isn't working hard enough. Might be time to offload capital by investing elsewhere, a shame that an external investment can earn more than your own company but it is a course of action. Your procurement director needs to watch the forward workload, this is measured in your performance but it is no good having a forward turnover with very low or even negative margins the forward margin on your workload is a key factor. So you need to in profitable work.

Two rounds to go at this stage some successful decisions get described as heroic and inspirational other less successful ones as simply foolhardy.


Click here to see the League table For Period 10