Why do so many companies fail to thrive past their first generation of offerings? It's not because their R&D groups aren't hatching new ¡deas. It's because mature organizations have a disconcerting tendency to eat their young.

Your product may fly off the shelves during a price promotion, but those discounts could ultimately damage your brand. Don't be blinded by short-term sales data. Instead, watch a dashboard of long-term measures to protect your brand and your profit margins.

The wise consumer of a forecast is not a trusting bystander but a participant and, above all, a critic. Here are six common-sense rules for distinguishing good forecasts from bad - and for developing your own.