Managers use many different metrics to govern their businesses and achieve corporate goals. For short$-$term financial management, there is a focus on working capital, or the amount of capital employed in the company to meet its day$-$to$-$day obligations.

Each year, REL Consultancy Group surveys U$.$S$.$ and European companies to see how their working capital position is doing. Read the report on the $2003$ Working Capital Survey in CFO Magazine and answer the following questions:

How did the current economic environment affect the working capital position of firms?

What is the "easiest thing to fix" when it comes to working capital? That is$,$ over what factor in the working capital position do managers have the most control?