Business is going green because of pressure from government and consumers. But the push for sustainability can also aid in controlling costs at a time of economic crisis, says Joe Martha, vice president of Booz-Allen Hamilton.

Outsourcing. Longer supply lines. New and stricter government regulations. All of these factors are forcing companies to get a better handle on their global trade management programs, says Alex Thompson, vice president of product strategy with TradeBeam.

All supply chains -- whether moving physical goods, delivering services or channeling money - are subject to increasingly extreme swings in volatility, says Richard Douglass, global industry executive for manufacturing at Sterling Commerce. Douglass contributed to a new book from the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals on how companies can deal with this constant volatility: X-treme Supply Chains: Managing in Times of Upheaval.

So different from those of the past, today's supply chains require new strategy, analysis and planning, says Steve Martin, vice president of supply chain excellence at Ryder System. He discusses current marketplace realities and their impact on sourcing, sustainability, and inventory optimization in the midst of unpredictable demand.