One measure that "points in the direction" of the overall enterprise value is the financial balance sheet
At MarketLeadership, we have found that the balance sheet provides maybe a fourth or fifth of the real story
Every organization can develop custom metrics that reflect the other essential views of enterprise value - the rest of the story
Attractiveness to customers and the market environment, strength of product/service offerings, operational excellence, information and technology, people, and other resources are each essential elements of enterprise value
Choices that are driven by financial constraints or objectives might improve the balance sheet temporarily, yet actually lower net enterprise value (We can sell the future for the sake of the present), and reduce future options for surviving and thriving
