The Bottom Line with Evan Davis

Why is deal making so seductive? When the world economy is booming corporate bosses love nothing more than to take each others companies over, mergers and acquisitions soar. However, the evidence suggest that they're a waste of money and time. Evan Davis and guests discuss why deals go right and what happens when they go wrong. Guests: Sir George Buckley – former CEO, 3M and currently Chairman Designate of the engineering group Smiths Sir Michael Rake - Chairman of BT Group and Deputy Chairman of Barclays Juergen Maier - MD of Siemens UK and Ireland

Who is the boss? What is the role of the business leader? One theory about management is that it should turn itself upside-down and permit those closest to the customer to dictate business decisions. From pricing, marketing and how to deal with complaints. Should staff be told what to do or should they be allowed to take decisions for themselves? Discussing this week with Evan Davis are John Timpson, Chairman Timpson Group; Nikki King, CEO Isuzu Truck UK; Sir Gerry Robinson, Chairman Moto Hospitality

You want to buy a tank? Whether it's an armoured vehicle, a place to keep exotic fish, or a tank top it's available online. Trading online makes it easier than ever to find a marketplace and gives the consumer a different and faster way to shop and browse. Discussing with Evan Davis this week are Nic Jones, Senior Vice President International, VEVO; Nicole Vanderbilt, MD Etsy; and Francios Coumau, General Manager for Continental Europe, eBay.

Evan Davis talks to ex-army leaders turned businessmen about the world of private defence and security work. How do they maintain their business reputations amid the conflict and the danger? Why do governments need outsiders to step in? And can you marry ethics and profits? Guests: Major General Graham Binns CBE, DSO, MC, a former British army officer, now CEO of Aegis Defence Services Limited Major General Andrew Pringle, CB, CBE, President of KBR UK and a former British army officer Gabriel Carter, Managing Director in charge of Operations at Risk Management and Intelligence

Big data has become big business. Improvements in computer memory storage and how we store information about ourselves has created new industries and transformed others. Evan Davis and guests discuss the money making world of Big Data. Guests: Dave Coplin, Chief Envisioning Officer and Director of Search, Microsoft UK; Konrad Feldman, CEO Quantcast; Lawrence Jones, Founder UK Fast

What is it like to be voted off the board by your shareholders? Is investor activism here to stay? Evan and his guests discuss the power of investors and their role in changing how business functions. Guests: Alison Carnwath, Chair Land Securities Helena Morrissey, CEO Newton Asset Management Nigel Wilson, Group CEO Legal & General Producers: Rosamund Jones/Lucy Proctor

Water is the world's most precious resource. It's also big business and getting water where it needs to be is a huge global challenge. Evan Davis and guests discuss an industry which has changed almost beyond recognition in just a few decades - from state-owned water providers to international business players. Guests: Peter Simpson, CEO Anglian Water Bryan Harvey, Vice President CH2M HILL Olivier Bret, CEO Veolia Water UK Producer : Rosamund Jones

Predicting the future is a skill that can earn investors and businesses a fortune - but get it wrong and disaster looms. How can business leaders know what the world will look like in 2030? This week Evan Davis meets three business leaders who place bets on the future. They are: Guests: Dorothy Thompson, CEO, Drax Hans Vestberg, CEO, Ericsson Jim Rogers, Investor

How do you manage a corporation in a crisis? The odds are high that at some point in their careers most business leaders will be in charge when it all goes wrong. So how prepared can you be and what does it feel like to face the unexpected? Evan Davis hears tales of crisis with his guests Michael Woodford, former chief executive & president, Olympus Corporation; Ann Cairns, president international markets, Mastercard; Eddie Bensilum, director, Regester Larkin

How much money do you need to start a business? Why do some start ups require millions and others only a few hundred pounds? Evan Davis discusses these and other questions with his guests Mark Popkiewicz, founder MirriAd Julie Deane, founder The Cambridge Satchel Company, Jonathan Medved venture capitalist and founder Our Crowd Producer : Rosamund Jones

Food comes from a supermarket or over a counter for most of us. But how do the companies that make our curries and custard or cater for us at work get it from field to fork? Evan Davis discusses the food supply chain with his guests Gavin Darby, CEO of Premier Foods, Perween Warsi, founder and CEO of S&A Foods and Alastair Storey, CEO of WSH.

Travel companies have had to deal with upheaval in popular destinations and recession for their customers at home recently so how do they plan their seasonal business for places in crisis and political unrest such as Greece and Egypt? Evan Davis discusses this and the future of tourism in Greece with his guests Peter Long, CEO TUI Travel; Carolyn McCall, CEO Easyjet and Andreas Andreadis CEO SANI Resort

What permanent marks has the recession made on the recruitment business and the job market? And how have companies caught in the eye of the storm adapted to survive? Evan Davis speaks to three recruiters from different ends of the market - the shop floor to the top floor. . Guests : Virginia Bottomley, Odgers Berndtson Matthew Sanders, CEO de Poel Ian Temple, chair Hydrogen Group Producer : Rosamund Jones

The App industry has a global marketplace and "appreneurs" are trying to make money in markets where traditional business rules do not apply. Evan Davis meets appreneurs and asks how they make a living if their product is free? And how do they market to customers if they don’t know who they are? Guests : Barry Meade, co-founder Fireproof Studios Professor Anthony Steed, co-founder Animal Systems Max Whitby, co-founder & CEO Touch Press

Evan Davis chairs a round table discussion with business people who make money from education - from running low cost schools in Africa to training the next generation of lawyers.