Managing
Some small businesses have already taken advantage of the Government’s Investment Allowance. Yet the actual details are still rather confusing to many. To simplify the legislation and show how businesses can benefit, Finlease have prepared an ‘Investment Allowance Guide in Plain English’.
Companies are having to become more sustainable in their supply chain as they grapple with carbon reporting and the current downturn. There are all kinds of ways companies can help ‘green’ their supply chain while attracting customers, standing out from competitors and reaching profitable goals.
A recession looms but there is still a demand for skilled workers. The quantity of job seekers has increased over the past six months, but the quality has failed to follow suit.
The number one reason businesses fail is bad management. Stock control is a vital issue that tends to be overlooked. Inventory management is important so your business knows exactly what’s coming in and what’s going out.
There is a long history of successful family businesses in Australia. But many aren’t making adequate legal provisions to ensure their business survives into the next generation. Implementing a succession plan is crucial.
While social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook are great tools for businesses to engage with their audience and build their profile, they pose significant security risks. Hackers and scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated in the ways in which they use social media to illicitly gain personal and financial information. As a business owner it is important to know what these threats are, and how you can safeguard your staff and your business.
One of the smartest pieces of advice I’ve received is to outsource all non-core activities, acknowledge my strengths, recognise my weaknesses and work with that knowledge instead of fighting it. Focus on what you do best, and outsource the rest.
In times of economic uncertainty, workplace moral drops and stress increases. Employees become dissatisfied with their job and seek alternative career paths. New research commission by Citrix Online has found that a growing number of Australian workers are now willing to take a pay cut in order to be able to work from home, with many believing it provides a better work/life balance. So what are the benefits of working from home?
Retrenching then hiring new talent may seem like an attractive strategy in tough times but it has hidden costs. Retention can actually be a cheaper, more effective approach for surviving the recession.
With unemployment increasing and business closures a daily event, many businesses are turning to discounting in order to lure the customers in. But is this actually the right thing to do?
A lot of reports have been swirling around as of late, concerning the changes to the Trade Practices Act in relation to product pricing. Restaurants in particular have been mentioned quite heavily, with restaurants who charge a weekend surcharge now being made to print two different menus – one with their weekend price and one with their Monday to Friday prices. Why is this relevant to your business and how will it affect the way you do business?
Database accuracy has a direct return on investment (ROI) on your campaign success. So who is keeping your database in superb shape and why is your database your single most valuable business possession?
Rapid advances in technology have allowed businesses to be more flexible in the way they promote their brand. Social media marketing and mobile marketing are the new buzz words being bandied around and many businesses are turning to these forms of marketing to create brand awareness. But how can they be used correctly? Chris Pile, managing director of one of Australia’s leading digital agencies TheFARM discusses how the digital landscape is changing, and how businesses can keep up.
Times are tough and it is understandable that retailers are cutting costs, but some of them are going too far. Instead of eliminating waste, these retailers are also cutting essential expenditure. By doing so, they are undercutting the capabilities of their businesses.
Developments such as Web 2.0, mobile computing and wireless hotspots mean that application and system availability requirements become more and more critical. In turn, the processes and tools required to protect those applications have evolved as well.
It may not be an employee’s market anymore but the way you treat your Gen Y staff today, will affect how they treat you tomorrow, when the recession’s over. As an employer, you should manage by individual, not generation.
Printing is estimated to account for between one and three percent of a business’ revenue. The potential savings in this area of your business should be seriously considered especially when the focus on business process and cost efficiency has gained added significance in the current economic climate. Business owners and managers are looking to cut costs and print savings can be simple with immediate results.
The brainstorm is often perceived as the Holy Grail for answering questions that arise in business. But did you know there are right and wrong ways to brainstorm? An unfocused brainstorming session can be a waste of time but conducted properly, can have huge benefits. Here are 6 tips for better brainstorming.
Six months into 2009 and it’s been announced by those in the know that apparently our ‘annus horribilis’ economically speaking, is over. Australia has dodged the recession. Technically.
Do your employees spend time internet shopping, playing online games or downloading pirated movies? Can you trust your staff on the net? For small businesses in Australia, the internet has changed behaviour in the workplace and created new challenges for managers. Kerri-Anne Turner explores the implications of web misuse for your business.
