Managing

Professor Ross Garnaut refers to Climate Change as a “diabolical problem” and indeed it is. For every benefit to be delivered there is going to be a cost somewhere. Businesses must now take steps to reduce their carbon footprint, but don’t know where to start. It’s all about coming up with a strategic plan of action, and sticking to it.

Ever since Prime Minister Kevin Rudd signed the Kyoto Protocol and appointed a Minister for Climate Change, the issue of climate change has been a hot topic for business. So, what is climate change and how will it affect exporters? Imagine Australia’s oldest wine growing regions too hot to produce grapes, dwindling agricultural exports and […]

The ever-increasing anxiety about global security has led to an increase in security products worldwide. Australia’s know-how in this area is well respected, but what more can we do to increase defence and security exports? Ask an average Australian what he or she thinks about defence exports, and you could end up in a debate […]

With the world currently experiencing a food shortage, the effects are starting to be felt across Australia. While we are fortunate enough to avoid famine, the implications of the global food crisis has other consequences for our agricultural industry, especially food exports. Globally, food consumption has outstripped food production and, for the first time since […]

Data quality is still a global issue but many organisations are still not taking basic steps to care for their customers’ data. Failure to invest in a data strategy will not only waste money but also isolate customers and put businesses on the wrong side of the law. Creating a culture of contact data excellence […]

There is nothing like losing a day’s worth of important documents to de-motivate even the most driven business owner. Getting back-up and storage right is crucial for any SME. Small companies are very good at what they do because they are agile, responsive and capable. They possess these attributes because they are passionate and driven […]

With petrol costs rising and everyone now thinking green, it may be time to reevaluate the costs and efficiencies of your fleet. Greening your business can not only save you time and money but improve efficiencies. Every organisation is under constant pressure to improve efficiencies. Whether the push is for time or cost savings, it […]

Dave Stevens, F1 driver and founder of Brennan IT, explains why running a business isn’t all that different from achieving the perfect lap on the racetrack. DB: How and when did you get into racing driving? DS: I started racing in 2003, but got heavily into cars in 2001. I’ve driven a mixture of sports […]

Watching your company grow in leaps and bounds can often be quite daunting and tough on even the best management team. Profiling the successes of growing franchises Boost Juice and Big Dad’s Pies, we look at ways to keep your business on track, from concept, through to start-up and execution. The extensive experience of DC […]

There has been much hype surrounding climate change and emissions trading schemes. But what does carbon management mean for SME owners and how can it benefit their business? While SMEs may not be required by law to report or reduce their carbon emissions, taking the right steps to improve or enhance their environmental credentials makes […]

In the current climate, it has never been more important for SMEs to protect their intellectual property. Unlike government departments and large corporations, there are no default contact clauses when it comes to IP protection for SMEs, so getting the right advice is crucial. Most businesses that rely on developing or exploiting any form of […]

Robelen Bajar from Melbourne IT provides eight examples of web design disaster how businesses can make a successful website. When I’m in the market for a new phone, pen, bag, cosmetics, yoga teacher, even a dentist, I Google it. I check a couple of websites, compare prices where I can and either buy online, pick […]

 Managing the company fleet is the nearest thing to a juggling act in a circus, and often far more difficult – Liz Swanton looks at different ways to meet your transport needs while also considering environmental issues and admin efficiency. Fuel efficiency and concern for the environment are hot topics when it comes to buying […]

Business owners often dread having to have difficult conversations with staff or customers. Liz Cassidy of Third Sigma International provides a step by step analysis on achieving effective communication. Often in executive coaching, clients ask for assistance with having tricky conversations because they are dreading an upcoming interview. I see difficult conversations as a cause […]

Making the most of your marketing dollars can be made easy through special utilization of your accounts software. Here’s how to use your accounting software to promote your business and brand. Marketers and accountants are typically at opposite ends of the business money tree: marketers want to spend it, accountants want to save it. But […]

The Dynamic Business panel of leading Australian business experts share their advice on how SMEs can survive in the face of a tight credit market. MATTHEW NOLAN, MD, PROVIDENT CASHFLOW With additional working capital harder to secure, it’s crucial to get every dollar in your business working harder. Use these tips to squeeze the most […]

The health and wellbeing of business owners works hand in hand with the success of their business. These top retreats will benefit any business owner looking to strike the right balance between work and life. A few years ago, Tourism NT had a TV commercial designed to reacquaint jaded viewers with the idea of a […]

While stress and work seem to come hand in hand, they don’t have to. Peter George shows us how to identify the signs of stress, and offers a mix of tried-and-true and quirky techniques to help create a stress-free workplace. At the end of the year, if you are smart, you will take a look […]

Environmentally-friendly business doesn’t have to break the bank and it’s not just the preserve of big, wealthy companies. Brad Howarth finds that, as well as cutting costs, many environmentally-friendly SMEs impress their customers by reducing consumption and waste. In the past year climate change has evolved from an academic discussion to become one of the […]

Business security isn’t just about locks, alarms and guards. Thieves have realised corporate networks are safer and more profitable to steal over the internet than doing a ‘smash and grab’. So what’s the best online business protection against cyber criminals? The threat landscape in a connected world is rapidly changing. New types of attack have […]