Managing
It is a no-brainer that if you want your staff to be productive in the workplace, they must work as a team. Employees working as part of a team feel valued and it strengthens the bond between staff members. Activities that require team building are not only an integral part of the management practice; it […]
Online business offers numerous benefits, but also opens up a range of online fraud risks. Here are some of the dangers of online business and the security measures to protect your business effectively and affordably. Problems such as computer viruses, spam emails, identity theft and online fraud get frequent and lurid coverage in the mainstream […]
A change in government also means a change in business practices. We ask the experts the following questions about the Labor Government’s effect on business: What do you think the change in government means for SMEs? What will be the key impacts to business and how should small business owners adapt to the new government? […]
We gathered a panel of industry leaders and business experts to give us their view on what the Rudd Government’s effect on business will be. As you’d expect, there were plenty of contentious ideas being thrown around about how businesses will be affected. The panel: Richard Evans, CEO Australian Retailers Association Sheryle Moon, CEO, AIIA […]
Email management is becoming a must in businesses. In the last few years, business email has been growing from a useful but niche application to the de-facto standard for collaboration in most companies. For many office workers, the email is their main source of information; in the supply chain, it often acts as the primary […]
Combating the skills shortage plaguing small and medium-sized businesses is tough. But if you want more free time and need staffing solutions for the skills shortage, it’s worth investing money in outsourcing and part-time employees. As a small business owner, you’ll probably be familiar with two scenarios symptomatic of staffing issues. One is the ubiquitous […]
Understanding how to protect your business’ intellectual property can be difficult. It’s an invaluable asset that you don’t want anyone else attaining but it can tough to know where to turn to for assistance. Legal aid, hiring a lawyer and even doing intellectual property research online are just some ways to safeguard your business. Confused […]
Scientist and author Dr John Fleming shares his views on getting the most out of the employee-customer encounter. “Quality” is easy to measure and manage in some contexts, and extremely difficult in others. Businesspeople have a pretty good idea how to judge the manufacturing process that yields a snazzy new handheld device, for example. But […]
Work, rest and play is the mantra for splitting up your day, but who says they need to be separate? Here are some ideas for you to keep staff happy, to give yourself a break or to indulge in some of the finer things in life. Work–Play Balance Your office may not be a Googleplex […]
In the latest of his regular columns, Rob Lamers shares his expertise on managing cash flow with SME owners. It’s a common misconception that success in business is all about profits. The tragedy is that believing this ignores the fact that it’s unwise to imagine yourself raking in the future profits if the business can’t […]
Have you ever considered what might happen if your star employee leaves and takes your business with them? If you don’t have the right contracts in place, you’re risking just that. Picture this, Stephanie sets up a business with two of her friends, Jayne and Cheryl. Stephanie’s business has grown in two years into a […]
The end of the financial year is almost upon us, but there are still a number of actions that business owners can take to help reduce their tax liabilities for the 2007 tax year. Often, this is simply a case of ensuring that your intentions are correctly recorded and dated, which will also be helpful […]
No doubt about it, Australia has become an employees’ market. So how can you maintain a low staff turnover without blowing your budget? Here are 50 ways to create happy and loyal employees. 1. Salary One of the biggest employee motivators, pay is what attracts us to most new positions and encourages us to stay. […]
As a small business owner, knowing what to look for when choosing an online foreign exchange provider can be tricky, not to mention time consuming and likely scoring pretty low on your to-do list. However, taking an interest in your business’ foreign exchange (FX) requirements is important. FX may be a by-product of your actual […]
As every smart business owner will tell you, your business is only as good as your team. We sit down with John Buchanan, former coach of Australia’s most successful cricket team, for his tips on managing a star team. Hailed as a coaching legend, John Buchanan led the Australian cricket team to become the world’s […]
Need help to start or develop a business? Mariana von Lucken leads us through the maze of government grants and concessions that can make the difference between business success and failure. The range of government grants and concessions to assist both start-up and existing businesses is continually expanding. There is now something for almost any […]
It’s alright to have a vision for your store, but you won’t get very far if employees don’t share, and believe in that vision. Richard Carter gives some tips on how to make sure employees understand where the company is headed. Every year, we spend thousands of dollars trying to get employee’s motivated to improve […]
At tax time, it’s easy to overlook small but important details and to become so consumed by the deadline that you don’t use the process of mopping up this year’s tax bill to plan for the next. Cameron Cooper gathers tips from experts for getting your tax bill right. Memo to the good people at […]
Employee share ownership plans are no longer reserved just for large, publicly listed companies. As Rebecca Spicer discovers, they can be a useful tool for any business wanting to attract, retain and motivate staff. It’s no secret that the skills shortage is crippling many industries. And so, tools and strategies that attract and keep key […]
As a cash flow tool, the image of factoring has changed. It’s no longer seen as a desperate move by a badly managed business. Bill Shew looks at how and when a business can use factoring to create cash flow advantage, and how and when it can’t. Factoring has had a chequered history in Australia. […]
