November 2, 2011

Executive Update Edition 33

Massey University ecentre chief Steve Corbett says a government decision to enable business incubators to offer $50,000 grants to young technology companies is perfect timing.

Companies are focused on developing new products and services in an endeavour to survive difficult economic times, according to Newport Consulting’s annual business survey of 242 New Zealand and Australian business leaders.

A new investor report highlights bribery and corruption risk across ASX200. ‘Anti-corruption and Bribery Practices in Corporate Australia: A review of the S&P/ASX200’ was commissioned by ACSI and produced by CAER (Corporate Analysis Enhanced Responsibility).

It looks like we should dust off the downside scenario in the recently published Pre-election Fiscal and Economic Update (Prefu), now the fate of the European debt deal struck only last week has become subject to the endorsement of Greek voters at a referendum.

Deloitte/Management magazine Top 200 Awards judges have been in lockdown picking this year’s finalists and winners… Whatever happens next in Greece, our economist Bob Edlin warns it’s not likely to be pretty for New Zealand…

Sir Paul Callaghan throws his weight behind a bright technology future for NZ at the latest TIN100 launch… New initiative to boost business incubators wins plaudits…

Just over a quarter (28.8%) of New Zealand hiring managers say they can now find the right person for the job within two to four weeks of starting to look.

The New Zealand Institute has just updated its NZahead report card. Overall, the Institute says New Zealand’s performance is still average. We get a C grade.

Dinosaurs hung over guests’ heads at the TIN100 launch in Auckland’s Auckland War Memorial Museum. But there’s nothing outdated about this year’s TIN100 companies which collectively brought in $7 billion worth of revenue last year: a 5% hike on the previous 12 months.

Glidepath’s Sir Ken Stevens and electronics entrepreneur Sir Peter Maire are heading up a New Zealand trade mission to Malaysia and Brunei in March next year.