The Department of Labour has flagged that it may be about to get heavy with businesses over employment contracts, reminding all employers that from July 1 2011, they must keep copies of employment agreements or terms and conditions of employment for all staff, signed by both parties.
The variety and speed at which clever new products and services are coming into the market is mind boggling. But it is often the processes that lead to the creation of new technologies that may prove more enduring. These also are being innovated and hold the key to success in the more open and collaborative business environment of the future.
Business leaders say their marketing departments are still unable to clearly demonstrate the bottom-line value of their campaigns and are not the business growth generators they should be, according to damning research by the Fournaise Marketing Group.
“Connecting this economy with the rest of the world and growing companies of scale is absolutely core to the survival of this country,” says Peter Chrisp, New Zealand Trade and Enterprise’s new CEO. “We’ve got this self-belief. We’ve got such huge assets in New Zealand. We’ve got this deep ingenuity as a country. But we have to step up our aspirations.”
Responsible governance is not listed as strategic priority at Air New Zealand, but weaving it into the company’s organisational culture is.
Kea’s global CEO Sue Watson says active engagement with Kiwi expats will help grow the New Zealand economy.
Rising staff levels, more candidate confidence and a widening gap between candidate and employer salary expectations are three pressure points that look likely to combine to create a ‘perfect storm’ of high demand but short supply in New Zealand’s recruitment market in the year ahead, according to the 2011 Hays Salary Guide released this week.
• By Andre van Heerden • Maruki Books • RRP $39.95 Books about leadership may be commonplace, but leaders worthy of the description are alarmingly rare. In his self-published book,
• By Gail T Fairhurst • Jossey Bass • RRP $45.41 It is how they say it, rather than what leaders say, that makes the difference. The process of how
Here’s a great way for you and your company to help save the lives of young New Zealanders and do your bit for the environment at the same time.
Australia rules when it comes to banking New Zealand business. And since the global financial crisis (GFC), the relationship between their banks and our businesses has changed. Reg Birchfield asked business and banking leaders for their interpretation of what the new rules of the game mean and for some predictions on what the future score might be.
Further encouraging signs that our job market is picking up – particularly for those looking for their first job – come from statistics which show employer demand for university graduates is growing significantly.
A study of trends in incomes, inequality and poverty conducted for the Ministry of Social Development last year showed income inequality had increased substantially from 1982 to 2004, but declined
Carl Bergstrom Frucor Beverages has appointed Carl Bergstrom as group managing director. He replaces Mark Cowsill who retired at the end of May after 18 years in the role. Bergstrom
Last month the Southern Cross Healthcare Group of businesses celebrated its 50th birthday. Looking back to our beginnings has been an enlightening exercise. Prior to 1961, health was pretty much
New Zealand’s terms of trade are the best they’ve been for 37 years we are told – mostly driven by soaring prices for commodity exports. However, an obstinately high exchange rate is an increasingly challenging headwind for our manufacturers, particularly those exporting something other than dairy and meat products. Executive Update’s economics correspondent Bob Edlin investigates.
Research commissioned by talent management company SHL suggests that the productivity of over half of New Zealand employees is hampered due to lack of recognition for hard work. The research
Results from global study of more than 3000 chief information officers (CIOs) released by IBM last month reveal that CEOs and CIOs are aligned in their thinking around future challenges
Prime Minister John Key opened new $7 million family accommodation facility last month that extends the capabilities of Ronald McDonald House in Auckland. Grafton Mews has 18 rooms including two
This year’s NZIM Foundation Scholarships winners are all from the South Island. They travelled to Sydney last month to attend the Australian Human Resources International Convention. They also spent day
Offshore oil and gas exploration is supported by 71.4 percent of business decision makers nationwide, if adequate environmental protection is provided, according to Horizon poll. This compares with 62.1 percent
NZ Management and Hay Group are once again researching our country’s most reputable organisations. This annual survey, first conducted last year, gathers input from business leaders across New Zealand to
Organic Systems will be working alongside New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) on its ‘Organic and Green Path to Market Programme’ which also includes presence at the Organic Expo and
Simon Allen, chairman of the newly created Financial Markets Authority (FMA), is fully aware of the challenges the authority faces in rebuilding investor confidence and creating and enforcing regulation to
Is there positive relationship between good leadership and massive executive remuneration rewards? No, no, no. An increasing array of evidence – behavioural, scientific and organisational performance based – discounts the
Vision 2050 was developed by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and its members to answer the question ‘What will the world look like in 2050’. It holds
Despite continuous growth in R&D spending, many senior leaders remain deeply concerned about their organisation’s ability to innovate. New research by Booz & Company points to an unexpected and unheralded source of potential productivity in the R&D function: mid-level managers.
New Zealand’s latest slide in global competitiveness comes as no surprise, NZIM Northern’s Kevin Gaunt tells Reg Birchfield.
There are now two Maori parties, both pushing indigenous rights challenging the “mainstream” but from different perspectives. Our bicultural politics is getting more complicated. Hone Harawira forms common cause with
Despite a lack of sustained government funding and the impact of the recession, the private school sector is still robust and an attractive choice for parents looking for a wide range of educational options.
Responsible governance is not a stated strategic priority at Air New Zealand, but weaving it into the company’s organisational culture is. How the airline’s “do it because it is right” approach pays off.
Eric Schmidt’s track record as CEO of Google for the past 10 years stands as a remarkable story of steady growth, expanded reach and influence and an innovative management style that will remain scrutinised as he assumes the role of executive chairman at the internet search leader.
Despite the challenges that New Zealand manufacturing exporters face, a number have had a good recession and have hurdled the high exchange rates to post impressive growth in offshore markets.
NZ Management talks to Ryan Wilson, the brains behind Generator, a new business club/serviced office model in Auckland’s thriving new business and social hub, the Britomart precinct.
There’s much talk about new broadband network for New Zealand, but not enough talk about new digital future for our country. Politicians, business leaders, media, consumer groups, government agency folk
Health and safety management is improving, but New Zealand can do better to reduce death and injury rates at work, according to a new indicator report released yesterday.
Everyone in business wants to get closer to their customers – to understand what makes them buy, what they love about your product and what they value. The holy grail
We’re playing Aussie rules Australia rules when it comes to banking New Zealand business. And since the global financial crisis (GFC), the relationship between their banks and our businesses has
Meadow Mushrooms’ Philip Burdon on management, politics and best practice.
A friend and prominent business leader was explaining why she believed our bright young talents should be encouraged to stay in New Zealand and use their skills and energies to
I’ve just read Reg Birchfield’s article (“Leaders – your country needs you” NZ Management May 2011), and straight up, I loved it. I totally agree with everything said in your
The Budget contains little to get excited about in terms of driving the economy forward, says BNZ chief economist Tony Alexander – though that is partly understandable in the context of needing to get the record 8.4% of GDP budget deficit under control.
Our National Government could take some political comfort from the Australian Labor Government’s crackdown on welfare expenditure in last week’s Budget across the Tasman – given Labour’s temerity on this issue here. Executive Update’s economic correspondent Bob Edlin reports on the Aussie Budget.
Companies are dropping foreign partners in fear of corruption liability, says a new Dow Jones survey. More than half of companies are so concerned about their liability under anti-corruption rules that they are ditching their relationship with agents, distributors and consultants in global business transactions.
More than half of New Zealand businesses have rehired former employees and most consider it to have been a good move, according to a research report released this week by recruitment agency Hudson.
The search is on again for New Zealand’s most reputable organisations. Have your say on who you admire most in our corporate, state-owned enterprise, government and not-for-profit sectors.
Working with people, “encouraging them and putting in place appropriate frameworks and structures to help them be the best they can be”, is the most appealing aspect of management and leadership, says Keith Reynolds, CEO of Beca, the 2010 Deloitte/Management magazine Company of the Year.
There has been a steep decline in CEO turnover worldwide Booz & Company has found in its latest annual survey of CEO succession among the world’s top 2500 public companies. The study also found that more CEOs are being appointed from inside companies, rather than from outside, and the more involved HQ is in operational decision making in a company, the more tenuous a CEO’s tenure is likely to be.
Although the economy has been very weak for almost a year, the labour market has continued to tighten up, albeit slowly, says BNZ chief economist Tony Alexander. He expects that tightening will become quite pronounced as growth accelerates from later this year, meaning employers need to be giving greater thought to their recruitment and staff retention strategies.
A shift to a new generation of html, the programming standard that underpins the internet, will further boost the power of mobile devices, accelerating changes in the way people consume content and meaning that businesses’ mobile strategies will grow in importance.
Last year’s Budget was full of optimism with the most significant tax changes in 25 years targeted to provide a platform for productivity and economic growth. A year and two Christchurch earthquakes later, with the Government’s accounts looking less rosy, the 2011 Budget sees the first tentative steps to tackling Government entitlements, says Deloitte CEO Murray Jack. But is it enough?
A recent survey of New Zealand senior executives by the Sustainable Future Institute has found that the uncertain quality of government decision making is the thing most likely to result in a disturbed night’s sleep for this country’s business decision makers.
In a country that prides itself on its reputation for a corruption-free business environment, why do so many New Zealand corporates appear cavalier about meeting the kinds of global measures of ethical and responsible governance performance that companies in other countries, such as Australia, more willingly embrace?
Managing risk: After the crisis Risk is fact of business and organisational life. Managing it effectively, given the impact of events such as the Global Financial Crisis and the Christchurch
“The consequences of (banks) mismanaging their risks can be severe indeed – not only for the individual bank, but for the (financial) system as a whole…” Dr Alan Bollard, governor of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand speaking to the Institute of Directors in Christchurch on April 7, 2003.
“The consequences of (banks) mismanaging their risks can be severe indeed – not only for the individual bank, but for the (financial) system as a whole…” Dr Alan Bollard, governor of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand speaking to the Institute of Directors in Christchurch on April 7, 2003.
Time is running out for New Zealand to jump on to the speeding train of management and leadership change that could help deliver us future of opportunity and prosperity. Our
Risk is a fact of business and organisational life. Managing it effectively, given the impact of events such as the Global Financial Crisis and the Christchurch and Japanese earthquakes, is critically important.
Many managers may be barking up the wrong tree when it comes to growing their enterprise and its dollars over the long run. An increasingly competitive and globalised world calls
An AWF-HorizonPoll national survey of people in work shows more organisations are thinking of increasing staff during the next year. Some 19% of business decision makers (managers, executives, proprietors, self-employed
Set amidst spectacular Fiordland National Park ‘World Heritage’ scenery, guided walk operator Hollyford Track Guided Walks is opening its well-appointed Martins Bay Lodge to small conference and meeting groups on
Compared to listed companies, twice as many not for profit organisations in New Zealand have asked their stakeholders what they would like to see in their financial statements. This was
The high costs of ill health are driving growing investment by New Zealand workplaces in employee health. A recent survey of 402 upper North Island employers found that nearly 50
Randstad announced last month that Air New Zealand had won the inaugural 2011 Randstad Award, voted the country’s most attractive employer by over 4000 jobseekers. Recently-appointed Randstad CEO (New Zealand
New Zealand’s rank has climbed to 18th out of 138 economies in the World Economic Forum-INSEAD Global Information Technology Report 2009-2010, up one place from the last report and just
Prime Minister John Key says the 2011 Prime Minister’s Business Scholarships, which opened for applications last month, are designed to build business capability and develop skills, particularly in management and
The Balanced Scorecard (BSC) was created by Drs Robert Kaplan and David Norton of the Harvard Business School as performance measurement framework that added strategic non-financial performance measures to traditional
As trite as it may sound, it is nevertheless true that risk management itself is risk that must be managed well. It also goes without saying that in these fast-changing,
As trite as it may sound, it is nevertheless true that risk management itself is risk that must be managed well. It also goes without saying that in these fast-changing,
No matter where they sit on the organisational chart, most people answer to someone else at work. When new person takes on that role, your job may remain the same,
Special Group’s creative director and co-founder Tony Bradbourne says there are no barriers to belief and ambition.
J Bradford DeLong, professor of economics at the University of California at Berkeley, posed good question recently: Is economics discipline? His answer was that among Chicago School economists, at least,
Graham Carter is to lead the carboNZero programme in New Zealand as it new chief executive. New Zealander, he was most recently based in Canada as the co-founder and chief
Winter enthusiasts tend to be thin on the ground. Forget the crackling of open fires and swish of skis – for most of us, the sounds associated with the season
New Zealand Trade and Enterprise’s new CEO Peter Chrisp on his leadership stategy.
The rise and rise of not-for-profit organisations and enterprises is putting pressure on their fundraising and also on the directors who stump up with their governance services gratis.
Leadership, says friend of mine, is first and foremost about vision. “It is about service and community,” says another. Frances Hasselbein, America’s most applauded lady of leadership, says leadership is
Business as usual will come to an end in the next 40 years. But this is likely to create vast opportunities for New Zealand business. How can this be? Just
• By Frances Hesselbein • Jossey Bass/John Wiley • RRP$34.50 There is something engaging about Frances Hesselbein – even in print. I met her once, in Auckland, and she was
These are dark and difficult times for managers. We need managers to rebuild the economy, lead enterprise out of the economic and structural ruins and to re-shape organisations for the future.
After the first Christchurch earthquake Bill English and John Key cut new spending for 2011-12 from $1.1 billion plus two percent to $700-$800 million. After the second earthquake they cut
What are our universities doing to better match their MBA programmes to fast-changing business needs? And, getting personal, have you got what it takes to do an MBA?
Do New Zealand’s directors and chief executives understand what responsible governance is all about and just how important it is? NZ Management’s Reg Birchfield isn’t sure and wants to find our best governed enterprises.
Sandy Moore is the New Zealand advertising industry’s chief executive of the year. The head of the local arm of global agency DDB tells Steve Best about the stresses and secrets of managing difficult egos and dealing with the challenges of adapting to the rise and rise of social media.
The rise and rise of not-for-profit organisations and enterprises is putting pressure on their fundraising and also on the directors who stump up with their governance services gratis.
The cyber-punk author William Gibson famously said, “The future has already arrived – it’s just not evenly distributed yet”. Massey University is prime example. The skills we hold in distance
A tightening labour market will bring New Zealand’s skills shortages into sharp focus once again. Executive Update canvassed the views of a number of recruitment heads about what companies – and the country – should consider doing to address this issue.
Global statistics suggest New Zealand’s top companies are behind the eight ball when it comes to meeting accepted global criteria for ethical and responsible governance, and senior management practices. The chair and managing director of Abano Healthcare explain what responsible governance means to them.
The economic mood was already lifting before the Reserve Bank – followed by market reaction to its decision to hold the Official Cash Rate – gave it a further fillip yesterday, reports economics correspondent Bob Edlin.
Senior managers can apply practical insights from neuroscience to make themselves – and their teams – more creative.
Companies can spend a fortune recruiting hot shot chief executives from outside, but new research suggests they could be wasting their money. A 20-year study in the United States has found that corporations that promote chief executives from within their own ranks routinely outperform those that recruit from outside.
The Kea global network acknowledges the bold vision of co-founder Sir Stephen Tindall at this year’s World Class New Zealand Awards and celebrates the passion and patriotism of the 2011 winners.
Despite the fact that they often manage big budgets on behalf of their companies, New Zealand managers aren’t always that good at managing their own personal investments – an extreme example of which has been this week’s embarrassing revelations that two former high-profile finance executives fell for a “looney” Ponzi scheme.
A critical week or so in timing makes all the difference, maybe. Business confidence slumped as expected after the second Christchurch earthquake, according to recently released surveys – but it has bounced back (surprisingly) according to the most recent survey, as Executive Update’s economic correspondent Bob Edlin reports.
Decades of research on achievement suggest that successful people reach their goals not simply because of who they are, but more often because of what they do. Check out these tips on turning goals into reality from the most-read article on Harvard Business Review’s website in the last month.
Real estate, not greedy Wall Street types, was the “real culprit” in the latest global meltdown, according to the keynote speaker at a recent major international finance conference in Queenstown. Professor Franklin Allen of Wharton University, Pennsylvania also said governments must develop policies that prevent “bubbles” in housing markets if they want to stop further financial crises – and it appears our Government is taking some notice.
