There have been some major changes to property tax rules, including a GST simplification on property sales and significant changes to depreciation allowances, which affect companies that own property. Depreciation allowances on most building structures are no longer available, however they can still be claimed on commercial and industrial building fitout assets.
Constantly changing marketplaces mean companies need to be looking at smarter ways of using their sales force to stimulate growth. Over the past year, McKinsey & Co has interviewed around 100 sales executives worldwide, across a range of industries, to identify the critical elements that distinguish true sales leaders. It uncovered four innovative ways companies can use their sales reps to drive growth.
•By George W. Bush • Virgin Books • RRP $75 If ever head of state needed to explain himself, the immediate past president of the United States of America, George
Last year’s Inaugural Young New Zealander of the Year Dr Divya Dhar believes we must better harness our talent for innovation.
• By Don Tapscott and Anthony D Williams • Atlantic Books • RRP $39.99 When, five years ago, Don Tapscott and Anthony Williams penned their earlier book Wikinomics they were
Cover Story: Kea’s World Class NZ Awards 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 Christchurch earthquake imparted the greater shock – by far – for the economy in February-March. But uncertainties about oil supplies resulting from political upheaval in the Middle East and
Just like our bodies, our minds can benefit from strength training.
Catherine Taylor The Human Resources Institute of New Zealand has elected Catherine Taylor, group manager, people and business services for Kiwibank, as its new president. A multi-award-winning HR professional, Taylor
An engineer’s mindset underpins the management philosophy of Keith Reynolds, group CEO of Beca, the 2010 Deloitte/Management magazine Company of the Year.
Many very accomplished New Zealand managers make a poor fist of handling their personal investments.
Friday night drinks are fine, but what working Kiwis really want is flexible working hours. So say the 1139 people who responded to the latest Watercooler poll on seek.co.nz. An
The Sir Peter Blake Trust is looking for nominations for the 2011 Leadership Awards. These identify the achievements of leaders who add value to our nation. The Blake Medal celebrates
Help is on the way for anyone who is still hazy on the details of what carbon units will mean to them. The Greenhouse Policy Coalition has produced brochure describing
Taxi billing solutions provider TaxiCharge NZ has completed the largest mobile point of sale (POS) project in the country with the installation of the latest state-of-the-art terminals to 800 taxis
Business decision makers are 12.8 percent more likely to have more than two passenger vehicles at home. Some 65.3 percent of business people have two or more vehicles in their
NZ Management and global management consultancy Hay Group are launching this year’s search for our country’s most reputable organisations. Conducted in May by Hay Group, the survey gathers input from
How you light your workplace can boost productivity, staff engagement, and health and safety performance. So says “Lighting, Wellbeing and Performance at Work” study commissioned by Royal Philips Electronics of
Optimism, compassion, hope and gratitude are not typically what come to mind for managers in thinking about strategies for organisational success. But recent studies show that these and other “positive
New Zealand Post’s Fiona Woolley got to test both her nerve and her driving skills after winning the BMW driving course competition which ran in the December issue of NZ
In 24 months Hamilton-based engineering firm Longveld Engineering has doubled milk tanker production through workplace literacy training. King Salmon’s Nelson plant took just year to increase first-grade salmon production by
Kiwi entrepreneur Mitchell Pham has been selected as World Economic Forum (WEF) Young Global Leader. He says that when he fled Vietnam as young refugee, he didn’t expect to one
The best of business came out at the worst of times. As Canterbury and the country shook off the shock of the $16 billion February 22 earthquake, business immediately showed
April is Australia-New Zealand month, with China thrown in –a variation on February, which was Australia-New Zealand-United States month. That highlights the external priorities which New Zealand has to balance
Smaller, lighter, faster, more cost-effective. Presentation technology continues to improve.
Multiple award-winning food manufacturer Tasti Foods believes calculated risks are the secret to strong growth, Amanda Fifield finds.
The sobering events of recent months serve as salutary reminders that we are but passing travellers for very brief moment in time on the surface of our planet. No matter
NZIM’s latest Management Capability Index survey suggests that after seven years of less than average performance, we may at last be heading in the right direction.
April 11-15 ISL i MBA (Accounting & Finance). Auckland. Institute for Strategic Leadership. www.brightstar.co.nz 13-14 Facilitation – The Art of Collaborative Leadership. Auckland. University of Auckland Short Courses. www.brightstar.co.nz 14
Doctors are urging regular breaks after a New Zealand study found a three-fold increase in the risk of blood clots for those who sit at computers or work desks for prolonged stretches. Those who sat for 10 hours or more a day at a desk or computer and those who sat for more than two hours without a break were found to be more at risk of life-threatening clots in the form of either deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolisms (PE).
Applications are being sought from individuals in a management or leadership role for the 2011 NZIM Foundation Management Study Scholarships which will provide a seven-day study tour to Sydney from June 5-11, 2011.
While “traditional” leadership skills like strategic visioning remain important, leadership is equally, if not more, about inspiring people to follow you.
NZ Management magazine and global management consultancy Hay Group are launching this year’s search for our country’s most reputable organisations.
Marketing and management guru and the man who coined the term co-creation, Venkat Ramaswamy, is coming to Auckland next month. He is a globally recognised thought leader, idea practitioner, and an eclectic scholar with wide-ranging interests in innovation, strategy, marketing, branding, IT and the human side of organisations.
Further confirmation – if any was needed – that we operate in a business environment with an increasingly transient workforce comes from a survey released this week by workforce solutions company Kelly Services which shows that more than three-quarters of New Zealanders would be willing to relocate for the right job. What’s more, many would be prepared to move to another country in order to secure their preferred position.
This year’s Rugby World Cup will be a “hell of a lot more than just a rugby tournament”, says Martin Snedden, the leader charged with the challenge of making the event an outstanding success.
Most attempts at “brainstorming” are doomed. To generate better ideas – and boost the odds that your organisation will act on them – start by asking better questions.
“When you look at growth as a strategy, it becomes somewhat seductive, addictive,” says Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz. “But growth should not be – and is not – a strategy; it’s a tactic. The primary lesson I’ve learned over the years is that growth and success can cover up a lot of mistakes.”
Regus, the largest global player in the serviced office market, is delighted to announce that Mike Wemyss from Focus on Business in Auckland has been named the Regus Most Travelled
The pay gap between New Zealand directors’ fees and those paid to boards of Australian businesses with similar revenue has blown out from 50%-100% to 250%-400% over the past three years, says corporate remuneration specialist Moyle Consulting.
CEOs’ three focal points to drive strategic change internationally are innovation, talent and a shared agenda with government, PwC’s 14th annual leadership survey has found.
While globally the proportion of women who hold senior management positions has dropped from 24% to 20% in the last two years, in New Zealand it has risen from 27% to 32%, according to research from Grant Thornton International.
It sounds almost like alchemy – we just dig our way out of economic trouble (and keep digging). This was the one big idea promoted by ACT leader Rodney Hide to the ACT 2011 annual conference, Executive Update’s economics correspondent Bob Edlin reports. ACT would push hard in favour of jobs, not borrow and hope, said Rodney. “We need to start mining, start drilling, start digging.”
A study of 50 popular New Zealand websites has found that Kiwi businesses could be doing a lot more to engage and interact with their customers online.
As part of NZ Management’s magazine’s collaboration with KEA, the April issue will showcase the KEA World Class New Zealand Award Winners 2011 and will be sent electronically as an e-magazine to KEA’s global network – connecting with more than 25,000 talented Kiwis and ‘friends of New Zealand’ around the world. The ‘e-mag’ will introduce some interesting interactive options for advertisers.
Despite New Zealand’s reputation as being one of the least corrupt and most ethical places in the world in which to do business, none of our home-grown business organisations appear on the latest list of the world’s most ethical companies.
• By Bob Howitt • HarperCollins • RRP $49.99 For rugby-loving readers the Sir Wilson Whineray story will no doubt please. For readers seeking some insights into this undoubtedly great
• Justine Troy and Geoff Ross • Random House New Zealand • RRP $45 I’m guessing that, like me, lots of people think they already know the story of 42
Designworks’ Sven Baker on transforming companies by design.
Increasing governance responsibilities, ongoing regulatory reform and an unrelenting drive to improve the bottom line are resulting in a shift in responsibilities within the accounting and finance management sector, according to a Hudson study released this week.
“Getting the choice of CEO right is still, to my mind, the most important thing a board does,” says Alison Paterson, winner of the QBE Chairperson of the Year at the 2010 Deloitte/Management magazine Top 200 Awards. “And if the appointment is wrong, the board should act as quickly as possible to rectify it. Chairs need to be more skilful when effecting this sort of change.”
More than 30 Business NZ-affiliated industry groups met yesterday to exchange information on continuing earthquake relief efforts and undertook to spread the word that ‘business is open’ in Canterbury. Business NZ is co-ordinating relief contributions by business for those affected by the Christchurch quake.
New Zealand is currently considering the merits of a national disaster levy to help pay for the aftermath of last week’s tragic events in Christchurch. But before committing to such a step, it’s worth taking a breath and looking at the debate across the Tasman about such a levy, says Executive Update economics correspondent Bob Edlin.
Governments and regulators are second only to customers in their ability to affect companies’ economic value, according to the results of a recent McKinsey survey, though respondents are divided on whether that effect is positive or negative. Most executives in developed economies expect external-affairs issues to decrease operating income; those in the developing world are more likely to expect a boost.
The much-awaited upswing in economic performance will bring with it the bittersweet pill of shortages in key areas of organisations’ talent pools, a Deloitte survey of New Zealand employers has found. The findings indicate employers need to turn their minds to new strategies to allay a problem which represents a significant threat to growth prospects.
As the New Zealand economy slowly claws its way out of recession, not helped by the recent tragic events in Canterbury, contract executives will have a role to play in helping businesses get up to speed again, a number of recruitment industry executives say.
Rapid urbanisation is one of the biggest macro trends of our time. Your company can’t go wrong innovating for existing and newly minted urbanites around the world, says one of the world’s leading trend watching firms.
Tough decisions and effective teamwork with senior management are core tenets of Alison Paterson’s thinking. Reg Birchfield talks with the QBE Chairperson of the Year.
Cover Story: The heart of leadership UK expert Donna Ladkin explains the importance of gut feel and inspiration. By Adèle Gautier. Features Flying in formation Blackmail, bribery and arm-twisting on
Alison Paterson – Grande dame of governance Tough decisions and effective teamwork with senior management are core tenets of Alison Paterson’s thinking. Reg Birchfield talks with the Deloitte/Management magazine Top
Could your board be at risk of capture? Karen Martyn details the warning signs and consequences.
Iain McCormick compares corporate governance in New Zealand and Hong Kong.
Tough decisions and effective teamwork with senior management are core tenets of Alison Paterson’s thinking. Reg Birchfield talks with the QBE Chairperson of the Year.<
Could your board be at risk of capture? Karen Martyn details the warning signs and consequences.
Iain McCormick compares corporate governance in New Zealand and Hong Kong.
AugenASIA’s international development director Mitchell Pham ponders how New Zealand can engage more actively with Asia.
How Port of Tauranga benefits from a disciplined approach to capex.
Blackmail, bribery and arm-twisting on the road to charitable collaboration. Mark Bentley’s research pinpoints the best ways to encourage charities to work together.
UK expert Donna Ladkin explains the importance of gut feel and inspiration.
When it was published some 17 years ago, Myth and Measurement: The New Economics of the Minimum Wage argued that minimum wages do not necessarily cause fewer jobs. The authors
We’re more connected than ever but perhaps we need to switch off for the sake of our health, says Peter Tynan.
Gael Hargreaves Revera, New Zealand owned provider of ICT infrastructure services and storage, has appointed Gael Hargreaves as CEO. She succeeds company co-founder Roger Cockayne who will remain involved in
March 8 Governance Essentials. Wellington. Institute of Directors. www.shortcourses.ac.nz 14-15 Multiple Priorities and Time Management. Auckland. Bright*Star Training and Conferences. www.nzimnorthern.co.nz 16 Managing Multiple Priorities. Wellington. Project Plus Group. www.shortcourses.ac.nz
New Zealanders don’t believe the country has plan to manage major rise in freight volumes over the next 30 years. Some 53 percent of business people don’t think there’s plan,
What are likely to be the key challenges and opportunities ahead in the battle to attract and retain management talent, given most organisations’ salary budgets remain tight? NZ Management canvassed opinions within the recruitment sector.
New Zealand IT stakeholders and technical industry experts decided at recent workshop in Wellington to form New Zealand international review group on cloud computing services. Attendees concluded that developing New
For managers thinking seriously about ethical governance, management and sustainability, Ethical Corporation is running series of international conferences in the US. An independent media firm, London-based Ethical Corporation aims to
Employee behaviour is changing and managers need to take notice, according to talent management firm, Right Management. As New Zealand’s labour market shows signs of strengthening and conditions improve for
Weighing up whether or not to enter this year’s EEO Trust Work & Life Awards? EEO/diversity manager Anne-Marie Raleigh says she’s happy to talk through ideas and options to help
Businesses paying no attention to the national census are overlooking valuable source of market knowledge that could inform their long-term planning and strategic decision-making. So says Ivan Motley, director of
The NZ 2011 Office is recruiting members for its Business Club to host international visitors here for RWC 2011. With over 85,000 visitors expected at RWC 2011, communications manager Anna
Consumers will soon be able to know if wind energy was used to make the products they buy. WindMade is an initiative leading to the first global consumer label identifying
New Zealand managers need to become as familiar with the RMB as they are with the USD, AUD and the Euro, according to ANZ New Zealand managing director institutional David
New multinational research involving the University of Otago has found direct links between emissions and company stock prices. In other words, the market itself is now rewarding for good environmental
A new report will lift the handbrake on freight congestion problems.
Principle or popular pitch? Which way will the ACT seesaw tip?
Two features in this issue illustrate some of the fundamental changes taking place at the heart of high-performing organisations. The cover story, page 22, indicates that people trust their gut
Today’s managers can draw strength from an ethic of care, says Dr Chellie Spiller.
Retailer dtr has used brutally transparent talks with staff to help turn round its fortunes. Managing director Mark Spring explains
Hierarchical leadership is out. Leadership at all levels of the organisation is in. At least, that’s what the world’s 20 best companies for leadership have in common. Reg Birchfield reports.
A report released by Ernst & Young in cooperation with the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) shows that, after a brief pause in 2009 and a modest rebound in 2010, the world’s 60 largest economies will continue to globalise steadily between now and 2014, driven by the continued global economic recovery, technological innovation and the rise of the emerging markets.
More than 800,000 Generation Y New Zealanders (18 to 30 year olds) are either in the workforce or about to join it. They bring with them new attitudes and beliefs about work that will change the face of New Zealand. What do they think of their parents’ generation of managers (the Baby Boomers)?
The World Bank says food prices are at “dangerous levels”, after its latest Food Price Watch showed prices rose by 15% in the four months to January. The index is now 29% above its level a year earlier. The bank estimates 44 million more people have been pushed into poverty since last June. While soaring prices, particularly for dairy products, are good news for our exporters there are wider economic implications to consider, as Executive Update’s economic commentator Bob Edlin outlines.
The stereotypical bad boss is one who marches through the workplace barking orders left and right. But there’s another type we’ve probably all experienced at one time or another: bosses who don’t do what they need to do.
New claims data analysis from Southern Cross Travel Insurance (SCTI) shows that over half of its $15 million total claims costs in 2010 related to medical and evacuation expenses and highlight the astronomical level medical claims can reach when travellers fall critically ill overseas. Of particular relevance for business travellers also is the statistic that shows 22% of all claims paid in 2010 related to cancellation and changes to planned journey expenses.
New Zealand company directors need to have a much more rigorous and focused approach to performance if they are to add value, live up to their potential, restore investor confidence and lift New Zealand’s productivity, says one of the country’s most vocal business leaders Kerry McDonald. “In short, we need to spark a revolution in New Zealand’s corporate governance culture – maybe not among all organisations, but certainly in those that are not really cutting the mustard.”
