Monthly Archives: October 2014

Benevolent cheating?

Posted by & filed under Accounting Careers, Auditing, Ethics.

Description: It sounds like an oxymoron: benevolent cheating. The Globe and Mail’s Leadership Lab series discussed this intriguing concept, a form of cheating in which “well-intentioned employees” game the system. Its effects are far greater than the more sensational greed-based cheating that is more likely to draw the headlines. Source: Globe and Mail.com Date: October… Read more »

Twitter switches gears

Posted by & filed under Accounting Careers, Corporate Strategy, Cost Accounting.

Description: Twitter was once known for fighting with outside developers to ensure that it controlled the experience on its micro-blog. But now, Twitter has opened up a variety of tools to software developers, even if they aren’t Twitter users. The market does not appear to have embraced Twitter’s new strategy to diversify its business. Source:… Read more »

Listening to the AG

Posted by & filed under Auditing, Canadian Government.

  Description: One  thing that emerged from reflection following the tragedy on Parliament Hill was an observation that the Auditor General of Canada had recommended changes to Parliamentary security in a 2012 report. The Auditor General had recommended one united security force for Parliament, but this, and other, recommendations had not been implemented yet. In… Read more »

Garment factories fail inspections

Posted by & filed under Advanced Accounting, Cost Accounting, Ethics.

Description: When a garment factory collapsed in Bangladesh in April 2013, calls rang out for change. Yet recent inspections of 1,100 Bangladeshi garment factories found safety hazards in them all. In approximately 20 factories, the inspections revealed conditions severe enough to provoke immediate closure. Source: Industry Week.com Date: October 14, 2014 Link: http://www.industryweek.com/safety/retailers-find-80000-safety-hazards-bangladesh-factories Questions for… Read more »

University budget questions

Posted by & filed under Accounting Principles, Advanced Accounting, Canadian governments.

Description: In August, 2014, the Ontario government signed goal-setting agreements with the province’s 44 post-secondary institutions. This process was supposed to be step number one in changing the way the institutions are funded. Concerns are being expressed on how demographics and changes to funding may impact individual universities. Source: Globe and Mail.com Date: October 11,… Read more »

Google ad revenue misses target

Posted by & filed under Corporate Strategy, Cost Accounting, e-Commerce, Financiall Statement Analysis.

Description: It’s big. Real big;  Big like  $16.52 billion. And it’s up 20% from last year. But Google’s third quarter advertising revenue failed to meet analysts expectations, while its key metric of cost-per-click continued a downward trend. Source: Globe and Mail.com Date: October 16, 2014 Link: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/international-business/us-business/googles-profit-slips-misses-estimates/article21131630/ Questions for Discussion: 1) So what exactly are… Read more »

Battle turns messy

Posted by & filed under Accounting Careers, Auditing, Corporate Strategy.

Description:  Divorce can be complicated enough. But throw in major business interests involving  both partners and divorce can expand to include major issues of corporate governance, strategy, and costing. These issues have come to the fore in Ottawa recently, where Brian McGarry wants his ex-wife Sharon McGarry removed from the board of Wakefield Crematorium, alleging… Read more »