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 »
Monthly Archives: October 2014
Twitter switches gears
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
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
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
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
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 »
Mega Media Merger
Description: A couple of Canada’s oldest print media chains joined forces in a major merger this past week. Quebecor divested itself of the Sun media chain in a sale to Postmedia. Some observers believe this type of consolidation in the industry is essential in the face of a changing media landscape. Source: Global News.com Date:… Read more »
Battle turns messy
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 »
Sorry – can’t tell you what that cost
Description: I once had a boss who said one of the problems with a government he worked for was the weakness of its cost accounting systems. I was reminded of that once again this past week when I read about our federal government not disclosing the cost for reorganizing Elections Canada. The stated reasons for… Read more »
Not the fantasy world we were dreaming of
Description: When I was much younger, futurists dreamed of a day when the work week would be much shorter. What would we do with our high standard of living and all this leisure time? Well, according to Saturday’s Globe and Mail, many have reached the 15 hour work week. But that is a problem –… Read more »