Management Matters
News, opinions and advice on managing business systems and people.
Can you buy insurance for your ideas?
A company will generally not think twice about protecting its physical and tangible assets through insurance premiums. For example, premiums may be...
Do you know your customer’s rights when they return an item? Here are 8...
Think customers need to produce a receipt, or the original packaging, to return an item? Think again. Retailers might have developed bespoke returns policies that they require customers to adhere to, but leading parcel delivery service CouriersPlease (CP) has done all the research to find out specific rules around returns every retailer should know about.
Can you learn to be an entrepreneur? Eric Ries believes you can [VIDEO]
Eric Ries has reached celebrity status in the land of startups.
His book, The Lean Startup, is essential reading for anyone launching a new business.
In...
Three reasons why growing your business is like creating a snowflake [VIDEO]
Your business, whether it's big or small, starting up or decades old, is like a snowflake.
Why?
1. It's unique
There is no other business out there...
What if Facebook was really like real life? [VIDEO]
There are distinct categories of people on Facebook. Some people over share. Some are perpetual whiners. Some are just plain odd. But, it seems...
10 key parts of your business that you need to outsource in this new...
Outsourcing work virtually is a cost-effective way to get those time-consuming tasks completed efficiently. Consider the following ten areas in your business to outsource in the new financial year.
Aussie e-tailer eStore.com.au on acquisition trail for 2011
Australian online retailer eStore.com.au is in acquisition mode for 2011 with plans to grow its already significant business through the acquisition of local online companies. In a statement to Anthill, eStore founder Lorenzo Coppa says he is keen to speak with owners of online businesses selling technology products looking to exit the market or explore opportunities to leverage their products with eStore.com.au.
New research: Australian shoppers will choose bricks and mortar over online
While many believe that shoppers are overwhelmingly moving to online, 79% of Australians are very/fairly likely to choose a store over online if there is an enjoyable atmosphere (music, visuals, scent).
Sammartino’s Creative Espresso – Ways to change your life
We've held on to this latest manic instalment of Steve Sammartino's Creative Espresso series since he submitted it for inclusion in the July print edition, which didn't eventuate. Here it is, in all its super-charged, creative glory.
I survived the GFC by ignoring it
When I started my business I knew it had to grow from a foundation of personal contact and referrals. To do this people said I had to network. This scared the crap out of me.
Heinous public speaking crimes… and 8 tips to avoid them.
There’s a war going on out there. New victims are claimed each day in the conference centres and boardrooms of this nation. It’s time we fought to end this cruel and barbaric practice: the mind-numbingly boring presentation.
How you can turn your human firewall from the weakest link into your biggest...
The best approach is to implement a simulation and training program to improve security awareness for your users.
Are higher interest rates looming ahead of the election?
RMIT economist Sinclair Davidson talks about the employment figures and Australia’s current account surplus. While it’s good news on the surface, it signals interest rate rises which he predicts will come in August, coinciding with the federal election. He also predicts that banks will raise their rates even higher than the RBA rate.
Here are ten important questions you need to ask yourself before buying a business
The prospect of owning your own business is an appealing one, especially in the current environment, where discussion of entrepreneurship is frequent.
Are you facing rapid business growth? Focus on your people
As an entrepreneur, it is an incredible feeling when your small
business begins to succeed. Suddenly sales are up, business is booming. It...
The budget, the mining tax, falling shares… why is the government “all over the...
RMIT economist Sinclair Davidson talks about the latest employment figures, which look positive. He criticises the mining super tax, saying the government is all over the place on the issue and questions assertions in the Federal Budget that we are headed back for a surplus.
What is this coworking thing and what can it do for your business? [INFOGRAPHIC]
Coworking is all the rage nowadays because it has been found that shared or flexible working spaces can greatly benefit SMEs, freelancers and start-ups
Do you know the art of staff scheduling? Are you making the most of...
For most employers, staff scheduling is an ever-present drag. And it’s safe to say that without a strategy in place, most managers will face inevitable headaches.
Treasury chief Ken Henry should be replaced, while Gillard seeks new economic advisers
In this week's overview of the economy, RMIT economist Sinclair Davidson voices the belief that Treasury chief Ken Henry is likely to be replaced, while Julia Gillard seeks new economic advisers. He says the Gillard Government will need to slash spending to bring about the budget surplus she says the government is committed to achieving.
Fan generated advertising. It’s the new force in marketing (pun intended) [VIDEO]
Pringles has joined forces with the new owners of Star Wars, Disney, to add a whole lot of Jedi to the crisp market.
Only a...