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Apparently work isn't fun enough. Now, work has to become a game to foster innovation and staff engagement. And, it's not just the social networks and startups taking this path. The World Bank and the U.S. Army have begun to gamify their workplaces.

It is generally thought that a soaring Aussie dollar is terrible for exporters. However, as Austrade's Chief Economist Tim Harcourt reveals, there are two sides to every coin.

Yesterday, we received the following 'pitch' through our editorial ideas submission form: "We are looking for a charismatic solo entrepreneur (or aspiring entrepreneur) to take part in an innovative documentary film project... available to travel overseas for up to two weeks sometime in the next couple of months." Sounds like fun.

Clearly, iSnack 2.0 and Westpac's banana smoothies left a strange taste in your mouth, while Mars and the Liberal Party delivered a wrong'un with their spin. Readers who don't take the world too seriously agreed with our pre-emptive request (to not take the report too seriously), while Virgin's black email generated enough annoyance to equal the sinking of Storm. Jackson Jive shimmied in to score your number eight vote, while the social media attempts of the big brands to attract your clicks failed to inspire you (once again). The Myer float scored the least votes at number 10 (perhaps due to the number of people who now own their own special parcel of this prestigious accolade).

Swimming laps at the local pool the other day, the old guy in the lane next to me offered some unsolicited advice: "Your kick, too inefficient. You are using too much energy. You need to go like this..." at which point he mimicked shallow, light movements with his hands. My reaction? "What would he know?!" It was rookie-mistake.

Corporate colours contain hidden meanings, so what are they secretly saying about your business?

It was widely predicted that 2009 was going to be the year that hit the first world economies the hardest when it came to the Global Financial Crisis (GFC). And for many it did just that. Australia, however, managed to weather the worst of it. Tim Harcourt reports on Australia’s strong export industry and showcases some shining examples of Australian exporters growing in these turbulent times.

Frankly, it sounds like newspapers are struggling to understand the opportunities and rules that govern the online world. There is a whole generation that has grown up with the concept of freemium economics. Try to charge them for something they have always had for free and you’ll lose them altogether. They need to remember that their main customers are advertisers.

Space is big. Really big. You just won't believe how vastly, hugely, mindbogglingly big it is. You might think it's a long way down to the chemist, but that's just peanuts compared to space. And oddly, peanuts is about the same amount of funding that NASA receives to continue exploring space. Yet, without space exploration, we have no perspective on ourselves.

Scientific research conducted over recent years by the University of London has examined the effect of bamboo-like behaviour on innovation at work. After studying a group of people from a large media organisation over a period of many months, the researchers found some enlightening results.

Two days of desert highways, roadside dining, sleep deprivation and feverish coding by 25 strangers delivered two web startups and a whole lot more, writes Matthew da Silva.

They embody the passions of earnest inventors and the dreams of budding business builders. They are the products of industries old and new, from organisations both large and small. They are the spoils of skunkworks and represent the rigours of R&D. Above all else, they sure have a lot of friends!

Oodles.com founder Steve Sherlock has set himself the goal of raising a multimillion dollar Series A funding round by the end of January 2010. He is documenting his trials and tribulations and seeking feedback from readers on AnthillOnline.com. This is the third post in his series.

1. A computer is a computer. Wrong. You get what you pay for. A cobbled together car from various parts is not a Commodore -...

Once upon a time, a week wouldn't pass without at least one phone call or email from an aspiring print magazine publisher. These days, if there is one subject I'm asked my opinion on more than any other it's the strangely daunting topic of online marketing. For that reason, this article aspires to be the first in a series: The Anthill Guide to Online Marketing for Small Business Owners and Startups.

Brand leadership through social media Not so long ago, the relationship that brands had with their customers was a one-way street. The brand was the...

So you have the commitment, the creativity, the cojones. But do you have the capital! This August, we've decided to explore the many facets of capital raising - from angel investment and grants to venture capital and private equity. For want of a better name, we're calling this exercise Anthill's VC Month.

Now here's an idea that raises the phrase 'investment opportunity' by a couple octaves -- purchase a stake in the career of an indie music artist. In exchange for your largess, you'll gain a say in marketing and producing the singer. You can even pitch them a song.

Internet marketing is complex and it's becoming more so every day. You can't do everything, so it is essential that what you do is...

This week, the satirical commentary program rose even higher in our approval ratings when it unintentionally became a serious, political production house for the Greens when this 'fake' TV spot was aired on Wednesday night. Regular Gruen panelist Leo Burnett CEO Todd Sampson said on the program to its creators from Sydney agency Republic of Everyone, "It's the best ad The Greens have ever done. I'm sure you'll get a phone call". And they did.