Often as I meet individuals, especially those involved with larger companies or in community- or faith-based organizations, I hear the comment “things have become too political”; or “I do not want to be involved [or to participate] because of the politics”. Even worse, these individuals become unwilling to do what is right for the organization [...]

“Good ideas today are cheap, a dime a dozen in our real-time, inter-networked, fast paced world. Brilliant concepts and practices are disseminated with stunning speed … What’s still in short supply, though, is the ability to effect change, to get things implemented, to make things happen” (from Discipline of Market Leaders, Treacy and Wiersema, 1995). [...]

Over the past few years, there have been several high profile attempts at subsidies to aid various industries. The majority of these have failed, which prompts the question: can business subsidies work? From a free enterprise point of view, subsidies create an unfair competitive advantage – benefiting a few at the expense of many. While [...]

Over the past year, a lot of media attention has been given to corporate scandals … companies such as Enron and WorldCom have become the poster companies for all those looking to define corporate greed, fraud and indulgence. Those in the know have skillfully shifted the focus from what is a criminal issue, executed by [...]

The year 2004 will go down in history – especially for Albertans – as a year of elections. With Federal, Provincial, Municipal as well as the American elections, we witnessed a transition to a new model for Canadian democracy, one that closely follows in the footsteps of our American neighbors. Apparently we did not learn [...]

During the technology heydays of the late 90s to early 00s, investors went mad for companies that demonstrated significant revenue growth, regardless of whether these companies had ever shown a profit. The thinking was that with exponential revenue growth, eventually the profit would follow…and when it did arrive, it would be huge. After the tech [...]

As we come to the end of the year and the beginning of the holiday season, various charitable organizations accelerate their efforts to tug at the hearts of individuals for commitment to various causes. Over the year, and especially at this time of the year, corporations are inundated with requests ranging from direct financial contribution, [...]