Developing Leaders

The latest news and future trends in business

Samsung – The Perpetual Crisis Machine

Samsung – The Perpetual Crisis Machine

http://www.fortune.com/fortune/technology/articles/0,15114,1097317,00.html “The biggest barrier to management innovation is the ego – a self that never changes�. These are the words of Jong-Yong Yun, the man accredited for taking Samsung from being a follower in...

MyCircle.co.za

MyCircle.co.za

You remember Barrie's The Oracle of Kevin Bacon post? So just how prevalent is social networking in South Africa? (with a truly South African flavour, that is). Yahoo! Groups is a facility that some of us use, and we're becoming pretty au fait with Skype and other IM...

First "Who", then "What"

First "Who", then "What"

In "Who Comes First: Good to Great Marketing" at Marketing Profs, 23 August 2005, Paul A. Barsch uses Jim Collins' "Good to Great" concept of getting the right people on the bus and applies it to the marketing function. This concept applies both to who we have in our...

Language limits

Language limits

Edward de Bono, the famous lateral thinking guru, suggests that language is really difficult to work with, and often doesn't convey what we actually mean, or takes too long to convey complex thoughts and emotions without being misunderstood. Although I have not heard...

What Really Matters

What Really Matters

A man died 'in my arms' this past weekend. After 20min of CPR on the beach we managed to get his pulse and breathing back momentarily - but it was shortlived. By the time the ambulance arrived, he'd been pulseless for too long. Just an hour before, a father, mother...

CV’s and the Connection Economy

CV’s and the Connection Economy

I read this article today, written by Reg Lascaris - of Hunt Lascaris - after I had a similar conversation with a potential client, discussing the need to balance work teams, using expertise vs personatity types. I thought others may enjoy the article, especially the...

CV's and the Connection Economy

CV's and the Connection Economy

I read this article today, written by Reg Lascaris - of Hunt Lascaris - after I had a similar conversation with a potential client, discussing the need to balance work teams, using expertise vs personatity types. I thought others may enjoy the article, especially the...

Young Entrepreneurs Drain Labor Pool

Young Entrepreneurs Drain Labor Pool

This newsletter was recently distributed by The Herman Group Young Entrepreneurs Drain Labor Pool August 24, 2005 Early indications suggest that the Millennial Generation, born after 1985, has a strong orientation toward entrepreneurship. They feel confident that they...

Gap stores don’t “Mind the Gap”

Gap stores don’t “Mind the Gap”

Yesterday, Globe and Mail in their investor's section, gave a report about Gap Inc (owner of Gap, Banana Republic and Old Navy brands), indicating that analysts are nervous of its current performance. The feature was headed, "Gap Stores Trip on a Generation Gap". In...

Workers of the world unite

Workers of the world unite

In The Economist of 25 Aug 2005, A "Going global" feature looked at the issue of "Workers of the world attempt to unite against Wal-Mart" (login required, I think). The report is of a meeting of some of the world's biggest trade unions, who are (not for the first...

Are companies going to the blogs?

Are companies going to the blogs?

So asks John Bradfield on BizCommunity. He is thinking specifically from a PR and corporate communication's perspective. As he says, "With the proliferation of blogs, should we take them seriously, and how will they impact PR/corporate communications? Blogging is at...

Top industry trends for 2005

Top industry trends for 2005

On BizCommunity, Louise Marsland recently looked at some key industry trends. The article is the first one at this page. Its focus is specifically aimed at the marketing community. In her opening, she says the following: "If you are blogging regularly, have your...

The paradox of SARS

The paradox of SARS

In South Africa our tax collecting department (SARS) has made huge progress in the past 10 years or so. Collections have never been higher. Credit for this dramatic improvement is often given to the marketing campaign SARS has gone on to communicate it's efficiency,...

Winning teams

Winning teams

Is there something wrong with me if I start to look forward to the Saturday rugby game on Monday already? And now it's Friday and I really can't wait. And I normally don't really even know the players that are not good enough to make the Bulls' team. But somehow this...

My coffee-shop office

My coffee-shop office

I love my office. My desk is never at the same place - in fact, I can choose a different desk each time I come to office. Also, my desk is always clean - no scrap papers from yesterday or last month, no stationary-holder. And, of course - the coffee is always good. No...