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UncategorisedDoes e-Security Matter?
editor | June 6, 2008
By Rob ForsythThe worldwide revenue from cybercrime is now more than $100 billion per year – this is the extent to which organised crime has embraced the internet.
Why should you be interested in the message of e-security week?
Let's imagine, for a moment, that you are already familiar with the many risks on the internet. Your employer is running good software at your email and web gateways. Your HR department regularly gives you sound security advice, such as not opening unexpected attachments, even from people you trust. (How do you know they really sent it?)
You have an active firewall; you use strong passwords and protect them; you bank using two-factor authentication; and you don't surf to internet sites that aren't related to your business. You're protecting yourself, and you realise that at the same time you are protecting the next guy, too, through responsible internet citizenship.
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UncategorisedCRM solutions – avoid the pitfalls; reap the rewards
James Simpson | June 5, 2008For the midmarket, integrated CRM solution improves business productivity at a low total cost of ownership.
Building and maintaining strong, solid relationships with customers is essential to the success of any business. According to Adam Sarner, an analyst with Gartner who focuses on the customer relationship management (CRM) industry, obtaining a new customer is 10 times more expensive than retaining an existing one.
It's no secret that automating and integrating processes and procedures previously confined to paper and incompatible, disparate applications is proving to be a cornerstone for effectively managing customer relationships.
Until recently though, affordable technology designed specifically to meet the customer CRM needs of midmarket businesses, was not available to these organisations. That's all changed – and for the better.
When it comes to customers, sales and service are fundamental to an organisation's success. If salespeople can't manage leads and opportunities, sales will doubtlessly be lost. And the service they do deliver is likely to be inconsistent.
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UncategorisedYou don’t know what you’ve got…. Until it’s gone
Douglascomms | June 5, 2008Cyberspace is a little like the real world, and cocky kids who think they know what they're doing can get into just as much trouble online as they can at the local shops, park or pub for that matter.
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UncategorisedThe real value of technical innovation
proberts | June 5, 2008Yes, process and entreprenurial innovation is crucial – but let's not forget the importance technical innovation.
It is always hazardous to make a distinction between technical and non-technical innovation, lest one be accused of favouring one over the other. As has been pointed out, technical innovation is still a critical area where Australia is falling behind the rest of the world.
Business spends only the equivalent of one per cent of GDP on R&D, half the OECD average and a third of that of the leaders – even Icelandic business does better. Our venture capital sector which might fund businesses to come from research is 0.1 per cent of GDP – again even Iceland manages more. Australia accounts for a mere one half of one per cent of global exports in technology-intensive industries.
The fact is there are few R&D driven business on the stock exchange other than the familiar, Cochlear, Resmed and CSL. Most of our top companies are banks or miners. Multi nationals from Ericcson to JDS Uniphase have voted with their feet and ceased large scale R&D in Australia while most global giants in pharmaceuticals and IT spend a fraction on R&D locally compared to overseas rates.
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UncategorisedInteroperability By Design
Greg Stone | June 3, 2008In the last month alone, the government announced more than 630 submissions have been received towards its Review of the National Innovation System. It also launched a national program of festivals to increase innovation awareness in the wider community.
We know innovation is central to Australia’s economic future, arresting the ‘brain drain’ and ensuring we continue to build strong, non-resources led, alternative export industries, among other macroeconomic drivers. We also know that government policy provides a strong foundation for fostering and encouraging innovation.
But it’s also up to industry and the businesses within them to make incisive judgements on how to best leverage the skills and resources they have to ensure Australia retains a reputation for innovation, particularly on the international stage.
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Uncategorised
Inputs required from Mums
bheeshmachand | May 30, 2008Valuable inputs required for paper on Parenthood, Pregnancy, Birth and Post Birth
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UncategorisedIs re-blogging really engaging?
StephenWilson | May 30, 2008The Open Forum administrator has recently reproduced here a great many blog posts by politicians and others from their own blogs. This is generally very interesting, and makes for a good read. But I've noticed that most of the subsequent discussion threads go cold very quickly. Moreover, I don't think I have seen a single […]
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UncategorisedGains from trade: vouchsafing the public good of liquidity in financial markets
Nicholas Gruen | May 29, 2008
You may not know it but around 20% of the home loan market has just collapsed – the securitisation market. The banks are moving into the space and, as a result, rationing credit elsewhere. Below the fold is an op ed in the Age about it. It introduces a theme you'll probably be seeing a little more of from me.
In a paper I published in 1997 (I think it was) I argued that while competitive neutrality was a good thing, it was possible to have too much of it – at least where it stopped us making the best possible use of the specific qualities of the public sector. But an alternative and in many cases ultimately more compelling principle is the desirability of making gains through trade. There are some things the public sector does better than the private sector, and it should be able to do them – prudently and within appropriate institutional frameworks. This column outlines one. I will outline some others if and when I get the time.
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UncategorisedThe Gruen Transfer
Nicholas Gruen | May 29, 2008Those with an unusual surname have to get used to spelling it. No it’s not Gluner. Not Glueball or Grewbie it’s Gruen "G-R-U-E-N". The compensation is, your name identifies you or a family member pretty clearly.
But odd things happen to Gruens. In the 1990s I believe some activists were unable to register "The Australian Green Party" because it was similar to the Greens. So for over a decade, Gruens marking their ballot papers wondered just who the Australian Gruen Party were, and why they hadn’t been in touch.
And now I’m getting daily e-mails asking if my finance company is really becoming the Gruen Bank, the first commercial outfit to advertise on the ABC. And what was Andrew Denton doing holding up Gruen Beer at the Logies?
You can find out tomorrow night when The Gruen Transfer premiers on ABC TV.
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UncategorisedThe YouTube election that wasn’t
jim.macnamara | May 29, 2008Claims that the recent Australian Federal election was the "YouTube election" or an ‘e-election’ are greatly exaggerated.
There was a lot of hype about how Web 2.0 technologies allegedly influenced the last Federal Election. However, research shows that much of the claimed impact of YouTube, MySpace, Facebook, blogs and other ‘new’ media remains questionable at this stage.
From July through to November as the election campaign rolled out traditional print and television media were awash with claims that wikis, blogs, vlogs as well as websites like Facebook, and YouTube were changing the way we deal with our politicians, and the way they deal with us.
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Identity Management in New Zealand, CeBIT Australia and the Merry Month of May …
Malcolm Crompton | May 28, 2008In the world of information governance and a fair go for the individual in dealings with business and government, how has it felt this month?
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UncategorisedThe shifting expectations of corporate etiquette
editor | May 28, 2008
By Mary Ann MaxwellThe expectation that all calls received will be responded to within 24 hours fails to take into account the way business is conducted today.
Ever get that strange feeling that something's different? We all look the same, more or less, we're all out to achieve the same sorts of goals, but there's something very different about the way we're talking to each other, and it's causing more than a bit of intergenerational confusion in the office.
Those of us who have been in business for the last few decades should be forgiven for feeling a little out of sorts with more recent entrants into the business community. See, we came into the corporate world at a time where hierarchies were strictly observed, and controlled by the simple fact that there were relatively few forms of communication we could use to break down those walls.
Things have changed, some for better, and some, well, for not so better, but the only way we're going to be at peace in this emergent business world is to recalibrate the rules, and update our expectations when it comes to communication.
