CMA Management articles from August 2005

CMA Management archives from August 2005

Fostering leaders.(from the editor)(Editorial)
August 1, 2005... "How much energy do we really put into being and creating leaders? Hardly any." So said Glen LeBlanc, CMA, in a discussion we had for the cover story of the last issue of CMA Management. LeBlanc, vice-president of finance and controller at...

Inside the Boardroom.(Filling the gaps)
August 1, 2005... York University professor Richard Leblanc gained unprecedented access to the boardrooms of North America's most powerful companies to complete his five-year study of how boards really work. The results of the study are reviewed in his new book,...

The Leadership Gap.(Filling the gaps)
August 1, 2005... There is an emerging crisis in leadership that is affecting many organizations, according to David Weiss and Vince Molinaro, authors of The Leadership Gap: Building leadership capacity for competitive advantage. The authors suggest that the gap...

Revenue Matters.(Filling the gaps)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Government revenue agencies worldwide face challenges and opportunities that stem from changing economies, cross-border commerce and new technology. To help those involved in managing these agencies, Accenture and Montgomery Research, Inc. have...

IASB and FASB publish joint proposals, move closer to alignment.(New and noteworthy information you can use)
August 1, 2005... The International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and the U.S. Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) have each published for public comment an Exposure Draft containing joint proposals to improve and align accounting for business...

IFRS and US GAAP Comparison book coming soon.(New and noteworthy information you can use)
August 1, 2005... The International Accounting Standard Committee Foundation (IASCF) will soon release IFRS/US GAAP Comparison, a comprehensive financial reporting reference work which compares and contrasts the requirements of International Financial Reporting...

IFAC strengthens code of ethics.(New and noteworthy information you can use)
August 1, 2005... Demonstrating professional integrity and independence is one of the most significant challenges faced by professional accountants. For this reason, the Ethics Committee of the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) has released a newly...

Canadian training investments lag competitors'.(New and noteworthy information you can use)
August 1, 2005... Canadian organizations are under-investing in employee training and development, and they are failing to allocate training dollars in ways that lead to stronger business performance, according to survey findings from the Conference Board's...

Mining sector reaps rewards of demand.(New and noteworthy information you can use)
August 1, 2005... The world's 40 largest mining companies reported a 111% increase in aggregate net profits for 2004, up from US$13.2 billion in 2003 to US$27.9 billion. Included in this group of 40 were nine Canadian-based multinationals. According to a new...

Oil spurt signals weaker performance south of border.(New and noteworthy information you can use)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Higher oil prices are taking a definite toll on U.S. corporate coffers. Nearly three in four senior financial executives expect higher energy prices to weaken their company's performance in the near future, and 44% anticipate their company will...

Biotech and pharma set to converge.(New and noteworthy information you can use)
August 1, 2005... The distinction between biotech and pharmaceutical firms will erode over the next decade, according to a white paper released recently by the Life Sciences and Health Care practices of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu (DTT), comprised of industry...

Canadian biotechs get profitable bucking trends.(New and noteworthy information you can use)
August 1, 2005... Canada's biotech industry--lagging behind the maturity of its U.S. counterpart--remains dominated by small, undercapitalized companies. But a recent Ernst & Young LLP report indicates the industry has started to focus on bringing products to...

New software.(New and noteworthy information you can use)
August 1, 2005... Visit www.managementmag.com for more information on the following software and applications packages: * Oracle Financial Consolidation Hub * Tenrox's Tenrox Document Management (DM) system

The virtual audience--easing the fear.(HIGH TECH)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... For many people, the thought of public speaking is a fate worse than death. At the same time, to succeed in business often requires addressing large groups of people. Despite coaching, many people still struggle to overcome this hurdle. ...

The power of prevention: making a case for private corporate healthcare and wellness programs.(human resources)
August 1, 2005... The escalating costs of healthcare, as well as the dearth of providers in many places across Canada, is a well-documented trend. Health benefit premiums are rising at a pace that is outstripping many employers' ability to afford them. This is...

The better board: the boardroom landscape is starting to change, with increasing focus on performance and accountability.(management trends)
August 1, 2005... The governance reforms that have taken place over the past few years have had a positive impact on boardrooms of public companies across North America. Many boards are now looking well beyond governance compliance measures, striving instead for...

Leadership: a balanced approach; Effective leadership requires equal parts personal character traits and business habits. Understand the strengths that you and your team possess and you will nurture the right attributes in yourself and your potential successors.(business strategies)
August 1, 2005... Effective leadership is much sought after in both the private and public sectors. It's the competitive edge that every organization is looking for today. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Leadership is an art, not a science. Nevertheless, there...

Management buyouts: a framework for value realization; All parties involved in a management buyout should see a good return on their investment. With the right structure, and the support of a facilitator, this goal is easier to realize.
August 1, 2005... Management buyouts (MBOs) have become increasingly popular in recent years due in large part to the abundance of available capital in the North American marketplace. They can be particularly attractive as an exit strategy for business owners...

Tapping into vital resources: high energy prices are attracting more than engineers to the oil and gas industry. Strategic accounting skills are an essential part of making these firms run well.(PROFILE)(Cover Story)
August 1, 2005... Over the past two decades, hiring and firing at oil and gas companies in Canada has gone in cycles, through restructuring and downsizing and other market challenges that made employment anything but a sure thing. However, now, with the demand...

Making sustainability mainstream: not everyone's convinced that sustainability belongs on the agendas of the C-suites. The Next Sustainability Wave explains how it is becoming a strategic imperative.
August 1, 2005... A review of The NEXT Sustainability Wave: Building Boardroom Buy-In, by Bob Willard, 2005, 368 pages. Most people who retire after 34 years of service with a company spend their days indulging in leisurely pursuits. Not Bob Willard. This...

The IT best practices revolution: alarmed by its growing complexity, executives are demanding that IT become visibly accountable to both users and the business. To do so, IT departments are adopting best practice frameworks that mirror common strategic business frameworks.(information technology)
August 1, 2005... In 1949, the United States Government sent an industrial quality expert to Japan as part of a post-war reconstruction effort. The individual, J. Edwards Deming, introduced revolutionary practices that helped Japan become a superstar in the...

New markets, new deals, new service options: EDC expands its support for Canadian exporters and investors in a strong market.(government issues)
August 1, 2005... More markets, more business, more clients: the future's definitely looking good for Export Development Canada (EDC). Last year was a banner one for the crown corporation, which provides trade finance and risk management services to Canadian...