CMA Management articles from August 2006

CMA Management archives from August 2006

Finding the alternatives.(from the editor)
August 1, 2006... The rise in gas prices this summer reinforced what we've all learned over the past year--this is a trend that isn't going to go away. The price of energy in general is set to rise yet more in the foreseeable future, and everyone is learning to...

Blueprint to a Billion: 7 Essentials to Achieve Exponential Growth.(Book review)
August 1, 2006... There is an elite group of companies that have managed to turn billion-dollar ideas into billion-dollar businesses. Companies like Microsoft, Google, eBay, Staples and Starbucks stand out for their remarkable growth. But what is it that sets...

Get It Done!: A Blueprint for Business Execution.(Brief article)(Book review)
August 1, 2006... Organizations are quite often filled with great ideas and a surfeit of attractive looking plans that look great on paper--the challenge is getting those ideas realized. Whether it's a restructuring, a brand expansion, an outsourcing effort, or...

Head, Heart and Guts: How the World's Best Companies Develop Complete Leaders.(Brief article)(Book review)
August 1, 2006... "Complex times require complete leaders." So begins Head, Heart & Guts: How the world's best companies develop complete leaders. The authors suggest that many of our modern leaders are only "partial" leaders who rely exclusively on a single...

First candidates complete CMA-CPFA dual-designation program.(Certified Management Accountant and Chartered Public Finance Accountant)(Society of Management Accountants of Canada organizes an awards dinner)
August 1, 2006... CMA Canada held a special awards dinner for those candidates who completed the pilot CMA-CPFA dual-designation program in March 2006. Candidates were presented with certificates of recognition at a dinner on June 22nd at the Fairmont Chateau...

IFAC Board extends chief executive's term.(International Federation of Accountants, Ian Ball)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... The Board of the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) recently announced an extension to the contract of chief executive Ian Ball through December 2009. Ball assumed the position of chief executive in June 2002. During his tenure,...

IFAC Board holds historic meeting in China, furthers several initiatives.(International Federation of Accountants)
August 1, 2006... At its June meeting in Beijing, China, the Board of the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) took actions to support small and medium enterprises, approved Kuala Lumpur as the site for the 2010 World Congress of Accountants, and made...

New paper on business plan development for SMEs.(New and noteworthy information you can use)
August 1, 2006... The International Federation of Accountants' (IFAC's) Professional Accountants in Business (PAIB) Committee has released a new information paper that provides guidance on developing a business plan for small and medium enterprises (SMEs),...

Regulatory compliance on track, say Canadian business leaders.(New and noteworthy information you can use)
August 1, 2006... A KPMG LLP survey on the finance function released recently reveals that Canadian business leaders are concerned that regulatory requirements have caused their Finance organization to focus on compliance at the expense of other areas of their...

CMA Canada awarded Level 2 certification by The National Quality Institute.(New and noteworthy information you can use)
August 1, 2006... The CMA Canada national partner has been awarded Level 2 certification under the Progressive Excellence Program (PEP) administered by The National Quality Institute (NQI). Building on the commitment established through Level 1 certification,...

Security attacks up at financial institutions.(New and noteworthy information you can use)
August 1, 2006... The world's largest financial institutions experienced a surge in the number of security attacks over the past year, specifically from external sources. More than three-quarters of respondents confirmed a security breach from outside the...

New software.(New and noteworthy information you can use)
August 1, 2006... Visit www.managementmag.com for more information on the following software and applications packages: * Hyperion System 9 Financial Data Quality Management * Clevor Schedule Optimizer

Harnessing intern enthusiasm: how to energize your company with effective student exit interviews.(human resources)
August 1, 2006... Through the years, companies have performed a tremendous service by hiring students for diverse intern positions. Internships provide a wealth of experience unmatched by the classroom. Simultaneously, companies can benefit from the students'...

The value of values--how to attract and retain productive employees with strategic values-focused management: the battle for talent is only going to get tougher over the next few years. One of the best ways to attract the right talent is to show your true colours--the values that anchor your business. The use of a values-focused scorecard can be a helpful guide.(Company overview)
August 1, 2006... Every organization (profit or not-for-profit) needs employees who want to work for it; customers who require its products or services; suppliers who want to supply to it and investors/sponsors who want to invest in it. While this sounds like...

Measuring environmental performance: a basic ingredient of environmental management; With the growing interest in environmental issues, it's crucial for organizations to measure their environmental performance through economic and ecological indicators. Norsk Hydro provides a good example of how it can be done.
August 1, 2006... Over the past 20 years, pressure from stakeholder groups (government, shareholders, employees, NGOs and local communities) has resulted in a number of laws, regulations and incentives that address environmental problems and encourage companies...

Improving the health care pulse: Angela Downey, CMA, FCMA, works to improve Canada's health care culture while encouraging students to understand the value they can offer as accountants.
August 1, 2006... Health care providers and all levels of government in Canada are struggling to sustain and improve the country's publicly-funded health system, while also keeping the costs of care in check. Despite the importance of cost control, one rarely...

New airport security measures: it's a delicate balance between speed and safety for airports trying to get you to your plane on time. Here's what you can expect in the next five years when "checking in".(TRAVEL SUPPLEMENT)
August 1, 2006... Coming soon to an airport near you, expect a bevy of new developments in airport security measures--ranging from iris scans and three-dimensional photos, to passports embedded with microchips and machines that blow a puff of smoke at you to see...

Travel--managing the cost crunch: travel costs continue to climb. Here are a few ways to control expenses for 2007.
August 1, 2006... Despite e-mail, faxes, video conferencing, web meetings and the telephone, some meetings just have to be face-to-face. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Business travel continues to be a fact of corporate life, but rising travel costs are too....

Canada's Cleaner Air Act: a look at what the cornerstone of the Conservative government's approach to environmental protection may entail.(government issues)
August 1, 2006... Kyoto sceptics have dominated the policy-making process within the Conservative Party of Canada for some time. The apparent lack of realism in the previous Liberal government's Kyoto implementation plan fostered this scepticism and the results...

Canada/Europe--a languishing relationship? Canada-E.U. business ties are strong but experts believe more should be done to keep them so.
August 1, 2006... In name it's just 14 years old, but the European Union (E.U.) has a 50-year history that has firmly established its importance to Canada and the rest of the world. Over time, the E.U. has emerged as a dynamic and growing force in world trade;...