CMA Management articles from February 2005

CMA Management archives from February 2005

Corporate social responsibility--taking the lead.(Editorial)
February 1, 2005... Russia recently acclaimed the United Nation's Framework Convention on Climate Change, more commonly know as The Kyoto Protocol. This will result in the implementation of an international and legally binding agreement to reduce greenhouse gases...

How Brands Become Icons.(Business change through branding, mergers and social responsibility)(The Principles of Cultural Branding)(Brief Article)(Book Review)
February 1, 2005... The stories of iconic brands like Coca-Cola, Volkswagen and Budweiser have become part of marketing lore. However, Douglas B. Holt argues that the way in which the brands' stories are told actually miss the mark. In the new book, How Brands...

Mastering the Merger.(Business change through branding, mergers and social responsibility)(Four Critical Decisions That Make or Break the Deal )(Brief Article)(Book Review)
February 1, 2005... Growing a business is not an easy proposition, and often senior executives are faced with the sort of Catch-22 decisions no one wants to face. For instance, the vast majority of acquisitions fail, and yet it's almost impossible to grow beyond a...

Profits With Principles.(Business change through branding, mergers and social responsibility)(Seven Strategies for Delivering Value With Values)(Book Review)
February 1, 2005... It is possible to make a profit even when you take a socially responsible approach to business. Other articles in this issue of CMA Management stress this, and experts like Bob Willard, author of The Sustainability Advantage, have outlined the...

Not too big, not too small for innovation.(New and noteworthy information you can use)(Don't Overlook the "MEs": Medium-Sized Firms Show the Way to Global Success)(report)
February 1, 2005... Medium-sized Canadian companies that focus on innovation not only grow faster than their peers; they are also more productive, profitable and sustainable, according to the Conference Board of Canada's sixth annual Innovation Report. ...

Deadline approaches to name Canada's top CFO for 2005.(New and noteworthy information you can use)(Chief Financial Officer)
February 1, 2005... As leading strategic financial management professionals, CMAs know what it takes to be a successful CFO in today's competitive and highly volatile marketplace. Demonstrate your savvy by nominating Canada's top chief financial officer for 2005,...

CDOs the new execs on the block.(New and noteworthy information you can use)(Striving for Transaction Excellence: The Emerging Role of the Corporate Development Officer)(study)
February 1, 2005... According to a new study by Ernst & Young, there's room for another executive in the C-suites today. The study, Striving for Transaction Excellence: The Emerging Role of the Corporate Development Officer, notes that the corporate development...

Tax risk management gaining prevalence in governance.(New and noteworthy information you can use)(Tax Risk Management: The Evolving Role of Tax Directors)(Study)
February 1, 2005... Ernst & Young recently announced the results of a worldwide independent survey of corporate tax directors, which found that as legislative and regulatory changes around the world have made tax risk planning a top priority, many companies are...

RFID slow to grow in Canada.(New and noteworthy information you can use)(2004 Canadian Radio Frequency Identification Study)
February 1, 2005... Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology, and its potential impact on future business operations, is getting the attention of Canada's big players in the retail and manufacturing sectors, according to Deloitte's new qualitative study...

Tablet PC functionality rising.(HIGH TECH)(personal computer)(Brief Article)(Buyers Guide)
February 1, 2005... It has been just over two years since Tablet PCs entered the Canadian market. In celebration, Toshiba of Canada Information Systems Group (Toshiba ISG) recently launched the new Portege M200 Tablet PC, which demonstrates how much the technology...

Regulatory change top of mind for Canadian execs.(New and noteworthy information you can use)
February 1, 2005... Late in 2004, KPMG released a survey of more than 200 of Canada's top executives on the subject of change in the Canadian business community. The survey findings suggest that over the past two years Canadian companies have been involved in...

International on-line scorecarding study now in progress.(New and noteworthy information you can use)
February 1, 2005... CMA Canada members are invited to participate in an on-line survey studying the use and adoption of scorecarding worldwide. CMA Canada, along with other professional organizations from around the world, have partnered to conduct this study. The...

New software.(New and noteworthy information you can use)
February 1, 2005... Visit www.managementmag.com for more information on the following software and applications packages: * Help Desk Technology Corporation's new HelpSTAR v8.2 * Netsuite's CRM/ERP/Ecommerce solution, with new Canadian content *...

The guru factor: being good at your job and receiving public recognition for your expertise are two very different achievements. Becoming a recognized face in your industry takes extra consideration.(human resources)
February 1, 2005... Are you bumping a career ceiling? Do you feel you have a lot to offer, but aren't being paid accordingly or recognized for what you offer? Perhaps you've watched other members in your field giving keynote addresses at conferences,...

Increased visibility: supply chain initiatives can improve the bottom line for you and your strategic partners. Understand the new technology and management industry standards and you will have an edge in the marketplace.(management trends)
February 1, 2005... Two thousand years ago, when the term "supply chain" was hardly a wink in the eyes of the universe, Socrates declared, "The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance." Today, industry consortiums are diligently applying this...

Managing and reporting sustainability: as companies around the world continue to adapt their organizations to be more responsive to all stakeholders, management accountants could prove to play a very valuable role.(Triple Bottom Line reporting)
February 1, 2005... Organizations of all stripes are gradually seeing the value of looking beyond economic performance for indicators of success. Consumers, investors, governments and business leaders now consider how an organization's social and environmental...

Corporate social responsibility--where do we really stand? A recent summit on CSR in Canada and abroad suggests that Canadian firms still have a long way to go to catch up to Europeans in adopting triple bottom line (TBL) management and reporting. But more and more companies from a broader scope of industries are engaging, and seeing the value in addressing social and environmental concerns.(Canadian Business for Social Responsibility summit)
February 1, 2005... In November 2004, Canadian Business for Social Responsibility (CBSR) held a one-day summit on corporate social responsibility (CSR). The aim of the summit was to place CSR in an international context, and discuss what this means for Canadian...

Franchise management--the people make the difference: while franchising is a very effective way to expand an enterprise, it comes with its own challenges. Choosing the right franchisees is one of the biggest and most important.
February 1, 2005... Franchising has become a multi-billion dollar industry in Canada. Currently, over 48 cents of every retail dollar is spent in a franchised outlet. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Although franchising is usually associated with restaurant and...

Inevitable chaos: every business goes through periods of stability and instability. Some change is unpredictable and some can be managed. Either way, make sure you, and your organization, learn from the chaos to create an ever more solid business base.
February 1, 2005... Businesses are constantly changing. To believe in stability in any organization is akin to being adrift in the middle of a turbulent ocean--you might survive, but your chances are, at best, 50-50. Many organizations operate from day to day,...

A social statement, a streamlined brand: Linda Wright, CMA, helps Voortman keep on track with operational efficiencies.(PROFILE)(Voortman Cookies Ltd)
February 1, 2005... Voortman Cookies Ltd. has grown over the past 50 years from a two-man operation in two 10X10 foot rooms in Hamilton, Ont., to become a 500-employee operation in a 300,000-square-foot facility in Burlington, Ont. The company now ships its...

Understanding avoidance: GAAR changes and challenges impact taxpayers doing business internationally. Unfortunately, the new landscape has yet to be defined.(tax tips)(General Anti-Avoidance Rule)
February 1, 2005... Any Canadian taxpayer involved in international tax planning now has to carefully consider the potential impact of the federal government's general anti-avoidance rule (GAAR). Two significant developments have recently occurred that affect...

Simplified HR records management: records of employment have to be properly maintained. Human Resources and Skills Development Canada is now making the process easier.(information technology)(Human Resource records)
February 1, 2005... Each year, Canadian payroll practitioners complete approximately eight million records of employment (ROE). Every time an employee has an interruption of earnings, the employer must complete one of these forms. Some employers must process...

Reviving the e-economy: Canada calls for partnerships to stimulate e-business growth.(government issues)(New Impact Study Canada IV)(Fast Forward 5.0)(Canadian e-Business Initiative studies)
February 1, 2005... Canada currently lags behind other international jurisdictions in the adoption of e-commerce economic tools. To remedy the situation, the government is calling on business and industry to make the country more information and communication...

Green thinking in China: new environmental protection efforts in China could be a boon to Canadian businesses.(global view )(Reprinted from Asia Pacific Bulletin)(Reprint)
February 1, 2005... China's State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA) announced recently that it has developed a framework for calculating "Green GDP," and that it will begin trial measures of the new index, to be used alongside traditional measures of...