“Our results indicate that the Big Mac Index is surprisingly accurate in tracking exchange rates over the long-term, which is consistent with previous PPP research findings” (ScienceDirect) For decades the Economist has been publishing its Big Mac Index to give an estimation of how under- or...
“Real stupidity beats artificial intelligence every time” (Terry Pratchett) Artificial Intelligence (AI) is being rolled out in many guises throughout business. One instance of this is voicemail with some amusing results. One person recalls getting a voicemail message which said “I’m a user music to reach...
The greatest need in many small businesses is for cash flow. Picture this scenario: Three people start a business and after a few years it is beginning to make profit – in a year it will go cash positive. One of the shareholders is killed (or...
The business rescue provisions in the Companies Act are regarded as progressive and world class and there is evidence that it has worked well. Yet a 2016 survey showed that more distressed businesses opted for an informal approach and appear to be more successful than those...
Small business has limited resources and optimising these resources is a balancing act. Part of this balancing act includes the role of compliance. These requirements have increased as new laws are rolled out along with other regulations, such as BEE and FICA, which also need...
“‘Burnout’, n. ‘Physical or mental collapse caused by overwork or stress’” (Oxford Dictionaries) Two issues have come to the fore in terms of staff experiencing burnout - bosses who work too many hours, and conflicts in terms of duties performed. This can result in burnout and high...
The Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) has often been viewed as just an administrator and recorder of decisions made by companies. In February however, the CIPC issued a Compliance Notice to the Public Investment Corporation (PIC) instructing it to recover a R4.3 billion investment in...
“So much of what we call management consists in making it difficult for people to work” (Peter Drucker) In a recent interview of a prosecutor, he expressed surprise that most of the people charged with commercial crime were normal and honest. Yet in a recent survey...
There are no major tax deadlines for March but SARS is again warning taxpayers to – Only use registered Tax Practitioners, Ask for the practitioner’s registration number, and Verify the number online here. ...
Risk management has become increasingly popular in the past twenty years. It is also a corner stone of good governance. Despite this increased focus, businesses are still being blindsided by events which result in high costs being incurred. Potential problems and unpredictability – think “out of the...