Great men as leaders

“G reat leaders are God-gifted, not man-made.” This quote sums up the basic tenant of the Great Man theory of leadership – i.e. you are either a natural born leader or you are not.

Service failure is service failure

It’s 7.25 p.m. as you arrive with your wife and son, to be greeted by the hostess standing at the entrance to the restaurant, with a ‘Do you have a reservation?’ There was no ‘Good Evening’ or similar salutation, surprisingly so, for a property that claims to be ‘forever everlasting’.

Why family businesses matter so much for an economy?

Rudy you’ve invested the last 20 years of your professional career in, as you say, “Keeping family businesses healthy.” That’s admirable but why did you choose this profession? Or should I call it “your passion?”To answer your question why I became so deeply i nvolved i n family business consulting, I have to acknowledge I was being prepared for this “mission” much of my life.

Relief delivered: Fiscal sustainability in question

The Pathfinder Foundation (PF) has been consistent in its call for prudent fiscal management and market-oriented policies. In Economic Alert No: 67 titled ‘The election manifestos: An auction of nonexistent resources and beyond’, it highlighted the populist nature of the manifestos of the two main candidates and the need for fiscal discipline. The subsequent Economic Flash 57 titled ‘Economics of the 100-day programme: Word of c

Great organisational culture starts with ethical decision-making

Increasing number of evidence suggests organisational culture affects the strategic organisational decision-making. The evidence suggests that in a specific cultural context a particular form of participate decision-making is more appropriate than others.

Investing in dividend stocks

Many people invest in dividend-paying stocks to take advantage of the steady payments and the opportunity to reinvest the dividends to purchase additional shares. Since many dividend-paying stocks represent companies that are considered financially stable and mature, the stock prices of these companies might steadily increase over time while shareholders enjoy periodic dividend payments.

Investing in agarwood? Take some advice from pioneers in business

The persistent and culturally-embedded nature of demand for agarwood by endconsumers has placed the current global market at an estimated range of US $ 6 – 8 billion with rapid growth foreseen in the future. Resinous agarwood is extracted from Aquilaria trees and its unique fragrance is widely used in world-class perfumes, traditional medicine, incenses, aroma therapy and cosmetics.

Rubber Products Industry Needs Support For Further Growth

Within a relatively short period, the Sri Lankan rubber products manufacturing industry has successfully evolved from a relatively small and unknown entity and has become a reputable major world supplier of quality rubber products.

Need to diversify export items and destinations

Sri Lanka, since colonial era, has been playing a significant part in international trade.As a country that is blessed with natural resources, the main reason as to why imperialists came to this tiny island was its export-oriented natural resources such as spices mainly cinnamon.

Climate change to hit world’s poor harder than predicted

In a recent study done by Frances Moore and Delavane Diaz of Stanford University which focuses on climate ‘damage functions’ point to stronger impacts on the world’s poor that will be caused by climate change, than predicted before.

MTI’s 2015 Business Outlook for Sri Lanka

The international management consultancy MTI recently concluded its 4th CEO Business Outlook Survey, with the results officially revealed by MTI International CEO Hilmy Cader, at CIMA Corporate Partners Launch 2015.

It’s Not Hard To Make Decisions When You Know What Your Genuine Values Are

Years ago, a gunman murdered seven people in a fast-food restaurant i n a suburb of Chicago, USA. In his dual roles as an administrative head and spokesperson for the police department, Police Chief Walter Gasior suddenly had to cope with several different situations at once.

Revised Budget 2015

4.1 The original Budget 2015 expected a total revenue of Rs.1,594 billion, which consisted of Rs.1,400 billion of tax revenue and Rs.194 billion of nontax revenue. Total expenditure and net lending was Rs.2,990 billion of which recurrent expenditure was Rs.1,465 billion and capital expenditure and net lending was Rs.685 billion.

Women who empower our agrarian sector

There is a saying in Sinhala that a farmer, whose mud has been washed off, is suitable for kingship. Kingship aside - we now have a gentleman farmer, who is our president, a man who has never forgotten his roots deep in rural Sri Lanka.

Banking sector needs reform: Can Ranil and Ravi deliver?

Newspaper reports highlighted the very divergent views expressed by the Finance Minister and the new Central Bank Governor. The Finance Minister certainly knows the game better than the Governor because he has been a vocal critic of the previous administration’s economic management for many years.

Understanding Leadership Evolution

The way we define leadership has evolved throughout the human history to the premises, beliefs and understandings of today. By studying evolutionary theories and philosophies of leadership similarities and differences can be identified. With this background knowledge, we will be better equipped to define appropriate leadership skills and traits required to handle present day complex world problems.

2014 Climate Talks In Lima Appear To Provide Some Hope

An Asian Development Bank (ADB) climate and economics report for South Asia, released some time ago stated that climate change will affect South Asia more than most other regions. South Asia’s weather is likely to become hotter than the global average, while monsoon rains and heavy storms will increase in most parts of the region.In the plantation sector, there could be both direct and indirect impacts.

Hundred Days Programme and local cinema industry

With the launched 100 Days Programme of the Government of Sri Lanka, it has been suggested to look at the reforms required in the local film industry with the view to address its immediate concerns with short-term and long-term benefits. This is to protect all the stakeholders including exhibitors, distribution companies, producers, artists, directors, technical and support staff, spectators and the regulator, National Film Corporation.

Trade facilitation: Breaking down barriers to international trade in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka has undertaken key initiatives to facilitate trade and transport over the years. Vital agencies in the trading process such as the Sri Lanka Customs and Sri Lanka Ports Authority have taken measures to facilitate trade through the automation, infrastructure expansions and others. While acknowledging the initiatives by relevant agencies, Sri Lanka still has a lot to achieve if it is to reach the facilitation levels of Singapore, which is

Eight key actions for development

Asia is making remarkable progress in development and poverty reduction. But, why have some countries developed more rapidly than others? In the 1950s, the Philippines was second only to Japan in per capita gross domestic product (GDP), but slipped to among the lowest in per capita GDP terms of the major Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), although it has been growing more rapidly in recent years. The People’s Republic of China

Global economy faces strong and complex cross currents

The world economy is facing strong and complex cross currents. On the one hand, major economies are benefiting from the decline in the price of oil. On the other, in many parts of the world, lower long run prospects adversely affect demand, resulting in a strong undertow.

Sino-Lankan economic ties: a dynamic and forward looking perspective

A previous Pathfinder Foundation (PF) Economic Alert (54) argued that the Sino-Lanka FTA has the potential to be the ‘Jewel in the Crown’ in the bilateral economic relationship.

Capitial market investment planning

One needs to invest to maximize returns on one’s savings and also to be able to generate cash flows for meeting several financial needs of the future. One must, however, invest with knowledge and full care in order to not only protect one’s hard-earned capital but also generate good returns.

Effective Communication Makes A Great Leader Stand Out From Others

If you read the job description of an advertisement placed for the post of a CEO or a senior leader, it will certainly contain a phrase something like this: “The candidate must be a strong and skilled ‘communicator’.” Note it does not say “strong and skilled ‘talker’,” because the definition of a communicator is very different that of a talker.

Need for a national mineral policy and activities of GSMB

Acomprehensive national mineral policy for Sri Lanka was drafted by me recently in my capacity as Honorary Adviser to the Environment and Renewable Energy Ministry and with my experience as the senior most geoscientist with over 50 years of professional experience from 1965 at the Geological Survey Department (Present GSMB) and the Director from 1982 to 1985 and thereafter as a World Bank consultant to the Industries and Scientific Affairs Minist

Does Private Sector Have It to Partner Good Governance Of Maithree Palanaya’s 100 Days?

Never has been in the history of Sri Lanka such an awakening made with regard to the need to have good governance integrated into the fabric of the Sri Lankan society, economy and culture by Sri Lankans like what we see today.

From Crisis To Character:a Practical Book For Those In The World of work

Rozaine is fascinated by how character and motivation develop through our life experiences and how we can increase our effectiveness and resilience with insights from work psychology used in coaching and mentoring.Some of these insights include how individuals and organisations respond to stress, trauma and change – about how we respond to crises - and how these can lead to growth and resilience to adapt to our changing environment.

Leaders – a rare breed

Although leaders were in existence from the pre-historic era of mankind, ‘leadership’ as a concept has gained a great deal of attention only i n recent years. In the business world, at academic institutions, or in the community, time and large sums of money are devoted in developing effective leaders. Why? Because, good leadership is the most critical one factor that fuels the progress in the world, be it in a business, organisation,

Commodity Futures -Hedging Strategy

  The paper highlights the fundamentals, which are important and integral parts of commodity hedging and hedging risk associated in commodity hedging strategy.

Indo-Lanka Economic Partnership: Will it help produce transformative shift?

The Foreign Minister’s visit to India offers an opportunity to reflect on the role of the IndoLanka economic partnership in charting the future prosperity of the country.