It’s the interest, stupid! Why bankers rule the world

In the 2012 edition of Occupy Money released last week, Professor Margrit Kennedy writes that a stunning 35% to 40% of everything we buy goes to interest. This interest goes to bankers, financiers, and bondholders, who take a 35% to 40% cut of our GDP.

Surviving in times of crisis - Challenges in developing, implementing business strategy

The term ‘business strategy’ has many definitions but my favourite is by Johnson and Scholes in Exploring Corporate Strategy. They said, “Strategy is the direction and scope of an organisation over the long term,

Benefits of long time horizons in stock market investing

“Always invest in the long term” is the mantra employed by Warren Buffett, the most famous long-term equity investor, who is a living testament to the potential benefits of thinking long term.

Toyota unveils Ratmalana flagship showroom

Toyota Lanka (Private) Limited, a 100% subsidiary of Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Japan, unveiled its new state-of-the-art flagship showroom at...

Budget 2013 goals: Let’s walk the talk

It is encouraging that the Budget Speech 2013 sets out a fiscal framework that seeks to continue the trajectory of much-needed fiscal consolidation. If successful, it will address a perennial problem that has plagued macroeconomic management in Sri Lanka for over four decades.

Driving business with creativity, innovation

Last week, we studied about Kaizen and today we venture into the concept of innovation. At this point, you might ask, “Why? Isn’t it the same thing you are talking about?”

What Obama re-election means for the world

America has created history again. With the re-election of Barack Hussein Obama as the President of the United States, the world’s most powerful economy and superpower, has sent another signal to the world.

This time it’s different. Is it?

The press conference called by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) of Sri Lanka last week may have reminded most of the enlightened attendees the most dreaded phrase in the financial world, ‘this time it’s different’.

Do women make better Internet entrepreneurs?

The buzz-word is here to stay – Internet-based business. With its vast reach across geographical boundaries and time zones, the power of the web...

GOLDEN AGE OF AD PRETESTING: Is metric-driven advertising killing creativity?

A car commercial prominently featuring a child hits the market in 2011 to a tepid response. Advertising industry sources believe the child was included purely because kids score well in ad pretesting. If the pretests were anything to go by, both client and agency believed they had a blockbuster on hand.

Natural Rubber growing is green business

United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) concluded a few years ago that natural rubber stands to gain from internalization of environmental costs in the entire rubber industry.  The economic variables prevailing in the natural rubber market favour internalization:

Seasons of an investor’s life

An investor’s life is not static. Assuming that you get income from sources other than your investments - like employment or your own business - this income will change as you age. Generally speaking, your income should increase as you get older.

Kaizen - Japanese strategy of continuous business improvement

In Japanese, Kaizen means ‘improvement’ or ‘change for the better’. It refers to philosophy or practices that focus upon continuous improvement of processes in manufacturing, engineering and business management.

Building a business in the new normal

Ever heard of the new normal? Hurricanes, storms, tsunamis and power outages – the new normal reflects what used to be known as anything but...

Reviving growth- Let policymakers be serious

The challenge for Sri Lanka is to develop a policy framework that would stabilize the economy, boost investment and growth and earn rather than borrow reserves. All shades of political opinion are now focused on these issues.

How to benefit from market cycles when investing in stock market

Stock markets around the world follow cycles, just like business cycles. As investors, it is vital we understand this fact and invest accordingly. In general, there are ‘Presidential cycles’ (Yes! It is a well-accepted term in the US), Elliot waves and Kondrateiv cycles.

Winning over competition – Sun Tsu style

If you ask a dozen successful Chinese entrepreneurs to name the best business book ever, chances are such ten will say, The Art of War. It was written by a Chinese general named Sun Tzu more than 2,500 years ago, possibly in the sixth century BC.

Why it’s important to focus on health at work

We have heard so much about workplace stress. As organisations are driven towards more and more success, especially during tough economic times...

Understanding International Customs Law for better Logistics

In any economy, the Customs plays a crucial role in trade operations and revenue collection. From a trade and industry perspective, it directly affects the private rights and obligations of citizens thus Customs Legal Framework plays a very important role.

Latex allergy still an issue for Hevea rubber growers?

It has been claimed that Russian dandelion (Taraxcacum kok-saghyz) and Guayule (Parthenium argentatum) performs like Hevea rubber but contains none of the proteins that cause latex allergies.

Mega construction projects slipping away; Manpower shortage a drawback

We are overwhelmed by the rapid development taking place in the City of Colombo and in other parts of Sri Lanka. The huge Krrish Square Development is one of them. We are happy that projects of this nature and magnitude are to happen in Sri Lanka.

Export growth and sustained development

Following is the speech by Sri Lanka Economic Association President A D V de S Indraratna delivered at SLEA’s Annual General Meeting on the theme ‘Export Growth for Sustained Development’.

Why corporate world must invest in women

The corporate sector needs to invest more in women. Sounds very sexist but the figures support the statement more than ever before. Investing in women has a multiple effect, according to Forbes and there’s good reason for saying that.

Market economy should benefit all: Opposition Leader

Following is the speech by Leader of the Opposition Ranil Wickremesinghe, at the Business Today TOP TWENTY FIVE awards ceremony.

Whither plantation industry?

Following is the address by Mahendra Amarasuriya (Former Chairman Commercial Bank of Ceylon Plc, Planters Association of Ceylon, former Deputy Chairman Hayleys Plc & Talawakele Plantations Plc) delivered at the 158th Annual General Meeting of the Plantations’ Association

Are you a trader?

When someone trades a stock, it is for a short period of time, generally between one day and six months. The trader is not looking for the next ‘the company’; they are just looking for a stock that will move up (or down) a few percent quickly.

When traditions are challenged, change management process begins

In times of crisis, how do we keep ahead of our competitors? We realize the market place is changing rapidly that nothing stays the same for more than a moment. How do we get a workforce and the company to shift directions fast to face a future that is almost unknowable?

Challenges and future of air traffic control in Sri Lanka

Air traffic controllers (ATCs) all over the world celebrate the ‘International Air Traffic Controllers Day’ on October 20 every year. This day becomes a red letter...

Narrow HR base holding back knowledge economy ambitions

Around the world, knowledge and innovation have become the drivers of global competitiveness. Countries are competing with each other to invest more on Research and Development (R&D) to help create more novel technologies to gain comparative advantages in knowledge.

Education should pursue quality

Leadership in a county like Sri Lanka is not just about managing crises but also using them to generate constructive destruction of the status quo and introduce reforms for a creative paradigm shift.