VIEWPOINT: Size matters

“The least productive people are usually the ones who are most in favour of holding meetings.” Thomas Sowell As a leader, one is often asked what a good team size is and whether small teams are more productive than larger teams or vice versa. The jury is out on this question, but what research has…

VIEWPOINT: The language of prosperity

“The power of accounting is often forgotten by students, educators and even professional accountants.” Like maths and science, accounting is considered boring by many people, especially in comparison to subjects like English, Art and Drama. These ‘creative’ subjects give students tools to comprehend other people’s stories and express their own dreams and wishes. Although tragically…

VIEWPOINT: Buying lemons

“When information is imperfect, the presence of inferior goods corrodes the market for quality goods.” Following hot on the heels of my rant at car scams last month, I came across a very interesting paper on the “The market for lemons”. Written in 1970 by economist George Akerlof, it discusses the used car market. A…

INFLUENCE: SAICA Survey

JSE company directors, CEOs and CFOs are still predominantly white and male Young CAs(SA) blood a cause for optimism A survey of all 475 JSE-listed companies has revealed that South African company directors, CEOs and CFOs are still predominantly white and male – but indicates hopeful signs of transformation within the younger generation. Specifically, this…

Work–life balance

From a coach’s viewpoint Personally, I think work–life balance is a myth. Why? Because if you have a financial year-end or a deadline at work, that is where your attention will be. If you have a birthday party to plan, that is where your attention will be. It is a personal choice as to how…