In the course of the jobs we do, a lot of us have to fill in timesheets. Billable hours are important, and HR needs to be able to track what you’re up to every day. Most timesheet systems require that eight hours be filled every day or they are considered incomplete, and, while it’s possible […]
Business
Posted inBusiness
Churning out new strategies no guarantee for job creation
By Thabang Motsohi The New Growth Path (NGP) announced by Economic Development Minister Ebrahim Patel has again refocused our attention on the structural challenges that inhibit our economy to grow and create jobs. This will be the fourth attempt, after the Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative for South Africa, at developing an economic model that […]
Posted inBusiness, Environment, Lifestyle
Nuclear: A phone call away?
The good news is that energy department officials have been facing pressure from MPs to cut South Africa’s dependence on coal. The bad news is that a few MPs seem to think that nuclear energy can help achieve this. Following some time with French nuclear company Areva, DA MP David Ross recently told the portfolio […]
Posted inBusiness
American corporations set Tunisia and Egypt free
If the digital punters out there are to be believed, it is the power of some corporates in California that is setting the Arab world free. It is the venture capitalists, the CEOs, the boardroom visionaries of Palo Alto that are to be thanked for the groundswell we are seeing in Tunisia, Egypt, Yemen and […]
Posted inBusiness, Environment, Lifestyle
Shell-shocked
I think it’s outrageous that Shell sponsors part of the environment section on the National Geographic website. What makes the situation even more ironic is that right beneath one of Shell’s adverts on the page is National Geographic’s slogan: Inspiring people to care about the planet since 1888. Now I don’t think there are many […]
Posted inBusiness
Dear Telkom, continued
By Danny Glenwright Well old buddy, here we are again. I was sort of hoping the last discussion would be our final heart-to-heart. Sadly, you’ve let me down again. And again, and again. I must say you’ve outdone yourself this time. Just when I thought your service could get no worse, it has become shockingly […]
Posted inBusiness, News/Politics
The soul of Seoul
By Philippe Orliange There was some gloom in the South African papers about the outcomes of the Seoul G20 summit — “G20 summit did not fail those with low expectations … ” (Sunday Times), “G20 a colossal failure” (Sunday Independent), “Much ado about nothing” (Business Day). Beyond SA, the view in many places was that […]
Posted inBusiness, Lifestyle
How not to network
I’m just sitting here cutting out business cards from this old Rice Krispies box. Last night was my first real networking experience at Cape Town’s One of Many & Only. Didn’t go too well. I pitched up at the event carrying a tent and a backpack; sweating profusely after a long walk from the waterfront’s […]
Posted inBusiness, Lifestyle, Media, Tech
Dear Telkom
By Danny Glenwright Dear Telkom, You dirty old monopoly, you. You really got me. I’m actually writing to congratulate you. You were in the running for a few weeks but today I made it official. You have taken the prize for the poorest service I’ve ever received. And considering I’m a journalist who has lived, […]
Posted inBusiness, Media, News/Politics
What was Woolies thinking?
At 16:29, a News24 Breaking News Alert came through to my inbox. I was intrigued, even a little excited. Had Uncle Bob announced his imminent retirement? Was the petrol price going down by half? No, apparently it was neither of these things. Instead, the headline read: “Woolies caves in on Christian magazines.” Years from now, […]
Posted inBusiness, Environment, Lifestyle, News/Politics
Is your lifestyle really worth it?
Last week I watched a documentary type film called Oceans. The whole film was spectacular, but for me one piece was particularly striking. Shot underwater, looking up towards the surface, we slowly panned over what looked like a bright red satin sari. It was gliding through the water, soft yellow lines rippling across the red […]
Posted inBusiness
The 7% economic growth question
South Africa is poised to achieve an estimated 3.5% growth for 2010, which is below the 7% that the government has set itself. Instead of focussing its attention on projects that will “take away” from the economy (like NHI or bullet trains or (God-forbid) the ANCYL’s mine nationalisation agenda), the government needs to reposition the […]