Management Blog

Admin wins out over people skills: study

A new workplace productivity study has found managers devote over a third of their time to admin tasks and only a small amount to supervising and training staff.

According to management-issues, The Global Productivity Report suggests managers spend up to 18.5 per cent of their time undertaking unproductive activities.

When asked about hurdles to productivity respondents said skills shortages, poor communications, red tape, rules and regulations, low morale, staff turnover and their supervisors were all issues.

The survey did uncover some good news. The international study indicates Australian managers spend the least amount of time working on unproductive activities.

Google dives into health trends

Mega-innovator Google has unveiled a new service called Flu Trends to provide an early warning system for disease outbreaks, The New York Times reports.

The service is based on a simple premise: when people start to feel flu-like symptoms they often turn to Google to search for advice.

By geographically tracking and collating these searches, Google.org – the company's philanthropic unit – says it can show where flu outbreaks are occurring. 

It's claimed the new web tool has potential to identify regional outbreaks of influenza up to 10 days earlier than US Government health officials.

Gladwell returns with Outliers

Malcolm Gladwell – the man behind the uber successful Blink and The Tipping Point books – is back with an investigation into what makes the world's best and brightest people tick.

Gladwell's publisher says Outliers: The story of success looks at the characteristics of extremely successful people by examining their cultural, family, generational and idiosyncratic experiences.

In its preview, the 800-CEO-READ blog claims the book offers a series of at case studies on software barons, sports stars, Asian maths champs and arguably the world's great pop band, the Beatles.

Outliers is released this week.

Fiat and Microsoft go green with ecoDrive

Fiat and Microsoft have joined forces to develop a software program that enables people to drive in a more sustainable fashion.

According to Springwise, ecoDrive collects data on acceleration, gear changes and speed before offering program users a series of tips on how they can drive more efficiently.

For example, ecoDrive might suggest you brake more gently while turning corners or stay at the same speed while travelling on straight stretches of road.

Currently available for Fiat 500 and Grand Punto models, the program looks set to be a hit with eco-conscious drivers with claims ecoDrive can reduce emissions and petrol use by up to 15 per cent.

Is 3D television the next big thing?

Your new plasma or LCD flat screen TV could seem somewhat outdated in the near future with a range of 3D televisions set to be unveiled by major manufacturers, The Australian reports.

The article claims a new generation of screens is being created by LG and Philips that do not require viewers to wear colour filtering glasses to experience 3D vision.

Both manufacturers are said to be achieving this effect via a sheet of tiny transparent cylindrical lenses known as lenticules, which sits over a high-resolution LCD display.

While the outcome of this process is said to be visually impressive researchers claim there is one major downfall: the 3D experience can make some viewers feel seasick.

Australians rush to adopt new gadgets

The 2008 Sensis e-Business Report has found more Australians are adopting new technologies than ever before, news.com.au reports.

Just one of many new technologies being embraced include smart phones with the survey finding one in ever 10 Australians has a phone with email access.

But is there a hidden cost to our love affair with high-tech gadgets?

The report claims that while tools like smart phones allow people to respond quickly to emails when away form work, they can also cause a work/life imbalance.   

Researchers says there is some user concern over technologies that blur the line between work and personal lives, yet it's claimed Australians would be reluctant to give up their new gadgets.

Women missing out on senior positions: survey

A new survey suggests the number of women in executive roles has dropped over the last two years, AFP reports.

Researchers say the number of female executives at companies on the ASX 200 index has fallen from 12 per cent to 10.7 per cent since 2006.

In addition, the Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Agency claims Australia has fewer women in top jobs than other nations, including the US, Canada and South Africa.

The study authors say the 2008 survey results indicate employment opportunities have not kept pace with women's increased education levels, experience and ambition.

What CEOs could learn from Obama

Keeping an eye on how US president-elect Barack Obama tackles his new job could provide a template for executives who find themselves in a demanding new role, according to a Harvard Business blog.

The article suggests Obama and other recently appointed chief executives might like to consider the following when called upon to lead in tough times:

Remain realistic - it's claimed the US is facing problems that can't be solved overnight; accordingly, it suggested that giving people false hope about solutions is not the right move

Find the best talent - don't go it alone, work collaboratively with colleagues who aren't just yes-people

Identify the big issues - instead of calling a summit, go to where the problems are and talk to the people tackling them to gain a first hand understanding of what is not working

Be optimistic - give people hope by not just talking about change but acting on key issue areas

China in need of managerial expertise

A new study claims demand for talented managers in China is a major impending challenge for both multinationals and locally owned enterprises in that country, The McKinsey Quarterly reports.

The American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai survey claims 37 per cent of respondents believe recruiting people for management roles in China is their most significant operational problem.

In addition, a recent McKinsey Quarterly survey found 44 per cent of Chinese executives said insufficient talent was a major issue in terms of future expansion.

A lack of international relations experience is said to be limiting Chinese managers.

Researchers claim 30 per cent of executives at Chinese companies that deal with international firms have no senior managers from outside China.

Aussie, Aussie, Aussie... work, work, work

Despite some expat opinions about bludgers, a new survey had found one in five Australians work more than 50 hours a week, The West Australian reports.

The University of Sydney study looked at the working lives of 8,000 Australians over a five-year period. The key findings include:

• The majority workers spend more than 44 hours a week at work
• One in three workers are unhappy about the amount of time they spend on the job
• Despite working long hours, 85 per cent of workers have debts to pay

The study also looked at differences between casual and full time employment with researchers claiming there is a high degree of discontent on both fronts.

It's claimed many casual employees feel pressurised because of job insecurity, while many full time workers unhappy about are putting in long hours at work.