Tag: finance

startups

Business plan – ultimate waste of time or absolute necessity? #startups

There is an enormous amount of information and advice about creating a business plan for one’s startup. The advice ranges from the necessity to prepare a traditional narrative form business plan document, to preparing a business model canvas, or using a business planning tool or app. There are even notions like the idea-less startup, where the team is formed before the startup idea comes together. No business plan … Continue reading Business plan – ultimate waste of time or absolute necessity? #startups

Kate Carruthers
social computing & social media

Friction, hypereconomics, and social intercourse

Friction is one of the more important concepts in the world. Many things are either made possible or impeded by friction. Strike a match and the friction creates a flame. Yet that same kind of friction stops other things from flowing smoothly. Perhaps the best description of the challenges that arise from friction is from the well known military strategist, Clausewitz: “Everything is very simple … Continue reading Friction, hypereconomics, and social intercourse

Kate Carruthers
civil society, social innovation

What kind of zombies have we created?

I was reading Bill Bonner’s recent post Zombies Born of Government Spending where he posits the notion of zombies in our economy. As Bill defines it: “In economic terms, a zombie is a parasite. He contributes less to the economy than he takes from it. He lives at the expense of others.” His argument is that social welfare programs as practised by most of the … Continue reading What kind of zombies have we created?

Kate Carruthers1 Comment
ideas, innovation, social computing & social media

Big Banks: brands, emotion and reality

It has been fascinating to watch the consumer and media response to the recent increase of interest rates above the Reserve Bank rate by the Commonwealth Bank. Many have expressed their opinion that the Commonwealth Bank is destroying its brand by such a callous action. But this view ignores the market reality in Australia that organisations that have extreme market power – such as the … Continue reading Big Banks: brands, emotion and reality

Kate Carruthers1 Comment
ideas

Company Directors conference 2010 – day 1

I’m lucky to be attending the Australian Institute of Company Directors 2010 conference DIRECTORSHIP:10 Ahead of the Curve in Christchurch this week. Sessions today included: Australia and New Zealand – performing in the global arena Is the current system broken? Challenges and opportunities in the global economy March to modernity – Asia tomorrow and the rise of the global south A recurrent theme is the … Continue reading Company Directors conference 2010 – day 1

Kate Carruthers1 Comment
ideas

#febusave update – nearly 9,000 women signed up

Nearly 9,000 women signed up for the Febusave 2010 campaign, for example: 2,307 pledged to give up buying lunch 1,118 pledged to give up treats 162 pledged to give up taxis These might not seem like much; but little changes like this can make a real difference to your finances. My pledge was to stop using the car to drive to work every day. The … Continue reading #febusave update – nearly 9,000 women signed up

Kate Carruthers
ideas

Savings plan progressing nicely for #febusave

As part of the ANZ Bank’s Febusave campaign I’ve been following up on my pledge to catch public transport as much as possible during February, especially for the commute to the office. I’m finding the daily train trip gives me a few unexpected benefits in addition to saving money: more time to work on projects rather than concentrating on driving in the crazy Sydney traffic … Continue reading Savings plan progressing nicely for #febusave

Kate Carruthers
ideas

2010 Blog theme – women in …

I’ve been thinking about having an overarching theme for my blog this year and have finally decided on women in … that is women who are doing interesting things like finance technology science engineering management innovation start-ups marketing media and whatever other interesting careers pop up Women have come such a long way in a relatively short time regarding careers and choices. It’s worth sharing … Continue reading 2010 Blog theme – women in …

Kate Carruthers2 Comments