Wellbeing in the workplace: Get happy and thrive July 16, 2014 Remember the three Cs and you could see a boost in productivity. The idea that employee wellbeing can impact a company’s bottom line isn’t a new one. Back in the 1970s, the US Worksite Health Promotion movement campaigned for firms to think of staff health and happiness as an essential ingredient in productivity. [...]
Apple and IBM team up to create new business apps July 16, 2014 Apple and IBM are partnering up to co-develop business-centric apps for iPhones and iPads, which they intend to make available later this year. The new class of “made-for-business apps” will target specific industry issues and opportunities for clients in sectors such as retail, healthcare, banking, travel and insurance. The two companies intend to [...]
We know nothing about it, but revenues from Apple’s iWatch tipped to double Rolex sales in a year July 15, 2014 It doesn't even have a release date yet, but revenues from Apple's smartwatch could be twice as high as sales at watch making giant Rolex in its first year. That is what watchers of the Cupertino-based tech stalwart at investment bank Morgan Stanley believe, as they appear to have full confidence that Apple's attempt to [...]
Sheer satisfaction: Zendesk founder Mikkel Svane on providing better customer service July 13, 2014 Harriet Green talks IPOs, big data and radical taxis with Zendesk’s founder Mikkel Svane. An O2 survey last year found that 70 per cent of people wouldn’t forgive a company for bad customer service. Two thirds also said they’d share their experience with an average of eight friends and family members. Mikkel [...]
Burberry shareholders vote against Christopher Bailey pay deal July 11, 2014 Shareholders have struck a blow to Britain's iconic luxury fashion brand Burberry by voting against the proposed multi-million pound pay package for new chief executive Christopher Bailey. More than 50 per cent of those who voted at the luxury giant's annual general meeting today went against the directors' remuneration report. The lucrative package includes a [...]
Amazon hit with lawsuit from US regulator over unauthorised app downloads by kids July 10, 2014 The Federal Trade Commission is suing Amazon for allowing kids to make in-app purchases without parental consent resulting in millions of dollars of charges being incurred by parents. The lawsuit is seeking to make Amazon refund the money and prevent the retailer from allowing any purchases without a password on its Kindle Fire devices. Many [...]
As Burberry faces a shareholder revolt over chief Christopher Bailey’s pay, is he worth it? July 10, 2014 Qing Wang, professor of marketing and innovation at Warwick Business School, says Yes. The success of Burberry is largely attributable to its seamless combination of creativity with tradition, which many think epitomises the essence of Britishness. Its chief executive Christopher Bailey is highly experienced (he worked as a designer at Gucci, then as creative director [...]
Samsung set for worst results in two years as it predicts 25pc profit drop July 8, 2014 Samsung Electronics revealed today that it forecasts weak quarterly earnings, resulting in what would be its worst results in two years. This has cast doubt on the smartphone producer's ability to compete with cheaper Chinese rivals. The South Korean company has suffered at the hands of the recent slowdown in growth of the smartphone [...]
Lessons learned from a leader’s right-hand man July 6, 2014 What do Batman’s Robin and John Prescott have in common? Julius Caesar is down as having said: “I would rather be first in a small village in Gaul than second in command in Rome”. All well and good, but behind every successful leader, there’s always a number two who is crucial to the running of [...]
Apple preparing for iWatch launch with another high profile hire July 5, 2014 Apple appears to be gearing up for the impending launch of its iWatch with another high profile hire, poaching a senior executive from Swiss luxury watch brand Tag Heuer. Tag Heuer, part of luxury goods group LVMH, announced that vice president for sales Patrick Pruniaux will be leaving the company on Monday 7 July to join [...]