Global economic climate brightening 25. February 2007 by Thomas Jannot The global economy is picking up momentum. According to the Munich-based ifo polling firm the global economic climate improved over the first quarter of 2007 after it had slightly cooled off in the second half of 2006. The improvement relates to the current economic situation as well as to expectations with regard to the six …
Major enterprises lose track of their business data 25. February 2007 by Thomas Jannot Something which is largely unused by small and medium-sized entities seems to be applied rather too intensively by many German major enterprises: business intelligence systems. Half of all major enterprises already work with such universal management information systems. However, many of them lose track of the constantly growing flood of information and analyses generated by …
EU wants to increase work safety 22. February 2007 by Thomas Jannot The loss of income to European employees due to absence from work as a consequence of illness amounts to about 1 billion Euros each year. With 82% of all occupational injuries and 90% of all fatal accidents at work the staff of small and medium-sized entities are particularly affected. For this reason the EU Commission …
Popularity of entertainment software growing 21. February 2007 by Thomas Jannot Electronic games are becoming more and more popular in Germany. According to the Bundesverband Interaktive Unterhaltungssoftware (BIU) the market for entertainment software grew by 7.4% in 2006 and this in spite of the competition posed by the Football World Cup. Total turnover for computer and video games amounted to 1.126 billion Euros in 2006, whereas …
Target bonus payments on the march again 20. February 2007 by Thomas Jannot Even though boni and stock options are still the basis of the salaries of top managers and board members, about two thirds of all companies already cap them. However, the reason is not public criticism of exorbitant bonus packages, but the rivival of bonus payments which are based on specific medium or long term target …
Fifty percent of employees works with computers 20. February 2007 by Thomas Jannot On average fifty percent of Europe´s employees by profession work with computers. With 56% in Germany the frequency of computer work is above EU average and ranks seventh in Europe. These figures were published on Moday by the German Association of Information Management, Telecommunications and New Media (BITKOM) and are based on data provided by …
How hedge funds work 20. February 2007 by Thomas Jannot An interesting insight to SMEs into the risk management and valuation methods applied by hedge fund managers provides the »Precautions that Pay Off» study in English language by Deloitte. According to the study hedge funds are exposed to ever increasing competition. Their number has almost quadrupled since 1995 and their assets under management almost multiplied …
EU wants to update legislation on internet shopping 19. February 2007 by Thomas Jannot Internet shopping is a constantly growing business. Now the EU Commission wants to revise several EU laws on consumer protection so as to adapt them to the special requirements of the internet. Focal points will be guarantees, rebates and periods of revocation. In the opinion of the Commission, consumer protection in the context of internet …
Accounting principles must be adapted to the needs of SMEs 19. February 2007 by Thomas Jannot Current proposals by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) on international financial reporting standards (IFRS) for small and medium-sized entities do not meet with the acceptance of the AG Mittelstand. This study group which is an association of eight organisations from trade, industrial art, hotel and restaurant industry and financial business keeps a sceptical eye …
Target group analysis reduces risk for new products 19. February 2007 by Thomas Jannot The risk attached to the market launch of a new product can be controlled as early as in the planning stage and during the introduction phase of a new product. In his brand new E-Book called »Produktentwicklung und Zielgruppen«, Dr. rer. nat. Jürgen Kaack, who is a management consultant, step by step describes how target …