Month: November 2010

Apple is one of the most innovative companies of the decade. Once one of the world`s biggest technology companies, Apple fell through the cracks with the emergence of Microsoft. However, in the past decade, Apple has exhibited major changes to its company, and is one of the world`s most entrepreneurial companies.

The company takes in an enormous amount of wealth and profits, especially over the past 5-10 years. With the release of the Ipod, the Iphone, and the MacBook, the company`s profits have skyrocketed. These innovations, another characteristic of entrepreneurship are the highest priority for apple, the company is always making new and improved products to keep consumers buying their products. Consumers always want something better, and they know that apple is always improving and updating products. Microsoft on the other hand does not innovate as often, and takes the “routine” market.

They also have taken many risks, they marketed their product effectively, and they went from being just a small company that was dwarfed by Microsoft to a company that is gaining market share.

Main Article: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/gold-sets-record-amid-currency-wars/article1790167/

Amid a world of currency wars and financial crises, investors are moving away from fiat currency and into commodities, particularly gold. Investors believe that this is a safe haven compared to currencies such as the U.S dollar, the Yuan, or even the Euro, as the well being of certain key players in each economy is uncertain.

The main question to be asked is how high the price of gold will go. The current market price of over $1400/oz is already highly inflated, and if the currency war comes to an end, investors in this “safe haven” may lose a lot of money. Other investors may move away from gold and back into currencies such as the U.S greenback, and the Euro.

Could gold be the next currency? I do not believe so, the commodity is too volatile, and it loses in some cases dozens of points or gains dozens of points each and every day.

However, in spite of this move, investors are not taking all their money out of stocks and into gold, which could mean that gold is not the ultimate haven. Investors should see how the currency war plays out before investing a lot of money into the commodity.

Main Article: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/cisco-named-best-employer-in-canada-2010-10-29?reflink=MW_news_stmp

CISCO Canada has ranked first on Aon Hewitt’s list of Canada’s top employers for 2011, even though this is only the second year that CISCO has participated in the survey. The list ranks companies based on employee satisfaction, and judgments made by Aon Hewitt.

Why is CISCO the top employer in the country? What makes working for them so much better than working for any other company?

The answer: employee engagement.

The company operates in a way where the organizations culture encourages employees take on challenging and engaging opportunities, take on leadership roles, and are encouraged to take on flexible work schedules.

In order to make your company a good place to work for, you must engage your employees in all ways possible. You must empower your employees, allowing them to make their own decisions, you must treat them with the highest level of respect, and most importantly, you must make the employee feel like their job means something in the organization. Making this type of culture maximized productive efficiency from the employee,  maximizes job satisfaction, and in turn, will distinguish your company as a positive work environment.