IT causes headaches for FDs
by Catherine Woods - Friday, 23rd November 2007 -
Most FDs wish IT was someone else’s responsibility yet believe it’s important to business growth.
That’s what Microsoft is telling us following its latest survey on the priorities and pressures of FDs.
The survey canvassed the views of 100 FDs in UK medium-sized businesses. Twenty-six per cent said IT is a core priority for them. It was also revealed that IT is typically discussed at every, or every other, board meeting.
But IT, together with audit preparation, are the top jobs that FDs would most like to shed.
Microsoft UK FD Steve Dunn says: “Part of the problem in most cases is that FDs don’t feel equipped to deal with IT – it has often been foisted upon them.
“I think we’re likely to see the newer generation of FD, for which IT has been a part of everyday life, is more willing to embrace the responsibility.”
“The key thing for FDs who find themselves in this position is to communicate and rely on their IT director or CIO.”
Picture source
"Don't let the market be your boss"
By Kate Pritchard - October 06, 2008 5:57pm GMT
Serial entrepreneur and investor Maxwell Packe says private equity-backed firms have an edge over publicly listed companies. “They don’t have to meet targets set by teenage scribblers,” he says.
“Why bother with an IPO?” asks Audio Network founder
By Rebecca Burn-Callander - October 06, 2008 3:20pm GMT
Robert Hurst raised £600,000 of seed funding from 40 music composers, sound designers and angels to get his online sound and music portal off the ground. Having organised his own private IPO, he’s suspicious of the traditional listing process.
Five ways to avoid redundancies
By Real Business - October 06, 2008 12:31pm GMT
You’re in a pickle. You desperately need to cut your employee wage bill but you’re reluctant to make redundancies. Fear not. We’ve come up with some alternatives to swinging the scythe.
“Always accept a dinner invitation from an Asian client!”
By Rebecca Burn-Callander - October 03, 2008 5:29pm GMT
Kamel Hothi arrived in the UK when she was six. As a girl raised in a traditional Indian family, she was never supposed to work, pursue higher education, or even make eye contact with men. Yet now she’s director of Asian Markets at Lloyds TSB, opening up opportunities for hundreds of women just like her.
Good growth for Ted Baker
By Catherine Woods - October 03, 2008 10:43am GMT
Ted Baker founder Ray Kelvin says the clothing retailer remains “understandably cautious” about the second half of the year despite posting a 8.2 per cent increase in revenue to £71.6m.
Follow the brothel's lead
By Catherine Woods - October 03, 2008 3:58pm GMT
If you’re not an Australian, you may not find the following article as amusing as I have.
Economic downturn headlines
By Catherine Woods - October 02, 2008 2:41pm GMT
There’s more doom and gloom in the news today about the economic downturn.
Deal or no deal
By Kate Pritchard - October 01, 2008 3:43pm GMT
Jon Moulton wasn’t exactly exaggerating when he told us the outlook for the private equity industry was gloomy.
Eco-preneurs in the US
By Catherine Woods - September 26, 2008 5:14pm GMT
It’s always interesting to hear what’s happening within the entrepreneurial community across the pond and an article published today has revealed the growing eco-preneurial movement within the travel and hospitality sectors.
