Head in the Cloud

Google's move to 'cloud computing' (with all data held on the web)looks as though it might bear fruit. People's use of smartphones has transformed their attitude to 'computing' - they now expect 'instant-on', permanent web access, and regular notifications and updates from their social networks. All of this will work on the new tablets coming from Apple and others without the overhead (and long boot times) of Windows.

Of course cloud-based word processing and spreadsheeting won't have the same power as desk-top equivalents but for most people this is not a problem ... getting access to their files wherever they are more than makes up for this.

ILO helps Nigeria

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has nominated Nigeria to benefit from an integrated assistance package under the Global Jobs Pact (GJP) initiative.

To this end, the organisation has requested that the Ministry of Labour and Productivity formulate a roadmap which would lead to the establishment of a finalised GJP by April 2010.

In a letter informing the Ministry of Labour of the nomination, the ILO urged the Federal Government to consider options such as public infrastructure investment, special employment programmes, broadening of social protection and minimum wages, as measures to reduce poverty, increase demand and contribute to economic stability, to achieve the job pact.

New year! New Attitude?

Well, 2010 is almost here. How is it going to change for you ... and how is it going to be changed by you? The only sure thing is change itself ... and it is better that you are in charge, shaping that change.

So good luck in 2010. May it be what you set out to make it be.

Merry Christmas

To those of you who celebrate Christmas, we wish you a Merry Christmas. To those of you who don't, we hope you have a great time anyway. And we hope you have lots of ideas and plans to make 2010 productive and rewarding.

Shipping Sinks

The global shipping industry is struggling with overcapacity and falling productivity in the face of the economic downturn and shrinking world trade, according to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development(UNCTAD) last week.

The industry is also suffering from the much-publicised growth in piracy.

And if owners want to get out, they can't afford to because scrap metal rates are so low, that they have to hang on to their ships and ride out the economic downturn.

Sorry, but I have no good news for them!

Australian Book Wars

The Australian Federal Government has just turned down recommendations that would have made books cheaper ... in effect siding with the Publishers Association who saw the recommendations as a threat to the (local) industry.

For me, though, the interesting point is that the recommendation to change the regulations came from the Productivity Commission .... good to see the word 'productivity' taken so widely!

UK not out of the woods, yet

The Bank of England has suggested that a squeeze on company profits as productivity falls faster than wages could trigger another wave of job losses in the New Year.

So far in this recession, by agreeing to pay cuts and shorter hours, many employees have been able to stay in work.

But though wage costs have dropped, productivity has fallen faster. Not a recipe for recovery!