Just how well governed is your organisation? The answer to that question may be more complex than initially meets the eye; and with the King III™ Report broadening the scope of regulation in South Africa to businesses of all sizes, answering it is important for many more directors. Assessing governance posture can be an expensive and complex exercise, which is why the Institute of Directors in Southern Africa (IoDSA) has launched a tool to help gain a quantitative indication of the state of their governance.

Most people would at least have a basic idea of what the terms bull and bear markets mean. In very short: the one is a market on the up and the other a market on the down, and mostly used in the context of the stock market. Where the terms come from is less clear, with some interesting possibilities.

Two decades ago, in the early 1990s, when the erstwhile Eastern Block under Soviet dominance was disintegrating, all indications were - and analysts assessed - that the period of a bipolar world with its doctrine of a balance of power, as it developed after World War 2 (WWII), had come to an end. The world seemed destined for a unipolar order. In the fourth article in our series on the present epoch,  we conclude this has been but an interlude in the flow of history as we - at least as an interim dispensation - move into multipolar disorder.

The decision by the United States to up-yours the United Nations by implementing unilateral and, in terms of international law, suspect sanctions against Iran over dubious claims about its nuclear programme, is pushing that country deeper and deeper into a no-win corner. In the process, it is not only increasing the risk of conflict in the Middle East, but it has made most of the rest of the world a more dangerous and potentially volatile place in which to live.

The fact that the African National Congress (ANC) agreed after persistent demands from the ANC Youth League (ANCYL) to place a discussion around the issue of the nationalisation of South Africa’s mines on the agenda of the forthcoming National General Council (NGC) may be little more than a ploy to make the debate go away, if some sources in the ANC are to be believed – but it is nevertheless causing some real harm to the industry’s investment prospects at a time when the country can ill afford it.

A storm of hostile rhetoric, often displaying a complete lack of understanding of the workings of democratic processes, seems to be gathering momentum in the African National Congress (ANC) while a set of controversial media-directed piece of draft legislation is under consideration. With not even all its governing alliance partners on board, the scape-goating of the media is probably as symptomatic of crisis management as a planned grab at total power.

The embattled Springbok team and its management are currently trying to survive as all-comers hurl verbal missiles at them. It would seem that some tough decisions and changes in approach have become unavoidable, and will start this week when a review board of the South African Rugby Union (SARU) asks tough questions of the coach, Peter de Villiers.

Professor Prieur du Plessis, professor extraordinaire at the University of Stellenbosch Business School (USB), will be sharing his perspectives at an event entitled: Leader’s Angle: Investment perspectives in an uncertain world on Friday, 30 July at the USB Bellville Park Campus. The event can also be followed live via online video streaming at www.usb.ac.za/streaming or on Twitter at http://twitter.com/@StellenboschMBA

Emerging from their two-day lekgotla last week, President Jacob Zuma and his Cabinet have adopted a new programme of action, setting a number of new performance targets in what is partially designed to be a bold display of a new focused, hands-on approach. And, it seems following from this, a number of non-performing ministers may be in for the chop in a possible Cabinet reshuffle.

With the co-operation of the The LR Management Group, we can now bring you the leadership training tool 50 Lessons, which is a powerful force in the world of corporate learning. 50 Lessons is the worlds premier multimedia business resource, offering more than 1 000 personal and authentic video lessons from internationally respected business leaders. It can assist you to increase the utilisation and return on investment of your learning programmes immediately!

In a dramatic change of its image in the global fight against the spread of HIV/Aids from the days of denialism under the Mbeki administration, South Africa delivered one of the shining rays of hope at the 18th International AIDS Conference in Vienna last week. The conference, however, fluctuated between careful talk about possible cures to despair about the possible impact of the global financial crisis on the fight against the disease.