Do X-Politicians come back as company directors?

There is life after politics, but is it in business? When politicians join company boards in Australia, the share price is more likely to drop than when a non-politician is appointed, says UQ Business School research. Don’t shareholders value the expertise that our former leaders bring to the boardroom? Or perhaps it’s a vote of confidence in our democracy?

Everyone knows the first thing you should do when starting a business is to write a business plan. Or is it? According to one school of thought, business plans are a waste of time because they are based on untested hypotheses. The lean startup movement has turned conventional business thinking on its head in an attempt to make the whole process of starting a company less risky.

A small Queensland coffee shop has set itself apart with its innovative business model. Dr David Parker, an expert in service operations management with UQ Business School, explains what others can learn in a series of conversations with the owner. This article was adapted from the original in Management Services magazine.

Smartphones will become the new wallets as digital money grows in popularity - but this new and disruptive technology could also have a profound impact on business and the world economy.

There are still very few women in top jobs, even though their presence gives companies a strategic advantage. Now a new report has identified ways employers can help them rise through the ranks.

America’s No.1 residential lender was one of the first to collapse in the financial crisis. Now a new report analyses what went wrong and what lessons we can learn from it.

By Associate Professor Sunil Venaik and Dr Paul Brewer for The Conversation (September 2015)

Meditation is catching on amongst CEOs as the new way to get ahead. But can a few minutes of daily contemplation really improve your leadership skills or your company’s profitability?

Forget PowerPoint presentations - leaders need to be able to tell a good story if they are to make their ideas stick. Storytelling can help businesses to motivate staff and inspire brand loyalty. Now developments in the digital world are making this ancient art more relevant than ever.