Recently, my office took part in a training session that used theatrical improv to help develop business communication skills. Throughout the course of the day, as we performed various verbal exercises in groups, it became clear that some of us relished the chance to have all eyes upon us, while others found it unsettling. Either…
Exporting is one of the most important growth strategies used by businesses across Canada. Nearly 73,000 Canadian small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) leverage new markets and opportunities outside of the country by exporting goods or services. This, however, only accounted for 11.8% of SMEs in Canada signaling that there is reluctance among Canadian businesses to…
It’s no secret. Expanding your business into new international markets can help access additional suppliers, customers, and increase profits. Growing into strategically selected markets will make for a more competitive business, however selecting the wrong market could result in wasting precious company resources. A variety of tools and resources are available to help companies select…
With cap and trade programs making an increasing appearance in news headlines, Ontario businesses should be aware of the carbon tax regulations that are coming into effect. Ontario’s Cap and Trade regulation went into force on July 1, 2016 and will officially launch on January 1, 2017, which businesses should look at closely, as energy-based…
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in the following article are those of the guest author and do not necessarily represent or reflect Mentor Works Ltd. If you don’t know the rules of the game, how can you expect to compete fairly and win? Let’s not kid ourselves, exporting is a very competitive game, played…
On July 20, 2016, Tesla Motors’ CEO Elon Musk released a blog entitled “Master Plan, Part Deux”. The highly anticipated document identified several key changes to Tesla’s business model and also unveiled some of the newest, most innovative technologies that Tesla is working on. Among some of the most notable changes, Tesla may be modifying…
Across Canada, new digital technologies are enabling businesses to grow and develop globally-demanded products and services. In fact, information technology development will soon become the country’s largest economic driver, signalling that the Age of the Digital Economy is quickly approaching. The World Economic Forum (WEF) refers to the coming Digital Age as the 4th Industrial…
Reducing carbon emissions and creating a sustainable low-carbon economy are top priorities for provincial governments across Canada. While some provinces have taken more ambitious steps than others, all provinces and territories are beginning to shape the future of climate change legislation, and with it, a series of new incentives for businesses ‘going green’. Ontario and…
What if everything your business has been doing since its inception was flipped upside down and the complete opposite approach was enforced? This is the concept behind W. Chan Kim and Renée A. Maurborgne’s Blue Ocean Strategy, which was created based off of primary research conducted on over 150 businesses across more than 30 industries…
I’m a big advocate for metrics and key performance indicator (KPI) driven workflows. I believe in the value of data-driven processes, and have seen first-hand the impact of KPI focused process improvement projects. For many manufacturers, the increased use of software systems that document all of their processes has allowed them to identify even more…