Today's Issue
- Editor's Take: What Next?
- SME Gadgets: Shutterfly: Sharing Photos via www.shutterfly.com
- The Voice of SMEs
- Power Quote for SMEs
- Download this e-Book: Creative Leadership
- Tax Calendar
- Events: Corporate Social Responsibility (December 10 to 11) ,Process Optimization Through Design of Experiments (December 12 to 13), Total Quality Management (December 13 to 14), 2nd Pamaskong Handog sa Pamilyang OFWs-SMEs ( December 14 to 16), more events
SME Gadgets
Shutterfly: Sharing Photos via www.shutterfly.com
Shutterfly is a fast easy and convenient web site to share photos online. The Redwood City California based company encourages on line sharing and has simple solution for everyone. Shutterfly was founded in 1999 by Netscape and Silicon Graphics founder Jim Clark. Whether for SME use or personal use sharing of digital photos has grown astronomically because of the advent of the digital photo age.
In the last five years, the growth of digital cameras and
photographs
has exploded. According to Framingham Massachusetts research firm IDC,
growth of digital cameras in the United States in 2005 was 20% over the
previous year. 2004 growth was a staggering 50%. At the end of 2005
estimated number of digital cameras in the US market alone is 27
million. Leading digital camera companies are Kodak with a 22% market
share, Cannon with a 20% market share and Sony with an 18% market
share.
To read more, click
here!
Power Quote for SMEs
"KNOWLEDGE - Think, Create, Educate and Enjoy – John Maeda"
Download this e-Book!
Creative LeadershipFrom Bruce W. Tuckman's Theories of Project Team Development and Creativity, the authors, Tudor Rickards and Susan Moger created another stage model, The Theories of Creative Leadership Process in Project Team Development. This theory are mechanics to determine, improve and enhance the creative performance of the team to be able to work efficiently and create fresh and new ideas by bringing out the creative ability of every employee in the work place. This will help the company to be more competitive in the business industry as well.
To download the ebook, click here!
Tax Calendar
December 10 - Last day of
e-Filing/Filing & e-Payment/Payment or Remitttance for
1600, 1601C, 1601E, 1601F, 1602, 1606 - Withholding return on
compensation,
EWT & FWT for November 2007 (non EFPS taxpayers);
Withholding on transfer of real property other than capital assets
for November 2007
December 11 – Last day
of e-Filing for 1601C,
1601E, 1601F, & 1602 – Withholding return on
compensation, EWT
& FWT for November 2007 (Group E)
December 12 – Last day
of e-Filing for 1601C,
1601E, 1601F, & 1602 – Withholding return on
compensation, EWT
& FWT for November 2007 (Group D)
December 13 – Last day
of e-Filing for 1601C,
1601E, 1601F, & 1602 – Withholding return on
compensation, EWT
& FWT for November 2007 (Group C)
December 11 – Last day
of e-Filing for 1601C,
1601E, 1601F, & 1602 – Withholding return on
compensation, EWT
& FWT for November 2007 (Group B)
Editor's Take
After most
tempers have calmed down, this
space would like to offer its sober comment on last politico-military
adventure at the Manila Peninsula, where on 29 November Senator Antonio
Trillanes IV, Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim and a few dozen supporters
barricaded themselves after walking out of a Makati court.
Though the would-be “junta” succumbed to overwhelming military force shortly after calling on the military and the people to mobilize and oust President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, no one can surely say this will be the last of such exploits.
Private quarters were quick to voice concern about the impact of the Manila Peninsula affair on the attractiveness of the country as an investment and tourist destination. Yet for all the smoke, sound and emotional drama generated, the so-called “power grab” barely rocked share prices or the value of the peso, both of which closed that day on a strong and vibrant note.
“The reputation of our country will suffer,” observed Sergio Ortiz-Luis, president of the Philippine Exporters Confederation and Employers Confederation of the Philippines. Henry Schumacher, executive vice president of the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, did not see any long-term effects but said such incidents does not help the Philippines’ image.
The country’s economic czars, on the other hand, remain upbeat. Finance Secretary Margarito Teves mentioned that effect of the latest politico-military adventurism will not affect the economy, which is “still picking up.” This sentiment is echoed by Augusto Santos, the acting director general of the National Economic and Development Authority, who explained that the economy is not only stable but “still growing”.
What has gone largely unnoticed by the public eye, are the results of the Global Competitiveness Report issued by the recent World Economic Forum. The survey of 131 countries put the Philippines in 71st place, behind civil war-torn Sri Lanka (70) and non-capitalist i.e. non-“free market” Vietnam (68). The Global Competitiveness Report tracks the attractiveness of a country’s investment climate. Over these results, we are deeply concerned.
“The country’s good economic fundamentals—low interest and inflation rates, strong fiscal and monetary situation, and the strong peso—will enable us to handle this kind of temporary disturbance in our economy,” says Finance Secretary Teves. And while SMEs can bank on his word, we must assert that factors such as good governance and transparency must form part of our equation for success.
The government has sent a strong signal that the “rule of law” will prevail. Whether we get too much or too little of “law” remains another question. Let us hope for a speedy and equitable resolution to our nation’s political difficulties so that the SME Community might enjoy the fruits of their investments and labor whilst contributing to the common good in a climate without fear for the security of our lives and our livelihood.
PS: Photo courtesy of Roy Cobilla, Business Mirror
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The Voice of SMEs
World Economic Forum's 2007-2008
report for Best Countries for Global
Business, a good indicator for SMEs?
