More management lessons from rugby

Don't let the tears in your eyes from the Springbok loss to Australia blind you to the valuable management lessons to be learnt from that match.

The birth of management

Those who have chosen a career in management, especially in the noble profession of agriculture, are among the exalted few.

Management lessons from golf

How can you and your co-workers develop as much passion for work as golfers have for golf? What is it that motivates golfers? The fact is, there are many business...

Feeding cows

The stage of lactation, genetic predisposition, and salt all influence the cows' dry matter intake, writes Malcolm Stewart-Burger.

The joys of building a family business

Where there's common vision and shared labour between members of a family business, there's no greater meeting of minds and no greater family union.

Is your family prepared to run a business together?

Owners want good financial returns and dividends. Managers want good salaries and the freedom to manage and grow the business. Families want peace, harmony and love. It could be a...

Education makes a winning nation!

Unless the private sector gets involved in education, we'll never make it as a winning nation. But farmers, having special relationships with their employees, have a unique opportunity and role...

Your most important business decision

Recruiting and selecting staff members isn't rocket science, but thorough planning is needed to make the right decision.

The job advert – don’t blow it

We all know it's the people who make the difference between a good and bad business. So why do so many employers make such a mess of their recruitment process?

How would you like to work for these guys?

A job advert may be aimed at the job seeker, but it also provides an insight into the competence, attitude and ways of a business and its management. And the...

Ayoba spirit Let’s keep it alive!

Behaviour changes attitude, and the powerful tool of sport, with its magic of creating common vision and purpose, brings this about.

Do you have what it takes to become a ‘great’ manager?

‘Inborn talents do predispose certain people to becoming more successful than others, but each of the five indispensable talents of a great manager can be honed and developed.’

So how’s your service delivery down on the farm?

'How much time and disruption is there in your life due to your own poor service delivery, and how much is it costing you?

Nothing is certain but death, taxes & risk

'A crucial part of any manager's job is to recognise risk and manage it. Here's how it's done.'

Exporting farmers must be forex experts

'If you're an exporter, [foreign exchange] is one of your top risks, and yet again and again I come across farmers who pay scant attention to it.'

Wars, conflict – it’s all business

“Dudley's prices are ridiculous,” said Joe, “I can buy better quality animals at a lot less, including transport, from Solly in Middelberg.” “Rubbish,” responded Dudley, “Our animals are younger and...

Can we farmers learn from the success of kulula.com?

'It's simple, really. The answer is computer technology, and an excellent analysis and understanding of the difference between fixed and variable cost.'

There are no shortcuts – get yourself trained

'You must know the difference between fixed and variable costs, and understand the vital concept of marginal cost and income… and it's really a piece of cake.'

‘Budgetese’: do you speak my language?

'Here we were both speaking English, but without understanding each other. It's often like this in business too, and it's a mess.'

Inevitable, inaccurate, but vital fruit budgets

'A reasonably accurate crop estimate is an essential step in the annual management cycle... and with fruit we seem to get it hopelessly wrong...'

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Managing for Profit