We all support substituting sustainable electricity sources for fossil fired fuel power plants. It makes sense for our children’s future. We chew the air in the GTA, you cannot really breathe it.

A recent article in the Globe & Mail (Gwyn Morgan, April 30^th , admittedly an energy patch guy) cites the numerous, expensive government policy initiatives in Europe and North America which have been scaled back or dropped due to ineffective results. Note this is about results, not the substitution notion. Whether in Spain or Germany, the USA or Ontario; grants, feed-in-tariffs, local content rules and other subsidies all have failed as yet to significantly drive more sustained rates of substitution, more permanent jobs and almost certainly ensured higher costs of electricity for both residential and business users.

Did governments try too hard to drive jobs as well as get their green merit badge, all at the same time, only to distort an important technology shift and perhaps in fact slow the uptake in sustainable electricity resources?  If we’re to convert to electrically powered vehicles to drastically reduce dependence on the internal combustion engine (and get back to breathable air) the price of electricity has to make that conversion feasible. We are market driven animals after all.  And we still demand the conversion to sustainable  energy sources in North America and abroad. It can be done with intelligent government policy not bandwagon thinking in developed and developing jurisdictions. As it’s a long term conversion project, the policies and programs have to make sense through periods of both economic adversity and prosperity in order to allow continuity of planning.  Not easy but doable.

John Bielby

This major innovation support program for small and medium (SME) businesses,  appears to be on a soon-to-be-gone watch.  In fact, the CRA agency which administers it has been cutting its pay-outs with vigour since 2010. While the new( in 2011) Director General, Susan Betts, has stated that it’s being tightened up, in fact the intent is clearly to reduce the cost of the program and especially target overly ambitious support submissions from which an industry of consultants has taken significant income in the past.  Clearly the notion that 20 -30 % of the payout sums would end up in the hands of the consultants who help companies access the program by preparing the lengthy submissions is a flaw in the use of these funds.

Yet some of the recent recommendations of the Jenkins Report dealing with revising the overall federal approach to innovation support should be of concern. For example, a centralized funding agency to direct the government spending for innovation, essentially picking winners and losers, or worse, being politically influenced is worrisome.

Another recommendation, to link government procurement with supporting innovation, while sounding wholesome, has the potential to have procurement of items in government spending based upon degrees of innovation claimed rather the value for each dollar spent.  Yet the notion of assisting high-growth, innovation firms access risk capital in later stages of early growth where there are gaps now, could be of real benefit.

It’s a difficult path to chose from for the federal government and the Minister for State for Science and Technology, Gary Goodyear has indicted that it will be chosen before 2012 is over.  Let’s trust there will still be some realistic program left for companies responsibly accessing SR & ED now, even if they aren’t the next RIM.

John Bielby

Would governments be as despised by their citizens if they actually helped their citizens and tried to meet or exceed their expectations? Instead of continually cutting services (and while I certainly don’t mind eliminating the gravy) it may be more appropriate and required to find ways to increase the revenue and improve the cash flow. We are starting to see cities and municipalities who are running out of cash declaring bankruptcy. You just can’t keep running on debt -- you need to increase the cash flow to meet the required expenses.

How do you get business growth in today’s turbulent times?  With any successful organization it starts with engaged employees who strive each and every day to meet or exceed their clients / customer expectations. These employees create a positive environment for the customers creating a clientele that is more likely to return and purchase more services or product. These same engaged employees will work to meet all corporate objectives and deliver improved results because they clearly understand what is expected of them and the benefits of delivering superior results. 

Procter and Gamble, West Jet, Apple all get it. Success is delivered through their employees and plenty of leadership time is focused on empowering these employees to improve results and create a positive consumer experience generating ever increasing cash flow.  What are your thoughts on the importance of employees with respect to business growth?

 Let me know at @mdick54

Mike Dick

How do you get business growth in today’s turbulent times?  Is the business world capable of managing the tide of social change that is beginning to take hold of the global agenda?

Many governments are losing control and several countries in Europe and the Middle East are in turmoil as they struggle to meet the demands of a more engaged population that are not accepting the status quo or reluctant to make the necessary changes required to offset the collapse of their respective economies.

Even within North America “Occupy Wall Street” is starting to show the large distrust that exists between the vocal representatives of the 99% and big corporations. Given this growing unrest what should business, organizations and yes even governments do to make sure they survive and change to deal with the social and vocal upheaval that is taking place throughout the world.

I firmly believe that for any organization to succeed it boils down to three fundamental areas of focus that leaders must ensure are embedded in their organizational culture. Cash flow management, employee engagement and client/customer satisfaction. West Jet gets it -- Air Canada doesn’t.  Apple gets it -- RIM doesn’t. Where would you start within your organization?

Let me know at @mdick54

Mike Dick