In This Issue

Read our exclusive cover story titled CFO “cheat sheet” - what are the 5 crucial financial focus areas? by Rowan De Klerk, CEO, The CFO Centre, plus a host of other topical management articles written by professionals, consultants and academics.

Engineers have long drawn inspiration from nature. Examples of such biomimicry include passive ventilation systems modelled after termite mounds and wind turbine blades with scalloped edges, inspired by humpback whale flippers, which reduce drag dramatically.

Open source software has transformed the way we develop and use technology, facilitating a collaborative approach that allows developers to access, modify and distribute code, often without any obligation to pay licence fees to an upstream licensor.

In South Africa's shifting labour landscape, union representation is being tested and pushed to new limits. The case of AFGRI Animal Feeds (A Division of PhilAfrica Foods (Pty) Limited) v National Union of Metalworkers South Africa (NUMSA) and Others (CCT 188/22) [2024] ZACC 13 has sparked a significant debate challenging the traditional scope of union activities and raising critical questions about legal jurisdiction and worker representation. This case serves as a pivotal moment in understanding the complexities of union eligibility across diverse industries.

One of the greatest inventors in human history was Thomas Edison, often called the “Wizard of Menlo Park.” In fact, one of his innovations is used to illustrate individuals coming up with new ideas - the lightbulb. Similar bulbs were in use but unreliable and he came along and changed how things were done, making bulbs less pricey and more reliable.

Can machines think? Turing posed this question in his 1950 paper "Computing Machinery and Intelligence" while working at the University of Manchester. In his paper, Alan Turing introduced the world to The Turing test, which he originally called "The Imitation Game" - a test of a machine's ability to exhibit intelligent behaviour equivalent to or indistinguishable from a human's.

Read our exclusive cover story titled Quantum + AI – could this synergy spark machine thinking into consciousness? by Darren Lentz, Senior Manager and Faheem Ballim, Manager, KPMG South Africa, plus a host of other topical management articles written by professionals, consultants and academics.

Life can be unpredictable and challenging, and there may come a time when you find yourself unable to repay money you owe someone. Ignoring the issue or failing to make arrangements can lead to legal action against you, which often involves receiving a summons.

It’s no secret that business founders, entrepreneurs, and executives - those in the C-suite - face constant challenges and concerns in their demanding and responsible roles. Some thrive on being “always on”, concocting a solution and getting buy-in from the team to make things happen. However, a large proportion feels plagued by these challenges and concerns.

New research shows that sustainability and technology are driving changes in the accounting and finance profession. A significant part of the work we do is about looking at trends within the profession and using them to discern what the future of accounting looks like, to best prepare our members to thrive within it.