Changing landscapes

There are new rules in a vast array of business interests. These are a few books that should help explain the changes

What is Sarbanes-Oxley?

The title basically tells the whole story. This compact volume sets out to give you all the information you need to successfully comply with the new rules that the Sarbanes-Oxley Act has introduced for so many firms. It’s a useful overview in plain English and also includes checklists of requirements so that nothing is overlooked. Some of the basics covered include:

• Guidelines for ensuring that a company’s policies, procedures, systems and controls are Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) compliant,
• An explanation of the new disclosure regulation, Regulation G,
• Management certification responsibilities — and non-compliance penalties — under sections 302, 404, and 906, and
• Techniques for modifying existing control systems and programs to meet new SOX specifications.

By Guy P. Lander. Published by McGraw-Hill. For more information visit www.books.mcgraw-hill.com.

Does IT Matter?

According to the author of Does IT Matter? Information technology and the corrosion of competitive advantage, IT doesn’t matter as much as it used to. Essentially the author, Nicholas G. Carr, argues that the importance of IT has decreased as core technologies have become available to a wider scope of companies. Like many other infrastructure technologies, IT is now becoming simply a cost of doing business rather than a competitive advantage. His argument states that this change is natural and necessary, and ultimately good for the economy and society.

Carr does accept that with these changes comes a need to revise our approach to IT management — moving from a focus on innovation and investment to cost control and risk management.

The book expands upon a controversial Harvard Business Review article of the same name.

By Nicholas G. Carr. Published by Harvard Business School Press. For more information visit www.nicholasgcarr.com/doesitmatter.html.

Managing Human Rights at Work

Workplace human rights issues are many and varied and aren’t always well understood by the managers and supervisors who have to address them day to day. Managing Human Rights at Work: 101 practical tips to prevent human rights disasters is designed to help management professionals deal with workplace human rights issues, avoid human rights disasters and build a welcoming workplace. The 101 practical tips include real case studies to address real problems. The advice applies to interactions with employees and customers in any business.

The book includes chapters on employment equity, harassment, language and male-dominated workplaces (among other topics).

By Stephen Hammond. Published by Harassment Solutions Inc. For more information visit www.stephenhammond.ca.

Top