Small Business Blog from Atlantic Canada

I think the answer lies in speculators and hedge funds. They are no longer buying (using debt) futures and forwards as they used to. Did this cause the increase in demand in the first place? Did these funds create an artificial demand? I find it quite hard to believe demand for crude from actual users (i.e. those individuals and businesses who actually take delivery of the asset in a forward or a futures contract) just slid off the cliff in less than three weeks.

The decision to undertake a project must be taken only after:
1. You are clear about the project objectives; the objectives must further the strategic objectives of the business.
2. You develop a business case for undertaking the project; i.e. the benefits must outweigh the costs
3. You are clear on the project deliverables, and
4. You have stakeholder buy-in

So far the financial crisis has centered around mortgages and mortgage backed assets. As the current historical crisis unfolds and gobbles up respected Wall Street investment banks - here is a question to ponder. Will private equity companies be next?

There seems to be an aura around “project management” and “project managers” - at least in Atlantic Canada. Some people tend to think of project management as an exotic discipline. They think they need to slave away and chip at its various layers for a long period of time before they can be considered a project manager. Well, it does not help that one of the requirements for a PMP is a minimum three year (4,500 hours) experience to take the exam.