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	John S. McCallum
	John S. McCallum is Professor of Finance at the I.H. Asper School of Business, University of Manitoba. His column is a regular feature of Ivey Business Journal.
	Articles by this Author:
	THE CANADIAN DOLLAR: WHAT BUSINESS NEEDS by John S. McCallum To dollarize or not to dollarize? More... ADVOCATING PRODUCTIVITY by John S. McCallum Productivity matters, and now's the time for all good corporate leaders to speak out about it. More... TENNYSON ON MANAGEMENT by John S. McCallum He'll never be considered a management guru, but executives can learn a lot from this Victorian poet. More... BUBBLE, BUBBLEOLOGY AND BUBBLEOLOGISTS by John S. McCallum Bubbles are elastic too. More... VIEWPOINT: THINKING ABOUT WHAT COULD GO WRONG by John S. McCallum It may be the best of times now, but a strong dose of economic bad news could turn it into the worst of times, says regular contributor and University of Manitoba economist John S. McCallum. What could go wrong that would tilt the high-flying Canadian economy? For starters, there is the potential serious impact of a U.S. slowdown and debt-burdened citizens and businesses. These and other not-so-cheerful scenarios - and their likelihood, are discussed, as usual, in his distinctive writing style, by Professor McCallum. More... THE NEW ECONOMY: PREPARING FOR A SLOWDOWN by John S. McCallum So far, says regular contributor and economist John McCallum, the "new" in new economy has meant stronger and longer growth, with more jobs, lower inflation and interest rates and more investor and consumer spending. But, warns McCallum, don't bet against the possibility that that the downside of the new economy will be as grim as the upside has been fun. A slowdown, even a recession, may be closer than many people think. More... ECONOMIC FORECASTS: EXECUTIVES BEWARE by John S. McCallum Economic forecasts: Executive beware. More... MANAGING IN THE NEW ECONOMY EVOLUTION OR REVOLUTION? by John S. McCallum The New Economy produces, but it also seduces, especially many of us into believing that managing a New Economy company is substantially and substantively different than leading an Old Economy company. Not so, says regular contributor and University of Manitoba economist John McCallum. Any way you look at it, he writes running a knowledge company is still a matter of running people, employees, customers and suppliers. More... AS THE ECONOMY TURNS: TEN QUESTIONS FOR EXECUTIVES by John S. McCallum A serious economic slowdown may not be far off, and there is no better time for executives to prepare for it than the present. "Lamenting what was not done when times were ideal takes an executive nowhere. Prosperity always lies in doing what can be done now." In this article, the author lists ten questions that business leaders should ask themselves. Facing these questions will help them address the crucial issues that will prepare them to weather the downturn, and mark the beginning of the road back to prosperity. More... ADAPT OR DIE by John S. McCallum Dinosaurs are an apt and widely used metaphor today. After all, if a firm can't or won't adapt, it's straight to the dustbin of business oblivion. A business enterprise is not totally dissimilar from a dinosaur, ignore rapidly changing circumstances, and a leader authors his or her company's demise. Adapt to rapid changes better than your competitors and you'll make great strides. Outlining suggestions that will help managers adapt to today's volatile, fast-paced environment, the author quotes no less a change authority than Charles Darwin to illustrate what the real imperative is for a business leader today. "It is not the strongest species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the ones most responsive to change." More... STOCK MARKET TROUBLE: FIVE BOOKS FOR EXECUTIVES by John S. McCallum Chaos and catastrophe are tyrannizing the stock market these days, but managers and executives can ill afford to be swept up into the prevailing emotions of the day. Rather than becoming frustrated, fearful or even immobilized by the events of the day, From these books, the author says, comes a picture of the emerging business conditions in an over-heated stock market, and a sense of how to manage in volatile times. More... MANAGEMENT AND LITERATURE: TWO BOOKS THAT SHOW THE WAY by John S. McCallum As this Ivey Business Journal regular contributor points out, "the difference between success and failure is marginal, and executives need all the help they can get." Literature may be an unlikely source for an executive seeking to establish a sustainable competitive advantage, but as the author also points out, "the link between literature and successfully running an enterprise is not as far-fetched as it may first appear." The reason is that managing successfully means managing people, and one of the best sources of insight into human behaviour and sound judgment is good literature. In this article, the author suggest two excellent books, whose wisdom and observations are invaluable for CEO or manager today. More... THE NEW ECONOMY: PREPARING FOR A SLOWDOWN: A REVISIT by John S. McCallum Regular contributor John McCallum saw it coming. One year ago, in the September/October Ivey Business Journal, the University of Manitoba economist told executives how to steel themselves against the coming meltdown. In this revisit, Professor McCallum is anything but optimistic, and he again urges executives to remain firm and not be seduced by the belief that there will be a quick return to heady days of 1999 and 2000. "Think hard before you let this rosy outlook dictate how you run your enterprise, he urges readers. 'There are too many issues for my comfort." More... MANAGING IN THE AFTERMATH by John S. McCallum Nothing can fully prepare an executive to manage in the aftermath of events as horrifying as those that occurred on September 11. Yet it is incumbent on management to be prepared for such an event, and the thoroughness of their preparations and how they are carried out in the wake of a tragedy can make all the difference in their company's survival. Leaders must be visible, communicate openly and confidently, and generally create an environment that enables employees to get on with the firm's business. More... VIEWPOINT: GOOD JUDGMENT HUNTING by John S. McCallum Research, analysis and strategy may be the indispensable tools for today's executives, but in the end making the right decisions often comes down to judgment. Quite simply, good executives have good judgments and bad executives have bad judgments. And like leaders, good judgment can be developed or at least improved. Leaders hoping to improve their judgment would do well to read this article. More... JOHN PIERPOINT MORGAN ON ECONOMIC CONDITIONS by John S. McCallum It was not for lack of insight into economics that J.P. Morgan rose to become a colossus of capitalism, and in this article, regular contributor John McCallum distills Morgan's insights into pithy advice for Ivey Business Journal readers. Free markets, competitive taxes and sensible regulation are just some of the economic principles that Morgan articulated and advocated. This recovery, professor McCallum observes, may take longer to develop than is popularly believed. But adhering to the principles and wisdom of one of the world's greatest capitalists will ensure that the recovery is a smooth and lasting one. More... THE NEW ECONOMY: WHERE TO FROM HERE, AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT by John S. McCallum The economic picture is brightening a little, at least in Canada, but, says regular contributor John McCallum, the sun isn't likely to break through anytime soon. In fact, we're likely to take a few steps back before a recovery becomes fully entrenched. More... GOVERNING THE INVESTMENT OF PENSION FUND ASSETS by John S. McCallum Organizations and employees have a lot at stake in their pension funds. Strict and prudent governance of a fund will allow both parties to sleep well, even in today's volatile investment environment. More... PUTTING DEFLATION ON THE RADAR by John S. McCallum The spectre of deflation haunts every executive, and while the likelihood is small, every executive should prepare for the day when deflation may tyrannize economic activity. More... THE SOCRATIC DIRECTOR by John S. McCallum Due diligence may once in a while may fail to uncover improprieties or incompetent management, but the Socratic Method will never fail to expose any wrongdoing. More... ALFRED P. SLOAN JR: MUST READING FOR EXECUTIVES by John S. McCallum As regular IBJ contributor John McCallum notes, Bill Gates has called My Life With General Motors "the most inspiring business book I've read." Here's why. More... MANAGING IN THE COMING ECONOMY by John S. McCallum This is the time of the year when all good managers need to step back and look ahead. Here's what you need to look at to succeed, according to this regular contributor. More... ONE HUNDRED ARTICLES AND COUNTING by John S. McCallum Looking back can indeed be instructive, particularly when you look at the advice this regular contributor has offered in the 100 columns he has written for Ivey Business Journal. More... BASEBALL AND MANAGEMENT by John S. McCallum Good management stands out always and everywhere, even in the sport of baseball, which is the only sport in which a leader is called a manager (and not for nothing). More... THINKING ABOUT HIGH INTEREST RATES by John S. McCallum With practically zero-cost money, there's only one way for interest rates to go. This regulator contributor knows what a manger must feel like - and should consider doing. More... MANAGING TIPPING POINTS by John S. McCallum Spreading a virus, and spreading it right, has become a skill that every CEO needs to have. Really? Well, read the book, or, better yet, read this article. More... SOME THOUGHTS FROM AN MBA PROFESSOR ON A SUCCESSFUL EXECUTIVE CAREER by John S. McCallum MBA graduates would do well to follow these words of genuine wisdom as they make their way up the organizational ladder. More... THE SMARTEST GUYS IN THE ROOM: MUST READING WITH MUST-LEARN LESSONS FOR CEOS by John S. McCallum The scandalous behaviour of some former Enron executives may be instructive after all. After all, what better examples are there of how executives definitely should not behave. More... THE ECONOMY: HOPE FOR THE BEST; BRACE FOR LESS by John S. McCallum As the other end of the economic looking glass becomes murky, managers will find some clarity and wisdom in the words of this regular Ivey Business Journal contributor. More... YOU CAN’T BEAT IT, SO HEDGE IT by John S. McCallum Divining the direction of a currency is the supreme challenge for any executive. But, offers this regular contributor, why even try when you can just hedge your guesses. More... BLINK: ANOTHER GOOD READ FOR EXECUTIVES BY MALCOLM GLADWELL by John S. McCallum There is a lot be said for snap decisions, especially when they are shaped by that great knowledge bank in our minds, or material that we've been storing for years. More... DIRECTORS: THE QUALITIES THAT MATTER by John S. McCallum Corporate failures and scandals have highlighted how so few directors have the requisite qualities to be effective. The qualities this contributor describes are absolutes. More... ON BULLSHIT IS NOT BULLSHIT by John S. McCallum No, uh.fooling. You've got to read this article More... PREPARING FOR AN UNCERTAIN ECONOMY by John S. McCallum They're neither the "best of." nor the "worst of times these days but managers must be vigilant and prepared for certain small curves that events may occasionally throw at them More... THE BOND MARKET: WORTH EXECUTIVE ATTENTION by John S. McCallum The behavior of bonds may mystify and even confound some, but not this regular contributor to the Ivey Business Journal. Says Professor McCallum unabashedly: "I just plain like the bond market." Better still, he understands it better than many, which is why managers trying to divine what impact the bond market might have on their enterprise should read this article. More... THE PRUDENT EXECUTIVE by John S. McCallum It's amazing just how far an old saying can travel: It's better for a business leader to be safe than sorry. More... EXECUTIVES BEWARE: CANADIANS ARE NOT SAVING by John S. McCallum Just why should we be concerned that Canadians are not saving? Only because of what it can portend. More... IN WAR AND BUSINESS, IT'S THE TERRAIN THAT MATTERS by John S. McCallum Add the dictum, "Know the terrain" to "Know your customer" and you've got the two most important principles that a manager needs to follow to compete successfully. At first, and perhaps even later on, the playing field may not be level, but managers who consider the observations of this Ivey Business Journal regular contributor will surely be able to compete with any player, under any conditions. More... HISTORY DOES THE EXECUTIVE SUITE by John S. McCallum You don't need a weatherman to tell you which way the wind is blowing, but reading a good history book - or just reading history - can help an executive make the right decision. More... EXECUTIVES AND THE RECESSION by John S. McCallum The tried and true principles for running a business may never be a better friend for a CEO than during a recession. More... LOOKING FOR CLUES ON THE ECONOMY by John S. McCallum Taking the pulse of the economy is one of the trickiest tasks for an executive. The six guidelines suggested by this regular IBJ contributor are sure to make the task much less onerous. More... SLOGGING OUR WAY TO RECOVERY by John S. McCallum It may be a cautionary tale, but a recovery that signals that the road ahead will be a long slog filled with fits and starts will try the patience of most managers. Here are some tried and true coping mechanisms. More... OUTLIERS: MALCOLM GLADWELL DOES IT AGAIN by John S. McCallum This regular IBJ contributor takes a page or two from Malcolm Gladwell's latest book and offers valuable tips that will help managers understand why they fail - and success. More... SOME THOUGHTS FOR EXECUTIVES ON THE ECONOMY AND ECONOMIC FORECASTING by John S. McCallum . More... THE BLACK SWAN: A TERRIFIC READ FOR EXECUTIVES by John S. McCallum When this regular contributor recommends a certain book, executives can be assured that they will derive value from the book. Even if it is a black swan. More... LESSONS FOR EXECUTIVES FROM THE FINANCIAL CRISIS OF 2008 by John S. McCallum Regular contributor John McCallum offers seven lessons that the chastened and even the untainted could learn from the credit crisis. More... THE GREAT DEPRESSION – NOT by John S. McCallum We interrupt this recession to bring you an important - and dare we say, welcome - announcement: We are not entering a depression. More... BACK TO THE PRESENT: THE DERIVATIVES AND ASSET-BACKED SECURITIES MESS; SOUND ADVICE FROM 1995 by John S. McCallum Our regular contributor goes back to the future to find that the same culprits are rattling today's credit markets. More... OF FRIENDS, BULLPENS AND EXECUTIVES by John S. McCallum In business or baseball, a manger needs to know that when times get tough, he or she can go to the bullpen. More... THE ECONOMY: ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS by John S. McCallum tbd More... EXECUTIVES SHOULD NOT BE INDIFFERENT TO THIS TIME IS DIFFERENT by John S. McCallum Executives should not be indifferent to This time is different More... ON BEING AN ETHICAL EXECUTIVE by John S. McCallum On being an ethical executive More... DENIAL, FEAR, GREED AND PRIDE: THE FOUR HORSEMEN OF THE EXECUTIVE APOCALYPSE by John S. McCallum If you've always thought that a lack of smarts assured a CEO of a date with purgatory, think again. This regular IBJ contributor has found the characteristics that really doom a CEO. More... EXECUTIVES, THE ECONOMY AND A 17TH-CENTURY CATHOLIC PHILOSOPHER by John S. McCallum tbd More... OF CEOS AND ACCOUNTING by John S. McCallum Too many executives think they can leave accounting to the CFO. That's wrong writes this regular IBJ contributor, who urges CEOs to get with the program right away. More... IN BUSINESS, THERE'S NO SUBSTITUTE FOR THE RIGHT DIAGNOSIS by John S. McCallum No less of a leader and an authority than Alfred P. Sloan Jr. had the solution for getting it right. ItA¢â,¬â,¢s the right diagnosis. More... CHANCES OF BIG ECONOMIC TROUBLE ARE LOW BUT NOT ZERO by John S. McCallum As far as this Ivey Business Journal regular contributor can see, it’s clear economic sailing ahead. Almost. More... OPTIONS DEVELOPMENT IS CRUCIAL TO GOOD DECISION MAKING by John S. McCallum Look before you leap before making a decision. Which is why an executive would do well to list his or her options before taking the plunge. More... DEALING WITH THE CANADIAN DOLLAR by John S. McCallum These days, managing smart means managing your currency strategy as much as your marketing strategy. More... SIGNS THAT YOUR BUSINESS IS HEADED FOR TROUBLE by John S. McCallum Among other things, getting "ahead of the curve" will allow a manager to see the warning signs before they suddenly appear. Here is excellent advice to help see the signs as they are taking shape. More...

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