Bankwest survey finds white-collar workers are online savvy

A BANKWEST report has found corporate employees and professional services workers are among the most connected Australians online.

Bankwest retail executive general manager Andrew Whitechurch

A BANKWEST online behaviour report has found corporate employees and professional services workers are among the most connected Australians online, with 94.6 per cent and 94.4 per cent respectively classifying themselves as either extremely internet-reliant, often or always online.

Within the corporate sector, 37.5 per cent classified themselves as an online critic, where they took part in filtering, rating, voting, commenting or endorsing others and their content, or they created communities and content.

The report revealed content marketing — offering information that is useful to the reader, rather than sales-focused — was the most effective way for brands to market themselves online, engage their customers and encourage purchases. More than 83 per cent of respondents rated content marketing as an effective form of online marketing.

“Australian audiences are becoming more discerning when it comes to online marketing,” Bankwest retail executive general manager Andrew Whitechurch says.

“This trend is even stronger among executive business leaders who look for relevant, informative and useful marketing information.”

Financial services lead the way in online interactions, with Australians choosing to interact with their bank and superannuation fund primarily online.

Global top 25

GLOBAL talent, retirement and health solutions company Aon Hewitt has released its top companies for leaders list for the year, with US-based General Electric and IBM taking first and second, and Indian company Hindustan Unilever third.

No Australian companies were listed, though many of the top 25 have a significant presence in Australia.

The Aon Hewitt study evaluates and recognises what it takes to execute best-in-class leadership and talent management internationally, taking strength-of-leadership practices and culture, leader development on a global scale, alignment of business and leadership strategy, business performance and company reputation into account.

Aon Hewitt’s analysis found top companies shared five key characteristics in their leadership approach: assessment of leaders’ competencies and values; awareness of strengths and weaknesses; resilience; engaging leadership; and sustainability.

Optimism on rise

A MARKS Sattin survey of 610 accounting, finance and insurance professionals has found people are 38 per cent more optimistic about the economy than last November.

Marks Sattin director Ieuan Williams says with a change in federal government playing on people’s minds then, the survey found people less pessimistic and more confident about the nation’s economic outlook.

But the survey found 31 per cent of accounting, insurance and finance employees were more optimistic about the economic future than they have been for five years.

Skillsoft in cloud

CLOUD solution and big data expert Skillsoft hosts three forums in December to showcase the impact of information technology transformation on talent development and skills.

Skillsoft Asia Pacific general manager Glenn Nott says IT departments are competitive business opportunities because of emerging technologies, particularly cloud opportunities.

The forums will offer the latest insights into cloud solutions and how big data is affecting the delivery of IT services and technology in Australia and New Zealand, how this compares across Asia-Pacific, staff shortages, skills gaps and knowledge leaks in IT, and how technology is being used to improve performance.

The first forum is in Melbourne on Monday, followed by Brisbane on Tuesday and Sydney on Wednesday.

More: [e-mail].

Trio talk women

ADVERTISING analyst Jane Caro, author Catherine Fox and Sky News presenter Tracey Spicer will discuss women in leadership at the South Australian chapter of the Committee for Economic Development of Australia final meeting for the year.

The trio will discuss women in leadership roles, media participation and how their careers have evolved.

The event will be held at the Hilton Hotel, Adelaide, on Monday, December 8.