A growing number of business professionals are seeking a career in charities or social enterprise but they are often unprepared for the culture clash. Here’s what you need to know to make a smooth transition.

Stress in the workplace costs businesses millions of dollars each year. Now research is casting light on why some people are better at dealing with it, and how we can train others to become more resilient.

A new report which reveals the reasons for the fall in mining productivity holds some valuable insights for other sectors.

Working with local communities is different to dealing with other types of customers or stakeholders. However the ability to engage with them and win their support is a valuable skill that offers opportunities to generate both profit and social value, says social entrepreneurship expert Dr Lance Newey.

Do X-Politicians come back as company directors?

There is life after politics, but is it in business? When politicians join company boards in Australia, the share price is more likely to drop than when a non-politician is appointed, says UQ Business School research. Don’t shareholders value the expertise that our former leaders bring to the boardroom? Or perhaps it’s a vote of confidence in our democracy?

Everyone knows the first thing you should do when starting a business is to write a business plan. Or is it? According to one school of thought, business plans are a waste of time because they are based on untested hypotheses. The lean startup movement has turned conventional business thinking on its head in an attempt to make the whole process of starting a company less risky.

‘Greed is good' was the theme of business in the 80s, but more recently the GFC has led to calls for business to rediscover its moral purpose. Now a group of worldwide leaders including Sir Richard Branson have come together to launch the B Team, which aims to 'put people and planet alongside profit'. Can business save the world? And should we all be working towards more altruistic goals?

While companies in general have been slow to embrace sustainability, some corporates and smaller companies have placed it at the heart of their business and are now using it to develop new markets and secure their long-term future. Others can follow their example by starting with a few simple steps.

Some things don’t change – including human nature and the basic principles of business. These ten best sellers have a timeless appeal and are recommended reading for managers at all levels.