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The future of the Australian economy is considered in the year 2000, with focus on the need for business people to have new ideas in order to create a thriving business environment.

Rosemary Herceg and Tim Flattery of Pophouse, a leading social forecasting corporation, interviewed General Norman H. Schwarzkopf about leadership and other topics. Schwarzkopf believes leaders are neither born nor molded, but they all share competence, integrity, and character. Schwarzkopf also discusses the issues of running for president, drugs, and the lessons he hopes he has passed on to his family.

A description is presented of how marketing may be carried out in the future, in 2010. The reinvention of marketing and the establishment of marketing as a science are ideas which are put forward.

The key elements of business success are considered. They include courage, humour, honour and integrity.

TiVo Inc. is a company that represents both the promises and pitfalls of innovation. The personal video recorder is an innovative product and customers love it, but the technology is not catching on as quickly as was predicted. If TiVo can hit its target of one million customers, it will have the potential to become a great company.

Deviance is the source of innovation, and businesses should take advantages of deviant opportunities as weird creations have a history of moving into mass popular culture. However, determining which deviant ideas will move beyond fringe groups and become mainstream fads can be difficult.

Nike has created a program called Nike Goddess to change the company's strategy toward communicating with women and marketing its athletic shoes and apparel. Nike Goddess has less emphasis on superstar athletes and focuses on appreciation for fitness and active lifestyles.

Article discusses ways in which Croatia is rebuilding its economy and promoting a culture of innovation. It has adopted a simplified tax system, improved its university programs to meet international standards, introduced intensive business management programs, emphasized employee training and leadership programs, established savings banks to provide affordable housing loans, and demands innovation and high quality standards from the industrial sector. Western economies could learn from Croatia's simple, common-sense approach.

In order to succeed in the music business, executives need to hone in on innovation and apply it to everything in their lives. Now, more than ever, the industry is becoming cautious about the moves it takes, feeling as though focus groups are needed to gauge results before new moves are made.

Australian airline Qantas is suspending maintenance workers who are fighting a wage freeze, but an innovation in salary structure would benefit the company more. Paying the maintenance staff more for their vital work and implementing salary increases from the bottom up would lead to a happier, more productive workforce.

The article discusses inovation, which the authors maintain should be assessed by the lack of a need to spend on promotion. Innovation in 2001 is reviewed.

Issues are presented concerning the competitive disadvantages which occur when business enterprises resort to mass sackings during periods of economic downturn. The importance of retaining innovation momentum during recessions is discussed.

Political television advertisements are rarely interesting, but those for the 2001 federal election in Australia are terrible and boring. The hope for the future is that they should get better as future leaders will have grown up more media aware.

Issues concerning the causes of Ansett Airlines' financial collapse are discussed. The importance of having a long-term vision and strategy and analysing market intelligence and costs before making an investment in innovation is stressed.

Issues are presented concerning the difficulties which are faced by executives tasked with business development or innovation. The need for innovators to be given time to consider their ideas is discussed.

There has been very little innovation in Australian television over recent years. This may change with 'Fat Cow Motel,' a multi-platform drama to be broadcast on air, online, on radio and to mobile phones. It is being developed through Hoodlum Entertainment's A$1.7 million financing deal with Austar and the Pacific Film and Television Commission.

The impact of the Internet has been enormous and the collapse of many Internet businesses has had a big impact. Although Australian business needs to learn from this, it must also go forward and continue to innovate to succeed.

Issues concerning the aims and practice of marketing of luxury cars are discussed. Novel methods of marketing such as BMW's series of short films produced by leading directors to market its cars via the internet are examined.

Issues are presented concerning the factors which can cause the failure of small businesses. The influence of a lack of scenario planning or a lack of opportunity are discussed.

Issues concerning anti-drugs campaigns are discussed. It is argued that a film-based approach is a much more effective weapon against illicit drugs than an advertising-style campaign.

Issues concerning the growth of social isolation in Australia and the impact on mental health and associated illnesses are discussed.

An interview with the online retailer Full Bloom's chief executive Emily Simpson is presented. She discusses the founding of her maternity wear business, her marketing strategy and the management of a small business.

An interview is presented with the managing director of Virgin Mobile Australia Andrew Grant. He discusses the launch of the company, the services it will provide and Virgin's personnel management policies.

Fashion designer Collette Dinnigan offers her thoughts on why her business is successful.

Online education firm Worldschool offers the best resources available as rapidly as possible, according to Chief Executive Ashley Owen. He indicates that students receive precisely the information or help they need.

Mushroom Pictures aims to establish a strong presence in the Australian market in the period to 2005, according to Chief Executive Martin Fabinyi. He highlights the importance of making films that will attract audiences.

Chakra Holdings operates from the customer level up, according to founder Mike Canizales. He aims to offer a complete personal outsourcing service, allowing wealthy people with limited time to have all their domestic tasks completed by a single organization.

Significant changes will take place soon in the way that people receive music, according to songwriter Neil Finn. He believes that there is a lot of additional margin to be gained from distributing music via the Internet.

Deepak Chopra discusses the future of the corporation. Chopra believes it is important for companies to provide a benefit for society and have profits as a result of their fulfillment of this purpose. Challenges facing companies in the 21st century include environmental, racial, economic and social.

Interviewee Julia Ross, of the Australian recruitment firm, Ross Group of Employees, discusses trends and gives forecasts for human resources management. Ross sees employees focusing more on lifestyle and desiring a higher quality of life rather than money. She also gives her forecasts for future salary packages, frequent job changes, and employer-employee relations.

Leon Nacson, writer and publisher in the field of self-empowerment, advises businesspeople to allow for relaxation and enjoyment in their lives to be healthier and more fulfilled. He recommends that they create pleasing individual work spaces, become focused yet detached, and increase group creative efforts to improve general productivity in the workplace.

Richard Osius, chief executive officer of the Bank Fund Staff Federal Credit Union, plans to have 50% of the bank's members banking online or over the telephone. Security is a main issue, and the credit union is planning several new security techniques, including eye and fingerprint recognition. Maintaining an accurate customer base is essential to providing customer service. The credit union has 40,000 members worldwide.

Rosemary Herceg and Tim Flattery interviewed Richard Neville, one of Australia's true social revolutionaries, who fought for intellectual freedom in the 1960s. Neville discusses generational differences, his involvement in socially responsible futures, the ecological and social role of corporations in society, and the role of revolutionaries in a contemporary society.

Brad Cooper, chairman and chief executive officer of FAI Home Security, plans to restore traditional values for positive social change for Australia's future, and that will be highlighted during 'National Kindness Week.' National Kindness Week is asking Australians, especially children of all ages, to think of others and do good deeds. Cooper feels that giving, as well as consuming, is important not only to the future of the general population but to the business world as a whole.

Successful Australian business leaders and managers of the future will need to adapt to the particular environment of the business and to the four factors that will create that environment. Speed refers to the pace of transactions between stakeholders. Content is the type of work performed. Structure is the relationship between stakeholders. Motivation refers to the human factor involved in speed, content, and structure.

Deals with the partnership of Toyota Motor Corp. with design and marketing company Fresh Machine to develop its Scion car brand for first-time buyers. Target market determined for the product; Features of the Scion Web site developed by Fresh Machine; Strategy used by Fresh Machine to promote the brand.

Focuses on the innovation in the marketing strategy of Continental Airlines Inc. after the terrorist attacks in the U.S. Personnel level in marketing to customers; Communication about employee retrenchments; Collaboration of the Aviation Security Act in the process of rethinking airport security.

Describes succession planning for family-owned businesses. Characteristics of innovative succession plans; Case study on succession planning; Challenges in succession planning.

Reports on Hoodlum Entertainment's plans to produce a multi-platform television drama, called 'Fat Cow Motel,' in Australia. Overview of television programming trends in the country; Hoodlum's partners in the venture; Plot of the planned television production.

Interviews Cheryl Wannell, worldwide managing director of cinema advertising company Val Morgan. Views on the financial performance of the company in 2000; Views on the role of cinema advertising in the age of digital television and the Internet; Growth targets and strategies for the company.

Interviews Peter Murphy, general manager of Australia-based jeans company Levi Strauss Australia. Challenges faced by the company in Australia; Marketing and advertising trends.

Interviews Tim Salt, national marketing director of Australia-based brewery company Lion Nathan. Changes projected for marketing in the next five to ten years as of August 25, 2000; Characteristics of effective marketing professionals.

Interviews Alison Dean, the soon-to-be-ex-managing director of eBay Inc. Views about the future of global markets; Role of eBay in facilitating relationships; Sound business models of electronic commerce companies.

Interviews Mark Mezrani, chief executive of Wine Planet. Role of education and entertainment in boosting online sales; Educational background; Career history; Definition of brand in an online environment; Success factors in running a dot-com business.

Interviews Australia-based actor Matt Day. Career background; Australian movies' share of the local box office; Australian government's efforts to accommodate international movie production companies.

Interviews Ashley Owen, chief executive officer of Australia-based online education company Worldschool. Career background; Company's Internet-based education business; Business plans until the year 2005.

Interviews two Starlight Children's Foundation executives, Bob Mansfield and Jill Weekes. Trends in corporate spending on not-for-profit organizations in Australia; Projects and activities of the Starlight Children's Foundation; Top five challenges that Australia faces in the twenty-first century.

Interviews Martin Fabinyi, chief executive of Australian film company Mushroom Pictures which produced the horror film `Cut.' Includes discussion on Fabinyi's vision for Mushroom Pictures; Financing of `Cut'; Description of the film.

Presents and interview with Tony Grey, executive chairman of Australian cancer detection research company Polartechnics. Their efforts to invent a better screening test for cervical cancer; History of the company; Their work on a probe that eliminates human error; Grey's thoughts on an aging population and the retirement age.