Make better decisions, execute them more effectively and the profits will flow.

With the recent launch of the International Integrated Reporting Committee, sustainability reporting is moving rapidly up the corporate agenda.

Consider this: in the history of the Toyota Motor Corporation, only five non-Japanese have been appointed to the position of Managing Officer. One of them is Johan van Zyl, CEO of Toyota South Africa.

Executive pay. As the globe struggles to emerge from the worst recession since the 1930s, it is one of the hottest topics under debate.

The earlier and the better managers anticipate future circumstances, the better they can position themselves to benefit from them, or influence them, and so increase their chances of survival and success.

It’s a well-studied, well-observed and well-understood phenomenon. But if that’s the case, why are so many Boards still allowing it to occur? And what does this have to do with the flurry of executives who have recently vacated top jobs?

Recently when the world was watching the battle for the US presidency between Senators McCain and Obama, the gloves came off with Obama’s online video "Keating Economics: John McCain and the making of a financial crisis".