In its push to penetrate deeper into vertical niches, Microsoft Corp. announced a soon-to-be-available Microsoft Business Solutions - Axapta 3.0 for Life Sciences.

CPAmerica International, a network of more than 70 independent CPA firms, has formed a strategic alliance with financial management and technology firm iLumen Inc., under which iLumen will provide its private company financial data management, monitoring and benchmarking capabilities to CPAmerica's member practices.

Best Software has released the new line of its proprietary Simply Accounting products, a suite that includes Simply Accounting 2005 Basic, Simply Accounting 2005 Pro, Simply Payroll 2005, and Simply Accounting 2005 Premium -- a new offering.

Simplicity and consistency are two keys to a successful Web site for professional services firms, according to Tiffany Shlain, founder and creative director of The Webby Awards, which this year offers an award for professional services sites.

Accountants are working hard to stay on top of software piracy in their firms, according to a survey by the Business Software Alliance, but there is a "strong disconnect" between what accountants are saying they know is wrong and what they are actually doing.

CORPORATE IT SPENDING TO SLOW IN Q4: Corporate information technology spending is still growing, but the rate of growth will slow in the fourth quarter, led by a decline in laptop and desktop spending, according to a recently released study.

The Securities and Exchange Commission has issued a proposal that would allow filers to submit financial data in Extensible Business Reporting Language, or XBRL.

In the last article on this topic, I shared the reasons why conflict can be a positive influence on your practice and provided you with important background information to help you identify your own "fallback" conflict management style (Sept. 20-Oct. 10, 2004, p. 22). In addition, I introduced you to six underlying reasons that conflict exists to better understand why conflict arises when it does.

RIA, a business unit of the $7.6 billion Thomson Corporation, is today one of the pre-eminent providers of comprehensive and easy-to-use solutions to complex and challenging tax research, information and compliance issues.

In most firms, net income per partner is an important measurement of how the firm is performing.

Big Four firms Ernst & Young and PricewaterhouseCoopers have each released their annual global information security surveys, and both polls point to some disturbing trends in corporate America.

- OCTOBER -

The International Accounting Standards Committee Foundation trustees have tapped Australian Stock Exchange chief Richard G. Humphry to serve as a trustee from the Asia-Pacific region.

Former Securities and Exchange Commission chair Arthur Levitt Jr. and former CNN chair Walter Isaacson have been named to the board of the Global Center for Leadership & Business Ethics, an independent entity established to recognize individuals and organizations with extraordinary business ethics and leadership qualities.

California

* California

One of the fallouts of the legislation related to past accounting scandals is a renewed interest on the part of CPAs in courses on ethics and the management of accounting practices.

Accpac, a provider of business management applications to small and midsized businesses, has unveiled Version 5.3 of its Accpac Advantage series accounting system -- an update highlighted by new features including transactional analysis, tighter security options and an enhanced order-entry module.

Software maker CaseWare International Inc. has released CaseWare Time 2004 with a new workflow layout to guide users through their tasks.

CCH Tax and Accounting made a big move into the document management business this week with the purchase of SIAN software by its parent, Wolters Kluwer Tax, Accounting & Legal, from Atlanta-based accounting firm Habif, Arogeti & Wynne.