| |
| |
|
Management Information |
|
Protect Your Organizations Proprietary Information
The other day one of our overseas clients called in a state of near panic, to ask a question. At issue was whether they had unwittingly violated U.S. law by transferring technical information to a joint venture partner in a European country. After hearing a two minute description, I was able to answer a resounding "Yes"! Such are the dangers of operating in a global environment. The worst part is that my client had been lead into their misdeed by following the well intentioned advice of a Fortune 100 U.S. corporation. One that certainly should have known better, but obviously does not. The potential penalties for such errors are daunting and ignorance of the law is not a defense. For a mere administrative ("civil") infraction, the penalty is up to $100,000 per occurrence. For intentional misdeeds, which are accorded criminal penalties, well, let's not even go there. Few business executives realize that these laws apply to a far wider range of products and technical information than the obvious military armaments. Computer software, including off-the-shelf commercial office programs for instance, are in many cases subject to export controls, as are many other seemingly commercial items having a potential dual use. In addition to the legal dangers, are those surrounding the loss of proprietary advantage through the sharp practice of intelligence gathering by competitors and even industrial espionage. Interestingly, a recent report out of the U.K. placed France on equal standing with Russia as an intelligence threat, not for military secrets, but rather industrial espionage. Unfortunately, most companies believe that these threats only apply to military, space or ultra-high technology markets. Not so! Today, businesses in many run of the mill industries are clearly at risk. Worse yet, many still do not realize it even after they have been stung. Business plans, customer lists, technology and other strategic assets can be lost or severely compromised without even knowing it until long afterward, if ever. Companies frequently wonder how their foreign competitors suddenly "got so smart" or why they "seem to know every move we make." Both problems are serious, but is there a practical answer short of a paranoia that inhibits healthy business openness, dialog and partnering with customers, competitors and suppliers alike? Let's look at a simple 5 Point Set of Policies that can effectively protect your organization within just a few weeks and at little or no cost. 1. Education: Every employee of your organization and any independent contractors working in the facility need to be briefed on the requirement not to disseminate any technical and /or commercial information to anyone outside the organization, except on a need-to-know-basis. This includes everyone from the Chairman and CEO to the maintenance staff. Few companies realize just how much significant information can often be parlayed at the local watering hole. Merely "hanging out at the local lunch or after work gathering spot" is an old, but tried and true technique that has enabled many a competitive intelligence gatherer to learn critical information. It is amazing what one can learn from production workers or administrative support staff over a beer or two, especially on a Friday after work. Casual conversation can reveal information such as production problems, order backlogs, customer and supplier names, quality problems, new product developments and strategies, capital expansion plans, hirings, firings, lay-offs and far more. In addition, management, marketing, technical and contracts personnel should all be thoroughly briefed on applicable government technical data export regulations. This mandatory education for all should be standard for new hires, as well as reviewed periodically at company meetings and in newsletters and through other means. Competitive intelligence gathering and industrial espionage are issues that are seriously underestimated by most companies today, especially in North America. Copyright 2005 by John Di Frances John Di Frances is an internationallyrecognized organizationallegacy expert and keynotespeaker. www.difrances.com
MORE RESOURCES: Unable to open RSS Feed $XMLfilename with error HTTP ERROR: 404, exiting |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
The Golden Key to Meeting Success We all attend many meetings. I'm sure you have been to some great meetings and some poor ones. Sexual Harassment Policy Guidelines Part I Sexual Harassment Policy Guidelines - Part IPermission is hereby granted to modify and use the information in this draft sexual harassment guideline, provided you include reference to the author as shown at the end.We shall take all reasonable steps to see that this sexual harassment policy is followed everyone in our organization who has contact with employees. Meeting Your Meeting Expectations "To get something done a meeting should consist of no more than three people, two of whom are absent."~Author unknownOne of the complaints I hear most often is about the number of meetings people attend during any given week. Getting Your Employees Attention Back to Work It is 9:00 am on a Monday morning. Do you know where your employees' attention is? Is it on work?Picture this. 7 Tips for Growing Your Business You Do Not Want to Ignore: Business Strategies To Easily Implement Growing companies must always be ready for the next challenge. If you fail in meeting critical business challenges you will not grow. Quick Tip - Effective Meetings Have a Complete Agenda Most agendas for a meeting look like this.* Budget* Payroll* Staff* Sales* VutszxtnSome people would tell me, "That's a perfectly good agenda. Can A Business Still Be Profitable When People Skills Are Absent? In our current world of rapid and amazing technological advances, many entrepreneurs have managed to dramatically limit the need for staff in highly profitable operations of all kinds.It is therefore tempting and believable to imagine that with every passing day, the need for people skills is diminishing. Entitlement Programs Kill Productivity In articles I've written over the years, I have used "laissez-faire," a term more frequently used to characterize governments than businesses, to describe a rather laid-back management style. When I use this term, I am referring to management personnel who put very little pressure on employees to achieve their full potential by pushing them toward peak performance levels. Leadership in Troubled Times Leadership in Troubled Times The first task of a leader is to keep hope alive. - Joe BattenLeading an organization can be challenging, even when times are good. Making Powerful Requests That Launch People Into Action Do you ever wonder why people do not simply do the things that you want them to do? Well, instead of waiting for things to happen, decide to take responsibility for making them happen. The way to do this is often as simple as making an appropriate request. Eight Skills of Highly Successful Consultants With deference to Dr. Covey and his very popular Seven Habits of Highly Effective People (all habits that will make us better consultants!), here are eight skills that all of us as consultants can work on to improve. On the Road to Assertiveness Learning to be assertive takes time, courage and the ability to recognize the situation for what is really is.You want to get something done, and you need another's help. Have You Always Thought That The Best Ideas Come From Research Or Management? Think Again Many entrepreneurs and chief executive officers are unaware that there are many factors that put ordinary workers at a great advantage over R&D and management when it comes to generating useful improvement ideas and even new products ideas for a corporation.The people in research are usually hindered by the fact that it is difficult for them to stay in touch with the day to day running of the business and the problems that arise. Beyond Management Coaching: When Things Are Getting Out of Control Leaders and Managers often ask us, 'What do you do when you have tried to coach and counsel an employee about a performance concern, and the employee has not responded?Unfortunately, we see far too many cases where the leader hasn't, in good faith, tried to coach the employee or to put the leader's concerns into words. Often, leaders look for a quick fix alternative to what is perceived as a difficult and painful confrontation. Effective Meetings - Quick Survey Here's an easy quiz to check the health of your meetings.1) Who leads your meetings? a) No one, b) Everyone, c) A facilitator2) What happens to the ideas in your meetings? a) If we had to think of ideas, it would be work, b) We make fun of them, c) A scribe writes them on a chart pad3) Are results obtained in your meetings? a) We eat all the donuts, b) And we drink all of the coffee, c) Yes!4) Do your meetings have an agenda? a) Is that some kind of cabinet?, b) I saw one once in an article, c) Yes!5) Who attends your meetings? a) We have bleachers to hold the spectators, b) The entire staff plus any homeless people in the neighborhood, c) Only those who can contribute6) How long are your meetings? a) I'll let you know when this one ends, b) All day, c) An hour or less7) During a meeting do you: a) Break a foam cup into bits, b) Prepare for the next meeting, c) Focus on the topic8) How soon after the meeting do you issue minutes? a) If you think I want to publicize how much time we wasted, you're nuts, b) Within a few months or so, c) As soon as possible, if not faster9) While someone is speaking, do you: a) Wonder about the strength of plastic foams, b) Plan a way to change the subject, c) Listen empathetically10) What structured activities do you use in your meetings? a) We sit on chairs, b) Everyone leaves at the same time, c) Process tools designed to gather information, make decisions, and manage participation. How to get an Audiences Attention A trainer dryly discussing how to motivate people in an organization basically has just another "point-by-point" presentation. But suppose that he mounts the podium and begins to speak. Five Overlooked Ways To Hire Winners Here is a true story. My dentist did a "clinical" evaluation of my teeth. Hiring a Book Keeping Service Whether you choose to do your own books and accounting or hire those services out there are a few things you should know first.A good book keeping service will normally charge you around $200 -500 per month while you are still somewhat small and you can receive: Profit and Loss Statements; Balance Sheets; Bill Paying Services; Checking Account Reconciliation; Journal Reconciliation; Tax Information Preparation; Tax Return Filing; Etc. Five Essential Hiring Practices Recruiting and hiring are often done in haste, leaving the company to repent in the long run. Today, there's a reason to be concerned about negligent hiring. How To Get 10% More Work Out Of Your Employees It is getting harder to run a business for a profit. Weare faced with rising costs, lowered demand etc.
|
| home | site map | contact us |