Management Information
New Job, New Culture: Do You Fit In?
It seemed like a good decision at the time. A 10-percent raise, an easier commute and a chance to move up the corporate ladder.
Improve Operations by Restructuring
Transitioning from Vertical Hierarchies to Decentralized / Flatter OrganizationsThe need to restructure for traditional, bureaucratic firms is essential in the fast paced, dynamic business world today. Team-based organizations are largely successful in having all of the people in the firm feel accountable and responsible for the operation and success of the enterprise, not just a few people in senior management positions.
Identifying Candidates for Leadership
A critical task in the succession planning process of any organization is identifying candidates. Traditionally, candidates have been identified based on past performance.
Use QA As Your First Step To Outsourcing
Quality Assurance, or QA, is often given short shrift in a software development organization, especially when budgets are tight. When debating the software development budget at one of my software companies, the CEO finally asked, "Well, do you really want to hire a QA guy, or a programmer to add features to the software?"It was a tough choice.
Project Managment: Land the Plane Stop Doing and Start Succeeding
We all spend time on planning vacations. If it's not you then it's probably your significant other or travel agent.
Is Your Business Healthy?
Most business owners I work with want to grow their businesses. I guess this probably applies to most businesses in general.
Lower the Bar
"Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm." Ralph Waldo EmersonI'm so excited.
Is Busyness Affecting Your Business?
I'm too busy; I'd love to but I'm very busy; I'll get round to that when I'm not so busy.How often have you said any of those phrases? How many times a week do you hear someone else say those phrases? They're very common and busyness seems to have become a way of life for many people.
Corporate Governance for Business Owners
It is clear that good Corporate Governance is in the best interests of shareholders of public companies, but how can it benefit shareholders of private companies and other business owners?Will a good system of corporate governance increase the bottom line?One of the elements of a good system of corporate governance is ensuring that the role, and the boards' expectations, of management are understood.SeparationSeparation of the board and management is often lacking when it comes to small medium sized enterprises.
Quality Improvement is Free
The point of a quality improvement program should not only be to improve a product or the delivery of healthcare but it should also be to save time and money by reducing or eliminating waste or errors. For example, a doctor or nurse practitioner writes a prescription.
Romford Accountants: Accountancy Firm Roles and Responsibilities
If you own or operate a business in the UK, especially in Romford, then you know how time consuming it is to not only run your business but to also make sure all of your financial bases are covered. I want to help you understand some of the common roles and responsibilities a Romford based accountant / accountancy firm may face in a given day.
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.
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.
Travel the World - for Free!
I have been very fortunate to travel to several countries of the world while on business - countries I may have never visited on a holiday. There are pros and cons to working/doing business in a foreign country vs.
How to Dodge Distribution Difficulties
It happened again. I ran into an old friend while registering for the World Masters Games last month and as we were catching up, she complemented me on a necklace I was wearing.
Why Do Managers Create Low Morale? Or Does My Bum Look Big In This?
Why do managers create low morale as a product of their management and what can we do about it?The answer to the initial question is easy.We all know what managers do to the workforce that causes the workforce to feel the way they do about their jobs.
Controlling Your Cash Flow
IntroductionAre you looking for a way to gain control of your personal finances and implement a budget that will get you back on the road to financial success? Great! And remember there is no better time to start than now. Like anything in life, before you can become financially stable you must understand the fundamentals of personal finance.
You Cant Afford the Luxury of Disengaged Employees
In today's business environment with increases in staff reductions and rapidly changing roles and responsibilities, it is crucial that all of your team members be fully engaged in the tasks at hand. According to a Gallup survey, 350 billion dollars are lost each year in American companies due to disengaged employees.
Train Me -- But Follow Through
My mechanic has me trained. When I take my car in for an oil change, he places a sticker in the upper left hand corner of my windshield to remind me what date and mileage I should have my next maintenance completed.
The Email Trap
If you sit at a computer for most of the day, it's tempting to constantly check your email to see what's new. But that's a time management disaster if you're trying to make progress in your business.
Outsourcing Quiz: Cheap Vs. Good
Someone can say, 'Why do you oppose this?' So I'd like to prevent such attacks and tell that this article is dedicated mainly to the issue if it's worth to look for the cheapest solution.Software and web development market is overwhelmed nowadays.
Are You Measuring Something Meaningful?
Avoiding inert measures that anaesthetise your performance management.INTRODUCTIONYou sit before the monthly report, which might be an inch or so thick, and you contemplate whether it's the best use of your time to paw through the pages to check if there's anything useful in there for you.
Are You Cascading Your Strategy, or Fragmenting It?
INTRODUCTIONThe typical approach executive teams use to cascade, or roll out, their strategic direction is to produce a clear set of goals, objectives, critical success factors or a scorecard and then get each departmental or functional manager to take this on board and customize it for their part of the organisation. The trouble then begins?A TYPICAL APPROACH: EACH DEPARTMENT ADOPTS OR ADAPTS A VERSION OF THE CORPORATE STRATEGYThe first phase of most organisational planning processes is that the organisation's executives design and express a strategic direction using a framework of some kind.
Employee Retention: Its a Changing Game
As a management consultant, I have seen some poorly conceived retention policies at otherwise well-run companies. The philosophies underlying these policies lack some basic knowledge of two things:1.
An Original Perspective on Waging Conflict as a Way to Promote and Restore Self-dignity
Conflict is a fact of life for all of us, but too many painful consequences are generated by avoiding or managing it in the wrong way. When we deal with everybody else day after day in any capacity as leaders or team managers, is inevitable that we will be personally confronted with conflict.
Avoid These Seven Deadly Dangers Of Outsourcing
Here are seven dangers of outsourcing your software development. They become deadly if your career or entire company depends on the timely release of your software.
How to Build Your Business and Still Take Time Off
We all know people who are like human dynamos. They seem to make an art form of building their business and still enjoy quality time with friends and family.
HRM: Contributing to Well-being or Ill-being at Work?
If you were to take the people out of an organisation you would be left with some stock and machinery that would be of little value, and possibly some property. It is the people that make an organisation function, so having the people functioning to the best of their ability must surely be best for an organisation.
Are You A B.O.S.S. -- Boisterous, Omnipotent, Self Indulgent, Sociopath
Boisterous, Omnipotent, Self- indulgent Sociopath. Avoid the B.
Jack Welch--Success Is Getting Back Up on the Horse
A few months ago I had the opportunity to spend a few minutes with Jack Welch, past CEO of GE. A fantastic opportunity.
Power of Pinpointing Accountability
I have always said that if I were to write a book on effective management principles, the first chapter in that book would be about the importance of pinpointing responsibility among an owner's or a general manager's reporting units. After all, one of the most popular definitions of management is getting work done through others.
Sending Documents Through Email? Dont Get Burned by Metadata!
During a recent seminar I gave located in the suburbs of Philadelphia, I discussed something called, "metadata". When I asked whether anyone ever heard of metadata, I was confronted with blank stares.
Manage Your Time - Save Your Business.
If you work from home, chances are you already know that you're really pulling "double duty". You probably work on your business while doing the laundry, corralling the kids, or fixing dinner.
The Cheapest, Forget It !
Wouldn't it be great if we got get the cheapest price on everything. I know I wouldn't want it.
Know the Source of Business
One of the first questions we ask a prospect or new client is, "How did you get the business you have so far?" Some can answer exactly. Others aren't as certain.
IT Expenditure - Why Businesses Spend Huge Amounts on Ineffective IT Investments
Another IT White Elephant!It seems that almost every day we read in the newspapers about another hideously over budget IT project that doesn't achieve its expected benefits. The ones we read about are usually major multi-million pound projects in the public sector, however this is only the tip of the iceberg.
Action Learning: Its More Than OJT
For centuries companies have used on-the-job training (OJT). OJT works because it follows much of what we know about adult learning theory.
Time for Change - Clearing the First Hurdle
"Here is Edward Bear, coming downstairs now, bump, bump, bump on the back of his head, behind Christopher Robin. It is, as far as he knows, the only way of coming downstairs, but sometimes he feels that there really is another way, if only he could stop bumping for a moment and think of it.
Which ITIL Process Should We Implement First?
The following question is usually debated a lot amongst IT managers. "With which process should we start when implementing ITIL?" Everybody has their own views, but here are my takes on it.
Is Your Business A Dysfunctional Family?
The other day I brought my mother into an appliance store to purchase a television. By the time we left with her new television, she was completely disgusted.
Discover the Astonishing Power of Words Today!
Picture all the people you know who are dynamic, successful and self-confident. The ones who are the stars of every gathering.
Take Control of Your Paper in 3 Easy Steps
Do you have piles of paper on your desk. Many do and don't know how to deal with them.
Growing Profits is Easy!
Everyone involved in running a business from the smallest start-up to a major corporate dreams about how to achieve sustained profitable growth. I'm a great believer that business is simple - it's only us human beings that make it complex.
Leadership Skills
Recent studies have shown that industrial supervisors are working at less than 60% of their potential. Basic management skills training is guaranteed to change all this and at such little cost.
Basic Management Skills
Recent studies have shown that industrial supervisors are working at less than 60 % of their potential. Basic management skills training is guaranteed to change all this and at such little costManager in contextMost of my adult life has been spent working as a supervisor or manager on industrial projects throughout the world.
How Businesses Can Stop Wallowing in Bad Debt and Prevent It in the Future
"Become the Squeaky Wheel", a new book just published, explains that getting customers involves more than advertising. Michelle Dunn presents examples of credit procedures and policies to help creditors or business owners collect bad debt and prevent it in the future.
Dont Sweat the Small Stuff with Your Credit Policy
Do you know how many customers you have that are past due right now? How many bad checks are sitting on your desk that you don't know what to do with? How many dunning letters do you send out a month?How would you like to answer those questions with none, or very few? In a new book, "Become the Squeaky Wheel," Michelle Dunn, explains and outlines some easy procedures you can use to erase bad debt, and prevent it in the future."One thing that is often overlooked is how to prevent future credit issues," says Michelle Dunn.
Why You Need a Business Plan
This article was originally called "Do You Need a Business Plan?"The title was changed because in truth, every business needs a business plan. It's a common misconception that business plans are used only for raising capital, as in "my bank wants to see a business plan before they will approve a loan," or, "I need a business plan so I can get venture funding.
A Comprehensive Sarbanes Oxley Act Summary
Individual and corporate security stand in the center of the Sarbanes Oxley Act summary, as they are the areas that suffered most changes. New criminal and civil penalties were announced for security violations and a new system of certification of internal audit efforts was set.
Ten Relationship Traits And Skills For Good Leadership
An important aspect of good leadership is the ability to work and relate with others. When creating and building your unique leadership style consistently developing relational skills is a priority.
Does My Bum Look Big in This?
If a good manager asks his workforce for their opinion of him he will receive their expressions of approval and be satisfied that he is doing a good job.If a bad manager asks his workforce for their opinion then he too will receive their expressions of approval because as we all know, the best way to get a bad manager off your back is to agree with him.
Learn How To Get The Most From Your Team
Being a leader isn't easy. Every one looks to you to make decisions, resolve disputes, and to carry all the responsibility.
How To Write Commercial Collections Letters
It is sometimes valuable to bring the sales manager into this step of the collection process. Information concerning the delinquency can often be obtained from the sales department.
Commercial Collections Billing Practices Advice
Swiftness is the key to collecting past due commercial accounts because commercial accounts depreciate more faster than consumer accounts.In creating and implementing a billing system, a credit grantor should recognize that time is the safest refuge of any debtor.
Problem-Solving Success Tip: Whatever You Do, Do It on Purpose
Decision-making shows up throughout the problem-solving process. The decisions may be difficult or unpopular, so it's very tempting to ignore some of them.
Enable Continuous Improvement of IT Services through ITIL
One of the major benefits, if not THE benefit of process orientated approaches to managing your IT services and infrastructure is that it enables continuous improvement.This means that you are never totally satisfied with the current state of affairs and that you always want to improve your services.
Where Else in Your Business Do You Accept a 60% Failure Rate?
I recently surveyed CEOs and Business Leaders of large companies and small, profit and not-for-profit, and I asked just them just one question:'What is the single biggest factor that you believe will inhibit your sustained profitable growth into the future?' A, perhaps, surprising 37% responded that it was people - the recruitment, motivation and retention of people that was the biggest factor.So let's address the first one - recruitment.
The Myth Of Relationship Selling Revealed At Last
The second you quit being the 'best deal' for your customer, he'll drop you like a hot potato. Regardless of how many lunches you've bought him or birthdays you've remembered.
Lets Flourish and Prosper!
Some say that in business as in sex: if it is good, it's great and if it is bad it's still pretty good. This does not happen to be true.
Work Life a Balancing Act
Australians are loosing their laidback, carefree reputation, as we continue to work longer hours, exercise less and neglect our leisure and family time.Recent research indicates that 67 per cent of Australian professionals spend at least 20 hours a week thinking about their job when they should be relaxing, and less than half take their entitled annual leave.