Everything Business: A Look at the Issues Organizations Face

Ways cities are using social media to reverse economic downturn

2011-01-31T09:46:00.000-05:00

The economic downturn has rippled through the US and affected many regions. Generally during a depressed economy people are often inclined to spend less and be more conservative where they spend their hard earned dollars.

As a result cities have to work hard to compete for revenue. In order to attract companies and individuals to invest in commercial business, take up residency.....Read more...

How marketers can use online video to make an impact on consumers

2011-01-30T09:44:00.001-05:00

Video has rapidly become a commonplace item on the web. Savvy marketers have discovered there is much value in interweaving online video with their advertising efforts as a means to make an impact on consumers.

YouTube is one of the most popular sites on the web today, and if this website's success is any indicator, it illuminates how attractive video is to the web community. In May of 2010....Read More

Facebook aims to make a big push for e-commerce in 2011

2011-01-29T09:41:00.001-05:00

Facebook has been steadily integrating their popular social network into many aspects of online life. The network, which started off as a small online place to gather for college students, has grown to become a 500 million plus global community. The popularity of Facebook is staggering and it was only a matter of time before commercial business decided to jump on the bandwagon. Read more...

How to use social media to create better customer experiences

2011-01-29T09:39:00.001-05:00

Social media has rapidly found itself a niche in today's fast-paced and highly technologically charged society. Over the years social media has undergone tremendous change and nowadays a high percentage of society, both personally and professionally, spend large amounts of time on social networks. Read more...

A look at how BP can recover from damage to their brand

2010-07-31T08:27:00.001-04:00

Oil giant BP has been at the center of negative press ever since the April 2010 explosion of the Deepwater Horizon in which 11 workers died.

In the aftermath of the blast, oil spewed out for four months and by the time a temporary cap was able to stop the gushing on July 15, somewhere between 94 to 184 million gallons of oil had spilled into the Gulf of Mexico causing massive devastation on a multitude of levels.

The biggest devastation is to those who lost loved ones, the wildlife, local economy and other environmental impacts, and the BP brand is now associated with these tragedies. This association has caused serious damage to the company brand and reputation. Click here to read more...

Reasons Why Using Jargon in Business Letters Drives Customers Away

2009-11-22T06:38:00.002-05:00

Using business jargon is common amongst colleagues in specific industries, but the acronyms, language and lingo spoken in these circles is typically not so well known outside the internal organization or industry.

When writing to customers it is a bad idea to include any jargon in the body of a business letter.

The reasons for this are numerous, but the primary reasons are because including jargon could lead to frustration, misunderstandings, barriers and, worst of all, generate a level of mistrust towards a company. Read more...

Importance of First Impressions at a Business Meeting

2009-11-16T19:38:00.002-05:00

First impression can last a lifetime. If you want to make a good first impression at a business meeting, it is important to look and act your best.

In any kind of professional setting, people tend to evaluate their associates or potential partners or employees right away based on their first impression, and if you blow it the first time, you may not get a second chance.

Due to this fact, it is noteworthy to pay close attention to how you conduct yourself at the initial business meeting. If you don't give a successful good first impression at the business meeting, this is likely going to impact how the business relationship develops, or worse, doesn't develop. Read more...

Building a Case for the Need for Information Security

2009-11-10T11:41:00.002-05:00

One problem many IT members of an organization experience is the need to justify receiving a budget for IT security. For whatever reason, many executives and managerial decision makers don't view IT security as a tangible asset, but as an excessive expense.

Due to this fact it can be very difficult to build a business case to implement information security.
Granted, implementing controls for IT security is definitely going to cost a significant amount of money, but there are many benefits that come with an investment in information security. Read more...

How to Choose the Ideal Location for a New Business

2009-11-02T04:25:00.000-05:00

Opening a new business is a very exciting time. There are many satisfying aspects of starting your own business. Choosing your business location carefully is an important part of opening a new business.

As the old saying goes, it's all about location. If you choose your location well, chances for success are significantly higher than choosing a poor location. In addition, selecting the optimal location will increase the probability of being able to turn a profit sooner than later.

When you start up any business, as you establish and prepare your business report and analysis, the location of your business should be a primary component in the early planning stages. Read more...

Finance: Understanding the Debt to Equity Ratio

2009-10-29T03:09:00.001-04:00

The debt-to-equity ratio measures the amount of assets made available by creditors for each dollar of assets made available by stockholders.

This ratio is categorized as a solvency ratio and these kinds of ratios measure the capabilities a business has which enable it to survive over the long term.

How to Compute
To figure out a company's debt-to-equity ratio, you divide the business' total liabilities on the balance sheet by the amount of stockholder's equity listed on this same financial statement. Read more...

Business Accounting: Understanding the Basics of Cash Basis Accounting

2009-10-27T05:06:00.001-04:00

Cash basis accounting is based on a premise that a business transaction is completed only when cash has been collected or money has been physically paid out. Once a receipt or payment is made, then the accountant or bookkeeper enters the transaction as have occurred.

The principles surrounding cash based accounting are a much simpler form of accounting recordkeeping than the more common accrual based accounting.

Smaller companies who cannot afford to hire an accounting staff or do not have a special department to handle financial transactions may be more inclined to use cash basis accounting as their way of maintaining records. Read more...

Business Accounting: Understanding the Basics of Accrual Based Accounting

2009-10-26T15:02:00.003-04:00

Accrual based accounting is a financial recordkeeping approach that is the more acceptable method to accounting practices in today's business environment.

While this method takes a bit more effort than the cash basis accounting approach, there is a significant advantage for businesses that opt to use accrual based accounting.

With legislative mandates such as Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX), publicly held companies have to be very careful about documentation and accountability and accrual accounting shows a more accurate assessment of a company's financial situation. Read more...

Management Strategies: How Cross Training Helps Improve Employee Morale

2009-10-19T05:07:00.002-04:00

There are many benefits associated with cross training employees, but one of the most valuable advantages is it can help increase employee morale.

Management has a good opportunity through using cross training as a motivational tool. Cross training staff members to learn one another's job not only ensures coverage and continuity, which benefits the business, but can address the issue of morale at the same time.

When the deterring factors of a job are eliminated, employers often find that morale increases, and with this restored confidence are happier employees who no longer feel dissuaded by their jobs. Read more...

Businesses: The Importance of Having an Established Web Presence

2009-10-16T09:17:00.004-04:00

Businesses today significantly benefit from having an online presence. Due to the increased competition and commerce moving to the global Internet platform, the importance of having a business website has exponentially increased. Companies that have websites increase their competitive advantage.

There are many other valuable reasons why a business should have a website. Here are a few of the top justifications for setting up and maintaining a business website:

Establish a Web Presence

If you want customers to find you and not competitors, you'll need to have a business website because chances are competitors already have one, and if they don't they will soon. Read more...

Businesses: How to Create a Web Page

2009-10-09T05:01:00.000-04:00

In today's world having a prominent web page is synonymous with using a published telephone number. People construct web pages for all kinds of reasons such as business, personal or social.

For businesses, a web page is vital and those who do not maintain a page on the web lose a competitive edge. Socially, people often like to maintain a webpage to keep everyone abreast of what's going on in their lives. Some create webpages to market themselves and have more visibility.

Creating a web page takes a bit of work, but seeing the finished product is rewarding. There are two important components to consider when creating your web page: tools and construction. Read more...

Advantages of Cultural Diversity in the Workplace

2009-10-07T04:05:00.002-04:00

As today's businesses migrate towards a global environment, the diversity present in companies has been growing at a fast pace. Businesses who are experiencing this rapid growth of diversity have fast realized the many organizational advantages that come with cultural diversity.

The value of cultural diversity contained in the organizational environment is a great asset from both a social and financial perspective.

Businesses that embrace diversity are learning that many levels of success and growth are accompanying the combined experiences of employees who come from different cultural backgrounds. Read more...

How to Choose a Method of Advertising

2009-10-05T04:02:00.002-04:00

Choosing a way to advertise your business is a vital part of your marketing plan. Trying to pinpoint the best course of advertising takes a bit of market study and research efforts because you want to make sure you effectively reach your targeted audience.

When choosing a method of advertising for your product or service, you want to consider the best way to achieve visibility for the market segment you've identified as your primary customer base in your marketing plan.

The primary considerations when choosing the way you want to advertise your product/service are advertising budget, audience preferences, and then determine/balance what is most cost-effective and best apt to reach your most wanted audience. Read more...

How Management can Nurture Strong Communication with Employees

2009-10-02T04:00:00.001-04:00

Communication is important to the success of any relationship, be it personal or business. The ability to exchange ideas, share thoughts and express feelings adds value to any relationship and encourages more cohesiveness.

In the workplace everyone benefits when there is strong communication between management and employees. If there is a lack of solid communication in the company, sometimes the problem is a small one and can be easily corrected. Other times it takes a bit more work. Read more...

Information Systems: How Office Automation Improves Efficiency

2009-09-29T03:59:00.000-04:00

Automating office processes can help increase efficiency in the workplace, and many businesses are taking advantage of the benefits automation offers. Several of today's office tasks can easily be run by computers or machinery which is beneficial to a business for many reasons.

Speed, convenience, accuracy, and innovation are some of the primary benefits a business can derive from installing automation in their offices or work areas.

Additionally, employing computers or machines to run some of the mundane or easily automated tasks is a good cost-cutting measure which can also increase productivity, hence boost profitability. Read more...

The Value of Effective Business Communication

2009-09-25T02:31:00.003-04:00

Effective business communication is an essential in any kind of work environment. Written and oral communications are an integral part of doing business, and the ability to effectively deliver and receive messages is fundamental in many transactions.

As a representative you are an agent for your organization and should seriously consider how you conduct communications. In most of today's jobs, people need to engage in regular communications including e-mail, telephones, face to face meetings, phone and video conferences, and even on the fly instant messages.

There are many ways people connect and if you want to create effective business communication you need to hone these skills if you want to be successful. Read more...

Data Management: Managing Data through Information Systems

2009-09-23T05:39:00.008-04:00

Businesses are driven by data, and the information derived from it is an extremely valuable asset. Most organizations are dependent on data availability and accuracy.

The electronic era has brought new challenges in managing information that previously was non-existent prior to computers and the Internet.

Networks have created ways to rapidly transmit data. As a result managers need to obtain current data quickly in order to make informed and up to date decisions with readily accessible information at their fingertips to analyze and make a decision. Instantaneous recall of information is often crucial in order to be competitive.

In order to achieve this, efficient data management is a must. People used to rely on notebooks, filing cabinets and other manual file management systems. Unfortunately today this is often counter-productive, so how can information management be effectively orchestrated?

Use Information Systems (IS)

Installing information systems that address business processes and meet organizational goals in a timely manner is a good solution. Software applications have revolutionized the way data is sorted, collected, stored and analyzed. Managerial understanding of how these programs can increase the value in a business is critical in order to remain viable in any competitive industry.

Use IS as a Shared Knowledge Base

Another benefit to IS is it gives the organization a shared knowledge base, something that was absent when working off of filed papers. Information systems are implemented to manage data and turn it into something valuable - knowledge. A word of caution though, computerized information management is only useful if strategically implemented.

Strategize Technology

Misinterpreting the benefits of this will result in poor organization of information. If the latest technology is put into place without being in sync with organizational needs, it will be useless and this form of information management will create more liabilities than benefits.

While the technical aspects are significant, what's more important is being able to correctly identify mission objectives and properly assess what is entailed in task processing. When this is sufficiently analyzed, it's easier to put together information systems that can reflect and meet the needs of the company.

An organization that is effectively is able to generate knowledge from data to and turn it into valuable information is well on its way. Information today is driving society. Finding the solution to successfully managing it, however, is the gateway to unlimited potential.

Great Reasons to Promote Employees from Within

2009-09-21T06:57:00.002-04:00

When a new position opens up, as an employer you can gain benefits from promoting from within rather than searching externally to fill jobs.

These advantages are a plus from both a strategic and financial point of view. Here are a few of the top reasons why employers should promote from within:

Strong Knowledge of the Company

Existing employees already have a broad understanding of the company and already fit within the organizational culture. Having a strong understanding of the company's organizational culture and operational protocols is a good reason to promote from within.

Additionally they understand the company operations, mission and have intimate familiarity with task processes. This close-knit knowledge is an advantage because it saves a lot of time and resources connected with learning curves of joining a new company.

When a person is promoted from within, most of the time they are primed and ready to leap into new job responsibilities. There's no delay or interruptions in business continuity and are around to pass on their knowledge to their successors.

Less Overhead on Recruiting Process

Advertising, recruiting, interviewing and hiring new personnel takes a lot of work and is more costly than promoting existing employees. Companies promoting from within have considerable less advertising expense as well.

Interviewing is easy because employee and employer are already familiar with one another and there's less background information to check. References are as easy as calling the employee's current supervisor. Orientation is primarily the employee learning their new responsibilities since they already possess knowledge of the company and don't need the grand tour.

Existing employees have all their information on file and it's an easier transition for the Human Resource component of getting an employee established in a new position than it is to get a new hire on board.

Increase Staff Morale

Employees who feel they have room for advancement are likely to have higher morale levels than employees who continuously see themselves passed over in favor of 'outsiders'.

If staff members see colleagues getting promoted, they hold hope they too have a chance at climbing the proverbial corporate ladder and are more likely to be higher performers. Many employees who don't hold any hope for a promotion are likely to eventually also begin to look for employment elsewhere. Having a record of hiring from within helps reduce employee turnover as well. Happy employees are longstanding employees.

Promoting from within is a good practice if there is a pool of employees that possess the skill-sets needed to take on a higher level position. Obviously this won't always be the case, but it's always a worthwhile effort to take a look inside before looking out.

How Businesses Benefit from Customer Referrals

2009-09-18T04:58:00.000-04:00

A customer's stamp of approval through a personal referral is one of the biggest compliments that can be paid to a merchandiser or other vendor. Aside from compliments, referrals are one of the best kinds of advertising a business can receive.

Businesses can benefit tremendously from customer referrals because the customer referral is a powerful one. The reason being it is an external kind of endorsement, and carries a lot more weight than a self-generated advertisement.

Anyone can make up self-imposed claims of greatness, superiority or effectiveness about themselves and distribute them across various media platforms, but essentially this is meaningless if you think about it when this is compared to a customer's statement that backs up a company's claims of quality.

This is not to devalue the value of marketing and advertising because these ventures do indeed play an important role in a business finding a way to be visible, and later recognized. A company's marketing campaign needs to be on target, but this is only a part of the equation.

If you look at the big picture, advertising only gets people in the door, it does not presume people actually believe a business' product or service is all it claims; the business has to prove this to claim be true to the potential customer.

Theoretically it is the consumer that can make the excellence claim through a customer referral and have it truly mean something. No one is going to refer a company in good conscience if they feel the service and/or quality of products are inferior, so when a customer refers family, friends and/or colleagues, this is one of the highest compliments a customer can pay to a business.

Customers will not recall average service or products, but they will remember excellence. Businesses that offer superior customer service, stand by their guarantees and claims, and are willing to go the extra mile for their patrons are the ones likely to get customer referrals.

The sale does not end with money exchanging hands at the register, it is only complete when the customer has received satisfaction with their purchase. The bonus is if they share their satisfaction with others.

Businesses have a lot to gain with the benefits received through customer referrals. If from these referrals a result a steady stream of new and repeat customers comes through your establishment, this means as a business, you have officially arrived.

Ways to Help Increase Productivity

2009-09-17T04:45:00.001-04:00

Sometimes it's hard to get motivated. There are many factors that could help contribute to lowered productivity. Short term decreased productivity isn't usually a big deal, but if the problem perpetuates and becomes more of a long term issue, then this could impact profitability and morale.

If you, or your staff, is experiencing decreased productivity, here are a few tips you can try to get things moving again:

Use a Planner
Sometimes all that's needed to jump start productivity again is to get better organized. Often if a person feels overwhelmed, this could lead to stress and feelings of helplessness. By removing the disorganization facet, sometimes you can see an immediate difference in productivity when things are done in a systematic fashion.

Practice Good Time Management
A strong ability in time management is usually helpful in the level of productivity. This way time is not wasted and every minute is used in a productive fashion.

Get Enough Rest Each Night
Rest is a critical component in productivity. If your body and mind are tired, your work efforts will be just as tired. Get enough sleep and watch productivity increase naturally.

Be Happy in your Job
OK, this isn't always possible, but often attitude is everything! If you approach the day in a proactive and positive way, the day won't seem as bad and productivity is less likely to take a hit.

Reduce Stress
Stress is probably one of the biggest offenders on lowered productivity. If you can effectively find ways to reduce work stress through other outlets, you'll find you can get more done. One fo the best things you can do is separate work from home life. Don't bring your work home! Give your body and mind a chance to rest.

Lowered productivity is frustrating for everyone involved. If you're finding it to be a problem, it's not that hard to reverse once you set your mind to it.

Benefits of Promoting Employees from Within

2009-09-16T05:11:00.001-04:00

When a new position opens up, there are several benefits employers can gain from promoting from within rather than externally searching to fill jobs. These advantages are a plus from both a strategic and financial point of view.

Here are a few of the top benefits employers gain from promoting from within:

Strong Knowledge of the Company

Current employees typically have a strong understanding of the company's organizational culture and operational protocols. This is a great reason to promote from within.

Additionally they understand how the company operates, understands its mission and has intimidate familiarity with task processes. This close-knit knowledge is an advantage because it saves a lot of time and resources connected with the learning curve involved with joining a new company.

Most of the time when a person is promoted from within, they are primed and ready to leap into their new job responsibilities. There's no delay or interruptions in business continuity. Additionally they are around to pass on their knowledge to their successors.

Less Overhead on Recruiting Process

Advertising, recruiting, interviewing and hiring new personnel takes a lot of work and is more costly than promoting existing employees. Companies that promote from within have considerable less advertising expense for a newly opened position.

Interviewing also goes smoothly because the employee and employer are already familiar with one another and there's likely less details or background information to check. References are as easy as calling the employee's current supervisor. Orientation is kept to the employee learning their new job since they already have solid knowledge of the company and don't need the grand tour.

Employees already a part of the organization have all their information on file and it's an easier transition for the Human Resource component of getting an employee established in a new position than it is to get a new hire on board.

The HR process has potential to go much more smoothly and faster than it would for outside recruiting.

Increase Staff Morale

Employees who feel they have room for advancement are likely to have higher morale levels than employees who continuously see themselves passed over in favor of 'outsiders'.

If staff members see their colleagues getting promoted, they hold hope that they too have a chance at climbing the proverbial corporate ladder and are more likely to be higher performers in their current jobs. Many employees who don't hold any hope for a promotion are likely to eventually also begin to look for employment elsewhere.

Having a record of hiring from within helps reduce employee turnover as well. Happy employees are longstanding employees.

Promoting from within is a good practice if there is a pool of employees that possess the skill-sets needed to take on a higher level position. The advantages for both the employer and the employees are vast and these benefits are worth merit to giving consideration to hiring from within.

Tips on How to Encourage Staff to Grow on a Personal Level

2009-09-15T05:23:00.002-04:00

Nurturing personal and professional development in staff members is an important ingredient to being a leader. Staff members that are encouraged to grow benefit both the individual and the company.

Krystle Hernandez has some great points regarding the value of encouraging staff to grow on a personal level and ways to meet this objective.

A staff of people generally functions at its highest level of efficiency when all members display leadership qualities, communicate effectively, and demonstrate teamwork.

Of course, each individual has unique strengths and weaknesses that can and will contribute to his or her overall productivity within a staff. In order to ensure that your staff is as efficient as possible, it is important to consider the promotion of personal growth within individual team members.

Each individual is different and responds to different methods of motivation accordingly. Read more...

Growing Communication Between Management and Employees

2009-09-14T04:37:00.000-04:00

Communication is the key to success in any relationship. When a lack of communication exists in the organizational setting it has the potential to cause significant problems between management and employees.

If this absence of interaction persists in the workplace, matters typically go unaddressed. As a result conflict often arises and problems remain unresolved because of the absence of communication.

A lack of verbal exchanges commonly increase resentments and this usually further escalates the situation. Fortunately this kind of situation can be reversed by making a few changes in the organizational environment.

The best way to avoid communication related issues is to encourage an atmosphere which promotes open communication. Leaders can effectively set the environment to be communication friendly by establishing policies which welcome the exchange of ideas.

Employees are likely to respond favorably and will probably embrace any opportunity to share ideas when encouraged. Read more to get some information on some steps you can take to encourage strong communication.

Tips on how to write a recommendation letter

2009-09-10T04:21:00.001-04:00

When you are presented with the task of writing a recommendation letter for a business associate as either a colleague or a character reference, it is important to keep a few key factors in mind before you agree and then subsequently write your letter.

A letter of recommendation not only reflects the image of the subject of the correspondence, but the author of the letter as well. You want to be sure your letter is flawless and contains accurate and helpful information.

Here are a few tips of how to write a recommendation letter. Read more...

Value of a Good Work Ethic

2009-09-09T04:27:00.004-04:00

Ethics are personal and often subjective. It is likely in your company may find some variables in ethical makeup in different people.

This can often lead to some tricky situations, but for the most part despite a degree of difference in ethical perspectives, in the workplace there is typically a general agreement of what is ethical behavior and what is not.

Hard to believe when most of the headlines shout "Corruption", "Mismanagement of Finances", "Environmental Hazards" and other captions that report the misdoings in the corporate world.

Not a headline you want your company to experience.

As you know, today's environment is a competitive one. Companies with a low focus on good ethical policy are likely to find themselves in financial trouble over the long term. Good ethics starts with the individual, but it also is broader and relates to how an organizational ethics philosophy is defined.

Even though the company who is immersed in poor ethics takes the fall, these organizations are made up of decision making individuals. Each person's moral compass impacts the overall success, or failure, of the company. High standards can be set by leadership.

A company acting with strong moral conduct establishes a great reputation and good public relations. Once you've become known as an ethical company, people will want to do business or work with you.

Another key advantage to acting with strong moral fiber is you establish trust and credibility with the business community and customers. People are more likely to pay attention when you talk or present ideas because you're known as someone who gives careful thought to consequences of actions and as a result makes good decisions.

While people led by the financial carrots that leads to unethical behavior may find themselves getting initial lucrative rewards, but more often than not this is short term. Eventually these poor judgments catch up with them and the time ciomes to pay the piper.

Temptation to commit an unethical act may be strong, but the long term benefits of maintaining good ethical posture far outweighs the short term benefits of acting dishonestly or unethical.

With a good work ethic you can sleep well at night with a clear conscience. So maybe you did lose that deal, but at least you know you didn't contribute to polluting your local environment or bilk someone out of their retirement money. The intrinsic rewards of a good moral being are priceless.

Possessing a good work ethic is vital and in today's competitive environment, having a strong ethical commitment has become more important than ever.

How to Encourage Communication with Employees

2009-09-08T05:39:00.000-04:00

Communication is important to the success of a relationship whether it is personal or business. In the workplace everyone benefits when there is strong communication between management and employees.

If there is a lack of solid communication in the company, sometimes the problem is a small one and can be easily corrected. Other times it takes a bit more work.

Here are some guiding principles or corrective actions leaders can use to try to improve communication with employees:

Establish an Open Door Policy

A definitive way to improve communication with employees is to create an open door policy to welcome any thoughts, comments, complaints or suggestions. When employees are encouraged to share feelings, it gives a sense of empowerment where they feel comfortable making contact with their managers to voice their concerns.

Managers that sit behind closed doors and remain aloof, only coming out of their offices from time to time to check up on things, might find employees aren't usually at ease talking to their bosses when issues arise; as a result problems fester because they remain unaddressed.

Establishing an open door policy effectively removes that discomfort. This not only improves communication but also benefits the organization as a whole.

Nurture a Team Environment

Another way to foster solid communication is for leaders to consider themselves a team member, not act as someone who managers the members. When managers take an active part in the daily activities and maintain an avid interest in what goes on during the day employees are more inclined to relate to their bosses.

This makes them feel more comfortable approaching the boss. Organizational studies indicate businesses which do not put total emphasis on hierarchical status, but rather work off a horizontal flat scale have stronger communication; as an added benefit the team environment also opens the door for innovative ideas and increases productivity.

Town Meetings

Regular staff meetings which are formed on the basis of sharing information and ideas are another good way to develop strong communications between management and employees. These meetings create a forum which allows everyone to have a voice and when people feel they have a platform to speak up about matters, better communication follows.

Third Party Trainings

If poor communication creates a strained workplace, sometimes it's a good idea to bring in a neutral party to mediate and try to pinpoint the root of the problem. Since this process is confidential it alleviates any employee fear of retribution or apprehensiveness about speaking up. Leadership can evaluate the results of the surveys taken and subsequently make strides to improve the areas which cause communication to falter.

Create a Motivating Environment

To further improve communication, management should put heavy attention on discovering what motivates their employees. An environment which stimulates excitement and enthusiasm for the job is also one which is likely to have better communication amongst its members.

Communication is vital and lies at the heart of any successful organization. When solid communication exists in the workplace it eliminates many of the stressful issues which can occur within an organization.

When management can effectively nurture an environment which encourages open and truthful communication, it will benefit both management and employees. Strong communication in the workplace is positive for the overall good of the business.

Management: Tips on how to Empower Employees

2009-09-07T04:51:00.002-04:00

Traditionally handling all decision making details was a manager's job, however today's workforce has evolved to become a more empowered one.

More and more organizations are allowing their employees to have higher levels of responsibility and decision making authority in their jobs.

Organizational studies suggest that offering employees degrees of empowerment increases morale, productivity, and in the end adds to profitability.

Despite the benefits of empowering employees, many bosses have a hard time letting go and allowing someone else in the proverbial driver's seat for certain processes. Read more...

Why Businesses Should Consider the Ethical Issues Associated with a Data Breach

2009-09-04T06:16:00.002-04:00

Accumulated data is one of a company's most prized assets and this alone should be motive enough for a business to take measures to protect data. Yet despite this fact many businesses consider information security practices to be secondary and don't put enough resources and effort into protecting data.

Throughout the course of strategic planning and the day to day operations, many decision makers tend to lose sight of the consequences of a data breach in favor of focusing on and investing in more lucrative processes such as marketing, research and product development. Read more...

How Honesty Affects Business Success

2009-09-03T03:30:00.002-04:00

A business is only successful if it can attract customers to buy their products or services. If a company cannot effectively attract people to patronize their business, they won't be able to turn a profit, never mind flourish.

There are many good reasons why organizations should act with strong integrity, but basically I think it comes down to four critical reasons why organizational success is inherently dependent upon honesty.

Company Reputation

One of a company's best assets is their reputation. When people hear the words 'corporate scandal' typically their minds immediately wander to Enron. This group of executives did not act with honesty and their company faltered.

Integrity and honesty are important to a company's reputation. Without it, they won't be trusted and consumers won't feel confident buying their products and investors won't want to stake their cash in the company either.

A company's name that loses credibility, probably finds their bottom line loses reliability too if they become known as cheats, liars or ripoffs, who's going to want to do business with them?

Employee Morale

Employees feel the pressure if the company they work for becomes immersed in scandal or unscrupulous behavior. Organizational behaviorists strongly suggest decreased morale impacts profitability.

If employees feel as if they are being viewed as corrupt because of their management's reputation, or worse, their managers expect them to commit unethical acts, this is undoubtedly going to affect morale.

Unhappy employees aren't likely to be high performers. If the situation drags on indefinitely, ultimately this lack of productivity will contribute to company financial problems because the company is not operating at its strongest capabilities.

Self-Preservation

Dishonest management can breed fraudulent employees. Executives that set the example acting unethical and dishonest is acceptable may find some employees see this attitude as reason enough to commit fraud within the company.

They may steal supplies, commit unauthorized use of funds or equipment or flat out steal or embezzle money from the business. After all, it's what they've been taught. If a company wants honest employees, they'll have to lead by example. In this respect honesty is extremely important for organizational success.

Customer Trust

Without securing customer trust, a company cannot effectively sell products or services because consumers will simply turn to competitors who have an honest standing. All it takes is one bad experience from a customer and reviews can land all over the Internet. Additionally a customer who receives a bad transaction is not bound to forget this experience any time soon.

After all, who wants to spend their money in a business that acts unethically? How will they feel confident they'll be buying a good product or service that will uphold a guarantee? They won't. They'll feel better doing business with a competitor who has a good reputation.

There are many ways that honesty is critical for organizational success. What comes around goes around and those businesses who opt to aim for the dishonest and quick buck are going to lose out on profitability opportunities in the future.

Management: How to Give Effective Employee Evaluations

2009-09-02T04:17:00.000-04:00

Staff evaluations are an important part of being a leader. Offering tangible feedback is valuable for many reasons for both employer and employee.

Employees typically want to know how they are performing and evaluation time is a good opportunity to provide useful feedback.

Dan Blade offers some thoughtful tips on how to plan for employee evaluations:

If it is time for your company's annual evaluations and you are just getting around to picking up the reports, you are too late. Evaluations are something which should be thought about long before the due dates arrive.

Envision this scenario:

You have just gotten promoted and have a team of employees working for you. As a new business leader you want to ensure that everything is done right. The first item is to ensure that those annual evaluations that are always left to the last minute are finally done right. Read more...

Reasons to Avoid Jargon and Acronyms in Business Communication

2009-09-01T01:23:00.002-04:00

Business jargon serves a useful purpose internally, but it is best to avoid jargon and acronyms in communication to the external world. Abbreviated terminology is helpful for those who work intimately within the industry or field because it is fast, efficient and useful in most circumstances.

Industry speak does have its time and place, but if used in outside communication, this has a tendency to undermine the effectiveness of the messages being sent. When people use acronyms and abbreviations when writing or speaking to an audience not familiar to the business jargon, it can be pretty counterproductive and result in diminished communication.

There are several reasons for this. The most prominent one is that the message is going to be unsuccessfully delivered to its intended recipient. It can also lead to... Read more...

Choosing the Right Business Opportunity

2009-08-31T04:33:00.000-04:00

Choosing the right business opportunity can be as easy or hard as you make it. Ideally the business concept should be something you have a passion about, some knowledge, and obviously, to fill a viable need in the market. Without the latter, it will be difficult to make a success if the business opportunity is something where there isn't a market interest.

Before jumping into a business venture it is also a good idea to give some serious thought as to what kind of opportunity you want to pursue and whether or not it is something that has long term value for yourself. There are several areas to consider as you mull over the kind of opportunity you want to invest your money, time and resources in.

Shaheen Darr elaborates more on these issues you should evaluate when narrowing down the kind of business opportunity that is right for you:

Choosing a business opportunity can be a difficult decision considering the large number of choices available both offline and on the internet. Nevertheless, keeping some important points in mind when selecting a business will ensure it is interesting and profitable at the same time. Read more...

Tips for Dealing with Employee Motivation Issues

2009-08-28T02:49:00.000-04:00

A motivated staff is a high performing and industrious one. If your staff isn't inspired and as a result productivity has decreased, this will impact their motivation. If a lack of motivation is occurring in your workplace, this will eventually have impact on the performance and success of your organization.

It would be beneficial to everyone if you looked for ways to help your employees become motivated in their jobs. Helping employees become more invigorated will make them happier in their jobs and increase productivity for your company.

What are some ways you can inspire and reinvigorate your employees to become more motivated? Read more...

Management's Role in Successful Teamwork in the Workplace

2009-08-27T05:11:00.002-04:00

Teams in the workplace have fast emerged as a staple in organizations and today is often considered a necessarily element in business. It is not uncommon to see many staff members coming together in an organization to meet a common goal.

Despite the successful nature and benefits of working in teams, sometimes the team effort does fail. There are simply times that a group cannot effectively work together to get the task completed.

Here are some ways management can help lead successful teams:

Philosophy Towards Teamwork
A partial determination of team success or failure largely starts off with organizational culture and philosophies. In an organizational culture where solely entrepreneurial thinking is promoted can equate to a recipe for failure when teams are created to get an objective accomplished.

While this innovative way of thinking is probably a good asset for individuals to possess in general, it is not the only ingredient for success because it does not always welcome or include the input of others. If players are encouraged to strictly think solo, the team dynamic will ultimately fail because people will not know how to effectively work with one another.

Offer Guidance
To have successful teams, management can consider offering guidance to provide a clear understanding of the project to give team members a foundation of which to build upon. It should also create groups made up of people with similar values, but enough diversity to add different perspectives.

Choosing Team Members
When developing team members, management should take into consideration diversity and styles of work habits. The organizational culture should set the stage for encouragement, motivation and innovation.

Groups should also possess cohesiveness with regards to the project and also have personal commitment, which can forge intrinsic rewards, giving the group stronger motivation to succeed at whatever the project is they are working on.

If the company does not promote an environment of encouragement, innovation will be stifled, both in the individual and team setting. The organizational culture in a work environment has direct impact the success or failure of teams.

Business Accounting: The Difference Between Accrual Basis Accounting and Cash Basis Accounting

2009-08-26T04:16:00.002-04:00

Accrual and cash basis accounting are two kinds of approaches to maintaining and recording financial transactions. Companies will choose one method to use as their approach to maintaining accounting records.

The largest difference between the two methods is the way a business chooses to document their incoming and outgoing cash. These variations in rules primarily apply to the time frame in which revenues and expenses are reported.

Accrual accounting is founded upon the philosophy transactions are recorded when the event occurs, which does not necessarily correlate with the time money actually changes hands. Read more...

How to Prepare a Five Minute Speech

2009-08-25T05:02:00.001-04:00

Preparing for a 5 minute speech is not always the easiest task to accomplish. There are lots of hurdles to cross when you need to deliver a five minute talk.

The biggest challenge is probably going to be finding a way to keep to under the 5 minute constraint. The trick to a successful short speech is to find the balance between the time constraint and still be able to hit all the right points.

For a 5 minute speech it is important to choose words carefully because there's no luxury of being overly descriptive and detailed to get your point across. Instead you'll have to be brief and concise to deliver your message.

Here are a few general good rules of thumb to follow when preparing for a five minute speech:

Outline your Points

As the 1st step in preparation, it's helpful to outline all of the points you need to include in your message. The list may be long at first; this is OK. Even if your outline is pretty detailed, this helps because it offers the full picture, and you can eliminate the extra words later.

Afterward, go through the points and extract the most vital points out first. This helps give you an idea of how to consolidate the points in order to meet both your objective and fit the 5 minute time limit. Once you do this then you can decide if any points are not as pertinent or necessary.

After you've completed your outline and brainstorming session you're ready to organize your sentences to give precedence to the more important points you need to cover.

Organize Important Points

Now you're ready to organize your points and give the more essential points precedence. The way to do this is to put these comments first in your speech.

The reason for this is if you happen to run out of time, you can ad hoc eliminate the less crucial points as time is winding down. As long as you put the important stuff first, you'll ensure this information is shared even if you have to cut it short.

Conciseness Counts

In a 5 minute speech time moves quick and you can more effectively deliver your message if you choose short and crisp sentences. The more clear and straight to the point you are, the better. You'll know you've succeeded in your practice run if you can speak without sounding as if you've minced words, even if you had to slash the extra descriptive words.

While this part is tough because you want to sound interesting enough for your audience to listen, there is one advantage to the five minute speech that other longer talks don't have.You don't have to worry about maintaining your audience's attention because it will be over quickly.

The key is to hook people with your opening sentences, and if you can do this from the get-go, you should be able to carry a good speech from beginning to end and be heard.

Offer Hand-outs

This may depend on the information you have to cover in your speech. If 5 minutes only gives a brief rundown and description without really delving into much detail, hand-outs can effectively eliminate the problem of not offering enough information.

Preparing hand-outs for your audience helps you not only meet time constraints, but also offers additional information as you want. You can include the most frequently questions and answers, your contact information or any other detail you want to share.

Rehearse your Speech

The actual preparation for such a short speech takes much more time than giving it. Despite this fact, before delivery, you want to rehearse and practice your speech either in front of a mirror, or even better to a friend, family member or colleague.

This is beneficial for many reasons. You can be sure you sound OK and that you indeed meet your five minute time constraint. What may look good on paper may not be realistic when you actually speak. Or worse, you may cut it down so much and eliminate information you could have kept in. Practicing is a great gauge to determine if you are on target.

Preparing for a 5 minute speech is well worth the effort. Short speeches do pose some challenges, but with early preparation and practice you can easily deliver your speech under the five minute time limit.

The Relationship Between Telecommuting and Higher Productivity

2009-08-24T00:08:00.000-04:00

How telecommuting increases productivity in the workplace

Telecommuting is not exactly a new concept in the workplace, but it is one that continues to grab the attention of both employers and employees. There are benefits to both parties and one of those advantages is the fact it increases productivity.

There is a school of thought that is suspicious of allowing employees the autonomy of working on their own actually decreases productivity. In some cases perhaps there is a degree of truth, but for the most part, its probable productivity goes up not down.

Even if there are a percentage of employees trying to buck the system and take advantage of not having eyes looking over their shoulder, organizational studies suggest that realistically the bulk of the telecommuting population offers higher levels of output when given the option to telecommute.

Intrinsic Motivators

The reasons for this increase of productivity are many and what it primarily comes down to is motivation. Organizational behaviorists often point to intrinsic rewards as being a strong motivator for employees in a company.

What this means is that employees who rewarded by non-tangible rewards such as autonomy, responsibility, and empowerment often perform at higher levels of productivity and get more work done.

The micromanaging element is removed by telecommuting and it is not uncommon for staff members to jump at the opportunity to work on their own initiative. This feeling offers a strong sense of accomplishment which is encouraging to do even a better job. Employees who feel this kind of achievement are typically high producing workers who are constantly looking to continue to feed this internal need.

Extrinsic Motivators

There are also extrinsic rewards that come with telecommuting which also can improve productivity. The flexibility of working from home is very valuable to some employees, especially those who have small children or parents that need taking care of during the day. Eliminating the need for outside care is very helpful to these employees and much appreciated.

Commuting is another consideration. Telecommuting also eliminates the need to travel to the job, which gives back hours in an employee's day, freeing them up to tend to other matters. Instead of spending time commuting back and forth to work, employees have more elasticity with their time and can tend to other things. Additionally physical commutes can be stressful and eliminating the stress factor allows employees to be more focused, which can have a direct effect on levels of efficiency and output.

Employees who are offered the chance to work autonomously and on a flexible schedule are generally more motivated in their jobs. With motivation typically comes a higher level of productivity. While telecommuting is not for everyone, those who do engage in it find it to be a win-win situation for both employer and employee.

Business Accounting: The Difference Between Financial Accounting and Managerial Accounting

2009-08-21T05:11:00.003-04:00

At first glance you might think financial accounting and management accounting are pretty much the same thing, but in reality there are significant differences between the two. Each style of accounting functions in a different kind of way.

Managerial accounting serves in the capacity of providing information to managers and internal members of an organization. Financial accounting's function is to provide information to outside stakeholders, such as creditors and stockholders, who are interested in and have a financial investment or stake in a company.

While both kinds of accounting use the same financial data to calculate figures, it is the objectives for using them which vastly differ. Read more...

Management: Best Practices for Company E-mail Policies

2009-08-20T04:51:00.000-04:00

Email has become a primary means of communication in the work environment. When the Internet first emerged as a method to share messages, this tread into unknown territory and the boundaries of how to use company email weren't really clear.

As a result employers were lenient and didn't put many resources into constructing a formal email policy, but over time the need for one has became evident. Today many managers do indeed establish e-mail policies in their organizations.

Todd Pheifer has some relevant ideas about how businesses should proceed with incorporating e-mail policies in the workplace:

Despite the fact that email has the potential to be a key communications tool in modern business, it can also be a major distraction in the workplace. Many people in a variety of fields use email every day, but individuals have also found themselves in major trouble because of their email communication.

Some legal proceedings have hinged on the content of certain company emails, since the information can be stored and archived by organizations. Because of some of these problems, many organizations have adopted company email policies. Read more...

Business Ethics: Pros and Cons of Drug Testing in the Workplace

2009-08-19T04:23:00.001-04:00

Drug testing in the workplace is a pretty common practice. This is often a controversial topic and some people question whether or not if it is really justified and/or necessary for employers to drug test employees; others are concerned with privacy rights.

A Delicate Subject

Drug testing is a delicate subject and there are some definitive pros and cons when an employer decides to create a drug testing policy. Some companies rationalize guaranteeing a drug-free workplace is done for the greater good and creates an environment of increased productivity.

Consequently it is argued that the opposite can occur and productivity and morale actually go down. The basis for this argument is people like to feel trusted and want to be treated with dignity. Drug testing has high potential to remove that dignity and create an environment ladled with poor morale.

As an employer, there are some obvious advantages and disadvantages to drug testing applicants and for drug use. Drug testing is beneficial in some situations, but not others.

When trying to create a drug test policy, there are several things to consider in the decision making process:

What Kind of Business is Run

If your business is one that is responsible for the safety and well being of others, this is going to be a primary consideration. Industries such as schools, hospitals, security, and transportation, to name a few, have more of a reason to ensure applicants and employees aredrug free because they have to ensure the safety of the public.

Does this mean that drug use is more acceptable for other jobs? No, but employers do have the right to expect their customers are to be treated of with the highest level of care. This is true in any kind of business environment, but when physical safety is a factor, the issue is more prominent.

Weigh Advantages vs. Disadvantages

Organizational behaviorists suggest people prefer to be treated as trustworthy. Drug tests force staff members to be put through a level of humiliation which could impact this basic emotional need in the workplace.

When employees work in an atmosphere that presumes guilt of drug use before evidence surfaces creates a hotbed of potential to harm overall morale. A workplace which is full of low morale will undoubtedly begin to experience lowered productivity.

Taking these factors into consideration, depending on the type of business being run, drug testing may yield more negative effects than positive ones.

On the other hand, proactive drug testing is likely to reduce the potential for any damages incurred by liabilities; particularly n the aforementioned kinds of industries where bodily safety is a primary concern.

Consider Legal Repercussions

The advantages are obvious. Drug testing can decrease the possibility of lawsuits relating to accidents caused by drug use. Get rid of the drugs and increase safety in the workplace equates to no lawsuits for liability.

However there is a potential drawback of drug testing related to lawsuits. Occasionally invalid or false results are produced by drug tests, and while technology has improved accuracy, it is not foolproof. If an employee is falsely accused, this could result in problems.

Additionally what if an employee feels singled out or discriminated against? Selective employee testing could result in discrimination problems.

One managerial theory states "...people tend to behave as they are treated. Thus, managers who treat employees as if they were incapable of taking initiative, will probably end up with employees that don't take initiative" (Shaw and Barry, "Moral Issues in Business", 2004).

When it comes down to it, managerial decision to mandate drug testing should not be taken lightly. There are definitive pros and cons to this practice and it's important to weigh all the considerations before enacting drug testing policies.

Business: Common Traits of Successful Websites

2009-08-18T05:09:00.002-04:00

If you want mass exposure, the best way to accomplish this is to build a website. The World Wide Web has millions of websites, and it takes a bit of work to be one of the sites which gets noticed and as a result generates traffic.

Achieving success with your website takes a bit of strategic planning. When you create a presence on the Internet the objective is to find ways to attract visitors to your site and show them you are offering something of value. This value will be what drives visitors to want to return to your site.

The challenge that arises is due to the fact there are millions of web pages in existence. How do you create a strong presence to make your website stand out above the rest? Read more...

Value of a Business Credit Card

2009-08-17T08:10:00.000-04:00

Business credit cards are an alternative way to keep track of business spending. This doesn't mean a company necessarily needs to abandon traditional ways of record keeping, but using a business credit card for expenditures can simplify and streamline the process.

Daniel Xiao Wang offers some important points to consider when determining the value of a business credit card for your business. He also discusses the advantages of this consideration:

Owning your own business is expensive, and the record keeping necessary can make you wonder why you went into business in the first place. Add to that the struggle to keep several people on the same page concerning business spending- and forget tracking their spending and limiting their purchasing.

If only there was an easier way to accomplish all these goals? There is, and a business credit card may be your ideal solution. Business credit cards have become very profitable in recent years and have evolved to include many benefits and unique features. A business credit card can become a valuable partner in your business. Read more...

Customer Service: Best customer satisfaction techniques

2009-08-14T04:32:00.001-04:00

In today's sales environment the customer is in the driver's seat. Companies can no longer get away with shoddy service, poor quality or making customers wait extraordinary amounts of time. People expect, and can demand, instant gratification and be able to get it because there are so many options on the market.

With the advent of the Internet, a customer's marketplace is located globally and no longer are customers limited to the corner shop for their purchasing needs. Products and services today are no longer in demand like they've been in the past because a competitor is always waiting in the wings to nab the customer's attention if satisfaction is not achieved.

The competitor can be in the vicinity or located half-way across the globe and still attract a customer who wasn't happy with a purchase. As a result businesses have to strive for high levels of customer satisfaction in an attempt to maintain customer loyalty. Read more...

Employee Overload: Why too Much Work can Lead to Inefficiency

2009-08-13T04:33:00.000-04:00

In a workforce where many employers are actively looking to scale back on costs, this often means cutting back on staff through layoffs or not hiring replacements when staff retire or quit.

Many employers opt not to replace employees as a measure of savings by not paying the additional salaries, benefits and other costs associated with maintaining a workforce. Unfortunately this can have a cascading negative effect on remaining employees.

Most frequently the work load of the employee who left the organization is then redistributed to remaining staff. As a result many employees find themselves overworked and under stress.

While employers think they are saving money, in the long run, this can really do damage to the company because productivity and quality can end up suffering and bearing the brunt of decisions to cut back staff. Read more...

Organization Dynamics: Value of Teamwork in the Workplace

2009-08-12T03:00:00.001-04:00

Teams are strongly tied to the heart of organizations. Smart businesses have recognized this and encourage work teams as an industrious way to get projects completed.

When a leader assigns a task to a group of people, it opens the door for brainstorming, creativity, and innovation to occur. When teams members get together to collaborate, this results in the development of ideas and solutions.

Groups which usually possess attributes such as cohesiveness, commitment and an ability to cooperate are able to successfully apply their complementary skills towards reaching common goals.

The team dynamic is viewed as a positive, and these groups are very productive. Teams have become a staple in organizations because they have proven to have a high rate of success and have so many advantages. Each employee possesses tacit knowledge, experience that other members may not have, and sharing each personal attribute promotes new ideas in the group setting.

Relying on individual instincts can be done, but more innovation and creativity typically emerges in the group setting. The diversity contained within teams can also help promote fresh ideas that will benefit the organization. Team members who effectively recognize the value of working with others formulate success. Lacking a willingness to share ideas and/or thoughts can contribute to group failure.

To succeed in a group scenario, members have to actively ensure that individual egos do not get in the way of harmonious discussion and have an affect on effective decision making. If individuals are highly focused on their own perspectives without any openness to ideas, this can deter from the best course of action. When team members possess a level of flexibility in the group setting and are not prone to becoming "locked-in" to a particular train of thought has a better chance at success.

Listening and interpersonal skills are a must in the team environment since this impacts ability to relate to one another and will help members reach a consensus with the problem at hand. Poor communication can hurt work teams if the organizational norm does not nurture it, An organization which fosters and encourages communication will have a strong piece of foundation for team work success.

With teamwork and cooperation most anything is possible.

Database Design: Structure Query Language (SQL) Explained

2009-08-11T02:01:00.000-04:00

SQL is an acronym for "Structured Query Language" and is a universal language that has been specifically developed for communication within the database environment. It is a standard query language established through the International Organization of Standards (ISO) and is updated every few years (Post, Gerald, Database Mgt Systems, 2005). This language is also governed under American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

SQL is a simplified coding language and is made up of few words. Its basis for communication relies on commands and its structure was purposely intended to be comprised of limited words in order to create an efficient way to read and write data within a database setting. This was done intentionally because it leaves little room for misinterpretation and the commands are straightforward.

The words used in the SQL language are referred to as "keywords". There are many advantages to using SQL instead of solely relying on "drag and drop" graphical interfaces. Here are a few:

SQL is a Universal Language

This language is not owned by any proprietary vendor and it can be used in most database environments. If a database interface is one you aren't familiar with or comfortable with using the bundled tools, you can simply use SQL.

Easy to Learn

At first glance SQL seems daunting, but in reality the key words in this language are all in English and there are only a handful of them that can be combined and used for different purposes. If you're familiar with C++ or one of the other programming languages, in comparison, SQL will be a breeze to learn!

Powerful

Very complex and multifaceted operations can be performed with SQL. The basic foundational structure of SQL is known as SELECT-FROM-WHERE. The SELECT keyword means to retrieve data from a table; FROM refers to which table you want to extract the data from; WHERE distinguishes what rows you want to get the data from.

In using SQL to retrieve data, you must use a minimum of at least two of these keywords, the SELECT and FROM clauses. The reasoning for this is that it is essential to know what you want to select and from where you want to get it from (Forta, Ben, SQL in 10 minutes, 3rd Edition).

Usefulness

Since SQL is a data manipulation language it is useful in many ways. By using simple commands you can perform multiple functions such as creating a database, retrieval of data, update data, create computed fields, sort data, query specific information or even join tables together. One important factor is to remember to never give a keyword as a name for a column or table. The SQL keywords are reserved words that cannot be dual-purpose.

When writing commands in SQL, like any other programming language, you have to be careful about typos. SQL is very specific about where brackets, commas and quotations are placed; be meticulous of these kinds of mistakes.

If you are new to programming SQL may be a bit confusing to use at first, but once you get the hang of it, it is not too bad and really does come in handy sometimes. There are many advantages to making commands using SQL and once you become familiarized with it chances are you'll love it.

Customer-Centric Principles: Total Quality Management

2009-08-10T04:59:00.000-04:00

Total quality management (TQM) is a philosophical belief which centers on achieving high performance throughout the organization through a high commitment to excellence. Many businesses today are implementing TQM into their organizations as they strive to achieve better products, services and aim to provide an overall higher dedication to quality.

When an organization dedicates itself to achieving TQM, the process is ongoing. While its true goals are set, once they are reached, new goals are already in place because there is no proverbial "finish line"; TQM prides itself that there is always room for improvement.

The basics of TQM are a framework of values which are deeply ingrained into an organization's culture. It doesn't depend on any particular attribute, but rather a multitude of them. Dedication and cohesiveness within the company is also vital to achieving TQM. In order to succeed, leaders must understand the essentials of TQM and effectively be able to integrate them into their organization's cultural makeup. The core of TQM revolves around people-centric principles. Read more...

Business Strategy: Techniques that Improve Customer Satisfaction

2009-08-07T05:27:00.000-04:00

In order to stay competitive and remain profitable, businesses have to focus on the quality of their customer service. Companies that invest time, energy and money into developing and nurturing quality so customers can have a satisfactory experience are going to be more profitable and better likely to experience more sustained growth over the long-term.

Companies who ignore their customer service approaches will quickly find themselves losing out to their competitors. To avoid falling into this pitfall, it is of value for companies to develop business strategies to improve customer service.

This shouldn't be a one time deal, but rather part of a long-term strategy that is immersed in the company's organizational philosophy. Even a company that has good customer service should engage in ongoing evaluation to ensure their customers are happy with products or services they've bought. Read more...

Business Principles: The Basics and Benefits of Mentoring

2009-08-06T04:55:00.002-04:00

There is much to be said for the value of implementing a mentoring philosophy as a part of your business. It doesn't matter if the business is large or small, or if the mentoring is formal or informal.

What is most important is the structure becomes a core piece of the business' foundation and the basic principles are understood and integrated into the daily workplace.

Keith Bailey offers some insightful and pertinent thoughts on the process of mentoring which includes steps which can to be taken to establish a mentoring program. Here's what Keith has to say:

Those of us who have spent much of our working lives in business stand at the crossroads of a unique opportunity. With the economic tailspin receiving constant media coverage, we understand the enormity of not only hanging on to the economic life raft, but also propelling our organizations into the future by mentoring organization leaders.

You may notice several businesses within your community that never seem to have recruiting or retention problems. These businesses have been around for generations and are an integral part of the community. Read more...

Cost Effectiveness of Offering a Telecommute Option to Employees

2009-08-05T04:45:00.001-04:00

Telecommuting is a great opportunity for both employers and employees to save money and be more cost-effective. There are many mutually beneficial advantages telecommuting has to offer, and if implemented properly, the practice can be a win-win scenario for all.

Many companies have realized the potential for higher profitability and retaining the best employees by offering flexibility in work options. Today's dynamic businesses have recognized the potential for savings and as a result, employees working from home has continued to be a viable option for many.

While the advantages of telecommuting are vast and diverse, the cost-savings are an attractive motivator. Employers who encourage the option of telecommuting often find higher levels of productivity which gives them more bang for their salary buck. Additionally they save on work space, enjoy less overhead for both fixed and variable costs and can save money through other ways as well.

Happy employees are not only more productive, they also experience higher levels of morale. This usually equates to more innovation and a desire to produce high quality work. Many people thrive under conditions which offer autonomy with their work.

Employers who offer flexibility to their employees can also typically enjoy lower turnover rates, which results in less money spent on the recruitment, application, hiring and training processes. There are many tangible savings for employers who allow telecommuting as a part of their organizational structure.

Telecommuting is often a win-win for everyone. The practice can also be considered 'green'. With less people commuting to and from work everyday, this generates less automobile pollution, which is savings for all of society.

The ability to telecommute isn't for everyone, but for those it is appealing and a good way to work, the practice can be a mutually beneficial one in terms of savings.

Leadership Techniques: Keeping Staff Morale High

2009-08-04T05:08:00.000-04:00

As a leader, it can be hard to provide the reassurance many employees need in times of economic uncertainty. With so many companies laying off employees on a routine basis, for many people there is a real fear of losing jobs.

Keeping staff morale high in rocky financial times is rough. This is especially true for leaders where the decision of which jobs stay and which ones go are beyond their control and they have to encourage employees in conditions where they themselves have little say with these types of decisions.

Whether or not a leader has control over certain situations doesn't mean he/she cannot strive to raise employee morale. While there may always be degrees of uncertainty in what happens from one pay period to the next, a leader can work to improve morale one day at a time.

By digging into their managerial toolkit, there are several techniques leaders can use to try and raise their staff morale. Read more...

Small Business Management: Attention to integrity in business

2009-08-03T05:30:00.000-04:00

Integrity in business is important for many reasons and is directly correlated with success. Businesses that have a strong code of ethics immersed in their culture will shine above the rest.

Often we hear the old adages "It's just good business" or "It's not personal, it's business", to justify bad business practices. This is simply a rationalization because in reality integrity and business are tightly entwined. A company cannot effectively separate integrity and business because in the long run integrity, or lack of it, will impact productivity and profits.

As a business owner, you'll obviously want productivity and profits to soar so your business can grow. Giving birth to your business is an exciting event, so why wouldn't you want to nurture it and give it the kind of foundation it deserves so it can continue to flourish? Integrity should be at the root of your business' formation. Read more...

Business Planning: Strategizing Ways to Expand a Business

2009-07-31T05:27:00.000-04:00

After you've planted your seeds and cultivated your business and it emerges as a sprout, the next logical step is to nurture it so it can continue to grow and flourish. Most business owners aim for continued growth, and some businesses do this seamlessly with little effort and others struggle with their seedling becoming a matured entity.

If you want to expand your business, there are several avenues you can take in order to accomplish this objective. In order to grow, you have to first examine many aspects of your business in order to discover for the best ways it can thrive; this also includes being able to effectively pinpoint potential and lucrative opportunities.

Why is it some businesses experience rapid and sustaining growth while others languish behind and struggle to keep up within their respective industry? Read more...

Management: How to Cope with Staff who are not Productive

2009-07-30T05:16:00.007-04:00

Dealing with unproductive employees is seldom a comfortable situation to cope with as it can be an uneasy situation to tell someone they aren't making the cut. The best solution is to try and find out the reason of lowered performance and subsequently find ways to encourage staff members who aren't reaching potential.

Dawn Hawkins elaborates more on the importance of getting to the root of the problem and hopefully coming up with a solution. However, this isn't always possible, especially if an unproductive employee doesn't respond to your efforts to inspire and increase productivity.

Here's what Dawn has to say:

Letting employees who are no productive get away with it is sending a very bad message to all of your other employees. It tells others that it is okay to waste company time and you may soon find that the attitude is infectious. There are many possible reasons why you would allow an employee to do this but the most prominent one is that you just don't know how to handle it.

There are ways to handle it and try to keep a potentially good employee. Here are some of the ways that you can deal with a non-productive employee:

Marketing Your Business: Tips for Working with an Ad Agency

2009-07-29T06:10:00.000-04:00

The way you market your company can make or break business. Some companies take on this important task themselves, while others decide to hire someone specialized in marketing and advertising to help get the word out.

Who you choose to put your best face on display can significantly impact the direction of your marketing campaign. When you choose an ad agency, this is an important relationship and one which entails collaboration and an understanding of your brand and company philosophy.

M.J. Joachim offers some terrific insight about marketing, advertising and how to go about choosing the right firm to promote your company:

Marketing Your Business

Isn't it great? Your business is going well, and you can finally afford to hire an ad agency. But how do you know what to look for, and who should you hire to help promote this company that you've so worked hard to establish in your community? The most important thing is to know what you want and need to accomplish, so that you can match your needs with the strengths of the marketing company or companies you hire.

5 Disciplines of Advertising

Advertising companies have many capabilities depending upon your needs. Some businesses are a one size fits all variety offering several services. Others are specialists in specific areas of advertising, marketing, and brand management. Read more...

Management Ethics: Importance of Making your Business Look Good to Society

2009-07-28T05:19:00.000-04:00

If you want to turn a profit, you've got to win over the approval of society. Bad business behavior or ethical practices promotes a questionable reputation and puts a definitive blot on your business' appearance.

Consumers who perceive a company as unethical or unscrupulous aren't going to give their business because the very important element of trust is lacking.

If patrons don't trust you, they'll quickly turn to a competitor.

A business operates on the premise of turning a profit, and there is nothing wrong with this when the right approaches are taken. Unfortunately when most people hear the term 'business ethics' there is often a ripple perception of there is no such thing. Despite this negative connotation, businesses do have the power to change this perception.

The bottom line is there is a way for businesses to both profit and look good to society through their corporate social responsibility philosophies. In fact, the two handsomely complement one another with the right commitment and strategies in place. Read more...

Tips on How to Engage Your Audience During a PowerPoint Presentation

2009-07-27T05:53:00.000-04:00

The secret to a successful PowerPoint presentation is to enhance your lecture, not let the slides replace your words. While you want to create an attractive PowerPoint slide show, the objective is to engage your audience, not make them zone out and start doodling or playing with their cell phones.

The key to success lies in your oratory presentation, slide design and content. Here are a few secrets you can try to engage your audience during your PowerPoint presentation.

Presentation

Let the slides supplement your words, not act as a replacement. As you speak, be animated and frequently make eye contact with your audience. Don't stare at your slides, but engage your attention to your audience to help draw them in.

The PowerPoint slide presentation itself should be to the point and relevant. You don't want to fill your slides up with off-topic content that strays off your presentation subject.

Slides

As you create your slides, it's important to be clear and concise. Insert key phrases on bullet points and use a consistent font type, template and page design. When you pick a template, be sure the colors flow nicely together and use good contrast between slide background color and typeface.

Animation on slides can add some fun, but you want to go easy on the animation. Too many animated slides with moving graphics is overkill and can be distracting and annoying.

Photos, clip art and other graphics are nice enhancements, but they should be relevant to the topical discussion. While your new puppy is adorable, if you are giving a talk on the annual financial review of the company, your pup's photo wouldn't be appropriate, however a piece of clip art with dollar signs, coins or other appropriate graphic would be fine.

Content

The aforementioned key phrases on slide bullets should be carefully worded to reflect a brief description of what you're talking about. Avoid going into in-depth explanations on slides, because that is what your oratory presentation is for.

Your PowerPoint bullets should be relevant, but not overly lengthy. A good rule of thumb is to keep it to approximately 30 words per slide. Remember, less is often more on a PowerPoint slide. It is better to have more slides with less content than less slides with an abundance of words.

Another important thing to remember is to limit acronyms. If you do need to use them, make sure they are explained. It's hard to keep an audience engaged if they are subjected to a string of acronyms that make no sense to them.

A good tip to remember is you want to engage your audience, not bore them to tears. By using a combination of interesting slides and dialogue, you'll be able to effectively engage your audience.

Employee Morale: Why Leaders Should Increase Morale During Recession

2009-07-24T04:59:00.006-04:00

During times of economic uncertainty when jobs come at a premium, everyone is under stress. Business owners, managers and other executives are under pressure to try and maintain a healthy financial outlook during recession and employees are worried about keeping their jobs.

With all the stress occurring, people tend to act differently than their norm. Some employers, for instance out of desperation, may resort to threat tactics and other demotivating approaches in an effort to increase performance and profitability.

This is a bad idea.

Employers who use threatening or scare tactics to try and boost profitability in the end usually fail. People in general do not respond well to these kinds of approaches and as a result will suffer from low morale. They may work to meet their minimum requirement out of fear of losing their jobs, but they will not go above and beyond their call of duty.

There are many benefits to employers investing resources in increasing morale rather than trying to defeat it, even in difficult financial times. The philosophy that relies on threats and pushing employees too hard is outdated and non-innovative. Sure, it might be effective in times of recession when jobs are hard to come by, but the economy always turns around.

Once the job market picks up, those employees who feel devalued and mistreated are going to bolt at the first opportunity. The companies who neglected to respect their employees and focus on increased morale will experience higher levels of turnover once recession conditions cease. And they will cease at some point.

Intimidation may produce short term results, but in the long-term will likely prove to be costly. High morale in a company tends to lead to better employee retention. This reduces costs in recruitment, application, hiring and training processes; when these expenses are reduced, that money can be better budgeted to help grow the company.

There are really no advantages to maintaining a work atmosphere full of negativity and low morale. After all, who does it really benefit? As a leader, which would you choose - happy employees, higher percentages of productivity and higher profits or "getting by" financially with a workplace full of dejected people who are meeting minimal requirements?

Business: Tangible Benefits of Diversity Initiatives

2009-07-23T05:06:00.001-04:00

Companies which invest resources in diversity measures typically experience strong levels of growth. Customers like to see themselves represented within the companies they do business with, so in addition to the business and social reasons for diversity, the market base is a high consideration and strong argument for diversity.

Diversity naturally drives innovation because the differences in ideas, incentives, knowledge base and experiences all promote new inspirations and initiatives. When people who work together think alike, this cohesiveness is good to an extent, but it is the challenges that really make a company grow, and diverse opinions and viewpoints can provide this necessary ingredient.

Once an organization discovers the value of diversity and infuses it within the core of their organizational culture, many tangible advantages for both the company, employees and society in general benefit are realized.

Businesses which hold strong conviction and dedication to diversity illustrate they recognize the value and advantages that naturally follow diversity. The committed company celebrates the differences which exist amongst different backgrounds and realizes the worthy contributions all people bring to their organization.

The understanding of the business case for diversity can ultimately lead to many tangible benefits.

Small Business: Traits Needed to Grow your Company

2009-07-22T05:32:00.003-04:00

Growing your small business takes a lot of effort, time and work. Successful small business owners realize the dedication and determination that is involved in making a success of your own business and then making strives to make it continue to grow.

Shaheen Darr offers some terrific insight and shares the traits and approaches necessary to grow a successful small business:

For some people owning and running their own small business successfully instills the desire to grow that business further. This means not only developing and improving on skills which the business owner already has but also implementing some new ways of running his business to take it a step further. Read more...

Business: The Meaning of Diversity in the Workplace

2009-07-21T05:09:00.003-04:00

An organization that is truly diverse understands both the differences and similarities in people. Inside a diverse organization you'll see people from all different backgrounds working together. Understanding the meaning of diversity also means a business has realized how a blend of employees adds intrinsic value to the business.

In an increasingly global network, due largely to the expansion of technology, people from all different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives are all coming together to work in various capacities. As a result a more diverse business environment is rapidly developing through e-commerce, customer service practices, supplier relationships, outsourcing, partnerships and merges to name a few.

Business Case for Diversity

Through global expansion more people are exposed to different cultures, practices and beliefs. Businesses who embrace diversity go above meeting the confines defined by the law because they recognize the advantages from a both a business perspective and from a social one. They understand diversity shouldn't divide employees, but instead unite.

There is a strong business case for diversity because companies who are genuinely diverse and invest resources in diversity initiatives have found lower turnover rates, and less discrimination lawsuits brought against them for sexual, race and age discrimination.

Additionally people who are diverse in culture, background, social class, gender, age or religion all bring something different of value to a company because of different life experiences and perspectives. Each employee helps shape a unique perception on work projects, processes and issues because of the differing backgrounds. These distinct viewpoints help businesses grow because of the innovative ideas inspired by diverse viewpoints.

Social Case for Diversity

From the social perspective, investing in diversity initiatives means equal practices for everyone within an organizational setting is the right thing to do. Organizations that have become intensely aware of the value of diversity and from a humanistic point treat everyone equally and with the same respect.

Essentially most everyone wants the same things from life, to be happy, realize their dreams, have hope, provide a living and to meet their individual goals of what they deem to be success. True understanding of diversity in an organization recognizes this. Underneath the surface of different skin color, beliefs, backgrounds, and sexual orientation people are more alike than different. True, everyone has differences, but it is these differences which can make up a truly dynamic organization.

Business Presentations: Pros and Cons of Using Microsoft PowerPoint

2009-07-20T04:53:00.001-04:00

PowerPoint has emerged as one of the most popular tools of choice for giving presentations. Microsoft has developed this application with user-friendly philosophies in mind; there are templates and tools right at your fingertips to help you construct the perfect accompaniment to your presentation.

Granted most people turn to Microsoft products as a familiar friend, but there are many other reasons to integrate PowerPoint with your talk. There are advantages and disadvantages to using PowerPoint, and to achieve integrating a good slideshow into your presentation is to understand the benefits and drawbacks of utilizing this tool. Read more...

Business: Improving Communication Using Technology

2009-07-17T05:07:00.004-04:00

Technology has transformed the way people communicate. Many businesses have realized the significant benefits technology offers that can improve communication and have made strides to take advantage of this capability.

There are several ways businesses can integrate various applications into their organizations in order to improve efficiency and productivity. Many technologies have been assimilated into various industries to the point of it is expected employees are familiar with them. You'd be hard-pressed to find a business that doesn't use e-mail and/or other applications such as instant messaging, chat, web conferencing and video conferencing as a part of their normal operations.

Communication has been vastly improved thanks to the integration of technology. The primary ways technology has affected communication is improved accessibility, flexibility and collaboration, all important components of communication.

Accessibility

A significant advantage of using technology for communication purposes is to increase access. Employers today can reach employees at any given time and employees can check in any time they need to reach the office. Time is no longer a hindrance because people have on demand access. People don't have to wait to receive the inter-office memo; nor do they have to wait for a staff member to reach a pay phone in order to check in when out of the office.

Flexibility

Technology offers improvements in communication because it increases flexibility. Since on-demand access is now possible, people can work from various locations and it is not uncommon to find people working from home, on the road, in airport terminals and other locations.

Time zones are also no longer an issue due to the flexibility technology offers. It used to be people had to get into the office extra early or stay after hours in order to reach a partner or client working from a different time zone. Thanks to tools such as e-mail people can send off their message and then check in from home for any responses.

Meetings are easier to hold because people don't have to travel great distances to hold a conference or struggle with coordination of differing schedules. By simply employing tools such as video and web conferencing meetings can be held virtually from any location; this offers a high degree of flexibility.

Collaboration

When communication is improved it also enhances collaboration. Companies who integrate technology find they can increase collaboration too and as a result more productivity occurs and efficiency is improved too.

Technology gives businesses the opportunity to engage in projects which may have not been possible without technology due to differences in location and geographical distances. Thanks to technology boundaries have been effectively erased and many more projects and innovative ideas have been born and brought to fruition.

There are several key advantages technology offers in terms of improvement of communication. The increased integration of technology has broadened the scope of doing business and as a result significantly improved the ways communication takes place. As time moves forward it is probable that technology will transform communication in many more ways.

How Good Customer Service Increases Profits

2009-07-16T05:05:00.002-04:00

Good prosperity is inherently tied to quality customer service. Businesses who invest their energy in solid customer service will likely find higher profitability.

Think about the relationship between business and customer. The customer is the one spending the money and the business is the party looking to sell a product or service. Why on earth would a customer remain loyal to a business that provides awful service? That being said, from a logical perspective it doesn't make sense to offer bad customer service, yet some businesses do seem to miss the boat on this one.

Companies who value their customers, treat them well and look for ways to enhance their buying experience will be the business who gains a competitive advantage. These businesses recognize the value of quality and realize how quality directly ties into profits. High levels of quality encourages repeat customers, but a company who establishes a reputation of having poor customer service will not garner any repeat business.

In many instances, all it often takes is one bad experience and a company can lose a customer for good. Sometimes management or employees unrelated to the bad service can smooth a situation over, but this always comes at some kind of a cost to the company.

Why get into this position in the first place?

The key to avoiding this issue is to offer consistent good customer service. Customers that are treated respectfully and with care will become loyal customers. Over the long term this practice directly is linked to increased profitability.

Businesses that recognize their employees are assets also will find this helps increase the revenue stream. The reason for this is companies which create an environment full of strong morale will find their employees pass these positive vibes onto the customer; this is attractive.

A happy workplace emits happy vibes and people will be more inclined to shop there. They don't want to patronize a business which is strife with stress and negativity; they'd rather take their business to the competitor down the street who puts on a smile when they walk in the door.

Strong customer service is directly connected to profitability. If you want your business to thrive, create an environment founded on good morale and treat your customers respectfully.

Make the effort to go the extra mile, your bottom line, your customers, employees and your pocketbook will thank you for it.

Business Tips: How to Write an Executive Summary

2009-07-15T04:56:00.000-04:00

An executive summary is a summation of a long report. This piece of the report is attached to the front of the document. This written piece is designed to be a concisely worded document which contains the major highlights of the report. Its purpose is to draw attention to the key information located within the bulk of the report.

The summary should be written in an easy to read, non-technical format. A goal of the executive summary is to get the important information across to the audience in such a way the reader can gain a full picture at a glance; the refined details can be left to the main report.

If you need to write an executive summary, here are a few tips on how to effectively get your piece written:

Write Your Summary Last

This is one of the most important points to understand when writing an executive summary. Since this summary is going to be a short rundown of the rest of the report, you want to make sure this piece is completed last to ensure the summary contains a higher degree of accuracy in the final product and all the important facets.

Writing the summary early on doesn't make any sense because chances are the report will have deletions and additions as its being written. Putting together the executive summary as the final step ensures you'll only have to write this component once and not have to revise the piece multiple times to reflect changes made in the main report.

Choose Key Points

The intent of an executive summary is to be concise and make every word count. It is important to balance brevity with valuable information. This can be a tricky balance because it is often hard to describe something of importance with few words.

Since the piece is a summation, you want to make sure you get your point across in the most succinct way possible and still be able to include all of the key information without omitting any important points. For each of the main points you want to write a sentence or two fully stating the intent of each statement.

As you choose your points, go through the full report and extract the highlights, then systematically list them in the executive summary so the points correlate with the order the report is written.

Watch Summary Length

An executive summary should theoretically not be more than 10% of your total report. A lengthy executive summary defeats the purpose. The reality of it is most executives do not read all the details, this is often left to other management levels to handle. However, they do need to obtain enough information to get a clear picture of what the report contains.

If written correctly, the executive summary can provide everything that is needed to know at a glance. By keeping to the 10% mark this ensures the piece will be attractive and actually read. The main point to remember is this is a summary and your audience should be able to get familiarized with the content contained within the report without needing to read the entire document.

Proofread

As in any kind of writing, with the executive summary, it is important to make sure the report is error-free. Submitting an executive summary laden with typos, inaccurate or wrong information could be not only embarrassing, but costly.

Often executive summaries contain statistics or other data and it is important this information be double checked to ensure integrity and accuracy. The summary should convey the intent of the report, clearly dictate its message and the primary recommendations and/or evaluations.

Once you've made sure your executive summary has successfully hit all the main points, lists them in order, firmly declares what each point is about and is error free, you are ready to attach it to your main report.

Business and Technology: Employers Monitoring Employees' Use of the Internet

2009-07-14T02:10:00.000-04:00

A popular debate nowadays is whether or not employers have the right to monitor employee network and computers in the workplace. Is this practice ethical? Should it be legal? Does it encroach employee privacy rights?

There is a lot of gray area surrounding this debate, but the one thing that is clear is employers do own the equipment. Company networks and computers belong to a business and are installed for the purposes of business transactions.

This being the case, employers have the right to ensure this equipment is being used properly. It should be perfectly within an employer's authority to make certain computers are primarily utilized for work purposes. Monitoring employee Internet usage is a way to ensure no abuse of property occurs. When the Internet was first integrated into the workplace, many companies didn't put a lot of stock into developing technology policies and allowed staff liberal Internet usage. Read more...

Business Continuity Planning: Steps to Take

2009-07-13T05:10:00.000-04:00

If you're looking to create a business continuity plan to protect your company in the event of a disaster or serious interruption, good for you! You've taken a firm step in solidifying the security of your business in the event something unfortunate occurs which disrupts operations.

One of the first steps you need to do when creating a business continuity plan is to conduct a business impact analysis and risk assessment to determine what the affordable level of down time is. Assessing a probability of risk is important since planning can be costly and you don't want to spend amounts in developing strategies that likely exceed disaster related costs in the event of an actual interruption and/or emergency.

Testing a continuity plan is key. A plan may look great on paper, but if it's not put to the test, there is really no way to determine if the plan does indeed cover all angles necessary in the event of a true disaster. When planning for continuity, it is critical to determine what method of backup is feasible and most cost-effective for your business.

Additionally, businesses processes need to be analyzed to determine which ones can afford a level of down time, such as reservations and/or monetary transactions. This data may not be able to afford any down time at all, and real time mirroring of this data may be worth the expense so you don't lose valuable transaction time.

Data such as employee salary rates, addresses or other contact information don't need constant backup. Instead of mirroring all data, it's more important to focus on the critical stuff. Avoid investing heavily into duplicating non-critical data. After you evaluate which data is critical and non-critical, you can consider whether or not to use a hot, warm or cold site, or perhaps a combination of sites as a part of your back up plan.

When developing a business continuity plan you must consider physical and electronic security, inclusive of fire, theft and natural disaster needs to be considered. Interruptions can include social engineering, natural disaster, deliberate sabotage, and malware issues, all of which should be analyzed in the risk assessment and assigned a level of risk of probability.

Disaster recovery planning deals with the fallout after an unthinkable event happens. If a good Business Continuity Plan is already in place, and has been updated and tested thoroughly, this will reduce the effects of disaster recovery aftermath.

Any plan should be updated regularly and tested on a routine basis. As technologies and situations change, it must be ascertained the plan you have in place actually will work, because if not, your money, resources and time will be spent for naught.

Reference:
Jon William Toigo, Disaster Recovery Planning Preparing for the Unthinkable, 3rd Edition, 2003

Customer Service: Why Top Customer Service is a Trend of Recession

2009-07-10T05:00:00.001-04:00

There is a whole lot of truth to the adage "customer is king". In today's competitive industry environment, more than ever before, business is all about the customer. Companies no longer hold the upper hand when it comes to making sales because customers have the edge.

In order to accomplish offering top notch customer service, any business worth their weight in salt is going to go the extra mile to be customer service friendly. This will likely include setting standards to improve setting customer service. Read more...

Customer Service: Investing in Customer Service Initiatives and ROI

2009-07-09T05:16:00.003-04:00

Offering optimized customer service is an important part of doing business in today's competitive environment. Consumers are not going to accept shoddy service from a business when they can receive better service from a competitor.

That being said, many companies fall into the quandary of how much to invest in customer service and training for employees before it exceeds potential revenues. If carefully planned and implemented, investing in strong customer service initiatives do indeed add value to the business and a return on investment.

Annie Manzi offers a keen perspective on the relationship of customer service and ROI and ways businesses can implement solid customer service initiatives and not exceed budgets:

When it comes to customer service and ROI (Return on Investment) there are different views on the matter. Some companies believe in putting tremendous resources into educating their people to provide better customer service. Some companies do not think the ROI is enough to dedicate themselves to extensive training, and others think there is a happy medium. But the bottom line is that the better the customer service, the likelihood that the customers will do repeat business with the company rises.

The goal of a company should be making sure customer's expectations concerning the product or service are met or exceeded. Customer satisfaction will add value to the company. The goal of a company should be making sure customer's expectations concerning the product or service are met or exceeded. Customer satisfaction will add value to the company. Read more...

Business Continuity Planning: Are You Prepared for an Emergency?

2009-07-08T05:51:00.001-04:00

In recent years, many organizations have begun to talk more about Business Continuity Planning (BCP) and Disaster Recovery (DR). Planning for the unexpected is not a new issue needing to be addressed, but it has emerged in the spotlight especially since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 and subsequent hurricane disasters. These events have made society realize how important it is to be prepared in an emergency.

While the toll on personal life is huge, disasters do also significantly impactbusiness organizations too. With threats constantly looming over organizations with much at stake, BCP and DR has become a current discussion in business circles.

A problem for many organizations is the fact they have difficulty getting past the talk stage about how to plan for an unexpected disastrous event. Statistics indicate few organizations actually put a plan on paper, or if they do, very few have tested it for accuracy and success. As well constructed a plan may be, if it is not tested, there is no way of knowing if the plan is even feasible.

Why do businesses fail to follow through on a plan? Is it due to complacency? Or is it denial? Perhaps it is because people tend to think disasters happen to other people. Whatever the reason, the bottom line is an emergency situation can happen to anyone and can strike at any time.

Any type of interruption, whether a natural disaster, terrorist attack or a computer virus will be costly for a business. Companies not prepared for any of these unexpected events end up scrambling to regain pre-disaster status, and the odds for success are not good. Organizations that have prepared and created a well thought out and tested plan will have a much higher success rate in recovering.

Are you prepared? If not, now might be the time to initiate some planning.

Business Failure: Success is Great, but Failure has Value too

2009-07-07T05:42:00.000-04:00

Most people have experienced a degree of failure in their lives at one time or another. If you've ever met with failure, you may have felt disappointed, hurt, dejected, depressed or helpless. Experiencing failure does not typically arouse good feelings and after it occurs some may decide to give up.

Sure success is better, but before giving up, consider the value of failure before throwing in the towel. Failure is rarely enjoyable, but there are some benefits associated with a business letdown.

Despite the negative connotations associated with failure the positives which can be derived illustrate the value of being unsuccessful. In order to learn how to succeed it is important to experience a level of failure at some point. When a person constantly succeeds they do not effectively learn how to cope with disappointment.

On the other hand, if you are unsuccessful at a business venture, think of it as part of a learning process because failure forces you to evaluate and self-reflect. This in turn helps you learn from mistakes and reflection enables errors to be visible and teaches a lesson in how to thrive in future ventures.

Failure can also result in the growth of personal attributes. If you fall short at something you had hoped to achieve, you can go back fighting and try again. This perseverance will lead you to become stronger and more determined. People who possess this kind of resilience tend to succeed in several facets of life including relationships, business, education, life and every other kind of aspiration.

When failure is experienced most people better appreciate the value of success because they know how hard work pays off. For instance if you attempt to learn a new skill and put a lot of effort into the task and are put to the test, and the initiative fails, how would you react? Would you give up or would you be driven to try again and strive to do better?

If you choose the latter it illustrates strength and determination which are good qualities to have. It also shows you have developed a solid coping skill which is success in itself because you show yourself you don't give up easily, at least not without a fight. When you try again this is all part of the process of perfecting your craft or the skills needed to reach your goal.

Accepting failure is a key part of success. When you accept failure and do your utmost to try again to succeed it shows a strong level of spirit and commitment. In the long run these are pretty valuable because when you do achieve your goal the taste of success is very sweet as realization of the value of work put into the task is appreciated.

Many of life's most important lessons have derived from the experience of failure. With failure comes knowledge and wisdom and these attributes are important factors in the road to success. When traveling along the road to reach your goals, failure is but a small step in your total journey.

Business: The Impact of New Technology in the Workplace

2009-07-06T05:40:00.000-04:00

Technology has had an incredible impact on today's workplaces. Years ago, most tasks were tediously performed or analyzed by hand, but nowadays, with the click of a button, a vast amount of information is able to be processed or pulled up for evaluation.

While this capability is astonishing, it is possible installing new technology in the work place can make or break a business. The successful implementation of technology in an organization is dependent on the strategies management comes up with in the decision making process when installing it.

Technology is a necessary component of doing business nowadays, but many businesses are hesitant to take on this cost. Ultimately as technology progresses, older systems do eventually need updates. Companies should not just look at this as an expense, but as a strategic opportunity. Implementing new technology offers a unique way for your company to develop a distinct advantage in a highly competitive market. Read more...

Business Presentations: How to Create an Effective PowerPoint Slideshow

2009-07-03T05:41:00.001-04:00

You have a large presentation coming up and want to captivate your audience. If you are wondering what you can do to really make it shine, why not consider a PowerPoint slideshow? Creating a visual with PowerPoint might be just the tool you need to enhance your presentation.

A nicely developed slideshow gives your audience a terrific visual to accompany your words, and by integrating a slideshow you can nicely augment your presentation.

The key to an effective PowerPoint presentation is to construct slides that will grasp your audience's attention and keep them interested. If you can successfully accentuate the message you want to convey in an appealing way, you'll see the advantages of using a slideslow to accompany your speech.

Here are some general specifications to help guide you to construct visually appealing PowerPoint slides:

Please click here to read on.

Database Management: Understanding the Different Database Structures

2009-07-02T04:30:00.001-04:00

A database is a system of storing information. Computerized storage also makes it possible for numerous users to easily share information in a standardized format. With technology and software applications growing at such a fast pace, databases have rapidly replaced the traditional paper and filing cabinet system.

Over the years many different types of databases have emerged. Over time some become outdated and others continue to still be used in developing today's modern databases. A common characteristic is every model has two primary components: structure and operation. Regardless of the model, each database will have a definitive structure and a method of operation to access data.

Here are the most common types of databases:

*Hierarchal

The hierarchal model is one of the earlier models of databases. Its philosophy dictates data is organized according to chain of command and formatted in a "tree-like" arrangement. The hierarchal model is structured so information can be searched from top to bottom. It has rapid performance, but is a bit cumbersome because information has to be accessed from the "top" down.

For example: Vendor>Order Number>Service Rendered. This kind of data retrieval may slow down search performance because if you want to start your search for data located in "Service Rendered" it has to sort through the other two pieces first because this data is located at the bottom. The biggest downside to using this model is it is a restrictive environment. As a result, this model is rapidly declining in usage and will likely become obsolete.

*Network

The "Network model is named from the network of connections between the data elements" (Gerald Post, Database Mgt. Systems, 2005). The objective of structuring the data in this format promotes the philosophical thinking users could search data from different viewpoints because they are linked together; each structure is referred to as a network.

The primary problem with this model is the database developer must think of every possible query that might be asked of the database because the structure is designed where indexes are created before any questions are asked or search performed. This model doesn't support the efficiency other newer models represent. It is also space consuming and requires a lot of time management to allot for maintenance. The network model, like the Hierarchal, is also becoming dated.

*Relational

A relational database is the most commonly used database model today. It is comprised of a group of logically connected tables (relations), and data is organized to serve applications with speed and efficiency. The concept of a relational database was originally developed in the 1970s by E.F. Codd (Gerald Post, 2005). Since its birth, this model has significantly grown in popularity.

The relational model is a very flexible one for database operation and does a beautiful job of cross-referencing as long as relationships are accurately assessed and underlying tables are correctly designed. In the relational model it is crucial to eliminate "repeating" groups of data (such as a customer's name appearing in more than one table) and to correctly identify the relationships between the entities (this is referred to as "normalization").

For instance, a customer is an example of an entity, the address is an attribute and these properties are stored in a "customer table"; an order they made is also an object and the order ID number and product purchased are properties stored under an "orders table". The database designer would link these two tables as having a "relationship" because customers make orders. "Employees table" might be another table, but since employees aren't typically associated with "orders" there would not be a relationship established there.

Not every table needs to be linked together in the relational model. It's an ideal design for a database and not surprising it remains the most popular model today because of it's flexibility to encompass many objects. The relational model increases accuracy of data, stored information has a high degree of integrity and the design is efficient.

*Object-oriented

This is an interesting database model since it carries a similar philosophy as the relational model because of the common link of being constructed with a theoretical foundation. The concept of the object-oriented model is relatively new and acts with the philosophy that properties can be "grouped" as objects with classes and subclasses.

The objects include properties and methods and support links between varying objects and includes all their "child" properties. In order to understand the concepts of this model, it is helpful to have general knowledge of how object-oriented concepts work (some computer programming languages operate under this philosophy also). The concepts of object-oriented design are using objects, classes, methods, messages and inheritance. Objects may hold other objects, making inheritance an important concept in this model.

Databases are very useful and are a terrific way to organize information. People use databases everyday. For instance ATM machines get money for you from a personal account which are a part of the bank's database system. When you shop online, you access store databases, and even the author submitting this article adds it into a collective database.

These examples illustrate some of the many ways databases are implemented on a daily basis. Due to high use, it's important for databases to be designed efficiently. This is an important factor to consider for the database designer when it comes time to choosing an underlying foundational design for a conceptual database before bringing it to fruition.

Database Management: Understanding how Databases are Used

2009-07-01T05:45:00.001-04:00

Today's businesses can no longer afford to solely operate on paper and store the data in filing cabinets to keep track of information. This is time consuming, inefficient and makes it difficult to make effective business decisions.

Computerized databases make much more sense because information is easily stored electronically and can be retrieved quickly. Additionally, databases offer the opportunity to find patterns and trends which can be helpful in the managerial decision making process. Businesses that operate on paper are going to quickly lose a competitive edge in their respective industry.

Francis Jock offers some good insight to help describe the many different ways databases are used to help make managerial decisions:

The challenge of building and managing (successfully) a small business in today's turbulent economic times is no small feat. Among the most indispensable managerial tools for success is the collection and management of business information in the form of data, compiled into a useful database and integrated into the management function and strategic plan. Data is used inform and justify business decisions and the database, with its many forms, is the prerequisite for intelligent gathering of business information.

Knowing your way around a business data base is an important managerial skill, one that can aid or hinder the decision making process. Key decision making information about the business is contained within any number of internal and external databases, making the accuracy and timeliness of the data contained within each very important. Read more...

Entrepreneurship: Reasons Why Some Home Businesses Fail

2009-06-30T05:37:00.000-04:00

People who plant the seeds for their own businesses typically possess vision, drive and are highly motivated to help their creation grow. Without possession of these attributes it would be very difficult to succeed in starting your own home business.

It takes dedication and a serious approach to succeed as a home business owner. There is a lot of competition out there and if your goal is to have a successful home business, you'll have to make yourself seen and be recognized in order to grow your customer base.

While there are some home businesses that succeed, many statistics indicate a large majority of home businesses fail. Here are some of the most common problems associated with home business failure:

Importance of Practicing Good Business Ethics in Bad Economic Times

2009-06-29T05:27:00.002-04:00

Recession: Is it a license to act unethically?

Solid business ethics should be practiced during any given time, but most particularly during hard financial times. A rocky economic climate does not give anyone a license to cheat, steal or make bad moral business decisions in the name of 'staying afloat'.

If anything, practicing good ethical judgment gives a company the opportunity to increase profitability in a time when competition is high. In today’s business environment, companies need to do all they can to maintain that ever so important competitive edge.

In reality acting ethically is a better route to accomplish this objective.

Executives who seek short cuts by acting unethically in order to make a quick buck and look good to shareholders on their financial statements are only going to harm themselves, the company, employees and shareholders in the long run.

Here are a few reasons why I believe unethical decisions, behavior or judgment in times of recession is bad business:

*Shortcuts don’t lead to long term profitability, all it does is show inflated balance and income sheets which will plummet in the future.

*What comes around goes around.

*Ethical behavior results in a solid reputation being built. People are attracted to companies who act with strong ethical fiber and reward them by offering loyal patronage.

Unethical acts are rarely forgiven or forgotten. How many people hear the name “Enron” and offer praise nowadays? Not much. Instead they will forever be known as the company whose scandalous and unscrupulous executives bilked everyone wherever they could.

Yes, financial times are tough, but to maintain a level of sustainability, practicing good ethics should remain foremost...the payoffs are immeasurable in the long run.

The Relationship Between Business and Ethics

2009-06-26T05:52:00.000-04:00

The relationship between business and ethics is intrinsically entwined. A successful company is one which can effectively recognize and cultivate the relationship which exists between the two. Businesses that exhibit and promote strong corporate codes of ethics are more prosperous in the long run because they show a commitment to an expectation of sound moral behavior.

This commitment demonstrates a dedication to society, customers, employees and the business itself. It also enhances a company's reputation if they become commonly known as an ethical company, and this brings more value to the organization.

The highly competitive environment in today's global economy puts pressures on company leaders to remain profitable and to show a good return to stakeholders. Often this pressure can result in unethical decisions being made in order to deliver positive results. When this occurs it usually results in a pattern that gets passed down through the organization.

Business: Value of Diversity in the Workplace

2009-06-25T05:03:00.000-04:00

As technology continues to expand the world is becoming a smaller place. People who previously had no way to interact with one another can now do so thanks to the power of network capabilities.

Nowadays people who live in various corners of the world come together to work through Internet communications. As a result business has expanded to a global level which is made up of both employees and customers from many different backgrounds.

In the business environment diversity in the workplace has become a very prominent topic. Many businesses have entire webpages dedicated to this subject. Additionally most business degree programs offer dedicated courses to the subject, and even the required core organizational behavioral courses broach the subject in various business programs.

There is significant value in diversity and academia has integrated this topic into its curriculum to teach tomorrow's leaders the importance and advantages of a diversified workplace. Read more...

Business: Advantages of Running a Sole Proprietorship

2009-06-24T05:49:00.004-04:00

Small business owners often structure their business as a sole proprietorship. There are many terrific advantages to this kind of business structure. In addition to the fact the sole proprietorship is easily formed and not a lot of capital is needed for start up, one person operations are not subjected to nearly as many regulatory mandates as corporations are required to comply with.

Aside from the structural advantages of sole proprietorships, there are also many personal rewarding aspects of running a solo operation.

Shaheen Darr offers a great description of the advantages of running a sole proprietorship and the ways proprietorships can prosper:

Despite uncertainties in business cycles and competition from larger business concerns, sole proprietorships have continued to exist proving that they are survivors and here to stay. The sole proprietor enjoys benefits precisely because of the size of his business and some additional benefits that a sole proprietor enjoys are as follows:

A sole proprietor is the sole decision maker in the business and has the freedom to decide what to sell in his business within the parameters his business licence permits if he is situated on the high street. The window display, the layout of the goods on his shelves and the way the goods are displayed are all areas that he has total control over. Read more...

Understanding the Different Kinds of Business Structures in the U.S.

2009-06-23T06:11:00.004-04:00

The three principal forms of business types in the US are proprietorships, partnerships and corporations. Smaller businesses tend to materialize as a proprietorship or a partnership while larger businesses are usually established as a corporation. There are also some businesses which start off with a smaller structure and then experience enough growth to become a corporation.

There are distinct benefits and drawbacks to each structure of business which include tax benefits, start-up expenses, flexibility, how they are governed and transferability.

Here is a brief run down of the pros and cons of each kind of business structure:
Read more...

Business: Techniques for Effective Marketing and Advertising

2009-06-22T05:29:00.002-04:00

Marketing your product and/or service is a lot more than simply tossing out a few advertisements and hope customers respond positively and give you their business. In order to effectively develop a successful product, a business has to put a lot of research and analysis long before the product hits the market.

To sustain a competitive advantage, a company has to understand how to effectively market and advertise their wares. Marketing is a highly dynamic and changing environment and it's important not to grow stagnant when trying to gain visibility and sales for a product being promoted.

A.W. Berry offers a lot of terrific information in his guide to effective advertising and marketing:

Good marketing and advertising takes effort, know how, financing and research. These ingredients are as essential as flour, yeast, water and heat are in making bread. To think you can get by with one or two of these ingredients is fooling yourself as the market is competitive and to compete positioning is essential. This doesn't mean the ingredients have to be huge, just there.

Small marketing can be as effective on a smaller scale if its done right. Below are a few tips on getting started, maintaining momentum and keeping existing clients. Read more...

How Flawed Web Copy Can Harm Your Business

2009-06-21T04:10:00.002-04:00

Your business website is the front door to your company, and your homepage greets your visitors. First impressions are critical and it's important your web copy is accurate on both the front page and the linked pages.

Flawed web copy gives the perception of being amateurish. As a result people won’t take your product or service as seriously and likely opt not to give you their patronage. If a would-be customer's initial glance at your company through your website is one which gives the perception of low standards, it's a good possibility the web visitor will look to a competitor instead.

In order to attract and grow a customer base you’ll want to make your site appealing so visitors will stick around and explore your pages to see what you are offering. Flaws will be an immediate turnoff. A reason for this is it frequently gives the perception that a company who pays little attention to ensuring unblemished website copy are going to leave the potential customer wondering about the quality of their wares. When people shop they want value for their money and if their impression is they are going to receive shoddy service or an inferior product, you won’t make the sale.

Website copy should be professional looking, free of errors and aesthetically pleasing to the eye. Here are tips to consider as you add copy to your website:

*Be professional. Never write your copy in such a way where it appears to be anything less than professional.

*Unknowledgeable. Make it clear through your copy you know your business! Copy that sounds vague or plain wrong is not going to endear your site to anyone viewing your pages.

*Stay up to date. Be sure your page contains new and fresh information. Outdated information isn't interesting and after a time people will stop visiting your page.

*Proofread carefully. Before uploading your copy to the web, be sure it isn't riddled with errors.

Another consideration is to make sure there is some form of contact information on your page. When customers see a way to contact you, it provides them a tangible connection to your business and also helps build trust.

The adage "content is king" holds a lot of truth. If you keep flawed copy off your website, you'll have a much higher degree of successful viewership.

Hiring Practices: Building a Team that Works Well Together

2009-06-20T05:55:00.001-04:00

A team that works well together is going to add value to your business. Hiring staff members who are a good fit for your company is key. Getting the right person on board during the first application round is a good goal to strive for because you don't want to waste time, energy or money on continuously recruiting for positions.

If you can hone in on knowing what to look for as you read resumes, applications and conduct interviews, this will go a long way in helping you build a team that works well together.

M.J. Joachim has some insightful ideas and points about how to hire an employee who fits in with your organization.

Who are the people that stand out and make a difference? Do you gravitate toward certain individuals because they possess qualities that make them more attractive than others? When you seek to hire employees who are a good fit, it is important to recognize what attracts you to different people, and then gauge it against profiles of attraction for other staff members, particularly those who will need to work in close proximity with the person you are considering for the position.

Interviewing prospective employees is important, especially to see if they are qualified to perform specified job requirements. Once you are confident of their abilities and potential, it is vital that you engage in the next step of the hiring process, a second interview. This meeting will not be like the first...
Read more...

Marketing: Getting Local PR Coverage for your New Business

2009-06-19T04:25:00.000-04:00

Getting a new business up and running takes a lot of work. When you're just starting, one of the main things you'll want to concentrate on is getting the word out you're open for business. Since you're just getting your feet wet and haven't yet begun to generate revenue, chances are you don't have a lot of disposable income to spend. As a result you'll want to maximize the money you do have to market your company.

Community relations is a huge part of building a local reputation and since this is the market you want to connect with, it's a good idea to focus being visible in the community. Local public relations coverage can help you get the word out on your company at little or no cost.

Doreen Martel has some great ideas about the variety of ways you can get local PR coverage for your new business:

If you are searching for opportunities to get PR coverage for your new business, there are many ways to get them free of charge! As a new business, you do not always have the freedom of a large marketing budget. In spite of your limited resources, here are some tips to help you get local PR coverage for your new business. Read more...

Businesses: Techniques to Drive Traffic to your Website

2009-06-18T05:46:00.004-04:00

Imagine sending out an invitation but not enclosing directions to your home. Would people find their way? Perhaps they would if they did some research to get directions, but this is time consuming. Wouldn't it be easier if you'd included a way for them to find you?

Theoretically the same concept can apply to your business' website. Your website is the welcome mat to your business and an invitation for people to further explore your company.

If you can effectively use ways to have your website found, visitors will have a much better chance of finding you. Visibility is an important part of running a site, and the more traffic you get, the better chance people may buy what you're offering.

Daniel Xiao Wang offers some valuable tips on the many ways you can increase traffic to your website. Here's what he has to say:

The goal of almost any website is to be seen. Ideally you want to drive traffic to your website and have a high enough page rank that the website shows up in search engine results.

There are many things that you can do to increase web traffic to your site and improve your page rank. Follow these suggestions and you will see an improvement:

Sales: Secrets to Putting Together a Great Presentation

2009-06-17T05:57:00.000-04:00

Sales is an important part of any business. If you want to succeed and turn a profit, you to have to successfully sell your product or service. A big part of this is your sales presentation. How you present yourself is pivotal to whether or not your audience tunes in to what you're saying and whether or not your message has been effectively been received.

Mike Mccarthy gives some great professional sales advice about how to prepare and give a winning presentation:

If you want to know the secrets of a great presentation, the first thing you need to realise is that there is no quick fix, no off the shelf package that will present your subject in a successful way. What you need to know is, that neat, polished presentation you have just seen is the culmination of some hard work.

It is true that some people seem to have a gift when it comes to presentations, but it is also true that many more people give good professional presentations and it is not difficult to get to that level with some effort. The key to giving a professional presentation is preparation. Read more...

Marketing: Understanding the relationship between pricing and perceived value

2009-06-16T05:00:00.004-04:00

Deciding on the right price for a new product can be tricky business. One assumption marketers sometimes make is the lower price is going to attract the customers; this is a big mistake. Marketing statistics indicate the lowest price isn't always the most successful product, in fact many bargain priced items fail soon after hitting the market.

It's all about perceived value. Perceived value is a pivotal factor to consider when you choose the optimal price for your new product.

John McDevitt offers an insightful perspective on the relationship between pricing and perceived value:

Price is the easiest thing for a business competitor to copy, but competing on price alone is a loser's game. Customers care far more for the value they receive from your product or service. Ask yourself why customers pay more for Coke or Pepsi than they would for store brand cola? After all, the store brand colas are much cheaper.

The lowest price alone won't cut it. In fact, you might be surprised to discover that raising your prices (sometimes by a lot) can increase sales dramatically. Why? Because of the perceived value of your product or service to your customers. You can lose potential customers because your price is too low. Low pricing will drive away people who see your product or service as "cheap." Read more...

Marketing Strategy: Pricing Products in a Competitive Marketplace

2009-06-15T06:11:00.003-04:00

Developing a winning marketing campaign is a combination of art and science. Granted there is a level of flair needed in order to attract attention to your product or service, but the analysis of aggregated data also plays an important role in the marketing process.

In order to be successful, market segments must be studied and demographics chosen carefully as will your venue of how you plan to market your product. Once this is done you can begin to think about pricing strategies.

Pricing is an important part of a successful campaign. When setting the ideal price for your product it is important to keep in mind the delicate balance of profits vs. expenses. Strategically selecting a price is an important aspect of successfully marketing your product because your revenue should exceed all of the accrued expenses made in order to develop, market and advertise the product. Read more...

Database Management: The Key Functions of a DBMS

2009-06-14T05:00:00.002-04:00

A database management systems (DBMS) lies at the heart of any database used in business. Without the DBMS running beneath a database's surface, the storing of data would be pretty ineffective.

There are many functions a Database Management System (DBMS) serves that are key components to the operation of database management. When deciding to implement a DBMS in your business, first you must decide what type of DBMS you want.

Common types of DBMS are the relational, network, hierarchy and object oriented models. Each kind of database structure has its own pros and cons. While each is unique in its own way, there are some standard functions of a DBMS, and these are:

1. The Ability to Update and Retrieve Data.
2. Support Concurrent Updates
3. Recovery of Data
4. Security
5. Data Integrity

Please click here to read more about exactly what each of these functions entails.

Information Systems: Understanding the Database Management System (DBMS)

2009-06-13T05:30:00.002-04:00

A database management system (DBMS) is the software program, or collection of programs, needed to support running a database. A database is a means to store records in an organized format in order for users to have ability to share information, but the DBMS is the power behind this capability.

The DBMS job is to set up an environment for the user to be able to interact directly with data, and handles tasks such as the organization and storage of data. The functions performed by the DBMS take place underneath the database's surface and most of the time the user is unaware of what's happening on the underlying layers being structured by the DBMS. Additionally, the user need not be concerned with the underlying technical components because this all happens behind the scenes.

These functions are necessary to be performed for successful operation of database management. Each function is essential to database management because without each function, a database wouldn't be the powerful entity it is for storing, updating and securing data.

Designing a DBMS involves several steps. Prior to building the application, it is necessary to distinguish all the essential business processes which need to be supported. An integral part of this process is to accurately identify user requirements. In order to correctly do this the DBMS designer must have a complete understanding of the business needs.

This is frequently accomplished by interviewing someone from each user group to obtain critical input in what users do and what information is needed to be accessible. This is an important step to complete before any construction of the DBMS begins. Once this has been achieved the initial steps of system analysis are complete.

Once the DBMS system is up and running, it provides a distinct and efficient environment for record keeping which provides great value to an organization. Database management systems make storing electronic records convenient, efficient and more cost-effective.

Database management is one area where the marriage between business and technology is both prominent and evident. Paper storage systems cannot accomplish anything remotely near what database management can.

Next up: The five functions of a database management system and what's involved with each.

Business: Team Building Skills for Effective Project Managers

2009-06-12T05:55:00.001-04:00

Teams are at the heart of any business. More and more companies today have realized the value of teamwork and how the input of colleagues with varying perspectives can really drive innovation.

Project management is an area of business where strong team building skills are effective. When project managers can successfully build a team that works well together, this can really energize a project.

Krystle Hernandez offers some insightful perspectives on the kinds of team building skills which are essential to be effective as a project manager.

Human resources are arguably the driving force behind project completion in the project management arena. For this reason, project managers are typically concerned with obtaining the most efficient, well-rounded team he or she can procure. Even still, because individuals are so different and conflicts are inevitable, some teams simply cannot come together cohesively.

Fortunately, however, team-building activities do exist and effective project managers can use their team-building skills to overcome conflicts and establish a hostility free working environment that ensures greater rates of production and overall efficiency. Read more...

Business: Understanding Project Management

2009-06-11T06:26:00.001-04:00

Project management is pivotal in business. Designed to bring a project's goals and objectives through to fruition, the project management methodology includes everything from budgeting, deadlines and resources to deciding how the goals will be met. Analysis and planning are key components of project management.

Christina Pomoni offers a terrific in-depth explanation of what project management is and the phrases involved:

As organizations progress, they face more and more complex and difficult challenges. Some of these are huge involving the coordination of many different people, the completion of many tasks in a strict sequence, and the spending of a great deal of time and money.

Today's most successful organizations employ Project Management as a strategic tool to drive change and achieve business objectives. Focusing primarily on developing a project plan with specific goals and objectives, Project Management assists an organization to deliver projects that fit-for purpose, timely and within budget. Read more...

Business websites: Tips for writing quality content

2009-06-10T05:37:00.000-04:00

Creating and maintaining a website is a great way to start or increase business. It is also a terrific method to share information or get a message out. After you get your website up and running on the web, this is a great initial move, but you'll need to do much more in order to make your site a success.

The best sites on the web are the ones which manage to showcase quality content on a continual basis. If your website displays constant excellence you will see traffic increase, but if your content shows signs of being uninteresting, sloppy or simply has low quality you'll quickly see that level of traffic decline.

Here are a few tips you can try to integrate in your quest to build a well received website which will leave your visitors hungering for more of your content. Read more...

Customer service: Benefits of using CRM software

2009-06-09T05:42:00.001-04:00

Any kind of expansion in a business is going to cost some money, but sometimes the investment is well worth the eventual payoffs. Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software is one such investment.

Technology has thrown business into a tailspin, and this whirlwind is responsible for the transformation happening in businesses everywhere. Computer applications have become staples in the office, factory and even out in the field, and it's presence has significantly changed the way things are done.

As technology grows and businesses migrate to a global environment, more competition has entered various industries. As a result it has become vital that good customer service is front and center. If your business cannot offer premium customer services, you will quickly see your patrons defect to your competitors. Investing in CRM software can help you gain that competitive advantage.

Read more about the benefits of CRM software..

Business: Benefits of Using Online Video on your Website

2009-06-08T06:42:00.002-04:00

Technology grows at the speed of lightening and businesses that don't go with the flow find themselves falling behind. Several years ago companies found they had to integrate e-mail and establish a web presence else risk being ousted by competition. Today one of the hot technologies is online video.

Businesses have discovered the value of integrating video with advertising. Online video has rapidly become a staple in web advertising and those who don't embrace it will likely be left out in the cold.

Many potential customers are attracted to the interactive attributes video offers. Who doesn't like to see what they are buying? Buying a product or service unseen is so yesterday. In today's high demand environment, consumers want visuals and the ability to make a decision based on what they can see. Read on...