Staying on top of technology trends

Many people believe that the revolutionary impact technology has had on products, processes, and communication systems has just begun. New technologies and processes continue to change the way organizations operate daily. The problem for most companies is evaluating which advances are truly opportunities and which are distracting.
Failure to monitor and address advances may negatively impact […]

Benchmarking your place in the pack

Benchmarks are surveys and assessments that help determine how well your company performs compared to other companies in your industry or business size. Below are just a handful of benchmarking tools available:
BizStats: Visit www.bizstats.com for instant access to useful financial ratios, business statistics, and benchmarks. Biz Stats has effective and understandable analysis of businesses and […]

Agreeing on Priorities

Okay, so far we’ve addressed the first three steps in the strategic planning
process on the way to making strategy a habit – 1) Getting ready for the
strategic planning process, 2) Articulating your mission and vision, and 3)
Reviewing your strategic position. Once you’ve made it to this point, it’s
important now that you get everyone involved in […]

Identifying your strengths and weaknesses

Previously in this column, I discussed the first two
steps in the strategic planning process – “Getting ready and organized, and
Articulating your mission and vision”. What follows next in that process is “Reviewing your strategic position”.
You may already be familiar with the trusted business
planning tool called the SWOT, but just in case, let me quickly review. SWOT […]

Your Success Takes Planning

Did you know that having a strategic plan is the best way to
bring focus and direction to your organization AND drive growth at the same
time? According
to a recent study by M3 Planning, a nationwide leader in on-demand strategic
planning services, businesses that use strategic planning are 12 percent more
profitable. The results from the 2006 M3 Planning […]

Inspired by success

In case you don’t think selling your business is likely or even possible, here are examples of some entrepreneurial companies who’ve sold their businesses (I hope you’re inspired by their success):
Catalytica Pharmaceuticals: A 1,700 employee, Mountain View, California-based pharmaceutical outsourcer that made the world’s supply of such drugs as AZT and Wellbutrin. The company was […]

How to Avoid Going Broke

A recent survey found that 54 percent of all companies filing for bankruptcy are experiencing record sales levels in the days and weeks before closing their doors. In most cases, these companies are on a positive growth curve in all areas of their business: hiring new people, generating new business, and ramping up with suppliers. […]

See Your Business Through a Customer’s Eyes

Original article featuring Erica Olsen: http://www.mastercard.com/us/business/en/smallbiz/articles/archive/0205Customer.html
Considering the time and effort you invest in
your business, it may be hard to stand back and see your company from a
different perspective. Discover strategies that will help you to
understand how customers experience your business.
By Tara Remiasz
Imagine you’re traveling for business. After your flight takes off
and you settle into […]

Ten Tips to Creating Momentum in Your Life

Creating momentum in your life takes
increasing the things that move you forward and decreasing those that
hold you back. Sounds like a snap, but I know, just like you do, that
living a life that we desire is not always easy to achieve. We have
habits and repeat cycles to overcome. But by creating momentum, we can
move past […]

Strengthen Your Mission and Vision for Profitability

How a Clear Vision and Mission Leads to More Profits

Dan Bobinskihttp://www.management-issues.com/display_page.asp?section=opinion&id=2837

Here’s
an experiment you can try: Walk into a company’s office and find its
mission statement hanging on a wall. Take note of its meanings, and
then speak to any five people you meet from that company. Ask them if
they know their company’s mission.
Chances are you’ll hear
either […]