Corporations throughout the world are losing billions in wasted project spending owing to their mis-management, poor quality processes, lack of knowledge in how to manage projects, etc. These projects are often not included in the normal auditing practices. Understanding the process of auditing projects, in addition to their other best practices; will positively impact the […]
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Risk Management – Improving Your Project’s Success
What Is Risk Management? Risk Management is the process of identifying, analyzing and responding to risk factors throughout the life of a project and in the best interests of its objectives. Proper risk management implies control of possible future events and is proactive rather than reactive. For example: An activity in a network requires that […]
Are You Still Using a First Generation Performance Framework?
What is a “first” or “second” generation Performance Management and Measurement framework? Let’s begin by defining these concepts. First generation Performance Management and Measurement frameworks derive Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) from strategy. These include well known and established frameworks, such as Balanced Scorecard (BSC) and EFQM Excellence Model. These first generation frameworks have led organizations to increase the […]
How to Achieve Personal Growth Using Lean Six Sigma?
“If you work hard for your job, you make a living. But, if you work hard on yourself, you can make a fortune.” – Jim Rohn My first inspirational book, about change and personal growth, was about Total Quality Management. The first question that came to my mind, while reading Environmental TQM, was how can […]
What Exactly is Value Stream Mapping (VSM)?
There are tons of “value”-driven management frameworks. Value Stream Mapping (VSM) is one of the most well known–but, do you know what exactly this methodology refers to? Value Stream Mapping Overview VSM is Lean Management method for analyzing the current state and designing a future state for the series of events that take a product or […]
Why Does the Layout of a Store Matter?
Store layout plays a much bigger part in retail than many people think. Without a decent layout you could risk losing customers and money on a regular basis. So, if you haven’t thought about design, here are a few reasons why your store’s layout is so important. Customer Flow The right layout can create a […]
How Do You Achieve Management Excellence?
In their book In Search of Excellence, McKinsey consultants Tom Peters and Robert Waterman found 8 common themes which they argued were responsible for the success of 14 identified companies of “excellence.” The framework is known as the 8 Attributes of Management Excellence. The research and theorizing of this framework was based on the McKinsey […]
Continuous Improvement 101: The Deming Cycle (PDCA)
“Continuous Improvement” is a term management consulting firms love using. It’s also a driving principle behind Lean Management. So, how can we achieve Continuous Improvement in our organization? One of the most common Lean frameworks for Continuous Improvement (of quality) is the Deming Cycle–also commonly known as PDCA Cycle, Deming Wheel, Shewhart Cycle, or Continuous […]
Are You Finding It Difficult to Deploy Six Sigma?
As the case with all management models, the theory may come easily, but execution can be tough. The same goes with Six Sigma. To assist with Six Sigma deployment, follow the Six Sigma Maturity Model. The Six Sigma Maturity provides a structured, phased approach to implementing Six Sigma over 5 logical stages. This methodology helps Six […]
Why “Best Practice” May Not Be Best Practice
The term “best practice” came to common usage during the benchmarking craze of the 1990s. Since then, it has been pursued by many “learning” organisations, supported by a burgeoning consulting industry who claim to have uncovered the best ways to do everything from strategic planning to systems reengineering. The promise is quite compelling: “Benefit from […]
Tips for Reducing the Cost Per Call in Your Call Center
A typical call center will make and receive hundreds or thousands of different calls a day, with each of these calls coming at a price. The cost per call could include thing such as wages for call center staff, per-minute costs or premium number costs on the telephone bill, utilities for the call center itself, […]
How to Make More Informed Decisions in Your Business
Are you a business owner who worries about making the wrong decisions on behalf of your business? If so, there are many business owners in the same situation who need all the help they can get, before they decide to lead their company and employees in a certain direction. Below are some of the ways […]
