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Archive for November, 2001

Employers neglect maintenance and continuous improvement of the recruit process at their own peril!

The recruit process should be structured and robust, constantly refined and improved, with a view to making every appointment an outstanding success. It is absurd not to consider the penalties of a recruit process in neglect.

The trainee planner and the retiring accounts payable clerk constructed an outline vacancy advertisement for the local and national papers. They would run it on ‘job’ days which were traditionally Thursday and Friday for both papers. They felt it appropriate to share their choice of words with the both the HR manager and the department manager for which the vacancies existed. The HR manager was so pleased that his labor of conscripting effort to the task was met with some initiative from his conscripts that he scanned the draft advertisement over a cup of coffee and a mid morning cheese and onion roll, implements of self congratulatory stroking for a recruit process rescue that he felt was already largely complete. He sanctioned the ad placement subject to approval of the department manager with the vacancies.

The department manager with the vacancies was so stretched that every morning he found himself with sleeves rolled up helping technicians prepare machine set ups for handling the new days production schedule. He’d heard the phone ringing at least twice in the first hour that morning and been unable to get back to his office to answer it. About half an hour later he noticed a face pressed up against the clean room glass partition. Below the face was a piece of paper with some hand written words on it that he recognized as the draft text advertising vacancies in his department. He scanned the content applicable to the department positions available. There were a couple of spelling mistakes that he rectified by taking paper and pen, rewriting the miss-spelt words and holding his paper up to the glass. Of course the young person was only looking for content accuracy associated with the vacancies and other aspects of the content such as compensation and conditions would be handled by the HR group. There were some thumbs pushed into the air on both sides of the glass. The trainee planner started away down the corridor. As she walked away she heard a tap on the glass – the department manager was mouthing some words to her. She went back and pressed her ear to the glass. Ca-reer…ex-per-ience. Aaaaah career experience! Again the thumbs were raised, smiles exchanged and the trainee planner began to make her way back to the retiring accounts payable clerk in the HR office who had been tasked with looking up the Daily Reflectors ‘classifieds’ telephone no.

Ads WERE placed after a barrage of phone calls each one of which spurning a question that the new HR recruit team would have to go away and research the answer to.

The initial deadline for the Thursday and Friday of the following week was missed and the ads were to be placed in paper publications that were almost two weeks hence. The ads attracted so many letters and resumés that selecting a short list for contact by the new HR recruit team was going to be at least a weeks work. In a pensive moment between stacks of ‘processed resumé’s’ and ‘to be processed resumés’ the trainee planner suggested to the retiring accounts payable clerk (also peeping out between a stack of ‘processed resumés’ and ‘to be processed resumés’) that if that dumb assed department manager had been more specific with his work experience criteria then maybe the stacks would be less tall to start with.

It was a month to the day after their conscripted arrival in the HR department that the first telephone call was made to a shortlisted candidate which prompted a brief phone call with that dumb assed department manager. Only then was it discovered that career experience and Korea experience sound frustratingly similar..

Few jobs are as tough, or as satisfying, as painting your house. Professional painters really do earn the high fees they get. The areas are always larger than they seem. The quantity of materials is always greater than the initial estimate. But few other projects around the home can be carried out by do-it-yourselfers without special expertise or long experience. Some simple guidelines can lead anyone to a very satisfactory painting result.

Paint selection is task #1.

Naturally, everyone has difficulty picking out the desired color. It’s hard to visualize a whole wall from a single, small square. Paint color changes after application, too. It always dries a slightly different shade than what appears in the can. But with some research and a little experimentation you can pick out just what you want. Today, every shade the eye can perceive can be mixed up.

The type of paint chosen is equally important. Latex has some inherently desirable properties. It cleans up easily, dries quickly and breathes to evaporate any trapped moisture. On the other hand, oil-based or alkyd paints last a very long time, produce very vivid colors and can cover a discolored wall with a single coat. Which is best depends on the intended application and, to a degree, personal taste.

Whether or not to use primer also depends on the specific circumstances. For new surfaces, or those that won’t absorb a topcoat well, a coat of primer can save money and grief. It covers discolorations and old colors. It provides a good surface on which to lay the final paint. The alternative would be many more coats of topcoat paint, raising the final costs substantially.

Preparation is equally important for producing a quality final result.

In many jobs, preparation is 80% of the work. Scraping off old, peeling paint is a must. Applying new paint over it would cause the effort to be quickly wasted. Patching gouges is important. Sanding edges and rough spots is essential to producing a smooth, professional appearance. Any surface irregularities left are amplified many times by the light reflections from new paint.

Masking and covering, with paper or plastic, using materials designed for painting is key to providing a satisfactory result. Nothing looks shoddier or more unprofessional than globs or streaks of paint where it isn’t supposed to be.

Using cheap materials (not just inexpensive, but of poor quality or design) just won’t do. A few dollars extra for blue tape and professional paper or plastic covers intended for painting work is a good investment. It’s a very small percentage of the total and makes a huge difference to the end look. Using quality brushes and rollers of the right size and material is equally important. They will make the job easier and spread paint more effectively.

Painting technique improves with experience, just as with any task. But a very fine result can be produced even by those undertaking a painting project for the very first time. Careful attention to selecting the proper tools and a willingness to take the time to do the job right is 90% of the total. With a little bit of practice, you’ll be painting like an old pro in no time.

It is a never to be compromised law that Success in business comes as a result of planning. Your ability to develop a well written business plan is going to be a major factor that will affect the survival of your business. Since your success in business is directly proportional to how in depth your business plan is, i want to use this article as a medium to teach you how to write a business plan that wins.

To those who might not know what a business plan is, a business plan is a written plan that contains every researched detail of your business, its financial projections, strategies to be employed to grow the business, your ultimate goal for the business and how you intend to achieve this goal.

Therefore a business plan can be said to be a written operational plan for your business. In your quest to write a business plan, proper care should be taken to avoid unnecessary error because your business plan is a long range “map” to guide your business to the goal you have set for it. The plan details the what, why,
where, how and when of your business. The smooth running of your company lies in your ability to effectively write a business plan.

When you write a business plan, you are indirectly developing an operating manual for your business which will keep your business on the right track and guide you in the profitable management of your business. Writing a “winning” business plan that guarantees your success in business takes study, research and time, so don’t try to do it all in just one or two days.

The smartest way to begin is to get either a notebook or a PC. Look for a cool, quiet spot to sit and think about your business plan. Choosing a quiet spot will enable thoughts and ideas race through your mind. I will like to advise that when you are not working on your business plan, always carry a notepad to put down business ideas you pick up along the way.

At this stage, you are now ready to write a business plan. The next paragraph will be an answer to the question “How to write a business plan?” Join me as i bring the format of a business plan to you.

A standard written business plan should Be In The following format:

   The Title Page
   Your statement of Purpose
   Table of Contents
   Your Business Description
   Market Research and Analysis
   Competition Analysis
   Business location analysis
   Management Analysis
   Current and past Financial Records
   Presentation of Plans for Growth
   Forecasted Profit & Loss Figures
   Details of Financing for Growth
   Documentation
   Summary of Business Plan and implementation strategy for the Future
   List of Business & personal References

These are the key points every business plan should cover. Each of these key points will be explained in details later on because they will also contribute to your success in business.

When you sit down to write a business plan for your business, you will be forced to take a critical look at your ideas and strategies. Putting all your ideas down on paper allows you to change, erase and refine them so that the best can be gotten out of them. A business plan will enable you to spot weaknesses and strengthen them before they turn to major problems. Also when writing your business plan, ensure you seek advice from other entrepreneurs and professionals most especially, your accountant and attorney.

Now let me explain briefly the basic key points that make up a business plan.

The first is the title page.  It is always placed as first page of a business plan. This is where your personal name, business name and address of your business usually appear.

Coming behind your title page is the page for your statement of purpose. The statement of purpose is a simple statement of your primary business function, such as: We are a company engaged in
the business of manufacturing cosmetics. The statement of purpose should be clear, short and straight to the point.

Next in line is your table of contents page. This page however can only be written after other key points of the business plan have been covered.

The following page should be your business description. It is advisable to begin your business description where your statement purpose stopped. On this page, you will have to describe your product, the production process, and most importantly, what makes your product or service unique. Your description should be summarized by stating your business beginning, present position and its potential for future success.&lt

Conquering the Challenge of “Change” through Team Building Maneuvers

Leading teams into qualitative team building maneuvers prevails over the challenge of change at a time that change is definitely required in most organizations. In order to experience successful change, the “fear to change” must be addressed. Change is the one constant when uncertainty shows itself in life and change undoes the way process is both managed and executed. Change is natural and good, but people’s reaction to change is both unpredictable and irrational. It can be managed if done right – but when reacting to the uncertainties exhibited by the stimulus for change, mistakes are made and can be very costly. Managing the process that leads to change means managing people’s fear. 

Nothing is as upsetting to your people as change. Nothing has greater potential to cause failures, loss of production or failing quality. Yet nothing is as important to the survival of your organization as your people and their response to change. 

Research tells us that 70 percent of all change initiatives fail (Source: Author Peter Senge, “The Dance of Change,” Doubleday Press, Toronto, Ont. 1999, p. 3-4). Beyond a doubt, the likelihood of your change initiative failing is overwhelming. Since 2004, I’ve studied, facilitated and taught change processes and experience tells me that change efforts fail for one, two, or all of the following three reasons: 

1. Failure to properly define the Future Picture and the impact of the change.

All too often, the “change” initiative addresses the symptoms of current challenges and problems rather than the future the organization wants or needs to create. Change is about creating a desired future, not just correcting current problem/symptoms.  

2. Failure to properly assess the current situation, in order to determine the scope within the requirements for change.

Organizations perpetually assess the current situation against current measures of performance. However, change is not the same as problem-solving or project management. Rather, managing change is about moving an organization strategically forward to achieve its vision of the future. 

3. Failure to effectively manage the transition of moving from the present to the future.

Experience demonstrates that failure to effectively manage the transition/transformation need is the leading cause of failure for strategic change initiatives. The change itself is not the problem. Change is an event; it is situational: deciding to implement a new system, target a new market, acquire or merge two organizational cultures (Source: Author William Bridges, “Managing Transitions: Making the Most of Change,” Addison Wesley, Don Mills Ont., p.3). The problem occurs with what happens within the gap between the present and future, after the “change” and before you get to “there.” The reality of change is that change is about people not structures – people are the reasons for stop gaps in change initiatives!   

Failure to successfully execute often comes from seeing the change as solely structural, so once the new system is designed and ready for implementation, the new organization is agreed upon and the doctrine papers are signed to legalize the “deal,” everyone, including the CEO, walks away from what is considered (prematurely) a “done deal.” This is a mistake that goes on all too often like a broken record. History is full of examples of organizations and teams that failed when experiencing changing environments (most of them are now extinct). The secret to successfully managing change, from the perspective of the people within the organization and their teams, is “definition” and “understanding.” To make it clear, I’ll explain them in subsets. 

Definition and Understanding for the “WHAT” in Teams 

It is important to understand that not everyone who works together or in close proximity is a member of a team. This concept is a misnomer for a lot of people. A clear explanation of a team is a group of individuals who are interdependent with respect to intelligence, information, transferable skill sets, resources, and tools and who seek to combine their efforts to achieve a shared-vision towards a common goal. A team, for instance, is either building or falling apart. An essential aptitude for true team building and the maneuvers they require is leading the te

The principal roles of a graphic designer (or graphic artist) are to: 1) plan; 2) analyze; and 3) design a visual answer to a communication problem.
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rClients rely on graphic designers to parlay a persuasive message; it can either be print, film or some form of electronic media using various different methods. The methods that graphic designers use to convey this message is through: 1) type; 2) photography; 3) animation; 4) illustration; 5) color; and 6) certain print and layout methods.
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rThe graphic designer develops the overall layout and design of magazines, journals, newspapers, corporate brochures or reports, as well as many publications you see today. Some graphic designers also design promotional displays, marketing brochures, packaging, or logos for products and businesses. Some graphic designers produce the credits you see at the beginning and end of movies and television programs.
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rToday, we have an increasing number of graphic designers who specialize in digital media, which include designing web pages for the Internet, interactive media and multimedia schemes.
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rAs a graphic designer, you have plenty of options and many different ways to use your talents and skills.
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rDesigning any print or digital work is easy. The first step is to determine what the client actually needs. You will need to know what message the client wants to convey so you can portray the message in a way that appeals to the customer or user of the product or service.
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rWhen developing a design for your client, you need to look at different factors to plan and execute the design so it smacks the target audience right in the face. Take these following factors into consideration:
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r1. Cognitive
r2. Cultural
r3. Physical
r4. Social
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rTo produce a piece of work which will do everything that the client requires, you need relevant information regarding the project; and you need to meet with the client, as well as meet with their own creative or art directors (if the company has them). Usually the client will research their target audience and subject matter and relay this information to you.
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rIf you want to excel in the world of graphic design, you need to identify the needs of your clients’ consumers. You will discover much of your work will focus on creating a communication strategy for your client, as well as actually doing the designing and layout work.
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rMany graphic designers — to produce a design for their client — will either produce sketches or layouts through a computer or by hand. When creating a design for your client, look at various elements to produce something that the client will like and cause a reaction from their target audience. Use these elements in your design to produce the best effect:
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r1. Colors
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r2. Sound (if required)
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r3. Artwork
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r4. Photography
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r5. Animation (if required)
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r6. The style of type (font) they will use
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r7. The size of fonts and elements, as well as how different elements look together or separately on the page, or on the screen.
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r8. You also may design graphs or charts produced from data provided by the client.
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rIn many cases, a you may need to consult with copywriters to determine the type of text you will use to accompany the visual part of the design. Once you have brought these elements together and you are satisfied with the end result, then you can present the mock-up to your client for final approval.
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rIf you work for either a printing or publishing company, your other job function may include working with the printer to choose the type of ink and paper. Plus, the client may rely on you to review the design to check for any errors prior to publishing.
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rMany graphic designers today use a wide range of high-end graphics and layout software to produce designs. Certainly, when you design web pages or other interactive media, you will use computer animation and programming software to develop and produce a design for your clients.
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rUsing such software programs is easy to use and provide a lot more flexibility. This added flexibility allows you to explore more alternatives for your designs. It helps to reduce the amount of time it actually takes to produce and present the completed design.
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rFinally, not only does graphic design software saves time, but it also cuts costs associated with producing designs using the more traditional methods.