by Bruce Newman

Avoiding the need to rework any project positively effects productivity. Since reworking a project usually incurs many additional expenses - sometimes more than double the initial cost - and much extra work and lost time, it should be avoided, if possible. First, it often requires the assembly of a new team or set of experts - a painful and time consuming step. Second, it requires a new assessment of the project design and plan, implementation, percentage of completion including what still needs to be done, and what needs to be fixed. Frequently, it is often cheaper and easier to start over than to attempt to fix a major problem. Having to rework a project may also result in additional complications and complexities particularly if it is subject to outside influences. Furthermore, if there is a problem with the initial design, subsequent changes or additions may not be possible without massive revisions.

One often overlooked but important aspect is the amount of time lost by the people who were supposed to use or tried to use this project. This loss in energy and money can be substantial and will never be recovered. It may also severely hurt morale.     While consultants are usually readily available, outstanding consultants may be difficult to find.  Determining which consultants are outstanding can be even more difficult. This finding and discerning is an arduous, time consuming task that usually requires going to many sources, evaluating many resumes, project successes, and meetings - and still not knowing how good the selected consultant actually is. Sometimes the consultant will truly be excellent, but sometimes not. What is essential is that a company be prepared to fully evaluate all consultants. Time spent in this initial evaluation process is time well spent, particularly if it avoids rework.    There are numerous steps in the evaluation process a company can take to help ensure it finds outstanding consultants. Foremost, is having a solid plan that is comprehensive, clearly communicates all project goals and steps, and is agreed upon by all stakeholders - prior to interviewing any consultants. This will enable the formulation of specific project and experience-related questions when interviewing all consultants. It will also form the basis for communication during the project development.  

Outstanding consultants can often greatly enhance a project’s scope since they possess specific expertise in their area of specialty, substantial experience and significant general knowledge. This combined expertise helps ensure that the design and implementation is solid and meets all project goals and specifications. This is particularly important when projects are asked to perform under much greater stress (i.e. throughput) or with many additional functions than what was originally envisioned. I sometimes equate this to a building; if the foundation is solid, many floors and features can be built upon it. However, if the foundation is flawed, additional floors and features can cause collapse - and the need for rework at a tremendous cost of time and money.   Rework should be avoided, if possible. It can have many negative effects on a company’s bottom line, potentially reducing value and morale. Conversely, by carefully planning and finding outstanding consultants, much rework and unnecessary tribulations can be avoided while creating a foundation for excellent prodinst and enhanced value.

Bruce Newman is the Vice President and token male at The Productivity Institute, LLC which provides companies with rated outstanding consultants who can match their specific requirements. By locating, rating and providing outstanding consultants, The Productivity Institute can greatly increase a company’s value while enhancing their productivity.  Check out our website for more information. If you are not a subscriber to our blog, sign up now.

by Mel DePaoli

  This article was originally published in The Productivity Institute Newsletter

If most of us are ashamed of shabby clothes and shoddy furniture, let us be more ashamed of shabby ideas and shoddy philosophies. . . . It would be a sad situation if the wrapper were better than the meat wrapped inside it.  Albert Einstein

Once again, Einstein was ahead of his time!  But, in this case, he was only half right.

There are many companies out there that have hired an incredible designer that was able to initially cover up the shoddiness of the business as Einstein might lament. On the flip side there are many GOOD companies that for whatever reason will not or do not invest in quality design, and this is as sad a situation as Einstein described.

How does good design affect your business, be it for a website, marketing materials or any other aspect that the public views? What is the value of design? Can you control the effect of quality design? And, does good design impact my bottom-line? Since these questions are all intertwined, there is no clear yes or no answer to any of them.

The world is as it is. Unfortunately, no matter what our parents tried to teach us, we do judge a book by its cover, even when we may not mean to. That being said, when your business has nicely designed materials, this is a direct representation of HOW you do business. Think about it, if you do not care enough about your own ‘stuff,’ how are your customers to know you will provide top quality and treat them with respect?

“But we want that mom-n-pop feel.” That is great; there is value in this as well. But leave that to a designer to accomplish because just using clip art and having someone without experience putting your materials together does not give the perception of ‘mom-n-pop,’ it gives the perception of cheap! Does this mean that the more expensive the designer or firm the better your materials? The answer is a firm: “No”.  Price can be misleading just as with any other profession.

The secret is that you need to know who your company is and what it stands for BEFORE you talk to the market or put your materials together. Why? Because when a prospect views your materials (this can be anything from a magnet to your website and everything in-between) a perception is created in their mind about the experience they will have when doing business with you. If they like the perception, they will want to do business with you. Of course, once you create the perception, you need to deliver!

This is where most companies miss the boat. They think that advertising and marketing are separate from how they do business. I am here to tell you that they are not—they are one in the same! Your marketing and advertising efforts are laying the ground work for the experience that your customers will have. People like what they expect.

It truly is amazing how the smallest thing can have the biggest impact on your bottom-line and can create an industry standard. By creating an industry standard, your competition will not survive unless they (at least) match your level of service and how the market perceives you. This is a great way to minimize your competition. An excellent example of this is the McDonald’s Happy Meal. It is a child size portion of food, in a fun box with a cheap toy. It not only shows that McDonald’s considers children an important part of their market, but the design is perfect to capture their attention. No fast food or family restaurant will last long without offering their own version of this. It is simple but VERY powerful.

When design + marketing and advertising + how you do business come together harmoniously authenticity is achieved and there will be a positive impact on your bottom-line—guaranteed!

Mel DePaoli is the president and founder of Omicle located in Seattle, WA. She is also interviewing companies for her upcoming book series Brand or Culture: Which Comes First. Please visit www.omicle.com for more information about how Omicle can become your Catalyst for Discovery and www.brandorculture.com to get involved in the Brand or Culture Debate! Ms. DePaoli can be reached at mel@omicle.com. 

by Douglas Castle

   This article was originally published in the Productivity Institute Newsletter

A news release, press release or press statement is a written or recorded communication directed at members of the news media for the purpose of announcing something claimed as having news value. Typically, it is mailed, faxed, or e-mailed to assignment editors at newspapers, magazines, radio stations, television stations, and/or television networks. Commercial press-release distribution services are also used to distribute news releases. Sometimes news releases are sent for the purpose of announcing news conferences. A press release is different from a news article. A news article is a compilation of facts developed by journalists published in the news media, whereas a press release is designed to be sent to journalists in order to encourage them to develop articles on the subject. A press release is generally biased towards the objectives of the author. The use of news releases is common in the field of public relations, the aim of which is to attract favorable media attention to the PR firm’s client, and publicity, the aim of which is to attract favorable media attention for products marketed by the clients.

A press release or news release (which is a variation on the same theme) is the most efficient means of reaching the largest potential audience with any information. In terms of cost per thousand (CPM) prospective viewers, it is also the most inexpensive. Smaller, less-established firms are often unaware of this, and tend to be intimidated by press campaigns. Sadly, they miss out on the extraordinary benefits of gaining exposure in both the print and e-media forums. For example: A single newswire service may distribute releases to 10,000 publications, each with an average readership of 10,000 persons or businesses (a total potential exposure of 100,000,000 readers!). If a mere 2% of the media were to “pick up” your release that would represent exposure of your information to 2,000,000 readers! What amazing metrics!

These metrics do not even take into account the favorable effects which you will certainly glean from increased reputability, enhanced branding, and elevated search engine rankings. Press releases include your email and telephone information so that readers can get back to you. Many of these readers ultimately turn out to become clients, or are journalists wishing to quote you or interview you as an expert. What could be better?

The qualitative factors which will impact the effectiveness of a release include: the headline and sub header; the market selected (geographically and in terms of subject focus); the editorial quality and newsworthiness of the submission; the incorporation of hyperlinks (where permitted) into the text body of the release; and the keywords “implanted” into the release, especially for the purposes of elevating the client company’s search engine rankings and positioning. The preparation and submission of a press release or of a series of press releases is a task best undertaken by an expert.

Give some serious consideration to adding press releases and a publicity campaign to your marketing mix for 2009.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Douglas Castle (http://aboutdouglascastle.blogspot.com) is an expert at publicity and public relations for corporate and personal branding and image-building. He operates The Castle Consultancy, and is an advisor, managing member and a director of several companies in diverse industries. Mr. Castle can be reached by telephone (toll-free) at 888.317.6498 (Extension 5). He also authors, co-authors and manages a number of websites and blogs, some of which are listed below:

DOUGLAS CASTLE

THE NATIONAL NETWORKER- We Are Networking

BRAINTENANCE - Stay Razor Sharp

INTERNAL ENERGY PLUS - Human Potential

THE INTERNATIONALIST PAGE

THE GLOBAL FUTURIST

By Gregory Coats

   This article was originally published in the Productivity Institute Newsletter

(Part 1 of this article discussed some factors to consider when selecting accounting software. Part 2 is a list of additional factors.)

Accounting software is integral to the well-being of every company. Regardless of the size of the company or what it does, the accounting software it uses must be able to support its financial needs.  Properly evaluating the needed accounting software requirements for a company is therefore crucial.

Key factors to consider may include:

Security – This is more important than ever, today.  While network controls are important, software security is also important.  Do you need software that can “lock out” certain users from specific functions or only allow them “viewing” privileges?

Future Growth – Is the software modular? If so, can you add additional modules, as needed? Can the software handle a web store?  Will it need to handle a high volume of transactions while maintaining historical information?  Are there any available third party add-ons that can provide additional functionality?

Database Capabilities – What database and infrastructure are required to effectively run the software? Do you need additional hardware? Some packages require a specific type of database (usually at an additional cost).  Beware of those programs that use a proprietary database – you might be in for some unpleasant surprises.

Software Flexibility – Can changes be made to the software that will not affect the data or require massive database manipulations? Can fields easily be added to accommodate new tracking requirements? Is it amenable to custom code that can provide additional capabilities?

Reporting Ability – Is it sufficiently flexible to easily and rapidly produce reports, particularly financial statements?  Always get specific examples of system reports when you evaluate a system.  Remember to consider all of the different ways you can organize the data in your reports. Make sure the system you select has this flexibility.

Exporting Functions - How easily can data be exported or imported?  Even though we try to setup as many set reports as possible, the need always arises for looking at a unique piece of information or manipulate data differently.

These are many of the factors you should consider when you evaluate software accounting packages.  Since each industry and business has unique considerations, this list cannot address all of their specific concerns, yet it does depict key aspects that are common to most businesses.  While at first this list may seem like overkill, remember that your decision directly affects your company’s financial health.  Making a correct choice will help avoid many expensive and potentially catastrophic future pitfalls.

Gregory Coats is President of D & G Accounting Solutions and has been involved in designing, installing, maintaining and customizing many accounting software systems for over 20 years.  Mr. Coats can be emailed at gregory.coats@comcast.net.