Small Business Management

Example Implementation Plan – How to Implement Business Strategy

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Fulfilling the mission of an organization requires planning and management skills.  Every business should have a mapped out strategy and a strategic plan is only as effective as the supporting goals that are written to implement it.  And goals are only as effective as the people who have responsibility for completing them. I am a [...]

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How to Write a Vision, Mission and Values Statement

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I was recently asked why a business needs a vision statement.  My response was that a vision, mission and values statement is a tool to help the organization accomplish what it has set out to do and helps provide a framework for success. A Vision statement describes the ideal future state of the organization.  It [...]

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Focus Groups – What is the Purpose and Advantages of Focus Group Interviews

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I was recently asked to provide the definition of a focus group, how to conduct a focus group interview and why they are important.  Using focus groups to gather qualitative data on the customer experience is a widely used marketing strategy which allows organizations to develop products and services that meet customer requirements.  Customer expectations [...]

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Coupon Craze – How to Win Customers and Keep Them for Life

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 The rage lately is the online coupon craze that seems to be increasing every day.  I have to admit I love coupons and purchase the old reliable  Entertainment Book for my kids every year and sneak one in for myself.  We’ve been doing that for years and I always get a rush when I page through [...]

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What is Google +1 (Plus One)?

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I don’t know about you but a few weeks ago I started getting these random emails asking me to join google plus circles.  I have to admit I had heard of google plus but sadly I am still trying to figure out and catch up on all of my other social media – I am [...]

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Elance On-line Freelance Site – Elance Product Review

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A while back I wanted to enhance my website so I used an online graphic design site, crowdSPRING to help me come up with a logo unique to my site.  The experience was great and you can read my review to see what I thought about the experience. When I decided to branch out and start [...]

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Hiring Veterans – 5 Ways Employers Can Support Veterans

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I don’t know about you but every time I see a serviceman in uniform my eyes well up with gratitude and respect.  I see these men and women and have a heartfelt appreciation for the sacrifices they make on our behalf.  I personally know very few people in the military but I have had a [...]

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Tuition Reimbursement Policy – What Happens if the Employee Quits Their Job?

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I recently had a reader ask, “Is it a common practice to have employees pay back the tuition reimbursement amount if they quit their job? In that case, what would be the best way to enforce it?” There are many different models used for tuition reimbursement and you’ll find that it is common to require [...]

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Why Do Organizational Change Efforts Often Fail?

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Organizations reorganize internal structures and processes to better align with changing conditions and business demands or because of a crisis that affects the organization.  They do this by stepping back and looking at the organization from a strategic level and plan realignment and adjustments with the goal of getting the organization closer to where it [...]

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Hyatt Hotel Review

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I just returned from facilitating a strategic planning and Meetup (retreat) for a technology company.   We met in Sarasota, Florida and stayed at the Hyatt on Sarasota Bay.  This is the second event I organized at this hotel, the first being my daughter’s wedding in 2009. The most recent event was done at this location because [...]

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What is the average number of employee vacation days?

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I recently had a reader ask, “What is the national average number of employee paid vacation days offered by small-mid size companies?” Depending on the size, most organizations tier their benefits and paid vacation days based on years of service as defined by an internal benefit or vacation day policy. According to a SHRM email [...]

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Work Completion Checklists – 6 Reasons to Use Work Completion Checklists

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I love to bake and a lesson I learned long ago was to put ingredients in the order they are listed on the recipe.  I also learned the importance of going over the list a second time to ensure I didn’t miss anything.  I can say that there has been more than one time that [...]

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