As a business executive, you face many difficult daily challenges like creating and dominating new markets or finding and keeping the best people.  But then, like many executives, do you find yourself spending too much time solving everyday problems (that only you can solve, right?), which prevent you from growing your business and becoming a better manager?  You may be making some of these management mistakes:

1. Do you have a compelling vision for your company, that projects a remarkable future, but few of your employees have heard of it or could explain it if asked?

Read more...   |    Leave Comments »

Up until two months ago, I had never managed anyone else.  Now I was in charge.

I was afraid I would worsen the mess the company was already in. Employees scrambled to respond to executives commands.  Nobody knew what was expected of them, they complained of not having the materials to do their jobs and they couldn’t get their bosses attention.

I could sense the danger our company was in.  Some talked of quitting.  To the amazement of all my friends, I was now in charge.

“Can she really manage the company?”  I heard an employees whisper.  “No way!”  John exclaimed.  “She’s never managed anyone before in her life.”

Read more...   |    Leave Comments »

A “procedure” is a term used in a variety of industries to define a series of steps, taken together, to achieve a desired result.  Procedures explain how to accomplish a task.  A procedure is sometimes called a work instruction.  If you are preparing an ISO 9001 quality management system then the term procedure is used to describe a process, whereas a work instruction is used to describe something more basic like a specific step in a process.  For example, how to fill out a form.  Procedures are known in other ways too.

Read more...   |    1 Comment »

Do you have the time to research business best practices for many common business processes or everyday job tasks?  Even if you did you could end up writing hundreds of procedures for your business. Yet not having procedures could be a big problem.  You could end up with vital company knowledge walking out the door and leaving the next employee to start a new learning curve.  Of course, management and shareholders have to pay for this business waste that includes: re-training, turnover, and re-work.  Fortunately, There’s a better way…

Read more...   |    Leave Comments »

Your process is not living up to expectations, so you’ve decided to implement standard operating procedures (SOP) to improve process consistency, compliance, and effectiveness.  However, that project is stalled: employees are not buying into your proposed changes, and management is growing impatient.

Read more...   |    Leave Comments »

Interactive learning style helps students become familiar with using the ISO 9001 Standard as criteria for auditing, the importance of an audit program along with basic auditing principles.

St. Louis, MO – February 27, 2009 – Bizmanualz, Inc., a business publications, training and consulting company based in St. Louis, MO, today announced the launch of a completely redesigned version of its ISO 9001 QMS Internal Auditor Training course.  This ISO training course demonstrates requisite auditing skills to beginning auditors, and is also valuable to experienced auditors and quality managers looking for a refresher course or the opportunity to discuss innovative approaches.

Read more...   |    Leave Comments »

Last week we talked about the continual improvement journey at CTMT Data Center. This week we will discuss Ram Jack Foundation Systems, an internationally recognized structural repair company with the latest foundation repair technology and a tradition of the highest standards in customer care. 

Read more...   |    1 Comment »

Managers know the difficulty of getting people to do the right things the right way. And employees need their expertise and understanding of the way things should be done. But how do you get it across

Read more...   |    Leave Comments »

Are you frustrated by the lack of growth in your firm, or the effort required to squeeze any up-tick in performance? Are inadequate policies and procedures a root cause? To find out,

Read more...   |    Leave Comments »