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Bottleneck-oriented Business Management
Article Title: Bottleneck-oriented Business Management Author: Stephan Szugat Word Count: 1,176 Article URL: http://www.abenetis.com/encyclopedia.html Format: 65 Characters per Line ------------------ ARTICLE START ------------------...

Bridge Loans: Everything You Wanted To Know
As the name implies, bridge loans fulfill a vital need for active developers by giving life to a new project in the months before lenders feel confident enough to make available a construction loan, or a repositioning loan in the case of an existing...

Collaboration, Not Competition
The basic assumptions upon which traditional marketing approaches are built could use some updating. For example, what if we asked whether businesses actually have to compete for customers. Does that seem silly? The answer would be, "Of course, they...

Living Life In A Time Starved World
Recently I saw an advertisement for a time management booklet: "Shorter deadlines, competing priorities, endless meetings, interruptions and even higher quality expectations are just some of today's time challenges. And yet the number of hours in...

Small Business Q & A: The Business Autopsy: A Fact Of Life
Last week we discussed the importance of performing an autopsy on a dead business. No, I haven't been watching too many of those wonderfully graphic, TV forensic investigation shows. The reason I recommend you do a business autopsy is to uncover the...

 
The Case of the Vanishing Technology

The Case of the Vanishing Technology

See full color web version at:
http://www.SeniorManagementServices.com/pvt-89-vanishing-technolog.html

Are you vulnerable to this hazardous, expensive problem?

============================================================

The first hint of trouble...
============================================================

Here's a typical scenario.

About 18 months ago, I visited a successful high-tech
company. Sa1es were down.

But, management viewed the situation as temporary. Besides,
they were designing new products - they had "strong hopes"
for either getting more venture capital or being acquired
by a rich company.

Meanwhile, they had to "downsize" because of declining
sa1es.

============================================================

Then things got worse!
============================================================

Sadly, in less than 1 year, they terminated 68% of their
employees and friends.

Worse, they lost much more than "just" people! They
lost their technology plus the mon^ey spent to develop
their technology.

Why?

Because their technology walked out the door with each
employee terminated ... thus, without those particular
employees - and what only they knew - they were
disorganized, literally out-of-business and didn't even
know it! (They still had hundreds of employees!)

Typical of many companies, much too little of their
technology was organized and written down. Nobody could
pick up the ball when people left!

Without product documentation, without written
standards and procedures (and technical processes,
strategic plans, etc.) - without adequate documentation
they were faced with reinventing their own "wheel!"

(Sound familiar?)

============================================================

Did they survive?
============================================================

Were they able to reinvent their wheel, or sell the
disorganized company with its undocumented technology?

No.

Their building n0w stands empty, another needless casualty
of what I call, "Vanishing Technology."

They, like many, discovered that the hazards of inadequate
documentation are an even B I G G E R hazard when times
are tough!

============================================================

Why it happens over and over again...
============================================================

Actually, most business managers don't understand the
connection between product development and documentation -
and how to get the most out of them.

The fact is, you will produce better products, faster and
cheaper, if you understand the part that documentation plays
in product and business development - and how you can
integrate it into the process of building of your successful
position in the market place.

This is not a new idea. Yet, ideas are one thing;
action is another.

The plain truth is most people hate to write documentation.
For most people it's hard, tedious work that demands a lot
of time, discipline, and rigorous attention to detail.

That's why most people delay writing any type of
documentation as long as possible! Many, wait until the
last minute, then give the problem to a "writer" and
tiptoe silently away. (Good Luck!)

============================================================

Can you afford the risk?
============================================================

Are you risking the loss of your most valuable assets,
people, business processes, and intellectual property?

Here's what a manager told me about his own tragedy, which
plagues America's companies today:

"Due to our downsizing, our most valuable assets ...
our people ...our business processes ...our
intellectual property ...literally walk out the door.
Without those particular employees and what only THEY
knew - we're *****ed!!

"Worse ...sooner or later, they will work for our
competitors!" -- D.H., Manufacturing Manger

If you're the boss, it's on your shoulders! What do you do
n0w?

============================================================

How do you protect yourself from Vanishing Technology?
============================================================

You can protect yourself from Vanishing Technology by
applying the business development techniques I have named
"Profitable Venture Tactics" (PVT).

You can use PVT to enrich your business whether you're a
small startup or a huge corporation.

If you are downsizing, use PVT to help retain your best
people, your business processes, intellectual property,
and


energize your remaining staff!

"You can't shrink your way to greatness."
-- Tom Peters

PVT can help you build your business to survive the hard
times! (But, it is best to act before your company becomes
a "sinking ship.")

If you're enduring uncontrolled growth, you can use PVT to
gain balance. PVT helps you accelerate product development.
You can inspire new action in project management...

...You can create new products for changing markets. You
can change low production into high per^formance. You can
streamline production for manufacturing problems.

PVT helps you turn dissatisfied customers and skeptical
executives into loyal fans.

And, Profitable Venture Tactics help you relieve the
pressure and worry - so you can sleep at night.

============================================================
Why Vanishing Technology happens repeatedly...
============================================================

I'm sure you recognize that the problem of Vanishing
Technology is not new. Imagine the frustration of watching
companies sink like leaky ships. You point to the leaks.
But, their crews say,

"We have no time to patch leaks. We're too busy sailing
for the gold."

When you suffer Vanishing Technology, your company is like
that sinking ship. And you know you cannot sail a leaky
ship...very far.

To develop a "seaworthy" business, you - or someone - must
write the right stuff to help you build your business like
a leak-proof hull.

Documenting your business is the work of "business
development."

Yet, when business booms people say...

"We don't have time to write ... too many projects ...
it is not a priority n0w... we'll get to it later...
yada... yada... yada..."

But, have you noticed when there's a business bust, people
have plenty of time to write CYA Memos and resumes? Bottom
line: Nobody writes the documents vital to your business!

That's why you see Vanishing Technology happen repeatedly.

============================================================
What can you do?
============================================================

To prevent Vanishing Technology, you must develop your
business to survive hard times.

This means you must curtail dependence on "key people" and
their tacit "tribal knowledge." (If your business needs
exceptional people, you cannot hope to produce consistent
results.)

This means you - or someone - must write down your key
business processes! This means you must work ON your
business as you work IN your business. As they say,
"Publish or perish!"

You must develop and document a result producing system - a
SYSTEM that amplifies ordinary skills and abilities into
extraordinary results.

Profitable Venture Tactics can help you create the right
documentation to integrate four steps to success:

1. Organizing,
2. Planning,
3. Developing, and
4. Operating your business.

============================================================
Summary
============================================================

Are you risking the loss of your most valuable assets ...
your people ...your business processes ...your intellectual
property? The plain truth is most people hate to write
documentation...And this leads directly to Vanishing
Technology.

When you suffer Vanishing Technology, your company leaks
like a sinking ship.

By applying the business development techniques I call
"Profitable Venture Tactics," you can protect yourself
from Vanishing Technology and build your business like a
leak-proof hull.

Documenting your business is the work of "business
development." This means you must work ON your business
as you work IN your business.

Don't let Vanishing Technology stunt the growth of your
business!

Best Regards,

Mike Hayden, Principal/Consultant

Your partner in streamlining business.

PS. If you're not on our P V T Roster, sign up (fr#e) at:
http://www.SeniorManagementServices.com

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

(c) 2004 Mike Hayden, All rights reserved. You may use
material from the Profitable Venture Tactics eZine in
whole or in part, as long as you include complete
attribution, including live website links and email link.

About the Author

Mike Hayden is CEO / Founder of Senior Management Services and the Documentation Express in Silicon Valley, California. Mr Hayden is the author of "7 Easy Steps to your Raise and Promotion in 30-60 Days! The book that smart bosses want their employees to read." ISBN 0-9723725-1-2. More articles at http://www.SeniorManagementServices.com/pvt-information.html

 

Strategic Planning (in nonprofit or for-profit organizations)
Adapted from the Field Guide to Nonprofit Strategic Planning and Facilitation. ... First, a Point About For-Profit and Nonprofit Strategic Planning ...
www.managementhelp.org
 
Basic Description of Strategic Planning (including key terms to know)
Adapted from the Field Guide to Nonprofit Strategic Planning and Facilitation. ... Strategic planning often includes use of several key terms. ...
www.managementhelp.org
 
Strategic Planning, Strategic Plan, Business Strategy, Strategic ...
Strategic planning advice with free strategic planner & sample strategic plan covering mission statement, SWOT analysis with business plan software for cash ...
www.planware.org
 
Strategic Planning
FAQs regarding strategic planning - geared primarily toward non-profit organizations but with enough detail and general information to provide useful ...
www.allianceonline.org
 
Frequently Asked Questions
Strategic Planning · Fundraising · Financial Management · Risk Management · Credit Card Acceptance. The FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) listed on this ...
www.allianceonline.org
 
Strategic planning - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Strategic planning involves defining objectives and developing ... Strategic planning uses "the big picture" to pursue large scale, long term objectives. ...
en.wikipedia.org
 
08/26/96 STRATEGIC PLANNING
You guessed it: strategic planning. Suddenly, the idea of rising above the ... But if strategic planning is back with a vengeance, it's also back with a ...
www.businessweek.com
 
Dr. Strategy - Dr. Pete Johnson, Keynote Speaker, Marketing ...
StrategicPlanning.com “Turning Change Into A Competitive Advantage”. Dr. Pete's Preview Video Click Here. Take-Away Value Sample Program Handouts ...
strategicplanning.com
 
Strategic Planning Society: Strategy Development and Implementation
Strategic Planning Society: Strategy Development and Implementation.
www.sps.org.uk
 
Guide 7
Strategic Planning in Smaller Nonprofit Organizations ... In short, as a result of a strategic planning process, an organization will have a clearer idea of ...
www.wmich.edu
 
STRATEGIC PLANNING MANUAL
File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - View as HTML
Your browser may not have a PDF reader available. Google recommends visiting our text version of this document.
 
BPubs.com: Strategic Planning & Business Planning Articles
Business Publications related to Corporate Strategic Planning.
www.bpubs.com
 
Strategic Planning Tools
Strategic Planning is a method for positioning an organization to take ... A strategic planning process incorporates an in-depth planning model that takes ...
www.nsba.org
 
Center for Simplified Strategic Planning, Inc.
The Center for Simplified Strategic Planning offers training, seminars, consulting, speakers, workshops, a book and a newsletter on strategic management for ...
www.cssp.com
 
LEADERSHIP: Strategic Planning and Strategic Management
Introduction: Is strategic planning really worth it? ... The purpose of strategic planning is to encourage thinking about your organization's "big ...
vskn.ca
 
The CEO Refresher Archives - Strategic Planning
When done right, the integrated strategic planning process can take a ... Strategic Planning and Project Management: The Key to Successful Implementation ...
www.refresher.com
 
HEFCE : Publications : 2000 : 00/24 - Strategic planning in higher ...
This guide reviews good practice in strategic planning in higher education (HE). It originated in a consultation exercise which we held in 1998 to review ...
www.hefce.ac.uk
 
The Association for Strategic Planning
The Association for Strategic Planning (ASP), is a non-profit professional society whose mission is to enable people and organizations to succeed through ...
www.strategyplus.org
 
Amazon.com: Strategic Planning for Nonprofit Organizations: A ...
Amazon.com: Strategic Planning for Nonprofit Organizations: A Practical Guide and Workbook: Books: Michael Allison,Jude Kaye by Michael Allison,Jude Kaye.
www.amazon.com
 
Amazon.com: Simplified Strategic Planning: A No-Nonsense Guide for ...
Amazon.com: Simplified Strategic Planning: A No-Nonsense Guide for Busy People Who Want Results Fast!: Books: Robert W. Bradford,Robert W. Bradford,J. Peter ...
www.amazon.com
 
 

 

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