In a complex, dynamic, fast-changing environment, companies must strive for superiority in order to survive. Competitive edge cannot be achieved or maintained by setting goals based on past or even present performance. Benchmarking is a management practice that can be used to pursue excellence. It does this by identifying, comparing and emulating best practice wherever it occurs. Read More: Benchmarking as a Strategic Business Tool Benchmarking is defined as a continuous systematic process of evaluating companies recognized as industry leaders, to determine business and work processes that represent best practices and establish rational performance goals. It is a search for industry best practices that lead to superior performance. It illustrates how good a company currently is in comparison to its competitors, that is benchmarking analysis demonstrates what others are doing as well as what others are achieving. Benchmarking analysis is an integral part of the organizational improvement process and itContinue reading
Modern Management Concepts
Business and Globalization: National Differences Facing Operations
Working in another country or with an organization from another countries demands knowledge and consideration of their environmental forces in order to create a good strategic plan. To be successful in international business manager must be aware of the culture with which they deal. International operating companies must have a strategic management plan that takes in to consideration the real and potential forces in a foreign environment, as well as the forces at work in the domestic environment. A manager has to understand the new environment, which means understanding the people and their culture. Physical forces and geographic factors determine transportation and production cost. Mountains and deserts are barriers to the movement of people; ideas goods and services can be an advantage if the infrastructure is good. However, it can also be a disadvantage, because real estate and labor are more expensive. Another important area is legal considerations, both domesticContinue reading
Corporate Environmental Reporting
Corporate Environmental Reporting can be defined as a catch-all term that describes the various means by which companies disclose information on their environmental activities. It is important to distinguish between the terms environmental reporting and corporate environmental reports (CERs). Corporate Environmental Reports (CERs) are only one form of environmental reporting defined as publicly available, stand-alone reports issued voluntarily by companies on their environmental activities. Environmental reports can be considered a sort of small world where many crucial points in the relationship between a company and its stakeholders meet together. There can be said to be three categories of environmental disclosures: Involuntary disclosure – the disclosure of information about a company’s environmental activities without its permission and against its will. Examples of involuntary disclosures are environmental campaigns, press and media exposes and court investigations. Mandatory disclosure – the disclosure of information about a company’s environmental activities that is required by law.Continue reading
Principles of Effective Leadership
Leadership is often the key to the success or failure of organization in all contexts whether business, religious groups, Military, academic institutions etc. People everywhere are starving for leadership… starving to connect with leaders who are believable, trustworthy, and capable of actualizing constructive changes, who can transform the character of organizations and curtail the exploitation of people and natural resources, inequalities of educational and economic access, and stress from an impossible pursuit of happiness through unlimited desires and acquisitiveness In order to be a successful manager, one has to be an effective leader. The difference between a manager and a leader is that the manager stays at the back and pushes people into the system, while a leader stands in the front and pulls the people along with him. The manager administrates and maintains, while a leader innovates and develops. The manager relies on system and counts on control whileContinue reading
Blending Spiritual Values with Business
The root for value is valor, which means strength. Values are sources of strength because they give people the power to take action. Values are deep and emotional and often difficult to change. Values are the essence of any organization and philosophy for achieving success. Values provide employees with a sense of common direction and guidelines for day to day behavior. The first step in creating an atmosphere of common commitment is to invite the hearts and minds of employees to join the purpose of the organization. Shared missions, values and vision bring people together. They unite and provide the link between diverse people and activities. People who share values or vision are more likely to take responsibility; they are more likely to challenge the limits of convention. Values provide guidance. Spiritual value is a way of expressing more humanity and recognizes each persons own beliefs. Traditional ways of achievingContinue reading
What is Value-Based Management?
Today’s work life has become so demanding, fast paced, stressful, ambiguous and chaotic due to our lifestyle that we are forced to seek Value-based answers and ways of achieving personal stability within. We have come to realize that our inner wisdom is the only source that will sustain our adaptation and stability in the long run. More specifically, it has to do with how we define ourselves, view the world, relate to others, and make ethical/ moral decisions. Introduction of spirituality in an organization culture will help employees desire, to integrate personal life values with professional life. What is Value-Based Management? Value management is distinct from other management approaches in way that it is simultaneously includes attributes which are not normally found together. It brings together within a single management system. Alignment of business vision, goals, strategies, policies and practice has always been the key to the effectiveness and successContinue reading