http://www.thearticleplanet.com/ Articles at Free Article Directory - Free Content For Webmasters en-us http://www.thearticleplanet.com/business/management/finding-good-value-london-window-cleaners.html http://www.thearticleplanet.com/business/management/finding-good-value-london-window-cleaners.html Thu, 17 Dec 2009 02:23:05 -0600
The very first thing you'll need to make note of is how large the building is and on how many floors your company sits. The reason for this is because some smaller companies do not have the equipment or the insurance to clean high rises.

Should your businesses building be either very large or particularly tall then your choice of contractors will become slightly more limited. Because of the fact that your business is within the city you are privy to the fact that the choice of cleaners is huge, no matter how large or small your business is.

If you are looking for London Window Cleaners for a very high rise building you might already have an abseiling unit which moves across and down the windows. Should have one one of these then you must choose a contractor who has the insurance to use them.

When hiring a commercial window cleaner you will be asked to agree to a contract of certain fees or for a certain amount of work spread out throughout the following year. Some require payment in advance and some will invoice you monthly for example.

If you work on a business or industrial estate then it might be a very good idea to ask your neighbors who they use currently. Employing on a recommendation or through word of mouth is always the best option as people are very honest about any services that they might receive. ]]> http://www.thearticleplanet.com/business/management/deciding-between-the-fleet-management-vehicle-tracking-systems-available.html http://www.thearticleplanet.com/business/management/deciding-between-the-fleet-management-vehicle-tracking-systems-available.html Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:49:19 -0600
The primary concern initially is the cost. Comprehensive fleet management systems don't come cheap, but the initial financial outlay has to be considered against the long-term potential savings to the company as a whole. Some operators have seen their fuel bills alone reduced by up to 40% per annum - a considerable and ongoing saving, particularly during a time when oil prices are driving up costs at the pump. Savings in fuel costs alone can often justify the initial cost of a vehicle tracking system.

However, there are free options available. Google and Locatea.net both offer a free GPS tracking system. Google's ‘Latitude' is a free access system showing participants their exact location on the planet and the location of their friends and family who have also signed up to the system. Locatea.net works in a very similar way, giving an accurate location of everyone that wants to be involved in the network. But therein lies the weakness of both systems - they are not designed for business users. Rather, their appeal lies more in the ‘social networking' aspect of online communications - basically, they're a bit of fun that you can join if you want to. It's just as easy to opt out of the system. For accurate, useable information that can make a real difference to your business, fleet managers are better off steering clear of the free packages and looking for more specialised adaptations of GPS tracking software.

Paid vehicle tracking is different. It is specifically designed for business users and allows fleet managers to monitor and control exactly how their fleet operates. Putting aside the obvious benefits of paid tracking systems - real time locations, diagnostics and fuel consumption data etc - paid for tracking also guarantees the end-user a far more comprehensive aftercare service. With some ‘plug and play' systems, software updates, patches or general aftercare maintenance of the system can be an expensive extra, with the additional extras being limited to maps, for example. Fully comprehensive services offer this invaluable extra as part of the package, ensuring that your system is kept up to date with not only the latest maps, but also the most up to date diagnostic capabilities, general maintenance and repair in the event of anything going wrong. Updates, hardware and software are also covered by a manufacturer's warranty, which means that your system is always working at maximum efficiency. Free systems tend to rely on generic updates, which may not have the additional features included as part of the package.

Like any other product, vehicle tracking systems are a product that is designed to fulfil a particular niche in the market. There are plenty of systems to choose from, so the fleet manager's first step is to do a bit of in-house research, decide exactly what they want their GPS tracking system to achieve and weigh up the benefits of each system individually in relation to their own business needs. Vehicle tracking systems provide fleet managers with a powerful tool in their business strategy to maximise efficiency and maintain a well run, cost-effective fleet. It should be a considered business decision and one that takes into account the long-term benefits as well as the short-term initial outlay. ]]> http://www.thearticleplanet.com/business/management/how-to-save-money-using-fleet-management-systems.html http://www.thearticleplanet.com/business/management/how-to-save-money-using-fleet-management-systems.html Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:18:24 -0600
Fleet management can be dealt with in-house, or alternatively it can be outsourced to a fleet management provider. Whether you choose to go down the self-management route or bring in a third party to do your fleet management for you, there are a number of tools at your disposal to help you save money. The most obvious is the inclusion of a GPS vehicle tracking system that relays real-time information to a central control, telling you exactly where all your fleet vehicles are at any time. Vehicle tracking systems don't just tell you where your vehicles are - they can also give you diagnostic information regarding speed, fuel consumption and other operational aspects. By analysing this data, fleet managers can work out the most cost-effective routes, reduce fuel consumption due to excessive use of speed and streamline the operation making it more efficient.

Collating the data from the onboard computer and from data fed back to the base station also gives fleet managers the ability to ‘profile' their drivers. If a driver is constantly speeding, a fleet manager will be able to chart this behaviour and find out the reason for it. If the driver is rushing to meet deadlines then the manager has the chance to re-plan the driver's route, allowing him or her more time to meet deadlines and reduce fuel consumption as a result. Where fleet management systems have been incorporated into large organisations, a saving of up to 40% on annual fuel bills have been achieved - particularly important when you consider the constantly rising price of fuel.

Vehicle trackers can also help to reduce your fleet's annual insurance costs. Insurance providers reward any attempts by fleet managers to minimise the chances of vehicles being stolen or used inappropriately, so by fitting a vehicle tracking system to your fleet vehicles you can also make considerable savings on your insurance premiums. Real time tracking also means faster recovery of stolen vehicles, minimising the impact to your daily operations and costing less in repairs or even replacing stolen and damaged vehicles.

Fleet management systems are designed to streamline operations, cut costs and increase efficiency. All of these will result in long-term savings to the company as a whole, and while the initial outlay of installing GPS tracking or fleet management system may seem high, the long-term benefits to the company far outweigh the initial expense. It also means that the company is more likely to be fully compliant with any legislation, the duty of care to employees and prove to be a worthwhile investment, no matter how big or small your fleet. ]]> http://www.thearticleplanet.com/business/management/using-vehicle-tracker-systems-to-prevent-fleet-misuse.html http://www.thearticleplanet.com/business/management/using-vehicle-tracker-systems-to-prevent-fleet-misuse.html Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:07:59 -0600
Using vehicle tracking isn't just a way of keeping tabs on your fleet drivers and preventing fleet misuse. They can also represent a sound investment into your business and a way of optimising fleet efficiency, as well as stopping unauthorised usage of company vehicles outside working hours. GPS tracking uses a triangulating algorithm to give the precise location of any vehicle it is fitted to. GPS devices are small, lightweight and easily fitted to your fleet vehicles. The information the vehicle tracker sends back to your control centre can not only tell you exactly where your vehicles are at any one time - they can also provide you with detailed information about the use of the vehicle, speed, fuel usage and a wealth of other information. This can all be incorporated into your fleet management plan to maximise efficiency, plan the most effective routes for collections and deliveries and actually reduce costs in the long term.

But for preventing the misuse of company vehicles, vehicle tracking systems give you an ‘eye in the cab' of every vehicle. Apart from unauthorised usage (which can be easily traced as the GPS devices will tell you if the vehicles are being used out of normal working hours), GPS tracking can also give you information about the speed of vehicles. Not only does speeding use up more fuel and subsequently increase your costs, but it is also dangerous and illegal. Despite the ‘How's my driving' stickers on the back of many company vehicles, the public is often reluctant to report dangerous driving or excessive speeding. By incorporating GPS tracking into your fleet management programme, you can get this data direct from the vehicles themselves. This gives you the ability to talk to drivers who are constantly speeding or driving in a manner that may cause concern. Remember; your drivers represent your company. If your drivers are misusing the vehicles, it will ultimately reflect badly on your company's reputation as a responsible organisation. The cost element is also important - major fleets that have used GPS tracking systems have been able to reduce their annual fuel bill by up to 40%, thanks to the information provided by vehicle tracking systems.

Fitting GPS tracking to your fleet vehicles can also help to recover stolen vehicles much more quickly, minimising the impact to your business. GPS tracking will be able to notify you of any unauthorised movement outside working hours, allowing you to inform the Police far earlier of stolen vehicles and maximising the chances of recovering the vehicle undamaged. It also benefits your company financially, as insurance brokers often offer substantial insurance discounts for fleets fitted with what are considered to be anti-theft devices such as GPS tracking systems.

Incorporating vehicle tracking systems into your fleet management is an excellent way to protect the company's substantial investment in its fleet, minimise inappropriate usage and maximise efficiency at the same time. ]]> http://www.thearticleplanet.com/business/management/whether-its-recovery-or-recession-its-time-to-re-evaluate-your-business-values.html http://www.thearticleplanet.com/business/management/whether-its-recovery-or-recession-its-time-to-re-evaluate-your-business-values.html Thu, 15 Oct 2009 05:38:52 -0500
Eighty-six percent of those questioned in a CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey said they think the United States is still in a recession, with 13 percent saying the nation's economic downturn has ended. According to the survey, 42 percent say the country is in a serious recession, 35 percent call it a moderate recession, and one in 10 characterize it as a mild recession.

Desperate times call for desperate measures, according to one business expert. The practice of not "poaching" - stealing clients or customers from a competitor - used to exist as a gentlemen's agreement among many business people. To do so was, at least, impolite, and at worst, unethical. With conflicting economic indicators, however, all bets are off.

"My definition of unethical is this: Failing to do anything and everything within my power, and without breaking the law, to provide for my loved ones, my employees, and my employees' families," said Don Farrell, author of Ethical Theft, How to Steal Business from Your Competition, from Brio Publishing (www.freshrevenues.com).

When it comes to appropriating new clients, Farrell's advice is simple:

1. Know your competition: List active/subtle market similarities and differences you can build on. What makes you different should always make you a better choice.
2. Make it personal: Show your clients that you are concerned about them, not just their business.
3. Find the facts: Know what their wants and needs are so you can tell them how you will address them.
4. Show your clients the big picture: Map out how you can meet their specific wants/needs and what makes you their best partner to do the job.
5. Ask about the client's processes and timelines: This is the best way to find out who makes the final decisions.
6. Pick and use the right approach: Find out what their personality type is and gear your pitch to that.
7. Create a follow-up plan and follow up sooner than the client expects.
8. Seek to improve: Find out from the client what it would take for you to do better.

According to Farrell, there are times when you won't be able to pirate a customer from your competition. This is the time to start asking the client questions. Ask them what their competitor is supplying that they are not. The answer here is usually service-based: Provide what the client needs better, faster and more personally. Go beyond delivering satisfaction and instead look to deliver what will drive loyalty.

"Create loyalty in your sales staff and you have a recipe for success," he said. "If your competition does not use this tactic, they are primed for you to ‘steal' their best employees. It's in their better interests to work for a better company where they are challenged and rewarded to be their best. Keep and eye out to acquire people you can ultimately trust. Be careful of someone coming to you with your competition's business plan. They will also be capable of doing the same to you."

Farrell believes that loyal employees can extend a genuine loyalty culture to your clients. If they deliver what the clients want, when they want it and always go beyond expectations, companies can successfully steal both staff and business from their competitors - and keep it.

"If businesses did a better job of stealing employees and business from their competition then we, as consumers, would be getting better service," he added. ]]> http://www.thearticleplanet.com/business/management/london-england-and-edinburgh-scotland--not-all-professional-speakers-are-necessarily-professional.html http://www.thearticleplanet.com/business/management/london-england-and-edinburgh-scotland--not-all-professional-speakers-are-necessarily-professional.html Sun, 11 Oct 2009 22:17:11 -0500 professional speakers speaking in London, England and Edinburgh, Scotland are necessarily "professional". In this context, what do we mean by "professional"? It refers not only to way they conduct their current personal business, but also to their relevant previous experience. Any executive wish for their direct reports to have an inward look at their own behaviours and attitudes when listening to professional speakers. The rhetorical question that always remains is if the so-called "professional" speakers have what it takes, not just in delivering speeches but applicable practical experience on the topic. No-one wants to book professional speakers addressing a sales conference on "Success in Sales", but has never held sales positions themselves.

Who would like to invite a financial guru to speak at a company function, who never even had accounting at high school or who has never worked in the financial world? Select your international professional speakers well with astute determination and the ability to boost mindsets in times of misfortune. Ever booked professional speakers who speak about wildlife in their presentations? The astonishing advantage of these speakers is that simple comparisons are at times just what the doctor ordered for depressed staff members. The pre-eminence is on wild animals and by the virtue of colourful depictions, funny jokes and A-1 comparisons, your audience's buy-in factor is sky-high. One of the professional speakers to seriously discuss for your future congress is Estienne de Beer, who discloses the secrets of crafty Meerkats in the African wild and why their case-in-point can guide companies to corporate success... ]]> http://www.thearticleplanet.com/business/management/business-today-the-importance-of-learning-project-management.html http://www.thearticleplanet.com/business/management/business-today-the-importance-of-learning-project-management.html Wed, 07 Oct 2009 21:49:38 -0500 management courses as a means to better prepare themselves for tomorrow's career opportunities. So what exactly is project management? And why is it such an important skill to learn?

Project management, at least in business terms, is the undertaking of planning and organizing of resources, staff and time with the aim of successfully completing the goals of a project. Of course this can vary from company to company, but project management is usually discussed in terms of manufacturing and/or selling a certain product, or ensuring that a business's services are marketed and promoted in a given time. Over the past 20 or so years efficient project management has become more and more integral to businesses or companies dealing with a large staff and a time frame.

Consequently, many business and management courses at both degree and foundation level involve a certain amount of study devoted to project management - and there are even training courses unique to specific types of project management, such as PRINCE2 in the UK. Like PRINCE2, many project management methods and systems have become established in alongside the gradual growth of IT-dependent companies who store more of their data digitally and work in close proximity to networked computer systems.

Courses that deal with project management, therefore, not only teach you how to use the latest technology for the job, but also focus on the more consistent aspects such as how to work with clients and stakeholders and how to manage small and larger teams. Unsurprisingly, mathematical and budgeting skills will likely be developed in order to manage costs in relation to quality, time and the scope of the project.

Project management will also likely cover aspects of business that can be utilized in other areas and throughout life. This includes such skills as communications - in regards to representing yourself and the company in front of prospective clients and customers, and risk assessment in terms of finances and the well-being of those involved.
]]> http://www.thearticleplanet.com/business/management/why-strategic-management-works.html http://www.thearticleplanet.com/business/management/why-strategic-management-works.html Mon, 05 Oct 2009 03:12:20 -0500
And that is where strategic management comes in. Strategic management sounds like an awful lot of common sense once you realize what it entails, but the sad truth is not a lot of people know how to manage a company strategically.

Strategic management comes with four steps, the first of which involves identifying your company's mission and vision. Where do you want to go? What do you hope to become? What do you want to do? Think about these questions seriously, answer them properly, and you've got an idea what you want for the company.

After that, it is time for you to consider your strategy. What steps should you be taking in order to steer your company towards your big vision? What kinds of resources do you need? Figure all these out and iron the details, including any possible factors that could affect your business in the future, and then you can begin to implement your strategy. As your strategy unfolds, you need to take a step back from time to time and evaluate whether or not your current strategy is truly taking you to where you want to go. If so, proceed, and if not, you should then reconsider the prevailing factors and realign your strategy accordingly.

Strategic management works primarily because it keeps you organized and focused. So many companies tend to lose their vision as time goes by, getting caught up in smaller yet ultimately irrelevant details. Strategic management allows you to step back and really see the bigger picture, as well as take into account all other details that can have an impact, negative or positive, on your business. By staying organized, you don't run the risk of losing sight of your ultimate goals. And when you always know what you want to happen to your company, you'll have a greater chance of making it successful. ]]> http://www.thearticleplanet.com/business/management/promote-the-teamwork-mentality.html http://www.thearticleplanet.com/business/management/promote-the-teamwork-mentality.html Fri, 02 Oct 2009 02:29:38 -0500
However, even though teamwork is highly valuable, that doesn't mean that everybody automatically recognizes this, and it doesn't that everybody has a teamwork kind of mindset. In many companies, there will always be people who think, "It's every man for himself," and while they work hard, they don't necessarily engage in teamwork and are simply working to advance their own careers. These people are absolutely determined to climb their way to the top, and some of them even believe that working as part of a team only hinders their ascent.

If you are the head of a group, then you should see that one of your duties is to instill the value of teamwork in all your workers. The highly ambitious people in particular must learn that it is not all about them, and that being a team player and a part of highly effective team that exceeds its objectives adds to their value as a worker, giving them the opportunity for advancement that they seek.

If teamwork has never been your group's strongest suit, then you have to take measures to help them understand its value and benefits. Start by observing the various conflicts and issues that plague your group, and speak with the parties concerned in order to forge a solution that will work for everybody. Don't push people into forced social situations in an attempt to get them to like one another; this will only make them feel resentful and become resistant to such efforts which they may perceive as trite, and consider this a solution that doesn't tackle the root issues.

Most importantly, in instilling the teamwork mentality, you don't need to drive it repeatedly in people's heads that, "We must have teamwork! We must learn to work well together!" Make sure that, in a project, everybody has an opportunity to pull his or her weight and be able to contribute to its success. Clarify the goals, and let them know how vital each member's roles are. When people understand what their purpose is, it will definitely encourage them to put more effort into their work. ]]> http://www.thearticleplanet.com/business/management/recession-forces-businesses-to-slice-budgets.html http://www.thearticleplanet.com/business/management/recession-forces-businesses-to-slice-budgets.html Fri, 18 Sep 2009 09:46:16 -0500
That's the news from the latest round of economic statistics that show 73 percent of the Standard and Poor's 500 Index companies beating their revenue expectations, but an overall view that the S & P 500 is still down 27.3 percent since last year. In August, 216,000 jobs were lost, slightly fewer than the 276,000 lost in July, but the overall losses over the last 20 months of recession represent a still-abysmal job market.

As the economic drain wears on, companies aren't simply concerned about cutting their costs to stay in business, but where to cut those costs.

"These are not easy choices," said Arkady Kleyner, Co-Founder of Intricity, LLC, a leading provider of Business Intelligence and Data Warehousing services and solutions. "Many large companies have had the recent experience of being forced to cut back, trim the fat, and simplify their internal processes in order to survive and emerge from slow economic times which have lead to, in many cases, bankruptcy and financial restructuring. Executives need to be able to get a bird's-eye view of their business in order to know where they can afford to cut - as well as where they can't."

Kleyner believes that good IT infrastructure and data management can be the key to making a company's operations easily understandable and transparent.

"Good data management has the power to simplify complexity, to break down a company into its component parts, so executives can examine them individually, as well as how they work together," Kleyner added. "Slower times force us to look inwards. This applies to large corporations as much as it does to personal budgets and home finances. When the orders were flowing, we threw tools and people at the problems until a workable solution appeared to emerge. Efficiency, automation and integration fall behind agility in priority. This is normal because agility is often what gets new business. And without new business, the organization stagnates and ultimately fails."

Operations and budget management can be complex, no matter the size of the company, he added. It can be so complex, that many executives feel that it would be near impossible to get their data managed to the point where such a detailed analysis could occur. Kleyner, however, does not believe in that scenario.

"I don't care how big or how many moving parts make up a company," he said. "These solutions can apply to everyone. Effective data integration and business intelligence can deliver a 360° view of business performance by bringing disparate data together, correlating it logically, and then presenting it in a way that intuitively draws the eye to areas that require attention. In an economy that isn't so much getting better as it is just not too much worse, it would seem that this kind of data warehousing and analysis is just what businesses need in order to stay in business for the long term."
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