Scenario Analysis IntroductionScenario analysis is a decision-making tool useful to assess how a situation can turn out and how different actions will affect its outcome. This method helps decision makers make informed choices and is widely used by leaders ranging from corporate managers to military leaders. It is especially handy in situations with high stakes and high uncertainty: scenario analysis can help establish the best-case and worst-case scenarios, and sometimes expose outcomes … [Read more...] about Scenario Analysis
Sample Key Performance Indicators – KPIs
Example KPIs The example KPIs on this page are provided for educational purposes. They are not intended to be used 'as is' as the most effective use of a KPI is when it is aligned to the business strategy and the business plan of the organisation.HR - Human Resourses Sample Key Performance IndicatorsRecruitmentNew employee satisfaction rate with recruiting process Percentage of new employee retention after x time Percentage job offer acceptance rate Percentage of vacancies filled … [Read more...] about Sample Key Performance Indicators – KPIs
Writing Key Performance Indicators KPI's
Content on Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) covered:Introduction to KPI's Benefits of KPI's KPI -v- CSF Critical Success Factors (CSFs) Setting KPIs and CSFs Visual KPIs Example KPIs Example HR KPIs More example KPIs Sample KPI pageKey Performance Indicators (KPIs) - An IntroductionWhat is a Key Performance Indicator? A key performance indicator is a financial and non-financial measure used to help an organization measure progress towards a stated organizational goal or objective. The … [Read more...] about Writing Key Performance Indicators KPI's
Creating and maintaining a high performance culture
A High Performance Culture is something many organizations strive to achieve. Many have achieved it in their own unique and distinctive ways. However, certain fundamental common factors need to exist without which a "High Performance Culture" will not be created.In difficult economic time this can be difficult to justify - however now is the time to prepare the organization for the future. Organizational development strategies take time to formulate, develop and deploy - and that is before … [Read more...] about Creating and maintaining a high performance culture
Brainstorming technique for innovation, creativity and problem solving – a business strategy
Introduction to Brainstorming Brainstorming as an approach or technique can be an effective way of generating many ideas on a specific issue which can then be filtered and reviewed to determine which idea or approach is the most appropriate.Brainstorming as a technique is most effective with groups of between 8 and 12 people performed in a relaxed environment. History of Brainstorming Brainstorming is a technique often used by groups, but can be done alone (although this is not as … [Read more...] about Brainstorming technique for innovation, creativity and problem solving – a business strategy
PESTLE Analysis for Schools or Education
A PESTLE analysis is a tool that can provide prompts to the governors, management and staff involved in the analysis of the changes in the school's environment that could impact future finance, planning and management decisions. It can enable them carry out a more comprehensive analysis. A PESTLE is usually used in commercial organisations as a part of the strategic development of a business and marketing plan, however a PESTLE analysis can be used as part of identifying the opportunities and … [Read more...] about PESTLE Analysis for Schools or Education
Marketing and SEO for training providers
So you have decided to run a training company, you have identified what it is you want to train and in what sector (see porter five forces ). Now all you need to do first tell the world you exist...wrongMarketing is as important part of running a business as delivering the product or closing the sale. How can you close a sale or deliver a product if people don't know you are there?Some would argue that you need to follow: Top 6 ways to market Training Services 1. Build a … [Read more...] about Marketing and SEO for training providers
Going Freelance – So you want to go independent?
Starting out in freelance training - What does it take to be successful? Overview This document is not meant to be a complete how to guide for those wishing to start a consultancy business. It's purpose is to ask some of the questions and show some information that many other sources fail to do. Introduction to going freelance Many trainers, developers, coaches and facilitators occasionally get the urge to jump ship and do their own thing. So what is the difference between those that … [Read more...] about Going Freelance – So you want to go independent?
Why to use Twitter as a business marketing tool
Why to use Twitter as a business marketing tool Use a new tools in the market as a key strategy? - you must be mad! In a changing economy, it might seem wrong to experiment with mediums such as Twitter for marketing and customer outreach. After all, the more well-established Facebook has a documented 800 million active users, while estimates place Twitter (which twitter doesn't disclose such figures) at around 5 million users. ** update Dec 2011 - Facebook is now 800+ active users and Twitter … [Read more...] about Why to use Twitter as a business marketing tool
Free Business Health Check
Are they free and are they worth the time invested? IntroductionWhat does free mean? No cost to use? - or use something for free? lets be real - there is no such thing as free. Time is money and to many small and medium sized businesses time is one of the most precious resources. So read the following with caution - the service may be free but does it add real value to your business? What is a Business Health Check? All businesses have weaknesses as well as strengths. If … [Read more...] about Free Business Health Check
Leadership models
Leadership models and theories are tools that help to shape the way we think, manage and run our organisations.This is an old page, maintained for reasons of continuity, please visit our updated page here Leadership models and theories are tools that help to shape the way we think, manage and run our organisations.This page lists some of those leadership models found to be of value by the team at RapidBI. This is a historical page - our updated page can be found … [Read more...] about Leadership models
Pareto's Principle – The 80/20 rule
Introduction to 80-20In 1906, Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto created a mathematical formula to describe the unequal distribution of wealth in his country, observing that twenty percent of the people owned eighty percent of the wealth.In the late 1940s, Dr. Joseph M. Juran inaccurately attributed the 80/20 Rule to Pareto, calling it Pareto's Principle. While it may be misnamed, Pareto's Principle or Pareto's Law as it is sometimes called, can be a very effective tool to help you manage … [Read more...] about Pareto's Principle – The 80/20 rule
Cut or increase innovation in a recession?
Innovation, is it a burden or opportunity when things are difficult?This morning I was reading an article in Business Week about the need for organizations to cut back on innovation (article). The article starts with the opening line "When times get tough, one of the first things we do is think about what we can do without, like cutting latte consumption from five a week to two" with which I totally agree. However an assumption in the article drives the reader to believe that INNOVATION … [Read more...] about Cut or increase innovation in a recession?
Writing academic reports and references
Writing academic reports and references Often I am asked about the references for some of the pieces I have written about on this site, for example SWOT, PESTLE & SMART, so I thought it was about time to provide an answer here rather than just in person.Unfortunately writing a reference for some of these is not as easy to answer as you may believe.The Harvard (and other referencing systems) were developed for the use of academic material. On this and other more popular management … [Read more...] about Writing academic reports and references
Why Organisational Development often fails to deliver
Organisational Development (OD) is the name or label given to many HR and training related strategies, but it is more than that.Bennis in his early work "Organizational Development: nature, origins & prospects" defines OD as: "a response to change, a complex educational strategy intended to change the beliefs, attitudes, values and structure of organizations so that they can better adapt to new technologies, markets and challenges" This is just as true today as it was in … [Read more...] about Why Organisational Development often fails to deliver
Going Freelance in difficult times – consulting and training
Many people believe that one of the most successful ways of starting as a freelancer and maintaining a growing consulting or training business is to specialise or to find your own niche. What is a business niche? A niche business is one with a focus or area of specialisation. It is a market segment that particularly suits your experience, knowledge, talents, interests and personality. It is a segment of the market that you can make your own. You make it yours because it fits your expertise and … [Read more...] about Going Freelance in difficult times – consulting and training
Black Swan events – or unknown unknowns
Black Swan events - or unknown unknowns #BlackSwan #InnovationIt was once believed that all swans were white, because until that time the only swans had been seen (northern hemisphere) were white. It was believed that all swans were white and that black (or any other colour) could not exist.The belief was destroyed when a Black Swan was discovered in Australia. Hence the term “Black Swan” became used for unpredictable or unforeseen events - the unknown unknowns...As the changes … [Read more...] about Black Swan events – or unknown unknowns
Tips for those thinking about going freelance in training or consultancy
How to become a freelance trainer or consultant So you want to go independent as a freelance trainer or consultant? Do your own thing?How do you go about starting out in freelance training? Overview on going freelance - or How to become a freelance trainer This document is not meant to be a complete how to guide for those wishing to start a consultancy business. It's purpose is to ask some of the questions and show some information that many other sources fail to do. Tips and ideas which … [Read more...] about Tips for those thinking about going freelance in training or consultancy
Porters five forces
Michael Porter's Five Forces Michael Porter's five forces is a model used to explore the environment in which a product or company (or business unit) operates. Five forces analysis looks at five key areas mainly the threat of entry, the power of buyers, the power of suppliers, the threat of substitutes, and competitive rivalry. New Entrants SuppliersIndustry competitors and extent of rivalryBuyers Substitutes Introduction The model of the Five Competitive Forces … [Read more...] about Porters five forces
Ansoff matrix – product market grid – Management theory & model
Introduction to the Ansoff matrix Igor Ansoff is known as the father of strategic management. He was a mathematician and business manager. In the 1950s his work was developed and eventually published providing managers and the marketing world with a simple, practical tool that is in use 50 years later.In essence the Ansoff product/ market matrix is a tool that helps businesses decide their product and market growth strategy.Ansoff's product/ market matrix suggests that a business' … [Read more...] about Ansoff matrix – product market grid – Management theory & model
