Innovation often is defined narrowly as invention… creating something that has never been. But there are other forms of innovation. I can improve existing technology or products and gain a competitive advantage. Or I can integrate features that already exist but have not yet been combined into a single device. Jobs led the creation of … Continue reading Creativity & Innovation: How Critical Are They?
The Problem With Teams: They Are Made Up Of People
Using teams to perform work continues to increase in frequency. The more complex work of today requires skill sets that fewer individuals possess on their own. And processes like the concurrent engineering of new products necessarily involve knowledge in a wide variety of fields, such as Finance, IT, Production, Marketing and the like. A team … Continue reading The Problem With Teams: They Are Made Up Of People
How Would Dodge City & Tombstone Recruit Wyatt Earp Today?
Changing times require changing strategies. The details about Wyatt Earp’s work in Dodge City and Tombstone are not readily available. The current “evidence” is regrettably questionable, due to the romanticism that dominates the film records. The business needs of the municipalities are clear. But the employer value proposition they used to attract Earp and to … Continue reading How Would Dodge City & Tombstone Recruit Wyatt Earp Today?
Pay Equity: The 3 C Test
To determine if two employees in the same occupation are paid equitably relative to each other three comparisons should be made: Competence: capable of doing work of the same complexity, difficulty and variety? Contribution: perform at the same level? >Compa-ratio: their pay rates compared to their pay range midpoints the same ratio? If the answers … Continue reading Pay Equity: The 3 C Test
The Employment Contract: Let’s Make A Deal
Employment is a contractual relationship between two parties… an organization and an individual. The contract may be emotional and not legally binding, which makes if more of an agreement about a relationship. Both parties want the conditions of employment to be fair, competitive and appropriate… from their perspective. The organization wants to get as much … Continue reading The Employment Contract: Let’s Make A Deal
Is It The Strategy… Or The Execution?
Formulating the right strategy is critical. But an inadequate investment in training everyone on strategy execution will negate the value of having the right strategy. And if management has not ensured that people understand and adhere to the policies and practices that are required for execution not much that is good happens. If managers and … Continue reading Is It The Strategy… Or The Execution?
Following Trends: A Good Idea?
Professionals and managers are exposed to an avalanche of information about what is going on in their field of practice. Some of it is derived from discussions with others, some from practitioner journals and some from ideas presented at conferences. Continuous environmental scanning is a prudent strategy, particularly in the kind of dynamic environment that exists today. … Continue reading Following Trends: A Good Idea?
