The Virtual CEO
The task of formulating and effectively executing an
organization's strategy in today's dynamic world has become
increasingly difficult. The accelerated rate of technological
change, increased global competition and a more sophisticated
customer base have combined to challenge managers to rethink their
business models, techniques, and tools in favor of faster, more
responsive approaches.
Successful strategy formulation is becoming increasingly
dependent on how well an organization gathers, manages, and
synthesizes vital information into targeted, actionable activities.
This information should not only contain hard data from secondary
and primary research and analysis, but the soft views and intuitions
of those in key positions throughout the organization.
Virtual CEO has developed proven methodologies and tools to
support Value Management Partners' ability to rapidly formulate and
effectively execute your strategy. Our emphasis on execution and
commitment to defined processes ensures that our clients are leaving
little or nothing to chance.
Check out the articles and links highlighted in this issue of The
Value Manager. Our experienced consultants and facilitators are
prepared to enhance and refine the effectiveness of your current
plans and strategies, and help you significantly improve your
business condition.
More
about VCEO at our website.
|
| |
Greetings:
Consulting contracts picked up considerably since the
beginning of the war in Iraq. It was as if corporate America
was holding it breath and then just let it out in a big
whoosh. Time to draw in some fresh air. Ah, sweet!
The Value Manager this month focuses on business processes.
Are you ready to breathe in some fresh air? You may want to
review and document all the processes that make up your core
competency. Are they still viable? Are they still making money
or are they costing more? Is your vision shared by your
employees? Let's look into it.
Read on for helpful information and ideas. . . .
|
|
|
|
|
Business Process Assessment |
| |
Overhauling or replacing outdated processes and weak
applications is a fact of life in business. And getting what
you need isn't always easy. Business processes and technology
systems are often interdependent. Most have been built and
expanded over long periods to meet needs that may no longer be
important today.
Value Management Partners can help you assess your current
business and technology needs. Our team, with experience in
multiple areas of project, process and business management,
along with highly skilled technology experts and input from
your own organization, will analyze your current environment.
Then we'll develop concise recommendations for where you need
to go and how to get there. You can use these recommendations
to make your case for funding, to educate staff and
stakeholders, to develop RFPs, or to serve as high-level
requirements for a new design.
We back our Business Process Assessment with a tried-
and-true methodology, documenting your current processes and
the technology that supports them; Helping professionals in
your organization identify strategic goals and process changes
to support those goals; Documenting these improved processes;
And, finally, recommending the best solution to support the
new processes and goals.
The combination of our methodology with your industry and
technical experts and a combined understanding of your
business, results in solid recommendations. No matter what
industry you're in, we have expertise in your business and
best practices that can be applied to your situation.
Contain Costs and Ensure Success
By prioritizing
needs, the assessment lowers your risk of overinvesting in
nonessential areas. Our assessment helps you steer around
systems that look impressive but won't work effectively in
your environment. We're experienced in the entire life-cycle
of process re- engineering and IT projects, from documentation
and analysis to design and development to implementation and
change management. As a result, we can help you anticipate and
avoid problems.
Find
out more...
|
|
|
Book Report |
| |
 What is Six Sigma?
by Peter Pande and Larry
Holpp
Before your boss sneaks Six Sigma into your vocabulary, or
you're looking to rub elbows with the executive team, read
this book. Without getting into a whole lot of theory, the
authors explain numbers, acronyms, responsibilities and
benefits of this popular business initiative. It's a great
summary and a quick read. There are plenty of books you will
need to study and review as you delve deeper into the Six
Sigma processes, but this book is definitely your starting
point.
Read
more reviews at Amazon
|
|
|
Why CEOs Fail |
| |
It's bad execution. Yep, as simple as that: not getting
things done, being indecisive, not delivering on commitments.
Read this article reprint from Fortune Magazine.
Fortune
Magazine Article (PDF). . .
|
|
|
You can quote me on that. . . . |
| |
"In the business world, the rearview mirror is always
clearer than the windshield."
--Warren Buffett
"Effective leadership is putting first things first.
Effective management is discipline, carrying it out."
--Stephen Covey
"In this age, which believes that there is a short cut to
everything, the greatest lesson to be learned is that the most
difficult way is, in the long run, the easiest."
--Henry
Miller
"We are confronted with insurmountable opportunities."
--Pogo
|
|
|
Management Needs |
| |
 Few executives can keep pace with all the changes in
today's fast-moving marketplace: New competitors. New business
models. New technologies. Innovative methods. Changing rules
of the game.
Over the past couple of years, many companies have thinned
the ranks of management, becoming "lean and mean." As a
result, executive attention is spread thin. Few have enough
time to plan, to reflect, to take the long view. Our
consulting services are designed to address these needs, and
to provide focused assistance to busy executives who need to
lead their organizations in this world of change.
First, we can help you to do the right things. Our services
will help you to define your current business model, your core
competencies, and the key trends and issues affecting you.
Then, we will help you formulate a framework, providing
structure for the new ideas and initiatives that will form
your plan for the future. And, we will help you to effectively
communicate your strategy to your entire organization.
We
can help you to do things better.
|
|
|
Please let us know. . . |
| |
Do you have a problem with a project or business
process you would like to see addressed? Just reply to this
email or visit the contact us page on our website. We'll be
happy to address it in an upcoming Value Manager issue.
Please forward this newsletter to your colleagues. Click on
Forward Email below. Thanks and see you next time.
Oh by the way, we've begun to collect the past issues of
The Value Manager and archive them at the website. Check it
out!
The
Value Manager archives
|
| |