Process Based Leadership Training

Tuesday Tip: [Excel-based Scorecards Cause Management Headaches]

admin — Tue, 15 May 2012 13:27:35 +0000

Excel-based Scorecards Cause Management Headaches

With a 3^rd generation release of PBL ScoreCard coming out this year, CSI conducted some research though random client surveys with our clients. We found that nearly 90% of PBL ScoreCard users had previously been using Microsoft Excel for their business scorecard needs. The survey revealed some key insight into why leading organizations are making the jump from simple spreadsheet technology, like Excel, to a modern and robust solution, such as PBL ScoreCard.

Excel Scorecard Headaches include:

1) Maintaining Accurate Formulas. Unless properly trained, creating complicated formulas can be very difficult. Once built, it is very easy to break formulas as well.

2) Limited Access. Only one person at a time can open the file for editing. This causes a traffic jam when dozens of people need to update their data by the same deadline.

3) Custom Reporting is Very Time Consuming. It is tremendously difficult to create a nice presentation that includes data from multiple workbooks and sheets. It is very inefficient, especially if the report is only used once.

Learn more about Excel’s headaches and some powerful alternatives in this upcoming webinar…

“Scorecards: Overcoming the Shortcomings of Spreadsheets”
by Seth Davies, Managing Partner
Wednesday, May 23rd
Session Option 1 – 10 am EDT
Live Encore Session – 1 pm EDT
For details go to http://processbasedleadership.com/webinar-registration/
Registration is free, but space is limited. Reserve your spot today!

If you are unable to attend the webinar, please let us know what other forms of information you need by filling out this simple form.

CSI and Lentech Announce Partnership

admin — Fri, 11 May 2012 14:50:08 +0000

CSI and Lentech, Inc. Announce Partnership

Lentech, Inc. was selected in January 2012 as the preferred application-hosting provider for PBL Scorecard^® and as an Authorized Reseller for Competitive Solutions, Inc. (CSI). Together, Lentech and CSI focus on providing secure hosting on a reliable platform for CSI’s industry leading Business Scorecard software – PBL ScoreCard^®. This partnership provides a secure hosting environment in support of CSI’s leadership training and business consulting services for CSI customers.

About Lentech, Inc.

Lentech, Inc., a privately held Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB) provides customers with reliable, scalable, responsive secure application and data center solutions in a private/public cloud environment, plus Enterprise IT services that encompass the entire IT Enterprise Lifecycle. Through several years of experience, industry expertise, and strategic partnerships, Lentech has built mission-critical solutions for our local, federal and commercial customers. We operate within three-core areas of expertise including Secure Hosting Solutions (SHS); Enterprise Technical Services (ETS); and Enterprise Application Solutions (EAS) each focused on Federal marketplace and prime integrator partnerships. For more information on Lentech visit www.lentechinc.com

About Competitive Solutions, Inc.

Competitive Solutions, Inc. (CSI) is a leadership training and business scorecard consulting firm that specializes in helping organizations improve communication, develop meaningful business scorecards, create accountability at all levels and set behavioral expectations using Process Based Leadership^®.

Speaking Today: [Seth Davies speaks at Manufacturing Matters Conference]

admin — Wed, 09 May 2012 10:56:34 +0000

Seth Davies, Managing Partner of Competitive Solutions, Inc. is speaking today at the 2012 Manufacturing Matters! Conference in Milwaukee, WI. Seth’s session is called “Manufacturing Metrics: Training to Drive Sustainable Business Processes” and takes place from 10:00 am to 11:00 am.

Website: Manufacturing Matters! 2012

For information about having Seth speak at your upcoming event, please fill out this simple contact form.

Tuesday Tip: [Top 3 Issues with Business Scorecards]

admin — Tue, 08 May 2012 10:46:58 +0000

Top 3 Issues with Business Scorecards

By 2011, an estimated 85% of organizations had adopted a performance measurement system in one form or another. Roughly half of these organizations are using a Balanced Scorecard methodology pioneered by Kaplan and Norton. Although this is a useful system, one should be aware of the common issues faced with most scorecards today.

Top 3 Issues with Scorecards Today:

1) Improperly defined metrics. With poorly defined objectives and/or targets employees can claim confusion and avoid being held accountable for results.

2) Inefficient data collection. With weekly or monthly deadlines, most scorecards have incomplete data. Organizations struggle to keep scorecards current by assigning an Administrator to drive data collection and reporting, which is costly and ineffective.

3) Lack of Standards for Scorecard Usage. As soon as a scorecard is updated it begins to age. Without an established, formal review process organizations can’t rely on the scorecard’s usefulness for timely, relevant decision making.

These issues are real, but can be overcome. Learn about simple, practical methods in this live webinar…

If you are unable to attend the webinar, please let us know what other forms of information you need by filling out this simple form.

Speaking Today: [Shane Yount speaks at 97th ISM Conference]

admin — Mon, 07 May 2012 15:54:59 +0000

Shane Yount, Principal of Competitive Solutions, Inc. is speaking today at the 97th Annual International ISM Conference and Educational Exhibit in Baltimore, Maryland. Shane’s session takes place at 3:00 pm and is called, “Managing Your Suppliers with Scorecard Metrics.”

Website: 97th Annual ISM Conference

For information about having Shane speak at your upcoming event, please fill out this simple contact form.

It’s Time to Retire Spreadsheets for Good

admin — Thu, 03 May 2012 10:26:45 +0000

It’s Time to Retire Spreadsheets for Good

It’s the 21^st Century, stop using spreadsheets to track performance and make critical business decisions!

by Connor Jordan

Electronic spreadsheets were originally developed in the late 1970s as a replacement tool for bookkeeping tasks traditionally done on paper. By design, the first generation of spreadsheets handled a variety of accounting tasks; however, they quickly became used for several other functions. Over time this expanded use of spreadsheets brought expanded functionality. Businesses across the world spent boatloads of budget dollars on software, such as: VisiCalc, Lotus 1-2-3, and Microsoft Excel with an eye on gaining productivity and data accuracy.

FREE WEBINAR
“Scorecards” Overcoming the Shortcomings of Spreadsheets”

Now that we are in the 21^st Century, spreadsheet software is so readily available that you can download various open source solutions for free. Heading into their 5^th decade of existence, spread sheets are nearing the end of their life cycle. They should be given a going away party and forcibly retired!

Deficiencies Clear a Path for Spreadsheet Retirement

Today, one of the most popular uses of spreadsheet software is for Business Scorecards. Unless you are tracking a morale-boosting weight loss competition with your peers, your data is probably too important and too detailed to rely on a spreadsheet. Gathering and storing critical business data that will influence company strategy and decision-making should not be placed at risk with these outdated tools.

Studies Show a Disappointing Reality

A number of recent studies find numerous reasons to lose faith in your spreadsheets.
- roughly 94% of spreadsheets contain errors¹
- 57% of spreadsheet users have never received formal training²
- 72% of spreadsheet users report having no audit process to check for accuracy²

Shortcomings of Excel Spreadsheets

Regardless of industry, company size, or how sophisticated your Excel spreadsheets have become, it is impossible to expect the same results when compared with a true business scorecard software. Excel’s limitations cause many unwanted headaches for leaders.

1) Formulas, Macros, Conditionals – oh my! There is a broad spectrum of user capabilities in your workforce. Even if you are able to identify and assign the super users to manage the spreadsheets you’ll be limited by what the software can do. The entire scorecard is only as strong as your weakest user.

2) Share and Take Turns. This is great advice in a sandbox when you’re 9 years old. However, in a fast-paced corporate environment it can be incredibly frustrating when you are limited to only one user at a time. Imagine if you have 100 employees that need to update data every week, how are you going to manage that?

3) Hmmm… Something Doesn’t Look Right. Ah, yes, let’s not forget the issue with data corruption. Formulas frequently get overwritten. Cells get moved and break formulas too. A user may add a column or row on one sheet and not realize that she just wiped out data on 3 other sheets in the workbook. Once it’s saved the trusty undo button is of no help.

4) It’s All or Nothing. Accessing the scorecard spreadsheet is the same for every user. There is no way to place controls on revisions and no way to provide or limit access based on user rights. Every user can do everything. Every user can see everything. Sophisticated scorecard software gives you control over access points, editing rights, and reporting functions.

5) Ugly Duckling Syndrome. Excel’s graphs, charts and generic imagery leave you wanting more from your scorecard. To make things look prettier you’ll need a PowerPoint or PDF expert on call if you want to impress the big-wigs with some slick presentations.

Benefits of Business Scorecard Software

Save Time - By having one central location to input all your data, you’ll save hours of time each week. No need to worry about multiple sheets and data entry points.

Shorten Meetings - With your meeting agenda built in to the software you’ll gain efficiency and speed. You’ll be able to cut your meeting times in half! You’ll also be able to eliminate most of your other, unnecessary meetings.

Share Accountability - With an integrated Action Register you and your team will be able to directly affect scorecard results and maintain high levels of teamwork and accountability.

Improve Performance - You’re one click away from all your reports, graphs and charts making it easy to identify trends and performance issues, allowing your team to focus in the right areas and hit higher goals.

Save Money - With easier data entry, shorter meetings, more focused team members, and no Excel headaches to deal with, you’ll begin saving money from day one and beyond.

Have an opinion? Need more information? Let us know…

1 – Stephen G. Powell, Kenneth R. Baker, Barry Lawson “A Critical Review of the Literature on Spreadsheet Errors”

2 – “Spreadsheet Risk Management within UK Organisations”

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Speaking Today: [Shane Yount speaks at INTERPHEX 2012]

admin — Wed, 02 May 2012 11:17:19 +0000

Shane Yount, Principal of Competitive Solutions, Inc. is speaking today at the 2012 INTERPHEX event at the Javits Center in New York City. Shane is joined by Ed DuBeau of Pfizer as they discuss “Proven Processes and Metrics to Optimize Operational Excellence.” Their session takes place from 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm.

Website: INTERPHEX 2012

For information about having Shane speak at your upcoming event, please fill out this simple contact form.

Speaking Today: [Seth Davies speaks at SHRM Staffing event]

admin — Wed, 02 May 2012 10:29:41 +0000

Seth Davies, Managing Partner of Competitive Solutions, Inc. is speaking today at the 2012 SHRM Talent & Staffing Management Conference in Washington DC. Seth’s session is called “Reset, Reboot, Recover Your Operational Excellence” and takes place from 8:30 am to 9:45 am.

Website: SHRM Talent & Staffing Management Conference

For information about having Seth speak at your upcoming event, please fill out this simple contact form.

Tuesday Tip: [Why Your Spreadsheet Fails as a Scorecard]

admin — Tue, 01 May 2012 13:11:08 +0000

Why Your Spreadsheet Fails as a Scorecard

One of the most popular uses of spreadsheet software is for Business Scorecards. Is this a good decision? Electronic spreadsheets arrived in the late 1970s as a replacement for bookkeeping tasks traditionally done on paper. Are they capable of handling your scorecards in 2012?

Studies Show a Disappointing Reality
Recent studies find numerous reasons to lose faith in your spreadsheets.

• 94% of spreadsheets contain errors*
• 57% of spreadsheet users have never received formal training**
• 72% of spreadsheet users report having no audit process to check for accuracy**

In light of these findings, would you feel safe in using a spreadsheet to compile your critical business data for tracking performance and making important decisions?

Stop using spreadsheets! Learn about powerful, web-based alternatives in this upcoming live webinar…

If you are unable to attend the webinar, please let us know what other forms of information you need by filling out this simple form.

* – Stephen G. Powell, Kenneth R. Baker, Barry Lawson “A Critical Review of the Literature on Spreadsheet Errors”
**– “Spreadsheet Risk Management within UK Organisations”

Webinar Archives: [Motivating Multi-Generational Teams]

admin — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 18:17:57 +0000

Motivating Multi-Generational Teams
by Seth Davies
Approximately 31 minutes

Webinar Description:
Today’s workforce is more diverse than ever before. One element contributing to this diversity is the multiple generations of employees working side by side. It is more important than ever for today’s leaders to understand what motivates the different generations and how to create and sustain best practices for maintaining high levels of motivation.

What You’ll Learn in this Webinar:
- Understand how different Generations view work, find motivation and achieve success
- Possible issues leaders face with diverse generations on their team
- Tools and processes leaders can implement to leverage different strengths
- Best practices for building a stronger Multi-Generational Team

If you’d like some additional info, please let us know and we’ll be glad to help.