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Model I - Management Overview                         Very interesting read on how effective management in hospital systems requires innovation, creativity and communication during this Covid-19 crises.  Good leadership during these times requires managers to offer support and empathy to the front-line workers who are experiencing a tremendous amount of stress and sacrifice. 

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Model I - Management Overview                         Very interesting read on how effective management in hospital systems requires innovation, creativity and communication during this Covid-19 crises.  Good leadership during these times requires managers to offer support and empathy to the front-line workers who are experiencing a tremendous amount of stress and sacrifice. 

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How leadership matters in healthcare – especially in a crisis

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The healthcare sector should focus on employee engagement and fostering meaningful relationships between staff. Leaders must show empathy and help staff deal with the trauma they may be experiencing.

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Module I - Levels of Management:

My personal goal for the future is to move from lower-level management to middle management.

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Model II - Ethics and Corporate Responsibility

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Model II - Ethics and Corporate Responsibility

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Company Culture
As a company grows, it's objectives and culture evolves along with it.  I thought this article was very informative on how to effectively communicate change within a company so that everyone can learn and grow, while maintaining company values.

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As your company expands and adds more employees, your culture may shift. While having more voices in the room isn't a bad thing, it doesn't always leave room for in-depth discussions about the company's core values.

To ensure your values aren't forgotten as you grow, we asked the members of Forbes Coaches Council for their advice. Below, they share 15 things business leaders can do to communicate the core values of their business to employees, and how these strategies can help a company excel ethically.

Forbes Coaches Council members share tips for communicating your company values to your team.
Photos courtesy of the individual members.

1. Hold Collective 'Sense-Making' Discussions
As a company grows, its corporate identity matures and changes. That means core values and the way they are practiced will change as well. A simple value communication can, therefore, backfire. To move toward authentic, ethical and innovative growth, companies can focus on a culture of collective sense-making so people can discuss their values and how they want to practice them. - Erika Jacobi, Ph.D., LC GLOBAL Consulting Inc.
2. Live Your Values Through Action
Business leaders communicate values through action. Is service a value? Then offer to help a customer you see in your lobby. Is teamwork a value? Then don't spend any time venting about colleagues. Is empathy a value? Then truly listen to a struggling staff member. Leaders who live their values exhibit integrity. That integrity encourages both excellence and ethical behavior. - Gwen Voelpel, City of SeaTac

Forbes Coaches Council is an invitation-only community for leading business and career coaches. Do I qualify?
3. Integrate Values Into The Employee Lifecycle
Integrating values into each step of the job cycle, from hiring to advancement to exit, prompts a pause to ask: With which core value does this decision or action align? This practice connects daily behavior to a company's impact, exposing whoever does not subscribe to the values. Open discussions could then show how values are embodied in diverse ways, fostering more inclusion versus groupthink. - Samara Hakim, CulturGrit
4. Simplify Your Mission, Vision And Values Statements
A company's mission, vision and values need to be captured in single sentences. Most organizations fail because they create complex, verbose statements most employees can't understand, let alone live up to. Once these have been simplified and captured, leaders should discuss them regularly with their teams using real-world examples. This will help companies stay true to their core values-and if these were set correctly in the first place, it will help companies to excel ethically. - Paul Watts, Base Over Apex Inc
5. Use Values As Your Decision-Making Framework
The core values of any organization act as a framework for decisions, actions and the quality of interactions between stakeholders. The best way for leaders to communicate these values to their employees is to A) refer to them on a regular basis (e.g. when they make a decision) and B) consistently live up to them, as actions speak louder than words. Employees will take you as a point of reference and live up to them too. - Thomas Gelmi, Movadis GmbH
6. Create A Culture Playbook Around Your Values
Communicating core values is best done by creating a culture playbook around each of your core values. Each page properly crafts what "right" looks like, feels like and sounds like inside the walls of your company. What does the value really mean, and when and how does "right" show up? When we define it, build it and maintain it, it is easy to see. - Shelley Smith, Premier Rapport
7. Hold Quarterly Town Hall Meetings
By holding Town Hall meetings quarterly, leaders can use these opportunities to reinforce their company's core values and ethics to their employees. This makes sure that the organization and employees are totally aligned and operating in an ethical manner. Those who are not aligned will soon deselect themselves from the organization. - Peter Boolkah, The Transition Guy
8. Address The 'Why' And The 'WIIFM'
In my corporate experience and as a coach, communicating for lasting, sustained impact needs the following to be addressed in the messaging: 1) The Why: Why are these values so important, and why do they personify the company? 2) The WIIFM (what's in it for me/them): Here, both "me" and "them" have to be explained and established. 3) Then, identify and establish an emotional link within the message to the team. - Sadhana Somasekhar, Platinum Infosystems Pvt. Ltd.
9. Recognize Employees Who Demonstrate Company Values
Leaders need to visibly and tangibly recognize when company values are demonstrated by employees. Public praise highlighting the actions driven by values can be effective. Addressing actions that don't conform to the values is also needed. Leaders who live the values daily and talk about how the values impact their decisions help employees to see the values in action. - Evan Roth, Roth Consultancy International, LLC.
10. Include All Employees In Your Strategic Planning
My clients who include every employee in annual strategic planning and quarterly progress course corrections have the most engaged employees. Each understands not just the planned trajectory for the year, but also how it necessarily evolves in real-time. Each also sees clearly how their role furthers the company's plan. - Dodie Jacobi, The Consultant's Consultant™
11. Frame All Announcements In The Context Of Your Values
Frame every announcement and every decision in the context of the company values. If managers and senior leaders actually use the values in their work and decisions, articulating how the values fit will be natural and effective reinforcement. Employees generally struggle with values when their managers' decisions and actions don't align. - Leann Wolff, Great Outcomes Consulting
12. Pay Attention To Nonverbal Communication
Often, it is the nonverbal communication that makes the most impact on employees and other stakeholders. While there may be a list of the company vision and values in brochures and other collateral material, it is the behavior of leaders that loudly communicates those core values. Simply put, lead by example, take a stand against injustice and take action when necessary. - Deborah Hightower, Deborah Hightower, Inc.
13. Create A Values-Based Awards Program
Create awards based on these values. They can be established annually or quarterly. The award or medal to the member who demonstrated "Creativity," "Teamwork" or "Excellence" can be configured with the values, as companies like Domino's Pizza do worldwide. - Emilio González , ActionCOACH Business Coaching
14. Make The Connection Between Actions And Values Clear
Sharing examples of values in action and describing the explicit connection to the company's values can be helpful for employees. For example, a company that values serving its community can spotlight individuals who are doing community service projects, and specifically state that this is an example of the company's values in action. - Jennifer Wisdom, Wisdom Consulting
15. Tell The Right Stories To Your Team
Stand-out business leaders see themselves as storytellers of their companies. Values-based stories that share their unique value proposition in the marketplace, and how they do what they do even more than what they do, are both easily understood and shared. When employees share the culture and vision of a company through a repeated story, it supports seamless communication of culture as the company grows. - Jeneen Masih, JMM Consulting

... Read More

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Council Post: 15 Effective Ways Leaders Can Communicate Core Business Values To Employees

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As your company expands and adds more employees, your culture may shift. While having more voices in the room isn't a bad thing, it doesn't always leave room for in-depth discussions about the company's core values. To ensure your values aren't forgotten as you grow, we asked the members of Forbes Coaches Council for their advice.

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Model II - Ethics and Corporate Responsibility

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Model II - Ethics and Corporate Responsibility

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The CEO of Cigna, the company I work for, hosted this conversation about diversity, culture and systemic racism in the workplace and I thought it was relevant to this model.   The discussion was really powerful and has opened up further town hall discussions within my company.  They've touched on sensitive topics that can be uncomfortable but are necessary in order to foster change and offer a new perspective to employees. I have learned and grown from these discussions, paired with what have we have learned in this class.

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Advancing the Conversation on Systemic Racism

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Module II - Ethics and Corporate Responsibility 

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Module II - Ethics and Corporate Responsibility 

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Diversity in the Workplace
This article touched on recent efforts by major companies to make diversity in the workplace a priority.

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The killing of George Floyd inspired companies around the world to support the Black Lives Matter movement and take action to end systemic racism.

Racial diversity, inclusion and equity are good for business.

In recent weeks, World Economic Forum partners and members have donated billions to social justice organizations and launched new initiatives to make their own workplaces more inclusive and equitable.

The killing of George Floyd on 25 May 2020 by a Minnesota police officer sparked global outrage - and a long-overdue movement to end the systemic racism and inequality that have plagued not only US policing but also workplaces and communities.

Since then, citizens have been protesting in cities across the United States and around the world. Businesses and organizations are also taking action - by supporting the Black Lives Matter movement, tackling inequality in their own workplaces, donating to social justice organizations and using their platforms to promote racial diversity, inclusion and equity in the business community.

And improving diversity and inclusion in business isn't just the right thing to do - it's good business.

"Business has the transformative power to change and contribute to a more open, diverse and inclusive society. We can only accomplish this by starting from within our organizations," wrote Vijay Eswaran, Executive Chairman of QI Group, a World Economic Forum Partner.

"Many of us know intuitively that diversity is good for business. The case for establishing a truly diverse workforce, at all organizational levels, grows more compelling each year. The moral argument is weighty enough, but the financial impact - as proven by multiple studies - makes this a no-brainer," he continued.

What's the World Economic Forum doing about diversity, equity and inclusion?

Here are some examples of what World Economic Forum partners, corporations and other organizations are doing to end systemic racism.

Last Updated on 22 June 2020

PepsiCo CEO: "Black Lives Matter, to our company and to me."

That's what PepsiCo CEO Ramon Laguarta wrote in his recent op-ed in Fortune, in which he announced a commitment of $400 million over five years to "to lift up Black communities and increase Black representation at PepsiCo."

The food and beverage company's efforts will focus on three pillars: people, business and communities.

People: PepsiCo will expand the company's Black managerial population by 30% by 2025, adding more than 250 Black associates to managerial roles. The company will also increase recruitment activities at Historically Black Colleges and Universities, establish scholarships for Black students and mandate company-wide unconscious-bias training.

Business: The company will double its spending with Black-owned suppliers, create more jobs for Black creators at its marketing agencies and invest $50 million over five years to strengthen local Black-owned businesses.

Communities: PepsiCo will invest an incremental $20 million over five years "to create opportunity and advance economic empowerment for Black Americans," including providing grants for social programmes in Black communities, provide mentorship, management training and financing for Black-owned restaurants and support Black non-profit CEOs.

PepsiCo is a Strategic Partner of the World Economic Forum.

PayPal will invest $530 million to advance racial equity and inclusion

The World Economic Forum Strategic Partner will do the following, among other initiatives:

Invest in diversity and inclusion at PayPal, including internal programming, community engagement and university and high school recruiting, pro-bono engagements and public advocacy initiatives. The company will also review its marketing materials to ensure they feature and celebrate the diversity of the PayPal community.

Create a $500 million opportunity fund "to support and strengthen Black and underrepresented minority businesses and communities over the long term, and to help drive financial health, access, and inter-generational wealth creation."

Provide $10 million in emergency grants to Black-owned businesses impacted by COVID-19 or the racial justice crisis in the United States.

Apple commits $100 million to new racial justice initiative

The tech company will focus on education, economic equality and criminal justice reform, said CEO Tim Cook. In particular, Apple will work with historically black colleges and universities, community colleges, STEM educators and underserved students as well as partner with the Equal Justice Initiative.

In addition, Apple will focus on "fostering and lifting up" developers of color and increase spending with Black-owned partners in the company's supply chain, as well as work to improve diversity and inclusion within the company's ranks.

The initiative will be led by Lisa Jackson, Apple's Vice President of Environment, Policy and Social Initiatives.

Ginkgo Bioworks is working towards "a more equitable company, technology and society"

Gingko Bioworks is committing $1 million "towards building a more equitable company, technology, and society," wrote Jason Kelly, CEO and Co-Founder of Ginkgo Bioworks on 10 June 2020.

"This will take many forms, from programmes for recruiting, training, and inclusion within Ginkgo, to supporting and sponsoring organizations that promote the inclusion of marginalized communities in biotechnology," he continued.

The World Economic Forum Partner is an American synthetic biology company that programmes cells for customers in the chemical, pharmaceutical, food and energy industries - and working on "diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines for COVID-19, which is disproportionately impacting communities of color."

The company will also work to improve diversity within it's own ranks, as currently only 2% of the team identifies as Black or African American.

LEGO is building a more inclusive company and world

LEGO is working to build a more inclusive company and world, one toy brick at a time.

The Forum Strategic Partner Associate is donating $4 million to organizations in the United States that support Black children and educate children about racial equality, according to the Dutch toy company's statement.

Furthermore, the company paused promotion of toy sets with police officers, firefighters, criminals, emergency vehicles and buildings out of respect for the Black Lives Matter protest movement.

"We requested that our affiliate partners refrain from posting promotional LEGO content as part of our decision to respect #BlackOutTuesday and pause posting content on our social media channels in response to the tragic events in the US," said a spokesperson.

A leader in diversity and inclusion, HP will donate half a million dollars to social justice organizations

"There has never been a more important time for us to live by the values on which HP was founded. They give us the light to lead through even the darkest days. And each of us can play important roles in advancing our best ideals and treating others with human kindness," he continued.

On 4 June 2020, HP announced the HP Foundation would donate $500,000 to social justice organizations and double-match employee contributions.

HP has long been recognized as a leader in diversity and inclusion. It has the most diverse board in the US technology industry, and 63% of its US hires in 2019 were from underrepresented groups.

Recognizing that its numbers of Black and African American employees is nevertheless not where it should be, it plans to double its number of Black and African American executives by 2025.

Read more about the company's efforts here.

Verizon and Uber commit millions to police reform

Two World Economic Forum partners are donating millions combined to organizations working towards police reform in the United States.

Forum Strategic Partner Uber Technologies announced it will donate a total of $1 million to two criminal justice reform organizations, the Center for Policing Equity and the Equal Justice Initiative.

Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi tweeted that "lasting change will only come from reforming the systems that have led us to where we are today."

"I am hopeful that the rest of the country will come to understand that valuing everyone equally is the best way forward. We cannot commit to a brand purpose of moving the world forward unless we are committed to helping ensure we move it forward for everyone. We stand united as one Verizon," said Verizon Chairman and CEO Hans Vestberg.

Verizon will build upon its already strong track record of diversity and inclusion. Four of the company's 9 board members are women or people of color, and 59.3% of the company's workforce is diverse.

Learn more about Verizon's diversity and inclusion efforts here.

5 things Visa is doing to promote "action, dialogue and change"

1. Establish a $10 million fund to create a dedicated Visa scholarship assistance programme over the next five years, specifically for college-bound Black and African American students.

2. Double match Visa employee donations to key social justice organizations including the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund during the month of June, up to $1 million.

3. Hold open forums to encourage dialogue.

4. Offer 24/7 counselling and referral services for Visa's Black and African American employees.

5. Provide guidance and direction for leaders to facilitate meaningful ongoing dialogue with teams, and specifically with Black and African American employees.

In the wake of George Floyd's death, Cisco postpones major event

"Today, we find ourselves facing another pandemic. Not one that is new by any means, but one we must confront. The recent murders of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and so many more before them are horrific, maddening and truly abhorrent," said CEO Chuck Robbins.

The company pledged $5 million to charities dedicated to fighting racism and discrimination.

Originally scheduled for 2-3 June 2020, the event was postponed to later in the month.

Bank of America pledges $1 billion to fighting economic and racial inequalities

The company will focus on four areas: health, jobs/training/reskilling/upskilling, support to small businesses and housing.

Working through the company's 90 local US market presidents and non-US country executives, programmes will include virus testing, telemedicine, flu vaccination clinics and other health services for communities of color; partnerships with Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Hispanic-serving institutions in the United States for hiring and research programmes; and recruitment and retention of employees from low- to moderate-income and disadvantaged communities, to name just a few.

Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan put it simply: "We all need to do more."

Merck's CEO: George Floyd "could be me"

Merck's CEO Kenneth Frazier - who is Black - reflected on systemic racism in the United States shortly after the death of George Floyd.

"I know for sure that what put my life on a different trajectory was that someone intervened to give me an opportunity, to close that opportunity gap. And that opportunity gap is still there," he told CNBC.

"What the African American community sees in that videotape is that this African American man, who could be me or any other African American man, is being treated as less than human," he said.

Merck (MSD) is a World Economic Forum Strategic Partner.

Healthcare speaks out

COVID-19 has exacerbated racial inequalities in the US healthcare system - and the killing of unarmed African Americans is an epidemic in and of itself. Across the country, healthcare executives and organizations are speaking out on both issues.

"A hugely disproportionate share of COVID-19 cases in the United States are among African Americans and other minorities. Many of these people work or worked in healthcare, transportation, emergency or other essential services, yet our society fails to treat them with the dignity that every American not only deserves but is entitled to under the U.S. Constitution," said the leaders of CommonSpirit health in a 1 June 2020 letter.

"Having seen the impacts of systemic racism in healthcare for decades, these recent events sharpen our resolve to demand justice, truth and dignity for all," they continued.

Jacobs CEO: "Join me in reinforcing our values"

"I remember the day we adopted our son Reggie. He was 14 years old. I couldn't have been happier or prouder to call him son. I also remember when I had to have 'the talk'. Because my son Reggie happens to be Black," said Demetriou.

He urged his colleagues at Jacobs and the broader business community stand up for what is right:

Nike: "Don't Do It."

Mere days after George Floyd was killed, Nike reversed its iconic slogan in an online video:

"Don't pretend there's not a problem in America. Don't turn your back on racism. Don't accept innocent lives being taken from us. Don't make any more excuses. Don't think this doesn't affect you. Don't sit back and be silent," said Nike.

The move sparked solidarity - even from long-time rival, Adidas - which retweeted the video, saying, "Together is how we make change."

Cargill, EY, Ecolab and more companies commit to change

While companies typically try to avoid controversy, the death of George Floyd and subsequent protests in cities across the United States made it impossible for corporations to remain silent on systemic racism.

On 28 May 2020, more than 55 CEOs of global corporations based in Minnesota - including Forum Strategic Partner EY and Forum Partners Cargill and Ecolab - committed to "investing in substantive change" within their organizations to address racial inequity and injustice.

"We are committed to taking steps to eliminate the repeat of events like this in our society and committed to investing in substantive change in our organizations and the communities we serve to address racial inequities and social justice. Change has to start today, and it needs to start with us," they said in the letter.

What's the World Economic Forum doing about diversity, equity and inclusion?

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What companies are doing to fight systemic racism

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The killing of George Floyd inspired companies around the world to support the Black Lives Matter movement and take action to end systemic racism. Racial diversity, inclusion and equity are good for business. In recent weeks, World Economic Forum partners and members have donated billions to social justice organizations and launched new initiatives to make their own workplaces more inclusive and equitable.

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This article reviews 13 well known companies who have been very successful in going global.  It reviews each of their unique marketing plans.

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What is Global Marketing? See 13 Businesses with Brilliant Strategies

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A global presence is possible for any business with a creative strategy and an understanding of world markets. Here’s how.

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Module V - Organizational Structure & Processes

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Module V - Organizational Structure & Processes

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This was an interesting article on maintaining company culture in a virtual environment. With Caronovirus here to seemingly stay, this article gives great advice on communicating the culture to all employees while in the virtual world.

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While large businesses have long operated virtually, the heartland and small businesses just recently went over the proverbial waterfall of remote working. Here are keys to cultivating corporate culture in an increasing virtual and remote age.

Workplace culture is synonymous with recruitment and retention. When culture is predominantly virtual, void of carefully-crafted workplaces, how is it cultivated? Airbnb has become a household name and revolutionized the tourism and hospitality industry, challenging the long-standing companies to critically assess their virtual strategies.

Airbnb's founder and CEO Brian Chesky has said, "Culture is simply a shared way of doing something with a passion." The challenge is keeping employees passionate about the work they are doing and the value they are providing when they are working independently. Cultivating this passion requires keeping a close eye and pulse on the process - which is why my company, JLG Architects, recently conducted a company-wide survey to assess corporate culture while working nearly 100% remotely.
Anchor Values and Culture
When understanding how to cultivate corporate culture, we must first look to the values of the company. "You cannot deliver value unless you anchor the company's values; values make an unsinkable ship," stated Indra Nooyi, former CEO of Pepsi-Co. No organization or business is big enough to have conflicting messages. In fact, the bigger the business, the simpler the message. It is often smaller businesses and organizations that struggle to clearly define, in simple terms, their values and set realistic goals for fostering a healthy culture.

Values are not just for letterheads and PowerPoints - but rather serve to inform a living, active, exciting business model and company culture. On the leadership level the key is to know who you are. Anchoring is always intentional, just as before you cultivate something it needs to be planted. It is important to know how leadership's perspective can vary from others in the company who are not in as many vision-minded conversations.

Ask yourselves honestly: Who are you, really? What are the elements of your culture that you cannot exist without? This is key so that regardless of working within the confines of an office or virtually, your workplace corporate identity is defined. The JLG Architects survey results indicated 67% of employees thought the culture had maintained or improved over the previous three months of working entirely remotely. This is attributed to longstanding defined values, culture and mission, which transcended virtually.
Culture Encompasses Everyone
Everyone in the company contributes to the culture. Every level of your organization should know and express your values. Communicating the values clearly and tangibly to every employee is the next key step. When you think you have over-communicated about it, you have likely just begun.

It is important to remember everyone wants to belong and contribute. It is easier to categorize some people, roles, or personality types as less interested in engaging, contributing, attending events, or impacted by workplace culture. While there always will be employees disinterested in events and quieter about values, it has nothing to do with rank, role or personality type - culture encompasses everyone, and management should offer a variety of opportunities for staff to engage in and communicate the culture.

A JLG survey question based on personality types - introverts vs. extroverts - indicated no correlation between personality type and views of corporate culture while working remotely. Sixty percent of people who stated that the firm culture improved while working remote identified themselves as extroverts. Additionally, with no correlation to personality type, 12% of employees (33% introverts, 25% extroverts and 42% both) indicated feeling that their value to the company had decreased since moving online.
Control Your Environment
The evolution of workplace design is moving away from the notion of one-size-fits-all towards a much more flexible and organic model. Being able to adapt and control your own environment is paramount - not just lighting, temperature, and ergonomics, but noise and the distraction of spontaneous drop-in colleagues.

Likewise, virtual and remote work is equally impacted by one's freedom to find an appropriate working environment, home office, coffee shop, or kitchen table. This flexibility and control over the personal working environment will likely be one of the longest-lasting elements to influence people after COVID-19, as everyone has experienced the benefits of agility and flexibility of working remotely. People will be less likely to return to the office without that similar flexibility and customization of their environment.

The survey results found that of the 26% of employees that stated their contribution and value improved since remote/virtual work, 77% attributed it to "greater control over their working environment" and " better connections with staff beyond their normal office team members and daily routine."
Business is Personal
The best way to cultivate culture is through meaningful relationships. We often separate personal life and work. However, sports and entertainment investor and billionaire entrepreneur Robert L. Johnson writes, "Business is personal... make your friends before you need them." Nothing replaces face-to-face interactions, a smile, and a strong handshake. Our increasing virtual age means each of us must become more intentional about connecting with others.

Author of Designing for How People Learn, Julie Dirksen writes, "I have this really amazing teacher... Nobody ever says, 'I had the most amazing textbook' or 'there was this really great PowerPoint.'" It sounds like a contradiction, but the more virtual we become, the more people-focused we must be. In the upper Midwest face-to-face communication is part of our fabric and connecting digitally is different than connecting in person. When working virtually, it is important to provide multiple opportunities, moments, and pauses to allow people the opportunity to connect.

Prior to the impact of COVID-19, JLG hosted weekly social hours and lunches at our locations, in addition to many other internal and community activities. Following the shift to completely virtual work, the company's survey found that 42% of employees still considered virtual social hours and lunches to be how they best connected to the company's culture. This is because they could engage with a larger number of employees in a relaxed environment without an agenda. Additionally, what connected people most was standard "medium size" meetings and weekly staff meetings (24%) - all larger-group activities. Finally, what best connected people was "calling co-workers just to check in," essentially getting coffee virtually (18%), and having cameras on while meeting virtually (15%).

Cultivating corporate culture in the virtual and remote workplace is not a deviation from the values of the company - it is an extension. Normal relationships take work and long-distance relationships take even more intentional work. With the right strategy and opportunities, company culture can maintain and thrive both virtually and remotely. That said, nothing replaces the value and importance of gathering in person to nurture your company.

Know when and what meetings and annual events are important enough to pull everyone together. The more virtual and remote the workplace becomes, the more personal it must also become. The tools of every profession and industry are exponentially reliant on technology, the users will always be individual people reliant on community and vibrant culture.
Matthew Dunham is the Workplace Designer for JLG Architects in Fargo, N.D.

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Cultivating corporate culture in an increasing virtual age | Grand Forks Herald

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Every day tried-and-true corporate methods are being tested; requiring business strategies to pivot while keeping culture constant. While leadership has spent the last few months reassessing and restructuring their businesses to survive recent economic challenges, and while workplaces are finally returning to some degree of normalcy, the virtual workplace will continue on.

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In my position, my part in staying competitive in the workplace is being customer focused.  In order to stand out, I have to ensure that our proposal management team is listening to our customers and delivering proposals that are customized to their specific needs as a company.  Staying customer focused is key.

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Verticle Integration Strategy at work!

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We've learned that in order to recruit the ideal employee, Human Resources is charged with creating a competitive and unique benefit and incentive package.  This article has examples of innovative ideas companies have  implemented in order to draw in the best employees.

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It is often said that people are the most important resource in an organization. This is even truer today as companies try to remain afloat in an increasingly competitive market. Employee incentive programs are tools used by some of the top companies to tap into their most important resource.

The nation's most successful companies seem to have unique incentive programs designed for their employees. Some are simply generous, while some programs are interesting and fun; keeping employees engaged and motivated. Here's a look at some of the best employee incentives from the nation's most successful companies.

Google: Wide Range of Unique Programs

As the world's biggest search engine and one of the most successful IT companies in the world, Google is considered by many to be one of the best places to work. The company not only has incentives but also strives to create a favorable environment for employees while encouraging teamwork. Here's a smattering of what the search empire offers their employees:

Maternity and Paternity Leave: While most companies give six weeks maternal leave, Google goes a step further. Both moms and dads get a paid leave. Fathers get six weeks leave and mothers get 18 weeks leave.

Time for Passion Projects: Google encourages employees to do passion projects. 20% of their time can be spent on projects they are passionate about and those that they feel will benefit the company. Google Cardboard is said to have been the result of a group of employees working on their passion project.

Massage Credits: Employees can receive credits from their colleagues for a job well done which can be redeemed for a free massage at the campus.

Unisys

This is another top company which comes close to Google in terms of high employees happiness by Forbes. They have a number of benefit programs for employees. The benefits include:

Generous Savings Plan: Employees can set aside money on a pre-tax basis, and for every $1 you save the company will contribute $0.5 to your savings.

Stock Purchase Plan: Employees can purchase stocks quarterly at a 15% discount. The purchase does not include brokerage fees.

Life Insurance: Employees make monthly contributions towards their life insurance. Unisys provides support so that staff can get twice the pay in life insurance. Those who choose less coverage receive fewer incentives.

Vacation: On each paycheck, employees earn toward a vacation balance, which can be redeemed when a target is attained (we love that idea!). If one fails to redeem the balance it can continue to increase until it is 150% of the annual provision for vacation.

Ernst & Young

The organization strives to maintain high performing teams that help the company meet their business goals. EY keeps its employees motivated through incentive programs that encompass not just pay but also programs, policies, and benefits.
Rewarding contributions and achievement:

Recognition for short term performance, which may include e-cards, vouchers and cash.

Annual bonuses for performance.

Long Term Service Awards:

16 weeks of parental leave.

10 days time off for family care.

Financial Benefits:

401k savings plan with multiple investment options.

Bonus incentive for those paying student loans.

Services and support in personal financial planning.

What Employee Incentives Do You Offer?

The best employee incentives recognize the needs of your workforce. Whether it's extended maternity/paternity leave, stock options, or vacation/travel incentives, both your employees and your company will always benefit from incentives.

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The Best Employee Incentives From The Nation's Most Successful Companies - MTI Events

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It is often said that people are the most important resource in an organization. This is even truer today as companies try to remain afloat in an increasingly competitive market. Employee incentive programs are tools used by some of the top companies to tap into their most important resource.

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SWOT Analysis allows you to form a business plan using the information you have researched around what both your company's strengths and weaknesses are so you can focus on your strengths and improve upon your weaknesses.  It also analyzes opportunities in the marketplace that are underrepresented or new technologies that could enhance your product and business.  A business also needs to know of any obstacles or threats standing in their way.  This includes researching everything about their competitors in order to gain an advantage and differentiate themselves in the marketplace.

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Module VI - Managing Human Resources and Communications

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Module VI - Managing Human Resources and Communications

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As the article stated, excellent communication skills are needed in virtually every area of business. Prior to this class, I thought my communication skills were one of my best assets as an employee. After taking this class, I realize I have a lot of room for improvement.

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No business's recruiting process is the same, largely because of the fact that different organizations look for different things in their candidates. Each company has a particular skill or set of abilities it values above others.

However, even though individual industries value different things, some skills transcend the boundaries of field and discipline. When hiring employees, businesses would do well to focus on these essential skills as the deciding factor separating the truly great candidates from everyone else.

But what are these vital skills? Below, eight members of Young Entrepreneur Council explore some of the critical skills all employees should have, regardless of industry, and explain why these traits are so important.

Young Entrepreneur Council members discuss the key skills and traits they look for in a job candidate, no matter what position they're applying for.
Photos courtesy of the individual members.

1. Ethical Approach
An ethical approach to business is the top skill I seek out in co-workers. I want to work with someone who is honest regarding their own strengths and weaknesses, and will also be honest with our clients and vendors. An employee's conduct reflects on their company, so it is imperative to be confident in your colleagues' ethics in all situations. - Charles Bogoian, Kenai Sports
2. Humility
Humility is essential. Now it's not to say that what we do isn't important; however, we aren't saving lives, protecting our country, etc., so there is absolutely no room for arrogance and selfishness in our line of work (consulting). It is critical for us to have an all-hands-on-deck mentality, and for team members to look at what's best for others and the group, and not just their own self-interest. - Candice Lu, ONPREM SOLUTION PARTNERS
3. Assertiveness
Assertiveness is really important in a new hire. I appreciate people that are confident and bold when it comes to making decisions, communicating and taking a leadership role. This is an essential skill, in my opinion, because this person will have the potential to grow within the company and take on a position in which they delegate tasks, making it easier for the company to run on its own. - Riccardo Conte, Virtus Flow
4. Friendly Attitude
People underestimate how important a positive, friendly attitude is to have around the office or just in general. When you work with people who only see the negative in situations or bring others down, it wears on everyone. For any new hire, it's important to ensure they have a good attitude and are ready to tackle the obstacles in front of them. - Stephanie Wells, Formidable Forms
5. Effective Communication
If there's one skill that I look for, it's the ability to communicate effectively. Communication, especially when it's entirely online, needs to be carefully thought-out and appropriate. We have a diverse, global team and this means that we need people who can get the message across to others while keeping different values in mind. It's a vital skill that can't be compromised on. - Syed Balkhi, WPBeginner
6. Writing Skills
The ability to write clearly is important for almost every role in our business. In an age where communication is free and rapid, it is easier than ever for employees to leave unprofessional breadcrumbs for clients to find. Employees should write no differently than if they were at a law firm, as to do anything else would be no different from dressing inappropriately for a business meeting. - Ismael Wrixen, FE International
7. Self-Learning
Look for an autodidact. One of the best strategies for hiring is to bring on someone who is capable of teaching themselves new skills. It's a golden trait that increases workflow exponentially, especially if they are able to train and encourage others to do the same. A culture of "self-learners" is a great type of atmosphere to have in a company. - Nicole Munoz, Nicole Munoz Consulting, Inc.
8. Proactivity
Proactivity is key. A proactive person has the ability to achieve different goals within the organization. A person's ability to be participatory, creative, organized and productive is definitely a quality that any leader wants to include in their team - even more so because it is a valuable element to achieving the proposed group goals. - Kevin Leyes, Leyes Media & Team Leyes, by Leyes Enterprises

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Council Post: Eight Essential Skills To Look For In New Hires

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No business's recruiting process is the same, largely because of the fact that different organizations look for different things in their candidates. Each company has a particular skill or set of abilities it values above others. However, even though individual industries value different things, some skills transcend the boundaries of field and discipline.

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An example of staying competitive and evolving in the marketplace.  Walmart will be launching a site comparable to Amazon this month and will offer it at a cheaper rate than Amazon's yearly subscription. It will reportedly be faster, offering one day shipping compared to Amazon's two day. Faster is great but Prime Video is a big part of Amazon's popularity. No information on whether Wal-Mart will mirror any other perks that Amazon currently includes in it's membership.

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Photo Illustration by Mateusz Slodkowski/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

To better compete with Amazon, Walmart is reportedly launching a direct competitor to Amazon's Prime membership called Walmart+ later this month.

While the retail giant has been mum about specifics, Walmart's Delivery Unlimited program and reporting from Recode offer a possible roadmap of what Walmart may be planning and what shoppers can likely expect. If early reporting proves accurate, Walmart+ is positioning itself as a more affordable, equally robust alternative to Amazon Prime.

To lure Prime's 150-million-plus members away from Amazon, Walmart will reportedly offer standard one-day shipping and a cheaper annual subscription fee of $98 a year compared to Prime's $119 fee.

Shoppers can expect Walmart+ to debut in the latter part of July, according to Recode. As details on the upcoming service trickle in, we'll be updating this story with new info, but for now, you can learn more below about how Walmart+ will reportedly work, what kinds of perks may be included, how much it is expected to cost, and more.

Walmart+: rumored services and features

Faster delivery

Walmart+ will reportedly get your orders delivered faster than Amazon Prime with free one-day shipping. Amazon Prime, famously, offers two-day shipping for many of the products it sells. Some Prime members may get free one-day delivery or even same-day delivery, but Walmart+ may make it the standard.

Walmart's Delivery Unlimited service already offers its subscribers unlimited same-day grocery delivery via hundreds of Walmart locations, so it's very likely that this perk carries over to the new service, with the addition of non-essential goods.

Walmart may also leverage its significant lead in physical stores to incentivize Walmart+ by offering customers who use curbside pickup preferred access. As it stands, Walmart currently offers its Delivery Unlimited service at more than 1,400 locations, dwarfing Amazon's 500 Whole Foods locations.

Exclusive perks

In the same vein as Prime Early Access or Prime-exclusive deals offered by Amazon, Walmart may offer its subscribers first dibs on limited-time offers and access to better prices. Walmart+ may also offer discounts to subscribers at Walmart gas stations.

According to Vox, Walmart+ may also offer access to a streaming service to compete with Amazon's Prime Video service.

At the time of writing, it's unclear which of these perks will actually launch with the service, but we'll keep you updated as we learn more about Walmart+.

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Walmart Plus: Everything you need to know about Walmart's Amazon Prime competitor

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To better compete with Amazon, Walmart is reportedly launching a direct competitor to Amazon's Prime membership called Walmart+ later this month. While the retail giant has been mum about specifics, Walmart's Delivery Unlimited program and reporting from Recode offer a possible roadmap of what Walmart may be planning and what shoppers can likely expect.

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An example of staying competitive and evolving in the marketplace.  Walmart will be launching a site comparable to Amazon this month and will offer it at a cheaper rate than Amazon's yearly subscription.  It will reportedly be faster, offering one day shipping compared to Amazon's two day.  Faster is great but Prime Video is a big part of Amazon's popularity.  No information on whether Wal-Mart will mirror any other perks that Amazon currently includes in it's membership.

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This story is part of a group of stories called

Uncovering and explaining how our digital world is changing - and changing us.

When Amazon launched a funky membership program called Amazon Prime in 2005, Walmart boasted larger profits than Amazon had revenue. Fifteen years later, though, Prime is the key reason for Amazon's dominance over Walmart in online sales.

That pressure has pushed the traditional retailer to burn tens of billions of dollars to fight back while its executives have cycled through various stages of reaction to Prime's ascent: denial, followed by meek competition, followed by a reversal that seemed to signal Walmart wanted to stick to a free, no-membership strategy.

But Recode has learned that over the past 18 months, the world's largest brick-and-mortar retailer has explored creating its own paid membership program that would include perks that Amazon can't replicate, in part to avoid a direct comparison to Prime. Amazon now accounts for nearly 40 percent of all online retail sales in the US, according to eMarketer, and Prime is a huge reason why. Walmart is a distant No. 2 with only a little more than 5 percent of the US e-commerce market.

As soon as next month, Walmart plans to start publicly testing a membership program called Walmart+, according to sources. The program is expected to essentially launch as a rebrand of Walmart's existing Delivery Unlimited service, which charges customers $98 a year for unlimited, same-day delivery of fresh groceries from one of the 1,600-plus Walmart stores in the US where the program is available. The company is also considering launching Walmart+ with a feature that would allow customers to use text messaging to place orders. Sources said that the amount of the Walmart+ fee could still change or the company might test multiple price points.

But the long-term vision for Walmart+ is for the program to add more perks, which could include discounts on prescription drugs at Walmart pharmacies and fuel at Walmart gas stations, as well as a Scan & Go service that would allow shoppers to check out in Walmart stores without waiting in line - a tool Walmart briefly tested but discontinued nearly two years ago.

Still, no additional perks beyond grocery delivery are set in stone, which has led some insiders to worry that the pressure to simply act might be supplanting a strong rollout plan and business case, according to sources. It's unlikely that a $98 annual program built exclusively around grocery delivery would be enough to successfully compete with Amazon Prime. Those overseeing the program, however, believe that testing different perks and learning from those tests will benefit both customers and the business in the long term.

A Walmart spokesperson confirmed that a membership program called Walmart+ was in development but declined to provide other details.

The reality Walmart is facing is that Prime, which boasts more than 150 million members worldwide, has become a retail wrecking ball that's impossible for competitors to ignore, even if they're hard-pressed to truly compete with all it offers. Prime costs $119 a year in the US, and it comes with unlimited one-day shipping on more than 10 million products, same-day grocery deliveries from Whole Foods or Amazon Fresh, access to a large catalog of TV shows and movies available for online streaming, and more. Prime customers spend more and shop more frequently than Amazon's non-Prime shoppers.

Even with its huge lead over all US competitors, Amazon isn't satisfied, pushing into prescription drugs in 2018 with the acquisition of the online pharmacy PillPack, and developing multiple grocery store concepts beyond Whole Foods. Earlier this week, Amazon opened a new, high-tech supermarket that allows shoppers to pluck fresh foods like fruits, vegetables, and meat off of shelves, walk right out, and get automatically charged for the merchandise afterward.

In recent years, Amazon has also made moves for Prime to appeal to households with less disposable income that historically have favored shopping at Walmart. Amazon added a monthly payment option for Prime fees in 2016, a 45 percent Prime fee discount for those on government assistance in 2017, and ways for Prime customers to pay for orders with cash. Today, more than half of Walmart's top-spending families are Amazon Prime members, according to sources. While Walmart's overall grocery business is larger than Amazon's, one fear is that top Walmart customers could eventually turn to Amazon for groceries as they get sucked further into the Prime suite of perks.

This state of affairs, in which even an industry titan like Walmart has struggled to combat Amazon's e-commerce offensive, highlights the power Amazon has amassed that has made it a target of a broader congressional investigation of Big Tech and a separate probe by the Federal Trade Commission. Recode reported last year that the FTC was exploring the question of whether Prime's bundling of various features allows Amazon to unfairly undercut competitive services.

At Walmart, the Walmart+ initiative is a top priority for Janey Whiteside, the company's chief customer officer who joined from American Express in 2018, according to sources. Other top Walmart leaders, including CEO Doug McMillon, have played an active role in planning. The goal for the program is to eventually save Walmart customers both time and money, and presumably to encourage them to keep spending heavily with the brick-and-mortar giant. Executives believe the program needs to strike a balance of being valuable enough that customers will pay for it, while different enough from Amazon Prime that it doesn't promote a direct comparison that would likely be impossible for Walmart to win.

Perks like prescription drug and fuel discounts could provide an edge, since they are frequent purchases and Amazon doesn't own gas stations or its own brick-and-mortar pharmacies. (Amazon does own the online pharmacy PillPack, though its current target customer is someone who regularly takes multiple medications versus one-off patients.) The Walmart+ rollout also comes with a belief that top-spending Walmart families that subscribe to Amazon Prime will still be attracted to Walmart+ because its fresh grocery prices are often lower than those Amazon offers.

In the past, some Walmart executives have opposed a paid membership program, seeing Walmart's competitive advantage as giving shoppers everyday low prices without the need to splurge on a membership fee. Some feared a program would look tame in comparison to Prime, which had a decade head start.

One of the first big moves Marc Lore made as US e-commerce chief following Walmart's acquisition of his startup Jet.com in late 2016, was to ax a new Walmart membership that offered unlimited two-day shipping on a much smaller selection of goods than Amazon Prime's catalog, but at half the price. Lore said at the time that two-day shipping had become "table stakes" - a consumer expectation single-handedly created by Amazon Prime.

Last year, Walmart followed up Amazon's announcement that Prime would soon offer 10 million products for one-day delivery with a free, one-day delivery promise of its own for orders of $35 or more - no membership fee required. But Walmart's one-day selection is about 1/50th of the size of Amazon's.

Over the past few years, Walmart has also worked to build on its huge grocery business, which accounts for more than half of its store sales. The company is the US grocery leader when it comes to an order-online, pickup-at-store service, which is still the main driver of Walmart's e-commerce growth. But last year Walmart also unveiled the $98-a-year Grocery Unlimited service that's being rebranded as Walmart+, as Amazon ramped up its own grocery delivery services, and other competitors like Instacart and Shipt helped make the behavior more popular.

Same-day grocery delivery, however, is expensive. Grocery store profit margins are traditionally small to begin with, before even paying for the labor to pick orders and then deliver them. Walmart executives have said that having workers pick both grocery delivery and pickup orders from stores close to customers helps keep costs down. Walmart has also started testing robots that can pick out groceries, which it hopes will someday improve the economics even more.

In a best-case scenario, Walmart executives hope Walmart+ will lead customers to pay for more products and services with better profit margins, potentially helping to bring down losses in Walmart's e-commerce business - a stress point that previously caused friction between leaders in Walmart's store business and e-commerce business. Walmart executives said at a recent investor event that US e-commerce losses will be flat or slightly down from last year's numbers.

From the time Walmart spent $3 billion to acquire Jet.com in 2016, executives have stressed both internally and externally that the traditional retailer has built-in advantages over Amazon. Walmart+ is the time to prove it.

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Walmart is quietly working on an Amazon Prime competitor called Walmart+

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Uncovering and explaining how our digital world is changing - and changing us. When Amazon launched a funky membership program called Amazon Prime in 2005, Walmart boasted larger profits than Amazon had revenue. Fifteen years later, though, Prime is the key reason for Amazon's dominance over Walmart in online sales.

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Module VI - Human Resources  & Communications

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Module VI - Human Resources  & Communications

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This shows all of the areas that Human Resources manages. Human Resources handles recruiting and selecting the right employee for the job, conducting onboarding training and continued training as well as managing performance.

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Module V - Organizational Structure & Processes
Employee empowerment positively impacts employees.  It builds up their confidence and challenges employees.

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Module VI - Human Resources and Communications

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Module VI - Human Resources and Communications

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Just a little humor on what employees are NOT looking for.

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Module VI - Human Resources and Communications

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Module VI - Human Resources and Communications

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This is an example of employee incentive programs and benefits that can positively impact an employee's mental and physical health and well being.

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This article discusses evolving leadership styles to fit today's current environment. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/11/business/goldman-sachs-david-solomon-coronavirus.html

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Leadership refers to ane person's ability to effectively communicate, influence, and motivate their employees.

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Module VIII - Controlling Performance & Operations

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Module VIII - Controlling Performance & Operations

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The company I work for does conduct member satisfaction surveys.  We also offer Performance Guarantees around the results of these member satisfaction surveys.  I didn't make the connection until now, that they might also use these surveys to measure organizational performance.

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Module VIII - Controlling Performance & Operations

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Module VIII - Controlling Performance & Operations

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The article below pertains to best practices in business from the Better Business Bureau.

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Introduction
You're the boss.You want your business to prosper. And naturally, you care about your business reputation. How do you make success happen? Start by cultivating your business relationships.Your company has important relationships with customers, employees, lenders, government agencies, and vendors. The more you know about dealing with each of these groups, the better. Don't wait until problems develop to ask questions. Find out about good business practices now:

Talk with the experts

Get ready to get financing

Sell the smart way

Respect your customers

Keep it legal

Know how to avoid scams

Talk with the Experts
Seek the professional advice of business counselors in your community. This is the best way to improve your company's chances of success.

There are many sources of free business advice about important matters such as local licensing and laws, business plans, selling and marketing techniques and financing. Business associations and industry groups provide assistance and offer networking opportunities with other business people. Contact the local offices of the following organizations to seek expert advisers:

U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)

Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE)

Small Business Development Centers (SBDC)

Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA)/U.S. Department of Commerce

See the Resources section of this piece for contact information on all agencies.

Free Internet access and research on small business services may be available through your public library and through "community technology centers" at local nonprofits.

Get Ready to Get Financing
Lower Your Risk Level
When small businesses fail, it is often because they don't have enough money to operate or grow. Plan ahead. Don't wait until you are desperate for money to do your homework. Make sure your personal life, your credit history, your business plan, and your business operations are in order long before you seek financing. Build the relationships you will need in order to seek and obtain financing. Get to know the loan officer at the bank where you do business. Look for other sources of financing that match needs you can anticipate, and get acquainted with them well in advance.

Your record keeping for inventory and accounting purposes should be regular, orderly, and consistent with the standards in your industry. Presenting accurate records will help you show a strong picture of your business when you are ready to approach potential lenders and investors.

Lenders and investors are eager to work with responsible business owners. At the same time, they want to minimize their financial risk.They will require that you present detailed and often very personal information about you and your partners, as well as your business. As they review your information, they will look for evidence that you are trustworthy, that your business is well managed, and that your company generates enough revenue to pay back a loan or create a good return for an investor's money.

TIP: To lower the cost of borrowing, find out how to lower the credit risk level for your business.

Ideally, your application will show that your business is a low credit risk candidate for a loan or investment. If you have a business with high credit risk, there is still a very good chance that you may get financing, but be aware that it will cost you more (i.e. higher interest cost, etc.). The cost of financing is related to the lending risk level.

When you develop the case for funding your business, make sure your application is truthful, accurate, and complete. A significant omission or a misleading detail could make it difficult for you to get financing.Your resume should demonstrate that you have expertise in the kind of business for which you are seeking funding.

Your Personal Commitment and Background
If you are asking an investor or bank to risk money on your business, you will need to show that you (and your partners, if any) have a deep commitment to your business.The business owner is typically expected to show a personal investment and, along with partners, must provide at least 25% of the total amount needed for a particular loan purpose.

Many larger loans require collateral, such as property or securities that are pledged as financial backing for the loan. For small businesses, especially new ones, the collateral may need to be personal assets of some kind, such as a home, other valuable property or a co-signature on the loan. It is important that you and your family members understand both the risks and benefits of offering this kind of pledge of family assets.

Running a small business can also be exhausting, requiring long hours, and resulting in a lower standard of living for the owner during the start-up and early growth years of the business. Lack of family support could seriously hurt a start-up business.Talk with your family members about the effort necessary to make your business a success and be sure that you can count on them to help you along the way.

Order copies of your personal credit reports in advance from the major credit-reporting firms and examine them carefully:

If the credit reports are not accurate, contact the credit-reporting firms in writing to request corrections. Accurate credit reports will inspire confidence from lenders and investors who review them. If your credit score is not considered high, consult with the credit reporting agency or a business adviser to identify ways to improve your credit score.

Types of Funding and Providers
Match the funding purpose and the nature of your business to the type of financing needed. Approach providers that specialize in that sort of financing.

You may need financing for short- or long-term purposes. Most short-term loans mature in a year or less. Short-terms loans include lines of credit (the option to borrow modest sums on short notice for a short time), which give you access to working capital (money that helps you run your business when cash flow is low).

The value of the assets purchased and the company's ability to repay may affect the loan repayment period. Long-term loans are generally repaid between one to seven years, and are usually given for major business purposes, such as the purchase of equipment or inventory.

QUICK QUIZ:

Answer these questions when seeking financing.

Are you seeking money for short-term or long-term purposes?

Exactly how much will you need-a lot of money or just a modest sum?

Can you afford to make loan payments?

What kind of financing is the least expensive one for your business purpose?

Are you willing to sell part of your business - and lose some control over it?

Even if you have enough money of your own to start your business (personal assets), eventually you will probably need to borrow money (debt financing) or sell an equity interest in your business (equity financing) to make your company grow. These different types of financing may have tax advantages and disadvantages. You may wish to consult a professional tax adviser, such as an accountant, about your options.

Your Personal Assets
Your personal assets include your own cash, credit and other valuable property such as real estate (your home) and securities.You should always plan to invest in your own business using your own personal assets. Be careful not to rely too heavily on financing your business with expensive forms of debt financing, such as credit cards.This is risky and may affect you negatively when the time comes to seek other financing.

Debt Financing (Loans)
Debt financing through traditional loans must be repaid.

Friends and relatives - The people closest to you know and trust you, but could sometimes become difficult business partners. If you seek financial help from relatives and friends, make sure your business relationship is spelled out in writing.

Tip: Put all your business agreements in writing, even when doing business with friends and relatives.

Commercial and savings banks - Banks are very willing to provide financing if you present a good case for your business.The Small Business Administration (SBA) has made it easier for banks to provide loans to businesses by providing government guarantees for many kinds of bank loans that might not otherwise qualify, and by simplifying application procedures.

Credit unions - Credit unions may offer good terms if you are eligible. Often credit unions are related to a company or a labor group.

Insurance companies - Some insurance companies may offer loans. Ask your insurance broker about possibilities.

Consumer finance companies - These companies make small personal loans, often to individuals with poor credit, and the cost of the loan is generally higher. If the loan is not repaid, the collateral providing the financial backing or the item purchased with the loan funds may be seized. Check the company's reliability with the Better Business Bureau.

Commercial finance companies - These companies operate much like consumer finance lenders, but make loans for business purposes such as purchases of inventory and equipment. Again, you'll pay more for these loans, which are often made to higher risk businesses, and your purchase typically becomes collateral for the loan. Review terms carefully.

Non-profit "micro-lenders" - Your community may have non-profit organizations that assist business owners with needed funding and business counseling.These organizations may provide loans up to $35,000, and offer special services to start-up and developing businesses. Frequently these programs are targeted to women, minorities and immigrants whose businesses cannot obtain financing from other sources. Ask your local SCORE office, SBDC, or BBB to identify organizations in your area that may have such services.

Business owner financing of a business purchase - If you purchase an existing business, the current owner may finance part of the purchase price for you.

Franchise financing - Franchise businesses come with established brand names and a pre-defined business plan and style of operation that the new owner is expected to follow. For some types of franchises, the start-up funds may be available directly from the firm offering the franchise business. Check the terms and profit potential.

Economic Development Commission - This is a division of the U.S. Department of Commerce. It facilitates loans to businesses in economically deprived regions, with the goal of creating new jobs. Contact the Department of Commerce for details about the special requirements for such loans.

Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities (EZ or EC) - EZ and EC help businesses in target geographic areas to grow their businesses through business and tax incentives provided through federal and state legislation.

Debt Financing Alternatives to Traditional Loans
Debt financing may also include ways of manipulating credit or debt in order to manage cash flow.

TIP: Alternatives to loans might make good business sense - or they might cost more. Check terms carefully.

Vendor credit - Trade credit or vendor credit is used when a business makes a major purchase, to be paid over time on credit from a vendor. Comparison-shop to see whether you might do better by paying for the purchase with some other form of financing. Discuss terms with your vendor, and don't be afraid to negotiate for a better deal.

Customer financing - Sometimes a major customer or potential customer for your business may help you by providing special financial assistance. In this case, review the terms offered and make sure the requirements would not be too limiting for your business in the long run.

Factor companies - The "factor" purchases your accounts receivable (money owed to you) at a discount for cash. Risks associated with collection may or may not be transferred to the factor. This provides your business with cash flow sooner. If you work with a factor, be sure the company is a reputable one that will not destroy your customer relationships through problem collection tactics. Ask for references, check them, and negotiate terms. Be sure you get the best deal possible, taking into consideration issues such as the amounts payable and the credit history of your accounts.

Leasing companies - By leasing equipment, you avoid having to pay a large sum all at once for a purchase, and also avoid owning outdated equipment. Review the leasing agreement carefully and check the tax effect, to make sure the deal is not too expensive compared to other types of financing that could give you ownership of the equipment.

Equity Financing
Types of equity financing involve selling all or part of your business to others. This means you will lose some or potentially all of your control over the business. Are you ready to share decision-making power? If not, this option might not work for you. For more information about contacting sources of equity financing, talk with a professional business adviser from a group such as SCORE.

TIP: If you seek equity financing, be prepared to share decision-making control over your business.

Venture capital firms, closed-end investment companies - Such entities provide money to finance growth, and in return, get to own part of your business, which generally means that you keep control of your company. Closed-end investment companies usually specialize in proven businesses, are registered with the federal government, and generally provide larger sums.

Private investment partnerships - In private investment partnerships, one or more individuals supply capital and become passive partners in your business.This means that you as general partner run the business and provide returns to your investor partners. Review the terms of any such deal carefully with an expert before proceeding.

Employee stock ownership plans (ESOP) - Your employees -if you have any-may be willing to work for smaller pay and benefits in return for "sweat equity," meaning part ownership of your firm. Consult with your accountant or attorney on ESOP.

Corporate investment - Major corporations may invest in your business, if you can show good prospects for your company's future growth.This may involve a complete or partial purchase of your company, a joint venture (where several companies share ownership), or a licensing agreement (meaning specific rights are granted to the corporation providing funds).Your new owner or corporate partner may or may not want you to continue running the business. Be sure the nature of your relationship is clear from the beginning.

Develop a Business Plan and a Financing Proposal
A written business plan is an important management tool.Your plan should cover these types of matters:

Describe you, your partners, your staff, and your business operations in detail

Correctly show the existing assets, debts, and seasonal cash flow of your business

Evaluate your customer base and the competition you face in the marketplace

Explain how you overcome the competition

Review any past business financial performance, including a three-year history of sales and costs

List the measurable business goals you have for each part of your business

Project how your business will perform financially in the next three years

TIP: Get an expert to help you prepare your business plan.

It is a good idea to have an accountant, lawyer, or other professional business adviser help you prepare your business plan and financing proposal.You should be able to demonstrate exactly what purpose the new financing will serve and show that your business will generate enough cash flow to repay a loan or provide a good return on an investor's money.

Once you have written a model business plan and financing proposal, identify the best potential sources of funding for your purpose in your community or industry. Contact these sources to ask what special requirements they might have for reviewing requests for funding; then tailor your financial proposal to meet the needs of each target.

Be patient and persistent. Seeking financing takes time and determination. Perfectly good requests for funding may be rejected by many potential providers before you find the right match for your business and your needs. Don't worry if you don't get financing right away. Financing is available through legitimate sources. If you seek out good business advice, write a solid business plan, and keep on searching for financing from reputable sources, chances are very good you will find the help you need.

Sell the Smart way
"Up to 80% off!" "We guarantee the lowest prices on all brand name computers!" You probably see these kinds of claims all the time, in shop windows, in advertisements, and on Web sites. Informed business people know that such claims could be considered deceptive advertising.

If you ask a few questions, you'll realize why. For example, how many items in the store are actually available at 80% off-how many are discounted at all- and what is the lowest rate of discount? If only a few items are sold at 80% off, the "up to 80% off " claim could be deceptive. Today, when competition takes place globally over the Internet, how could anybody track prices from moment to moment in order to prove that a particular company has "lowest" prices?

Make sure all your communications and selling techniques are clearly stated and provable. This will help you minimize potential problems with customers and regulatory agencies, and make it easier to get repeat business.

TIP: If you can't prove it, don't say it in any kind of business communication.

These basic principles can help you steer clear of trouble:

Be truthful. A truthful representation is not just partly or literally true; it is entirely true and not misleading. It is truthful not only in its words, but also visually. The image or design must not create a misleading impression about what is being claimed.

Prove it. If you can't prove that something is true, don't say it in a store sign, an advertisement, a sales presentation, a Web site, or any other form of communication. Opinions usually fall into the category of sales puffery; but statements of supposed fact must be proven with evidence. To be safe- avoid exaggerated claims.

Tell all. Disclose all the terms and conditions of sale. This would include all specifics about how to identify, locate and contact your business; complete details of policies about returns, delivery, extra shipping charges, rebates, refunds, warranties or guarantees; and all details about charitable donations related to a sale. All information important to a customer's decision to buy your product or service should be fully revealed before purchase.

Honor your offers. Be careful what you say when you make an offer to the public. For example, if you mistakenly offer an item at a wrong price, the law may require that you honor the offer or publish a correction. A business should never knowingly offer a product or service that it cannot provide, or offer a low-cost item as bait when intending to provide another, costlier item instead.Your business is legally obligated to keep track of inventory and notify customers promptly if an order cannot be filled.

Protect your customers. In the course of business, you may collect very private information from your customers. It is important to disclose how the information will be used, get customer permission, and say clearly how you will safeguard the privacy and security of this data. In many cases the law requires this. Communications directed to children are especially sensitive and must meet extra legal requirements.

Comply with the law. Find out about federal, state and local laws that regulate your business.

For additional information about guidelines and laws regulating advertising, direct marketing, and privacy, you can contact the Better Business Bureau, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), your state or city Department of Consumer Affairs, and the office of your state's Attorney General.

Respect Your Customers
Trust is the essential element for business success.When customers trust you, they will keep doing business with you, and they will send other customers to you.

If you are the only person handling your own business, you have complete control over the relationship with the consumer. When you hire others, you will need to train your employees to respond to customers in the way that you want.

Unhappy customers may file a formal complaint with the Better Business Bureau (BBB).The BBB would then work with your company to resolve the complaint. More often, unhappy customers will tell other people how badly your business treated them. Over time, your company's reputation could suffer. Don't let this happen.You can prevent most customer problems.

TIP: Develop a formal complaint-handling procedure and train your employees to use it.

It's a good idea to develop a consistent complaint-handling program, including a written policy. Be sure your plan includes responses that comply with the law. Consumers complain to the BBB about these kinds of problems:

Bad treatment. Customers complain when they feel they have been mistreated.This is the easiest problem to avoid. Make your customers feel respected.

Poor or slow complaint handling. Respond promptly. Acknowledge receiving the complaint, and say when you might be able to resolve the problem.

Failure to deliver a promised item of merchandise or a service. If there will be a delay, contact the customer to explain when the product or service might be available. The law may require that you offer the option to cancel or accept a substitute. It is certainly good business practice to do so.

Product or service quality is poor or damaged. When you sell something, it is implied that the item is good enough to sell ("implied warranty"). Because of this, if you supply a defective item or service, you are required to offer to substitute a good item or service, provide a repair, or supply some other solution.

Refusal to provide a refund. Make your refund policy available at the point of purchase before the sale is made. Abide by the terms of your policy. Customer can't locate help. Make it easy for the customer. Print your name, address, and customer hotline number on your receipts, contracts, and Web site.

Misrepresentation. Avoid this problem by teaching employees how to communicate your policies honestly, clearly and consistently.

Failure to honor prices, warranties, or deceptive advertising. Deliberately misleading customers is illegal and bad for business.

Misuse of private customer information. Create a privacy and data security policy that complies with applicable laws, make the policy available to customers in writing, and train employees to safeguard private customer information.

The key to good customer service is an honest and friendly attitude towards the customer. Pay attention to workplace stresses (conditions such as temperature, light, noise, access to adequate information, etc.) that affect your employees; do your best to make it easier for them to serve your customers politely.

TIP: Show that you're willing to help solve the customer's problem, even if you don't agree with what the customer says.

These practices can help you and your employees have a positive attitude with benefits for your bottom line:

Listen to the customer. If you are talking, you aren't listening. Listen actively, to understand the main points and show that you hear what is being said.

Don't run away from anger, and don't respond with anger. Say you are sorry that something made the customer unhappy, and offer to help solve the problem.

Make sure you understand the customer's complaint. Summarize what you think you heard and ask the customer if that is what he or she means.

Ask the customer to tell you exactly what kind of solution he or she wants. Be friendly and sympathetic.

Offer some kind of solution. If you can't offer everything the customer wants, try to provide a solution that will make the customer feel better about your business.

Make the customer feel important. Always thank the customer for doing business with you.

Legal Issues That Affect Your Business
Federal, state, county, or city laws can affect your business. Professional business advisers and attorneys are the best sources for this type of information:

Legal forms of business ownership, such as partnerships and corporations, and their advantages and disadvantages

Required business licenses, professional licenses, and permits

Tax laws

Laws affecting your relationship with your employees

Laws regulating consumer matters such as advertising, marketing, refund rights, warranties, delivery of goods or services, sales, contract cancellations, receipts, repairs, debt collection practices, required notices, privacy and security of sensitive data, and protection of children

Finding Professionals
When choosing professionals to help you, it is a good idea to interview several candidates and ask questions about their qualifications, fees, and references before deciding to work with one.

Most people check the yellow pages when seeking a lawyer, or ask a relative or friend to recommend someone. This may not be the best way to locate a skilled lawyer.

Look for someone who has experience advising businesses of a similar size, ideally in your industry. Many bar associations have excellent referral services that can help you find a qualified lawyer, usually for a small fee.

Accountants
It's important to find a good accountant for your business. Even if you maintain all your business records yourself, at some point, you will probably need to consult a professional about tax laws, loan applications, or other matters that affect your business finances.

Look for a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).You can get referrals from business friends.You can also locate such individuals through national or local CPA associations, which you can find through the Internet or phone book.

Smart business owners understand that they have to obtain a license to operate when the law requires it. Since you are putting a lot of money and effort into your business, you don't want to endanger it by failing to get something as simple as a license.

How do you learn about licensing? Consult a business adviser or the local association for your industry. You are likely to find information through the following government agencies:

City: Department of Consumer Affairs, Mayor's Office, Economic Development or Business Development office

County: County Clerk or County Executive

State: Department of State, usually located in your state's capital

Federal: Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and other federal agencies

Know How to Avoid Scams
You worked hard to get the money you need to start and build up your business. Be on your guard against con artists who may try to take advantage of you.

Many scams fall into common patterns.The most common scam offers an overly large profit for a business requiring little or no effort to run, or for a supposedly "risk-free" investment. If someone approaches you with these types of schemes, be very suspicious.

TIP: Be cautious! Home business or vending schemes that appear to offer big money for simple jobs may be scams.

Scams often target people who are ready to set up new businesses, as well as established business owners.

New Businesses
Work at home schemes. Beware of programs that seem to offer high pay for tasks you can do at home, that don't require great skill. Quite often these programs are fraudulent. Common programs involve envelope stuffing, medical billing, discount or coupon programs, distributorships, sales, or the purchase of special equipment or software to start such businesses. Many people lose large sums of money through work at home scams.

Multilevel marketing or pyramid schemes. Programs of this nature typically involve sales of products or services, or payment of returns on investments, and may also offer high rewards to participants for recruiting other people into the program. Usually early recruits are paid out of entry fees collected from new participants. Eventually the program collapses, and most of the participants lose their investments. In many states and at the federal level, this type of program is illegal. It is almost always dangerous; avoid it.

Business opportunities and get rich quick seminars. If you are considering an investment in a business, or in money-making items such as vending machines, investigate thoroughly and require proof of claims. Not all business opportunities are legitimate. Sometimes promoters of risky or fraudulent business opportunities draw in prospects through seminars that promise to teach anyone how to make huge sums. Be wary if you attend this kind of event.

Existing Businesses
Invoice scams for office supplies, yellow pages ads,Web sites, or advertising. It is very common for con artists to send invoices for goods or services that you did not purchase, hoping that you will pay without questioning the bill.

False "free" offers. Be skeptical if a company offers you something for "free" on a trial basis, especially if this requires you to give out financial information about your business, or you are asked to download a strange program onto your computer through the Internet.You may never receive the "free" item, and instead might find a fraudulent charge on your credit card, bank account, phone bill or Internet service bill.

Telephone and voice mail misuse. Criminals may try to get access to your telephone system through voice mail boxes or other points of entry, which they reprogram so that they can fraudulently charge huge long-distance bills to your company.

Identity theft. Identity theft happens when someone misrepresents his or her financial identity in order to steal money or things of value. Identity thieves may use the following tactics, as well as other schemes, to commit serious financial crimes:

Approach your business to make a purchase, using a false identity

Purchase goods or services by pretending to represent your business

Attempt to get private identity information about an employee from your company

Steal private financial data from you, either from inside your company, or through the Internet

However it happens, identity theft can expose your businessand your customers to potential loss.

TIP: If the deal sounds too good to be true, do not spend money on it.

Warning Signs

Avoid any program that promises an unrealistically big return, especially if it requires a large up front payment.

If someone pushes you to make a quick decision about a business opportunity, be very cautious. Take your time, get all the facts, and don't give in to pressure.

Basic Scam Avoidance Practices

Get all promises and claims in writing. Ask for proof of claims.

Require references and check them. Be aware that people may falsely give good references on a company. Try to get many references, not just one or two. When checking references, ask detailed questions about business procedures and performance that only a person with real experience in that industry could answer.

Before signing any document, read it carefully. Sometimes items such as checks and purchase orders contain legal agreements that you might not realize you are authorizing. Never sign a contract that contains blank spaces.

Be sure you understand a written business agreement completely, and if possible, get a lawyer's help. If you can't explain the agreement to someone else, don't sign it. Keep asking questions until you get answers that satisfy you.

Screen all of your employees before you hire them.

Set up a tightly controlled system for authorizing purchase orders and payments.

Keep control of your mail; it is full of valuable items, such as checks and private financial information.

Change pass-codes for telephone, voice mail, and other billable communications systems frequently. Use complex passwords at least six characters long or longer. Passwords should never consist of character combinations that can be guessed easily, such as phone numbers, birthdays, or names.

Review all financial statements and bills, to make sure there are no unauthorized amounts on your accounts. Keep these sensitive documents in a secure place. Destroy or shred any such items that you do not want to store.

Dos and Don'ts

Do not pay for goods or services that you did not order. If fraudulent charges appear on bank statements, credit card bills, or other bills, send a letter disputing the false charges right away. Notify the BBB and appropriate law enforcement agencies, such as your state's Attorney General and the FTC, about the problem.

Do not respond to unsolicited email business offers from strangers, especially messages from persons in foreign countries that request the use of your bank account (the classic "Nigerian letter" scam, which may also seem to come from other troubled countries).

Do not confirm or provide private financial information by email. Some email frauds look like a message from your own Internet service provider, bank, credit card company, or other vendor, requesting email confirmation of financial data. If you are concerned, print out the email and send it with a written inquiry to your vendor's fraud prevention department.

Do protect your company's financial data and any data about your customers that could be used for identity fraud purposes.You may wish to hire privacy and security consultants to review your company's operations and advise you.

Do investigate an unfamiliar business before you buy. Find out its street address, phone number, whether it is licensed if required, names of key contacts, and its business reputation. Check on it with the Attorney General of your state, your local Department of Consumer Affairs, or the Better Business Bureau.

TIP: When in doubt, check it out with the BBB, the FTC, your state's Attorney General, or your local Department of Consumer Affairs.

Resources
Expert Business Advice
Small Business Administration

The U.S. Small Business Administration offers a diverse array of services to small businesses through the nation, including training, publications about business planning and getting financing, and help in obtaining loans.
SBA licensing information hotlist by state
SBA training
SBA certified and preferred lenders
SBA's Small Business Investment Company Program (SBIC)
SBA resources for women in business
New York District Office
(includes Long Island, Downstate New York)
26 Federal Plaza, Suite 3100, New York, NY 10278
Phone: (212) 264-4354 Fax: (212) 264-4963

Buffalo District Office (Upstate New York)
111 West Huron Street, Suite 1311, Buffalo, New York 14202
Phone: (716) 551-4301 Fax: (716) 551-4418

New Jersey District Office
Two Gateway Center, 15th Floor, Newark, New Jersey 07102
Phone: (973) 645-2434

SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives)
SCORE, a non-profit resource partner of the SBA, provides free counseling and mentoring to small businesses throughout the U.S, through face-to-face meetings, email, and telephone. The range of expertise covers many business topics, including start-ups, business plan development, non-profits, and advice on seeking financing. Free services are available to all. SCORE has multiple locations in New York and New Jersey, which can be located through www.score.org . You may also call the national SCORE office toll free at (800) 634-0245 to find the nearest SCORE counseling location.

Minority Business Development Agency (U.S. Dept. of Commerce)
The Minority Business Development Agency, which is part of the U.S. Department of Commerce, is designed to help minority owned businesses find the special resources they need to start up and grow. Go to www.mdba.gov to locate minority business development centers near you.
Guidelines for Good Business
MBDA Regional Office
New York and New Jersey
26 Federal Plaza, Room 3720, New York, NY 10278
Phone: (212) 264-3262 Fax: (212) 264-0725

Small Business Development Centers

Association of Small Business Development Centers
Small Business Development Centers are expert business advisement programs. Services are usually free. Search the national Web site to locate an SBDC near you. To contact centers in New York or New Jersey, visit these Web sites:
New York State Small Business Development Centers
New Jersey Small Business Development Centers

State Development Agencies

State development agencies typically help small businesses with information about international markets, selling to government, obtaining bank loans at reduced interest rates, technology resources, enterprise zone opportunities, real estate, environmental issues, workforce development, productivity, and help for minority and women-owned businesses.
Other Sources of Business Help
New York Empire State Development Corporation
633 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017-6706
(800) STATE-NY www.nylovessmallbiz.com or www.empire.state.ny.us
Credit Reporting Agencies
New Jersey Economic Development Authority
P.O. Box 990, Trenton, NJ 08625-0990
(609) 292-1800 www.njeda.com

New Jersey Commerce & Economic Growth Commission
P.O. Box 820, Trenton, NJ 08625-0820
(609) 777-0885 www.state.nj.us/commerce

Better Business Bureau (BBB)
Professionals
The Better Business Bureau is an association of outstanding companies that have joined together to encourage the growth of a marketplace that is fair, as well as profitable. Your BBB prevents and resolves problems between customers and businesses through public education, and through impartial dispute resolution programs that are free or very low in cost. Many local BBBs also have substantial charity review programs.
Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
Financial Institutions and Customer Data: Complying with the Safeguards Rule
Businessperson's Guide to the Mail and Telephone Order Merchandise Rule
Five Steps to Avoiding Office Supply Scams
A Business Checklist for Direct Marketers
American Bar Association
Online Lawyer Search Web Sites Licensing and Legal Information
www.lawyers.com
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)
The FTC (Federal Trade Commission) is the nation's primary consumer protection agency. Its Web site contains detailed, helpful information for your business about federal laws and guidelines covering issues such as advertising, telemarketing, debt collection, telephone and mail order sales, retail sales, warranties, auto leasing and sales, privacy and security safeguards, and many other topics.

More Advertising and Marketing Guidelines
Wise Giving Alliance (Council of Better Business Bureaus)
New Jersey Better Business Bureau
New York BBB Foundation Charity Accountability Program
In addition to the BBB and the FTC, these groups may be able to provide information about advertising standards and best practices. American Advertising Federation (local advertising clubs)
Direct Marketing Association (DMA)

To find special business groups in your area, or to locate an industry specific association, search the Internet for Web sites or look in the yellow pages.
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
U.S. Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce
National Association of Women Business Owners
Center for Women's Business Research
Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities

Equifax
P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374-0241
Order reports: (800) 685-1111 Report fraud: (800) 525-6285

Experian
P.O. Box 2002, Allen, TX 75013
Order report or report fraud: (888) EXPERIAN (397-3742)

Trans Union
P.O. Box 2000, Chester, PA 19022
Report fraud: (800) 680-7289

Lawyers and Accountants

Data Security

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Small Business Corner
NIST's Small Business Corner provides guidance for small businesses about strengthening the security of their computer and information systems.

City of New York
Phone: 311

New York City Licenses
Citywide Licensing Center, 42 Broadway, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10004
Phone: (212) 487-4444

New York City Department of Small Business Services
New York City Economic Development Corporation
State of New York
Click on the link "e-bizNYS" then on "Business Guide" and "Business Licenses, Business Permits."
NY State licensing
New York State Department of State Division of Licensing Services
84 Holland Avenue, Albany, NY 12208-3490
NYC Office, NY State Department of State (212) 417-5747
24-Hour Customer Service Voice Response (518) 474-4429
Phone: (518) 474-4429 Fax: (518) 473-6648
Email: licensing@dos.state.ny.us
Fax a request for an application to (518) 473-6648

Other NY State Licensing Agencies :

New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets (800) 554-4501
New York State Liquor Authority (212) 417-4002/4003
State of New Jersey
NJ licensing
NJ Commerce & Economic Growth Commission
Licenses and Certification Hotline: 609-777-2642, or (toll-free, in state) 800-533-0186

Information About Non-Profit Groups

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There are many processes and strategies that encompass organizational control. Organizational control provides a benchmark which is used to be able to continually grow as a company.