Feature Article
Your Future - A Series of Conversations
It seems like everyone is trying to save money in today’s economy. Businesses, now more than ever, are bringing teams of people together to review spending activities, assess performance of revenue generating programs and services, pricing programs, and to find the means to survive and thrive in this challenging business climate. If you are one of these companies, are you finding yourself having the same conversations over and over with no new thought or breakthroughs? Have you considered the context from which these analyses are being conducted and the language being used to explore, and create, future directions?
If you were to ask three people from your organization their perspectives on your current business challenge, or perhaps what might be undertaken to improve future performance, you would probably get three different responses. There may be a certain degree of consistency in the responses but there is also likely to be an equal amount of inconsistency as well. See, the responses will be a result of the person’s perspective, or viewpoint, of the situation assessed by their past experiences and values and their perspective of how life occurs to them. Consider also that before you hear the person’s perspective they will have taken their viewpoint and performed an internal evaluation of what they are going to say based on their perceptions of what is good, bad, right, wrong, risky, safe, and a variety of other filtering. The result will not be their perception of the situation but rather a statement about their perception of the situation based on a level of risk they are willing to take in sharing their views.
So, as a business leader, how might you take your business teams to a new level of performance? You need to first observe and consider the conversations that occur in your workplace both verbal and non-verbal. How do situations, or business opportunities, occur to the people that make up your company. Do the situations occur as opportunities or as problems that have to be dealt with? Does your work environment occur for the people that work in that environment as one that is open to new ideas, are new ideas appreciated no matter how “off the wall” they may seem at first, are there unwritten rules of behavior that limit expression and new thought, etc…
As a business leader it’s important to take time to reflect on the language of conversations occurring within your business environment. Take a few moments this week, while administrating the normal aspects of your business, and listen to verbal and non-verbal conversations that are occurring. Listen inquisitively to what is being said, and not said, and how life occurs to people such that they would say what they say and conclude what they conclude. Observe yourself as well. As you internalize other’s comments and perspectives listen to yourself to see what filtering you are applying to the situation. I believe you’ll find the process helpful and insightful.
The staff at ASIL has experience in assisting companies with creating new powerful futures from which to extend their corporate value propositions. These futures are complete with a solid basis of understanding an organization’s core competencies, value propositions, roadmaps to success, risk mitigation and communication planning and a host of other valuable services. We have a proven track record of pragmatic solutions and welcome the opportunity to serve you and your clients. Call us today and let us help you achieve new areas of profitability and success in this ever changing economy.
Contributed by Warren White
April 2009 Spotlight
Invest to Grow!
Each day the news is filled with stories about more lost jobs and challenges in the economy. We hear it from the morning to the night, and the impact is global. This is a time when many workers will lay low in order to avoid becoming visible for fear of losing their own jobs.
Yet with all of the gloom and doom there are those that are rising to the opportunity. They have been planning and building their value propositions to increase their competitive advantage. They have continued to look at the market shifts and refine what they offer and how they will deliver it. To some this may sound like a luxury, but in fact it is a necessity to ensure long term profitability.
It is increasingly important during difficult economic times for companies to continue to review their offerings for competitiveness and market fit. Yet all too often the first move is to discontinue efforts in order to save money. The future is tied to the investments we make today. Deciding to defer investments regarding your value proposition will eventually create your own obsolescence.
Take the time to closely review what is central to the success of the company. Ensure that you are doing the basics well before you choose to add a level of flair. Test the market by collecting feedback from Customers, Industry, and Competitors. It is through the blending of this information that you will fine tune the sweet spot of your focus.
Ensure that your operations are aligned and measured for performance delivery. Maximize your investments by increasing your operational predictability and financial accountability. The combination of a good game plan to support the rejuvenated value proposition can be a real competitive advantage. How is your game? Our role at ASIL is to empower companies to harness their energy and deliver game winning solutions.
Contributed by Peter Pazmany
Industry Trends
Supply Chain Security
According to the International Cargo Security Council, cargo thefts in the United States cost businesses a whopping $60 billion last year. This figure doesn’t even take into consideration the lost revenue, production down time, or missed delivery penalties associated with those losses. With the current economy challenges, it doesn’t look like that figure will improve in the short term.
It’s not like you are sitting back and doing nothing to protect your shipments. In fact, the sophisticated criminals are becoming more and more creative as we add more and more security to our high value cargo channels. The work is in staying a step ahead of those who are targeting your shipments.
The question becomes one of; “What actions can I take to mitigate my risk?” The answer is not simple. If it were, there would be much less loss in the Supply Chains. The answer is to take a multi-faceted approach including physical, electronic, shipment tracking security devices, and best practices.
Electronic Tracking – Technology has reached the point of not allowing a cargo to be opened unless it is in an “Authorized Area”. This technology depends on GPS tracking and can even be used to send off an alarm if a load has wandered off its intended route.
RFID and bar-code scanning can be used to track shipments down to the item level detail. All of these technologies offer added security benefits by creating an electronic dada trail.
Physical Security - Trucking security devices that include king pin locks, air brake valve locks, and glad hand locks (preventing unintentional movements) can all be effective in preventing cargo from “wandering off”.
The addition of seals can add an effective deterrent to cargo being unloaded from containers or trailers. Seals can be indicative (indicating whether tampering has occurred), security (provide limited resistance), or high-security (constructed of metal requiring heavy tools to remove). Seals, however, can be subverted by many methods like the removal of doors without breaking the seal or replacement of seals after the theft. A thorough inspection coupled with a careful tracking and confirmation of seal number processes needs to be implemented in order to monitor attempted break-ins.
Best Practices – No single method can prevent cargo theft. An effective security program must combine technology with robust security procedures and fundamental security practices. A few tips in this area would be:
Stay alert - Be aware of surveillance that may be being conducted.
Respond - Immediately report all suspicious activity.
Manage information - Do not share information on cargo or procedures.
Know your supply chain - Know the carrier and driver scheduled for pick-up.
Execute basic safety practices - Keep your trucks locked, organized, and well lit.
Screen and train employees - Cargo theft is often perpetrated with inside help.
Making investments in security - from hard costs associated with technology and systems, to training and resources - will ultimately improve your security, supply chain efficiency, customer satisfaction, and bottom-line results. Contact ASIL, Inc. for help in analyzing your Supply Chain security.
Contributed by Michael Singleton
Our Software Products
Click on the links below to view ASIL, Inc.'s MAX Partnering® self paced software demonstrations:
Self Assessment Sample Questionnaire - This demo will enable you to respond to a small sample of self assessment questions focused on change management and create a Heat Map of your responses to see areas that may need attention. The Driving Complex Change® methodology addresses the six areas of Direction, Ability, Incentive, Resources, Structure, and Action that can impact your effectiveness of change management.
