This is a technique that was developed to radically reduce the time it took to write new software applications. It recognized that teams in very intense work periods do not always function properly.
Scrum (an Agile technique) – started off as a rethink of project management by Jeff Sutherland, a fighter pilot in Vietnam. He saw […]
Many of us have gazed wistfully into the distance thinking how marvelous it would be to be able to have cost of producing a product at any time of day. Activity based costing seduced the accounting profession very much like the sirens in Greek mythology.
Right from the start the writing was on the wall. The […]
In lean there are eight types of waste. These wastes are seen within the whole organisation and within the accounting function. I have outlined the eight wastes below in Exhibit 1
Exhibit 1 The eight wastes that need tackling
Eight types of waste
The eight wastes within the accounting function
1. Over-production (Building batches of products larger than the […]
If you are spending over an hour a day on emails there are some golden rules to save you time, as David Parmenter explains*.
* This article is an extract from The leading Edge Manager’s Guide to Success published by John Wiley & Sons Inc.
Finance teams, and those staff within them, cannot afford to have their […]
Those in the finance function may not be natural marketers of their own value to the organisation. But they can – and should – learn, as David Parmenter explains*.
David Parmenter is an international presenter and writer. parmenter@waymark.co.nz
* This article is an extract from Winning CFOs: Implementing and Applying Better Practices published by John Wiley & […]
Tied to candor is Welch’s 20/70/10 “differentiation” rule. The top 20% of performers should be promoted into jobs which are a good fit for their strengths, assist the next 70% to better meet their potential, and make it clear to the bottom 10% that their future lies elsewhere. Good communication will see these staff moving […]
Leaders can never be too visible to their staff. Great leaders take a walk at least twice a day when they are in the office. Not only does it give them some much-needed exercise but it ensures that they can catch up with staff they might not normally see during meetings. Unfortunately, today, more often […]
Managers today have meeting after meeting. They believe it is more efficient than holding one-to-one meetings. Yes, in one hour ten people are listening to the manager, but at the end those ten people will walk out and carry on as if the last hour did not happen. The key to effective management is to […]
Leaders need to realize that being a good orator is a vital part of leadership. Time and effort needs to be devoted to delivering a meaningful message. Special coaching and endless practice should be seen as an important investment rather than a chore.
Three leaders to understand are Shackleton, Welch and Churchill who understood the importance […]
How often, when under pressure, have you frowned when a staff member came to your office to ask for help? How often have you greeted your visitors at the reception rather than get them picked by your executive assistant? The great leaders know the visitor in front of them is their most important task and […]