Managers are leaders despite what some experts say. Management books and “experts” tell us a basic distinction between leaders and managers is leaders lead people, managers manage things. Sounds good and seems accurate; but that misses one factor. We need people to manage things. And the manager must work with them. She must coach, guide, […]
Category: BUSINESS
Business is society’s wealth generator
Struggling Startup Into a Successful Business Possible With Proper Focus
Diagnosing the struggling startup is the first step to recovery. When you go to the doctor, he or she will not prescribe a solution before a diagnosis. The same with companies—large, small, start-up, or established. After we identify symptoms such as poor cash flow, we must perform a diagnosis. The Struggling Startup Might Not Need […]
Stakeholder Capitalism Won’t Provide Needed Answers to fix Capitalism’s Flaws
Stakeholder capitalism is today’s fad to replace shareholder capitalism. But is it the correct cure? In the survey we designed and commissioned in August 2020, 65% of 145 responses showed that the central issue with capitalism isn’t the system, per se. It is flawed people driving it—more on the survey later. To millennials and other […]
Living Wages Idea Devolved to Minimum Wages Because of Politics
Should firms volunteer to pay living wages instead of mandated minimum wages? A 2013 Harvard Business Review article, Does Money Really Affect Motivation? A Review of the Research, concluded, “We all need to pay our bills and provide for our families — but once these basic needs are covered the psychological benefits of money are […]
Layoffs Not Long Term Solution For Firm’s Tough Times
Layoffs are not a long-term answer for firms when they face tough times. Nine-eleven and the Great Recession tested firms with no-layoff policies. Southwest Airlines, Marriott, FedEx, Honeywell, Toyota, to name a few, passed the test. I should add that I am talking about permanent employees in non seasonal businesses. Here is a comment from a Southwest […]
Supporting Businesses During The Pandemic Means Supporting People During The Pandemic
Supporting businesses during the pandemic means supporting workers. Businesses like other institutions are vehicles, mere shells with people who decide every aspect. The left complains that government shouldn’t support companies. The left is anti business and pro worker, but that’s an unsound position. If you are pro worker, logic dictates you be pro business to ensure firms create […]
Coronavirus Driving People From The Stock Market
The coronavirus’ stock market impact is immense. It is spooking stock markets. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) shed 12% or over 3000 points over five days, February 24-28, the largest 5-day drop since the Great Recession. The DJIA recorded the biggest single day drop (1191) during that week on February 27. China is a key player […]
Share Buybacks Distort a Firm’s Results and Reduce Funds Available to Invest
Share buybacks or share repurchases can distort a firm’s results and delude the public. These events hike earnings per share (EPS) without growth in the firm’s basic value. The baseless boost in EPS could lift a chief executive officer’s (CEO) bonus. So, is a share repurchase plan the best use of a company’s funds? Who enjoys buybacks except the […]
Capitalism Isn’t Dead, Corrupt Leaders Placed it on Life Support
Capitalism isn’t dead, it is on life support. Industry leaders push their agendas with practices that hurt the public, and they get rewarded. For instance, Boeing’s CEO oversaw the 737 debacle, the company fired him but plans to pay him millions. Donald Trump’s lies and corruption as he presided over failed businesses, a fraudulent foundation and fake university, propelled […]
Effective Supply Chains Key to Delighting Customers and Creating Stakeholder Value
Firms need to focus on maximizing value in their supply chain—a series of interrelated activities to move a product or service from its originating point to the customer or client. It is the linkages involved in delivering a product or service most productively for the customer and the business. It is vital to operations management and crucial to deliver consistent, high-quality products on-time to customers, and to create value for the business.