Tag Archives: business

Sad for Saab…….

Posted on by

saab93 Recent news that GM has failed to find a buyer for Saab leading to the imminent demise of this once great automotive manufacturer will sadden those of us who once owned one of these iconic vehicles.

The Swedish manufacturer has a tremendous tradition of innovation. They were the leaders in Turbo development which was incorporated into a range of models in the 1960’s.

The Duck-Billed shape of the 9-3 and earlier 900 series made their looks distinctive and original.  The Saab cockpit reflected the brand’s Aero heritage with its wrap around style and distinctive dash. Saab cars had headlight wipers long before anyone else and everyone who has driven a 9-3 or a 900 came to love the ignition being next to the handbrake (rather than next to the steering wheel) meaning the car had to be left in reverse gear before the keys could be removed – proving an excellent mechanical theft deterrent.

Let’s hope someone comes in at the last moment to rescue this iconic and innovative automotive brand.

Shifting sands of Globalization…….

Posted on by

dubai The recent events in Dubai, where the state owned fund “Dubai World” announced it needed an additional 6 months to repay some of its outstanding debt, caused shockwaves around the World echoing the problems of Lehmans 12 months ago. The impact was felt on stock exchanges from Hong Kong to Wall Street.

These issues illustrate just one of the impacts of increasing globalization. Undoubtedly there are many, many benefits – the ability to Outsource manufacture to cheaper locations brings down the price of consumer goods. Products once deemed exotic are readily and cheaply available in our Supermarkets.  Clothing is cheaper than ever before. International communication has allowed relationships to develop over all of the continents breaking down cultural barriers and suspicions.

However, like anything else, there are downsides.

Sovereign Wealth Funds, controlled by State Oligarchs, have immense wealth and power at their disposal. Their decisions made in conference rooms in Beijing or Dubai can have devestating and massive impacts on jobs and prosperity in the U.K or elsewhere in the globe. These insitutions are not democratic in nature and are not answerable to any electorate.

How we in the “liberal” democratic World control and resist their impact remains one of our greatest challenges.

chris@projectsguru.co.uk

A light at the end of the tunnel….

Posted on by

…but it turns out to be a trains headlight !!!

projectsTodays U.K  GDP figures for July to September turned out to be grim news, with growth of 0.2% widely expected the actual figure was MINUS 0.4% !!! and now we are officially in the longest recession since records began.

So what can your company do to ensure survival:-

1) Review your costs on a regular basis – regular monitoring keeps everyone on their toes.

2) Introduce a regime whereby ALL purchase requisitions have to be approved by a Director. –  Its amazing how this can reduce unnecessary expenditure.

3) Get your costs scrutinized by an extenal body, its surprising what a fresh pair of eyes can see and the savings can far outweigh any consultancy fee.

4) If you are not already doing so consider outsourcing some of your key activities – but make sure you get professional outsourcing advice. The savings can be tremendous and preserve jobs in the long term.

5) If you need extra resource consider hiring interims or contractors, their contribution can have a massive impact for relatively litle cost.

Hopefully the Q4 data will be positive and we can all look forward to several years growth and prosperity.

Cost cutting is not enough…….

Posted on by

AMBERHILL-LOGO-THUMBThe response of most companies to the current recession has been a round of savage cost cutting in the form of job loses, wage freezes, caps on pay etc etc

Of course this is understandable given the size of the slump following the global financial crisis but any company which believes that cost cutting alone will enable them to survive in the long term is sadly misguided.

The only way to grow is by introducing innovative products and services with real customer demand that beat the competition.

Companies that rely on cost cutting alone and who hope to deliver the same old same old will whither and die. The insolvency graveyard is full of companies which lacked the vision to change and, like a dinosaur which could not adapt to changing times, ultimately ceased to exist.

Some of the best examples of innovation can be seen in the Great Depression of the 1930’s. DuPont invested heavily in Research & Development. By the late 1930’s 40% of its sales were from products that were less than a decade old, including Nylon & synthetic rubber.

Procter & Gamble invested so heavily in Radio advertising it invented a new art form – The Soap Opera.

In the current resession Asda is building 14 new stores & hiring 7000 new workers. PepsiCo has taken direct control of two of its bottling plants at a cost of $6 billion.

Despite seeing it’s revenues fall by 23% in Q4 2008 compared to Q4 2007 p4Intel is continuing to invest heavily in innovation.

Cisco is buying up start-ups left right and centre.

P&G is undergoing its biggest expansion is 170 years opening 19 new factories world wide.

Innovation is the only answer for long term growth.

chris@amberhill.biz

Be my sponsor pleeeeeeeeeeze……..

Posted on by

project sponsorOver the next few posts we are going to be taking a look at some of the key people involved in the project management process.

No matter what tools are utilized, or what the organizational structure is, it is PEOPLE that get things done.  It is people that execute and complete project activities.

One of the key people roles is the Project SPONSOR.

According to PMI the Sponsor is ‘The person or group that provides the financial resources, in cash or in kind, for the project’

More often than not the Sponsor is a Senior Manager in the Organization who wants the project done, normally because it will benefit them in some way.

A good Sponsor is one who understands how the performing organization works and can get things done. The Sponsor ensures that the required resources are made available for the project and that links are established to key areas in the organization. This requires good management skills and pragmatism.

The Sponsor has a business need for the project, the organization grants the Sponsor the resources and money and the Sponsor contracts with the Project Team to deliver the project.

In a project organization the Project Manager works for the Sponsor and the Sponsor works for the Business.

There will normally be little contact with the Sponsor apart from formal Project Reviews, however it is vital that the Sponsor is available to the Project Manager and has her “ear”.

For successful Project Execution a powerful and influencial Sponsor is of great benefit.