Channel Conflict in Technology Businesses

As I've been reading the trade magazines recently, I've paid particular attention to the channel magazines. A big story for several months has been the change in leadership at HP, since Mark Hurd took over as CEO from Carly Fiorina. This change has been met with much interest and concern for two reasons: 1) HP is a VERY BIG supplier to channel and 2) The company that Mark Hurd formerly led, NCR, utilized the channel to a far less extent than HP. So the natural concern is Hurd may steer HP toward a greater percentage of direct business in their distribution model.

Risks to Business Success in China

Understanding the risks for doing business in China requires a deeper understanding of the China business culture. In order to avoid the pitfalls that many companies endure, this article outlines a few issues to consider before doing business in China

The Pricing Dynamics of Selling a Business

When you sell your business, the method of selling can have a major impact on your selling price. This article discusses the various selling methods and the relative values that result.

General Colin Powell's Failure as Secretary of State Provides Valuable Lessons for Business Owners

This article explains how General Colin Powell's failure as Secretary of State can help business owners and mangers avoid his mistakes. General Powell ignored knowing himself, his strengths and weaknesses, how he failed to do his due dilligence on the issue of WMD, how he failed to state his objectives and make a plan which he could revisit, how he didn't pay attention to the basics of his operations, and how he severely reduced the status of the State Department in the eyes of the world by refusing to take himself out of the game.

Roll-On with the Right Options

An option refers to a security contract that provides a buyer the right to buy or sell an asset at a particular price on or before a date and has strict terms and conditions. An option gives you the right of buying and selling but is not an obligation to accomplish a deal. You can always choose to let the expiry date of the option go, after which the option has no value. If you let the period expire, you let go the entire amount that you invested to book the asset. The underlying assets in most cases are either stock or index funds.

Building A Business Intelligence System

Business intelligence refers to the process of collecting meaningful information databases; analyzing this information and generating reports that will help companies make informed decisions. Business intelligence systems help organizes all data generated by the enterprise to make it available whenever it’s needed

Casualness In Modern Office Furniture

The quest for modernity in the work environment has meant compromise on the unique graceful furniture that adorns the four walls of the office. Read on to assess the benefits of having traditional furniture for the work place without any prejudice against the modern furniture.

Business Coach & Executive Coach: Is Professional Development Part of Your Strategic Action Plan?

Is investing in your professional development part of your strategic plan? Explore why and the how of this important strategy may help you increase your client loyalty.

Making a List and Checking it Twice: Resolve to Get Your Business Mojo On

As a business owner, if you don’t know where you stand on important strategic issues, how can you create effective interactions with those who are interested in what you have to sell? All successful entrepreneurs adhere to guiding principles that set the tone for everything they do within their business. Here is my own high octane list of rules to live by—and profit by.

Helpful Hints to Implementing a Differentiation Strategy

Product or Service Differentiation doesn't have to bog your business down if you can take an objective view of the competitive landscape. Just because a competitor does things very similar doesn't mean you can't distinguish your business from them. In this article, two technology companies are contrasted to help you better understand how to differentiate yourself from similar competitors.

Ten Ways to Reinvent Your Company in 2007

It’s soon to be 2007, and we can hardly stand the thought. What are we doing that is different from what everyone else in our industry is doing? What excites our customers? To make a dramatic impact in 2007, you will need to reinforce your message in everything that you do. Use every ad, press release, professional communication and event to tell your story.

What is the Secret to Building a $100M Consulting Practice?

Imagine if you were no longer threatened by consulting commoditization and the resulting loss of firm revenues. What if you could leverage technology in a way that would increase your profit margins and open doors of unlimited add-on consulting opportunities?

Sun Zi Art of War - Four Ways of Achieving Swift Victory

We all know the importance of obtaining a swift victory. But how can we achieve it? Read on to find out what Sun Zi has advocated.

Writing a Business Plan

Are you getting ready to start developing your business plan? If so, have you thought about how you are going to go about developing that business plan or what you should include in it?