Business Bytes: Unveiling Corporate Wisdom

When it comes to making business decisions involving employees, things can become a little difficult for any business, no matter the size, to navigate. If one is very involved with the employees, it can be difficult on a personal level. Even though studies have shown that getting to know employees on a personal level, and not just in a business setting, increases happiness in the workplace. However, management of all forms and levels are often discouraged from getting to know employees on a personal basis for this reason.

This difficulty is often amplified when a business needs to be letting go of employees. Whether it is in the process of downsizing, or simply has to cut out employees because of technological advancements and integration, here are three things to keep in mind:

[Read More]

Typically, when people think about sustainability in the realm of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), they think about the specific activities of companies, such as conservation of natural resources and the integration of alternative energy in buildings and factories.

Some companies, however, take sustainability a step further in their CSR efforts. Unilever, a British-Dutch multinational consumer goods company, focuses not only on the specific activities of their company, but also the supply chain that supports it, as well as the activities of its customers and consumers. This effort to go above and beyond the norm by making sustainable living commonplace is why Unilever is widely regarded as one of the few truly sustainable businesses in the world.

[Read More]

Found mostly in businesses that involve heavy sales, employee incentives can be a great way to motivate employees and increase sales. If businesses handle employee incentives in the right way, it could mean the difference between an average quarterly business report and a superior one that elevates the business' status. There is a right and a wrong way to introduce incentives to employees. These are the three key steps in implementation:

[Read More]

Sometimes it is necessary to apologize. Apologies usually come after a mistake has been made. The idea of acknowledging that there is something to apologize for is off-putting to many businesses, but the fact is, mistakes sometimes happen. Whenever your company is dealing with customers who would like an issue addressed or have a complaint to make, an apology is a good place to start.

[Read More]

The operating system (OS) in your device is as vital to it as your blood is to you. Without an OS, any device is essentially just a shell. Every new device that you buy comes with an OS, usually the latest version from the manufacturer you have selected. When you get the device, you get the OS. That is the good news. The question marks start appearing at the same time as the little pop-up window in the corner of your screen that tells you it is time to upgrade your OS. Here are some of the pros and cons of moving to the latest version of your OS.

[Read More]

Feeling unimaginative? Needing a new way of looking at your business and how you lead it? Giva's recent article "How to Inspire the Mind of a Company Leader" looks at how to view your brain as an asset that should be managed with care.

Your brain is the key to your business. How you treat your brain will determine the value of the ideas that come from it. Giva's article takes you through a series of questions and makes suggestions for investing in your brain as an asset. The ROI from your brain may be greater than you realize!

A Configuration Management Database (CMDB) is used to keep track of the different parts of an IT environment. Generally, CMDBs are convenient for modeling potential changes in IT, identifying where problems are occurring within an IT environment, and providing transparency for a company's system in case of audits or legal issues. A CMDB is like a big map of an IT environment and there are many things to consider when building the database. For more information, you can read our article on how a CMDB is helpful.

[Read More]

Conflicts between colleagues are inevitable. However, there are several measures to help avoid and mediate conflicts. Through an interview with CIO.com, Kumud Kalia, former CIO of Direct Energy (now CIO at Akamai Technologies), details why conflicts arise and how to deal with existing and potential conflicts in the future.

[Read More]

Founded in 1973 by entrepreneur and outdoor enthusiast, Yvon Chouinard, Patagonia is a privately held outdoor clothing company based in Ventura, CA. The company's CSR vision consists of two main components: environmental conservation and restoration. As stated in its website, Patagonia's mission is to "build the best product, cause no unnecessary harm, use business to inspire and implement solutions to the environmental crisis." Upon further investigation, however, it is clear that this mission statement does not fully capture the intense breadth and depth at which these core environmental values are integrated into everything Patagonia does. The company's commitment to the environment goes above and beyond what is required by law, despite the fact that this imposes extra cost on its customers and puts the company at a competitive economic disadvantage. Here are some highlights of the company's efforts to steer the clothing industry in a more sustainable and responsible direction.

[Read More]