Author Archives: Mark Jacobs
January 2023
A 2022 Retrospective, and 2023 Predictions
Last year, we posed some questions for 2022 (see the original article here), based around a few common sense predictions on what was likely to happen in the year ahead. After the positive reaction to that post, we thought it would be fun to review how accurate our thoughts for 2022 were, and to consider […]
November 2022
ERP: When and How to Upgrade Your System
When analyzing the effectiveness of your ERP system, consider the following questions: Are you relying on multiple systems and software solutions to manage your business? Do you feel a lot of time is being wasted on manual processes and data input? Do your current business systems suffer from an obvious lack of features, slow or […]
March 2022
Questions for 2022 Pt. 4: Automation
Today we offer the final post in a series focusing on questions for 2022. You can read the previous posts on data literacy, price increases, and expense control here, here, and here. This week, we further explore the opportunity to evaluate (or reevaluate) business cases for increased automation in light of the current business environment, […]
March 2022
Questions for 2022 Pt. 3: Cost Structure and Expenses
This week, we’ll further explore the pressing need to review cost structures and all major business expenses in light of how business has changed (and will never go back to how it was pre-pandemic). What we already know: Once again, let’s take what we know about 2022, and then apply it to the question: Some […]
February 2022
Questions for 2022 Pt. 2: Price Increases
Two weeks ago, we wrote about four questions for 2022 based on factors that we can all agree will influence our business this year. We went further and addressed the first question: Is your organization data literate enough? We’ve received some interesting comments related to the need for greater data literacy in organizations. This would […]
February 2022
Thought Starting Questions for 2022
It’s that time of year again. Businesses are going about making confident predictions on what the next twelve months will hold for them. And yet, even at the best of times the accuracy of these predictions will be questionable by December. Given all that, perhaps the point of these predictions is less about being right, […]
August 2021
Efficiency and Effectiveness Assessment: Could You Benefit?
When your annual budget is heavily reliant on grants or federal, state, or local funding, your financial resources are limited. Trying to allocate them in a way that drives down expenses and maintains (or even improves) services can feel impossible. Does this sound familiar to you? Is it time to think about new ways to […]
August 2020
This VUCA World: What Can You Do About It?
VUCA is an acronym coined at the US Army College in the 1990’s to sum up what the world would be like after the Soviet Union’s collapse: Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous. However, I think you will all agree that VUCA has never been more relevant for both the military and business than it is […]
July 2020
Supply Chain: Re-Shoring, On-Shoring, and Buffer Options
“However beautiful the strategy, you should occasionally look at the results.” -Attributed to Winston Churchill. For the last few decades, “off-shoring” (basing some of a company’s processes or services overseas, to take advantage of opportunities to lower costs), “vendor simplification”, and “just-in-time” (reducing stocks of raw-materials, work in progress, and finished goods within operating processes […]
June 2020
PowerPoint Tips to Nail Your Presentation
It’s hard to communicate ideas simply. In the right hands, PowerPoint can be a great tool to help you get your points across in an effective and easy way. If you want to make sure your next PowerPoint presentation to gets your point across effectively, try applying a few of these tips: THINK BEFORE YOU POWERPOINT Before […]