MANAGEMENT VISIONS

Monday, March 23, 2009

March 30, 2009 - CONCLUDING COMMENTS ON "PRIDE"

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CONCLUDING COMMENTS ON "PRIDE"

This podcast is Part XXXV of our series on the "PRIDE" Methodologies for IRM and represents the concluding chapter of the series. Over the last 34 weeks I have patiently taken you through all aspects of the methodologies; from concepts and philosophies, to the actual steps necessary to execute "PRIDE."

Obviously, a lot of thought has gone into the design and development of the methodologies over the years. Since the first parts of it were introduced in 1971, "PRIDE" has been challenged by our customers, competitors, and academia, This has forced us to refine the product in terms of clarifying the concepts and defining our terminology. After so much scrutiny, we believe it to be tried, proven, and intellectually honest. This is very important to us.

But "PRIDE's" comprehensiveness is also its weakness as people lack the broader vision to comprehend the scope of the product and its integration. Some people are only concerned with nothing more than the programming phases of "PRIDE"-ISEM, others are only involved with the physical design phases of "PRIDE"-DBEM, and others for Project Management, and others for Business Systems Planning, etc., etc. Those people in the industry who have the ability to visualize the comprehensiveness of "PRIDE" are few and far between. Consequently, "PRIDE" has always been way ahead of its time; perhaps too far.

As an example, years ago when we first introduced "PRIDE" in the early 1970's, people typically bought "PRIDE" for the wrong reasons; instead of its design and development concepts, they bought it primarily for Project Management purposes. This is analogous to installing a Production Control department in a manufacturing company without an Assembly Line. It is the Assembly Line that is more important, not Production Control. But here we are nearly 40 years lately, and the industry still believes it is a Project Management problem. Sad, very sad. This leads me to believe that the industry will never catch up with "PRIDE" and it will slowly be lost over time until another generation finally rediscovers it.

Another reason why people resist "PRIDE" is because it imposes discipline on developers through standards, something I.T. people stubbornly resist like a wild horse to a bit. I have always found this interesting. In the past, programmers have criticized us for our attitudes towards systems people. What they never realized was that we were actually their best friend in the sense that we emphasized the need for the vital upfront work needed to properly specify the development of software. In a pristine "PRIDE" development environment, programmers are the true beneficiaries of the methodologies. Instead of getting specs on the back of envelopes or cocktail napkins, "PRIDE" stressed the need for upfront analysis.

In the hands of strong management, we have seen "PRIDE" do wonderful things. For example, it was responsible for developing Japan's next generation of on-line banking systems, which, I might add had no problem whatsoever with the Y2K problem. It was also used by many Fortune 500 companies to engineer their core systems. But this was all a time when management could visualize the bigger picture.

Since we opened our kimono in 2004, thousands of people have visited our "PRIDE" site and reviewed the methodologies. Hopefully, this helped the industry and someone, somewhere along the line learned something. The message of "PRIDE" was simple, "Shapeth Up and Getheth Thine Act Together." All it tried to do was bring order out of chaos. Yet, we found there are many people in the industry who thrive on chaos and, as such, have made the systems world much more complicated than it needs to be. "PRIDE" may be a considerable body of work, but when you think about it, the lessons inculcated were simple, e.g.; "A system is a product that can be engineered and manufactured like any other product"; "The only ways systems communicate is through shared data"; "Information = Data + Processing"; etc.

This podcast represents our last for "Management Visions." In the future, we will be rerunning past episodes. In addition to "PRIDE", we have discussed a wide variety of management issues. We have appreciated all of your comments and questions over the years and we wish you the best. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

If you would like to discuss this with me in more depth, please do not hesitate to send me an e-mail.

Keep the faith!

OUR BRYCE'S LAW OF THE WEEK therefore is...

"There is only one problem with common sense; it's not very common."

eBOOK: THE BRYCE IS RIGHT

Folks, be sure to check out our eBook on management entitled, "The Bryce is Right! Empowering Managers in today's Corporate Culture." This is a frank and candid description of the state of the art in management and includes essays on the problems in management today, along with some pragmatic advice on how to deal with them. Basically, this is a condensed course in management. As such, it is suited for managers, either those aspiring to become a manager or for those who need a refresher course. It will also be of interest to young people entering the work force, and is excellent for college curriculums.

The price is just $20 plus tax.

We have also produced a one-day training program of the same name. For more information on both the eBook and course, please visit our web site at:

phmainstreet.com/mba

While there, look for our MS PowerPoint presentation describing both the book and the training program.

MY "PET PEEVE OF THE WEEK" IS "BRAINWASHING"

In the past you have heard me lament about the erosion of our moral values, and it is my contention that our religious institutions have dropped the ball on this one. Their message may be good, but it is not generally turned into practice anymore. I've seen way too many people go to church to absolve themselves of their sins for the past week, only to continue unethical business practices on Monday morning. I think this is because our places of worship tend to say the same tired things over and over again and, in the process, have lost the hearts and minds of their constituents. Our moral values are now shaped by the Media using brainwashing techniques which are somewhat subliminal, but very effective. The intent of brainwashing is not just to manipulate perspectives, but to also put things into action. Organized religion knows how to deliver the message, but fails to put it into practice.

Brainwashing is typically born from calamity, such as the loss of a war, or hard economic times. It is illustrated by Nazi Germany in the 1930's and 40's, the Korean War, and is still put to good effect in Third World dictatorships. It is omnipresent in the free world as well, maybe not as obvious as in the Third World, but it is definitely present in our culture nevertheless.

Brainwashing is intended to produce a desired result, and many believe the end justifies the use of such techniques. It has been my observation there are three basic building blocks for brainwashing:

1. Information management - meaning the control of the media outlets, what can and cannot be said to the public, and who can say it. As you may recall in Nazi Germany, no author or artist could be published or exhibited unless they were a member of the Third Reich and proved good behavior. Control of the media is essential as it is known that life imitates art, not the other way around. Whoever controls the media, controls information, and subsequently our culture.

2. Repetition of the message is essential for conditioned response as in the case of Pavolv's Dog. If you say something enough times, people tend to believe it, regardless if it is right or wrong. Such repetition must be relentless and tends to be long term in nature in order to penetrate the human psyche.

3. The message must capture the hearts and minds of the people. Here, basic human instincts are exploited, such as greed, status, social class, and patriotism. The message tends to be simple and filled with pathos as complicated messages tend to be lost on most people and there is a desire to draw on the passions of the public. Basically, you need to pander to the masses and tell them what they want to hear; e.g., "You are great; you are being abused and mistreated", etc. Again, the intent is not simply to comprehend the message, but to motivate people into action. Emotional extremes are particularly effective in this regard; e.g., Love of Country, Hate for its enemies. The message also becomes more credible through testimonials and endorsements by recognized celebrities and other seeming experts. In fact, the message must be well choreographed and glitzy to assure it becomes fashionable and popular. Technicians skilled in the arts are vital to make the message appealing to the masses. People must believe the message is the popular consensus of the masses, not just a handful of people, thereby minimizing resistance to it.

Behind all of this is a deep seeded contempt for the human spirit, that people are cattle and easily swayed. Using brainwashing techniques, lying and misleading people is perfectly acceptable as long as it ends with the desired results. Thereby truth and honesty are often sacrificed in the process.

The question now becomes, is our Media engaged in brainwashing and, if so, what are their objectives? I believe it is there to orchestrate and exploit the American middle class thereby simplifying the implementation of social and economic changes. Why the middle class? Simple, because it is the economic engine of the world.

From this perspective, the Media is more powerful than the politicians charged with governing us. Perhaps our officials are nothing more than caretakers and the Media is truly pulling the strings, or perhaps the two are in cahoots. Either way, it is disconcerting that a "Big Brother" is doing the thinking for us and in the process, quietly engineering our thoughts and values.

It is also very unsettling that we are the unwitting dupes in all of this.

Such is my Pet Peeve of the Week.

Note: All trademarks both marked and unmarked belong to their respective companies.

"BRYCE'S PET PEEVE OF THE WEEK"

Folks, a couple of years ago I started to include my "Pet Peeve of the Week" in these "Management Visions" podcasts. They have become so popular that I now syndicate them through the Internet and they are available for republication in other media. To this end, I have created a separate web page for my writings which you can find at phmainstreet.com Look for the section, "The Bryce is Right!" Hope you enjoy them.

Also, if you happen to be in the Tampa Bay area of Florida, be sure to stop by and check out our new Palm Harbor Business OASIS, a new business venue offering local business people a place to meet, work, network, and relax. Why pay a lot for leasing office space when you can become a member of the OASIS for as little as $100/month? For more information, visit our web site at: http://www.phboasis.com/

AND FINALLY...

I received the following e-mail regarding my Pet Peeve on "Count Your Blessings":

A D.T. in Raleigh, North Carolina wrote...

"Well said! Tough times are survived by tough people, but STRONG people help others through their trials as well. Courage is not absence of fear, but acting DESPITE the fear. Pain and discomfort are relative to our expectations and standards."

A C.G. in Mason, Ohio wrote...

"Tim, what a great essay! It is very timely for me and I am certain it will be for many others. I just hope the people who need this now have a chance to read this."

I received the following e-mail regarding my Pet Peeve on "Job Interviews":

An M.B. of Clearwater, Florida wrote...

"I once competed against 34 people with Masters Degrees in Social Work, having only a BA myself, for the exact job I'd always wanted. I had more course work in the specialty needed for this job than most of those with the higher degree. Finally, it was down to just two of us for the final interview, when the Board of Directors, which was doing the interviews, asked the fatal question. It was an illegal question too, but I knew I was damned if I didn't answer it by claiming it to be illegal, and damned if I did answer, because I knew the supposed psychological reasons behind the question. I answered truthfully, and knew immediately by the looks on their faces that I'd lost the job. The question: 'Are you an only child?' I agree, if they are going to pull this kind of stuff, they should just have all applicants take the Myers-Briggs Personality Inventory first, and sift out the personality types that are considered unfit for the job in question before they interview."

Again, thanks for your comments. For these and other comments, please visit my "Bryce is Right!" web site.

Keep those cards and letters coming.

MBA is an international management consulting firm specializing in Information Resource Management. We offer training, consulting, and writing services in the areas of Enterprise Engineering, Systems Engineering, Data Base Engineering, Project Management, Methodologies and Repositories. For information, call us at 727/786-4567.

Our corporate web page is at:

http://phmainstreet.com/mba/

Management Visions is a presentation of M. Bryce & Associates, a division of M&JB Investment Company of Palm Harbor, Florida, USA. The program is produced on a weekly basis and updated on Sundays. It is available in versions for RealPlayer, Microsoft Media Player, and MP3 suitable for Podcasting. See our web site for details. You'll find our broadcast listed in several Podcast and Internet Search engines, as well as Apples' iTunes.

If you have any questions or would like to be placed on our e-mailing list to receive notification of future broadcasts, please e-mail it to timb001@phmainstreet.com

For a copy of past broadcasts, please contact me directly.

We accept MP3 files with your voice for possible inclusion in the broadcast.

There is no charge for adding a link to "Management Visions" on your web page, for details and HTML code, see the "Management Visions" web site.

Management Visions accepts advertising. For rates, please contact yours truly directly.

Copyright © 2009 by M&JB Investment Company of Palm Harbor, Florida, USA. All rights reserved. "PRIDE" is the registered trademark of M&JB Investment Company.

This is Tim Bryce reporting.

Since 1971: "Software for the finest computer - the Mind."

END

Monday, March 16, 2009

March 23, 2009 - "PRIDE" IMPLEMENTATION

"PRIDE" IMPLEMENTATION (SPECIAL)

This is Part XXXIV in our series on the "PRIDE" Methodologies for IRM. In this edition we describe how to install/implement "PRIDE" in an organization.

The full text for this section can be obtained by clicking: HERE.

NEXT UP: Concluding comments on "PRIDE" (the final chapter)

If you would like to discuss this with me in more depth, please do not hesitate to send me an e-mail.

Keep the faith!

OUR BRYCE'S LAW OF THE WEEK therefore is...

"There is only one problem with common sense; it's not very common."

eBOOK: THE BRYCE IS RIGHT

Folks, be sure to check out our eBook on management entitled, "The Bryce is Right! Empowering Managers in today's Corporate Culture." This is a frank and candid description of the state of the art in management and includes essays on the problems in management today, along with some pragmatic advice on how to deal with them. Basically, this is a condensed course in management. As such, it is suited for managers, either those aspiring to become a manager or for those who need a refresher course. It will also be of interest to young people entering the work force, and is excellent for college curriculums.

The price is just $20 plus tax.

We have also produced a one-day training program of the same name. For more information on both the eBook and course, please visit our web site at:

phmainstreet.com/mba

While there, look for our MS PowerPoint presentation describing both the book and the training program.

MY "PET PEEVE OF THE WEEK" IS "JOB INTERVIEWS"

Something that really irritates me in the corporate world today is how companies interview candidates for a job. Instead of having you describe who you are, what you've done in your professional life, and what skills you know, Human Resource types today ask questions like:

"Where do you want to be five years from now?"

"How do you handle pressure?"

"How do you deal with conflict?"

"Tell me something nobody knows about you."

"Did you notice the receptionist outside had six fingers?"

"What is your favorite color?"

"If you were an animal, what would you be?"

Instead of getting to the meat and potatoes of what the person knows, interviewers are asking pseudo-psychological questions aimed at examining the personality of the candidate. It kind of reminds me of the asinine question Barbara Walters asked of movie stars years ago, "If you were a tree, what kind would you be?"

These questions are aimed at determining what your personality type is (such as A, B, C, D) and how you present yourself, e.g., how articulate you can present an argument, and how well you can fit in with the corporate culture.

Instead of dancing around the issue, and using amateur psychological techniques, why don't they just ask for a psychological profile of the candidate instead, as prepared by accredited professionals? Somehow the interviewing questions asked today remind me of the neurotic Personnel Manager, Granville Sawyer, in the movie classic "Miracle on 34th Street."

Another interviewing phenomenon I have trouble with is what is now called "speed interviewing," which I'm told is derived from “speed dating,” whereby a number of people are interviewed briefly in a rotational format. It kind of reminds me of how people audition for "American Idol" and some of the other entertainment contests. It might be nice for a first blush, but hardly a way of honestly getting to know someone.

The last thing I think is lacking in interviewing is professional courtesy. It used to be if you sent in a job application, you would get a written note acknowledging the company received it and what they intended do with it, which perhaps was nothing. Further, after an interview, the candidate would be sent a letter thanking him/her for their time and let them know what their status was. But you don't see such letters anymore, not even in this age of e-mail. To me, this says a lot about the professionalism of the employer, which is probably not very good.

Such is my Pet Peeve of the Week.

Note: All trademarks both marked and unmarked belong to their respective companies.

"BRYCE'S PET PEEVE OF THE WEEK"

Folks, a couple of years ago I started to include my "Pet Peeve of the Week" in these "Management Visions" podcasts. They have become so popular that I now syndicate them through the Internet and they are available for republication in other media. To this end, I have created a separate web page for my writings which you can find at phmainstreet.com Look for the section, "The Bryce is Right!" Hope you enjoy them.

Also, if you happen to be in the Tampa Bay area of Florida, be sure to stop by and check out our new Palm Harbor Business OASIS, a new business venue offering local business people a place to meet, work, network, and relax. Why pay a lot for leasing office space when you can become a member of the OASIS for as little as $100/month? For more information, visit our web site at: http://www.phboasis.com/

AND FINALLY...

I received the following e-mail regarding my Pet Peeve on "Information Requirements":

A P.D. of DeKalb, Illinois wrote...

"I spent 14 years in IT, mostly in applications development, so I know exactly what you mean here. I came into the industry with a business background rather than a technical background, and I think it was a great help to me. The technology completely changed about every four years, but the business and the user groups remained the same. Everyone in IT is in a state of constant learning about technology, but few take the time to learn the business."

An S.S. in Turkey wrote...

"It takes two to tango. I don't believe that the responsibility of determining what the end user needs should fall solely on the system designer. The end user must shoulder some responsibility and determine exactly what end result is wanted and communicate that to the system designer in jargonless language too. All too often I see end users only explain half of an ill thought out idea and then change their mind several times." ;-)

I received the following e-mail regarding my Pet Peeve on "Finding a Recession-Proof Business":

A D.T. in Raleigh, North Carolina wrote...

"As ugly as it is getting, I still consider this a very dramatic 'correction' to many markets. 'Life normalized' is a term I feel comfortable using. Keeping up with the Jones'? Bah! Forget the Jones' - worry about your own standard of living and get back to living within your means. Let the Joses' mind their own business.

Again, thanks for your comments. For these and other comments, please visit my "Bryce is Right!" web site.

Keep those cards and letters coming.

MBA is an international management consulting firm specializing in Information Resource Management. We offer training, consulting, and writing services in the areas of Enterprise Engineering, Systems Engineering, Data Base Engineering, Project Management, Methodologies and Repositories. For information, call us at 727/786-4567.

Our corporate web page is at:

http://phmainstreet.com/mba/

Management Visions is a presentation of M. Bryce & Associates, a division of M&JB Investment Company of Palm Harbor, Florida, USA. The program is produced on a weekly basis and updated on Sundays. It is available in versions for RealPlayer, Microsoft Media Player, and MP3 suitable for Podcasting. See our web site for details. You'll find our broadcast listed in several Podcast and Internet Search engines, as well as Apples' iTunes.

If you have any questions or would like to be placed on our e-mailing list to receive notification of future broadcasts, please e-mail it to timb001@phmainstreet.com

For a copy of past broadcasts, please contact me directly.

We accept MP3 files with your voice for possible inclusion in the broadcast.

There is no charge for adding a link to "Management Visions" on your web page, for details and HTML code, see the "Management Visions" web site.

Management Visions accepts advertising. For rates, please contact yours truly directly.

Copyright © 2009 by M&JB Investment Company of Palm Harbor, Florida, USA. All rights reserved. "PRIDE" is the registered trademark of M&JB Investment Company.

This is Tim Bryce reporting.

Since 1971: "Software for the finest computer - the Mind."

END

Monday, March 09, 2009

March 16, 2009 - "PRIDE"-PM PROJECT CONTROL

"PRIDE"-PM - PROJECT CONTROL (SPECIAL)

This is Part XXXIII in our series on the "PRIDE" Methodologies for IRM. In this edition we describe Project Control as defined by "PRIDE"-Project Management (PM).

The full text for this section can be obtained by clicking: HERE.

NEXT UP: "PRIDE" Implemantation.

If you would like to discuss this with me in more depth, please do not hesitate to send me an e-mail.

Keep the faith!

OUR BRYCE'S LAW OF THE WEEK therefore is...

"Projects will only be completed if people want to complete them."

eBOOK: THE BRYCE IS RIGHT

Folks, be sure to check out our eBook on management entitled, "The Bryce is Right! Empowering Managers in today's Corporate Culture." This is a frank and candid description of the state of the art in management and includes essays on the problems in management today, along with some pragmatic advice on how to deal with them. Basically, this is a condensed course in management. As such, it is suited for managers, either those aspiring to become a manager or for those who need a refresher course. It will also be of interest to young people entering the work force, and is excellent for college curriculums.

The price is just $20 plus tax.

We have also produced a one-day training program of the same name. For more information on both the eBook and course, please visit our web site at:

phmainstreet.com/mba

While there, look for our MS PowerPoint presentation describing both the book and the training program.

MY "PET PEEVE OF THE WEEK" IS "FINDING A RECESSION-PROOF BUSINESS"

Finding a business that can endure today's economic recession can be tricky. People are tightening their belts more today than in the past fifty years. We are seeing businesses close down, CEO's being replaced, and some rather substantial cost-cutting measures, including salaries and employment. So you have to ask yourself what companies are thriving? Which ones are going to make it and which ones won't?

No, I am not an economist, but it has been my experience that whenever belt's are tightened, people start to think of themselves first and others second. In other words we start to focus on our basic human needs and worry less about luxury items. Let's consider the effect the recession is having in a few key human-centric areas:

Food: Eating out at restaurants is diminishing, particularly the high priced establishments. In my area of Florida alone, over 35 restaurants have closed their doors recently. Not surprising, people are more inclined to cook at home, which means boom-times for value priced items. For example, I understand sales of Hormel's SPAM product are way up. With this in mind, I wonder when the Food Channel will replace some of their gourmet shows with a show featuring something like, "Cooking on a budget."

Health: Drugs are still doing fine, but people are more inclined to buy generic as opposed to name brands. We will probably see a sharp decline in cosmetic or elective surgery, but we will still need to replace hips, hearts, knees, and other vital parts of our bodies. I have a friend who manufactures titanium hips and knees. He tells me business couldn't be better.

Transportation: As we all know, new car sales are way down which means people are trying to extend the lives of their current vehicles. This means companies selling auto parts should be prospering, as well as independent mechanics offering competitive prices. The airlines will always be viewed as a necessary evil but for any of them to succeed, they have to streamline their operations.

Communications: I think cell phones will hold steady, but look for people to change or eliminate their land lines. I have also seen a lot of people cut down on the pay channels on television, as well as their ISP connections.

Housing: Like the automotive industry, sales have stagnated which means people are trying to make do with what they have. And like the automotive after-market, look for the sale of home improvement items to increase, particularly those products designed to save energy and money. This should be boom times for basic hardware stores.

Education: Private schools will be hurt by the recession as people will be more inclined to send their kids to affordable public schools. This includes state universities over private colleges.

In a nutshell, the companies that will succeed are those that address the basic needs of the human being with no frills attached. Luxury items, such as electronics will struggle in the meantime.

But success will also require companies to manage smarter than what they have been doing. They have to think faster to seize opportunities, be more organized and disciplined in their operations, and be more adaptive to change. In other words I think you'll see a "no frills" management style emerge as companies fight to survive. Those companies with bloated bureaucracies and micromanagers will have to be cut down to size in order to manage smarter.

So, what company is recession-proof? That which addresses basic human needs and is managed so the company can turn on a dime without missing a beat.

Such is my Pet Peeve of the Week.

Note: All trademarks both marked and unmarked belong to their respective companies.

"BRYCE'S PET PEEVE OF THE WEEK"

Folks, a couple of years ago I started to include my "Pet Peeve of the Week" in these "Management Visions" podcasts. They have become so popular that I now syndicate them through the Internet and they are available for republication in other media. To this end, I have created a separate web page for my writings which you can find at phmainstreet.com Look for the section, "The Bryce is Right!" Hope you enjoy them.

Also, if you happen to be in the Tampa Bay area of Florida, be sure to stop by and check out our new Palm Harbor Business OASIS, a new business venue offering local business people a place to meet, work, network, and relax. Why pay a lot for leasing office space when you can become a member of the OASIS for as little as $100/month? For more information, visit our web site at: http://www.phboasis.com/

AND FINALLY...

I received the following e-mail regarding my Pet Peeve on "The Imagery of Profanity":

A J.S. of Skidway Lake, Michigan wrote...

"I'm not bothered by swearing or crude language except when young children or my elderly parents are present. These words may be of historic origin, but I believe they are more offensive to older folks and not the words we want young children to learn. I have, on occasion, spoken up when crude language gets out of hand. At a wedding reception, I reminded some drunken young men that they were not at the frat house and there were elderly people present who deserved respect. One whippersnapper mouthed off to me and I told him that if he insisted on garbage talk, he should go outside by the dumpster. I'm no prude. I use these words, but the place and company need to be considered."

A B.H. of Boulder, Colorado wrote...

"The "F" word apparently originated from the acronym for charges made: For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge." ;-)

I received the following e-mail regarding my Pet Peeve on "Our Right to Fail":

A J.T. in Winter Haven, Florida wrote...

"I could not agree more! It is very upsetting to have the government bailing out banks, auto, and people that made plan stupid decisions on home buying. I do not feel the government should bail any one out that gave stupid loans for over priced homes."

An M.O. of New Jersey wrote...

"I believe the bottom line is greed."

Again, thanks for your comments. For these and other comments, please visit my "Bryce is Right!" web site.

Keep those cards and letters coming.

MBA is an international management consulting firm specializing in Information Resource Management. We offer training, consulting, and writing services in the areas of Enterprise Engineering, Systems Engineering, Data Base Engineering, Project Management, Methodologies and Repositories. For information, call us at 727/786-4567.

Our corporate web page is at:

http://phmainstreet.com/mba/

Management Visions is a presentation of M. Bryce & Associates, a division of M&JB Investment Company of Palm Harbor, Florida, USA. The program is produced on a weekly basis and updated on Sundays. It is available in versions for RealPlayer, Microsoft Media Player, and MP3 suitable for Podcasting. See our web site for details. You'll find our broadcast listed in several Podcast and Internet Search engines, as well as Apples' iTunes.

If you have any questions or would like to be placed on our e-mailing list to receive notification of future broadcasts, please e-mail it to timb001@phmainstreet.com

For a copy of past broadcasts, please contact me directly.

We accept MP3 files with your voice for possible inclusion in the broadcast.

There is no charge for adding a link to "Management Visions" on your web page, for details and HTML code, see the "Management Visions" web site.

Management Visions accepts advertising. For rates, please contact yours truly directly.

Copyright © 2009 by M&JB Investment Company of Palm Harbor, Florida, USA. All rights reserved. "PRIDE" is the registered trademark of M&JB Investment Company.

This is Tim Bryce reporting.

Since 1971: "Software for the finest computer - the Mind."

END

Monday, March 02, 2009

March 9, 2009 - "PRIDE"-PM PROJECT REPORTING

"PRIDE"-PM - PROJECT REPORTING (SPECIAL)

This is Part XXXII in our series on the "PRIDE" Methodologies for IRM. In this edition we describe Project Reporting as defined by "PRIDE"-Project Management (PM).

The full text for this section can be obtained by clicking: HERE.

NEXT UP: "PRIDE"-PM - Project Control.

If you would like to discuss this with me in more depth, please do not hesitate to send me an e-mail.

Keep the faith!

OUR BRYCE'S LAW OF THE WEEK therefore is...

"Without an effective way to record and verify the use of time, all other project management activities are useless."

eBOOK: THE BRYCE IS RIGHT

Folks, be sure to check out our eBook on management entitled, "The Bryce is Right! Empowering Managers in today's Corporate Culture." This is a frank and candid description of the state of the art in management and includes essays on the problems in management today, along with some pragmatic advice on how to deal with them. Basically, this is a condensed course in management. As such, it is suited for managers, either those aspiring to become a manager or for those who need a refresher course. It will also be of interest to young people entering the work force, and is excellent for college curriculums.

The price is just $20 plus tax.

We have also produced a one-day training program of the same name. For more information on both the eBook and course, please visit our web site at:

phmainstreet.com/mba

While there, look for our MS PowerPoint presentation describing both the book and the training program.

MY "PET PEEVE OF THE WEEK" IS "OUR RIGHT TO FAIL"

As a youngster, one of the things I learned early on was that winning and losing was a natural part of any game I played, be it baseball, football, hockey, Monopoly, cards, you name it. Somebody wins, somebody loses. Nobody likes to lose, but as I have written in the past, there is nothing to be ashamed of if you have tried your best, but still failed. In fact, I have more respect for the person who valiantly tried and lost, as opposed to the person who won by cutthroat tactics.

The point is, failure is a natural part of life and an inherent property of evolution (see Charles Darwin). It is a strong message telling us that what we are doing is not working, and we can either learn from it and change or ignore it and perish. It's nice to have a safety net, but where would we be if nobody took a risk? Without failure, life stagnates. We cannot make progress if we are not allowed to fail. Entrepreneurs, adventurers, and other Type A personalities understand in any venture there is a certain element of risk, whereby they will either reap the rewards of success, or taste the agony of defeat. They weigh the risks carefully, then work overtime to assure success, but they clearly understand there is no such thing as a guarantee for success.

There are people today who want to eliminate our right to fail, that nobody should experience the pain or embarrassment of defeat. This is why I have a problem with the bailout plans our government has devised for the banks, automotive industry, and other financial institutions. I contend the bailouts will only be a temporary fix, and the companies will not make the severe and necessary changes to survive in the years ahead. Only failure will cause them to make the required changes. To my way of thinking, the government bailout plans are only delaying the inevitable.

All of the greed and corruption we allowed to creep into our business practices have finally come home to roost. Consequently, companies are no longer maintaining a competitive edge in business, and are losing money due to unscrupulous self-centered interests and just plain stupid business decisions. The companies are all sorry for the problem and promise to never allow it to happen again. Hell, an accused murderer or rapist couldn't say it any better. They all want redemption without having to worry about paying a penalty. I'm sorry, but that is not how the game is supposed to be played, but then again there are those who want to change the rules so that nobody loses. This is just plain wrong.

If you believe companies will make the necessary changes in their policies and operations, simply because the government is going to bail them out, you are taking it in the arm. Like it or not, failure is the only real catalyst to invoke true changes. Nothing is more powerful to truly change someone, than failure; ask anyone who has experienced it.

Nobody likes to take their medicine, but I'm afraid it is time to pass out the Castor Oil and tablespoons. It may sound silly and I don't expect a lot of people to jump on the bandwagon, but it's time to "Protect our right to fail!"

Such is my Pet Peeve of the Week.

Note: All trademarks both marked and unmarked belong to their respective companies.

"BRYCE'S PET PEEVE OF THE WEEK"

Folks, a couple of years ago I started to include my "Pet Peeve of the Week" in these "Management Visions" podcasts. They have become so popular that I now syndicate them through the Internet and they are available for republication in other media. To this end, I have created a separate web page for my writings which you can find at phmainstreet.com Look for the section, "The Bryce is Right!" Hope you enjoy them.

Also, if you happen to be in the Tampa Bay area of Florida, be sure to stop by and check out our new Palm Harbor Business OASIS, a new business venue offering local business people a place to meet, work, network, and relax. Why pay a lot for leasing office space when you can become a member of the OASIS for as little as $100/month? For more information, visit our web site at: http://www.phboasis.com/

AND FINALLY...

I received the following e-mail regarding my Pet Peeve on "Bicyclists, The Tour de Farce":

An M.O. of New Jersey wrote...

"Tim, I agree with you totally. Also stopping and starting to get around the Tour de Farce uses up a lot of gas. They should not be on the roadways. They have the bike trails and, if not, they should look for them and use them."

An M.B. in Clearwater, Florida wrote...

An M.B. in Clearwater, Florida wrote... "One thing you probably already know is that Florida has the highest bicycle accident fatality rate in the nation. One cause that I can see, compared to where I come from, is that we have no road shoulders here in most places. So those TdF guys are not showing much in the way of basic smarts and self-preservation instincts. One thing you may not know is that the TdF types are slowly but surely taking themselves out of the gene pool with those hard, narrow, pointy bicycle seats they use. There is a direct association between riding on those and male infertility. If you think I'm kidding, look it up! Therefore, if wanting to be a TdF guy is genetic, you may have far less of a problem with them in the future." ;-)

I received the following e-mail regarding my Pet Peeve on "Conservative Stereotypes":

A C.L. of Louisiana wrote...

"Tim, what a wonderful article to read this morning. I wish you would update and resubmit this article every month, plus post it in every political discussion board out there in cyberland. I am so tired of the finger-pointing and double standards of the liberals. I'm an independent, conservative, fairly moderate in my views. Yet I'm called a neocon (a liberals favorite slur), a religious wacko, and if I even mention the bible or religion (which I usually do not, in fact I am very private in my religious beliefs) I'm suddenly Jerry Falwell, and evangelist and a proselytizer. Oh, I almost forgot warmonger and hater of America. I am so tired of all of this. Thank you for standing up for us neocon, warmongering, little people hating, money grubbing, proselytizing, unimaginative people. You're a brave man! (Which, according to liberals here, you couldn't possibly be a conservative!)"

A C.C. of Allentown, Pennsylvania wrote...

"Thank you. Every so often, it is nice to know someone understands."

Again, thanks for your comments. For these and other comments, please visit my "Bryce is Right!" web site.

Keep those cards and letters coming.

MBA is an international management consulting firm specializing in Information Resource Management. We offer training, consulting, and writing services in the areas of Enterprise Engineering, Systems Engineering, Data Base Engineering, Project Management, Methodologies and Repositories. For information, call us at 727/786-4567.

Our corporate web page is at:

http://phmainstreet.com/mba/

Management Visions is a presentation of M. Bryce & Associates, a division of M&JB Investment Company of Palm Harbor, Florida, USA. The program is produced on a weekly basis and updated on Sundays. It is available in versions for RealPlayer, Microsoft Media Player, and MP3 suitable for Podcasting. See our web site for details. You'll find our broadcast listed in several Podcast and Internet Search engines, as well as Apples' iTunes.

If you have any questions or would like to be placed on our e-mailing list to receive notification of future broadcasts, please e-mail it to timb001@phmainstreet.com

For a copy of past broadcasts, please contact me directly.

We accept MP3 files with your voice for possible inclusion in the broadcast.

There is no charge for adding a link to "Management Visions" on your web page, for details and HTML code, see the "Management Visions" web site.

Management Visions accepts advertising. For rates, please contact yours truly directly.

Copyright © 2009 by M&JB Investment Company of Palm Harbor, Florida, USA. All rights reserved. "PRIDE" is the registered trademark of M&JB Investment Company.

This is Tim Bryce reporting.

Since 1971: "Software for the finest computer - the Mind."

END

Monday, February 23, 2009

March 2, 2009 - "PRIDE"-PM PROJECT SCHEDULING

"PRIDE"-PM - PROJECT SCHEDULING (SPECIAL)

This is Part XXXI in our series on the "PRIDE" Methodologies for IRM. In this edition we describe Project Scheduling as defined by "PRIDE"-Project Management (PM).

The full text for this section can be obtained by clicking: HERE.

NEXT UP: "PRIDE"-PM - Project Reporting.

If you would like to discuss this with me in more depth, please do not hesitate to send me an e-mail.

Keep the faith!

OUR BRYCE'S LAW OF THE WEEK therefore is...

"Time lost is time lost forever; You cannot buy it back."

eBOOK: THE BRYCE IS RIGHT

Folks, be sure to check out our eBook on management entitled, "The Bryce is Right! Empowering Managers in today's Corporate Culture." This is a frank and candid description of the state of the art in management and includes essays on the problems in management today, along with some pragmatic advice on how to deal with them. Basically, this is a condensed course in management. As such, it is suited for managers, either those aspiring to become a manager or for those who need a refresher course. It will also be of interest to young people entering the work force, and is excellent for college curriculums.

The price is just $20 plus tax.

We have also produced a one-day training program of the same name. For more information on both the eBook and course, please visit our web site at:

phmainstreet.com/mba

While there, look for our MS PowerPoint presentation describing both the book and the training program.

MY "PET PEEVE OF THE WEEK" IS "CONSERVATIVE STEREOTYPES"

Following the release of one of my more politically inclined columns, I was accused by a reader of being an ultra conservative. The reader based his comments on established stereotypes of conservatives which I personally find distasteful. Such images have become rather old and tiresome, but were still effective in last year's elections. These stereotypes were concocted by the Media over time and inevitably raise their ugly heads during election time. What concerns me though is these images are simply fallacious and aimed at misleading people away from the true issues at hand. Let me give you some prime examples of conservative stereotypes:

CONSERVATIVES ARE PRO-BUSINESS, EVEN AT THE EXPENSE OF SQUASHING ANYTHING THAT GETS IN THEIR WAY, INCLUDING THE LITTLE GUY.
I think it is no secret that conservatives believe in the free enterprise system, the land of opportunity, and an honest day's wage for an honest day's work, but I do not believe they are as ruthless as they are portrayed. They are unapologetic capitalists who want less government control, not more. Conservatives tend to see government as the servant of the people, not the other way around. This drives anybody opposed to this way of thinking absolutely crazy, particularly socialists and communists. It's no small wonder that capitalists are portrayed as "fat-cats" who profit off the worker.

The reality is that you will find just as many liberals in the board room as you will find conservatives. Further, anyone who has faced the realities and risks of starting up his/her own company, particularly a small business, is somewhat inclined to appreciate capitalist principles.

CONSERVATIVES DO NOT SHARE AND WANT TO CREATE A MASTER/SLAVE CLASS SOCIETY.
This is just plain bunk. First, greed knows no political ideologue. Second, we're back to the capitalist argument whereby conservatives appreciate hard work and reward accordingly. Look, it's simple, you cannot do everything yourself; you have to delegate, empower, and support your people, which includes compensating them accordingly. It's just plain smart business. And third, conservatives give generously of themselves for a wide variety of causes. Although they balk at turning their wallets completely over to the government, conservatives gladly lend a helping hand to those who truly need it. Liberals certainly do not hold a monopoly on charitable causes.

CONSERVATIVES ARE ANTI-ENVIRONMENT.
It is generally believed that if you are a conservative, you have a fundamental disregard for the planet; that you want to rape the Earth and eradicate its resources. My question is, "Why?" This would imply that conservatives are like some visitors from outer space here to plunder the earth's resources and leave a dead shell. I'm afraid I haven't seen the conservative flying saucer yet, and I think we are all stuck on this planet together. In fact, conservatives have found such things as conservation, recycling, and land reclamation are not just good ideas, it's smart business.

CONSERVATIVES ARE ULTRA RELIGIOUS.
Show me a fanatical Bible thumper and I'll show you a conservative; Right? Wrong. I can't begin to tell you how many liberals I have met through organized religion. We often hear of the "Religious Right" which primarily consists of Christian groups, but I don't recall where it is written that a belief in Jesus Christ is a prerequisite for becoming a conservative. In fact, I've met conservatives from just about every religious faith imaginable. I will grant that conservatives tend to derive their core values from their religious beliefs, whatever they may be, but they are certainly not religious fanatics.

There is an interesting dichotomy here: whereas conservatives are accused of unethical behavior in business and the environment, they are also portrayed as religious zealots. I guess the assumption here is that organized religion doesn't promote ethical behavior.

CONSERVATIVES ARE UNEDUCATED, UNIMAGINATIVE, AND ONLY FOLLOW PARTY LINES.
There is a general belief that conservatives are incapable of intelligent discourse, are crude and lack creativity, and thereby must be told what to do. Gee, it kind of sounds like the goons in the Nazi Party under Adolph Hitler doesn't it?

The notion that conservatives are old-fashioned fuddy-duddies who resist change is erroneous. I know a lot of liberals who have been unbending in their ideas since the 1960's.

Since conservatives tend to have a business perspective they are somewhat inclined to be freethinkers, meaning if it makes sense to them, they'll buy it, regardless of who sells it. They will also make it plain if they do not agree with you, and perhaps this is what bothers their opposition. In fact, I find conservatives to be more open to debate; for example, consider the popularity of conservative talk radio programs (you don't see too many liberal programs do you?)

CONSERVATIVES DO NOT HAVE A SENSE OF HUMOR.
For a long time, conservatives have had to endure all kinds of jokes as communicated through political bumper stickers, cartoons, and late night comedians. In the process I think they have developed some rather thick skin and do, in fact, appreciate a good joke, although I admit their humor is not as destructive as others. But what is good for the goose should be good for the gander. Try poking fun at a liberal and you are accused of blasphemy. Now that's funny.

CONSERVATIVES ARE RACISTS.
I'm not even going to dignify this with a rebuttal.

CONCLUSION

The concept of conservative stereotypes is nothing more than brainwashing for the purpose of social engineering by the Media. Young people are taught early on that being a conservative is not "cool"...

"Did you know he is a conservative?"

"Really? He's one of them? Wow! That's lame."

Behind the facade of the conservative stereotypes is a deeply-rooted resentment to capitalism, which the conservatives embrace. Anti-capitalists want to replace the system and evenly spread the wealth regardless of how much effort a person exerts to earn it. To conservatives, capitalism is the stimulus that encourages people to become entrepreneurs; to move forward and take risks, to boldly go where no one has gone before, to evolve, and hopefully succeed.

Like I said earlier, I have been accused of being an "ultra" conservative. As an aside, a friend recently pointed out to me, how come we do not apply this adjective to liberals (an "ultra" liberal)? I guess it is another attempt to stereotype conservatives as extremists (and liberals are not?).

It has been my experience that conservatives take their fiduciary responsibilities seriously, they are not afraid to be held accountable for their actions, they want to lead a worthy and meaningful life, and possess an ethical makeup derived from their religious beliefs. If this is what an "ultra" conservative is, then I plead, "Guilty. Most guilty."

Sorry Janeane, the wiring is just fine.

"Show me a young Conservative and I'll show you someone with no heart. Show me an old Liberal and I'll show you someone with no brains."
- Winston Churchill

Such is my Pet Peeve of the Week.

Note: All trademarks both marked and unmarked belong to their respective companies.

"BRYCE'S PET PEEVE OF THE WEEK"

Folks, a couple of years ago I started to include my "Pet Peeve of the Week" in these "Management Visions" podcasts. They have become so popular that I now syndicate them through the Internet and they are available for republication in other media. To this end, I have created a separate web page for my writings which you can find at phmainstreet.com Look for the section, "The Bryce is Right!" Hope you enjoy them.

Also, if you happen to be in the Tampa Bay area of Florida, be sure to stop by and check out our new Palm Harbor Business OASIS, a new business venue offering local business people a place to meet, work, network, and relax. Why pay a lot for leasing office space when you can become a member of the OASIS for as little as $100/month? For more information, visit our web site at: http://www.phboasis.com/

AND FINALLY...

I received the following e-mail regarding my Pet Peeve on "Cancer, The Big Kahuna":

A T.A. of Minnesota wrote...

"Education is key! I choose to prevent cancer rather than have to battle it later."

An L.T. of Fall River, Massachusetts wrote...

"Much progress has been made in the treatment of Cancer but until it no longer exists there will never be enough progress."

I received the following e-mail regarding my Pet Peeve on "Surcharges":

A P.G. of Dubos, Pennsylvania wrote...

"I know what you mean, every time I look at my bills there is another charge."

A J.D. of Tampa, Florida wrote...

"I watch some companies very carefully when they add on these surcharges. One such company was the local cleaners - they added a fuel surcharge when gas prices rose. Later, when the surcharge wasn't removed, I stopped doing business there. Unfortunately we don't always have a choice of where to do business when it comes to monopolies, like utilities."

Again, thanks for your comments. For these and other comments, please visit my "Bryce is Right!" web site.

Keep those cards and letters coming.

MBA is an international management consulting firm specializing in Information Resource Management. We offer training, consulting, and writing services in the areas of Enterprise Engineering, Systems Engineering, Data Base Engineering, Project Management, Methodologies and Repositories. For information, call us at 727/786-4567.

Our corporate web page is at:

http://phmainstreet.com/mba/

Management Visions is a presentation of M. Bryce & Associates, a division of M&JB Investment Company of Palm Harbor, Florida, USA. The program is produced on a weekly basis and updated on Sundays. It is available in versions for RealPlayer, Microsoft Media Player, and MP3 suitable for Podcasting. See our web site for details. You'll find our broadcast listed in several Podcast and Internet Search engines, as well as Apples' iTunes.

If you have any questions or would like to be placed on our e-mailing list to receive notification of future broadcasts, please e-mail it to timb001@phmainstreet.com

For a copy of past broadcasts, please contact me directly.

We accept MP3 files with your voice for possible inclusion in the broadcast.

There is no charge for adding a link to "Management Visions" on your web page, for details and HTML code, see the "Management Visions" web site.

Management Visions accepts advertising. For rates, please contact yours truly directly.

Copyright © 2009 by M&JB Investment Company of Palm Harbor, Florida, USA. All rights reserved. "PRIDE" is the registered trademark of M&JB Investment Company.

This is Tim Bryce reporting.

Since 1971: "Software for the finest computer - the Mind."

END

Monday, February 16, 2009

February 23, 2009 - "PRIDE"-PM PROJECT ESTIMATING

"PRIDE"-PM - PROJECT ESTIMATING (SPECIAL)

This is Part XXX in our series on the "PRIDE" Methodologies for IRM. In this edition we describe Project Estimating as defined by "PRIDE"-Project Management (PM).

The full text for this section can be obtained by clicking: HERE.

NEXT UP: "PRIDE"-PM - Project Scheduling.

If you would like to discuss this with me in more depth, please do not hesitate to send me an e-mail.

Keep the faith!

OUR BRYCE'S LAW OF THE WEEK therefore is...

"Most estimating errors are errors of omission, not commission. It's what we forget to estimate that gets us in trouble."

eBOOK: THE BRYCE IS RIGHT

Folks, be sure to check out our eBook on management entitled, "The Bryce is Right! Empowering Managers in today's Corporate Culture." This is a frank and candid description of the state of the art in management and includes essays on the problems in management today, along with some pragmatic advice on how to deal with them. Basically, this is a condensed course in management. As such, it is suited for managers, either those aspiring to become a manager or for those who need a refresher course. It will also be of interest to young people entering the work force, and is excellent for college curriculums.

The price is just $20 plus tax.

We have also produced a one-day training program of the same name. For more information on both the eBook and course, please visit our web site at:

phmainstreet.com/mba

While there, look for our MS PowerPoint presentation describing both the book and the training program.

MY "PET PEEVE OF THE WEEK" IS "SURCHARGES"

Last year when we were paying about $4.50 for a gallon of gasoline, you may remember companies started to add a surcharge to their bills. I saw it in our bills for garbage collection, pest control, irrigation maintenance, pool service, delivery men, etc. They did this to say they haven't raised the price of their service, which I can't believe anyone is stupid enough to believe, but you never know. I even saw a taxi with lettering on their doors stating they had the lowest fare rates in the town, but right below it they listed the surcharge to be added to the bill.

Airlines have also gotten into the act and now have surcharges for checked baggage to offset fuel costs. This "a la carte" mentality is becoming more pervasive in business and instead of paying one simple fee you are now presented with a lengthy bill representing a hefty price tag. The telephone companies are good at this as well, as anyone who has had to read their voluminous bills can tell you.

I really don't understand the psychology of surcharges. Proponents argue that consumers like to believe they are paying low prices and that a surcharge is not a permanent part of the bill, that it's only temporary and will be eliminated sometime in the near future. Right; and pigs will fly too. Now that fuel charges have radically declined, I don't see too many companies eliminating the surcharges. In fact, the price of fuel has reduced so much you would think we would be entitled to a rebate of some kind. Fat chance for that. The only time you see a surcharge removed is when a company finally announces a price increase.

Something I learned a long time ago was that prices only go up; and rarely, if ever do they go down. Probably the best way to think of a surcharge is as a price increase in sheep's clothing. But for those companies who think they are being clever in trying to pull the wool over the eyes of the public by using surcharges, please, don't insult our intelligence; an increase is an increase, I don't care what you call it.

Such is my Pet Peeve of the Week.

Note: All trademarks both marked and unmarked belong to their respective companies.

"BRYCE'S PET PEEVE OF THE WEEK"

Folks, a couple of years ago I started to include my "Pet Peeve of the Week" in these "Management Visions" podcasts. They have become so popular that I now syndicate them through the Internet and they are available for republication in other media. To this end, I have created a separate web page for my writings which you can find at phmainstreet.com Look for the section, "The Bryce is Right!" Hope you enjoy them.

Also, if you happen to be in the Tampa Bay area of Florida, be sure to stop by and check out our new Palm Harbor Business OASIS, a new business venue offering local business people a place to meet, work, network, and relax. Why pay a lot for leasing office space when you can become a member of the OASIS for as little as $100/month? For more information, visit our web site at: http://www.phboasis.com/

AND FINALLY...

I received the following e-mail regarding my Pet Peeve on "Home":

An S.S. in Turkey wrote...

"Thanks to your effective writing you managed to bring a tear to my eye and a homesick, nostalgic twinge to my heart."

An L.T. of Fall River, Massachusetts wrote...

"Maybe because I have created a home for all my children I no longer feel that my parents house is home. Home is a place filled with family and love."

I received the following e-mail regarding my Pet Peeve on "Consumer Confidence":

An M.S. of Royal Oak, Michigan wrote...

"This is a very thoughtful well-written article, but I don't understand why some people still think tax credits are the answer. If people are not making any money, they aren't paying taxes. The stimulus package is needed."

An R.W. of Lexington, North Carolina wrote...

"Just a foot note. The biggest area of consumer confidence is if they will have a job in 1, 2, or 6 months. The people have money but worried about their jobs and saving their money in case they need it to pay the electric bill. The problem is the more they hold onto the cash, the worse it gets that they might lose their job. All we've got to do is have the talking heads say the recessions over, give some tax incentives or cash for buying houses, cars, misc., and things will get back on track. Unfortunately, when our president is telling us doom and gloom, it doesn't help."

Again, thanks for your comments. For these and other comments, please visit my "Bryce is Right!" web site.

Keep those cards and letters coming.

MBA is an international management consulting firm specializing in Information Resource Management. We offer training, consulting, and writing services in the areas of Enterprise Engineering, Systems Engineering, Data Base Engineering, Project Management, Methodologies and Repositories. For information, call us at 727/786-4567.

Our corporate web page is at:

http://phmainstreet.com/mba/

Management Visions is a presentation of M. Bryce & Associates, a division of M&JB Investment Company of Palm Harbor, Florida, USA. The program is produced on a weekly basis and updated on Sundays. It is available in versions for RealPlayer, Microsoft Media Player, and MP3 suitable for Podcasting. See our web site for details. You'll find our broadcast listed in several Podcast and Internet Search engines, as well as Apples' iTunes.

If you have any questions or would like to be placed on our e-mailing list to receive notification of future broadcasts, please e-mail it to timb001@phmainstreet.com

For a copy of past broadcasts, please contact me directly.

We accept MP3 files with your voice for possible inclusion in the broadcast.

There is no charge for adding a link to "Management Visions" on your web page, for details and HTML code, see the "Management Visions" web site.

Management Visions accepts advertising. For rates, please contact yours truly directly.

Copyright © 2009 by M&JB Investment Company of Palm Harbor, Florida, USA. All rights reserved. "PRIDE" is the registered trademark of M&JB Investment Company.

This is Tim Bryce reporting.

Since 1971: "Software for the finest computer - the Mind."

END

Monday, February 09, 2009

February 16, 2009 "PRIDE"-PM PROJECT PLANNING

"PRIDE"-PM - PROJECT PLANNING (SPECIAL)

This is Part XXIX in our series on the "PRIDE" Methodologies for IRM. In this edition we describe Project Planning as defined by "PRIDE"-Project Management (PM).

The full text for this section can be obtained by clicking: HERE.

NEXT UP: "PRIDE"-PM - Project Estimating.

If you would like to discuss this with me in more depth, please do not hesitate to send me an e-mail.

Keep the faith!

OUR BRYCE'S LAW OF THE WEEK therefore is...

"You cannot put two quarts of liquid into a one quart bottle. If you try, you will lose a quart."

eBOOK: THE BRYCE IS RIGHT

Folks, be sure to check out our eBook on management entitled, "The Bryce is Right! Empowering Managers in today's Corporate Culture." This is a frank and candid description of the state of the art in management and includes essays on the problems in management today, along with some pragmatic advice on how to deal with them. Basically, this is a condensed course in management. As such, it is suited for managers, either those aspiring to become a manager or for those who need a refresher course. It will also be of interest to young people entering the work force, and is excellent for college curriculums.

The price is just $20 plus tax.

We have also produced a one-day training program of the same name. For more information on both the eBook and course, please visit our web site at:

phmainstreet.com/mba

While there, look for our MS PowerPoint presentation describing both the book and the training program.

MY "PET PEEVE OF THE WEEK" IS "CONSUMER CONFIDENCE"

As we are now embroiled in a major economic recession, we are hearing a lot about plant closings, worker layoffs, restructuring of companies, tightening of credit, and government stimulus packages. But as you listen to the news and talking heads on television, everything seems to come back to "consumer confidence" or the lack thereof to purchase anything. It appears our disposable income has been disposed of. I don't hear anyone addressing this problem, so I'll take a shot at it. I may not be an economist, but as a businessman who has been around the block a few times, I would do the following:

First, the consumer wants confidence that the companies they buy from will stand behind their products; that they will be there tomorrow. This means companies have to do some soul searching and manage themselves better. In other words, take out the bloated bureaucracies, eliminate the inflated salaries and greed, become more organized and systematic in their operations, and offer products at reduced, yet fair, prices.

Companies also have to learn to adapt to the needs of the consumer, not the other way around. Perhaps the best example of this currently is the Hyundai Assurance program whereby the company advertises, "to show you the faith we have in you. Right now, finance or lease any new Hyundai, and if in the next year you lose your income, we'll let you return it." There are, of course, restrictions to avoid abuse, but it's a sharp idea and consumers are beginning to flock to them.

It is time for companies to challenge the marketing status quo and, like Hyundai, devise new programs that will turn the heads of the consumer. Companies can ill-afford to conduct business as usual.

Second, the government has a role here as well, but I balk at the stimulus package being proposed. People do not need pseudo "make work" jobs created by and for the government. Nor do we need more checks from the government which will primarily be used to pay off existing debts, not necessarily to purchase new goods. Instead, they want tax credits that support their way of life, like financing homes and sending kids to school. I realize such things already exist, but the government has to become more aggressive in such programs to allow the consumers to save a buck or two. Wouldn't it be nice to see the government encourage the saving of money as opposed to spending it? Even better, to invest it in key companies who are trying to conquer our energy crisis, or who perform medical research, or help the environment.

If you really want the consumer to have "disposable income," arrest inflation NOW! Government can do a lot for companies by simply leading them with a carrot and stick. Give tax credits to companies as incentives to go in new directions, such as research and development, or for companies who promote job security, for companies who help curtail the rising cost of living, and for creating real and meaningful jobs. In other words, reward companies for better management.

Third, the consumer has to learn to regain his own confidence. Instead of waiting for someone else to bail us out, we need to develop an entrepreneurial spirit and take the bull by the horns. Confidence begins in the mirror, not in our government.

Such is my Pet Peeve of the Week.

Note: All trademarks both marked and unmarked belong to their respective companies.

"BRYCE'S PET PEEVE OF THE WEEK"

Folks, a couple of years ago I started to include my "Pet Peeve of the Week" in these "Management Visions" podcasts. They have become so popular that I now syndicate them through the Internet and they are available for republication in other media. To this end, I have created a separate web page for my writings which you can find at phmainstreet.com Look for the section, "The Bryce is Right!" Hope you enjoy them.

Also, if you happen to be in the Tampa Bay area of Florida, be sure to stop by and check out our new Palm Harbor Business OASIS, a new business venue offering local business people a place to meet, work, network, and relax. Why pay a lot for leasing office space when you can become a member of the OASIS for as little as $100/month? For more information, visit our web site at: http://www.phboasis.com/

AND FINALLY...

I received the following e-mail regarding my Pet Peeve on "Political Correctness - Let us be bland":

A J.S. of Skidway Lake, Michigan wrote...

"This is such a travesty and the world must view us as fools. The gravity of the situation aside, this has me laughing, Tim. It's the irony of the "liberals" who are anything but. You have summarized it perfectly here: 'Consideration is given to whether it offends a handicap, a sexual gender (except heterosexual men), race (except whites), religion (except Christians), or politics (except conservative Republicans).' Anything traditional, sacred, decent, courteous, sensible, clean and normally acceptable is fair game for ridicule, so don't even think of praying or someone may be offended. When did Americans become so thin skinned? More to the point, when did so many lose their minds?"

An L.T. of Fall River, Massachusetts wrote...

"I am one of those people that made sure to say 'Merry Christmas'. I am tired of having to tiptoe on eggshells so that no one gets offended by something I may say. Especially if what I am saying is not meant as an offense to anyone."

A B.H. of Granger, Indiana wrote...

"At last someone who sees that political correctness leads to mediocrity."

I received the following e-mail regarding my Pet Peeve on "Social Networking Tools":

An R.L. from New York wrote...

"Tim. This is a wonderful piece, and full of valuable information so thanks very much for writing it. I am a non-traditional return-to-school adult student, and attend a private college that is run by most of the "name brand household word" firms in our country. They too, agree with you. Even though almost 100% of my business is done online, as much as I have to hype myself up and get motivated now to fly across the country (at age 54); I do so for the personal contact at conferences and conventions I feel may be educational, and even as important, well-attended. I have never walked away without new friends and/or new clientele. You make a very good point. It is usually just a weekend out of our lives, and a great opportunity for more education, contacts, and once in awhile even help educate someone who has not been doing this as long. Thanks for the sage wisdom."

An L.T. in Fall River, Massachusetts wrote...

"Social networking serves as an interesting outlet for many who do not have access to normal social groups. I think face to face social groups are slowly disappearing. With all social groups it pays to pick and choose who you associate with. Even face to face groups have frauds."

Again, thanks for your comments. For these and other comments, please visit my "Bryce is Right!" web site.

Keep those cards and letters coming.

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