Business Archives

How to Improve Company Culture: 3 Tips From Prison

Does your company culture need improvement? If so, where should you start? What practical steps can you take to make lasting change? In the book What You Do Is Who You Are, Ben Horowitz shares three cultural leadership lessons taken from the story of Shaka Senghor. Senghor demonstrated transformational leadership when he served in prison. Horowitz discusses three lessons from Senghor’s story: take advantage of teachable moments, start necessary changes from the top, and meet daily to model changes. Keep reading to learn how to improve company culture.

A Look at Scrum vs. Traditional Project Management

In what ways are the traditional project management methods flawed? How does the Scrum method overcome those flaws? In his book Scrum, Jeff Sutherland compares the Scrum method to more traditional management methods, such as the Waterfall method. Sutherland points out that these traditional methods don’t work well because they’re based on unrealistic optimism, whereas the Scrum method is based on flexibility and reality. Let’s take a look at Scrum vs. traditional project management methods.

Safi Bahcall: How to Encourage Innovation

How can companies encourage innovative thinking? What can you, as a leader, do to inspire creative ideation that translates into a useful innovation? According to Safi Bahcall, the author of Loonshots, companies focused on innovation should separate innovators from implementers. This is because innovation tends to occur in a climate that’s highly unstructured. Successful implementation, however, needs order and structure. Here’s how to encourage innovation in your organization.

The 5S Implementation Plan: A Step-by-Step Approach

Where does Toyota’s cleanup process begin? What is the 5S implementation plan? In The Toyota Way, Jeffrey Liker says that the heart of Toyota’s approach to efficiency is the concept of kaizen, or continuous improvement. To begin kaizen, you have to start with the 5S implementation plan to reduce waste. Let’s go through the steps of the 5S implementation plan in detail.

Should You Invest in Index Funds? Yes, Here’s Why

Should you invest in index funds? Are they better than mutual funds? In The Wealthy Barber, David Chilton argues that the best thing you can do to reach financial success is to invest 10% of your income in mutual or index funds. Then, sit back and take advantage of the compound interest. He explains what index funds are and why he believes they are a better investment than mutual funds. Keep reading for index fund advice from Chilton and others.

How to Assess Culture: Lessons From Shaka Senghor

How often do you take the pulse of your company’s culture? Do you have a system to diagnose and solve problems? CEO and venture capitalist Ben Horowitz says you must keep assessing and improving your organization’s culture to ensure that it continues to serve your vision. He draws insights from Shaka Senghor’s story to pinpoint ways to keep a critical eye on your culture, root out the problems, and ultimately improve your organization. Here’s Shaka Senghor’s story and how to assess the culture in your company.

Workplace Rules: 3 Tips to Make Them Stick

Have you set clear rules for your employees? How well do people understand and follow the rules? CEO and venture capitalist Ben Horowitz draws on historical examples to show how you can provide cultural leadership in your organization. For lessons on workplace rules, Horowitz looks to Haitian revolutionary Toussaint Louverture and offers three tips for making rules that stick. Keep reading to learn how to set effective workplace rules.

Loonshots: Meaning and Key Characteristics

What is the meaning of “loonshots”? What are some examples of loonshot ideas? Loonshots are ideas that are so original and ambitious that they and their creators are initially dismissed as crazy (e.g. radar, insulin, computer animation). Loonshots begin as flawed, incredibly fragile ideas that almost don’t make it, which is why they require special care. Here’s why loonshots are so fragile as well as why organizations tend to leave loonshots behind as they grow.

Benefits of Scrum: How Scrum Leads to Happy Teams

What are the main benefits of Scrum? Can the Scrum method really lead to happier teams? Scrum is a framework created by Jeff Sutherland made to help people and organizations efficiently solve complex problems with creative solutions. The Scrum method is also designed to create happy, productive, and creative teams. Here’s a look at the benefits of the Scrum method.

Competitive Marketing Strategies for Success

What are competitive marketing strategies? How can you assure your product will outmatch your competitors’ products? A competitive marketing strategy is a long-term plan that businesses develop to gain a competitive advantage in the market. William M. Luther provides a few strategies he swears by in The Marketing Plan. Keep reading to learn how to be the best in your market.