Environmental Management in a Time of Great Need

March 28th, 2016

No one knows what is yet to come and how badly it can potentially be but it was a sure way for Mother Nature to communicate a clear message to humanity to wake up and stop being ignorant of what is at stake if we continually abuse the riches of the earth. And so to acknowledge and address this worsening situation, environmental management was created. It was actually created as early as the nineties but soared in popularity when the effects were so obvious in plain view.

Environmental management involves the process in which regulations are enforced to avoid damaging impacts to the environment as well as enforcing regulations that will be beneficial to the environment. Small business legal advice often includes guidance on these regulations. Organizations develop a management framework to help maintain environmental goals as the environment falls under every individuals responsibility.

As such ISO 14001 is the universally accepted standard in creating such a process and there are many ISO 14001 consultants that can help in business. This standard created by the International Organization for Standardization in implementing an Environmental Management System or EMS. It comes from a series 16 international ISO 14000 standards that serve as a framework to aid organizations in lessening the potential hazardous impact on the environment that can be integrated with other corporate processes to effectively achieve environmental and economic goals including the usage of natural resources, waste management and energy consumption. Though voluntary, organizations ultimately recognize it as a necessity. The beauty of ISO 14001 as a generic management system standard is that it can apply to any size and type of organization, no matter what type of product or service. It also applies to high to low risk service organizations alike as well as businesses in public and private sectors involved in manufacturing, process and service industries, while local governments are not excluded.

The basic principle of the ISO 14001 continual environmental improvement based on the Plan-Do-Check-Act system of Australia and New Zealand in 2004 that include 17 elements implemented in five phases which are environmental policy, planning, implementation and operation, checking & corrective action and lastly management review.

Plan, involves initial analysis of a company’s processes and products to effectively identify all elements of operation that may have an effect on the environment. The review aims to assist organization in making environmental objectives, goals and targets measurable and can identify legal requirements to be included in the process. Do is implementing the process itself. Check is identifying if the process has been a success while maintaining records to ensure that goals are achieved while aiming to ensure the consistent implementation of the process. Act is the process of altering procedures in place to improve results.

The benefits of implementing ISO 14001 does not merely address environmental concerns but also better compliance with legislative and regulatory law that diminishes the potential of being fined, better and more cost-efficient waste management, reduction in usage of resources as well as operating costs and being recognized internationally as an ISO 14001 compliant business for franchises over the world.

After having implemented the ISO 14001 environmental management system, businesses may have the option to undergo certification that involves evaluation of the EMS with a physical site visit from officials to see the standards were truly met. Once successful they are presented with certification that will be valid for three years. Various official boards and auditors all over the world can grant this.

Non-conformity to acquiring an EMS can be damaging to a company. It does not necessarily have to follow the standards of ISO 14001 yet following it can surely be advantageous. In fact, doing this in-house can be quite costly for a company due to a lack of experience and background. The best way to go about the matter is to hire an expert who can help reduce the cost. There are a number of established ISO 14001 consultants that can truly give you sound large or small business legal advice. An added advantage to hiring a consultant is that they already have an established network of bodies that help the certification process if not being an authorized body themselves. This also helps save on the legal costs one might procure in implementing EMS.

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How To Start An Event Management Business Important Steps Of Achieving Success

February 23rd, 2016

Daydreaming about starting an event management business? Maybe you have already worked in the events industry and think about working for yourself. Or perhaps your organized meetings in the past and feel it your lifes passion. Both are good reasons for acquiring the profession.
Starting an event management business is similar to starting a relationship its required to possess appropriate skills and follow some important steps to achieve success.
Gain Event Management Skills and Experience
Scoring a success is based on event manager solid grasp, steady skills and experience:

Verbal and written communications

Organization and time management

Negotiation and budget management

Marketing, public relations and more

Determine Your Event Management Market
Lets say youve been working in the event industry for many years, know all ins and outs and eager to coordinate all kinds of events, from weddings to festivals.
Stop. This is a common mistake many event managers do. First of all, people have different energy levels and different capabilities. And, one cant be a master of all trades. Recognize that there are distinctive differences between corporate, association, nonprofit and social events. Determine your market accordingly. Its much easier to concentrate on a certain domain and become a professional.
Develop a Business Plan
Someone once said, “If you fail to plan, you should plan to fail”. Like everything else, starting an event management business requires a business plan. There are a couple of resources that can help you. For example, U.S. Small Business Administration publishes materials about writing business plans. You can find more with Google!
Obtain Business Insurance
Business insurance is mandatory. Event management business should secure general liability and other forms of insurance to protect the business owners interests.
Several forms of insurance exist. Speak to an insurance advisor to learn the requirements.
Develop Network of Suppliers and Staffing Resources
Event managers usually work with a wide range of suppliers communications consultant, stationery designer, promotional products distributor, party rental supplier, caterer, florist, photographer and more. You will also need the staffing resources for sales, marketing, accounting and administrative functions. Itll be necessary to establish an infrastructure that will support your events from all sides.
Establish Your Fee Structure
You should be conscious of the various ways to cover expenses and make a reasonable profit. Most event planners charge is based on the following:

Flat fee

Hourly rate

Percentage of expenses

Percentage of expenses plus hourly rate

Commissionable rate

Business Development and Marketing
With a prepared business plan, established fee structure and determined event manager market its time to begin working with marketing materials. Choose the right name for your business; create business cards, stationary, proposals, client agreements and a web-site.
Launching a web-site is an easy step with a turnkey solution like PG Events. Get more details at eventsoft.pro/overview.php

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Strategic Human Resource Management The role of Six Sigma in the Human Resources field.

February 16th, 2016

For nearly three decades, the quality management philosophy known as Six Sigma has brought competitive advantage to organizations implementing it. The typical approach, however, has been to have leaders from operations, engineering, quality, and marketing manage this strategic initiative. Human resource’s role has been to default to the administrative tasks of organizing the required training, keeping records, and assisting in the selection of candidates for the program. Yet for the past two decades human resources has also been struggling to gain a seat at the executive table (Fazzari & Levitt, 2008, p.171).

HR is a service department with various services to provide, customers to satisfy, government regulations to comply with, production schedules to keep, budgets to meet, and a bottom line to protect and enhance. With these issues in mind, Six Sigma can be just as appropriate in HR as it would be in any other organizational department. These functions were the very reasons that Six Sigma was developed Application of Six Sigma to the HR functions could help improve quality of hire including training, reduce time and cost to hire, develop job description, reduce turn over and have faster response time to internal documentation (HR Focus, 2007. p.5-6). Demands for greater efficiency and competitiveness continue to force companies to improve levels of-quality in everything they do. As a result, human resources professionals are finding new and rewarding responsibilities. The value of the new HR function is increasing particularly in organizations that are committed to the advanced form of a revolutionary quality concept called Six Sigma (Defeo, 2000. p. 1). Committing to a Six Sigma initiative can be an expensive and complex action on the part of management, but its record of success makes exploring the option worthwhile (HR Focus, 2007. p.8)

Given that the HR department can set the tone for success by both the employees and the company, it is essential that HR managers understand their role in attaining the company’s quality objectives with regard to both products and all forms of customer Services. Six sigma increases HR participation in employee, company, and customer development by integrating its function into management decisions, company strategy, as well as employee development. For employees, the quality concept opens up career options never before possible and the satisfaction of being part of a winning team. The HR function is in a position to help everyone understand the potential in Six Sigma and to find the right people to build and maintain the critical mass of talent needed to implement the methodology and ensure the company is successful. In addition, the HR function’s traditional responsibilities of recruitment, skill development, career growth, rewards, and retention can be met and significantly improved by Six Sigma((Defeo, 2000. p. 1-3).

In conclusion, it would be beneficial to the organization if HR personnel seek to improve themselves in Six Sigma and then use the methodology learned to improve the HR process of the organization. It could help improve any bureaucracies that may be in the internal system. The experience is worthwhile and so is the overall financial payoff. As at 2012, the average salary of a holder of the Lean Six Sigma Black Belts was $83,107 per year, not including bonuses. This amount is also a factor of experience, the number of projects undertaken and the success level.

References

DeFeo, J. A. (2000). SIX SIGMA: NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR HR, NEW CAREER GROWTH FOR EMPLOYEES. Employment Relations Today (Wiley), 27(2), 1-3.

Fazzari, A. J., & Levitt, K. (2008). Human resources as a strategic partner: Sitting at the table with Six Sigma. Human Resource Development Quarterly, 19(2), 171

How Six Sigma May Help HR to Improve Processes and Services. (2007). HR Focus, 84(12), 5-7

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Styles Of Management In Practice Proactive Vs. Reactive

February 13th, 2016

Although managers will have many different styles of management in practice, the foundation of all of them will be based on the principles of either proactive or reactive management. Proactive management means that managers evaluate and assess processes and methods and identify potential problem areas and have a plan in place or create preventative methods. Reactive management is when a change, problem or crisis happens and is reacted to after the event, in other words there is a lack of thought and planning.

Proactive

Proactive management in practice means planning ahead for any eventualities. In order to do this senior management needs to be fully aware of how every department in the business works and have regular meetings with department heads to make sure that they know of any changes. Senior management will carry out risk analysis for each department so that they can identify problem areas and put a plan of action in place, which can then be amended as needed. Proactive management in practice means working to make sure that issues are intercepted before they can become a problem or crisis. As well as the tasks that senior management and department heads carry out, conducting regular training courses for employees will help them learn how to be proactive and improve their way of working and problem interception.

This style of management creates a good working atmosphere because employees are encouraged to be involved in all aspects of proactive management and are taught that their ideas are important and welcome.

Reactive

This management style in practice is normally carried out by senior management and has short term goals. Reactive management is defined by a lack of forward planning, no risk analysis, no contingency plans, etc., and in fact it is only after a problem or crisis has occurred that anything is done or a solution discussed. This tends to be a very dictatorial or bureaucratic style of management that single minded individuals prefer. In reality using solely this style of management in practice can be very harmful to businesses and prevent them from recognising their potential for expansion and improvement.

Often with this style of management employees are less happy in their work place because it is an authoritarian style of management where they are taught that they should just concentrate on their jobs and keep their opinions and suggestions to themselves.

In summary, every business will find that proactive management in practice is the best solution for them and that it provides maximum productivity from their employees. Smaller businesses may find that they have less time to dedicate to regular risk assessment and action plans and so may have a proactive management style in the main but have to react to certain situations that occur that they have been unable to plan for in advance. Businesses that are changing to proactive management styles should consider sending their employees on a dedicated training course so that they are fully aware of the best practices to base this style of management on.

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Gurgaon Needs Better Local Transport and Waterlogging Management for a Better City Life

February 12th, 2016

Strategically located by sharing borders with Delhi, the national capital of the country, Rajasthan and UP on different locations, the millennium city has it all what people hail in it for. From skyscraper buildings housing large and reputable MNCs, corporate offices, shopping complexes and more to local markets, high-end golf course clubs, and more, Gurgaon seems to be serving the needs of local as well as inter-state and people from across the world for miscellaneous purposes including employment, business, politics, economy, entertainment, leisure, accommodation, food, luxury, modern infrastructure and more.

Despite that the city offers everything right on a single platter for all types of people, there are some severe issues which it is grappling with. Local transport problem and waterlogging are two of the burgeoning issues that every local and traveller will have to inevitably face while roaming routinely or occasionally in and around the city.

Local transport problem has been disrupting the routine city life for years due to the lack of number and frequency of public transport means including buses, taxis and autos etc. The arrangements from the state and city authorities have proved futile to handle the problem in the absence of proper coordination and concrete action plan, increasing population, traffic congestion and shortage of vehicles among other things.

Barring city buses (which are not available in abundance), the cost of travelling in private auto rickshaws and taxis is high enough to burn a hole in people’s pockets. Though shared autos are cheaper than private ones but their out-of-sync connectivity is more like no connectivity at all for most of the places. There are no direct shared autos from a place to another. People will have to run from pillar to post to catch an auto and travel to and from their offices and homes. Since rickshaws cannot travel long distances in the city, people have to rely on shared and private autos, buses and taxis.

Buses are again not a feasible option as they are not well connected to all the city routes due to the complex transport map. There is not even a single bus that well connects to different routes to serve the transport needs of people. Besides affecting the locals and travellers, the problem has resulted in increased migrations of companies and even people to the bordering cities. The question of tourism does not even arise due to the local transport problem in the city.

This is not just earning the city defame but is also causing the revenues to go down which could have otherwise been utilized for the welfare of the natives, improvements in infrastructure and utilities, betterment of roads and more.

Let alone the transport, waterlogging problem in Gurgaon is another equally burgeoning issue here. Barring heavy downpours even a short and mild spell of rain can turn the millennium city into a seasonal lake through which people have to wade to reach to and from their places. It ain’t easy to do so either as waterlogging turns the entire city into a circus of lights with jampacked vehicles, not moving, or moving from bumper to bumper at a pace that even a snail can beat it.

Traffic congestion is inevitable in the waterlogged city and other related problems are bound to occur because of it. The -Smart City- has till date found no cure and action plan to deal with such grave issues. In the wake of making the city smart and ultra-modern, Gurgaon Renewal Mission, a movement supported by the HUDA administration, civil bodies, corporate, city developers, police commissioner, and more, was launched in 2011.

The movement is aimed at improving the quality of life in the city by overcoming the shortage of power, water, transport means, safety measures, and proper governance; managing waste and introducing more green initiatives, improving gender equality, enhancing safety for public properties, and minimizing environmental loss among other things. Despite that the movement is executing its action plans in full swing, Waterlogging Problem in Gurgaon and local transport problem should be dealt with on the priority basis to help city get rid of unnecessary traffic problems and prevent criminal activities, especially against women from flourishing in the absence of proper transport means.

The author has written on various topics related to social causes like Local Transportation Problem in this article author raises the issue related to traffic congestion in Gurgaon. For more information Visit: – www.gurgaonrenewalmission.in.

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