Articles For Profiles International
What is AMPC? - by AshleyDawn Sheppard (Profiles International)
This month, we released the 2010 report of America’s Most Productive Companies, aka AMPC. You may be wondering why there is so much hype behind this study. Let me explain.
We grouped companies into 175 sub-industry groups to produce a more meaningful analysis. Our assumption is that companies competing in the same industry generally go about their business and recognie revenue in a similar manner, while different industries have differing degrees of labor intensity. It is therefore difficult to draw meaningful conclusions by comparing labor productivity across different industries such as retail and financial services. This means that the most meaningful measures included in the study are the rank orderings and comparisons within each sub-industry group.
How we measure productivity?
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Three Ways to Ensure Employee Utilisation
Employee utilisation seems to be one of those over-used business terms that poorly describes one of the most important elements in productivity. The most productive companies in America know that successful employee utilisation is an active ingredient in their overall success. When human capital planning is at the top of a company's priorities, they are sure to achieve their goals despite a potentially lean number of employees.
So, what do the most productive companies mean when they say they have impeccable employee utilisation? To successfully utilise employees, organisations should consider three elements:
• Each employee should have a detailed job description
• Employee engagement should remain a top priority
• Employees are assigned an amount of work that is manageable and based on their personal capabilities
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Creating Loans without Obstacles, Customers for Life
With a relationship forged in May 2007 in the face of complex employment issues, a top Texas mortgage lender and Profiles International became allies against high turnover and low workforce productivity. The connection between the two companies helped the lending organisation create performance standards that led to a tripling of its branches and its workforce in two years. This leading lender reaped success without backing away during a bleak recessionary period for the global economy.
Progress continues today as the residential mortgage company, licensed to operate in 49 states, continues to seek opportunities with an array of products, sophisticated loan professionals, and a commitment to the goal of creating lifetime customers.
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High Productivity May Cause Increase in Employment
Productivity has been a hot topic since the economic decline of 2008. The United States Labour Department issued a productivity report in June that indicated an increase in productivity throughout the United States. While the increase in production seems promising for business, economists believe that the celebration will soon wear off as companies realise they have maximised their employee's abilities.
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Who Would Have Guessed?
A month in politics can certainly see some changes. Although not a change in the overall government but certainly a change in direction with the appointment of Julia Gillard as the Prime Minister. Yes sure, there was gossip in the trenches about potential change as was there denial about who would end up being the main candidate. And change it did. Is it over yet? Possibly not with elections looming sooner now rather than later! Both the future and then history will tell the story.
In business, with the changes that have happened over the last twelve to eighteen months we have seen this same scenario played and replayed over and over, with changes in businesses from CEO level through to the shop floor.
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Productivity: Engaged, Equipped and Beyond
“Even if you are on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there.”
~ Will Rogers
That quote from Will Rogers caught my eye. Maybe it’s because I measure productivity for a living, so I think about it all the time. What makes people productive? What keeps them moving in the right direction? And how can each of us learn to be more productive on the job – and in our lives?
When it comes to productivity, being on the right track is a good start. But that’s all it is. Once you’re on the right track, you want to keep moving. That means having the right engine, the right fuel and the right know-how.
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Retaining Customer Loyalty - by Megan Bullard
Customer service is one of the most crucial departments in any business. Customer-facing employees portray the image of the company in the eyes of the consumer, and one encounter with an employee can make or break a sale.
Imagine this scenario: an excited customer requests online for a service. Because of modern technology, the customer assumes that the service will be performed within a few days of registration. Almost a week later the company calls to set up an appointment time for installation. Annoyed at the amount of time it has already taken to schedule the appointment, the customer grudgingly agrees to the first available time.
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A Toxic Problem Without a Plan
Do you think the Gulf of Mexico would appreciate a contingency plan? One of the greatest environmental disasters of all time struck the Gulf Coast on April 20. An oil rig, located off of the coast of Louisiana, exploded causing three leaks in pipes that are now emitting an estimated 200,000 gallons of crude oil into the ocean every day.
BP is responsible for the oil, but denies responsibility for the actual leak. They place the blame on Transocean Ltd., the operator of the demolished rig,
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The Road to Customer Loyalty: Paved with World Class Service - FROM BUD HANEY'S DESK
"He profits most who serves best."
-Arthur F. Sheldon
I wanted to learn why some customers are loyal and others aren’t. What makes some keep coming back to your business week after week, year after year? And what can be done to encourage that kind of behaviour?
As we all know, when you can get an employee to give what’s known as their “discretionary effort” – that little bit that goes above and beyond – not only can a business do more with less in tough times, but customers see that extra effort, they appreciate it, and it encourages them to come back.
Customer loyalty pitfalls
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So How do We Do It? - FROM PETER HOSIE'S DESK
was looking a while ago for a practitioner and came across the following statement on a website, no trouble guessing just who I called first.
“By employing great people up front. By making sure we stay on top of the cutting-edge techniques and technologies that are introduced around the world every year. And by making sure our practice is a warm, inviting place to enter”.
You know we spend thousands and thousands of dollars on our businesses making sure that the gardens are done, the lawn is nicely manicured around our office and that we have the best technology that money can buy, yet we sometimes we forget that without our customers and indeed our people we have nothing!! So just how do we go about getting the right people is it still just a matter of gut feel or is there something else that now counts.
Q. When Are Assumptions Good?
A. Never, When Options Exist
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Do Tiger's Troubles Trump Mickelson's Master Win?
Phil Mickelson is now the proud owner of his third green jacket after winning the 2010 Masters. His win was exciting, amazing and even heart-warming. After Mickelson, the second-highest paid athlete in the world, won the tournament he greeted his cancer-stricken wife with open arms and a long embrace. It was like a scene from a heartfelt romance when they celebrated his victory.
Despite Phil's golfing abilities and endearing family history, Tiger Woods still captured more headlines and sponsors after taking fourth at the Master's. Why would an all-American golf champion be over-shadowed by the scandalous fourth runner up? ... read more >>
Exercise Makes You Smarter:5 Moves to a Brighter You
We all know, or have at least heard, that exercise is good for you. It reduces cholesterol, improves cardiovascular health, promotes weight loss, strengthens muscles and improves one’s overall sense of well-being. But did you know it also makes you smarter?
John Ratey, associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and author of "Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain", says that exercise stimulates our grey matter to produce what he calls “Miracle-Grow” for the brain. His research shows how even regular brisk walks can boost memory, alleviate stress, enhance intelligence and calm aggression. Physical activity boosts blood flow to the part of the brain that is responsible for memory and learning, promoting the production of new brain cells.
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Going Nowhere Fast? There's An Assessment for That - From Bud Haneys Desk
A popular country song title, "Going Nowhere and Getting There Fast," fits well the philosophy of some organisations. They have an idea of what they want, and maybe a notion about how to achieve their goal. But they set forth on the journey without a plan and little knowledge about what works and what does not.
Sometimes this practice—also known as flying by the seat of your pants—works. For a brief period, the organisation might soar with the eagles. More often, it never gets high enough to see anything but tail feathers before coming to a humiliating halt.
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So how do we do it?
I was looking a while ago for a dental practitioner and came across the following statement on a website, no trouble guessing just who I called first.
“By employing great people up front, by making sure we stay on top of the cutting-edge techniques and technologies that are introduced around the world every year. And by making sure our practice is a warm, inviting place to enter”.
... read more >>
Four Essential Tactics for Optimising Organisational Talent
Introduction
The state of the economy is unfortunate, but now more than ever you have the opportunity to optimise your organisational talent. While you may not be able to avoid some cost-cutting measures, it’s important not to fall into some of the common traps that will put you at a disadvantage when the economy turns around. ... read more >>
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