Posted by on Apr 18, 2010 in Management | 0 comments
The perception of visitors of an unspoiled environment underpins the tourism industry making environment protection one of the greatest challenges.
The tourism industry has an important role to play for management of environment.
What is Environmental Management?
The term ‘environmental management’ not only means managing the environment but managing the interaction of human societies with the environment and its impact.
Thus, environmental management is not only for the sake of environment but it is for the sake of mankind.
What does Environmental Management involve?
Managing all components of the environment: biotic and aboitic is what Environmental Management involves.
Management of all the components of environment becomes necessary because of relationships between the species and their habitats.
Why Environmental Management?
Hotels and resorts all over the country consume large amounts of water, energy and other items. Lot of waste whether wastewater or solid waste is generated from hotels.
The reason why Environmental Management has become important is that it is a systematic approach to find practical ways or methods that can be used to save water, energy etc and reduce their negative impacts on environment.
A proper environmental management program can be a win-win situation as it helps to save money and preserve environment.
Environmental Management: Win-Win situation
Proper Environmental Management is a win-win situation for both you and your property. It helps to reduce operating costs and improves profitability.
Substantial cost savings can be done with a modest investment.
Apart from cost savings, environmental management guarantees that you will stand out from competition and will be recognized. Environmental Management helps you to get recognized through certification programs, awards and other promotions.
Other benefit is the image of your property gets enhanced with guests that are conscious about environment.
Environmental Walk-Through is from where you should start
The process of managing the environment and its components starts from An Environmental Walk-Through involving assessment of opportunities for improvement.
A walkthrough may be conducted by a single assessor or a team that inspects facilities and operations and identifies the key areas for environmental improvement.
Steps towards Environmental Management
The following steps when followed properly or kept in mind can make you save enormously:
Adoption of an environmental policy Appointment of an environmental officer, Establishment of a team known as The Green Team, Establishment of a maintenance program, Adoption of practices that conserve the environment and minimize the production of waste Development of a monitoring program for utilities.
Environmental Management System
To make your hotel environment friendly what is required is improvement of the facilities provided by the property and its equipments.
The effort required is to improve the standard of operating procedures and training and motivating the staff members for efficient use of resources.
The system that helps you achieve above goals is Environmental Management System.
Environmental Management System (EMS) can be said as a framework that helps the management to assign responsibilities, motivate the staff members, implement the best practices and monitor the performance as a whole.
Other activities included in the Environmental Management System include conducting meetings, training the staff members and monitoring and reporting progress.
Parisi is a veteran hospitality professional with over fifteen years experience with major hotel chains, such as Intercontinental, Starwood, Hilton and Choice Hotels. Most recently, Parisi served as Vice President of Operations at New Generation Hospitality, helping to not only grow the company, but was part of the original formation in 2006.
For more information visit: www.ecogreenhotel.com
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Posted by on Apr 18, 2010 in Management | 0 comments
The hallmarks of great quality management are the same as they are for many businesses. When it comes to city property management Denver residents want to deal with a company that has great customer service all around and that can handle its money.
These may seem like basic tasks in the business world but giving them the time and attention that they need will allow everything else to fall into place more easily. Each one is an important starting point for a quality property management Denver company.
Customer ServiceYou want to deal with a company that you can contact and get a prompt response. This is clearly a rudimentary aspect of customer service, but it is an essential one. If you are going to be dealing with property management in Denver, then you need a company that you can communicate with easily.
Then, you need a company that responds to whatever you have to say. You need things to get done, and you need to have your requests dealt with properly.
Finally, communication is a two way street. You need a Denver property management company that will keep you apprised of all that happens with your interests.
Money ManagementA big piece of managing properties is money management. A lot of money is being passed around in property management, and it needs to be handled properly. Accurate records must be kept, and everything must be completed in a timely manner.
Organization is important so that you can easily see what money is going where and why. It is also important when the time to pay taxes rolls round. You do not want to be unsure of your cash flow at this time of year.
Lastly, you want to make sure that money from rent is passed on to you as soon as possible. You want the money to be transferred to your accounts where it can start earning interest immediately after it has been collected.
Satisfied TenantsThis is another aspect of customer service. This time, however, it is not about the customer service that you receive but the customer service that the tenants receive. A quality property manager Denver will do all it can to have positive relationships with tenants. Satisfied tenants not only fulfill their obligations, but they can spread the word about a particular rental property and all of its management.
Additionally, you need a Colorado Denver HOA manager who can enforce regulations with the full respect and cooperation of tenants. Fairness and consistency along with courteous communication allow such interactions to run smoothly. Every action will affect how the property is viewed so you need to know that you will have satisfied tenants.
Successful Lakewood property management requires many factors to be carried out. The issue of customer service is essential because you want satisfied tenants who continue to have dealings with the company and who can pass on positive reviews of those dealings. Money management is another aspect of successful property management. If the money is not handled well, problems will not take long to manifest.
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Posted by on Apr 18, 2010 in Management | 0 comments
I shall assume that the majority of us have worked for someone (i.e. a Manager).
And no doubt some of those Managers you worked for were great and some should…well let’s just say…should never have been appointed Managers.
There are numerous skills to being a Manager…communicating, delegating, controlling, co-coordinating, staff management, public speaking, decision making, managing meetings…and I could list many, many more.
But what makes a Great Manager?
Great Managers not only excel at some of the above skills but they fundamentally know the difference between ‘inputs’, ‘outputs’ and ‘outcomes’.
They take ‘inputs’ (i.e. what they do, what action taken) and ‘outputs’ (i.e. the effect of the action, the product) and create outcomes (i.e. the intended result, the performance or service targeted).
Great Managers take time out and think about ‘outcomes’.
Great Managers strive for ‘outcomes’.
Great Managers plan for ‘outcomes’.
Great Managers organize themselves and others to produce ‘outcomes’.
Great Managers implement the right and appropriate controls so the ‘outcomes’ are delivered.
Great Managers communicate and discuss the future ‘outcomes’.
So let’s take a simple example…
Many Managers at this time of year are thinking, planning, organising, controlling and communicating the staff annual performance review.
So the inputs may be…the individuals previous achievements, feedback from customers and peers, any development undertaken, objectives, written evidence of praise…
Outputs being…the actual written performance review, the staff members rating and future development needs, the following years objectives.
Many Managers stop there. That’s it. It’s over and done with. The review is typed up. The staff member has agreed with their written performance review and it gets filed away. Now we can carry on with our day jobs.
The Great Manager will be encouraging the individual to strive for major change in their performance (the ‘outcome’) as a result of the performance review.
Great Managers will work with the individual and put in place a plan to enable the individual to ‘grow’ in their role.
Great Managers organize themselves and the staff member to have the time to develop their learning, maybe go on some self-improvement courses.
Great Managers will implement monthly one-to-ones with the individual to discuss and amend their improvement plan.
Great Managers will ‘paint a picture’ of the future for the individual.
In fact, before the performance review Great Managers will have answers to the following questions:
What difference will the review make?
What would we like the staff member to do differently?
How will the difference be measured and monitored?
How will the department or company benefit?
What controls should be in place to monitor progress?
How will we know if the progress is successful?
Give yourself every opportunity to succeed as a Manager and start thinking about ‘outcomes’.
Andrew Rondeau transformed himself from a $4 an-hour petrol-pump attendant to a highly successful Senior Manager earning $500k every year.
Discover How to Maximize Your Income and Minimize Your Effort by receiving Andrew’s free e-Course and report
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Posted by on Apr 18, 2010 in Management | 0 comments
With anger management being used in many programs and situations, there are thousands of resources available to those affected. Beside support groups, individual counseling sessions and treatment centers, there are many anger management books available to help people deal with anger-related issues. There are anger management books written focusing on different groups such as children, teenagers, adults, men, women, couples, families and anyone who is involved in situations which may require anger management advice. Because of the diverse needs, these anger management books are written to be understood by the various groups as well as used as tools to control anger and work through various situations.
Anger management books for children focus on a child’s reactions to feelings of anger. Using illustrations and stories which children can relate to, these books are written in such a way that children can relate and hopefully learn from. There are also anger management books for children, meant to be used by people working through behavioral problems with children. These books include tips and strategies for dealing with children who are experiencing difficulties caused by feelings of anger. Using these books, programs and effective treatments can be developed for anger management in children.
Teenagers deal with unique situations, encounters that only a teen might understand. Anger management for teens would be focused on dealing with anger-related issues surrounding teens. Offering advice and lesson plans, these anger management books for teens may provide answers to a young person’s questions regarding dealing with feelings of anger.
Adults with anger problems are different from children and teens. Adults face daily challenges which children don’t understand, situations which unleash all sorts of emotions including anger. When the anger creates problems at home, at work or among friends, they might benefit from reading anger management books for adults. Couples might be able to find help in anger management books for adults as well.
When a family is affected by anger, the situation can become much more intense and complicated. Since it involves so many people, different relationships and all sorts of feelings and emotions, a family may require various anger management books. With the resources available, there are doubtlessly anger management books written for families.
Where would a person find these anger management books? A doctor or medical professional ought to be able to recommend useful anger management books to interested people. A local library would be another good source for anger management books. Local bookstore and online bookstores such as Amazon should be proficient in providing a list of anger management books for all ages. The Internet is a terrific source for information on anger management. Through searching and browsing the related sites, there will be recommendations for anger management books. These sites will also likely provide details about how to obtain a copy of these anger management books.
Once a person finds an anger management book that contains useful tips, techniques and strategies for managing anger, it would be wise to use the information in the book to make changes and work through problems with anger. Anger management books are useless sitting on a shelf collecting dust.
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Posted by on Apr 18, 2010 in Management | 0 comments
So what is project management?
Project management is the application of knowledge, skills, tools and techniques to a broad range of activities in order to meet the requirements of the particular project. A project is a temporary endeavour undertaken to achieve a particular aim.
The Latin word projectum means, “to throw something forward.” Project Management is all about making things happen and moving forward and has existed for thousands of years. For example, the Great Pyramid of Giza 2,550 B.C, the Great Wall of China 221 B.C. – 206 B.C or the Roman Coliseum 80 A.D. all used project management techniques.
Project Management is as much a way of thinking as it is an approach that can be applied to any initiative large or small that must deliver within a certain timeframe and cost, in order to meet specific objectives.
Recognised as an essential capability for organisations to maximise value and reduce costs, Project Management has developed considerably in the past 20 years. Today Project Management is a professional discipline with a body of knowledge, a set of skills and competencies and professional certification bodies (listed at the end of this article).
The Basic Principles
There are a number of significant principles which determine success in any project. These are simple and well known principles, however they are difficult to apply and are quite frequently ignored in practice.
1. Precise Business Needs
Successful projects are business driven. This represents the ‘why’ of the project, and it is important because it provides the basis for all decision making.
2. Defined Benefits
Projects are about translating the business need into the business benefit. In addition to the business need, the ‘bottom line’ benefits must also be well defined in terms of source, timing and quantity.
3. Explicit Plans
Effective planning, allows people to work together in a co-ordinated way in order to achieve the project objectives. Effective planning is dependent on being at an appropriate level of detail and being presented in an appropriate way.
4. Agreed Deliverables
Quite simply a ‘deliverable’ is an unambiguous way of defining responsibilities in terms of outputs rather than inputs. Each phase, area and task within the project plan should have a tangible deliverable associated with it, ie. something that one can see, touch, or otherwise validate.
5. Pro-Active Decision Making
Project work has little momentum of its own, unlike routine work. All parties involved are therefore required to take the initiative and actively look for ways of driving and improving the project outcome.
6. Single Point Responsibility
In business tasks are only completed successfully when people have unambiguous accountabilities. ‘Single point responsibility’ for results is of the very essence. The Project Manager is ultimately responsible for making the project happen and must ensure that every staff member receives the right amount of project management training accordingly.
7. Active Follow-Up
Plans have practical value only when they are used to help people do their daily work. They are similarly used as a means of identifying problems while there is still time to overcome them. Plans must therefore be used throughout the entire project in order to allocate tasks and monitor achievement.
8. Open Communications
Time must be invested in communication as it is the key to a successful project. By effectively communicating the project and issues everyone involved has the opportunity to take the initiative and contribute fully with ideas and decisions.
9. Good Teamwork
Teamwork in projects is absolutely critical but does not happen automatically. Project work involves people from different parts of the organisation, often with competing priorities and different perspectives, which can make teamwork all the more difficult to achieve. Teams must therefore be actively developed by the Project Manager.
10. Strong Leadership
Successful projects are usually led by an individual who is committed to the project objectives, and who has a completely clear view of where the project is going and how they intend to get there. The leadership qualities of the Project Manager are as important as their technical management skills.
Benefits of Project Management
In order to apply project management principles it takes time and effort, disciplines and techniques. The results are there for the taking if you are prepared to make the effort.
Applying a project management approach is not easy. At the start of a project the project management approach may not necessarily show immediate results. But the investment always pays off in the long run.
Project management adds value in quite a number of ways, some of which are detailed below:
1. maximises the benefits of the project by focusing the efforts, of everyone involved, on the business need while working to improve the value of the result.
2. advances the benefits by minimising the time taken for the project and wherever possible, achieving a phased delivery of business results.
3. optimises resources by ensuring that everyone knows what they have to do.
4. minimises costs by ensuring that only essential work is completed, and that work does not have to be redone.
5. avoids wasted time simply by communicating extensively, and running effective meetings which result in agreed actions, which are completed.
By using project management principles and practices millions of dollars can be saved on projects. It can dramatically accelerate the introduction of beneficial change, and greatly increase the satisfaction of everyone involved, alleviating enormous frustration usually involved in projects.
When applied with sensitivity and adjustment the benefits of project management far outweigh the time and energy invested.
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Posted by on Apr 18, 2010 in Management | 0 comments
Contract Management Australia knows that with many companies now recognising procurement and contracting of internal services as a pro-active step towards greater efficiency and cost saving, the loss of ownership of some services has created an increased need for Supplier and Contract Management.
From SMEs to the largest multi-national organisations, Contract Management in Australia is an area that has been over looked for far too long.
With decentralised contract processes running simultaneously throughout the organisation, there is massive duplication and inefficiency that can be easily overcome with a centralised software system that drives compliance to corporate policy and stores knowledge.
Good contract management systems available today will also take a pro-active role in supplier performance management and contract supervision, providing the functionality of many systems (such as Performance Management, Tender Management and Evaluation, Supplier Relationship Management and Document Management) all in one.
The best systems, such as Open Windows Contracts will ensure that important information is never lost, and reminders are sent both in system and by email to remind managers of their responsibilities.
Contract Management Australia’s research suggests that an end-to-end contract lifecycle management solution that builds knowledge from the initial contract development through sourcing and award and ongoing compliance management is best. The ability to then use this knowledge to manage compliance to the terms of the contract is critical.
Disparate systems that do not retain knowledge throughout the whole contract lifecycle cause errors due to information double handling.
Contractual risk is such today that no organisation can afford to be without contract management software that monitors contractual triggers, variations, issues, and deliverables against client and supplier responsibilities.
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