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<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/" xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/" > <channel> <title>sxtfsms.info</title> <atom:link href="http://sxtfsms.info/feed" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" /> <link>https://sxtfsms.info</link> <description></description> <lastBuildDate>Thu, 30 Mar 2023 12:02:02 +0000</lastBuildDate> <language>en</language> <sy:updatePeriod>hourly</sy:updatePeriod> <sy:updateFrequency>1</sy:updateFrequency> <generator>http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3</generator> <item> <title>What You Need to Quickly and Easily Outsource SEO Content Writing</title> <link>https://sxtfsms.info/what-you-need-to-quickly-and-easily-outsource-seo-content-writing,html</link> <comments>https://sxtfsms.info/what-you-need-to-quickly-and-easily-outsource-seo-content-writing,html#comments</comments> <pubDate>Thu, 30 Mar 2023 12:02:02 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>admin</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://sxtfsms.info/?p=64</guid> <description><![CDATA[Chief among the specialised skills that your business should outsource, you should outsource SEO content writing.Writing SEO content is a specialisation that marries insight from two important areas: how the human psyche works, and how search engines crawl. In other words, the science of keyword analysis applied to the art of human communication.SEO content development [...]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p> Chief among the specialised skills that your business should outsource, you should outsource SEO content writing.Writing SEO content is a specialisation that marries insight from two important areas: how the human psyche works, and how search engines crawl. In other words, the science of keyword analysis applied to the art of human communication.SEO content development is more important than everIt’s been maligned and misunderstood as trying to “game” search engines, but is it really an evil word, “SEO”? No.According to the Wikipedia SEO content definition:Search engine optimization (SEO) is the process of affecting the visibility of a website or a web page in a search engine’s “natural” or un-paid (“organic”) search results. In general, the earlier (or higher ranked on the search results page), and more frequently a site appears in the search results list, the more visitors it will receive from the search engine’s users.As long as there are search engines, content will have to be optimised for search engines. As search engines become more “human”, backdoor tactics and deceptive methods will more and more become obsolete. And that’s a good thing for us all.Now – more than before Google’s revolutionary algorithm changes of recent months – our chances of ranking high are better than ever. The scammers and spammers who used awkward tactics to block up our search engine results pages have been flushed away. But you still do need to understand how search engines “think”, if you want to score well with them and attract more traffic to your websites.Is “outsource” an evil word, then?Since SEO content writing is such an important and specialised skill, is it a mistake to outsource it?Yes – if you outsource such crucial work to a part-timer working out of his parents’ bedroom halfway around the world. But if you hire a professional to provide a well-defined product into a well honed workflow: No, it’s definitely no mistake.Outsourcing can open up a whole world of talent at your disposal, for a fraction of the cost of traditional employment. And thanks to the internet, you can quickly and easily take advantage of the global outsourcing company boom.It used to be that you could just write keyword rich content and rank wellYou know what those look like:”Dog training trainers are always looking for the best dog training resources they can find. Unfortunately, dog training resources are not always available at dog training pet stores. However, at dogtraining.com, you can find all your dog training needs at our dog training website.”Not only is copy like that annoying as heck to read, but it now gets penalised by Google’s algorithms.Google is always trying to get its search engine to think more like a human – maybe one day it will, and “SEO content” will simply be called “content”. But until that day comes, if ever, SEO will always be an essential need for all businesses online.</p><p> Keyword stuffing is dead.</p><p> Indiscriminate backlinking is dead.</p><p> Deceptive methods are dead.</p><p> But SEO is alive and kicking harder than ever, especially with LSI.<br />LSI isn’t a drug, but it’s a cure.Today, search engines use a methodology called Latent Semantic Indexing (LSI), which uses mathematical models to figure out the overall theme of a body of copy, the way people normally talk.So, instead of ranking an article based on keywords, Google now ranks an article for using the key phrases that real people use when they talk about a given subject.This means that today’s solid SEO content is creative SEO content. Unlike the bad old days of keyword stuffing, LSI themed keyword content reads and sounds the way a human speaks – because it uses the actual phrases that a real person would use.3 reasons why you need outsourced content:1. It keeps your content writing freshWriting new SEO content on a regular basis is not an easy task, but a dedicated SEO Content Writer can provide you with fresh SEO copy regularly, no problem.2. Content writing for social media has gone SEO as wellSocial media marketing begins with solid SEO content. How so? You want people to tweet, like, share and otherwise upvote your content. Which they can only do if:</p><p> Your content is great and</p><p> They can find your great content<br />A good SEO Content Writer hits both targets.This goes for content writing for Facebook, Google+, blogs – everything.3. Premium content is even central to video – which is skyrocketing in importanceVideos are based on scripts and introduced by copy on web pages, whether your own or on YouTube. This copy must be SEO copy.What do you need to successfully outsource? 1. A well-defined workflow, eg, a website into which you simply plug and play solid content2. A willingness to benefit from a world of top talent – not just what can be found in your particular geographical location3. Expert SEO Content Writers who are well versed with what works in SEO todayThere’s a difference between SEO Content Writers and conventional writers: professional SEO writing is qualified and optimised to be ranked highly by today’s search engine algorithms, whereas general writing is not.Additionally, for English content, you want to make sure that you hire English-speaking writers. Native English-speaking writers can give you an edge that non-native speakers can’t.Sidebar: Are you a Web design or SEO agency?Do you offer an SEO reseller programme or maybe even run a turnkey SEO outsourcing agency? Professional writers can help you with white label SEO content.Let’s say that you offer a complete marketing solution for online. This would include web page content, website design, blog content, hosting, SEO, SEM, PPC, etc. You would hire specialists to fill each of these roles: a designer for the website design, a webmaster to handle the hosting, a marketer to oversee the advertising campaigns and a writer to provide copy for the Web assets.It pays to have a dedicated professional in each role; with outsourced SEO services, you can afford to hire a dedicated SEO Content Writer, not just general purpose writers.To outsource successfully, outsource it to a professional, not a pretenderWhen you outsource content writing services, make sure you contract a supplier who provides premium online writing, not “content mill” hash. Your content reflects your company – and your clients.Outsourcing to an SEO dedicated content writer can make the difference between having content that is loved by both people and search engines – or content that is simply fluff. A professional knows the tips to SEO content that converts. </p><div class="mads-block"></div>]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://sxtfsms.info/what-you-need-to-quickly-and-easily-outsource-seo-content-writing,html/feed</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Software as a Service – A Guide to Transforming Your Software Product into a Service</title> <link>https://sxtfsms.info/software-as-a-service-a-guide-to-transforming-your-software-product-into-a-service,html</link> <comments>https://sxtfsms.info/software-as-a-service-a-guide-to-transforming-your-software-product-into-a-service,html#comments</comments> <pubDate>Wed, 29 Mar 2023 17:16:14 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>admin</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://sxtfsms.info/?p=62</guid> <description><![CDATA[There is growing market demand for more economical and efficient enterprise applications to an ever-expanding global market. The combination of the ubiquitous Internet and the availability and legitimacy of open source software is creating substantial opportunities and economies for software vendors to deliver Software as a Service (SaaS).Software as a Service is a model in [...]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p> There is growing market demand for more economical and efficient enterprise applications to an ever-expanding global market. The combination of the ubiquitous Internet and the availability and legitimacy of open source software is creating substantial opportunities and economies for software vendors to deliver Software as a Service (SaaS).Software as a Service is a model in which the software vendor provides an Internet hosted version of their application (in house or at a managed 3rd party site) that is accessed by customers from the website and paid for on a per-use, per-project or subscription basis.The SaaS model offers significant benefits to software vendors and their customers. The SaaS model offers customers cost-effective subscription-based or per-use pricing, eliminating the need for substantial capital outlays to purchase perpetual software licenses. It also eliminates the initial outlay and on-going costs and risks of installing, supporting and maintaining in-house hardware and the associated IT staff. In addition, user access and application performance can be dramatically improved with Internet-based, on-demand, 24×7 systems. The SaaS model opens new markets to software vendors. Established software companies can broaden their market reach by offering SaaS solutions to small and midsized enterprises. Other benefits include the financial advantages of predictable recurring revenue streams and strengthened relationships with customers. Software vendors migrating to or developing products from the outset as SaaS offerings will have a significant competitive advantage when competing with traditional license-model vendors.Realizing the benefits of the SaaS model may require fundamental changes to a software vendor’s business model, software architecture and operational structure. This white paper provides an overview of the issues associated with the software application itself and the development considerations associated with moving to a SaaS model.Time is of the essence. As with any new business model, the rewards often go to early market entrants. Accelerating the time-to-market of your software deployment is critical to your business success. Outsourcing product modifications to implement your SaaS offering, with the assistance of an expert services team, and engaging an optimal on-demand service delivery firm will accelerate your time-to-market and insure an on-time, on-budget, on-scope implementation.The Challenge of Transforming Your SoftwareWhile there are a multitude of benefits in providing Software as a Service, traditional software companies may face challenges in moving to this model. First, your software must be web-enabled with all functions carried out by the user using a web browser. If you have a client-server application, you must replace the functionality implemented in the client with HTML, and possibly other technologies (XML, Java, etc.), that can be displayed by a web browser over the Internet. Next, in order to gain operational efficiency, your software needs to be multi-instance. You move from single-instance to multi-instance by loading multiple copies of your software on a single set of servers. Multi-instance enables you to share the cost of a server across multiple customers. Additional productivity enhancements and economies may be gained by moving to multi-tenant SaaS, or replacing proprietary commercial software with open source software. Web services provide an opportunity for integration with other applications and data flows.Single Instance ApplicationsTraditional client/server applications are single instance. They require software to be installed on the user’s computer to carry out computations and provide functionality. Clients often implement highly interactive features and enable the user to manipulate large amounts of data. This can be very difficult to implement in a traditional HTML, request/reply web application interface that requires frequent page refreshes. Migrating from client/server to an Internet-based SaaS model is highly dependent on your specific application.Today, new Rich Internet Application (RIA) technology is available from Macromedia, Laszlo Systems and others that give web applications the look-and-feel and functionality of a desktop application or client. RIA requires little or no software be installed on the user’s client computer. The most that is needed is a small browser plug-in or Java applet. This fundamental change to the user interface converts your client /server application to a single-tenant web application.Web applications may be single instance or multi-instance. A single-instance web application is typically installed on dedicated servers in the customer’s data center and used only internally, behind the firewall. At installation time, your software is configured to consume whatever system resources are needed and available on the computers.When a web application is offered as a service over the Internet, it should be hosted in a professional data center. This will minimize costs and delivery high quality service to your customers. If you have a single instance application and more than one customer, one approach is to install a new instance of your software on a dedicated server for each customer. This may work for a few customers or some big accounts, but it does not scale effectively for large numbers of customers. It also cannot be used for small and medium sized customers that cannot afford the set-up costs.Moving from Single to Multiple InstancesAn alternative to individual customer dedicated servers is to install multiple copies of your software on a single set of servers. This is called multi-instance. Multi-instance enables you to share the cost of a server across multiple customers. Most business applications use a database and each additional copy of the software installed requires a new database instance as well.Installing multiple copies of your software on one set of servers may not be as easy as it sounds. Installation procedures need to be modified so that each instance is installed without disrupting resource allocation or the security of the other previously installed copies of the software.There is a limit to the number of instances that can be installed and eventually system resources will be consumed. System resources include shared memory, process semaphores and other internal operating system parameters. So the question becomes, “How many copies of your software can you install on a server?”Obviously, you can keep installing instances of your software until resources are exhausted. However, you must also consider the performance of the system under load by users. Typically there are a maximum number of simultaneous users your software must support and minimum performance or response time requirements that must be met to satisfy customer commitments.An accurate answer to the “How many copies of your software can you install on a server?” question is derived by testing the software as you add additional instances. This is best done with automated testing software tools that can simulate the desired number of users placing a load on the system.The testing process is to determine the optimal number of instances and the resulting performance. This is accomplished by installing additional instances of your application, and carefully monitoring system resources and running user load tests using variable traffic modeling to determine the point at which returns diminish.This process of maximizing the number of instances on the servers can take one to three weeks depending on the size and complexity of your system, the quality of your installation process whether you have already created automated user load testing scripts and procedures.Minor code changes may be needed to move to multi-instance. For example, if your application reads and writes a file with a hard-coded filename and location on the disk, then the file must be created in different locations for each instance to avoid conflicts between each instance. These problems will be discovered and changes will need to be made during the one to three weeks.Next Steps – Improving Functionality and Reducing CostsOnce your software is running effectively as a multi-instance SaaS application, you may want to pursue a multi-tenant architecture. In a single instance, multi-tenant architecture, multiple customers share a single instance of your software. Migration from multi-instance to multi-tenant can be a significant project and may even require a rewrite of your application from the ground up. The efficiencies gained in moving to multi-tenancy need to be closely examined. You might find your resources better spent in other ways.Another possible step would be to focus on driving costs out of your model. Many applications have dependencies on expensive proprietary databases and/or middleware. Significant savings can be realized by migrating to lower cost or open source alternatives. An investment here might provide significant savings in operating costs that would be transparent to your end users and very beneficial to your bottom line.You might also consider adding web services for inter-process communications. This will be particularly appealing if your application is part of a workflow with information passing-to or gathering-from another application. Designing with web services in mind will minimize long-term integration requirements.A Single Instance, Multi-Tenant Web ApplicationSoftware companies have created web applications for over ten years now. These are often installed on the Intranet of a customer and only used internally, behind the firewall. This single instance of the software is used by just one customer. This is both single-instance and single-tenant.You saw above how you can install and test your software to make it multi-instance — having multiple copies running on one server. However, each copy is a single-tenant web application.Single-tenant web applications can be modified to support multiple customer tenants on the same instance. Multi-tenant web applications minimize the amount of hardware needed to support multiple customers. Also, customers can self-provision their use of your software by signing up for an account and entering payment information. This minimizes, and often eliminates, the amount of support needed to set up a new customer.One of the modifications to support multi-tenant is the creation of a user interface for user provisioning of accounts in the system. Another modification, depending on the requirements for integration with other enterprise systems, is an LDAP interface for convenient provisioning and administering of user accounts. Modern database technology can enable quick duplication of the data model so each customer has its own copy of each table in the database. This is an elegant way to keep customer data separate when stored in the single database instance used for the service.Templates for configuration of the software should be provided to accelerate customization and adoption of the service by new customers. Templates support various scenarios of system usage by customers.A system management dashboard showing system use by all tenants may be required. A mechanism must be available to measure system usage for purposes of billing as well as monitoring system load. Administrative accounts for customer support purposes may also need to be implemented.It may be necessary to enhance the reliability of the back-end, using database technology to implement parallel servers at physically distant locations, to ensure constant up time during periods of natural or man-made disasters.Maintaining Performance of Your Multi-Tenant Web ApplicationMulti-tenant applications must deal with several issues that are not as pronounced in single-tenant and client/server systems. Because multi-tenant systems are available over the public Internet, usage may be unpredictable. Therefore, demand planning must be done more carefully. The systems should be instrumented to detect increasing usage so additional hardware and bandwidth are provided to maintain service levels.Driving Down Costs by Moving to Open SourceMany software developers are agnostic about the application server and database software used by their applications. The customer often dictates these choices. If your customers want to use Oracle as the database, then you must support this popular choice. Your software must have modules to support each database technically. Business-wise, you pass along the cost of the database license to the end customer, if they do not already own a license.But what database should you choose for your software when it is offered as a service? There may not be a need for the technical features of an expensive commercial database. Moreover, the economics of offering your software as a service may preclude the expense of a commercial database license fee.Therefore, many companies converting their software to a service will choose one of the low or no cost open source databases available today. These database choices are now widely used and robust. Advanced features such as redundant clustering and automated backup capabilities rival those of commercial databases.If your application does not yet support one of these databases, a few technical issues need to be overcome. The format and syntax of most SQL used to access and manipulate data in a database is standard. However, almost every database vendor extends SQL and many applications use these extensions, such as special functions to modify and compare data. There can be many variations in how each database vendor treats cursors, triggers, data types and package variables. If you use SQL extensions in your application, you will need to recode these SQL statements to work with the target open source database.Migration to on demand delivery models works cohesively with bootstrapped technology deployment and investment. Even if the open source database software does not have all the features you want to have or if they run a little slower, you may have no choice economically when you first start offering your software as a service. It may not make financial sense for you to invest tens of thousands of dollars in a commercial database license while you can only charge a few hundred dollars per subscriber. Over time, as your subscriber base grows, you may choose to switch to the commercial database. Until you can afford it or activity levels grow to high levels, open source database solutions may be your only practical solution.Another relatively expensive part of your software is the license required for a commercial Java application server. This is another category of software where several open source options exist. Generally, conversion over to an open source application server is relatively straightforward. All must comply with the specification for Java 2 Enterprise Edition (J2EE) and your code should not need any modifications.However, there are differences in how you install your code in the application server. The installation and set up process is well documented for all open source application servers. You must modify your installation process to accommodate the requirements of the application server you use.Again, the business case is clear. A huge community of users has made open source application servers a safe choice. The cost of a commercial application server is difficult to justify when you are just starting out offering your software as a service. As with the conversion to-and-from an open source database, you can always switch back to a commercial application server as your subscriber base grows.Web Services For Data Transfer and IntegrationWhen customers install your software in their own data center, behind their firewall, they are able to integrate the software with other applications and data sources. When you make your software available as a service over the Internet, then integration is not as easy. Authentication and encryption must be provided to enable safe data transfers.The most popular approach to data transfers and integration over the public Internet is with web services, the SOAP protocol and WSDL. If your application has an Application Programming Interface (API) in a native language like Java or C++, you will need to create a web services interface that uses the API to communicate with your software and enables bidirectional data flow with the external world using SOAP.Time to MarketTime is of the essence. As the new SaaS model is adopted, early entrants will have a significant advantage. Evolving your application to web-enabled, multi-instance will allow you to become a SaaS player quickly. Time to market issues should be considered when deciding whether to partner with experts or pursue migration and infrastructure development in-house.The Advantages of Outsourcing Software DevelopmentOutsourced developers, who are experienced with SaaS, can help you move forward quickly in migrating to this new model. They can provide installation and load testing to determine the optimal set-up for your multi-instance configuration; adapt your software to migrate from multi-instance to multi-tenant; or develop a multi-instance or multi-tenant application from your client/server application.Importantly, an outsourced developer can modify your existing software product without disrupting the flow of new features and enhancements that your present customers expect. With a managed outsourcing relationship, you can continue to focus on your current business while outsourced developers are creating software to support your new business model. Outsourced developers will provide you both a cost and time savings in reaching the SaaS model.To take the competitive lead in your space by leveraging SaaS, you should consider working with experienced vendors to guide you through the process of transforming your application. </p>]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://sxtfsms.info/software-as-a-service-a-guide-to-transforming-your-software-product-into-a-service,html/feed</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Do You Think Practicing on Trading Simulators Is a Good Use of Time? Check Out the Mess I Made Today</title> <link>https://sxtfsms.info/do-you-think-practicing-on-trading-simulators-is-a-good-use-of-time-check-out-the-mess-i-made-today,html</link> <comments>https://sxtfsms.info/do-you-think-practicing-on-trading-simulators-is-a-good-use-of-time-check-out-the-mess-i-made-today,html#comments</comments> <pubDate>Wed, 29 Mar 2023 15:43:58 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>admin</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://sxtfsms.info/?p=60</guid> <description><![CDATA[I’ve written several articles in the past about my relative distaste for e-mini trading simulators. I had a trade running on a simulator account today and proved to myself why I continue to believe that they are good for familiarizing yourself with a trading platform but relatively worthless when learning to trade. Are you a [...]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p> I’ve written several articles in the past about my relative distaste for e-mini trading simulators. I had a trade running on a simulator account today and proved to myself why I continue to believe that they are good for familiarizing yourself with a trading platform but relatively worthless when learning to trade. Are you a simulator warrior?I think that just about every brokerage uses trading simulators to entice prospective clients into sampling their trading platform. With that fact in mind, usually traders have spent a good deal of time on trading simulators before they ever come in contact with me in the trading room. What is the real benefit of all this simulating trades? In my opinion, not too much.In my trading room, I normally trade my DOM up and trade a live account. Because of some changes suggested by my trusted accountant (I really can’t stand accountants when they do stuff like this), I am consolidating in number of accounts into single account at a new brokerage. Because it is a small block account, there is quite a bit of paperwork and signatures to be collected during the move; so I have been trading in a simulated account in the trading room. I had a bad experience and it reminded me why simulators don’t provide the most realistic trading environment in which to participate.It’s important to realize that I was trying to trade the simulated account exactly the way I would trade my normal live account. I entered a trade that immediately began to work against me and instead of exiting the trade as I normally would, I thought I would give the trade a little time to develop. That was mistake 1.When I entered the trade the market was flat, but fortunately I was able to spot the point when the market would break down and take a trade in the opposite direction. That was mistake 2. Of course, it was only a simulator trade; but like I said, I was trying to trade the simulator exactly the same way as I trade my live accounts. After I entered the trade the market moved to the downside and then set up for what I thought was a much larger move down. I did nothing. That was mistake 3. As the market moved against me, I was transformed from a professional trader into a blithering trading hack. I moved my stops; I never move my stops when trading a live account. I doubled down twice; I never double down when getting smeared in a trade on my live account. Those were mistakes 4, 5, and 6. Then I got distracted talking to somebody who stopped by my office and by the time I had finished I had lost $3500 of simulated money. No big deal, it’s just the simulator. That is a problem.And therein lies the rub. Because the trade had no meaning, despite my best efforts to simulate real trading conditions, my entire technique and 30 years of experience wilted under the lack of pressure. Yes you read that right; when nothing is on the line the lessons you learn seem to be superficial and seldom long lasting. On the other hand, when a mistake costs you a couple hundred bucks you tend to remember that mistake and not repeat it.I was shocked at the relative ease I displayed in abandoning everything I knew about trading on this trade. Even though I was determined to make this fake trading as realistic as possible, my mind treated it as superfluous and I traded as if I’d never been taught the thing about trading. It was also unbelievably embarrassing, I felt like an idiot; so embarrassing that I sent a personal email to everyone in the room apologizing for my deplorable trading exhibition. I just could not get over how quickly my mindset changed when I was on this simulator compared to how sharp my mind stays trading real money. I guess at some subconscious level that is the trade has no meaning it doesn’t merit my full attention. I wonder how many people battle this problem? </p>]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://sxtfsms.info/do-you-think-practicing-on-trading-simulators-is-a-good-use-of-time-check-out-the-mess-i-made-today,html/feed</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Build a Small Business Network to Help Your Business Succeed</title> <link>https://sxtfsms.info/build-a-small-business-network-to-help-your-business-succeed,html</link> <comments>https://sxtfsms.info/build-a-small-business-network-to-help-your-business-succeed,html#comments</comments> <pubDate>Wed, 29 Mar 2023 12:49:13 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>admin</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Small Business]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://sxtfsms.info/?p=57</guid> <description><![CDATA[As a small business owner you can often feel alone, even when surrounded by many people.How is this possible? The answer is that many small business owners keep their business challenges to themselves. They don’t want employees, or customers, or suppliers, or family and friends for that matter, to know that they have business issues [...]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p> As a small business owner you can often feel alone, even when surrounded by many people.How is this possible? The answer is that many small business owners keep their business challenges to themselves. They don’t want employees, or customers, or suppliers, or family and friends for that matter, to know that they have business issues that might be difficult to manage.If this describes your business environment, consider building a business network to help you manage your challenges and grow your business.What is a small business network? In this instance it is a network of either similar or dissimilar small businesses that work together to help each other solve their business issues and also to help each other manage and grow their businesses.Let’s examine an example of a small business network for similar businesses. A group of between eight and twelve business owners in the same industry but in non-competing locations set up a peer business network. They get together (either face-to-face or online) at a regularly scheduled day and time (maybe monthly or quarterly) to discuss their small business strategy and issues and they each ask for, and get, feedback from the rest of the group — all experienced business owners of similar type businesses.Some of the discussion might center on human resource issues such as training, hiring, firing, turn-over rates, and comparative wages or salaries. Other discussions might be on common customer centric issues such as turn-around times, over promising and under delivering, quality, service, handling difficult customers. Some sessions might focus on business planning, marketing planning, sales planning or results from plans.To form this type of group, business owners could meet through national or international industry trade associations. To make this type of network work, the participants must sign confidentiality agreements and non-compete agreements — even though today the businesses are non-competing, there is no guarantee that tomorrow they won’t be competing. It is important that legal advice is obtained at the start of setting up this type of network — your group will need to know what is allowed or not allowed by government competition acts.The advantage of this type of network is that all participants already know and understand the industry and can bring that knowledge and expertise to the discussions.Now, let’s examine an example of a small business network for dissimilar businesses.This type of network would work best in a group of not less than eight and not many more than twelve business owners (too small and the input is weakened; too large and it’s hard to have a voice or hear what’s going on). This group would get together on a regular basis (likely monthly) and review each business’ progress, operations, challenges, or the designated topic of the month. Since this is a network of non-competing, dissimilar businesses, the group could be local and meetings could be face-to-face.An advantage for local meetings is that the group would be operating in the same economic climate and would have a thorough understanding of what that means to local businesses. It would be relatively easy to form a local group by meeting businesses through local small business associations.Topics could be selected in advance by month, by quarter, by year and each business owner would attend a network meeting prepared to discuss issues surrounding that topic. For example, one month’s topic could be about reducing the cost of financing and sharing tips and tactics. Another month’s topic could be about the use of the best and most successful recruiting methods for that local area. Another month’s topic could be on creating a business plan and the necessary tools to do so.In this type of network it is also important to have confidentiality agreements and non-compete agreements at the start of the network meetings. You will want to have the assurance that if someone leaves the group that they won’t share confidential information with others.The advantage of this type of network is that you can more easily set this group up in your local market so that face-to-face meetings would not be difficult and that you might actually get more out-of-the-box thinking from business owners outside of the industry who are not constrained by past practices.For both types of networks, use an outside facilitator to ensure that the group stays on track and that each member gets out of the network what it needs (its reason for joining). The concept of a business network is to provide small business owners with a small business advisory group to test solutions, find answers, change old ways of doing things, and more. In large businesses, that type of network support typically comes from other departments or management. In small businesses, a strong small business network is part of an overall business community that becomes part of the infrastructure for your business’ success. </p>]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://sxtfsms.info/build-a-small-business-network-to-help-your-business-succeed,html/feed</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>The Best Way to Market Your New Small Business Effectively</title> <link>https://sxtfsms.info/the-best-way-to-market-your-new-small-business-effectively,html</link> <comments>https://sxtfsms.info/the-best-way-to-market-your-new-small-business-effectively,html#comments</comments> <pubDate>Sun, 05 Feb 2023 20:09:48 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>admin</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category> <category><![CDATA[accounting]]></category> <category><![CDATA[business]]></category> <category><![CDATA[companies]]></category> <category><![CDATA[google]]></category> <category><![CDATA[near me]]></category> <category><![CDATA[offices]]></category> <category><![CDATA[restaurant]]></category> <category><![CDATA[sale]]></category> <category><![CDATA[services]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://sxtfsms.info/?p=54</guid> <description><![CDATA[Owning your own small business is one the most difficult things you can do in the professional world. Of course if it wasn’t, everyone would be doing it and everyone would be rich. The problem is that is hard work and it requires an awful lot of time and dedication. It is in a business’s [...]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p> Owning your own small business is one the most difficult things you can do in the professional world. Of course if it wasn’t, everyone would be doing it and everyone would be rich. The problem is that is hard work and it requires an awful lot of time and dedication. It is in a business’s marketing strategy that the successful separate themselves from the ordinary.Your small business will see success if you implement a more defined approach in place that keeps you constantly marketing your product and your business. The best way to do that is through the use of proven small business marketing solutions. By keeping on sticking to the plan you will generate high-quality leads and convert your prospects into new customers in no time. Here are a few ways you can market your new or small business in a few easy steps:<br />First start off with some good market research of your immediate geographic area. Marketing research consists of different ways of collecting information that can include interviews, questionnaires, surveys and even focus group. Through all this information collected you can try to analyze if there is a market for your small business. Among the things you’ll be looking for is the demographic group which would be most interested in your product or service. All of your initial marketing and advertising efforts will then be focused on that particular demographic. </p><p>The next thing you must do is decide upon a feasible marketing budget. Marketing isn’t cheap in some markets so be sure to save up funds for things like packaging, promotions, advertising and publicity. All businesses need advertising in some form or another and they all need money to do so. </p><p>One often undervalued form of marketing is the grassroots strategy or word of mouth. Not only is it quite effective but also extremely cheap. It’s so cheap it’s free. Tell everyone you know to tell everyone they know about your new business. Print up and hang flyers in local businesses and have business cards developed to hand out. Try to make yourself seen at all the local events, charity functions and town meetings. It’s great way to connect with local leaders and network with potential customers. You’re getting the name of your business out there in the minds of people who will be doing business with you. </p><p>A very effective marketing tool if done correctly is a website for your business. Web designers are very affordable for a new business that may not have the start up capital. Most families always have one person in them who know some web design skills too so ask them to help you for a few extra bucks. You don’t need an extremely complex site for a startup but you do need a clean one free of typographical errors, broken links or anything else that looks unprofessional. </p><p>The last way to get some good publicity to your new small business is to get in the news. Let me rephrase that, get in the news in a positive way. Contact local newspaper writers or broadcasters for interviews about current business events or trends. The goal is to make yourself look like an expert in the field. </p>]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://sxtfsms.info/the-best-way-to-market-your-new-small-business-effectively,html/feed</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>A Brand Audit Is The Best Form Of Brand Insurance</title> <link>https://sxtfsms.info/a-brand-audit-is-the-best-form-of-brand-insurance,html</link> <comments>https://sxtfsms.info/a-brand-audit-is-the-best-form-of-brand-insurance,html#comments</comments> <pubDate>Thu, 02 Feb 2023 09:42:40 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>admin</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://sxtfsms.info/?p=52</guid> <description><![CDATA[A brand audit can be thought of as brand insurance. When you think of the brands that dominate our cultural landscape, like McDonald’s or Apple, they are immediately recognizable by the golden arches or the silhouette of an apple with a bite out of it. But, there are other attributes that go into the brand [...]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p> A brand audit can be thought of as brand insurance. When you think of the brands that dominate our cultural landscape, like McDonald’s or Apple, they are immediately recognizable by the golden arches or the silhouette of an apple with a bite out of it. But, there are other attributes that go into the brand that are more subtle – but just as critical to the success of the brand.In the case of McDonald’s, a complex network of franchised locations all follow the corporate guidelines on store layout and décor, uniforms, promotions, menu items, food quality, and more. For a retailer like Apple, where the experience is of the utmost importance, branding involves making sure wait times are within the required limits, and that associates are working off the required “script” when addressing customers.A brand audit can be performed in each case – to protect the brand and ensure that all employees, signage and marketing materials are staying on-message.What is a brand audit?• A brand audit is what happens when an auditor is sent to a location to determine whether your brand is being properly presented to customers by your employees, resellers, and franchisees.• A brand audit determines whether your advertising, marketing and operations are aligned with what is actually being performed out in the field.• Brand audits can be overt or covert, depending on your goals, and they can be performed in the shopping and dining space – or in the back office.• Brand audits are conducted via surveys, recorded phone calls, and hidden video. Who needs a brand audit?All companies should monitor the actions that go into fulfilling the brand promise. For some, this is a rather simple task. For others, with multiple locations and a large population of employees who interact with the customer, the task becomes much more complex.What follows is a list of vertical markets where a brand audit has become an essential component of the brand management process. In these verticals, third party vendors are often sought. These contractors can save the hiring company travel expense by employing auditors geographically close to the locations where the audits will be conducted.RetailFor retailers, the store IS the brand, along with everything it contains. A brand audit within the retail space can be as simple as making sure a limited promotion is being properly executed, or as difficult as auditing the layout of an entire location. Other common brand auditing questions include:• Associates: Are they properly attired? Are they following sales scripts?• Signage: Are marketing standards being met? Is warranty and return policy signage properly displayed?• Sales and Promotions: Are they being properly presented by associates? Are they being properly marketed? Are they being properly merchandised?• Store layout: Are planograms being properly executed? Is the path to purchase being properly executed?• Product placement: Are products in the right place and order? Are products in inventory, especially during promotions?• Experience: Is the optimal customer experience being repeated consistently across all of the locations?C-StoresFor convenience stores, the outside of the location is just as important as the inside. A brand audit here will often focus as much on outside signage, cleanliness, and the gas pumps as they will on how clean the store is and how engaged employees are. Owners know that an unkempt store will prompt drivers to move on to another safer-seeming location. Here are typical C-Store audit questions:• Compliance: Are employees properly carding customers on alcohol and tobacco purchases?• Promotions: Is the appropriate collateral being displayed? Are employees following sales scripts?• Cleanliness: Are pump areas clean? Is the store clean? Are food and drink stations clean and properly stocked?• Gas pumps: Are they working properly? Is the appropriate signage included (promotions, credit card acceptance)?FoodserviceDifferent types of restaurants measure different things. QSR restaurants tend to emphasize speed, promotions and customer service, while fast casual restaurants tend to emphasize food quality and the overall customer experience. Dine-in restaurants tend to emphasize the quality of service from the host/hostess and server, the quality of the food and the overall customer experience. Whatever the nuance, a brand audit can capture the X-factor that goes into making a dining experience unique. These audits tend to be performed across the spectrum of:• Promotions: Is the proper signage being displayed inside and outside of the restaurant? Are employees following the proper sales scripts?• Uniforms: Are employees wearing approved uniforms and name badges?• Service levels: Are employees hospitable? Is food delivered within the required amount of time? Are orders accurate? Is upselling occurring?• Food quality: Are servings the proper weight/amount? Is food being served at the proper temperature?• Stores: Is the dining clean and appropriately stocked? Is the parking lot clean and well lit? Are bathrooms clean and well stocked?Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) ManufacturersCPG manufacturers often turn to a brand audit to ensure their products are being merchandised properly. Typical audits include questions regarding:• Shelf space: Is the product being displayed in the previously agreed up position in the store? Are seasonal POP displays properly displayed in the correct location?• In-store sales: In the case where a product is being demonstrated by an in-store representative, is the representative following the approved sales script? Is the proper collateral being distributed to shoppers?• Pricing: How is the competition pricing their product, especially from market to market? This is a great way to ensure and adjust pricing strategy.• Versioning: Is the correct version of the product being sold in a specific location?Competitive AnalysisA brand audit is an effective tool for competitive analysis, especially when the same measuring instrument is applied to both your brand and the competing brand or brands. In all of the examples listed above, the same data that is gathered about your brand execution can speak volumes about the brand execution of your competition. By measuring the results side-by-side, patterns will emerge that will show where the competition is winning and where there are weaknesses that can be exploited.Concluding ThoughtsWhether an audit is performed internally or on the competition, it is critical to see brand auditing as an ongoing process and not a one-time event. A measurement at a single point in time well reveal much, but a consistently executed program conducted over the course of years will reveal seasonal patterns, as well as ebbs and flows of execution that will lead to other discoveries.A brand is a promise, and the promise is not made in a vacuum. The many people and activities that go into the day-to-day workings of your company either fulfill that promise or make it a lie. A brand audit is the best way to ensure that your brand promise is being kept. </p>]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://sxtfsms.info/a-brand-audit-is-the-best-form-of-brand-insurance,html/feed</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Search Results</title> <link>https://sxtfsms.info/search-results-2,html</link> <comments>https://sxtfsms.info/search-results-2,html#comments</comments> <pubDate>Wed, 25 Jan 2023 23:27:14 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>admin</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://sxtfsms.info/?p=50</guid> <description><![CDATA[#EANF#]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>#EANF#</p>]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://sxtfsms.info/search-results-2,html/feed</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Search Results</title> <link>https://sxtfsms.info/search-results,html</link> <comments>https://sxtfsms.info/search-results,html#comments</comments> <pubDate>Wed, 25 Jan 2023 23:25:30 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>admin</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://sxtfsms.info/?p=48</guid> <description><![CDATA[#EANF#]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>#EANF#</p>]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://sxtfsms.info/search-results,html/feed</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Potential Reasons – Why Do Project Fail and How Project Managers Can Prevent?</title> <link>https://sxtfsms.info/potential-reasons-why-do-project-fail-and-how-project-managers-can-prevent,html</link> <comments>https://sxtfsms.info/potential-reasons-why-do-project-fail-and-how-project-managers-can-prevent,html#comments</comments> <pubDate>Wed, 25 Jan 2023 23:23:46 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>admin</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://sxtfsms.info/?p=46</guid> <description><![CDATA[The principle aim of this article is to identify and explore multiple dimensions of project failures during the entire life of project execution. Many projects fail, especially IT projects. The only way that companies can get better at performing projects is by learning from projects they have carried out. There are small things which can [...]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p> The principle aim of this article is to identify and explore multiple dimensions of project failures during the entire life of project execution. Many projects fail, especially IT projects. The only way that companies can get better at performing projects is by learning from projects they have carried out. There are small things which can decide fate of project. These all in project management practice and research, has been to see it as a threat and as something that should, if possible, be neutralized, reduced and followed.IntroductionIn a perfect world every project would be “on time and within budget.” But reality (especially the proven statistics) tells a very different story. It’s not uncommon for projects to fail. Even if the budget and schedule are met, one must ask -Question – “Did the project deliver the results and quality we expected?” Answer to this question could be different in different perspective. There is no single method or organizational structure that can be used to manage projects to success. Project failure can happen in any organization and to any project.There are many reasons why projects (both simple and complex) fail; the number of reasons can be infinite and can fit into different phase of SDLC (Software Development Life Cycle), initiation through go live. Sometimes it’s out of the control of a project manager and/or the team members. Sometimes failure is controllable. Failed projects and people involved with the failure have some things in common. I have tried to draft few critical and most basic reasons based on my experience for project failure and may differ project to project.From outside view, it could be that all reason will roll up to project manager’s responsibility and accountability however from my perspective it should be collective responsibility.Here are the some of the common reasons why project fails – based on my experience.1. Incompetent Project ManagerFirst possible cause of project failure is the project manager. A project manager who helps steer the project in a timely fashion and provides sound, inspiring leadership can go a long way toward bringing about a successful project. Reasons like “an incompetent project manager” “project manager unwilling to make decisions,” “project problems ignored”, “poor management by the project leader,” “loss of control by the project manager,” and “the failure of the project manager to delegate”, “working as only as coordinator” are most important reason given for project failure.2. Less Involvement of Project ManagersThis is always a topic of debate for project managers: Should they just focus on pure project management activities such as reporting, cost and issue tracking, or should they also dive into ground-level review and design? There is no correct answer. Even the biggest project depends on the success of the smallest components. Every detail contains a seed that can mean the difference between success and failure. On relatively inexperienced teams, project managers must be involved in the details for key activities. This will help them have better control of the effort as well as provide true status of the project to stakeholders.3. Unavailability to Skilled ResourcesEvery project has some resource estimations before starting of the project and even every vendor submits key personnel details and profile as part of bidding process to acquire project. However picture is always opposite once project is awarded. Initial resource estimations and loading sheet handed over to project managers as part of sales hand over process but I have seen that project managers always struggle for right skilled resources hence it is necessary that leadership team should understand criticality and provide planned/skilled resources on time to avoid project delay or failure.4. Lack of Proper PlanningProject managers should have clear projects outcomes visibility and should involve himself./herself right from sales hand over as this phase is critical for project success. If you don’t have a clear focus at the earliest stage of the process/project, you are making things harder on yourself. This would lead to inappropriate estimations and half cooked planning.5. Lack of Management Support/Leadership AlignmentIt is important to ensure that the senior management remains fully engaged throughout the project life cycle. The involvement e.g. through project update sessions imply that they are willing to take appropriate actions to address issues raised by the project team, mitigate the project risks, provide leadership, thus contributing to the project success.6. Missing CommunicationCommunication plan plays very substantial role in project success or failure. Plan should contain stakeholder details I.e name, role, contact no. and email, project team details, escalation matrix and other dependent groups. Information distribution details (stakeholder, information detail, distribution methods, format and frequency) should be clearly defined in plan. To save your project from failure, project manager need to establish a clear communication channel.Effective communication within any organization is important to keep all your team members on the same page, avoid confusions and keep them motivated. By communicating with your team, project managers can develop an environment of trust, proactively kill conflicts, which would bring the best out of your team and eventually lead to a successful delivery of the project.7. Ignoring Change Management ProcessTake a second before your project starts to undergo significant changes, or even before you look for a technology solution. It’s critical to define your change management process steps. A firm understanding of change management principles will serve as a strong backbone for any change management plan. Change is inevitable, irrespective of the size of your project. Whether good or bad, it must be managed well to ensure the project continues without disruption. Every project must have a change control process, and every change request, however small, must go through it. The change’s impact should be documented, approved and presented to key stakeholders so that everyone understands its effect on quality, cost and schedule. The focal point of any leader tasked with change must be to align their team with the vision. Communication is a crucial component in ensuring every team member is on the same page.8. No Risk Management ProcessMany projects fail because there is no risk management process as an integral part of the project management process. I am not surprised because I have been on many projects where the risk log is created at the start of the project and then quietly parked, never to be seen again. Then guess what – a perfectly predictable situation arises which no one knows how to react to.It was in the risk log but no risk response was created so the predictable outcome is a less than optimal project. My own feeling based on my experience is that you ignore risk management in a project at your risk.9. Inadequate Quality AssuranceNow this is where the technicality comes in. Software projects often fail when no quality assurance activities are planned and no systematic activities are performed to evaluate the quality of development process or ultimate deliverables. This is because managers often fail to project appropriate reviews tests or checkpoints where quality can be verified. Code review is part of this (as defined in #20).10. Missing Project Management Tools/FrameworkSuccessful projects are based on a methodology or framework that includes project management tools. Right approach can help project managers to stay on top of the project and by using some reliable management tools; project managers can enhance the team’s productivity, can increase accuracy and save time by automating activities like task tracking and managing dependencies.A great number of unsuccessful project results from missing methodology and framework, which leads to inaccuracy and wasted time. There are numerous project management frameworks and methodologies (like Agile, Iterative) and they can support efficient delivery.11. Company/Project CultureCompany or project culture should not be supported with political environment. It should support competency, skill, professionalism and transparency. If it isn’t, team members will not be motivated to do their best. Basically, everyone involved must be participated in their part of the project to successfully complete it. Any actions which project managers take to move project execution from the political arena into an objective and analytical one will improve the project’s success. This involves managing and retaining the most highly skilled and productive people. Knowledge is money. It is job of project managers to manage and motivate so that project efforts will experience a zone of optimal performance throughout its life.12. Inappropriate PrioritizationWhile some work best on a small number of requirements, others are better suited to very complex projects with many decision-makers. But regardless of when it is done, before a requirement can be prioritized, project managers must consider why requirement is most important from a business standpoint and what would be the impact of this on overall system whether new requirement would add value to overall system or it will be overhead. Project managers should lead prioritization exercise along with all relevant stakeholders. There are a number of possible business considerations, including value, cost, risk, and improve customer experience, stakeholder agreement and urgency variables.13. Inaccurate Stakeholder AnalysisStakeholder Analysis is the first step and an important process that successful project managers use to win support from others. Managing stakeholders helps them to ensure that their projects succeed where others might fail. There are three steps to follow in Stakeholder Analysis. First, identify who your stakeholders are. Next, work out their power, influence and interest, so that you know who you should focus on. Finally, develop a good understanding of the most important stakeholders based on Power/Interest grid, so that you know how they are likely to respond, and how you can win their support which can lead project success.14. Use of Unfamiliar ToolsTools are definitely needed for project execution and success but unfamiliar tools may lead to chances of failure as well. Sometimes, it can cause many severe problems during project life cycle as the team has to deal with the learning curve of new tools along with usual project tasks and duties. Project managers should ensure that tools are not enforced on project team members, just to utilize for fulfillment of audit compliance unless tools adding some productivity and save some efforts.15. Change – Always saying “Yes’ to the CustomerMany behaviors can cause a project to fail, but accepting whatever the client says is sure to spell project doom. Initially, a stakeholder might appreciate your flexibility – but that will be overshadowed later by the impact of possible schedule slippage and unmet objectives.. Change is a major cause of project failure. Project specifications can be changed for several reasons: initial planning was not complete or thorough; Senior-level management changed the scope of the work; the client (if not upper-level management) changed the scope of the work; this isn’t to say that you should always tell customers “no.” If you do that, they’ll feel their concerns are not being addressed. Before you commit to something, perform due diligence and analyze the pros and cons of your decision.16. Bonding between Project Team MembersIt is the prime responsibility of project managers to unite the team members to achieve a common goal. The stages a team generally goes through are: forming, storming, norming, performing and adjourning. As a project manager, a good understanding of these stages would help in guiding a team from infancy to maturity which creates needed bonding.Things can easily go from good to bad very quickly if there is no unity between your team members. Consider a scenario in which all team members are moving in different directions. Could you expect a positive result to come out of this situation? There could be many reasons from personality differences to conflicting interests. All of them contribute towards taking you one step closer to project failure.17. Unrealistic ExpectationsAt the beginning of a project, it’s important to set realistic expectations for every member or stakeholders who are a part of the project. If the project kicks off without setting goals for individual team members, they are most likely to lose clarity and focus somewhere in the middle. Project managers must have one on one session with individual team members and help them understand their role in the project. If goals are set before the project is in full swing, the members would have a roadmap to follow that prevents them from derailing the project.18. Talking Through ProblemsCondensing bad news internally for long enough will only seed the explosion later on. It’s is fine to do for a limited period, but you will need to take some time to pull it out, examine it, feel it, and study it so you can find a way to re-channel it, or transmute it into another kind of energy. Quite often we face the dilemma of whether or not to deliver bad news to stakeholders. And too often we forget this truth: Clients have a vested interest in the success of the project. They have every right to know any development impacting the outcome of the initiative. You will end up having this heavy thing on your chest that will never move. You will never understand what it is about. The problem is that we believe that sharing problems will make us weak, and that stakeholders will start to judge us for our short-comings. Maybe they do. But stakeholders having higher interest who genuinely care about project and you very well know these people, will come out and help. Sharing helps you feel less burdened, because you now have less things on your mind. This will also allow you more space to put new thoughts, planning things better.19. Guesstimates – EffortsA “guess estimate,” also referred to as a “gut feel,” is based on personal intuition and past experience. But even the most strongly held conviction could be faulty. An inaccurate estimate can leave a project team slogging day and night to meet a deadline. The project might finally be delivered on time-but with a huge effort overrun. If time is pressing, use Function Point technique, Function Points are units of measure for functional size as defined within the IFPUG Functional Size Measurement (FSM) Method and it is the major global functional sizing methodology. Project Manager is responsible for accurate and re-estimation post sales hand over. If efforts guesstimated or not correctly estimated with appropriate tool then it definitely impacts one of all three critical project parameters- Cost, Scope, schedule.20. Avoiding Code ReviewsAssuming that testing will catch bugs or that defects are fixed faster when you know where code is breaking. You’ll only end up increasing the risk of schedule slippage as the inflow of defects rises during testing and the turnaround time for code fixes increases. Code review helps produce a stable, quality deliverable. Its focus is not only to catch code defects but also to look at critical dimensions that may not get caught during testing, such as code optimization and requirement coverage.21. Skipping PrototypingDefects can result from a misunderstanding of requirements and a misinterpretation of stated requirements. Even if requirements are well-documented, they must be validated for correct understanding. Only by a visual walkthrough can users spot the differences in what they expect and what’s being built. Feedback must be planned at various stages throughout a project to reduce risks. These feedback loops will help you spot gaps early and provide enough time for correction. A sketch, wireframe, mockup, and prototype are all unique ways to visually display the requirements of your project with varying levels of detail. Understanding that level of polished output each of these present will keep expectations aligned and communication clear between all the stakeholders.ConclusionThere could be many different, seemingly independent causes of project failure. However, it becomes clear that many of these causes are actually linked to project managers (which may differ project to project) and their way of execution. Past failure should not discourage project managers from future efforts. Past examples of IT project failures gives us the opportunity to point to the relevant lessons that can be derived from recognizing areas where IT projects is more likely to fail.Changing the project’s scope not only affects cost, but it also affects schedules and resource allocation. One way to overcome to all causes is that the various stakeholders and project team of the project should be included in a very thorough planning process, thereby maximizing the input from the various vested interests and broadening the understanding of the project manager and team members resulting in success rather than failure. An improvement in success rate of IT projects is possible by putting significantly more focus on general-management activities. With accurate planning, defined goals, clear assignments and effective communication, proactive managers can overcome those odds to master, even the most challenging project and also required support of leadership team which can help project managers to complete more projects on time, within the allocated budget and with expected benefits/outcomes. </p>]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://sxtfsms.info/potential-reasons-why-do-project-fail-and-how-project-managers-can-prevent,html/feed</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Cholesterol Testing and the New Health Care Reform Bill, What Does That Mean to You?</title> <link>https://sxtfsms.info/cholesterol-testing-and-the-new-health-care-reform-bill-what-does-that-mean-to-you,html</link> <comments>https://sxtfsms.info/cholesterol-testing-and-the-new-health-care-reform-bill-what-does-that-mean-to-you,html#comments</comments> <pubDate>Wed, 25 Jan 2023 16:46:23 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>admin</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://sxtfsms.info/?p=44</guid> <description><![CDATA[As a means to make America healthier, the health care reform bill includes provisions to provide screenings for cholesterol, diabetes, and blood pressure. These new rules allows for preventative care to be covered under your insurance plan at no additional cost. Under these new rules, if you enroll in a new health plan on or [...]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p> As a means to make America healthier, the health care reform bill includes provisions to provide screenings for cholesterol, diabetes, and blood pressure. These new rules allows for preventative care to be covered under your insurance plan at no additional cost. Under these new rules, if you enroll in a new health plan on or after Sept. 23, 2010, the plan must provide recommended preventive care services without cost-sharing such as co-pays or deductibles.Depending on the type of health plan and other factors such as your age, preventative care will include the following according to sources:· Blood pressure, diabetes, and cholesterol test· Cancer screenings· Counseling on smoking cessation, weight loss, healthy eating, depression treatments, and reduction of alcohol use· Vaccines for measles, polio, meningitis, and HPV (human papilloma virus)· Shots for flu and pneumonia prevention· Screening, vaccines, and counseling for healthy pregnancies· Well-baby and well-child visits up to the age of 21, as well as vision and hearing, developmental assessments, and body mass index (BMI) screenings for obesity· Mammograms for women over age 40· Pap smears for cervical cancer prevention· Colon cancer screening tests for adults over age 50The plan is designed to create a country which will be healthier. This reform represents a fundamental shift in how you are going to be cared for. This reform will place the focus on how to keep you well rather than how to treat you when you are sick. So many Americans go about their daily lives without knowing the status of their well being. Many of you don’t realize that you have a potential life threatening condition such as high cholesterol until it’s too late. In most cases the co-pays and other out-of-pocket costs to help identify these problems are a stumbling block. This plan will provide you with the means to be tested so you can know where you stand so you can know what to do to correct these conditions before it becomes a serious issue. The reason why the health care reform bill has place an emphasis on preventative care is because chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes and others are responsible for seven of 10 deaths among American each year and account for 75% of the nation’s health care spending. According to government estimates between now and 2013, the new preventive care provisions will help an estimated 88 million Americans get preventive care, including those in group and individual plans.What you need to do is check with your employers and their insurance policy about what is covered under those plans, when the plans turn over to a new one the new covered preventive services provisions will take effect. If you have an existing health care plan you are paying for individually, contact them to find what will be the process to implement the provisions of the health care reform bill. In the meantime you are encouraged to go to check out www.healthcare.gov, type in a health plan, and see if preventive care is covered under your current plan. 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