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C. recently contacted me after he received his annual personnel review. He was slightly confused so he aproached my Online Counseling services. The review stated that he was a “Very efficient manager…” but that he was also “Not as effective as they expected.”

As a Small Business Advice consultant I directed him first to look in his company’s policy manual for their specific definition of the terms if available. I then went on to explain what ‘efficient’ and ‘effective’ mean as they are usually listed in management textbooks.

Not only businesspersons or managers but anyone engaged in the processes of planning, organizing, managing and monitoring have a practical familiarity with theses terms. They usually are relating to various activates and situations that occur regularly in business and professional environments as well as personal situations. A little further clarification on this would be that “anyone” engaged in a managerial process may include the following: A housewife that runs the family affairs, a student that is going to be tested and graded, a retired civil servant who manages the household budget while saving what he or she can for a rainy day. These are just a few examples of positions where the terms “efficient” and “effective” might apply.

Generalities aside; let us talk in scientific and precise language now: 

Efficiency – is ‘to do the things right’; to be accurate, calculated and structured according to the up-to-date procedure, in order to achieve the highest yield in the least amount of invested resource or effort. Once you run your shop, house or life in efficient mode, you capture the amount of waste and get to your desired output while spending the least amount of input.

Here are some examples from my experience as a Small Business Advice consultant: a manager should calculate which activities would be efficiently done in-house and what would be better out-sourced in order to reduce costs. A busy mother must determine, working around a schedule, what route(s) to drop off three or four kids active in several sport or social clubs in various parts of the city. A student will retain more when knowing the best hours to study, based on his or her learning style and personal daily arousal cycle. The retired investor should monitor not only the yield, but also the managing costs of the fund he chose to invest in.

Effectiveness – is ‘to do the right things’ in order to not only meet current expectations, but the overall desired product. That means: to make the right decisions of what to do or what not to do. To let yourself or others know what direction to choose, and therefore what avenue to ignore.

After going over this information during our Online Counseling session, C. were able to relate it more specifically to specific situations. He had to ask himself if he had a good blend of management and leadership. MANAGEMENT: doing things right, according to the current procedure in order to achieve the highest yield in the least amount of invested resource or effort; this is efficiency. LEADERSHIP: doing the right things, while considering long term outcomes; this is effectiveness.

Originally posted 2010-03-16 15:51:14.

VoIP Phones allow organization to maintain effective and efficient communications between all its employees, clients and business associates at much cheaper prices. This is one of the main reasons for which VoIP systems and services are in high demands in the market.

VoIP or voice over internet protocol is one of the latest developed technologies which allow organizations to make voice calls over the internet. While making a VoIP call from a computer system to a VoIP conferencing phone/landline phone, the average cost of the calls is much cheaper than the calls made using landline phones. Moreover, a VoIP call made from a computer system to another is almost equivalent to free of cost.

A common misconception about VoIP calls and VoIP phones is that, the individuals at both the ends of the call need to remain glued to their seats and computer systems until the call is over. Nowadays, there are a number of wireless VoIP headsets, telephone adapters and VoIP systems with high quality speaker systems available in the market which allows users to move around certain space, while connected to a VoIP call.

Besides the portability and cost effective communication options offered by the VoIP systems and VoIP services, some of the other benefits for which more and more number of organizations are investing in these systems, include:

The portability options offered by a VoIP conferencing phone prove highly beneficial especially for business travelers. Business travelers can even choose to use regular phone systems and use it with VoIP phone adapters while traveling. All that an individual will require for making a VoIP call is the VoIP phone number and a internet connection.

VoIP technology facilitates users to access phone, email, fax, web conferencing, Internet and video applications, all at the same time.

A VoIP user also has the facility to choose any area code for his/her VoIP phone number. Therefore, an organization located in one city, with clients from other cities, can select the area codes of the cities where their clients are located. By doing this they can make calls at the local call charges.

More and more number of business organizations from diverse business fields are choosing to invest in high quality Avaya phone systems and other VoIP systems so that they can communicate with their clients in a better, convenient and cost effective manner.

Businesses are also investing in Merlin phone systems for their exciting and unique features.

Originally posted 2009-11-04 17:46:26.

Promotional bags are an extremely effective means of advertising for any company, primarily used to reward loyal customers or to make an impression on prospective customers at events. Some of the most popular types of promotional bags are: business bags, laptop bags, promotional backpacks, sports bags, travel bags, tote bags and cooler bags.

Anyone considering the use of promotional bags in their next marketing campaign should look into the added benefits of branding. Personalising promotional bags will make them stand out from the crowd, which is fundamental if the promotion’s objective is to raise brand awareness.

In many ways, the choice of branding is just as important as the choice of bag. All promotional bags provide excellent overprinting opportunities with several low cost branding options available.

Screen printing offers the best value for adding a one- or two-colour logo to promotional bags, whereas transfer print is slightly more expensive but ideal for logos needing a four-colour print process. The low cost option in relation to perceived value is embroidering, which can accommodate six colours in any design.

Branding on leather promotional bags should ideally be subtle in line with the quality and intended use of the product. Options include foil blocking or blind embossing. In addition promotional bags can be further customised by the addition of metal and rubber badges or stitched-in labels.

With their combination of practicality, style, superior quality and cutting edge design, branded promotional bagsare a perfect way for a company to demonstrate its commitment to excellence.

Promotional bags represent a highly effective means of advertising for a company. They can also be used to reward loyal customers or employees, or make an impression on potential customers at events such as trade shows, exhibitions, conferences, sporting or fundraising events.

Some of the most popular types of promotional bags are: business bags, laptop bags, promotional backpacks, sports bags, travel bags, tote bags and cooler bags, each offering their own distinct features and benefits.

All promotional bags provide excellent overprinting opportunities. Branded bag giveaways tend to be of superior quality and cutting edge design. They are great for everyday use, have a high perceived value and reflect a company’s commitment to excellence.

Bags can meet all promotional needs whatever the budget. Starting at under £1 per bag, they are perfect for low cost giveaways when the marketing requirement is for a product with immediate but short term impact.

At the other end of the pricing spectrum, companies looking for a premium product that goes beyond promotional quality can find bags with a superior finish – giving any promotion a touch of class and longevity.

Promotional bags do not even have to always be off the shelf. For little or no extra cost, unique design specifications can usually be accommodated through bespoke bags. Most in-house design studios will undertake all design and produce visuals free of charge.

Ideally suited as promotional giveaways, goodie bags, for sales promotions, or for promotional incentives, promotional bags are a great way to market any business.