e-XECUTIVE Self Training CD

I do take this opportunity to introduce to you this Executive Self Training CD. This CD contains 39 Executive Program Courses and case studies that are geared towards enhancing the business skills of corporate heads, managers,  entrepreneurs,  students and individuals keen on gaining competitive advantage in the Business world.

The courses herein have been put together by experts in the industry. The courses are available in Ms Word, Ms Excel, Ms Powerpoint and PDF formats

The e-Xecutive Self Training CD contains the following courses:-

• Building Capacity in Non Profit Organizations
• Case Study - Balanced Scorecard
• Case Study - Effective Capacity Building. By McKinsey & Co.
• Competitive Intelligence (Part 1)
• Leadership
• Logic Model Development Guide
• Managing Projects
• Process Improvement
• Project Management Primer
• Scorecard White paper
• Social Entrepreneurship
• The Basics of Competitive Intelligence
• Balanced Scorecard Project - Template
• Case Study - Capital Budgeting Analysis
• Financial Analysis and Forecasting
• Malcolm Baldrige Model
• Mergers & Acquisitions
• Performance Management Plan
• Project Management Toolkit
• Project - Templates
• Scorecard - Spreadsheet
• Analytical Thinking Training
• Fundamentals of Competitive Intelligence
• Strategic Planning Model
• Building The Balanced Scorecard
• Capital Budgeting Analysis
• Creating Value in Non profit Sector
• Creating Value Through Financial Management
• Evaluating Financial Performance
• Financial Planning & Forecasting
• Managing Cash Flow
• Mergers & Acquisitions - A Beginners Guide
• Mergers & Acquisitions (Part 1)
• Mergers & Acquisitions ( Part 2)
• Strategic Planning
• Strategic Planning Manual
• The Balanced Scorecard 
• The Management of Capital

Business Intelligence Tools - BI Tools For The ipad.

Business Intelligence Tools are distinct in terms of price, use and functions. There are various manufacturers and vendors of Business Intelligence tools who are in good position to advice you on the best tools to meet your organization’s needs. A good advice from the vendor will be able to bring to your knowledge the strengths, weaknesses, differences, cost and functions of the various Business Intelligence tools. It is good however to ensure that the vendor is giving you accurate information through consultations with credible Business Intelligence experts.

Business Intelligence tools are instrumental when it comes to reporting, dash boarding and analysis. There are various Business Intelligence tools to look at including:

           Business Intelligence Tool                                   Version          Vendor

1.	Oracle Enterprise BI Server	11g1	Oracle
2.	Business Objects Enterprise XI	r4	SAP
3.	Microsoft BI tools (integrated BI offering*)	2008/2010	Microsoft
4.	SAS Enterprise BI Server	9.2	SAS Institute
5.	Microstrategy	9	Microstrategy
6.	IBM Cognos Series 10	10.1	IBM
7.	QlikView	10	QlikTech
8.	Board Management IntelligenceToolkit	7.1	Board International
9.	BizzScore Suite	7.3	EFM Software
10.	WebFocus	8	Information Builders
11.	Oracle Hyperion System	9	Oracle
12.	SAP NetWeaver BI	7.3	SAP
13.	Actuate	9.1	Actuate
14.	Style Intelligence	11	InetSoft
15.	Pentaho BI suite (open source)	4	Pentaho
16.	Tableau Software	6.1	Tableau Software

It is worth noting that the role of mobile devices in the Business Intelligence field is growing in terms of functionality. Of these devices the tablets are said to be on the forefront in swallowing up Business Intelligence functionality.

For those of us who are interested in carrying out Business Intelligence functions using the ipad, there are several good Business Intelligence tools available for this sleek device. Some of these Business Intelligence applications that can be used by the ipad include:-

·         MicroStrategy

·         Qlikview

·         Roambi

·         Tibco Spotfire

·         Yellowfin 

At the end of the day it is upon the organization to do due diligence and an audit in order to establish what Business Intelligence tools will work to the organization’s advantage.

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Research & Development

Research and Development are at the core of any product development. Leading companies are known to invest billions of dollars in product development by leveraging their R and D departments. Investment is R and D is highly capital intensive but the returns are worth every dime. It is worth noting that R and D can also take a very long time before the actual product can find its way in the market.

Pharmaceutical companies invest a lot of time in research. It can take even decades for a drug to go through research, testing, licensing and finally being released into the market. This basically means that the funds and the time invested in R and D is massive. This therefore calls for prudence and meticulous planning in order to ensure that every second and every dime is put into proper use. It would be a pity for all the investments put into the research and development of a product to go up in smoke.

It is worth noting that R and D departments need foresight as part of their strategy. The world has witnessed expensive ventures fail because of lack of foresight in the part of the planners. The introduction of the concord is a good example of an expensive strategy gone wrong. Any organization worth its salt should minimize losses by engaging only in viable ventures after thorough research. Any discrepancies that come at the R and D stage should be taken care of immediately and nothing should be left to chance. This is important in helping organizations gain as much as possible from their R and D strategy.

Research and Development is an expensive venture and as such due diligence needs to be carried out with the sole aim of maximizing the returns from the end product.

Should Your University Matter To Your Potential Employer?

A look at the employee profiles of the leading global institutions will reveal an interesting trend as far as the recruitment process is concerned. It is apparent that many global companies have a preference for graduates from certain universities. This means that for such organizations if your certificate is not reading something like Wharton, Insead, Kellog, Havard, MIT or any other institution along such lines, then employment for you in such organizations will be a tall order.

The question that many people are asking is “isn’t a degree just a degree regardless of the school one went to?” The appropriate answer to this question is ‘yes’ and ‘no’. “Yes” because an MBA from an Ivy League university carries more weight in terms of student preparation, industrial exposure and experience. “No” because the basics of a certain MBA program are the same across all the institutions of higher learning. A Strategic Management program has some basics that are homogeneous across the board and as such a graduate from any reliable and recognized business school can do the job.

Employers should therefore approach the recruitment process with caution in order to tap talents extensively from the various schools across the globe. This is a great way of creating diversity because recruiting only from Ivy School universities at the expense of other universities might subject the organization to only “Ivy league ideas.”

The burden of the employee is however to be the best they can be regardless of their undergraduate or graduate schools. Not everyone can make it to an elite Ivy League university and so employers should be prudent enough not to deny graduates opportunities to grow just because they do not fit in the elite class of universities. At the end of the day it’s the results and productivity of the employee in question that matters. 

The Social Networking Strategy

The past few years have witnessed an explosion of the social networking sites. Initially such sites were used mainly by individuals to catch up with friends and family members.  This was when employers were not very lenient on employees who were found logging into the social networking sites. Some employers even went a step further to block internet use in their offices because employees who used social networking sites were thought to be wasting the organization’s time and resources.

However times have changed and the past few years have witnessed multinationals and global companies finding their space in the social networking platform. This is because the social networking platform has got a potentially global constituency for the various global organizations. It is common nowadays to get updates and strategic articles through a company’s facebook page which is in a sense more leveraged compared to waiting for people to log onto a company’s traditional website.

The social networking sites have provided great opportunities for companies and individuals who are keen on finding either a local or global footprint. Individuals and small business entities without their own websites are taking advantage of the social networking sites to create a constituency of customers and for the marketing of products. Celebrities, churches, not for profit organizations, politicians and everyone that cares to connect with the entire are finding their space in the more affordable social networking sites.

It is therefore important for organizations and individuals to come up with their own social networking strategy that’s to help them stay ahead of the competition. This can be in terms of leveraging your marketing and products or in the competition for talent. Some companies are not just using the social networking platform for marketing purposes but also as an interface for recruiting the best talent.

This therefore calls for organizations to come up with 360 degrees strategies that will help them circumvent the modern day dynamic market.

Re-ignite Your Dreams

A dream is in a sense an innate confirmation of where we are going. It is an evidence of what we haven’t seen and where we haven’t been. It is a source of strength and encouragement whenever we encounter obstacles. It is what keeps individuals and the society on the straight and narrow path whenever dark clouds gather and the storms strike.

Dreams are tied to faith and as such pursuing your dreams is basically a step of faith. The reality of life is that our dreams will be tested from time to time and there will be numerous occasions where we’ll feel like letting go of our dreams and ambitions. It is common for people to give up on their dreams altogether as a result of fatigue and burn out. The pursuit of our dreams is a pilgrimage and the path is laced with all sorts of discouragement and obstacles. However the greatest hindrance that we are likely to encounter in the pursuit of our dreams is spiritual and psychological fatigue. This tends to be the breaking point for most people and so “times of refreshment” are important at this point.

It is therefore important for us to always take time out from all the hustle and bustle of everyday life to reflect and analyze the path to our dreams. We need to go back to the place where we were really excited about our dreams before the fatigue and burn out overwhelmed us. This is an important moment of reflection and decision making as far as getting back on track is concerned. The path to achieving our goals may not be clear cut and so there might be some detours on our way there. The most important thing though is to fix our eyes on the prize and not lose focus because of the distractions around us if we are really serious about achieving our goals.

Letting go of our God given dreams is a sure way of letting go of God’s purpose for your life which is disobedience. We therefore need to take time out to water and nurture our dreams in order to become all that God made us to be.

So, take time out today and re-ignite your glorious dreams.

Inspirational Leadership

Good leaders should have the ability to manage, build consensus, be pragmatic, communicate effectively and basically steer the organization towards its destiny. However one of the most ignored traits of good leadership is that of “inspiration.” Whenever an organization or a crisis faces difficulties, one of the most uplifting things that a leader can give to the people is inspiration.

Even the most talented and qualified people within an organization will from time to time need an uplifting word in times of despair. The truth of the matter is that all organizations encounter stormy seasons from time to time and when this happens the people tend to look upon their leader to tell them that it’s all going to be well at the end of the day. It’s the leader’s prerogative to assure the people that the current stormy situation is just but a passing cloud which will pass someday.

The world has witnessed powerful Heads of State come out to inspire the citizenship of a country is times of crisis. Amidst tears and heartbreaks, Heads of State and Government have had to face the citizenship and the entire world while categorically stating that they are in charge and that with the help of the citizenship they shall overcome. We all remember the assurance given by President George W. Bush to the Americans and the world after the September 11 terrorist attacks. “You are either with us or with the terrorists” is the statement that summed it all up for the Americans and the world. It was a statement of unity and of purpose.

An inspired organization is a combative organization. The strength of a leader goes a long way in building consensus and unity among the people. While acknowledging the fact that leaders are mere mortals with frailties and emotions just like everybody else, it is imperative to state that a leader’s inspiration lies in knowledgeable advice and wise counsel. This therefore calls for leaders to surround themselves with people of great repute, moral character and great wisdom. A leader should surround himself or herself with inspirational people who have walked the walk and have succeeded in the process.

This inspiration from within a leader’s inner circle can then be transferred to the masses within an organization or a nation. At the end of the day it is worth noting that an inspired people are a potentially successful people which is good for any organization or nation.