Can BPM Help Your Business?
BPM Today (01/30/07) ; Millard, Elizabeth

Unlike other business re-engineering programs and strategies, BPM or Business Process Management aims for continuous improvement in business processes throughout the enterprise; and these software tools and policies can improve productivity and efficiency across departments, according to experts. Yankee Group Analyst Sheryl Kingstone notes that firms in need of certain project management software can find solutions with BPM applications integrated within them to assess business processes and communications between departments, but other firms may want a more in-depth BPM program, which can only be found at a dedicated vendor, such as Tibco, Appian, and SRC. BPM applications depict process problems and possible solutions in visual representations and simulations, and these programs assign tasks to specific departments and individuals to improve accountability. Business Objects vice president Peri Pierone says, "What you are looking for is vertical alignment." A typical BPM strategy, according to Pierone, would be to create process synergies between a company's COO and CFO, for instance, in order to strengthen the company's infrastructure and operations.
http://www.newsfactor.com/news/Can-BPM-Help-Your-Business-/story.
xhtml?story_id=132004B3QKKO

Have Tech, Will Travel: Small, Light Equipment Well Suited to Today's Road Warrior
Columbus Dispatch (OH) (01/29/07) P. 1F ; Meyer, Anne Marie

Road warriors rallied manufacturers to create the smallest and highest performance technologies possible, and these workers are thrilled to work outside the office in their homes, hotels, airports, and other venues with technology that keeps them productive. Not only are workers using laptops with increasing frequency, but they are also carrying around portable printers, wireless network cards, cameras, and other accessories so they can best service their clients. Management consultant Patrick Genovese reports, "Every client is set up differently. I can communicate via e-mail even if I am not logged onto the client's corporate network (with a wireless card)," but he will not forego productivity and performance when choosing products. Those workers purchasing wireless cards should research download speeds and service provider's coverage areas in order to get the most from their purchase, and on-the-go workers should always opt for the unlimited package to ensure they have enough minutes to cover their workload needs. Experts also warn that telecommuting workers should ensure their devices and data are secure from hackers and other thieves either through physical security precautions or password protections.
http://www.dispatch.com/connect/connect.php?story=dispatch/2007/0
1/29/20070129-F1-01.html

Don't Let E-Mail Swallow You Up
New Orleans Times-Picayune (01/28/07) P. 1 ; Lewis, Katherine Reynolds

Cohesive Knowledge Solutions (CKS) CEO Mike Song says one-third of the more than 40 percent of each workday devoted to email and data storage is wasted time, accounting for productivity losses of $300 billion nationwide. To help employees better manage their time, a growing number of companies are offering email training. Employees of Florham Park, N.J.-based Novartis Oncology, for instance, freed up eight days annually after completing a 45-minute seminar from CKS. Nic Oatridge of Novartis says employees are told that they will receive fewer messages if they cut back the number of messages they send. According to Capital One Financial Services human resources director Matt Koch, "If I send out a bad email, I'm going to get three, four, five back asking for clarification, and I've ruined my productivity." Song urges workers to think about calling co-workers on the phone or speaking with them directly instead of sending emails. If an email is necessary, he recommends using such words as "Action," "Request," or "Delivery" to let the recipient know what to do with the message. He adds that inputting "NRN" (no reply is needed) or even the whole message in the subject line can also save a lot of time.
http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/index.ssf?/base/money-3/116996847917
5150.xml&coll=1

Tying Together Your CRM Channels
Mobile Tech Today (01/24/2007) ; Millard, Elizabeth

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software is being used more and more by mobile sales agents armed with laptops and handheld devices. However, current CRM technology does not work well in all-or-one devices, and sending large amounts of data over the Internet can be challenging. Top CRM systems will first examine what a sales team needs before deploying a configuration. For instance, maybe a personal digital assistant (PDA) could connect to CRM customer records, while orders are confirmed separately by email over the Internet. In addition, companies may not want offsite agents to launch 1,000-person email marketing campaigns through a CRM portal, even if it were possible. On the other hand, using a mobile CRM system to log in expense records may be more efficient than waiting until a trip ends. "The key is customizing the application and understanding the restrictions with mobile input," says Salesforce.com director of product marketing Al Falcione.
http://www.newsfactor.com/story.xhtml?story_id=12000003IDTC

DIY Tips for a Spam-Free Inbox
Small Business Computing (01/26/07) ; Roberts, Guy

There are several things workers can do to minimize the amount of spam entering their email inboxes, according to McAfee Inc. anti-spam research manager Guy Roberts. They would be wise to immediately delete spam messages without opening them, given that attempting to unsubscribe from mailing lists or clicking any links within the message merely confirms the validity of their email addresses. Roberts also recommends deleting their email addresses from Web sites or newsgroups, ignoring requests to confirm account information, and opting out of third-party mailings when completing Web forms. Those receiving a flood of spam messages should consider obtaining a new email account, and they might even want to have separate email addresses for personal messages and public forums.
http://www.smallbusinesscomputing.com/biztools/article.php/365620
1

Lacking a Strategic Plan for 2007? There's Still Time to Prepare One Before Busy Season
Partner's Report (01/07) Vol. 2007 , No. 1 ,

It is not too late for small business owners to set strategic parameters for 2007, and one option for owners is to develop a strategy statement that can be modified after the busy season. Partners should discuss key issues and devise a set of easily-to-understand declarative points about what is happening within the firm and the industry. The discussion should begin at the practice-group level to enhance focus, with a facilitator assigned to each unit to lead the proceedings. Partners should develop the strategy together to ensure it addresses relevant and necessary changes and to also gain consensus, and it is important to maintain accountability and give credit where it is due for ideas. The statement should move beyond the general and include actual numbers, and the company should be compared and contrasted with its competitors. Additionally, trends should be examined, strengths and weaknesses should be charted, and steps for improvement should be clearly identified. Partners should seek their clients' opinions and consider whether the company is effectively utilizing its technological options.
http://www.ioma.com/issues/CPAPR/2007_1/1611056-1.html