TND West

Despite the numerous articles written about managing your reputation online many people still ignore the fact that once something is out there on the web it rarely if ever goes away.  Most employers and potential customers will check your online reputation and will place a lot of emphasis on what Google says.   People say “but that’s my private business” if they are swearing all over a blog or making drunken fools of themselves on You Tube.  Once its out there on the Web it is every body’s business.

There is no privacy on the web unless your guard it diligently.  A good rule of thumb is never put anything on the web that you would not want to appear in a newspaper.  Unlike the newspaper the information will not go away when they newspaper gets thrown away.  If you have a Google reputation problem and seriously regret those things you did in college now you are looking for a job with a mortgage to pay and kids to support you can do something about it.  Here is a good slide show which walks your through some of the strategies to repair your reputation reputation management case study or if you have lots of money you can hire a company to do your online reputation management for you.  Online reputation repair programs can run from thousands of dollars to several thousand dollars and into six figures.

The best strategy is to proactively manage your online reputation before there is a problem and if in doubt do not put anything on the web that you might not want to see again especially at that big job interview.

Costumer Service perspectives actually apply to most if not all of the business and social institutions at work in society. On a college campus or even high school, costumer service techniques are extremely beneficial to the classroom. Instructors and become trapped in a power struggle with a student, brought on either by themselves or the student, and engaging or elevating the struggle rarely produces a positive or mutually satisfying result. Steve Barbarich is extremely aware of the need for excellent costumer service and makes every effort to guarantee satisfaction both with product and the purchase experience. In an academic setting this would be manifested both in the student’s appreciation for the material studied as well as the learning experience itself.

To ensure a positive experience, or at least a fair one for the student, and one that should remain free from grievance procedures against a professor or instructor, many universities have issue protocol guidelines in place to help prevent irreconcilable conflict. One of the items on many lists is to avoid developing a teaching structure that can encourage a power struggle with the student. If one insists on entering into this dynamic, it will be extremely detrimental to the learning process. In addition, instructors should not let the student manipulate their way into a struggle for power on their end.

Other aspects of maintaining a productive and satisfying relationship with students, who it must be remembered are the paying consumers in the educational context, include validating the student’s concerns if and when they arise. This does not mean that a change in syllabus or specific assignment must take place, but simply validating that the student has a concern that must be addressed is often the only step necessary to correct it. Another important tool is to address issues or conflicts with the student in a private room, away from the rest of the class. This will prevent the student from feeling embarrassed or ashamed in front of other students, and also it will prevent them from acting out to perform in front of the their peers.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) along with the Department of Justice (DOJ) have prioritized efforts to investigate then prosecute corruption in business. The FCPA, Foreign Corrupt Practice Act has also prioritized the enforcement of regulators and their issues concerning major compliance for all US companies that operate overseas. This has raised the bar significantly for companies to side with caution when it comes to financial risk.

Companies are required to register with the SEC all business transactions in order to accurately keep records and effectively maintain a system that will internalize accounting controls. The FCPA, steadfastly prohibits all US companies and all the officers down to the employees and subsidiaries from attempting to bribe officials in foreign countries, including any intermediaries or indirect means of bribery in order to obtain or even retain businesses.

With stiffening regulations, a majority of companies are now hiring other companies with extensive investigative backgrounds and experience in forensic accounting and help US Global companies in all industries and in all geographies to investigate, detect and prevent bribery and corruption. They are well equipped to conduct assessments to make sure US Global companies or FCPA compliant by focusing on the business marketing practices concerning foreign governments and they work with outside counsel, which results in a tailored audit program developed for each client’s needs and FCPA risks.

While businesses often focus on the technical elements of their company, they can often neglect other elements, such as an excellent background in cultural education, an important fundamental that slowly evolves into increasing significance with the growth of globalization.  Sales training is not enough anymore: it must also contain lessons in cultural etiquette.

Though business in Japan has increased more and more through the years, not everyone in corporate culture considers such important features of their culture, such as the fact that it tends be a high context society.  This is particularly important since networking is the backbone of businesses these days.  A relationship within the Japanese culture is not only about legal contracts and duties.  It is something a person must take great effort and work to cultivate and maintain.

Other factors to consider are how business groups in Japan are formed.  Financial factions are referred to by the name Zaibatsu, whereas factions in industry are Keiretsu.  The Keiretsu was once a larger part of Japanese business culture, but due to economic problems and mergers, the importance of this faction has reduced in importance.  Originally, a group centered about banking corporation and a trading business with the other lesser companies that were satellites to them.  These companies could include construction, insurance, and various factories.  Any organizational development considered must know and understand how the Keiretsu works in order to be successful since some businesses simply will not expand outside the Keiretsu they are located in.

Though a very traditional approach that is not always conducive to managing the best prices, it is still important.  It is a very loyal approach that most Westerners might not understand without the proper training.  Even in the technical attributes of a business, traditional cultural habits and customs still maintain a fierce hold, not only in Japan but even in the United States.  In order to be a successful business, a company culture must work other cultures into their more conventional training schemes.

The offshore oil and gas industry is notoriously dangerous, where death is an ever present danger for those out in the field.  However, changes and improvements in leadership training have helped to cut down on such deaths.  With executives at some of these companies getting the best training possible, workplace safety is slowly becoming better and better for their employees while still maintaining great levels of production.

Health and Safety Executive show how deaths and serious injury are very low today.  In this previous year in fact no deaths were reported in any offshore locations.  The year before that showed the same figures.  Such findings are becoming a common and positive thing.   As for injuries, they are very low at the moment, the lowest they been for about twenty years.  There were only thirty cases this year, which is even less than what Health and Safety discovered last year in their research.

The cause for all these excellent findings?  Altering how management back onshore comprehended the safety of their offshore employees says Health and Safety Executive Ian Whewell.  Because most senior level executive got promoted through positions in departments like marketing not in engineering or other fields associated with offshore practices, they did not fully understand what serious hazards were involved in the business of drilling and how important workplace safety is, especially for their company.  Because management leaders have received the proper business training and injury was reduced, and as a result, so did production and morale.

Though the training was simple in nature, it made a great improvement in comprehension for those leaders with no experience outside of the cubicle environment where it is difficult to imagine the tragedies that can happen in offshore drilling.  The effect of such training seminars were immediate and obviously successful, seeping down into all areas of the bsiness.

No matter which side of the team one is one, be it in the sales department or on the marketing team, one can not do well without the other.  The marketing department will communicate with sales teams as to what it takes, to help them understand what is necessary for success.  Through valuable sales training, and using the skills of organizational development will understand the different levels of courting and collecting new customers and/or clients.  When the steps are well known and practiced, and when the teams are knowledgeable about the various aspects and materials that work specific to their products, this creates an operation that is both effective and efficient. 

Potential clients are usually not concerned with just how long a company has been in operation.  The exception to this is when they may be comparing one’s company with another, and when all other aspects measure up the same, the deciding factor may be the length of the life the business has lived so far.  In this case that may cause a client to go one way or another, but what is more important to most people in general, is the relationship that one creates. 

If the salesperson has fostered a trusting relationship, the factor of the age of the business is a mute point.  When considering marketing and advertising, it is generally believed that the stress should be on that aspect of good business.  A one line sentence in regards to how long one has been in business is sufficient.  What makes a company different from the rest is what will lead to future clients and successful returns.  Clients need to know good reasons that one’s product or service is the best possible option.  If these are outlined in the marketing campaign, the salespeople will have an outline, a tool that will help them to confirm that yes, this company is different, this company is the one for them.

Venture capital is something that drives the marketplace of the United States. Without it, most businesses could not get their feet off the ground to make a difference in the marketplace with an amazing product. And because the United States economy has slowed, the market has seen less venture capitalists investing. But the Kansas City Business Journal has reported that

United States venture capital is on the rise again. In the second quarter, venture capitalists have invested about 5 billion dollars in roughly 600 deals. Despite the fact that the figure is about 40 percent lower than a year ago is just fine considering it is about a 30 percent improvement from the first quarter.

Where the industry is seeing a rise in venture capital funding is in healthcare and also information technology. The interesting thing is that this is the first time since records have started that the healthcare industry has been ahead of the information technology industry in venture capital gains.

Another interesting fact that was brought up in the article was that although the state of California is bankrupt, it still leads the venture capital activity for the second quarter. And the state almost always does lead the country’s economy in the number of deals that flow through the nation’s economy.

As far as venture capital goes, it’s not just for the big guys. Small time inventors align them self with firms like Absolutely New to get a piece of the venture capital pie. The company, founded by Steve Barbarich, is a venture capital that is funding consumer products and the patents for them. This company back products that it sees has the most potential to do well in the marketplace. They help small time inventors with their development and protecting their intellectual property.

Who knew that venture capital really makes the world go ‘round.

In the 1990s, according to the Justice Department, American businessman James Giffen had the title of counselor to the president of Kazakhstan. His job was to help with “priority investment projects relating to the exploration, development, production, transportation, and processing of oil and gas.” That made him hugely important in Kazakhstan and far beyond.  The last of the republics declaring their independence of the Soviet Union was Kazakhstan, this occurred in 1991.

The gas and oil reserves were abundant and, due to Kazakhstan’s independence,  these resources were now on the market for energy companies in the United States.  Four American companies acquired deals with the government between the years of 1996 and 1998, Texaco, Amaco, Phillips Petroleum and Mobil Oil.

In 2003, Giffen was indicted by the United States grand jury in the state of New York, for breaking the laws of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.  He was charged crimes that would include bribery, conspiracies that were intended to violate the laws of the FCPA, wire and mail fraud, failure in disclosing the bank accounts in foreign countries, and conspiracy to and participating in money laundering.  A list crimes that would send him to prison for eighty years.

Six years later he still has not gone to trial.  It seems that the oil and the gas interests in Kazakhstan may be too important to risk the implications.  Further investigation reveals that he had the full support of the U.S. government.

Much of the evidence surrounding his case is classified. Giffen is charged with 62 accounts of criminal indictment, however most of the information regarding his case is now top secret.  The details of the case are even hidden from Giffen, off limits to even himself.  This is a modern case of ‘who dunit’ and will continue throughout the months, perhaps the years ahead.

Starting a business is no easy feat. It takes time, money and a lot of hard work. But most of American workers are either small business owners or employed by a small business. So needless to say, success can be had in the small business arena. You just have to find your market niche. And with the job market the way it is currently, now just might be the perfect time to start that business that you have always dreamed of.

First off, think about something that makes you passionate. We all know that when we have no passion for our jobs, you just get bored and unmotivated. A job should be something you look forward to doing. Think about what you would do if you were to retire right now, and think about how you could make that into a business. If you have always wanted to own a boutique or love to play golf, think about how you could corner that market to make it some niche that consumers would enjoy and want to be a part of.

Think about times where you wished there was a service or product that you were hoping for. That’s what Steve Barbarich did.  He was in the market for a Jacuzzi hot tub and went about finding one online. When he bought one and it was delivered to his home, he was less than satisfied. When he attempted to get any kind of customer service from the retailer, they simply were totally unhelpful.  This experience prompted him to start his own luxury direct Jacuzzi hot tub company called choosehottubsdirect.com. Now he sells luxury Jacuzzi hot tubs for wholesale prices and excellent customer service. He went ahead and filled a void in the market.

If a small business is something you think you want to do, go ahead and go for it!

Most businesses these days have to deal with customer complaints.  These complaints come from many different types of customers. How your business handles these customer complaints can seriously impact your success.

Many companies now actively seek proactive customer complaints usually by automating with complaint handling software.  They do not wait for the customer to complain, but actively ask for customer feedback.  Companies that are pro active using complaints management software usually try to identify the type of customer that is complaining.  This helps them to respond in an appropriate way to each category of customer.

How do you actively seek customer complaints?  There is in fact one official complaint for every 25 that have never been received into the business.  These customers deal with their dissatisfaction in their own way – usually by taking their business elsewhere. Customer focused quality using a complaint management system makes every effort to ensure that each every customer has the opportunity to communicate their complaints. No complaints is not necessarily good….it can mean that customers do not have an opportunity to complain.