Business Efficiency for Dummies

by Martin, Marina

• ISBN13: 9781118449493
• ISBN10: 1118449495
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2013-01-09
• Publisher: For Dummies

Summary

Analyzing the world's most effective companies, as well as utilizing content from the robust library of successful For Dummies titles aimed at top level business owners and managers, Business Efficiency For Dummies provides the foundation all companies can build upon. Topics include: How to take an objective view of your company's current processes and procedures, with an eye towards doing what you do more efficient What to consider when evaluating analysis tools like Six Sigma, Lean, 5S, and Balanced Scorecard to get your company buttoned up and streamlined How to audit your company's accounting procedures and discover what you can do to rein in and control your AP and AR departments How to train employees to be work more efficiently using proven time management, organizing, and motivational techniques How to bring efficiency into the future, using principles of strategic planning, scenario planning, and more The information presented in this valuable resource is compiled from many best-selling For Dummies business titles including Lean For Dummies, Six Sigma For Dummies, Balanced Scorecard For Dummies, Quality Control For Dummies, Successful Time Management For Dummies, Scenario Planning For Dummies, and Strategic Planning For Dummies, as well as all-new new content.

Author Biography

Marina Martin is the owner of The Type-A Way, a business efficiency consulting firm focusing on cost reduction and job satisfaction enhancement through innovation and automation. She regularly conducts one-on-one and small group trainings.

Table of Contents

Introduction 1

Part I: Business Efficiency Basics 7

Chapter 1: Business Efficiency 101 9

Chapter 2: Unfolding Your Efficiency Roadmap 23

Part II: Making Strides Toward Efficiency 33

Chapter 3: You Are Here: MeasuringWhere You Stand 35

Chapter 4: I Thought I Saw a Bad Habit: Hunting Down Inefficiencies and Their Solutions 55

Chapter 5: Efficiency on Impact: Understanding the Ripple Effect of Change 71

Chapter 6: To Efficiency . . . and Beyond: Getting Where You Want to Be 83

Chapter 7: Efficiently Executing Your Efficiency Plan 97

Part III: Increasing Operational Efficiency 113

Chapter 8: Channeling Henry Ford: Process Automation 115

Chapter 9: The Bottom Line: Financial Efficiency 129

Chapter 10: Effi ciency, at Your Service 145

Chapter 11: Ready, Aim, Hire: Human Resources Efficiency 175

Chapter 12: Streamlining Your Sales Process 199

Chapter 13: Up to My Gears in Effi ciency: Manufacturing Efficiency 223

Part IV: Increasing Employee Efficiency 237

Chapter 14: I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change: Change Management 239

Chapter 15: Before You Get Hit by a Bus: Knowledge Capture and Transfer 251

Chapter 16: Fine-Tuning Internal Communication 267

Chapter 17: Helping Employees BeMore Effi cient 287

Chapter 18: Holding Effective Meetings and Events 313

Chapter 19: Painless Project Management 339

Part V: The Part of Tens 359

Chapter 20: Ten Areas Ripe for Efficiency Improvement 361

Chapter 21: Ten Efficiency Best Practices 367

Chapter 22: Ten Hidden Hurdles to Overcome in Pursuit of Efficiency 373

Index 379