Bob Williams

Be ye not afraid to challenge old ways

February 12th, 2011 | 2 comments | Tags: ,

This past week I challenged a couple of existing business processes. One thing that I’ve never understood about business environments is why people and management continue to require and support processes that don’t add value to the service and production output of the organization.  I think most people prefer to not create waves and find it easier to just stay within the predefined boundaries that are set for them.

Challenging a process doesn’t mean we are against the team

If I challenge a process, something I try to convey right-away is that I’m against the team or trying to discredit anyone on the team. Asking questions such as “why are …Continue reading >>

Bob Williams

Choosing what not to do

January 1st, 2011 | Leave a comment | Tags: , ,

Starting a new year is the most popular time to create and install plans. This is true within our personal lives and within our businesses. In business, we spend hours creating plans for how to meet financial and operational goals for the year. Then we spend more time rolling out these plans to employees so that everyone is aligned and can work together towards the stated goals. It’s business version of the new year resolutions list.

But then unplanned things happen As well intentioned plans go, there is always the unexpected to disrupt them. Customers leave, new customers start, the government imposes new laws/regulations, certification requirements change, equipment fails, customers …Continue reading >>

Bob Williams

Best of Merchant Stand 2010

December 25th, 2010 | Leave a comment | Tags: , ,

It’s the last week of 2010 and I’m looking over the statistics to see which articles have been viewed by the most readers during the year. The top 10 posts share a few things in common. They are about team organization, strategy, and metrics management. When I originally created the Merchant Stand back in 2008 I had intended to focus mainly on eCommerce and internet marketing topics. Yet through my thoughts and writings, I’ve found that it’s the strategic positioning and business alignment posts that I’m most passionate about and that generate the most interest. The tactics of successful eCommerce and internet marketing are important and I will occasionally write …Continue reading >>

Bob Williams

5 No-Brainers for Business Alignment

January 6th, 2009 | Leave a comment | Tags: , ,

t’s that time of year when we deploy our yearly goals and objectives (business or personal). Businesses should already have been through planning processes to decide the goals. The challenge now is how to deploy the goals and turn them into objectives for each group within the organization. The objectives of each group should bring them into alignment with the overall company goals.  In my experience, I’ve seen organizations struggle with different aspects of this. Some create the goals well. Some deploy the goals well. While others maintain a dogged persistence to stay focused on the goals. But it’s a neat trick to put it all together.  It takes organization, …Continue reading >>