Jul
31
by BOB MASSEY
Editor
One of the area’s newest schools, Rasmussen College, opened its doors in Fort Myers only last year.
But it greets its second year with a tally of 350 students – and plans for expansion.
Currently about 15,000 square feet, Rasmussen will be adding an additional 9,000 square feet to its campus this year. To accommodate its growing student population, Rasmussen will be adding four new classrooms and laboratories, expanding its faculty offices and Student Service Center, and expanding its student lounge. Plus, Rasmussen College will be redesigning much of its existing first floor to include a Career Services Office for its upcoming graduates.
But growth isn’t limited to Rasmussen College. In our biannual survey of colleges, universities and technical schools in our readership area, SWFBT has discovered several schools are adding to their existing offerings – creating opportunities for the business community in these tough economic times.
Jun
26
Manage your staff’s performance
Filed Under Business Builders, Editorial & Guest Columns | Leave a Comment
By PAULINE CASON
Guest Columnist
Part 2 of two parts
Position Descriptions provide a foundation for developing performance plans for individual employees. They should contain indications for the level of independence, technical proficiency and professional development for the level they document. Résumés grouped within a Position Description should have experience in some of the specialties listed (not necessarily all to qualify) and the education levels required for that Position Description. Read more
Jun
26
Editor’s note: This “Small Business Preparedness Quiz” is part of the www.3days3ways.org program and is used to gauge how prepared members of a business community are for a potential disaster, and to encourage them to actively participate in planning for the worst.
1. A business continuity plan is:
a. A necessary evil.
b. Something I can mock up to keep my investors off my back.
c. A definitive market place advantage.
d. Too much trouble to worry about.
2. What is the easiest, most cost-effective method to protect your business against asset loss and ensure a speedy recovery after a disaster?
a. Hire 24-hour security to keep an eye on things.
b. Create a redundant office that mirrors the primary one.
c. Provide for insurance that will be sufficient to cover any loss of assets and review it annually to confirm it’s still relevant to your business.
d. I don’t need protection. Nothing ever happens here.
3. The very first step in preparing your business continuity plan is:
a. Buy lots of new technology that will help us survive.
b. Understanding your business.
c. Hire an expensive consultant and do everything that person says.
d. Backing up my data.
4. Of all of your business resources, the most important are:
a. My offices. I can’t get work done without them.
b. My data systems. Without data, I am done as a business.
c. My employees. I can’t do the work all on my own.
d. My suppliers. If they can’t get the goods to me, I can’t get the goods to my customers.
5. One of the least understood, yet most important aspects of business continuity planning is:
a. The interdependencies that exist in business.
b. The US Tax code.
c. The use of wireless networking.
d. Employee benefits packages.
6. Along with data protection, what other document protection should you consider?
a. Employee protection through greater security.
b. Sunscreen. You can never protect yourself enough from the sun.
c. Firewalls. Those hackers are everywhere!
d. Vital records protection.
7. There are many financial benefits to using the Just in Time (JIT) method of inventory management. What is one of the business continuity concerns with using JIT?
a. Sometimes shipments arrive at odd times.
b. My shipments may be incorrect.
c. I may be over-charged for shipments.
d. Shipments may be interrupted for a period, causing me to run out of inventory.
8. What would be a good question to ask your critical supplier?
a. Would you care for some coffee?
b. What are your plans for ensuring that you can continue to supply me?
c. Does this come in purple?
d. Can I send this back if I am not 100 percent satisfied?
9. During a disaster, my employees’ most important concern will likely be:
a. Your business. After all, it’s where they spend their days.
b. Who will be next on “American Idol.”
c. Their family.
d. Who will make the office coffee?
10. Once you have a business continuity plan put together, you should:
a. Take a looooong break! Those things are lot of work.
b. Use the immense volume of plans I’ve created to boost myself a little higher in my office chair.
c. Test the plan to confirm it.
d. Put it on the shelf as a good luck charm against any business problems.
Click READ MORE to see answers
Jun
26
How to prepare for the worst so your business survives
By BOB MASSEY
Editor
It’s a business adage so oft repeated as to become cliché: “Most people don’t plan to fail, they just fail to plan” And there are few situations where this axiom is more applicable than with preparing a business for a disaster.
A survey commissioned by AT&T posed this disturbing conclusion: “Despite the devastating effects of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005, nearly half of the 1,000 companies polled said that they do not take specific protective actions even when state or federal governments issue warnings for an impending disaster.”
According to the state of Florida’s Business Disaster Planning Web site (www.floridadisaster.org/business), nearly 40 percent of small businesses that close because of a disaster never reopen.
Living in Florida, “disaster” is too often equated with hurricanes. Indeed, it’s not until June 1 - the official opening of hurricane season - nears that people start considering disaster preparedness.
But disasters come in many forms - and not just the “flood, fire and earthquake” varieties. A busted water pipe will often do less damage than a breached IT system. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) adds these as potential calamities: communications failure, civil disturbance, hazardous materials incidents and one that few consider a disaster, but can easily devastate a business: the loss of a key supplier or customer. And let’s not forget terrorist attacks or the current swine flu pandemic.
Business owners need to be prepared for whatever emergency might come their way. Here are several steps to make sure you’re not caught with your guard down. Read more
Jun
26
IT security is ‘top of mind’ at most businesses
Filed Under Business Builders, Technology | Leave a Comment
Industry suffers from shortage of trained personnel
By BOB MASSEY
Editor
Despite a challenging economy, seven out of 10 chief information officers (CIOs) interviewed recently said their companies will invest in information technology (IT) initiatives in the next 12 months.
Topping the list of projects executives expect their firms to invest in: information security, with 43 percent of the response.
The survey was developed by Robert Half Technology, a leading provider of IT professionals on a project and full-time basis, and conducted by an independent research firm. It was based on telephone interviews with more than 1,400 CIOs from companies across the United States with 100 or more employees.
“Even with all the lean budgets out there, it’s on top of mind to protect data,” said Ryan Skubis, district president for Robert Half Technology, whose region includes Southwest Florida. “Nothing can be more important than that.”
Jun
26
Buy a business only after you have done your homework
by BILL McCABE
Charlotte SCORE Counselor
Existing businesses already have a location, name, permits, customers and cash flow. Find one that has a proven record of success and you may be taking on less risk than if you start one from scratch. That is, if you do your homework first. Sadly, I have counseled entrepreneurs who failed to look carefully before they bought and are paying the consequences now.
Collecting the appropriate data from the seller early on will reduce the probability that you will encounter unforeseen problems later. It will also help you negotiate and finance a deal. The following may seem like a lot of information to ask for; however, a motivated seller should be more than ready to supply what it takes to get the sale. If you are inexperienced with any of these issues, get appropriate outside advice.
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