Will You Add? - Business

Corporate Travel Policy
Every company has a strict corporate travel policy and at The Travel Team Inc. we excel in finding the best possible deals within the parameters governing business travel for your executives and employees. Our comprehensive corporate travel services are what first earned us a solid reputation and their quality has only improved with time. The Travel Team’s mission is enabling corporate travel at the lowest possible cost, yet with maximum efficiency and comfort.A corporate travel policy clearly outlines the limit of expenditure a corporation is willing to allow for legitimate business trips undertaken by its management and staff. Companies generally tread the middle ground, not permitting luxury but also not making travelers suffer sub-standard facilities and services for the sake of cutting costs. The twin objective of striking this balance is to control corporate travel expenses while ensuring that the business traveler is comfortable and gets quality service.At The Travel Team we understand the demands of your corporate travel policy, which is why we go the extra mile to get you the lowest possible airfares, cheapest possible and affordable quality accommodation and discounted car rentals. Trained and experienced managers who know you need flexible and economical travel arrangements handle your account when you bring your corporate travel business to us. Our partnerships with WorldTravel Affiliates and Virtuoso also mean that you get access to facilities most other business travelers do not enjoy. Our corporate travel services include:Comprehensive low fare search Guaranteed lowest possible airfares VIP services and upgrades Worldwide 24/7 emergency service Worldwide hotel and car rental discounts Pre- and post-trip reporting Th

t of poor brand performance is real and it can be measured. The elements of cost are tangible and often already measured by companies, including: rework, error correction, concessions, lost opportunities, and customer attrition. Each one of these elements increases your cost of service, selling, support, and overhead as remedies are implemented to correct them. These costs can have an exponential impact across the transmission systems: that is, each element or system that fails, or any inconsistency between them or against the brand promise tends to compound the noise in the communication and impact the perception of the customer. Why is there such a compounding effect? Remember that for business to business customers, the sum of all of their experiences and all the communications with your entire firm over time serve to create their perception of your brand. When one element disappoints the customer, it is automatically compounded by another element – even though they may seem totally unconnected from inside your company. Left unchecked, the customer’s disappointment will grow and negative perceptions will expand beyond simply the issues at hand to become a general perception of your whole business.

Major Elements of Operating Agreement for Limited Liability Companies
The Operating Agreement sets forth the rights and obligations of the members. The Operating Agreement can require disputes to be resolved by arbitration, rather than with costly and stressful litigation. The following is a list of some of the most important elements to include in an Operating Agreement:Set Rules for Admitting New Members: The Operating Agreement can require the consent of all members, or allow a prospective member to become a member with the consent of a majority of the members or all of the members. Restrict Members from Freely Transferring Their Interests in the Company: The Operating Agreement should contain rules about how and when members can transfer or encumber their interests in the company. Right of First Refusal on Transfers of Interests: The Operating Agreement can provide that a member who desires to sell or dispose of the the interest in the LLC must notify the company and the other members and give them the option to purchase the interest before it is offered to a prospective buyer. Set Rules for Allocation of Profits and Losses and Distributions of Money: Without an Operating Agreement, profits and losses are allocated according to the relative capital contributions that members have made to the LLC. Company Governance Rules: The Operating Agreement can require the affirmative vote, approval or consent of a majority of the members before significant changes are made in the business operations. This could include a restriction on the company's right to borrow and loan money. Obligate Members to Pay Money to the Company: An Operating Agreement can require members to make capital contribution to a limited liability company under circumstances described in the Op

Q: What makes branding unique for business-to-business companies and is it as important for them as branding is for consumer product companies?

If your business provides products and services to other businesses, you can achieve the benefits of a strong brand identity in customer loyalty, buying preferences, and referrals to other customers. However, the relationship with your customer is far more complex than when compared with consumer product relationships. Business to business service companies must go above and beyond just satisfying the client’s transactional needs to create positive brand loyalty over time. Business to business brand loyalty has less to do with spending money to build awareness than being committed to a complete and systematic and relentless dedication to an idea that is expressed in every way that touches a customer by every employee, consistently across all communication channels, and sustained over a long period of time. Business to business companies often stumble when they fail to align all of their customer facing operational processes and people with the brand promise of the company.

Customers of business to business firms believe that every form of communication they receive from your business, and every interaction that they have with your company, of every type, all combine to form the sum of their customer service experience. Moreover, this experience endures over time, such that errors committed in the past will always remain part of the customer’s perception of their experience with the business, regardless of how well the business may be performing at present. Many companies mistakenly assume that as long as they have highly responsive customer service centers responding to customer calls and resolving issues quickly, then customers will be happy with their business overall. Recognizing the importance of delivering an experience that is consistent with your brand promise across every touch point with customers is the first step to truly differentiating your business.

When all those communications channels are aligned and delivering a consistent experience and message to your customers, then you will have achieved a high level of brand efficiency. When any of these channels fails to deliver on the brand promise, then your brand efficiency decreases. When efficiency decreases, there are direct consequences in customer satisfaction and retention, willingness to buy, direct costs required to repair or rework, and in overall financial performance as vital energy in the form of human and financial capital are redirected to address the deficiencies. When brand efficiency is high, then all systems and people in the company can focus most of their energy to serving the customer better, innovating new solutions, beating the competition, and moving the bottom line up.

Q: How do business-to-business companies go about establishing their brand identity and loyalty?

Businesses commonly assume that their marketing department will communicate their brand through advertising, literature, and promotional activities. While these are important, they are just one small dimension of the totality of communication and interaction that defines the overall customer experience. Indeed, if this was the only effort to implement and communicate a brand identity and build brand loyalty, then by definition it will conflict with all the other communications systems that already exist in the company. This will contribute new sources of communication inconsistencies (“noise”), add new costs to overcome them, and reduce the return on the investment in defining and developing the brand identity in the first place. Clearly the brand promise should be defined and measured across all of the communications systems of the company, including internal reward and recognition systems to encourage employee behavior in accordance with the brand values.

For example, have you ever heard in your business that the customer was sold something that differs from your ability to deliver? These can be product/service features, business terms, implementation schedules, service levels, all apparently promised by a sales person, and yet not consistent with the current capability of the business to deliver. In business to business customer relationships, the goal is to develop a long term sustained relationship with the customer. The longer the customer is retained, generally the more profitable the relationship, and the greater the ability to continue to produce revenue from that customer. What if, at the start of the relationship, the product or service does not do what the customer expected, or the business terms or billing processes are cumbersome and prove difficult to comply with, or the service levels are not consistent with expectations, or the product was not implemented according to the schedule that was originally promised?

Each one of these issues requires energy and investment by the business to overcome in order to get the customer on an acceptable long term path, albeit with slightly reset expectations. The customer has already experienced significant inconsistencies between the brand promise and the experience of that promise, before the relationship really gets under way. The cost of building brand loyalty with that customer is very high and efforts will continue to be expended over a long period of time as the company goes through extraordinary measures to restore its reputation with that customer and attempt to get the customer’s experience closer to the brand promise. Even simple failures can directly impact the reputation of the business, and the cost of overcoming them. There are many other reasons for the brand promise to be broken without any specific system, product or service experiencing any failure. The result is damaging and costly on brand loyalty, brand efficiency, and the long term cost of repairing and rebuilding the relationship, thus draining resources away from productive work and the bottom line.

Q: Can the costs of poor brand performance be measured?

The cost of poor brand performance is real and it can be measured. The elements of cost are tangible and often already measured by companies, including: rework, error correction, concessions, lost opportunities, and customer attrition. Each one of these elements increases your cost of service, selling, support, and overhead as remedies are implemented to correct them. These costs can have an exponential impact across the transmission systems: that is, each element or system that fails, or any inconsistency between them or against the brand promise tends to compound the noise in the communication and impact the perception of the customer. Why is there such a compounding effect? Remember that for business to business customers, the sum of all of their experiences and all the communications with your entire firm over time serve to create their perception of your brand. When one element disappoints the customer, it is automatically compounded by another element – even though they may seem totally unconnected from inside your company. Left unchecked, the customer’s disappointment will grow and negative perceptions will expand beyond simply the issues at hand to become a general perception of your whole business.

Frozen Food Shipping
Have you ever wondered how Australian beef appears on your table during your dinner? Are you not even surprised how on earth a famous caviar from Russia reaches your entr?e plate? You may begin to think that some kind of magic must have been done to make that food remain fresh when served on your table.If you want real good ice cream from Switzerland, frozen food shipping can help you enjoy the heavenly taste of ice cream from the Alps region of the earth. How enticing it is to indulge in the sweet rich chocolates that are going to satisfy the sweet tooth in you. Thanks to frozen food shipping.Imported meats, diary items like cheese, ice cream and even chocolates are transported through frozen food shipping. Perishable items such as these need specialized containers with built-in freezers in them. In frozen food shipping the freshness of the products is the foremost concern. Containers vans with big walk-in freezers are built that can accommodate palettes of frozen cargo items this is to ensure that food is still fresh and free from the harmful effects of microorganisms.Dry-ice is was first used to keep the food frozen while in transit but dry-ice have a proven negative effects on the environment so it is not advisable to patronize its utility. Instead cryogenic technology was introduced as a better alternative to the former. Many containers truck vans have been equipped with cryogenic freezers. Even generators are added up each truck completing the whole package in ensuring that the foods are very fresh at all times at all costs.Different carriers invested huge capital in putting up with the competition as many entities have joined the bandwagon of frozen food shipping. Companies like Glen Rose Transportation Management and Nebraska Cold Storage have set the

their experience with the business, regardless of how well the business may be performing at present. Many companies mistakenly assume that as long as they have highly responsive customer service centers responding to customer calls and resolving issues quickly, then customers will be happy with their business overall. Recognizing the importance of delivering an experience that is consistent with your brand promise across every touch point with customers is the first step to truly differentiating your business.

Q: How do business-to-business companies go about establishing their brand identity and loyalty?

Q: Can the costs of poor brand performance be measured?

The Fallibility of Psychological Testing
Psychological Testing has become rampant across industries, more so in the case of Information Technology, BPOs and ITES companies. These tests are used to ‘throw up’ personality profiles and competency descriptions that would help companies recruit the ‘right’ candidate. The Human Resources department in most organizations is responsible for the administering of Psychometric tests.The International body that sets guidelines for testing is the International Test Commission ( ITC ) which stipulates guidelines for adaptation and usage of tests. ITC has issued guidelines to cover the following –Professional and ethical standards in testingRights of the test candidate and other parties involved in the testing processChoice and evaluation of alternative testsTest administration, scoring and interpretationReport writing and feedback.ITC has defined competence in test usage as, “ A Competent test user will use tests appropriately, professionally and in an ethical manner, paying due regard to the needs and rights of those involved in the testing process, the reasons for testing, and the broader context in which the testing takes place.”There are many reasons why a test can be fallible –1. Inappropriate usage of TestsThe norms for which the tests have been designed have to be considered carefully. They cannot be administered to a population that is different from the norm population ( Norm Population for example could be, adolescents, Senior Executives; norms could be based on age, occupation, gender, economic status etc. ). That is, a test designed for adolescents cannot be administered on Senior Executives and vice versa because the results of such administration would be faulty.2. Culture Fair Tes

ertising, literature, and promotional activities. While these are important, they are just one small dimension of the totality of communication and interaction that defines the overall customer experience. Indeed, if this was the only effort to implement and communicate a brand identity and build brand loyalty, then by definition it will conflict with all the other communications systems that already exist in the company. This will contribute new sources of communication inconsistencies (“noise”), add new costs to overcome them, and reduce the return on the investment in defining and developing the brand identity in the first place. Clearly the brand promise should be defined and measured across all of the communications systems of the company, including internal reward and recognition systems to encourage employee behavior in accordance with the brand values.

Q: Can the costs of poor brand performance be measured?

Become A Biostatistician
When you marry science and numbers, amazing things can happen. This explains the appeal of biostatistics, a field which appears to be gaining in popularity. Because of the aging of the population, the practice of using statistics to study disease has taken on added significance.A biostatistician develops studies which assist doctors in treating patients and help scientists to come up with new medications. Therefore, the work of a biostatistician can be critical in the fight against disease. As a result, working in this field can be intellectually stimulating, emotionally gratifying, and even financially rewarding, since salaries in the field can be in the $100,000 range.As a biostatistician, you’ll be studying rates of disease and how well medicines perform. You can also explore how diet and exercise can prevent serious diseases such as cancer. In this way, you’ll be assisting people in living better, healthier lives.Of course, given the fact that biostatistics is a specialized field, you’ll need extensive coursework in statistics and mathematics. You’ll also have to possess the writing skills needed to compose surveys and communicate the results. It is also important for you to have extensive knowledge of biology and how the body works. As a result, you’ll need to obtain a graduate degree after finishing your coursework for your bachelor’s degree.In addition to undergoing extensive training, you’ll also need to possess certain skills in order to work effectively as a biostatistician. These include an eye for detail, the ability to analyze complicated data, and a great deal of self-discipline.As a biostatistician, you can work for agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration or the National Institutes of Health. As an alternative, you could work f

tart of the relationship, the product or service does not do what the customer expected, or the business terms or billing processes are cumbersome and prove difficult to comply with, or the service levels are not consistent with expectations, or the product was not implemented according to the schedule that was originally promised?

Q: Can the costs of poor brand performance be measured?

Successful Payroll Management
Any business owner that has employees, knows that payroll can be a complicated task to manage. Moreover, it can be downright frustrating if you are not sure exactly where you should begin. Yet, successful payroll management doesn't have to be a chore. Further, you can find significant advice pertaining to successful payroll management online.Did you know that there are associations that can guide you in the proper direction in terms of successful payroll management? For example, the American Payroll Association provides a website that addresses myriad issues pertaining to the payroll process. They also provide information to individuals interested in a career in payroll management. Individuals visiting the site can learn about the basics of payroll.The Internet has made learning the fundamentals of payroll a far simpler process than ever before. With the advent of the web, information is easily accessible to business owners everywhere. Now, you do not have to spend hours on the telephone ordering publications only to find that you ordered a publication that is not at all helpful in addressing your payroll questions. Instead, you can now easily access such publications from your office or home and scan them for the information you require, which might be direct depositing, federal and state taxes, federal and state garnishment compliances, hourly wage laws, and much more. Thus, there is no waiting for the mail to arrive, only to find yourself completely frustrated and lost, rather the information you seek is often just a click away.By visiting associations that deal with teaching successful payroll management, you can get yourself involved in various seminars. By attending seminars, you can learn about significant issues pertinent to successful payroll m

While the cost of negative brand efficiency may be difficult to measure precisely, the direct impact of poor performance and quality on each of the communications systems can be measured. Many businesses have sophisticated processes, software and even six sigma quality improvement programs designed to measure and improve that performance and increase profitability. These initiatives do not often measure systems across the enterprise and rarely, if ever, do they measure the effectiveness and consistency of communication and performance of all of these systems with the intended brand strategy of the business. Managing each one of those issues in isolation and not in a holistic manner aligned with the brand strategy will result in an exponential drain on energy and resources required to deliver sustained profitable growth.

Q: In addition to understanding the cost of poor execution, how can companies assess the value of their brand?

The Service-Profit Chain developed by Heskett, Sasser and Schlesinger (1997) from Harvard Business School establishes relationships between profitability, customer loyalty, and employee satisfaction, loyalty, and productivity. The Service-Profit Chain is made up several key linkages: profit and growth are stimulated primarily by customer loyalty. Customer loyalty is a direct result of customer satisfaction. Satisfaction is greatly influenced by the value of service provided to customers. Satisfied, loyal, and productive employees create value. Employee satisfaction, in turn, results primarily from high quality support services and policies that enable employees to deliver results to customers. Let’s say that you have high quality support services and polices, and your employee satisfaction surveys suggest your employees are happy. Does that mean your customers are in fact experiencing results that match or exceed you brand promise? Do satisfactory results really help you accomplish your goals of being the leader in your industry? What if the predominant culture of your employee base demonstrates a set of values that are not consistent with the values of your brand promise? What if different parts of your employee population that come into contact with customers have quite different cultures and values? Does your sales force demonstrate the same behaviors and in the same manner and style as your customer service organization?

Such inconsistent behaviors between employee groups, and between employees and the brand promise, create disjointed experiences for customers who will find that they are constantly adjusting to your company’s different styles, behaviors, standards of performance, and promises. The customer will quickly conclude they don’t know what you stand for, and they won’t know how to describe their experience with you – perhaps other than “clumsy”. This makes it very difficult to develop a sense of affinity and loyalty with your company. While the Service-Profit Chain model provides an essential foundation to assure that your employees are delivering results to customers, a focus simply on employee support services and policies will not result in employees delighting the customer and delivering on your brand promise. You need a defined employee culture, measurements, and reward and recognition system that aligns behaviors consistent with the brand promise of your business. This strong link and consistent behaviors will strengthen the bond of loyalty with your customers, lower the cost of support service, and accelerate brand efficiency and sustained profitability.

In financial terms, the value of a brand can be a significant component of the value of the company. The price paid for acquired businesses is frequently substantially higher than the appraised value determined from the tangible assets of the company. According to a study in 1995: "the average market value of all American-based publicly traded companies was 70% greater than their replacement cost (e.g., their tangible net asset value.)" 1

Assessments of the actual brand value of a business to business services company should include the internal business processes and communications systems to determine how effectively the various functions and people are aligned to deliver performance consistent with the brand promise of the company. Unrealistic prices can be paid for brand value that may be more tied to market awareness and market share, than any real capability of the company to underpin its brand equity with real sustained performance. Brand value should be discounted by elements that fail to deliver effectively, or where significant inconsistencies exist between the company and its customers’ expectations for the future.

Consider the case of Philip Morris: "In 1989, Philip Morris paid $12.9 billion for Kraft, six times its net asset value. According to Philip Morris CEO Hamish Maxwell, his company needed a portfolio of brands that had strong brand loyalty [i.e., customer relationships] that could be leveraged to enable the tobacco company to diversify [i.e., financial relationships], especially in the retail food industry [i.e., trade relationships]."2 Philip Morris paid billions for a set of relationships and the expectations that those relationships would enable Philip Morris to conduct business in entirely new ways in the future.

In addition to significantly affecting the purchase price of a company, the value of the brand and brand equity directly affects stock price of the company. A Cap Gemini Ernst & Young report issued in 2000 concluded "brand power can account for 5 to 7 percent of the change in a company's stock price." 3 A study of 220 companies identified that corporate brand image could be quantified with the following components:

Advertising spending 30%

Size of company 23%

Low dividend 10%

Earnings volatility 7%

Stock price growth 8%

Other factors* 22%

*(including [other marketing components such as] events and publicity, industry affiliation, product categories, message quality, etc.)4 Thus 52% of the factors influencing the brand image are those associated with ensuring that your brand message and promise are effectively defined and articulated through all the transmission systems in your company.

Through this brief analysis we can easily conclude that effectively developing and executing a comprehensive company-wide bran

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All job interviews come down to only a few basics. Here is a quick checklist of the 8 most important elements that you need to have covered so you can ace almost any interview you face.

Once you figure out what type of accounting career you want to get started, you can begin your search for a job. There are three good places to look for jobs that can get your accounting career off the ground: the internet, newspaper, and through a headhunter. Check online job sites to see what types of accounting jobs are available in your area. Finding an entry-level job can be just the boost you need to get your accounting career going.

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Will You Add? - Aligning Your Company With Your Brand for Profit

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