StrategyDriven

Manager Tools
by Michael Auzenne and Mark Horstman

Website Address: www.Manager-Tools.com

About the Reference

Manager Tools by Michael Auzenne and Mark Horstman is a weekly podcast that provides managers with the step-by-step tools and techniques for becoming more effective. Updated weekly, the Manager Tools podcasts provide insight to a broad range of topics including feedback, one-on-ones, coaching, and mentoring. Manager Tools was recognized as the best business podcast in 2006 and 2007 by Podcast Awards.

Benefits of Using this Reference

A great strategy is nothing more than a tome of good intentions until executed. The more accountable the organization and the more effective the execution of its processes the greater the likelihood the organization will achieve its mission objectives.

Professional executives and managers are responsible for establishing and reinforcing a culture of accountability and effectively leading execution of the organization’s processes. StrategyDriven contributors like Manager Tools podcasts because each of these approximately 30 minute discussions provides a clear, step-by-step method executives and managers can immediately implement to increase their organization’s accountability and their leadership effectiveness. We particularly encourage all of our readers to listen to the Manager Tools Basics podcast series focused on feedback, one-on-ones, coaching, delegating, and conducting meetings.

Many of the Manager Tools recommendations support the effective execution of StrategyDriven best practices; making Manager Tools podcasts a StrategyDriven recommended listen.

Personal Note

While all StrategyDriven contributors are Manager Tools Registered Members, I myself am a Premium Subscriber. Having ‘discovered’ Manager Tools eight months ago, I have listened to all of their podcasts and put a great many of their recommendations into action; each time being rewarded by greater effectiveness, improved efficiency, and higher levels of accountability. Mike and Mark do an absolutely outstanding job at producing their weekly podcast and offer tremendous value to their listeners.

The vast majority of Manager Tools content is FREE! I personally encourage all members of the StrategyDriven community to take a moment and visit the Manager Tools website and begin to benefit from Mike and Mark’s advice today.

Nathan Ives
Founder
StrategyDriven

Popularity: 13% [?]

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A picture comprised of only one color is not a picture at all; rather, it is simply a field of color.  Likewise, a single performance indicator cannot paint a picture of performance.  To acquire complete understanding of the overall performance of products, services, business units, or individuals requires multiple indicators to compare and contrast the various and often complex aspects of their individual and interrelated behaviors.

Performance of an item itself can rarely be characterized by one measure because of the complex array of relationships between an item’s characteristics. For instance, the return on investment of a new product will be influenced by the targets established for its time to profitability and breakeven point.  All of these measures will similarly be impacted by design decisions that determine the look, feel, functionality, and price point of the product.

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Popularity: 12% [?]

An organization’s evaluation and control program is a data gathering and action initiation mechanism.  This program monitors the external business environments, the internal performance of business units, processes, and individuals, and the output products and services of the organization.  Once collected, data is processed to present a picture of the company’s overall performance and to trigger actions in response to conditions representing opportunities or threats.

The evaluation and control program is comprised of several component processes that monitor performance on a continuous, periodic, and event driven basis; driving action when necessary.  Component processes include:

• organizational performance measurement system (continuous and periodic)
• external environmental monitoring program (continuous and periodic)
• condition reporting/corrective action program (event driven)
• self-assessments program (periodic and event driven)
• benchmarking (periodic)

Outputs from the various monitoring processes are often combined to create a richer understanding of organizational performance relative to both internal performance standards and external benchmarks.  Synthesized data drives actions on a day-to-day operational basis and serves as input to the strategic planning process.  When predefined thresholds are reached or exceeded, action is prompted to take advantage of opportunities or mitigate threats representing a risk to the business or its operations.

Evaluation and control program components play a key role in an organization’s learning and growth efforts.  They not only identify improvement opportunities, they also identify internal and external best practices that can be used to better existing processes.  This continuous growth mechanism is critical to an organization seeking to maintain and advance its position in the marketplace.

Posts in this category are dedicated to discussing the leading practices of companies successfully executing an evaluation and control program in support of strategic business planning and tactical business execution.

Popularity: 16% [?]