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The concept of Supply Chain Management (SCM) was born of the need to transition organizational understanding of the importance of integrating its suppliers into its operations. SCM has been defined in a number of ways, but two of my favorite definitions are: The management of upstream and downstream relationships with suppliers and customers to deliver [...]

Managers must be able to delegate effectively. However, there is often confusion over what delegation actually is. Some managers simply view delegation as a means to offload undesirable tasks to subordinates. These tasks may be undesirable for a variety of reasons. The task may be viewed as menial, or not suited for direct management involvement. [...]

As a leader I believe it is imperative to trust my people.  However, it is a well known fact that what we say is not always what people hear.  So while I have implemented a “command by negation” philosophy (taken from my years in service as a Naval Officer, meaning I give the goal and [...]

I attend hiring conferences pretty frequently, and I am often asked if getting an MBA is worth the effort.  My answer is always… maybe.  There are a lot of factors to consider when contemplating entering an MBA program.   What type of program?  Full or part time?  Executive or traditional? Online or brick and mortar?  Who [...]

Have you ever worked for a “Commander?”  You know the type.  The guy who demands that something be done without really understanding what he is asking. The woman who truly believes she can drive you to do things by force of will alone.  Yes, I have, too. So what differentiates this person from a Leader?  [...]

Marketing and sales executives long ago recognized the importance of developing and maintaining strong relationships with their clients. After all, people buy product, not companies. A sound relationship fosters trust and builds customer loyalty. Hence, the emphasis on Customer Relationship Management (CRM) programs. Many traditional supply chain managers view relationship building as the sales person’s [...]

Most executives acknowledge that integrating key functions and processes is critical to maximizing profits; however, few businesses have formal integration programs. Generally speaking, businesses either leave integration to chance (no emphasis at all), or in the hands of C level executives who may assume that integration will be a natural outflow of strategic business planning. [...]

A good friend of mine contacted me the other day to let me know that he had been promoted to a senior management position in his company. Of course I was happy for him. After all, I hired him into the company, and was his boss for many years. I enjoyed working with him and [...]

In the first article of the mentoring series, Get a mentor!, we talked about the value of having a network of mentors you can tap to better your personal and professional life. Now we will talk about what you should look for in a mentor. There are many types of mentors. There are peer mentors, [...]

So you now know what mentors can do for you, and what to look for in a mentor, now we will talk about where to find a mentor. Finding a mentor can be a daunting prospect for those who have not already actively sought a mentor before. But take heart, unless you have been living [...]