Introduction

As a manager, one item I am always doing is lists. I list out each day what I wish to
accomplish. I list out for each project I work on what I will do to accomplish the
objective at hand.
Finally, I list out processes for each sub-task. Therefore, this book is a series of
lists/words of wisdom for the most common business aspects of utmost importance. It is
envisioned depending on the problem one is having they can go to that list and start to
remedy the issue or learn something new on the topic of their choosing. Additionally, on
each page is an area where one can add notes as they please - possibly applicable to that
subject area.
 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 2
8 Responsibilities of a Supervisor .......................................................................................................... 5
4 Ways on Team Competitive Advantage .............................................................................................. 6
7 Mission Items on Strategy Implementation ......................................................................................... 7
5 Useful Items for an Organization Chart .............................................................................................. 8
3 Act Steps on Delegation ...................................................................................................................... 9
6 Key Items of Visionary Leadership................................................................................................... 10
6 Management by Objective Steps ....................................................................................................... 11
5 Tips for Goals.................................................................................................................................... 12
5 Check Items for a Job Enrichment Checklist .................................................................................... 13
8 Key Attributes of High-Performing Work Teams............................................................................. 14
4 Care Guidelines for Managing a Task Force..................................................................................... 15
7 Ways When Dealing with Group Think............................................................................................ 16
6 Steps in a Problem-Solving Process .................................................................................................. 17
10 Tips for Increasing Creativity.......................................................................................................... 18
6 Ways to Empower Others.................................................................................................................. 19
4 Key Rules for Negotiation................................................................................................................. 20
5 Tips for Leading Others .................................................................................................................... 21
9 Tips for Dynamic Groups.................................................................................................................. 22
6 Ways for Being a Seeker of Decisions All the Way Through.......................................................... 23
9 Items for Being Competitive and Covering Every Angle ................................................................. 24
9 Tips for Branding .............................................................................................................................. 25
4 Points for Building Confidence ......................................................................................................... 26
5 Questions for Gaining Trust and Commitment ................................................................................. 27
8 Tips for Guiding Others .................................................................................................................... 28
6 Tips for Improving Performance Using Total Quality Management ................................................ 29
4 Key Ways for Dealing with Conflict................................................................................................. 30
7 Investigation Questions to Ask About Causes & Failure .................................................................. 31
Become a Rule Breaker ........................................................................................................................ 32
6 Tips for Theory of Chaos .................................................................................................................. 33
6 Tips for Working Flexibly to Set Your Own agenda ........................................................................ 34
Management via Perseverance ............................................................................................................. 35
8 Key Essential Business Skills............................................................................................................ 36
5 Key Tips for Finding Method in the Madness................................................................................... 37
7 Mistakes in Managing Customer Profitability................................................................................... 38
10 Simple Steps for Pure Project Management Methodology.............................................................. 39
6 Tips to Identify Your Personal Aims................................................................................................. 40
4 Key Powers of Interest ...................................................................................................................... 41
4 Quick Tips to Measure Your Management Potential ........................................................................ 42
3 Tips for Effective Self Management ................................................................................................. 43
7 Quick Tips to Turn Ideas Into Action................................................................................................ 44
7 Quick Tips for Forming the Social Sector......................................................................................... 45
5 Key Opportunity Questions to Ask ................................................................................................... 46
6 Tips for a Integrated Management System........................................................................................ 47
4 Key Ways to Choose Your Strategy.................................................................................................. 48
3 Vital Advantages of Independence for that Entrepreneur in us All! ................................................. 49
5 Critical Success Factors for New Ventures ....................................................................................... 50
7 Key Tips for Management by Objectives.......................................................................................... 51
25 Rules to Live By.............................................................................................................................. 52
11 Key Systems Analysis Life Cycle Phases ....................................................................................... 53
10 Tips Needed for User Centered User Interface Development (UCUID)......................................... 56
13 Items for use Scenarios and Task Analysis ..................................................................................... 57
5 Tips for Business Intelligence ........................................................................................................... 59
8 Tips for Creating a RFP (Request for Purchase) ............................................................................... 60

3
 6 Quick Tips on Public Speaking ......................................................................................................... 61
Information Technology 7 Hot Tips for Leading a Better Deal ........................................................... 62
10 Elements of an IT Governance Checklist ........................................................................................ 63
5 Questions to Ask to Self-assess IT Governance Practices................................................................. 64
4 Tips for a Open Source Checklist...................................................................................................... 65
8 Requirements for a Director of Project Management........................................................................ 66
6 Steps for Marketing Information Technology ................................................................................... 67
5 Sales/Projects GOALS ...................................................................................................................... 68
6 Tips for Sealing Success.................................................................................................................... 69
Step System for Managing Customer Concerns (HEARS) .................................................................. 70
4 Reports Checklist of Management .................................................................................................... 71
5 Tips to Keep Customers .................................................................................................................... 72
4 Ways for Dealing with Conflict ........................................................................................................ 73
10 Questions on Execution of a Project ............................................................................................... 74
3 Ways on Getting the Message Out .................................................................................................... 75
7 Steps in the Mind of the Customer .................................................................................................... 76
Notes..................................................................................................................................................... 77
About the Author.................................................................................................................................. 78

4
 8 Responsibilities of a Supervisor

1. Plan and set a time table for work daily, weekly monthly and yearly.
2. Define tasks and collect ideas for improvement.
3. Assess performance and give advice to subordinates.
4. Advise in regards to pay increases and new project assignments.
5. Apprise subordinates in regards to performance goals.
6. Communicate to higher level manager in regards to needs and accomplishments.
7. Recruit, hire, train and mold workers so they meet their goals without micro
managing.
8. Foster and maintain a high passion for work.

MBE NOTES:

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 4 Ways on Team Competitive Advantage

1. Take the right people and get them working together

2. Everyone in the group should be aware of what it takes to work smoothly
3. Always make team members feel they have some power
4. Make sure employees are rewarded based upon quality and clients feedback

MBE NOTES:

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 7 Mission Items on Strategy Implementation

1. Mindful of the organizations purpose

2. Involved to accommodate organizations strengths and weaknesses
3. Strategy that takes into account opportunities and threats
4. Strategic to have a competitive advantage
5. Insists on taking into account the notion of reason
6. Open to the time frame
7. New strategies need to be flexible

MBE NOTES:

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 5 Useful Items for an Organization Chart

1. Chart of titles and major responsibilities

2. How the line of command works
3. Allows for clear outlay of communication
4. Reporting on sub-teams can be broken down
5. Takes a full view of the organization from an management standpoint

MBE NOTES:

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 3 Act Steps on Delegation

1. Always assign a task to whom it is believed can get the job done
2. Change roles, let the worker have the authority to make decisions and take the
necessary steps (direct others, sign off on purchases etc)
3. Take a break and trust who the task was deleted to, complete it with success

MBE NOTES:

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 6 Key Items of Visionary Leadership

1. Vary ideas slightly

2. Inspiration will feed actions
3. Support others
4. Invigorate the team
5. Open your ears and listen
6. Never let the team see you down

MBE NOTES:

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 6 Management by Objective Steps

1. Review target dates often

2. Engage team members by meeting with them individually
3. View progress reports often with employees
4. Individuals should prepare each year a report of their accomplishments over the
course of the year
5. Every evening write down what needs to be done for the next day
6. Work towards finishing items step by step

MBE NOTES:

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 5 Tips for Goals

1. Give specific goals to workers

2. Only utilize realistic goals
3. Always challenge workers to work harder
4. Learn to live with the goals that were set
5. Slow down sometimes and reward workers

MBE NOTES:

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 5 Check Items for a Job Enrichment Checklist

1. Control workers in their daily work life

2. Have workers make choices about their work
3. Educate workers that they are accountable
4. Continue to let workers complete full tasks
5. Keep giving feedback

MBE NOTES:

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 8 Key Attributes of High-Performing Work Teams

1. Team members are committed to helping one another

2. Earning results as a team
3. All members agree on the same purpose
4. Members communicate
5. Working to improve
6. Often meet as a team
7. Reflect on creative measures
8. Keeping all members on team – on their toes to act quickly to answer questions

MBE NOTES:

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 4 Care Guidelines for Managing a Task Force

1. Create a team of members whom are ideal for the task at hand
2. Allow for time to make sure members are aware of their purpose
3. Reflect a good image by picking a good leader whom possesses the right skill set
4. Engage members to review task items often and make sure feedback by management
is given

MBE NOTES:

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 7 Ways When Dealing with Group Think

1. Make sure views are showed by all

2. Be flexible to allow others to share their opinions
3. Utilize subgroups – having them work on the same set of problems then have a idea
sharing session
4. Gain opinions from individuals outside the team
5. Bring in individuals outside the team into meetings
6. Always have someone play a “devil’s advocate” role
7. Hold a follow up meeting to review agreed upon decision points

MBE NOTES:

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 6 Steps in a Problem-Solving Process

1. Remedy the problem – after finding it!

2. Utilize alternative solutions
3. Agree on a solution
4. Put the solution in place
5. Monitor if the solution worked
6. Repeat the process as necessary

MBE NOTES:

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 10 Tips for Increasing Creativity

1. Be on the look out for several right answers

2. Let creativity bloom
3. Ask questions all the time
4. Ask “I wonder if” questions
5. Try and see tasks differently
6. Learn from error
7. Experiment and learn from experimentation
8. Obtain other view points
9. Be willing to be different
10. Support all and any form of creativity

MBE NOTES:

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 6 Ways to Empower Others

1. Have employees work on what interests them

2. Make sure that team members share ideas
3. Have team members be pro-active
4. Gather opinions from all, when issues spring up
5. Let ideas reign
6. Acknowledge the “stars” on the team often

MBE NOTES:

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 4 Key Rules for Negotiation

1. People first then the problem

2. Put interests first
3. List as many possible solutions as desired
4. Results should be based on a agreed upon standard

MBE NOTES:

20
 5 Tips for Leading Others

1. Know what is to be achieved

2. Know how an item is to be achieved
3. Know the issues being tackled
4. Be aware of how others see the organization
5. Does the team have a solid foundation to succeed

MBE NOTES:

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 9 Tips for Dynamic Groups

1. Present the subject to be tackled

2. State the objective clearly
3. Have confidence in employees doing work
4. Make sure groups work together
5. Always look ahead, never in the past
6. As a manager – it’s important to show authority
7. Have confidence in the group
8. Those who don’t believe in a groups objective – should move on or be re-assigned
9. State to group – that working hard, effective, and efficiently will yield rewards

MBE NOTES:

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 6 Ways for Being a Seeker of Decisions All the Way Through

1. Set the objective

2. Enter into the equation all factors
3. Equate all options
4. Keep the most attractive option
5. Enter a decision to act
6. Results should be looked at

MBE NOTES:

23
 9 Items for Being Competitive and Covering Every Angle

1. Be aware of newcomers -> as they can take away sales

2. Does the market include a established organization that could take away from sales?
3. Do the bigger customers have -> a better relationship with the competition?
4. Does the competition have a leg up based upon current market events?
5. Does a market segment exist in the area where the organization is behind in?
6. Is the latest customer feedback available?
7. Is it possible that customers could siphon away revenue?
8. Does another innovative technology or process exist which could affect the bottom
line?
9. Is it possible competition from outside the industry could affect the bottom line?

MBE NOTES:

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 9 Tips for Branding

1. Brands are an advantage for consumers

2. Brands should be trusted by consumers
3. Be aware of what was agreed upon and don’t change this agreement
4. How the brand will profit should be though out
5. The expanding of the brand should be planned for
6. Patient should be utilized with brands
7. A good strategy for the brand should be planned for
8. Get consumer input in regards to the brand
9. Sometimes celebrities do not work for a brand

MBE NOTES:

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 4 Points for Building Confidence

1. Sometimes it is good to step aside and let others take the lead
2. As a leader, one can’t be insecure
3. As a leader, any form of doubt is a bad trait
4. Let people know of organization items as soon as possible

MBE NOTES:

26
 5 Questions for Gaining Trust and Commitment

1. Can you trust co-workers to delegate tasks to them?

2. Can you trust co-workers to do a good job without micro-managing them?
3. Can you show that you trust whom was delegated the task to?
4. How do you judge others work when delegated to them?
5. Can you be truthful when delegating?

MBE NOTES:

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 8 Tips for Guiding Others

1. During the task – what broke down? Who is responsible?

2. Why did the task fail?
3. What could be improved next time?
4. If nothing can be improved then how was the task architected?
5. What bad decisions were made?
6. What needs to be done differently next time?
7. A method to correct problems needs to be created
8. If improvements cannot be made then what made that task a success can be utilized
for other similar ways

MBE NOTES:

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 6 Tips for Improving Performance Using Total Quality Management

1. List in detail what is wrong

2. Research what is going wrong
3. Create a solution/series of solutions
4. Test that the solution will work (a beta or mock-up can be used)
5. Implement the solution
6. Review the solution and make changes as needed

MBE NOTES:

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 4 Key Ways for Dealing with Conflict

1. Where is the problem and what is it exactly?

2. What are the potential solutions?
3. What solution out of all the alternatives is the best?
4. How is the solution best implemented?

MBE NOTES:

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 7 Investigation Questions to Ask About Causes & Failure

1. Make decisions decisively after investigating the facts

2. Investigate why customers are neglected
3. Investigate who has overstaffed the organization
4. Investigate why employees are not productive
5. Investigate what new ideas are possible and what risks they entail
6. What is in the way of a lack of focus?
7. What controls are in place which are not needed?

MBE NOTES:

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 Become a Rule Breaker

1. Break rules to achieve what is necessary

2. Experiment in the management department all the time
3. Latch on to people of like mind
4. Challenge what you believe are wrong decisions
5. Always welcome change

MBE NOTES:

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 6 Tips for Theory of Chaos

1. Fast reaction time back to customers is key

2. Use the every changing market place to create opportunities
3. Utilize pilot programs
4. There is not a limit to what people can achieve
5. Try to eliminate bureaucracy
6. Make sure people are always changing something

MBE NOTES:

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 6 Tips for Working Flexibly to Set Your Own agenda

1. Listen to customers and meet their needs fully

2. Try new ways to do tasks faster and efficient
3. Treat everyone you work with as if they are making a contribution of utmost
importance
4. Be positive no matter what the situation
5. Create a vision for your job
6. Side step stupid rules -> instead create better ways of working

MBE NOTES:

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 Management via Perseverance

1. Always work towards improving the business eco-system via creative methods
2. Question every nook and cranny of the business
3. Find interesting ways to meet customers’ needs
4. Find the best suppliers and customers
5. Obtain superior service via clever internal promotions
6. Utilize new ideas all the time
7. Realize the organization can do more than expected

MBE NOTES:

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 8 Key Essential Business Skills

1. Be able to write a business plan

2. Be able to write a budget
3. Know the difference between direct and indirect costs
4. Know the difference between profit and donation
5. Know what marginal cost is
6. Know what opportunity cost is
7. Know what return on capital, cash flow and gross margin is
8. Be aware that 20% of the customers – contribute 80% of the sales

MBE NOTES:

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 5 Key Tips for Finding Method in the Madness

1. Do the analysis to figure out whether customers like doing business with you
2. Continue to improve management methodologies
3. Read items that are about the business -> and those that are just plain newsworthy
and interesting
4. Be prepared for the worst
5. Always be prepared for more than one response to a problem/issue

MBE NOTES:

37
 7 Mistakes in Managing Customer Profitability

1. The project is complex

2. The project is not challenging
3. The projects data set includes missing data
4. The project has bad data
5. The incorrect questions have been asked during the analysis stage
6. The incorrect analysis was obtained
7. The organizations questions and issues were not addressed thoroughly or at all!

MBE NOTES:

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 10 Simple Steps for Pure Project Management Methodology

1. Any determination involving people should be made carefully

2. Everybody on the team should understand the business at hand
3. What customers and potential customers are doing as far as habits, wants and needs
should be studied
4. When items are moving fast – they should be questioned
5. Always learn from success
6. Always learn from non-success
7. Be aware of what an employee has excelled with
8. Assign to an employee what they will do well with
9. Make available training for those tasks that the employee will need for success
10. Would you be willing to recommend that a close friend or relative work under this
manager?

MBE NOTES:

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 6 Tips to Identify Your Personal Aims

1. What does one want to accomplish and one must know when they have accomplished
their objective?
2. What does one have to do to reach their goals?
3. What are the measures one will use to reach their goals?
4. What are the goals for one over the next week, month and year?
5. Is one linking individual goals to those of the team and company?
6. What feedback is being used to know that what has been accomplished is correct?

MBE NOTES:

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 4 Key Powers of Interest

1. Question everything
2. On the job training
3. Understanding of organizations mission
4. Obtain meaningful conclusions

MBE NOTES:

41
 4 Quick Tips to Measure Your Management Potential

1. What has been done well?

2. What aptitudes have been learned?
3. Has what has been learned been transferred to the team members?
4. Would you advise someone’s son or daughter to work under you?

MBE NOTES:

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 3 Tips for Effective Self Management

1. What is the manager doing that doesn’t need done?

2. What is the manager doing that can be delegated to someone else?
3. What is the manager doing that only a manager can do?

MBE NOTES:

43
 7 Quick Tips to Turn Ideas Into Action

1. Always look into more possibilities

2. Make sure ideas don’t lose touch with reality
3. Innovate and always look towards the future
4. Any new venture should include a senior manager/team lead
5. Be aware of what goes wrong and make it right
6. Make sure cash flow and capital is a high priority to manage
7. Build the team slowly – making sure the right skills and personalities are represented

MBE NOTES:

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 7 Quick Tips for Forming the Social Sector

1. Use creative measure – to seek communication between team members

2. Gather information in creative ways
3. Hire employees who possess needed skills and train them in other areas as well
4. Design team around your beliefs
5. Make sure long term goals are met
6. Utilize a strategic plan and refer to it often
7. Govern knowledge and make sure it is always present and available to employees

MBE NOTES:

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 5 Key Opportunity Questions to Ask

1. Is the idea un-foolish and concentrated?

2. Is the idea easily comprehended?
3. Has the idea been examined?
4. Can a small project be created which formulates pieces of the idea?
5. If I proceed, will other projects interfere with the main idea and how quickly?

MBE NOTES:

46
 6 Tips for a Integrated Management System

1. Seek out desires of a integrated management system (IMS)

2. Review what management does on a daily basis – then create task lists for those
managers based on areas of expertise
3. Set system metrics
4. Make sure intentions of system are clear
5. Intentions of corporation should align with workers goals
6. Management information system should be controlled to make sure objectives are
being met

MBE NOTES:

47
 4 Key Ways to Choose Your Strategy

1. Be the first to market with any new innovation

2. Use a powerful stage to unveil your product/service
3. Enter a niche market that one can dominate
4. Market the product/service utilizing a different approach then has been done before

MBE NOTES:

48
 3 Vital Advantages of Independence for that Entrepreneur in us All!

1. Investigating the accessible opportunities

2. Choosing the right possibility
3. Accomplishing the prospect of creating a new business

MBE NOTES:

49
 5 Critical Success Factors for New Ventures

1. Evaluate the market

2. Devise a good plan for cash flow and capital needs
3. Create a strong management system
4. Figure out your own role with clear guidelines
5. If the business is established, insulate the new venture

MBE NOTES:

50
 7 Key Tips for Management by Objectives

1. Appreciate that there is not a magical way to direct people

2. For best results, delegate employees to project opportunities
3. Know the firms objective and believe in its value
4. Analyze a situation, then tackle it
5. Evaluate whether you are best when being a decision-maker or mentor
6. Learn to manage the team effectively
7. Be aware of what you should do, instead of being told what to do

MBE NOTES:

51
 25 Rules to Live By

1. Pay notice
2. Recognize others
3. Contemplate the best
4. Hear all
5. Be able to be involved
6. Speak kind-hearted
7. Don’t speak un-well
8. Believe and grant praise
9. Honor the word “no”
10. Admire others opinions
11. Judge your body
12. Be amiable
13. Lower your tone
14. Value other’s time
15. Value other’s space
16. Ask for forgiveness earnestly
17. Appraise yourself
18. Evade private questions
19. Attend -> to your visitors
20. Be considerate when a guest
21. Always think before asking for a favor
22. Make sure complaints are valid
23. State criticism carefully
24. Be environmentally friendly
25. Don’t transfer fault

MBE NOTES:

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 11 Key Systems Analysis Life Cycle Phases

1. Beginning of Project
2. Overview of business analysis
3. Elaborate business analysis
4. Project acknowledgement and appraisal
5. Creating of a overview in regards to the business system design
6. Creating of a elaborate business system design
7. Creating of a specification for a procedural solution
8. Implementation of process explanation
9. Testing of the process explanation
10. Implementation into production environment
11. Post implementation overview of issues

MBE NOTES:

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 10 Rules for Project Success

1. Evolve people first - then process

2. Steer, follow or step aside
3. Collaboration and cooperation are key
4. 80% of success is showing up, 20% is doing the work
5. Stick to a meeting’s agenda
6. Talk to users daily
7. Always work as though there is a crisis
8. Hear, convey and partake
9. Try to excel
10. Be a difference maker

MBE NOTES:

54
 Interview Items for User Centered User Interface Development
(UCUID)

1. Tell a few stories that are common about the actual use of the system?
2. What makes the system good or bad?
3. What are the important factors of the system?
4. How are these important to your use?
5. Describe the problem the system was to solve?
6. Describe the stakeholders and their roles?
7. In order to solve the problem, what steps were taken?
8. What items hindered the process (the budget, resources etc)?
9. What is required in order for decisions to be made?
10. What was output in the system?
11. Was the finished system up to standards?
12. What is currently a time consuming task?
13. What are the biggest problems encountered?

MBE NOTES:

55
 10 Tips Needed for User Centered User Interface Development
(UCUID)

1. Ability to search and browse for requested items by content (type, date/time, vendor,
prices, etc)
2. Maintain named sets of details for later reuse
3. Examining item to be prepared in some way (example: items to be delivered)
4. Utilize a time table to delivery solutions (once a week, once a month etc)
5. Ability to look at news and other media by topic of interest to the user
6. Generating common preferences – so that the software’s graphical user interface
(GUI) is easier for a user to use
7. Observing users ideas and related items
8. Granting users ability to view common details such as price, estimated cost to ship,
estimated arrival time of purchase as well as other items user may wish to purchase
etc
9. Allowing users to see differences of similar items, attribute by attribute
10. Allowing users to sift through large data/items thus making it easier via some form of
navigation

MBE NOTES:

56
 13 Items for use Scenarios and Task Analysis

1. What are the task kinetics (for example: overtime related to the task)?
2. What activates a task?
3. How susceptible to intrusion is the task?
4. What tasks are accomplished together as an action?
5. How often does a task transpire?
6. What is the timeframe of the task? Are there deadlines or constraints?
7. What is the amount of work?
8. Does an item need to be completed right away or does it have any lag time?
9. Are task reminders required?
10. Can a task be forecast or will it be a surprise?
11. Is a task constant or a series of disjointed items?
12. Is the user multitasking?
13. Is the task driven by a process or a user(s)?

MBE NOTES:

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 12 Items for Business Intelligence (Back Operations Plan)

1. How will you keep track of resources?

2. How will you report on tasks?
3. How will you declare the practice being obtained?
4. How will you know when predicaments occur?
5. How will you inform users of data difficulties?
6. How will you supervise the organizations production output?
7. How to solve obstructions?
8. How to be sure that a system never runs out of disk space?
9. How to apprise when departing data is obtainable?
10. Make sure one is up to date on the process before trying to refine it
11. Model current methods and assembly metrics before starting process improvements
12. Choose to be on a cost saving project where change is the normal path

MBE NOTES:

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 5 Tips for Business Intelligence

1. Identify possible risks

2. Select verification test which must fit business rules
3. Assembly source data interpretation
4. Run an first run of the verification (really a proof of concept)
-use known business rules
-formulate sample goals
-analyze rules
5. Configure a all out proof of concept
-choose production level data for tests
-create a test environment
-make sure data utilized accounts for all needed purposes

MBE NOTES:

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 8 Tips for Creating a RFP (Request for Purchase)

1. Overview and administrative information

• Why does the firm need to purchase the technology?
• What business problem is trying to be solved?
• Why is the existing system insufficient to the firms needs?
• What features are without a doubt required?
2. Obtaining technical requirements
• List of technical requirements and rank them in order of importance
3. Obtaining management requirements
4. Vendor qualification and references
5. Vendor section (who they are, what they do, why they should be considered)
6. Pricing section (list prices by core product as well as module)
7. Contract and licenses section
8. Appendices (would include overview of vendors marketing material,
recommendations from other firms, graphs and charts as needed/desired)

MBE NOTES:

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 6 Quick Tips on Public Speaking

1. Take into consideration the audience and tailor the speech accordingly
2. Keep subject matter fresh, so people listen
3. Use slight humor
4. Create an outline of ideas and present them, read as little as possible from notes
5. Be confident, even if you’re not
6. Think that the audience is cheering you on

MBE NOTES:

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 Information Technology 7 Hot Tips for Leading a Better Deal

1. Consider carefully your needs.

2. Make sure you know your vendor.
3. Make sure you know your vendors product (study and read as much documentation as
is available).
4. Utilize a competitive climate (stand firm where necessary – do not be a push over in
regards to not getting what was promised)
5. Utilize customers comments when necessary
6. Consider alternative software to meet your needs (examples open source, internally
developed as opposed to packaged solutions)
7. Recruit the best negotiators

MBE NOTES:

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 10 Elements of an IT Governance Checklist

Questions to ask to uncover information technology issues:

1. Is it clear what the information technology is doing?
2. Are end users satisfied with the quality of the information technology service
they are being provided?
3. Are information technology core items maintained at a level to meet desired
enterprise objectives?
4. Does information technology support with regulations and service levels?
5. How well do the enterprise and information technology align their objectives?

Questions to ask to find out how management addresses the information

technology issues:
1. What information technology assets are there, and how many are managed?
2. Are enterprise and information technology objectives linked and
synchronized?
3. Does the enterprise know its position relative to technology are they a
pioneer, early adopter, follower or laggard?
4. Does the enterprise research technology and set direction for future growth?
5. Is the steering committee regularly briefed on risks, to which the enterprise is
exposed?

MBE NOTES:

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 5 Questions to Ask to Self-assess IT Governance Practices

1. Is the steering committee up to date on the latest developments in information

technology from a business perspective?
2. Is the steering committee aware of any conflicts between the business units and the
information technology units?
3. Does the steering committee receive status reports on major information technology
projects?
4. Is the steering committee briefed often on information technology risks to which the
enterprise is exposed?
5. Is the steering committee obtaining independent consulting advice on the information
technology objectives it is wishing to partake in – and being told of the known risks?

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 4 Tips for a Open Source Checklist

1. What open source license should be used?

2. How will a open source community be created?
3. What will be included in the governance model?
4. How will money be made?

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 8 Requirements for a Director of Project Management

1. Accountable for managing, directing and leading the project management team
2. Evolve and deliver training material
3. Enlist and develop instructors for training
4. Supply mentor advice to project managers
5. In charge of management meetings involved with project management
6. Establish project management improvements
7. Bring forth positive work relationships
8. Be strategic in business plans, human resource planning, business analysis and
business management

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 6 Steps for Marketing Information Technology

1. Target - define what you want to transmit to your company and the individuals and
groups you need to extend this message.
2. Research - ascertain about customers and their wants.
3. Pitch – make a story that covers what you’re trying to sell.
4. Staff – ready the employees for the marketing endeavor with training on what to say.
5. Campaign - communicate stories in presentations, newsletters and events, as well as
one-on-one and group conversations.
6. Metrics - institute objectives for the marketing effort ahead of time - staff should be
held accountable by including related performance metrics into their reviews.

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 5 Sales/Projects GOALS

1. Garner information - garner as much information as possible.

2. Obtain - a step by step guide.
3. Acquire - actions speak volumes.
4. Look - at the plan several times.
5. Set - new goals - goals infer passion.

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 6 Tips for Sealing Success

1. Ask the correct conditional questions

2. Be aware one sells what their customer sells
3. Obtain from customer the problems that your product or service will help remedy
4. Obtain from customer how you added value in solving their problems
5. Obtain agreement that the solution met the client needs
6. Ready for the next project/phase

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 Step System for Managing Customer Concerns (HEARS)

1. Hear
2. Engage
3. Ask questions then act -> Re-ask questions to be sure!
4. Reassess via explanation
5. Surely relate to the concern

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 4 Reports Checklist of Management

1. Report what you’re going to tell them.

2. Report to them.
3. Report what you will test them on.
4. Report to them what you told them.

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 5 Tips to Keep Customers

1. Carry on a positive attitude.

2. Diverse yourself - through creativeness and exceptional work.
3. Be aware of your customer’s business.
4. Follow-up and take feedback then prioritize and take action on priorities.
5. Give customers justification and motive to refer you to others.

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 4 Ways for Dealing with Conflict

1. Discover the exact issue

2. How can the issues be resolved?
3. What is the best solution?
4. How can the solution be put into place?

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 10 Questions on Execution of a Project

1. Do you have clientele’s requirements?

2. Do you have a sanctioned budget?
3. Do you have a confirmed roadmap?
4. Do you have a ratified schedule?
5. Are you delivering the product on time
6. Do you have developers available in a timely fashion?
7. Is team competent of dealing with modifications?
8. Keep them concentrated and resisting change
9. Customers should be given a list of feature issues with released products (could be a
one page overview of bug fixes or enhancements.)
10. Do you and your team gauge - the work on a regular basis to find ways to revise
processes?

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 3 Ways on Getting the Message Out

1. One has to decide whom to mail or e-mail the information to?

2. One has to decide what the text of the mailing/emailing will entail?
3. One has to decide the best time to send the mail/email?

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 7 Steps in the Mind of the Customer

1. One has to know the customers

2. One has to inform the customers
3. One has to help the customers
4. One has to surprise the customers
5. One has to delight the customers
6. One has to thank the customers
7. One has to reward the customers

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 Notes

Heller, Robert, Bill Gates – Business Masterminds (London, New York: Dorling
Kindersley, 2000)

Heller, Robert, Peter Drucker – Business Masterminds (London, New York: Dorling
Kindersley, 2000)

Heller, Robert, Tom Peters – Business Masterminds (London, New York: Dorling
Kindersley, 2000)

Schermerhorn, John R. Jr., Management and Organizational Behavior Essentials (New

York: John Wiley & Sons, 1996)

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 About the Author

Kevin O'Neill was born in Poughkeepsie, NY. He has a MSCS in

computer science and information systems and BA in journalism
with a minor in music from Marist College located in
Poughkeepsie, NY.

His interest in business started when he sold lemonade as a kid. During high-school and
college he was always leading in some way (whether by being captain of the track team
or project team for a assignment). Currently, he sells several books and software
programs on his web-site (http://www.kmo.name).

Mr. O'Neill is married and has a son and daughter. They reside in Canonsburg, PA.

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