Understanding leave administration outsourcing can help companies streamline their processes, ensure compliance, and reduce administrative burdens. Discover the benefits, best practices, and key considerations for selecting the right provider to enhance your HR operations.
Understanding Leave Administration Outsourcing
Leave administration can be a daunting task for many companies. Juggling employee leaves, tracking days, and ensuring compliance with laws can overwhelm HR teams. That’s where leave administration outsourcing comes into play.
What is Leave Administration Outsourcing?
Leave administration outsourcing is when companies hire outside providers to manage employee leave requests. This can include vacation days, sick leave, family leaves, and more. By offloading this task, businesses aim to streamline their operations, decrease errors, and save time.
Why Consider Outsourcing Leave Administration?
Focus on Core Business: By outsourcing, companies can direct their resources toward their main objectives. Instead of managing leave requests, HR teams can spend time on recruitment or employee engagement.
Expertise and Efficiency: Specialized providers have experience managing leave policies and compliance. They can quickly adapt to changes in laws, reducing the risk of mistakes.
Cost Savings: While outsourcing can seem costly, it can save money in the long run. Companies can avoid hefty penalties from compliance errors and lower the need for hiring extra staff.
Benefits of Outsourcing Leave Administration
There are numerous advantages that come with outsourcing this function:
Improved Accuracy: Specialists know the best practices for tracking and managing leaves. This leads to fewer errors in tracking, saving both time and resources.
Standardization: Outsourcing can help create standardized leave policies across multiple locations. This makes it easier to manage a diverse workforce.
Flexibility and Scalability: As companies grow, their leave policies often need to adjust. An outsourcing provider can quickly scale its services to fit the company’s growing needs.
Regulatory Compliance
Staying compliant with labor laws is crucial for any business. For instance, expenses from non-compliance can average USD 702 per employee per year, according to the Center for American Progress (CAP). A dedicated outsourcing provider ensures that all laws are followed, helping protect the company from legal issues.
Choosing the Right Provider
Selecting the right partner for leave administration is vital. Here are some tips for finding the best outsourcing provider:
Experience: Look for a company with a solid track record in HR outsourcing. Ensure they have experience specifically in leave administration.
Technology: The platform used by the provider should be user-friendly. Employees should be able to submit their requests easily.
Custom Solutions: Not all businesses are alike. Choose a provider that can tailor solutions to meet your unique needs.
If you decide to keep leave administration in-house, or if you want to manage it alongside outsourcing, here are some best practices:
Define Clear Policies: Ensure there are clear guidelines for all employees about how to request leaves and what types are available.
Use Technology: Invest in leave management software. This can automate processes, track requests, and store records.
Educate Employees: Make sure that employees are aware of their rights and responsibilities regarding leave.
The Role of Technology in Leave Administration
Technology has transformed the way businesses manage employee leave. Leave management systems make it easier for companies to track absences, approve leave requests, and maintain records.
Access: With cloud-based systems, anyone in HR can access leave data anytime, anywhere.
Reporting: Tracking trends, such as which employees take leave most often, can help managers identify potential issues early.
Challenges of Leave Administration Outsourcing
While outsourcing leave administration has its benefits, there are challenges as well:
Loss of Control: Handing over an important HR function may make some companies uneasy. It’s crucial to maintain open lines of communication.
Cultural Fit: The outsourcing provider should understand your company culture. The policies must align with how your business operates.
Success Stories
Numerous companies have found success through outsourcing leave administration. For example, a mid-sized tech company hired an outsourcing firm and saw a 30% drop in administrative workload. Their HR team could focus on more strategic tasks, boosting employee engagement.
In Summary
Leave administration outsourcing can be a smart move for many companies, especially as business operations grow more complex. It allows organizations to save time, ensure compliance, and provide better support for employees regarding their leave.
However, it’s crucial to choose the right provider carefully. Weighing the challenges against the benefits can help in making an informed decision.
What is the difference between public administration VS business administration? With the increasing development of the nation’s market economy, the status of public management and business management has been significantly improved, and the two different types of management share the development trend of economic strategy.
Here are the articles to explain, Analysis of the difference between public administration VS business administration
The author of this article puts forward the differences and connections between public management VS business management by analyzing. The concepts and concepts of public management and business management respectively.
Main Keywords: public administration; business administration; difference and connection
Both public management VS business administration belong to the scope of management disciplines and have the common characteristics of management science. Which can realize the rational allocation of resources through planning, organization, coordination, and other means. However, there are essential differences between public management and business management. Understanding the differences and connections between public administration VS business administration can effectively prevent the dislocation of the management subject and object of the two.
Analysis of the concept of public management
The concept of public management stood put forward in the 1970s. It is also the inevitable result of the development of public administration, and it is also the dilemma and challenge that traditional public administration faces. Public management is the extension and transformation of public administration. There is no substantial difference between the two, but public management pays more attention to social fairness and equality.
The emergence of public management is a function of public organizations whose main purpose is to realize the public interest. Public management includes many contents, mainly administrative management, urban management, development management, etc. It is an important branch of modern management disciplines and has broad development prospects. The core of public management is the government, which enhances the government’s management capabilities through policies, economics, and laws, improves the government’s management performance and service quality, and promotes the maximization of public interests.
Public management has diversified subjects, which can promote the further development of social public affairs and promote the maximization of social public interests. Realizing the responsibility of public management by regulating and controlling public resources, and establishing public management system and effective methods is the urgent task of innovation.
Analysis of the concept of business management
Business Administration is a discipline that studies the basic theories and general methods of economic management of industrial and commercial enterprises. It mainly includes two aspects, namely formulating enterprise development strategies and managing internal behaviors of enterprises. Business administration has strong applicability and is an indispensable administrative department of enterprises. The professional requirements of business administration are relatively high.
Through the application of management science, economics, and other knowledge, and the implementation of enterprise management and business strategy formulation through modern management methods, the survival and smooth development of enterprises stand guaranteed. As an important branch under the direction of management, stabilizing the survival of enterprises and promoting enterprise development are important goals of business management. Business management involves a wide range of content, and strong professionalism, and requires high theoretical knowledge and comprehensive ability. Doing a good job in business management is an important foundation for the smooth development of enterprises.
The difference between public administration and business administration
(1) Public administration and business administration involve different fields
The fields involved in public management and business management are quite different. First of all, public management is mainly responsible for the public domain, and the content involved is a public issue. Business management involves the private sector and is a competitive business enterprise based on the enterprise. The public domain mainly refers to government agencies and public institutions, etc., among which public issues refer to social issues that are widely affected by public nature in the work of members of society, are inseparable, and are directly related to public interests.
Public issues generally involve a wide range of complex issues, including environmental issues, traffic safety, food hygiene, etc. Public issues have a greater impact, not only on a single individual but more on a team or the majority of people. Secondly, the private sphere involved in business management is opposite to the public sphere. Business management is the management of profit-making organizations, that is, business management, and its basic nature is different. Business management pays more attention to the allocation of enterprise resources and the optimization of production factors to obtain maximum benefits.
(2) The resource allocation of public management and business management is different
The main body of public management is the government department. To realize the effective implementation of public management. It needs to be based on the control of public resources, including the following three aspects:
First, is public power. Public power is the binding force and coercive force of the government to realize public management. Which can realize the management of the legal qualification to enjoy resources in social public affairs. Public power belongs to all members of society, not to private individuals. Its function is to achieve public interests, and it has the characteristics of strong authority, strong rigidity, and no constraints.
Second, government resources. Government resources include the manpower, material, and financial resources it possesses, and the most important thing is the control of financial resources. Government financial resources are public property and the basis for the government to engage in public affairs.
Finally, natural resources. Various natural resources also belong to government resources, including land, mines, etc. The main body of business management is non-public resources, and the power it possesses is a private right, which is also a kind of strength of an enterprise organization.
An enterprise is a basic unit that can engage in economic activities such as commodity production and circulation. It realizes organizational goals through business management, and its private rights include binding force and property rights. The private right of an enterprise is enjoyed by individuals and is a non-public resource. The sources of material resources and human resources of business management are different from public management. They do not support by the government but are obtained from investment reports. Therefore, business management faces market competition and pays more attention to the survival and development of enterprises.
(3) The goals of public administration and business administration are different
Public management with the government as the main body mainly represents the public interests of society. Its essence is whether the public interests are good or bad, and its evaluation criteria are also based on the interests and needs of the majority of people. Public management pays more attention to social fairness and social justice. Its goal is to maintain public interests to the greatest extent and then realize the individualized distribution of public interests in a fair and just manner to promote social welfare.
Business management represents the management of profit-making organizations. Its goal is to maximize the interests of the private sector. Its main body is a broker. It takes market rules as its basic criterion and control by market norms. Business management is based on efficiency and realizes the expansion of private interests. Although industrial and commercial enterprises also contribute to national finance, their ultimate goal is to realize their interests.
(4) The operating mechanisms and methods of public management and business management are different
Public management manages public affairs through the use of public power. The essence of its operating mechanism is the operating mechanism of public power, and its basic basis is laws and regulations. Therefore, public management is a legalized management, including two aspects:
First, Administer according to the law, manage public affairs according to the power and provisions of the law, divide responsibilities, and strive to follow laws and regulations in every link of the management process.
Second, legal supervision. The whole process of public management needs to be carried out under the internal and external supervision of laws and regulations. Business management operates by the laws of the market.
Although the market economy also needs to follow legal requirements, such norms are only external. There are still hidden constraints in the laws of the market economy to maintain the normal operation of the market.
The relationship between public administration and business administration
Public management VS business administration belongs to important branches of management science, and they are different. But also have a certain relationship, and the relationship between the two is dialectical and unified. Both public management VS business management is based on the basic theories, methods, and knowledge of management, and realize management through means such as organization, control, leadership, decision-making, execution, and supervision.
In the management process, although the management objects are different and the operating mechanism is different. The problems encountered are the same, such as organizational problems, supervision problems, implementation problems, etc. The attention and exploration of these problems constitute the gap between business management VS public management. The common problem is the biggest commonality between the two.
Conclusion
To sum up, public management VS business administration belongs to the category of management. There are differences between the two in terms of management essence, management field, resource allocation, management objectives, and operating mechanism. There are also commonalities in the problem. Mastering the difference and connection between public management and business management is conducive to the long-term development of public and private interests.
Analysis of the difference between public administration VS business administration; Photo by Gabrielle Henderson on Unsplash.
Exploration of Human Resource Management in Hospital Administration. With the rapid development of the economy and society, the level of the medical industry has also been greatly improved. And the development of hospitals is also facing more tests and challenges, especially for public hospitals. It is necessary not only to pay attention to the benefits of economic development. But also to consider certain social benefits, continuous innovation, and development, to improve their core competitiveness. And provide necessary conditions for long-term sustainable development. Human resource management plays a vital role in the development process of the hospital. Because the human subjective initiative is the infinite driving force and source of an organization’s development and progress.
Here are the articles to explain, Discussion Human Resource Management in Hospital Administration!
The article mainly expounds on the important role of human resource management in hospital administration, combines the current situation of hospital human resource management, analyzes the existing problems, and proposes strategies to enhance the quality of hospital human resource management, hoping to provide certain direction and guidance for the development of the majority of hospitals. In the process of development and transformation in the economic, social, and scientific fields, medical and health undertakings have also entered a stage of rapid development.
In this process, hospitals must take the initiative to make changes to continuously adapt to social development, especially in the context of increased medical market competition. Only by continuously improving the core competitiveness of hospitals can we gain a competitive advantage and achieve long-term sustainable development. For the medical industry, human resources are an important resource and the core resource of the hospital. All the daily work of the hospital is closely related to “people”.
The important role of human resource management in hospital management
(1) It is conducive to the hospital to better implement relevant management systems
Although most hospitals do not have profitability as their main goal if hospitals want to achieve. Their development goals and improve social benefits, need to improve their internal management level. For hospitals, a high-quality talent team can promote them to achieve the goal of rapid development. To introduce and train more outstanding medical talents. Hospitals need to create a reasonable modern management mechanism and adjust the relevant systems according to development needs.
For hospitals, excellent and high-quality talents are necessary for the long-term and sustainable development of hospitals. Hospitals need excellent medical personnel in the process of treating patients and providing medical services. If the hospital lacks outstanding medical workers, it will have a significant impact on the hospital’s medical work. Therefore, the management of the hospital’s human resources and attracting more outstanding medical workers to join will promote the sustainable development of the hospital.
(2) It is conducive to the hospital to expand the introduction of talents and expand the talent team
At a time when the competition for talents is extremely fierce if hospitals want to improve their competitiveness. They need to introduce outstanding talents according to their development needs. This is also one of the important ways to add fresh blood to the development of hospitals. Hospital human resource management can provide medical staff with a good development platform and a comfortable working environment, provide them with the labor remuneration they deserve, formulate corresponding job preparation plans, investigate and evaluate the professional abilities and work abilities of medical personnel, and ensure that the introduced talents can adapt to the pace of development of the hospital, thereby attracting more outstanding talents and expanding the talent team.
(3) It is conducive to the hospital to train professional talents and improve the level of talent management
Hospitals are a special kind of industry. If we want to achieve development and progress, establish a high-quality reserve talent team. Provide continuous motivation and source for the sustainable and high-quality development of hospitals. We need to pay attention to the training of talents. The training of reserve talents in hospitals is an important content in human resource management. Which can make up for the lack of human resources, optimize the talent structure, and reduce the brain drain.
Talent training work in human resource management includes various internal training to encourage employees to continue learning to improve their workability and work efficiency. Most medical workers have relatively little clinical experience in the early stages of entering the hospital. They need to continuously accumulate clinical experience and improve their ability to work. These require the participation of the human resources department to enable the hospital’s talent training and human resource management to achieve high-quality and healthy development.
The current situation and existing problems of hospital human resource management
(1) The current situation of human resource management in hospitals
With the rapid development and progress of various fields of society, the concept of human resource management has continuously penetrated all walks of life and has become an important means of internal management. Although the hospital is not for profit, the hospital involves personnel recruitment, personnel compensation management, employee relationship management, and other dimensions of content, and the hospital conducts reasonable human resource management. Which can help the hospital attract more high-quality talents, improve the skills and level of medical workers, and continuously accumulate work experience. To better complete the work of treating patients and saving lives, and to promote the development and progress of the hospital.
Based on this, most hospitals have opened human resource management departments to improve human resource management within hospitals. However, judging from the current level and quality of human resource management in hospital administration, compared with other industries. Especially in the Internet industry, some hospitals still have many areas that need to be improved.
(2) Problems in hospital human resource management
At present, most hospitals have problems with understanding human resources, management systems, compensation, performance management, and cultural construction, and the efficiency of internal human resources utilization is not high.
Insufficient understanding of human resources.
At present, in the management process of most hospitals. The relevant staff’s understanding of human resource management is not yet in place. Most leaders do not realize the importance of human resource management. It is generally believed that human resource management is only related to the management efficiency of the hospital. But not to economic management. This leads to the automatic isolation of human resource management during the work process. And the human resource department cannot take advantage of it. Which ultimately affects the management quality of the hospital.
Judging from the relevant data, the labor cost of hospitals has been showing an upward trend in the past ten years. The data show that the labor cost of hospitals is close to 1/4 of the total medical cost. Which is close to the level of some developed countries in the West. However, judging from the actual development of the hospital. This labor cost is not in line with the hospital’s development goals and budget planning, making the hospital’s labor cost high. In addition, in the hospital’s human resource management and team building, managers lack the professional knowledge and management experience of human resources, and the hospital’s human resource management model cannot adapt to the development of the hospital.
Some public hospitals have not updated their human resource management methods and still, follow the traditional file management model. The management of hospital staff only stays in attendance and other aspects. They have not absorbed and learned advanced human resource management methods, and cannot motivate staff, resulting in the hospital’s economic management efficiency cannot improve.
The human resource management system is not perfect.
At present, the construction of the human resource management system of most public hospitals is still in its infancy. There are certain loopholes, which have led to the low quality of human resource management. The human resource management of most hospitals restricts employees from the aspects of employee attendance, reward and punishment systems, salary distribution, and work rules, rather than from the perspective of “people-centered”, how to mobilize the enthusiasm and creativity of employees, etc., to standardize employee behavior to achieve employee development and the realization of organizational goals, and the allocation of human resources is unbalanced, and medical personnel lack unified planning and management.
Hindered the sustainable development of the hospital. Therefore, under the current hospital economic management system, the role of people is very large. Hospitals must pay attention to human resource management, pay attention to people’s psychological feelings. And adjust the management system to improve the enthusiasm of staff and help hospitals improve efficiency.
The performance appraisal and compensation management methods are unreasonable.
At this stage, the medical industry is developing rapidly, and the requirements for medical workers are also very high. They are not only required to have superb medical technology. But also to have high medical ethics and ideological and moral qualities. Hospitals need to improve salary and performance management in human resource management, enhance the enthusiasm of the staff, let them actively participate in the work of practicing medicine and treating diseases, and promote the rapid development of medical undertakings.
At present, many hospitals have implemented performance management. But they have not formulated targeted assessment mechanisms based on the nature of work in different positions. Which has led to increased difficulty in personnel promotion and title evaluation in hospital human resource management. Which in turn affects the efficiency of hospital human resource management. The salary management and performance appraisal of many hospital staff are in form. Which is not conducive to the realization of the long-term healthy development strategy of the hospital.
Insufficient cultural construction.
The cultural construction of the hospital is related to the working environment and atmosphere of medical workers. A good hospital cultural atmosphere can provide a comfortable environment and atmosphere for medical workers. So that they can get full rest in their spare time, to better devote themselves to work. In addition, medical workers need to come into contact with all kinds of patients during their work. Which also requires them not only to have excellent medical knowledge and skills but also to be able to serve patients well.
This requires medical workers to have high moral character and integrity and to master effective communication methods. At present, many hospitals have focused their development directly on the improvement of medical resources and medical skills. While ignoring the cultural construction of the hospital. In the long run, it will not be conducive to providing staff with a good working atmosphere and environment. It will also affect the patient’s medical service experience, and ultimately affect the realization of the hospital’s strategic development goals.
Conclusion
In summary, hospitals shoulder the responsibility of treating patients and saving lives. They are also the place where most medical workers work, study, and live. Therefore, human resource management needs to be strengthened. At present, the level of human resource management in hospital administration is uneven. Most hospitals still have problems such as poor concept awareness, imperfect system construction, and inadequate cultural construction. These are not conducive to the selection and employment of hospitals. They will hinder the healthy and high-quality development of hospitals to a certain extent.
Human Resource Management in Hospital Administration; Photo by Walter Otto on Unsplash.
The article Discussion of Business Management and Administration in Enterprise Management Essay. With the continuous development of the economy, the development of some enterprises has fallen into stagnation. To ensure the normal operation of enterprises, it is very important to adopt business management. For the role of business administration, by using modern management methods and means. To carry out effective enterprise management and business decisions, to ensure the survival and development of enterprises. To ensure that the business administration of an enterprise can operate normally, it is necessary to improve. Its system ensures that business administration plays a normal function and role in the entire enterprise development system.
Here are the articles to explain, Implementation and application of Business Management and Business Administration in the Enterprise Management Essay!
The advent of the 21st century has made the process of global economic integration faster. In this case, it is both an opportunity and a challenge for technology companies. So how do continuously develop products and transform technological achievements? And then form core competitiveness, these problems are inevitable when enterprises are developing. For the good operation of the enterprise, the implementation of business management is a necessary step to promote. The important role of management functions in the development of the enterprise.
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What are business management and business management?
In the process of enterprise development, business management is very important content. It is not only limited to managing the operation of the enterprise. But also can help optimize the internal management of the enterprise and improve its competitiveness of the enterprise.
These are the contents of business management, and some Compared with majors, business administration has very strong professionalism. The combination of business administration in management is a necessary condition for improving management ability and control ability. It can establish an effective management method and help enterprises develop efficiently in the early stage.
The essence of business management is economics and administration. And it combines other methods in management methods to provide constructive suggestions to help companies improve their competitiveness. In general, business administration has rich connotations, is related to many departments within an enterprise, and is a part of an enterprise that cannot be ignored.
Why do business administration and business management?
Understand the current situation of the enterprise
To ensure that the enterprise can develop rapidly in the increasingly competitive market. It is necessary to have a strict and reasonable management method. This management method can help the internal leaders of the enterprise to grasp the development status of the enterprise and analyze the current social form. To propose a direction that is more conducive to the development of the enterprise. The adoption of business administration can better improve the enterprise model. And help the enterprise development in a more favorable direction in the market competition. Also, you may like the ERP system in Financial Management Essay.
Helping enterprises to do their work
Today, with the continuous development of science and technology. The competition in the market is becoming more and more fierce, and the management methods of enterprises have also changed. To create more profits, the previous enterprises would squeeze the labor force of their employees, and there was no work efficiency. If it can develop better, it is necessary to change the previous working method and use a better business management method to improve the work efficiency of the enterprise and reduce the extra expenditure of the enterprise.
When using the business management method, the enterprise should also pay attention to whether it is compatible with the company’s system. Moreover, with the continuous development of my country’s economy today, many industries are developing rapidly. Which also drives the continuous development of my country’s economy. To allow enterprises to have a better foothold and promote development, It is necessary to adopt a change in business administration. To better realize the development of the enterprise itself.
In the process of development, we must pay attention to the importance of science and technology. It is not enough to use business management methods only by relying on manpower. It is also necessary to apply the latest science and technology so that work efficiency can be greatly improved. And the cost of using labor for enterprises can be reduced. Promote the construction of modernization and ensure the prosperity and development of the social economy.
Improve the competitiveness of enterprises
Enterprises can improve their competitiveness, not just by shouting slogans. They need the cooperation of employees within the enterprise. And they must also adopt healthy competition internally to improve their capabilities. When employees complete a task, they get not only monetary rewards, but also the improvement of their abilities. In the environment of society, everyone must compete fairly to get what they want. Internal healthy competition can make the environment of the enterprise harmonious and improve the overall level, to gain an advantage in future competition.
The status quo of business administration and business management in enterprises
The enterprise does not use a compliant business management system
Business management first appeared in a capitalist society, and some of its management methods are in line with capitalism. But some enterprises in our country have not changed when they use business administration. Which will lead to some non-compliance with national laws and regulations. Some regulations have caused conflicts between employees and enterprises.
The management method is not perfect
Generally speaking, business administration still needs employees to implement it. It is very important to build a people-oriented business administration model. It is all employees of the enterprise that need to be managed, not just the elites in the enterprise. Only the progress of all employees can drive the enterprise. great development.
It is correct that companies hope to create more profits, but the realization of distribution according to work is the basis for companies to adhere to, and respect the labor results of every employee, and some companies ignore the importance of management methods to develop, resulting in The enthusiasm of employees is not high, and naturally, there is no labor efficiency at all.
The quality of employees is not high
A good business management system also needs the cooperation of employees. Employees must understand the requirements of leaders in their daily work, and they must correct problems in time. This is what enterprises need to pay special attention to when recruiting. When managing, let employees Continuously receive training in business administration knowledge and improve the quality of employees, so that it will be more convenient for business administration.
How to better implement the role of business management in the enterprise
Using technological innovation to improve business management
In the current enterprise development, technological innovation is the source of the enterprise, which can greatly enhance the comprehensive strength of the enterprise. At the same time, it can be applied to business administration to help the further improvement and use of management concepts. In the process of using technological innovation to help enterprises in business management, they can refer to the advanced concepts of Western countries, and enterprises themselves can also study relevant materials, and strengthen the business management awareness of enterprise managers from the perspective of cultivating talents.
To take business management as daily work, regularly carry out employees to learn the knowledge of business administration, improve the sense of responsibility of managers, and use this method to improve the combination of science and technology and business administration. It is necessary to attach importance to the establishment of an incentive mechanism to ensure the long-term development of scientific research and provide scientific guarantees for enterprises.
Carry out the training of enterprise personnel
After the start-up stage, the company enters the growth stage, everything is constantly developing, and the scale and business scope of the company itself will be further expanded. Then there will be many problems in the management of the enterprise. To develop better, the enterprise needs to improve the administration of various departments, integrate the business administration team, and pay attention to the development of new products.
The new problem that has arisen is the employees of the enterprise. In the long-term business management, it is found that if an enterprise wants to develop well, it must carry out business administration, and use business management to better handle the relationship between employees. The foundation of development, and excellent employees are also the driving force for the continuous development of enterprises.
For the development of the enterprise, the human resources department must manage the employee relationship well, understand the requirements of each employee, and let the employees have their sense of ownership, to better inject a steady stream of power into the growth of the enterprise. The environment is changing, and companies are constantly developing, so they also need employees to grow. Now is the era of a globalized economy, and the market competition is very fierce.
In this case, enterprises need to have better adaptability. Nowadays, enterprises are increasingly in need of talent, but it is not enough to attract talents with generous salaries. It is more important to have a clear career development direction and to use business administration to provide employees with a good growth environment. It reflects the importance of business management in enterprise development.
Apply more advanced management concepts
In the use of business administration, the effectiveness of using capital to operate will have a profound impact on the enterprise. The most important attribute of capital in the market is circulation. Only in the process of circulation can the maximization of capital value be reflected. To better promote the circulation of capital, enterprises can help enterprises to better add value through technological change or change the operation and management mode, and then use the created value to help enterprises realize business administration.
Moreover, enterprises can also use the available resources of society to help development, such as financing in a proper range, to help enterprises obtain more complete capital guarantees. In business management, capital is very important and provides a solid foundation for enterprise development.
Enterprise in-depth business management concept
In management, people-oriented. The development and improvement of an enterprise are inseparable from the efforts of every employee. Business management is simply the management of enterprise employees. The implementation of people-oriented management is the basis of the business management concept. , develop management awareness, and transform the previous management concept into innovative development thinking in the new era. In this way, it will promote the employees of the enterprise to not passively accept but actively learn business management knowledge, and continuously deepen and improve business administration to create every value of an employee, to better meet the business requirements of the enterprise.
Summary
For the development of enterprises, the implementation of business management is very important. In the current increasingly fierce market competition, many enterprises need to change their business methods at the right time to be more conducive to their development. It needs the help of business administration to better ensure the operation of the enterprise.
Implementation and application of Business Management and Business Administration in the Enterprise Management Essay; Photo by Icons8 team on Unsplash.
Finding a job in healthcare administration can be difficult. With so many options available, how do you find the right fit for you? Therefore, if you want to pursue a career in healthcare, or even search for jobs in related fields, such as life insurance, this guide will help you through the process of finding a job in healthcare administration and provide tips to make the process easier.
Here are the articles to explain, the Ultimate Guide for How to Find A Job in Healthcare Administration?
Healthcare Management or Healthcare Administration entails widespread administration, management of affected person admission and discharge, management of outpatient departments, and administration of numerous centers at a health center, healthcare clinics, or similar other centers. HM also entails marketing, staffing, human resources management, finance and accounting, everyday sanatorium operations management, and Public Relations.
Such is likewise required to manage public healthcare or network healthcare structures and centers. They stand worried about healthcare policymaking for public advantages; planning for coverage implementation, and implementation of the plans. The following an Ultimate Guide and Tip for a job in healthcare administration or management below are;
Step 1: Research Healthcare Jobs;
The first step to finding a job in healthcare is to research the available positions. There are many online resources, such as healthcarejobsearch.com, that can help you find jobs in healthcare. Once you have found a few jobs that interest you, it is important to research the job requirements and see if they match your skills and experience.
Step 2: Network With Healthcare Professionals;
One of the best ways to find a job in healthcare is to network with healthcare professionals. Healthcare professionals can be valuable resources for finding a job in their field or for providing tips on how to land a position. Additionally, many hospitals and medical centers have career websites that list available positions. It is important to make sure that you visit these websites regularly and subscribe to their email newsletters so that you are always up-to-date on the latest positions.
Step 3: Apply To Healthcare Jobs;
Once you have researched the available jobs and have a good understanding of the job requirements, it is time to apply. The best way to apply for a healthcare position is to submit an online application. Many hospitals and medical centers have websites that allow you to submit your application online. It is also important to keep in mind that many hospitals and medical centers are always looking for new employees, so don’t be afraid to apply for multiple positions at once.
Step 4: Use Social Media to Find Jobs;
Another great way to find a job in healthcare is to use social media. Many hospitals and medical centers have active social media pages that are perfect for posting job opportunities. Additionally, many hospitals and medical centers have Facebook groups that are perfect for networking with other healthcare professionals. It is important to make sure that you follow the hospital or medical center’s social media page and Facebook group so that you are always up-to-date on the latest job opportunities.
Step 5: Attend Healthcare Job Fairs;
If you are unable to find a job through online applications or social media, it is time to attend healthcare job fairs. Healthcare job fairs are perfect for individuals who are looking for a career change and want to explore all of their options. Healthcare job fairs offer individuals the opportunity to meet with representatives from different healthcare organizations and learn about the various available positions. Additionally, healthcare job fairs often have interactive sessions that allow candidates to ask questions about specific positions.
Step 6: Prepare Your Resume and Cover Letter;
The final step in finding a job in healthcare is to prepare your resume and cover letter. Make sure that your resume stands tailored specifically for the healthcare industry. Additionally, make sure that your resume and cover letter are well-written and highlight your skills and experience in the healthcare field. Finally, make sure to contact representatives from the hospitals or medical centers that you are interested in working for to ask about specific job requirements.
Step 7: Prepare for the Interview;
After you have prepared your resume and cover letter, it is time to prepare for the interview. Make sure to dress professionally and be aware of the company culture. Additionally, stand prepared to answer questions about your experience in the healthcare field and discuss; why you are a good fit for the specific job that you are applying for.
Step 8: Follow Up After Interviews;
After you have interviewed representatives from different healthcare organizations, it is important to follow up. Make sure to thank the representatives for their time and ask; if they could provide you with any additional information or references. Additionally, stand prepared to answer any questions that the representatives may have about your experience in the healthcare field.
Step 9: References and Verifying Information;
After You have to also deliver the reference a hazard to provide any additional details. They may also have something they think you need to understand but that you didn’t mainly ask. For instance, they’ll realize that this candidate is tremendous in very established environments; however, warfare in extra informal places of work. This could be useful to decide if they’ll be a very good match for you.
Step 10: Making a Decision and Moving On;
Once you have gathered all of the information that you need, it is finally time to make a decision. After considering all of your options, it is time to decide which healthcare organization is best for you; that the representatives may have about your experience in the healthcare field.
Conclusion:
In this article, we have provided you with a step-by-step guide on how to find a job in healthcare administration. By following these steps, you will be able to find the best healthcare organization for your needs and career aspirations.
Following these steps will help you find the perfect healthcare job for you! We hope that this article has helped you find a job in healthcare. It can be difficult to navigate through the process, but with proper preparation; you can increase your chances of getting hired!
How to Find A Job in Healthcare Administration? Ultimate Guide; Image by marijana1 from Pixabay.
What is the difference or distinction between Business Administration And Vs Management? In business companies, administration refers back to the higher and policy-determining stages. The management involves the willpower of overall company goals, regulations, and master strategies. It concentrates on the coordination of finance, manufacturing, and distribution. Administration determines the corporate agency’s weather and shape and it acts as the principal controlling authority inside the organization. On other hand, Management, right, involved with the execution of plans and guidelines laid down by the administration. Let us do not forget management is a well-known time for the entire process of government planning, implementation, and control. The administration is one precise component of the full system.
Here is the article to explain, Distinction or difference between Business Administration and vs Management!
They are each crucial features that guide the achievement of any enterprise or organization. You can every so often get companies in to help and guide you such as managed IT offerings. But what is the distinction between control and management?
In this publish, we can solve that question and look at just how control differs from the management. But first, it’s crucial to note that each control and management want any company to function correctly. Take as an example, whilst a company hires an MSP (Managed Service Provider) like controlled print services, it engages each control in addition to management. Because an MSP recruit using the control; but, its capabilities underneath management.
To a high degree, we can say that management worries about getting things done; while management looks at how these things are done. While that definition must provide a body of reference there are lots extra than is going into know-how the distinction between administration and control, the specific ability sets every involves, and how they impact the success or otherwise of an organization. So allow’s get began;
What is the Administration?
As we have a visible control center largely on getting matters performed. While there’s the manner worried in the management and coordination of assets that is more often an art instead of a technology.
The “technological know-how” of enterprise is but more evident in the administration of the enterprise. Essentially administration is concerned with the process around which an enterprise operates. So while a Manager may be answerable for hitting a given sales goal; the administration of that purpose could awareness of how income possibilities manage, forecast, and in the end, closed.
Similarly, a Manager can be answerable for the hiring and firing of humans on their group. The administration of that function, mainly if the business enterprise is of sufficient size, is often handled with the aid of an administrative-center individual in Human Resources. I.E. There may be coverage or manner to be accompanied that instructs them how the organization must function while making those choices.
As you can see management is the status quo of methods, regulations, plans, goals, goals, and imposing not only policies however also regulations. It comes up with a critical organizational framework thru which the corporation management functions. And this is in which the connection between control and administration exists.
In reality, in some smaller corporations, you may have a Manager who switches, albeit subconsciously from being a Manager i.E. Main and motivating their team, to an administrator, i.E. Growing after which following the policies in location while hiring or firing group of workers. To recognize the differences between business management vs administration further we can now observe a number of the important thing differences between the 2.
Definition of Administration:
The administration is a systematic process of administering the control of a commercial enterprise organization, an academic group like a college or university, a central authority workplace, or any nonprofit business enterprise. The principal feature of administration is the formation of plans, policies, and approaches, putting in dreams and objectives, implementing policies and regulations, and so on. Business Administration lays down the fundamental framework of an employer, inside which the business management of the agency capabilities.
The nature of administration is official. It is a broader period as it involves forecasting, planning, organizing, and decision-making capabilities to the best degree of the enterprise. Business Administration represents the top layer of the management hierarchy of the company. These top-level authorities are both proprietors or commercial enterprise partners who invest their capital in starting the commercial enterprise. They get their returns in the form of profits or as a dividend.
What is the Management?
Broadly speak me control center on managing assets, especially humans; and, how they may use by a corporation to obtain a not unusual purpose or outcome. Essentially a Manager works in an environment wherein they want to pool resources collectively, along with humans, plant or device, economic assets, and industry knowledge right into a cohesive unit that can attain this intention.
Functioning more as a coordinator Managers must often juggle the competing priorities of diverse stakeholders, confined or tough to attain assets, all while taking account of competition and converting market situations, to reap advantageous final results. For example, there are amazon management offerings that manage an Amazon dealer’s account to put in force the first-rate strategies that could increase the rating and conversion of that precise brand.
Beyond this process of management, there is additionally the human detail that brings with it emotions, relationships, dreams, and fears that each one wants to manage. As can frequently be visible in carrying groups, you can have all the right players on the field, however, that still doesn’t guarantee fine final results if the attitude isn’t right. This deficit in a manager’s capacity to coordinate their human capital can manifest itself in a loss, of course, bad planning or management, and lower motivation.
Definition of Management:
Management describes as an act of handling humans and their work; for accomplishing a common purpose using the usage of the business enterprise’s resources. It creates surroundings underneath which the manager and his subordinates can work collectively for the attainment of institution objectives. Management is a group of those who use their abilities and expertise in running the whole machine of the enterprise. It is an activity, a characteristic, a procedure, a field, and plenty greater.
Planning, organizing, leading, motivating, controlling, coordination, and decision-making are the major sports done via control. Management brings collectively 5M’s of the employer, i.E. Men, Material, Machines, Methods, and Money. It is a result-orientated pastime, which focuses on reaching the desired output.
The difference between Administration and Management;
The critical differences between the 2 are as follows:
The Process of Determination: Administration is the method of figuring out the object to carries out. While control is the technique of planning the paintings as in step with the objectives laid down by using the management.
Lays Down Policies: The administration lays down the policies and ideas whilst the management executes the regulations and applications.
Prepares Framework: Administration prepares the framework beneath which one request to work and execute; while the control supervises and controls the execution of assigned work.
Provides Direction: Administration gives instructions, steering, and leadership whilst management coordinates the diverse sports.
Provides Guidelines: Administration is the first and provides pointers to the control at the same time as management comes 2nd, follows the management and derives energy from the administration.
Major Key Differences Between Management and Administration:
The important variations between management vs administration give under:
Management is a scientific way of coping with humans and matters inside the corporation. The administration define as an act of administering the complete agency by using a collection of humans.
Management is an interest of enterprise and purposeful stage, while Administration is a high-stage activity.
While management makes a specialty of policy implementation, the policy system perform via the management.
Functions of administration consist of regulation and determination. Conversely, the features of management are govt and governing.
Administration takes all of the essential selections of the enterprise at the same time as management makes decisions beneath the boundaries set with the aid of the management.
An institution of people, who are personnel of the enterprise collectively know as management. On the other hand, the management represents the proprietors of the organization.
Management may see in profit-making organizations like commercial enterprise firms. Conversely, the Administration observe in government and military workplaces, clubs, hospitals, religious businesses, and all the non-earnings-making companies.
Management is all approximately plans and movements, but the management is concerned with framing guidelines and setting objectives.
Management performs a govt role inside the business enterprise. Unlike administration, whose role is decisive.
The supervisor appears after the control of the agency, while the administrator is responsible for the administration of the organization.
Management makes a specialty of managing people and their work. On the alternative hand, the administration focuses on making the fine feasible utilization of the organization’s sources.
10 Main points in Management vs Administration;
Management put into effect policies and objectives whereas management help in coverage formulation.
Management complete with the aid of both middle and lower level authority at the same time as administration via top-level authority
Administration shape the employer at the same time as control maintain the capabilities of the enterprise
Management make govt decisions whilst management make crucial decisions of the employer
Management contains technical and human relationship capabilities at the same time as management consists of administrative qualities
The primary feature of control is governing and government while the management is legislative and determinative
Administrative includes coverage formula while management coverage implementation.
Management work beneath management at the same time as the administration has complete manipulate over activities of the agency
Management represents personnel while administration constitute owners of the business enterprise
Administrators especially discover in government, navy, religious and academic agencies even as managers in business agencies.
Distinction or difference between Business Administration and vs Management; Image by Ольга Фоломеева from Pixabay.
What is a MBA (Master of Business Administration)?
Higher education – the area a young individual decides to graduate/post-graduate in – is perhaps one of the most important choices a person makes during his/her lifetime. A choice at this juncture determines the course of one of the largest investments in terms of time, money and commitment a person could make. Such an important decision needs considerable thinking on the part of the individual. ‘Why do I want to do this educational programme?’ is a question that needs to be answered. At a later point in life, some individuals may feel repentance on his/her wrong choice of higher education at the degree/P.G. level. The ‘too-late’ realization with a feeling of disillusionment is a direct outcome of unconsidered early-life decisions relating to higher education and subsequent career/profession. When faced with the question of what to do in life, the result usually may fall into two categories: He/she may do what others want him/her to do or do what everybody around him/her seems to be doing. The compulsion to get into one field of study or another field of study usually comes from the individual’s parents or / and people around him/her. This may happen especially in the case of professional courses.
The Master of Business Administration (MBA or M.B.A.) is a master’s degree in business administration (management). The MBA degree originated in the United States in the early 20th century when the country industrialized and companies sought scientific approaches to management. The core courses in an MBA program cover various areas of business such as accounting, finance, marketing, human resources, operations, and statistics, in a manner most relevant to management analysis and strategy. Most programs also include elective courses. MBA programs typically require completing nearly twice the amount of credits typically required for degrees that cover some of the same material such as the Master of Economics, Master of Finance, Master of Accountancy, Master of Science in Marketing and Master of Science in Management.
If we ask any MBA aspirant why he/she wants to do MBA, the answers may follow predictable lines. Usually, everyone wants to work in a multinational/national company and earn a fat salary, or is preparing for it since friends are into it. A few may actually know what to expect from the profession. Almost everybody talks of a cousin or friend who has made it big in some company or the other. It may be noted that the average student and even people in other professions and jobs have caught the MBA bug. When earning money has become the central objective of life, people may not stick in a career of their own interest and aptitude.
Some people do engineering because their parents wanted them to, but later they find that higher positions in management are grabbed by MBAs. An additional MBA degree may give them the qualification to work at higher levels in multinational/national companies and live a decent life. In other words, an MBA degree in addition to engineering or other degree is a detour in career advancement. Thousands of students, including engineers from the premier institutes like the IITs, want to get into management for this reason. One often wonders why some of the brightest people in the country are opting for marketing profession, sacrificing their talent and years of hard work and education in a different profession.
Career growth, managerial skills and increased earnings are perhaps the most common reasons given for pursuing an MBA. An MBA degree may help to achieve a major break through in one’s career path accompanied with a jump in income. Many MBAs with engineering background may start with that ambition. A management qualification requires a enormous investment of effort and money. To maximize the return on that, one should think carefully about hislher own objective in seeking an MBA and the type of course that is most likely to enable one to meet those objectives.
Increasing business activity and the predominant shortage of well-trained managers for industry make the MBA tag a prestigious and a well-paying one. Advancement automatically comes with efficiency and a hard-working attitude. The reputation of a good management school can get him/her a challenging job in a good organisation; but to stay there and to move on requires a combination of professional and personal skills along with a need to develop emotional quotient (EQ).
But an MBA by itself may not guarantee high career advancement in the profession unless he/she has certain skills, attitudes, and ambitions and goal orientation to move up. An MBA without these qualities may get stuck in the onward journey and his/her contributions to the job may sadly be mediocre.
The MBA, however, may build up expectations and everybody thinks he/she is fit to work in a higher profession preferably in a multinational company. Not everyone may find such a job, and this may leave a trail of frustration behind. Ironically, it seems that 2 there is huge unemployment III the country and still it IS difficult to find a good manager/executive.
Multinationals, or for that matter any employer, require people who can ‘add value’. A diploma or a degree by itself does not add value. It is added by an understanding of the situation and taking intelligent decisions. Highly paid jobs require this more than anything else. A person who does not have talent for this is bound to be left behind.
Choosing and managing a career requires more serious thinking than many of us are willing to admit. First is the question of aptitude. It is necessary not to be overwhelmed by stories of high salaries that others are getting, since each profession offers the possibility to earn more than others. The most highly paid professionals in the country, for instance, may not be MBAs. A good doctor or a fashion designer or a cine actor would be able to earn more money. Some famous designers and cardiologists may earn more than most MBAs.
MBA graduates are a significant part of the talent pool for corporate leadership. Major corporations and firms compete to fill entry-level management positions with graduates of top-tier business schools. Campus recruitment programmes are characterized by student selectivity, reputation for quality among business school, programme directors, and placement strategies adopted by B-schools. Thus, the popularity of the MBA programme is not only based on the quality of education, but also other factors as mentioned above.
Understanding and Using the Library and Internet Research
What is Library? A library is a collection of sources of information and similar resources, made accessible to a defined community for reference or borrowing. It provides physical or digital access to material and may be a physical building or room, or a virtual space, or both. A library’s collection can include books, periodicals, newspapers, manuscripts, films, maps, prints, documents, micro-form, CDs, cassettes, videotapes, DVDs, Blu-ray Discs, e-books, audio-books, databases, and other formats. Libraries range in size from a few shelves of books to several million items.
What is Internet Research? Internet research has had a profound impact on the way ideas are formed and knowledge is created. Common applications of Internet research include personal research on a particular subject (something mentioned on the news, a health problem, etc.), students doing research for academic projects and papers, and journalists and other writers researching stories.
Research is a broad term. Here, it is used to mean “looking something up (on the Web)”. It includes any activity where a topic is identified, and an effort is made to actively gather information for the purpose of furthering understanding. It may include some post-collection analysis like a concern for quality or synthesis.
A third approach to generate new business ideas is to conduct library and Internet research. A natural tendency is to think that an idea should be chosen, and the process of researching the idea should then begin. This approach is too linear. Often, the best ideas emerge when the general notion of an idea, like creating casual electronic games for adults, is merged with extensive library and Internet research, which might provide insights into the best type of casual games to create.
Libraries are often an underutilized source of information for generating business ideas. The best approach to utilizing a library is to discuss your general area of interest with a reference librarian, who can point out useful resources, such as industry-specific magazines, trade journals, and industry reports. Simply browsing through several issues of a trade journal on a topic can spark new ideas. Very powerful search engines and databases are also available through university and large public libraries, which would cost hundreds or thousands of dollars to access on your own. An example is IBIS World (www.ibisworld.com), a company that publishes market research on all major industries and subcategories within industries. IBIS World published a 30-page report on the solar power industry, for example, in March 2011, which includes key statistics (about industry growth and profitability), a complete industry analysis, and an outlook for the future. Spending time reading this report could spark new ideas for solar powered devices or help affirm an existing idea.
Internet research is also important. If you are starting from scratch, simply typing “new business ideas” into Google or Yahoo! will produce links to newspaper and magazine articles about the “hottest” and “latest” new business ideas. Although these types of articles are general in nature, they represent a starting point if you’re trying to generate new business ideas from scratch. If you have a specific idea in mind, a useful technique is to set up a Google or Yahoo! “e-mail alert” using keywords that pertain to your topic of interest. Google and Yahoo! alerts are e-mail updates of the latest Google or Yahoo! results including press releases, news articles, and blog posts based on your topic. This technique, which is available for free, will feed you a daily stream of news articles and Blog postings about specific topics. Another approach is to follow business leaders and experts in the industries you’re interested in on Twitter. The best way to locate people on Twitter you might be interested in following is by typing into the search bar labeled “Who to Follow” relevant keywords preceded by the “#” sign. For example, if you’re interested in solar power, type “#solar power” into the search bar. All the results will be people or companies who tweet about solar power topics.
Once an entrepreneur has an idea, it often needs to be shaped and fine-tuned. One way to do this, in conjunction with the suggestions made previously, is to enlist a mentor to help. An explanation of how to use a mentor in this regard, and where mentors can be found, is described in the “Partnering for Success” feature.
Library VS Internet Research
Many people are confused about what constitutes library research versus what constitutes Internet research. Some people argue that effective research is never conducted on the Internet, that one needs access to the resources of a library to conduct thorough investigations. People in this camp argue that institutional libraries pay significant sums to provide access to proprietary databases to their customers that is, databases that offer abstracts, bibliographical information, and, oftentimes, full texts of articles published in scholarly journals. Also, research purists may argue that documents published on the Internet lack the authority of research that is peer-reviewed and published by major publishers. Something important to consider is the difference between an Internet resource and an academic resource accessed via the Internet. For example, if I simply Google “research method,” one of my first search results is from about.com – a good resource, but not necessarily an academic resource. Although I can glean about.com for useful information about the generics of a topic like “research methods,” for the purposes of an academic research assignment, it may be wise to use the Internet to access my library’s databases (like Academic Search Premier, JSTOR, etc.) for online access to a plethora of information pertaining to my search term. The Internet hosts a variety of resources, some of which are useful for casual, everyday references (like about.com) and others which are more appropriate for an academic research assignment (like my library’s databases: Academic Search Premier, JSTOR, etc.)
Because of a misunderstanding about the way in which the Internet serves both purposes (casual, everyday research and formal, academic research) some students report they never use their library’s resources. Studies of the research processes of students have found that many students limit their investigations to search engines such as Google, paying especially close attention to the first eight or so hits on any search. Unfortunately, students who conduct research in this way often end up with sources that they later realize aren’t useful in crafting informed, thorough, formal academic research and/or arguments.
To conduct effective research, you may need to use both the library and the Internet. Limiting yourself to the library cuts off some very innovative work that may not yet be accessible for your library’s periodical indexes and abstracts. In turn, relying solely on the Internet is like trying to dig a hole with your tongue rather than a shovel: extremely counterproductive and a waste of time.
Information junkies know arguments for using either the library or the Internet are out of touch with reality. As research libraries increase the number of electronic resources they subscribe to, many traditional resources are now accessible via the Internet although passwords may be required. In other words, distinctions between the library and the Web are blurring.
Meaning of Brainstorming: “Brainstorming is a group creativity technique by which efforts are made to find a conclusion for a specific problem by gathering a list of ideas spontaneously contributed by its members.”
Definition of Brainstorming
Process for generating creative ideas and solutions through intensive and freewheeling group discussion. Every participant is encouraged to think aloud and suggests as many ideas as possible, no matter seemingly how outlandish or bizarre. Analysis, discussion, or criticism of the aired ideas is allowed only when the brainstorming session is over and evaluation session begins. See also lateral thinking and nominal group technique.
A common way to generate new business ideas is through brainstorming. In general, brainstorming is simply the process of generating several ideas about a specific topic. The approaches range from a person sitting down with a yellow legal pad and jotting down interesting business ideas to formal “brainstorming sessions” led by moderators that involve a group of people.
In a formal brainstorming session, the leader of the group asks the participants to share their ideas. One person shares an idea, another person reacts to it, another person reacts to the reaction, and so on. A flip chart or an electronic white-board is typically used to record all the ideas. A productive session is freewheeling and lively. The session is not used for analysis or decision making the ideas generated during a brainstorming session need to be filtered and analyzed, but this is done later. Show the four strict rules for conducting a formal brainstorming session. As you’ll see, the number one rule for a brainstorming session is that no criticism is allowed, including chuckles, raised eyebrows, or facial expressions that express skepticism or doubt. Criticism stymies creativity and inhibits the free flow of ideas.
Formal Brainstorming Session
I. No criticism is allowed, including chuckles, raised eyebrows, or facial expressions that express skepticism or doubt. Criticism stymies creativity and inhibits the free flow of ideas. II. Freewheeling, which is the carefree expression of ideas free from rules or restraints, is encouraged; the more ideas, the better. Even crazy or outlandish ideas may lead to a good idea or a solution to a problem. III. The session moves quickly, and nothing is permitted to slow down its pace. For example, it is more important to capture the essence of an idea than to take the time to write it down neatly. IV. Leapfrogging is encouraged. This means using one idea as a means of jumping forward quickly to other ideas.
Brainstorming sessions dedicated to generating new business ideas are often less formal. For example, as described in more detail in Case 11.2, during the creation of Proactiv, a popular acne treatment product, Dr. Katie Rodan, one of the company’s founders, hosted dinner parties at her house and conducted brainstorming sessions with guests. The guests included business executives, market researchers, marketing consultants, an FDA regulatory attorney, and others. Rodan credits this group with helping her and her co-founder brainstorm a number of ideas that helped shape Proactiv and move the process of starting the company forward. Similarly, Sharelle Klause, the founder of Dry Soda, a company that makes an all-natural soda that’s paired with food the way wine is in upscale restaurants, tested her idea by first talking to her husband’s colleagues, who were in the food industry, and then tapped into the professional network of a friend who owned a bottled water company. Through the process, she met a chemist, who was instrumental in helping her develop the initial recipes for her beverage. Klause also went directly to restaurant owners and chefs to ask them to sample early versions of her product. While this approach only loosely fits the definition of brainstorming, the spirit is the same. Klause was bouncing ideas and early prototypes of her product off others to get their reactions and generate additional ideas. DRY Soda is the subject of Case 9.1.
Approaches to brainstorming are only limited by a person’s imagination. For example, to teach her students an approach to utilizing brainstorming to generate business ideas, Professor Marcene Sonneborn, an adjunct professor at the Whitman School of Management Syracuse University, uses a tool she developed called the “bug report” to help students brainstorm business ideas. She instructs her students to list 75 things that “bug” them in their everyday lives. The number 75 was chosen because it forces students to go beyond thinking about obvious things that bug them (campus parking, roommates, scraping snow off their windshields in the winter), and think more deeply. On occasions, students actually hold focus groups with their friends to brainstorm ideas and fill out their lists.
A focus group is small, but the demographically diverse group of people whose reactions are studied especially in market research or political analysis in guided or open discussions about a new product or something else to determine the reactions that can be expected from a larger population. It is a form of qualitative research consisting of interviews in which a group of people is asked about their perceptions, opinions, beliefs, and attitudes towards a product, service, concept, advertisement, idea, or packaging. Questions are asked in an interactive group setting where participants are free to talk with other group members. During this process, the researcher either takes notes or records the vital points he or she is getting from the group. Researchers should select members of the focus group carefully for effective and authoritative responses.
Define of Focus Groups
“A group of people assembled to participate in a discussion about a product before it is launched, or to provide feedback on a political campaign, television series, etc.”
Definitions of Focus Groups
Market research: Small number of people (usually between 4 and 15, but typically 8) brought together with a moderator to focus on a specific product or topic. Focus groups aim at a discussion instead of on individual responses to formal questions and produce qualitative data (preferences and beliefs) that may or may not be representative of the general population.
Problem-solving: Idea generation or forecasting technique where several experts or informed individuals share their point of view on a specific topic or problem.
A focus group is a gathering of 5 to 10 people who are selected because of their relationship to the issue being discussed. Although focus groups are used for a variety of purposes, they can be used to help generate new business ideas.
Focus groups typically involve a group of people who are familiar with a topic, are brought together to respond to questions, and shed light on an issue through the give-and-take nature of a group discussion. Focus groups usually work best as a follow-up to brainstorming, when the general idea for a business has been formulated, such as casual electronic games for adults, but further refinement of the idea is needed. Usually, focus groups are conducted by trained moderators. The moderator’s primary goals are to keep the group “focused” and to generate lively discussion. Much of the effectiveness of a focus group session depends on the moderator’s ability to ask questions and keep the discussion on track. For example, a retail establishment in which coffee is sold, such as Starbucks, might conduct a focus group consisting of 7 to 10 frequent customers and ask the group, “What is it that you don’t like about our coffee shop?” A customer may say, “You sell 1-pound bags of your specialty ground coffees for people to brew at home. That’s okay, but I often run out of the coffee in just a few days. Sometimes it’s a week before I get back to the shop to buy another bag. If you sold 3-pound or 5-pound bags, I’d actually use more coffee because I wouldn’t run out so often. I guess I could buy two or three 1-pound bags at the same time, but that gets a little pricey. I’d buy a 3- or 5-pound bag, however, if you’d discount your price a little for larger quantities.” The moderator may then ask the group, “How many people here would buy 3-pound or 5-pound bags of our coffee if they were available?” If five hands shoot up, the coffee shop may have just uncovered an idea for a new product line.
Some companies utilize hybrid focus group methodologies to achieve specific insights and goals. An example is “college drop-ins.” This approach involves paying college students to host a party at their campus and providing them a budget to buy food and snacks. During the party, the hosts interview and videotape other students about specific market issues. Everything is up-front—the partygoers are told that the information is being collected for a market research firm (on behalf of a client).
History of Focus Groups
Focus groups have a long history and were used during the Second World War (1939-1945) to examine the effectiveness of propaganda. Associate director sociologist Robert K. Merton set up focus groups at the Bureau of Applied Social Research in the USA prior to 1976. Psychologist and marketing expert Ernest Dichter coined the term “focus group” itself before his death in 1991.
