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HR and Balanced Scorecard

August 30th, 2010

Human resource performance greatly affects overall performance of the company, especially a big one.  If a corporation consists of various departments and business units it is very important how personnel is managed, and whether or not human resource goals comply with strategic goals of the company.

Implementation of balanced scorecard is possible on the level of a human resource department.  Moreover, some companies prefer starting work with balanced scorecard on a department level to see how things work out.  If such companies have a positive experience in implementation of balanced scorecard then the system is implemented on a larger scale.

Satisfied employees have satisfied customers

Satisfied employees have satisfied customers

Anyway, goals and measures of balanced scorecard should be tied to a strategy.  In other words, when drawing a strategic map, it should be evident how improvements in human resource management result in implementation of different goals in the four perspectives of balanced scorecard: financial, customer, internal business processes, learning and growth.

In other words, company management must understand how reorganization and measurement of human resource department will affect performance of the company in general.  For example, in order to achieve positive financial results in the company needs to attract more customers and to retain existing ones.  To achieve that, new approaches in customer relations must be used and the company should offer new products and services at competitive prices.  In its turn, this is only possible if personnel can actually use these methods.  Obviously, the company needs the best professionals in a certain area to gain competitive advantage.  This set of cause and effect ties vividly demonstrates how improvement in human resource policy results in implementation of financial goals.

Major HR tasks

Major HR tasks

If balanced scorecard is isolated in a certain department, it may turn out that different business units are moving different directions.  A strategy map is a well balanced system containing measures and goals related by cause and effect ties throughout BSC categories.

For example, such an indicator as employee turnover rate may directly influence sales growth of the company.  If people do not want to work for a company for a long time they are probably not even their best efforts to benefit the company.  This explains low sales growth rate.  This is just one of the various examples of how balanced scorecard can visualize company strategy and make it understood at all company levels, from top management to ordinary personnel who directly contacts with customers.

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Align HR goals with company strategy

August 21st, 2010

Implementation of balanced scorecard in individual departments and business units of the company is a very tricky thing.  On the one hand, such departments as IT or HR do not earn money as they serve the company personnel.  On the other hand, they simplify work for employees, organize them and provide them with necessary tools to show better performance.  Balanced scorecard can be implemented on various levels of the company.  Some top managers prefer to implement balanced scorecard from the top to the bottom while others use pilot projects implemented on lower levels.

Improve employee performance

Implementation of balanced scorecard in HR department has a number of advantages.  The better HR Dept works them of benefits company top management and personnel will have.  In the recent decade it has been understood that nonmaterial assets of the company constitute about a half of company capital value.  Knowledge and skills are very valuable these days.  That’s why proper HR performance will increase capital valley of the company.  Such things as organization climate and employees satisfaction influence company performance and progress on the way to implementation of strategic goals.

But the problem is that it often happens HR goals have nothing to do with the company strategy.  This is the reason why BSC projects implemented at individual departments, such as HR will IT, fail.

Major BSC terms explained

Major BSC terms explained

On the one hand, human resource goals may be quite logical and reasonable for you HR managers but they will conflict with company strategy.  When implementing balanced scorecard in human resource department it is imperative that HR managers understand company strategy.  Some of them may have allowed into prediction of strategic goals and they will adjust human resource goals accordingly.  In such a way, human resource department will move in another direction, although formally their goals and tasks would seem quite reasonable.

This is where strategy maps can help.  As known, strategy maps show clear cause and effect ties between indicators, measures and goals.  So, if human resource department wants to improve such indicators as employee lateness, everyone must be able to see how this indicator contributes to implementation of goals in the other perspectives of balanced scorecard.  Is the most important indicator?  Are there any other indicators that directly influence sales growth rate for customer satisfaction?  If so then human resource department should look for other measures. It is impossible to implement balanced scorecard in an isolated environment inside the company.

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Find the right working group members who will be in charge of BSC project

August 15th, 2010

Implementation of balanced scorecard in auxiliary departments such as HR and IT somewhat differs from BSC use on a company level. Auxiliary departments do not earn money but they create favorable conditions for other employees to bring maximum profits for the company.  Thus, human resource department is hiring, educating and retaining personnel, while IT specialists provide company employees with tech and information tools that facilitate and accelerate work.

Human resource management is on the rise.  Company top managers and business owners came to understand that human resource potential is the most valuable asset they have.  Investments in personnel are considered to be the most effective long-term investments.  That’s why, it is very important that human resource department makes an efficient use of money.

Discussion of BSC strategy is a must

Discussion of BSC strategy is a must

When implementing balanced scorecard in human resource department it is first necessary to create a working group that will be in charge for preparation and a proper implementation of balanced scorecard in the company.  There is a very common mistake – working groups often consist of top managers only, while ordinary employees stay away from discussion process.  Under such circumstances ordinary human resource managers will simply ignore balanced scorecard, while some of them will consider it another management control tool.  Most employees do not like to be controlled, and often balanced scorecard causes resistance.

Create a well balanced BSC working group

Create a well balanced BSC working group

It doesn’t matter what strategic goals human resource department sets, the working group should consist of both top managers, external advisors and ordinary human resource managers.  The point is that a typical human resource manager can tell much about company personnel, while in external advisor doesn’t know employees in person.  Human resource managers are aware of current problems inside the company and they know for sure how to improve organization climate.  Many top managers are so far away from ordinary employees that their ideas and suggestions may seem unreasonable to personnel.

Creation of a working group is a very important step in implementation of balanced scorecard.  The wrong choice of group members will lead discussion to the wrong direction.  As a result wrong key performance indicators and response actions will be chosen.  The strategy will not be understood for people who work for the company.  Successful implementation of balanced scorecard depends on acceptance of this system by ordinary employees.  Balanced scorecard should become part of the everyday routine in the company, and human resource department in particular, and personnel should learn how to live with balanced scorecard.

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Why motivate personnel in BSC use?

August 9th, 2010

How to motivate employees?  This is a very serious problem solved by human resource managers in a variety of different ways.  Motivation is very important, no matter what goals the company pursues.  When it concerns implementation of balanced scorecard it is impossible to successfully use this system without proper personnel motivation.  The thing is that BSC is such a system that should ideally initiate changes in the company, including performance and conduct of personnel.  That’s why, if company employees are reluctant to use balanced scorecard and use it as another system of control no positive results are possible.  Use of balanced scorecard in a such a way equals lying to yourself.  Thus, balanced scorecard will be just an ordinary system of managerial control.  Of course, it can be used this way but creators of BSC thought about somewhat different destination of this revolutionary strategic management tool.

Motivation is one of preconditions for successful use of BSC

Motivation is one of preconditions for successful use of BSC

Implementation of balanced scorecard starts with development of company strategic goals.  Strategy maps will help visualize strategy which make it comprehensive and understood for ordinary personnel.  On the other hand, it is very important to get personnel involved in development of strategy maps.  Sometimes ordinary employees know much more about business than company owners and top managers.  That’s why they need to participate in discussion of company strategy and strategic goals.

But at the same time employees have their own duties, tasks and responsibilities, besides Balanced Scorecard.  How to get their attention?  How to keep them interested in use of balanced scorecard?  Of course, company top management needs to introduce a reliable and effective reward system that would seem fair to personnel at all levels.  In other words every employee in the company should beware of his benefits for contributing to company success.

Financial motivation really works

Financial motivation really works

Experience shows that when balanced scorecard is imposed from the top to the bottom company employees are not very happy with this system.  Moreover, Balanced Scorecard sometimes causes serious opposition and resistance.  And in such a way BSC becomes useless.  Besides, balanced scorecard implementation is quite expensive.  So, of failure to successfully implement balanced scorecard automatically results in losses.

That’s why human resource department should think of an effective reward system.  But choosing several indicators from the dashboard to become the basis of reward system is not enough.  Employees should be rewarded for decisions and actions that directly influence company’s progress on the way to implementation of strategic goals.

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Motivating Employees through Turbulent Times with the Help of Motivation Metrics

February 13th, 2010

Dynamic and haphazard work environment coupled with tremendous competition levels leads to rise in stress levels among employees. Success at work largely depends on toiling efforts and exploiting employee talent to the fullest.  Therefore, motivation theories must be adopted by all businesses and management to succeed and grow in the long run.

Positive motivating factors have a direct influence over the morale, thought process and attitude towards their work. The key benefits of motivating the staff includes in quicker and better achievement of goals, develop an optimistic outlook towards life in general, a strong belief in oneself and determination to excel, along with achieving self actualization and rise in self confidence that positively rubs onto others as well.

Consequently, the employee attains professional growth leading to better compensation and overall development of the employee’s persona to be ready for future challenges. However, care must be taken to optimally balance out the varied factors for motivation to rule out any scope for pessimism or cynicism. Motivation Metrics aims towards stability, employee welfare and business development.

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Using a team recruitment strategy with the Use of KPIs

February 13th, 2010

The practice of managing the employees by the organizations is termed as Human Resource management. A critical field, majorly, human resources act as a bridge between workers and management and are responsible for hiring of personnel who can add considerable value to the business processes. The path to success for any business is selection and retention of great workers along with the provision of an environment where they can flourish.

Human resources activities regarding recruitment have a direct impact on any business and must be linked to business endeavors and objectives.  Hence, a strong supervision towards the underperformers is imperative for their growth, and smooth sailing towards success, and coming up the curve that will contribute to the business eventually. Periodical appraisals and comprehensive assessment of performances will assist in defining discrepancies, if any.

A strong Human Resource metrics program based on realistic facts can lead to significant progress in the business and consequently better allocation of resources.  Furthermore, involvement of existing employees in the enrollment procedure will result in suitably matched profiles and cultivate a spirit of participation in bigger roles. Thus, HR metrics are a vital tool for providing valuable insights towards business growth and employee contribution.

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Effectual Interview sheets with the help of balance scorecard

October 13th, 2009

Interviewing, after showing possible applicants, happens to be the primary and for some firms the last step towards selection of candidates. An interview not just provides the applicant an opportunity to show him or herself but also allows the firm to measure them as a result. Hence it should be a careful comprehensive action.

With the quick paced business necessities, the directors have small time in hand to devise detailed interview sheets for positions independently. In spite of being a useful tool it is not very regularly used to its correct shape and function. What departmental heads and HR staff treats in is firing unplanned questions at the candidate on their big day rather than base them on in-depth discussions to analysis their awareness, talent and performance.

Training has never harmed anybody and being well prepared is half way from side to side to victory. What directors and departmental heads these days require is an incorporated support structure into their human recourses information system with the aid of which they can plan modified interviewing sheets in order with departmental and managerial objectives rather than arbitrarily developing bullets previous to an interview and then noting down outcome individually.

One such system is balanced scorecard that permits executive skills to combine with experimental data. Each section head or the interviewer can produce their own interview sheets upon spotting the issues or indicators to judge the candidate on. These may comprise self-assurance, communication skills, and skill to work with team, service oriented, loyalty, look and a lot of more.

Balanced Scorecard permits taking on an incorporated approach to the task of meeting that assists regulation, arrange and plan a system that is simple to study, manage and improvise.

These prearranged indicators of questions recognized, help give up valid data that keep the most expensive benefit of today that is time and also make evaluation, collecting and taking out information a much easier task. It also supports enlarge the possibility of getting supportive information in making the selection conclusion for the association and the administration team.

This also keeps time for the selectors to go through the resume or CVs which they hardly obtain time to do so before and base queries and indicators linked to the missing gaps, inconsistencies and knowledge of the applicant along with other managerial necessities.

A first-class interview not just leaves the applicant feel appropriately challenged and pleased but also instills the emotion of kindness for the corporation. This commanding tool facilitates to analysis the results impartially as they are not completed as private notes but are based on arithmetical grading. It allows the managers to find the closest fit to the requirement of the position available, departmental and managerial goals with clearness of what to anticipate and trial of the candidates.

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Metrics can be used Education assessment

October 13th, 2009

If there is one common development across academic institutes these days, it is the reality that the number of enrollees is rising every year. With extra demands to provide to, the need for suitable metrics for learning assessment becomes more and more essential. Some educational project should come up with ways and means to include plans that actually work so that objectives can be attain. And for the reason that computing performance is one effectual method to measure how an organization is faring next to business goals and purposes, then the balanced scorecard filled with appropriate metrics should verify to be a right tool to use.

The balanced scorecard in fact started out as a planned tool for successful administration. This immediately started out as a decision-making tool used by companies. But as more and more projects exposed the significance of the tool in terms of efficient administration, then it is just fitting that instructive projects should also make use of balanced scorecards.

Universities and colleges all across the world are currently using this method to advance development in the educational prospect. And much similar to the scorecards used by corporations in other businesses, the BSC for teaching is also developed to understand plans and objectives of the educational project itself so as to generate a structure that is both quantifiable and complete. The superiority of being comprehensive is significant because each person in the college should be talented to understand what the metrics stand for and how they should be taken.

The teaching assessment scorecard should make use of core indicators or gauges that measure and typify institutional efficiency. To inspire impartiality, four areas require to be covered these areas are inner stakeholder, outer stakeholder, enlargement and novelty, as well as operational monetary performance. Taking into deliberation all of these areas creates an efficient scorecard structure.

Facts have to be inputted, administer, processed, and examined when it arrives to the internal development of the scorecard itself. Benchmarking should be put into practice, with every part having its own set of targets and objectives. To gather such targets, benchmarks would then be used to review and regulate policies as desirable.

For the academic institution to create successful benchmarks, every area of the project should be given focus. For the external stakeholder outlook, for example, the benchmarks here could be scholar access and achievement, advertising, outreach, as well as connections with the college societies. The inner stakeholder outlook, on the other hand, could have efficient statement, incorporated planning, presentation measurement, and protected and safe campuses.

For expansion and novelty, you can comprise modernism in the release of services, instructive components, and programs, as well as coordinated plans for education staff expansion. The monetary and commerce outlook, meanwhile, can comprise updating of train services, practical resource development approaches, updates on discipline facilities, and the suitable substitute of school services and tools, as desirable.

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Prioritize organizational goals with balanced scorecards

September 29th, 2009

All organizations have their own set of goals and objectives that they want to achieve in order to sustain themselves in the cut throat competition offered by the existing corporate world. Goals can be defined on the basis of short term and long term according to the nature and feasibility of the scenarios and circumstances.

Each of the organizations is divided into respective departments to carry out the implementation plans to achieve these goals and other related purposes. There is however, one central division or department in any organization that watches over the productivity and performance of the overall organizational management. This department is that of the Human Resources. Despite the human resources related goals that need to be catered to individually, one of the main purposes of HR is to hire the apt pool of people to carry out the operations of the organization in its entirety and efficiently.

Not only this, but a human resource department also indulges in struturing innovative and satisfying rewarding, compensating and benefits packages and techniques that automatically ascertain employee buy in. The question which then arises is that how does such a department like Human Resources in any organization achieve its goals in terms of vigilance and motivation. One very effective technological solution is the use of the Balanced Scorecards. This Scorecard contains effective and quantifiable key performance indicators used in the process of goal setting and measuring the current performance of a particular department. This performance is then gauged against the projected performance that the company envisions for itself reflecting from its mission, vision, objectives and targets. Thus helps in determining the current status of the standing of the business entities in the present and forecasting the future.

The KPIs vary from one department to another, since the goals from department to department are distinct as well. The use of scorecard helps in determining how successful are the members of workforce in their effort and contributions towards achieving organizational goals and objectives. If in any scenario or condition the success of workforce is considered crucial then it can be chosen as a metric in the scorecard. Apart from this it also allows to determine how effective and cohesive the policies and procedures of the Human Resource department are. Any aversion from the organizational goals would show as a result in the Balanced Scorecards.

Every activity in the corporate world has a cost. It is empirical to look into the cost incurred by the department as a whole by evaluating the costs of the new hiring, trainings provided, resources and supplies incurred and other related issues. In the light of these costs, the rewards in return can be compared. A Balanced Scorecards is a complete guide to building strategies that provide quantifiable and objective insights to the procedure and processes involved in an entity.

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Improving the team spirit in an organization through KPIs

September 17th, 2009

Inculcating the right set of skills and making the team members capable of handling issues sets the right tone for developing a successful organization. This is undoubtedly easier said than done as the managers are required to keep a sharp-eye on the changing scenario for bringing the correct cultural values in employees. Further, these fluctuations are to be reflected in the interactions organized in later times.

Taking such steps also foster a ‘sense of belongingness’ in session takers; thereby setting the stage for improving the team spirit. This can prove to be an immensely significant factor in future times as only when a capable workforce has been developed that one can be assured of responsibilities being fulfilled to the maximum extent.

However, as one gets into the job of arranging such occasions, it is realized that several factors are to be taken care of. Making sure that none of the ‘important factors’ is compromised asks for following a ‘pre-set route’. One of the answers is called ‘BSC’, I.e.  balanced scorecard which can designed with the help of tools like the BSC Designer. Saying it all, as the name goes, this tool is a ‘uniform approach’ towards pulling all aspects together.

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