Archive for February, 2010
February 22nd, 2010 | 
Author: Is Your Management Style Assisting Or Hurting Your Business?
Many times business owners can have significant differences in management styles that can deter the growth of both the employees and the business.
Employees can have differing needs that require differing methods of management as well. Problems arise when the management style of a business owner does not match the needs of the employees.
There are two basic management styles that are also broken down into more minor categories the Autocratic Management Style and the Permissive Management Style. An Autocratic Management Style is one in which the business owner makes all decisions unilaterally. In other words the business owner is the “boss” period and doesn8217;t value input from employees. The business owner’s word is law. The Permissive Management Style allows employees to take part in business decisions. A rather considerable degree of autonomy on the part of employees is encouraged in this management style.
If a business owner possesses an Autocratic Management Style and the employees and/or type of business would benefit more from a Permissive Management Style problems will arise and vice versa.
Management styles may also be “situational” in other words should be changed depending upon the needs and growth of the business as well as the differing situations that may occur.
How then can a business owner know if their overall “approach” or management style is hurting or assisting their business? Easy: Results.
The results of the business in all facets of the business will dictate which management style is needed or if a business owner needs to amend their management style. If a business is doing well financially if clients are routinely satisfied if employees are happy are all indications that the management style of the business owner is appropriate. Discontentment and loss of business would be indicators that the approach is incorrect.
An example of this will explain this principle further:
Karen R. successfully managed her own business for several years. She employed a rather Permissive Management Style allowing the employees plenty of input with a rather “family style” atmosphere developing. The employees were very much engaged in the business and considered the business “their own” as well leading to much devotion on their parts.
However as the business grew so did the demands of the clients. It became imperative for Karen R. to change her management style to the Authoritative Management Style as she needed to quickly enforce parameters and complete projects. There simply was no time for discussion among the employees and no time for multiple approaches to each project.
This led to much discontent on the part of the employees and they needed to be reminded that their opinions were no longer welcomed repeatedly which left Karen R. frazzled and stressed too.
The solution: Karen R. engaged a series of psychological tests for both herself and her employees as initially she had no clue what was wrong or how to relieve the problems. This test revealed that she was being somewhat “overly authoritative” in her approach and also that her employees were “too expectant” in their demands that she include them in decisions. A compromise was reached and Karen R. now allows some “input” from the employees but retains the right to make a decision unilaterally. This combination of Authoritative/Permissive Management Styles has led to the relief of the stress within her organization and has also led to increased happiness and productivity on the part of the employees.
Without a good knowledge of their own management styles or psychological approaches to business business owners can set themselves up for problems. They may be so difficult in their approach and so set in their ways that they in essence would not put up with this behavior if they worked for themselves. Or they can be so passive and so permissive that they become “doormats” for the employees thus not achieving enough control over the business. Karen R. above is a good example. Her Authoritative Management Style when adopted became much too rigid for the growth of the business and this was because of her perceived “need” for control in a business that was growing rather rapidly. Because she herself felt somewhat overwhelmed by the growth she tended to approach the employees with an attitude that was too strict and unrelenting.
Assessment of situations along with psychological tests administered to all within a business if problems arise can go a long way towards alleviating the problems. These tests are generally available online or from Human Resource providers.
Business owners can’t rectify a problem or their own behaviors or that of their employees unless they know specifically what these problems are. Insight into themselves and others will assist business owners into successful resolution of all problems as they occur. Knowledge of behaviors and knowledge of management styles can prevent problems in management problems before they happen.
About the writer:
Vishal P. Rao is the owner of http://www.homebasedbusinessopportunities.com One of Internet’s leading website dedicated to starting managing and marketing a home based business.
Posted in 
Isurance Claim Handling Online TPA Adjuster System
Claims management and administration software systems enable insurance claims adjusters supervisors and managers to process incidents and administer claims more efficiently and at a lower cost than traditional paper file and transport methods. Some areas that are made more efficient thus lowering costs are otherwise insufficient tracking and handling of medical provider billing (especially with medical bill repricing) and proper compensation scheduling. For larger claim adjuster organizations tying claims data across multiple locations is a must. A complete claims management system will address these issues and more.
Claims Management System by Quick Internet Software Solutions (QISS) a comprehensive CMS is a leading claims management software system that reduces cost and work and is Webbased to facilitate crosslocation claims administration. For all claim types medical bills are entered either via online screens by inhouse repricing professionals or they are digitally imported over the Web from third party repricing firms via electronic data interchange (EDI). This data is then available for explanations of review federal and state government forms and check printing. Compensation payments are either manually cut or scheduled to ensure timely imbursement right from within the system. Homescreen diaries maintain notes for personnel working a claim and customizable realtime reporting capabilities including Claim Loss Runs and summaries are two standard features in this claim manager. Going a step beyond in the application service provider (ASP) model QISS houses and maintains all claim system server hardware and software freeing the adjuster firm from IT firm concerns and ensuring that the latest security protections are taken. Because this insurance software is completely Internetbased all the adjusters underwriters or clients need to use it is a free Web browser already on most computers.
For information visit http://www.claimcentric.com/ or call 7136823200.
About the writer:
Bronius is a lead developer and SEO for Quick Internet Software Solutions; he oversees and maintains web site design and web presence. Bronius earned his BS (Computer Science) degree in 2000 and has been with the insurance software company since.
Is This The Way Its Always Been Done?
Lets face it we all tend to get stuck in doing things the way theyve always been done and creating products or services in a similarly conservative mode. But there is another way. Why not take a new look at your business. Take the opportunity to have regular creative thinking sessions in order to break the mould. Just one session could start off a new trend.
The best way to do this is to organise a group of your own people friends customers and anyone else you think can contribute to sit round a table with you for an hour and literally set out to think creatively on the problem of the day. Throwing in a few sandwiches and coffee to kill two birds with one stone by doing it at lunchtime is absolutely ideal for this purpose. Even have a little competition to encourage people to take part.
The first and most important decision you have to make is to define the problem you want to solve clearly and briefly. Thus for example you may be looking for a new service or product which you can launch from the same premises with the same basic overhead that your current operation already has. Or you may be looking to name a new product line. Whatever it is make sure you can define the problem simply and clearly before starting.
Having presented the problem to your ad hoc group you ask them to come up with as many ideas as possible including seemingly crazy ideas. Make sure that no criticism of any idea is allowed and that everyone understands you want as many ideas as possible.
Finally get the ideas written up after the meeting and circulated to everyone who participated asking them first whether they have any further ideas which have come to mind since the meeting. Secondly whether any of the enclosed ideas could be combined together to make another idea.
You will be astonished how many good ideas come out of such meetings and how many problems can be solved using this simple but very effective technique.
Some ideas are:
1. Wishful Thinking Technique
2. Random Word Technique
3. False Rules Technique
4. Analogy Technique
5. Role Play Technique
There are several other techniques that can also be used to stimulate the group for ideas. If you want to know more about these techniques you can find out more here:
http://www.thehomebusinessprofessor.com/creativethinking.html
Why not try out some of these ideas and drive your business forward in a different direction or at least have another arrow to your bow.
Does it always have to be the same way as it has always been?
About the writer:
Bill Ritchie helps with developing home based businesses startups Internet Marketing Tips plus writes the occasional article and runs a useful informative website at http://www.thehomebusinessprofessor.com.