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Sales or marketing? Which is the priority for optimum growth?

With the UK out of recession, many UK businesses are bullish about growth in 2014. But what’s the best way to achieve it? Should your focus be sales or marketing? David Baldwin-Evans, an experienced interim sales and marketing leader, shares his thoughts.

Complex change is easy…

Complex change is easy so long as you have a clear plan, the skills to deliver it and the ability to engage with people at all levels and bring them along. Highly experienced interim transformation programme director Tony Martin lists a few simple rules to make effective change easier.

A fresh look at China

Although China’s astonishing rate of economic growth over the past 30 years has slowed, there are still plenty of opportunities for companies looking to do business in the world’s most populous country. One businessman with considerable experience of working in China is strategic brand expert Jonathan Geldart. He’s now co-authored a new book that captures the insights of Chinese business leaders and provides a practical guide for Western companies.

Protecting the value of your acquisition

The recent series of major mergers and acquisitions (M&A) is a strong indication that we’re moving towards economic recovery. With companies apparently more confident to spend cash stockpiled during the depths of the recession, and private equity firms sniffing out good investments, we spoke to post-acquisition integration expert Philip da Silva about the importance of a well-planned integration.

Making change faster and stickier

When a company undergoes major change, it can be an uncertain time for its employees. Effective communication will not only help your people understand what’s happening and why, but it will also help you understand their views and concerns. As experienced change communications expert Phyllida Barr tells us, communication plays an important role in building trust and making change stick.

The world has changed. Are your managers ready for growth?

With signs of global economic recovery, senior interim manager Matthew Warham argues that now’s the time for organisations to think about growth. More specifically, senior leaders need to look at their management and systems, and ask whether they have the right people in place to deliver.

Interim or permanent – when is it right to make the switch?

It’s rare for career interim managers to take a permanent role. One who recently did just that is John Adkins, an executive with vast experience of devising and delivering organisational change, who has also led companies at the highest levels. We spoke to John about why he did it and what individuals and companies should consider before making the switch.

Project Finger-Printing – How to avoid organisational amnesia

Lessons learned are important for continuous improvement and future success. While many are happy to discuss what went right on a project, exploring what went wrong can be easier said than done. Finance executive and change manager Siva Shankar explains a system he calls ‘project finger-printing’ which provides a mechanism for people to share valuable information on factors that drove success and failure.

Total attraction – business buzzword or clarity at last?

As companies compete to attract the brightest talent with specialist skills, is it time to take ‘total attraction’ seriously? Having helped shape the attraction strategies of many bluechip companies, Dan Atkinson argues the case.

Shared services optimisation – the next generation

Shared services began in the early 1990′s when large corporates were seeking a new, more cost-efficient model for running back-office services. Today, the concept is well established with shared services saving organisations millions of pounds. But what’s next? We asked business consulting expert and Interim Manager Allan Robb to look at the options.

Creating a business change function

In many organisations, business change programmes are managed by IT. But as Programme Manager Luke Evans argues, this can create a number of problems. He believes there’s a better way: and that’s to create a dedicated business change function.

HRIS SaaS: Look before you leap?

The right information system can transform an HR function, improving efficiencies and reducing operating costs. But in a notoriously difficult-to-evaluate software market, how do you make the right choices and avoid a costly white elephant? Fergal Harkin is an HR professional helping companies navigate the choppy waters of HR system upgrades. He tells us how it’s done and how the future is in the cloud…

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