Feed Editor 4 Mar 2008 11:01:30 GMT Articles, white papers, case studies and research on a variety of topics... http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/780/0/7/ en-gb http://www.consultantsunited.com/feeds/logo.jpg http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/780/0/7/ Learn the five major information security areas where progress has been made in Security and Policy Compliance, and the ongoing need for continuous improvement. 18 Aug 2008 05:00:52 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/9350/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/9350/ Building a High-End Oracle Data Warehouse Using Industry-Standard Technologies 11 Aug 2008 05:59:18 GMT http://consultantsunited.tradepub.com/free/w_sili01 http://consultantsunited.tradepub.com/free/w_sili01 It’s the biggest challenge facing our profession, and the one thing that’s likely to keep us awake at night: how should we most efficiently and effectively justify the investment required for CR initiatives to the board? 5 Aug 2008 05:58:40 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/9343/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/9343/ For decades, IT security has depended on users having to remember a unique password for every enterprise application. And the result has been a nightmare. On one end of the spectrum, users ease their burden of password management by choos­ing easily remembered “obvious” passwords like a variation on their name, birth date, or social security number. 31 Jul 2008 05:01:36 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/9321/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/9321/ It’s not much of a slogan, admittedly, but it does capture the conclusions of a report we’ve just published which compares the CO2 emissions of a webcast event with the impact of the same audience attending. Carried out by carbon management specialists co2balance, it looked at a specific event which we webcast from New Orleans. 28 Jul 2008 19:00:08 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/9275/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/9275/ As the credit cruch continues to take hold, many thriving businesses are starting to feel the pinch in profits as the cost of operating rises, yet the need for more staff seems inevitable. Dr Lisa Turner PHD is warning that business owners across the country are at risk of selling themselves short by not capitalising on the extent of their own abilities before taking on extra staff and as a result may be "putting the very survival of their business at risk". 23 Jul 2008 05:50:13 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/9256/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/9256/ As governments, business communities and the media have turned their focus to green environmental issues and global warming, enterprises are seeking creative and innovative ways to reduce their energy consumption and as a direct result driving a reduced the carbon footprint for the organization. 21 Jul 2008 05:52:31 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/9245/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/9245/ More than half (55 per cent) of UK workers are not suffering from ‘green fatigue,’ according to a report from Cisco. The study also found that 13 per cent say they would not work for an employer without a sustainable business practice policy. 14 Jul 2008 05:15:11 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/9230/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/9230/ According to recent independent research conducted in the UK, half of IT decision makers still remain unclear as to the actual value of a green policy. Whilst it is accepted that ‘green IT’ could save both money and the environment, it seems that these messages are currently failing to resonate with IT Managers. Antony Young, Director of Services, Security and Networking at Bell Micro looks at where things may have gone wrong and discusses how the industry can help IT Managers can get back on track. 11 Jul 2008 06:13:25 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/9228/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/9228/ As we read with horror Gartner’s estimate that technology accounts for two per cent of all carbon emissions, placing it on a par with the aviation sector, many IT professionals have had their social consciences severely pricked and have resolved this year to reduce their company’s CO2 emissions. 10 Jul 2008 06:45:26 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/9227/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/9227/ With energy prices rising all the time, many organisations are seeking to reduce their consumption levels. Some of the biggest savings can be made via the new generation of data centres, writes Toby Benzecry, CEO of Modus Group. 9 Jul 2008 06:44:29 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/9226/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/9226/ You wouldn’t leave your television on all day whilst you are at work. So why are millions of work PCs across the country needlessly left on every night - wasting energy, adding millions to electricity bills and significantly contributing to the threat of global climate change? 8 Jul 2008 06:07:46 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/9225/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/9225/ This case study features the Royal Free Hospital, Hampstead and how they are using text messaging to overcome the phone queuing problem for patients wanting to make/change appointments at the Genito-Urinary Medicine (GUM) and Sexual Health clinics. 7 Jul 2008 06:20:55 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/9087/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/9087/ Sometimes, when I use the word innovate, I tend to notice a certain glazing over of eyes, and my listeners slowly appear to retreat into themselves. And I understand why, the term can feel meaningless or can promote the kind of vague anxiety that many associate with change - or, even worse, restructuring. But this isn’t always the case. At Maconomy’s recent ‘Change to Win’ conference, business leaders from across Europe came together to embrace innovation, and were eager to see how it could help their business move forward. 4 Jul 2008 10:25:40 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/9085/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/9085/ So far, 2008 has been a turbulent year for UK business and in the current economic climate many businesses are continuing to shelve their growth plans. As sensible as it may seem, this need not be the case. Brian Duckett, Managing Director of Howarth Franchising, explains why now is the perfect time to expand your business. 2 Jul 2008 11:36:54 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/9083/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/9083/ Damovo UK won the contract to manage and implement a joint voice and data network for St Mary’s NHS Trust Hospital in London, having already been St Mary’s existing partner for its voice network, implementing and managing systems for its campus of 3,500 staff. 30 Jun 2008 11:03:12 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/9082/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/9082/ Discover how to maximize your revenue potential by utilizing the traffic you already have. 26 Jun 2008 12:19:00 GMT http://consultantsunited.tradepub.com/free/w_nl21 http://consultantsunited.tradepub.com/free/w_nl21 Dr Paul Whatling of Perot Systems looks at the value of a clinical transformation approach in delivering healthcare IT. 24 Jun 2008 08:39:37 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/9067/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/9067/ "As Screwfix Direct has expanded, it has taken a hold of its growing invoice volumes without resorting to increasing staff numbers. Read this case study and learn how the company has turned to process automation and gained rapidly improved staff productivity, process efficiency and invoice traceability." 23 Jun 2008 06:21:16 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/9066/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/9066/ David Ollerhead’s article argues that, in business, the quest for maximised profit and lasting success is as demanding and fraught with obstacles and perils as any quest undertaken in medieval fables by knights seeking the Holy Grail. 20 Jun 2008 11:57:46 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/9053/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/9053/ Barchester Healthcare, one of the UK’s most respected care home companies, has signed a contract with BACScontingency.com for the provision of a back-up service in the event of a failure of its BACS payment system. 19 Jun 2008 11:52:34 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/9049/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/9049/ Despite massive investment in Business Process Management initiatives over the last decade, the biggest opportunities for improvement have often been overlooked. BPM is a management discipline not an IT construct. 18 Jun 2008 08:23:55 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/9048/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/9048/ It’s crucial to define the scope of an electronic medical system implementation, as well as to outline each stage of the project and the resources that will be needed. A failed implementation will paralyze the operational capabilities of a health care organization, but the right methodology will help ensure a successful implementation. 17 Jun 2008 14:10:22 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/9047/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/9047/ All articles and books on achieving success (in any endeavor) start with the necessity to plan and - to plan well. Success may be possible without planning in some cases, but Planning reduces the risk of failure and increases the chances of success in all cases. Better still, coupled with control, planning brings predictability to the probable ending of the endeavor. 16 Jun 2008 09:47:18 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/9045/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/9045/ Being a Project Manager is a tough job! You not only have to produce the deliverables on time and within budget, but you also need to ensure that they meet the quality expectations of your customer. To do this, you need to define and execute a Quality Management Process. 13 Jun 2008 08:44:16 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/9032/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/9032/ The nature of business today means that all companies - large or small - spanning sectors from finance, to healthcare and the utilities, impact on the environment since they all emit pollution, produce waste and utilise resources for power. 11 Jun 2008 09:23:29 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8978/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8978/ In this article, Gerard Tilley, Managing Director for FAST Corporate Services Ltd takes a detailed look at IP theft and how this is challenging today’s fast-paced business world. In particular, he provides some much needed clarity around this crime and explores some of the issues for companies to think about when considering how secure their own environment needs to be. 10 Jun 2008 09:22:10 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8977/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8977/ The promise 3G technology could provide as perceived is not available in reality. The paper will highlight how all participants and contributor to this technology should look to harvest and reap the benefits it provide. 9 Jun 2008 10:35:43 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8948/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8948/ "A 'Decision-makers' guide to the pitfalls that await the unwary - and how to avoid them!" 5 Jun 2008 08:50:34 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8845/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8845/ Local authorities need to remove their blinkers and embrace shared services as a solution to tight budgets and cash-hungry frontline services, argues Anwen Robinson, sales director at ERP software firm Agresso. 4 Jun 2008 07:58:47 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8844/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8844/ This case study involves Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS Board deploying a brand new call handling and customer service infrastructure; they chose to work with Datapulse who delivered the new infrastructure. 3 Jun 2008 09:19:59 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8891/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8891/ Alan Morris of Retail Assist argues that retailers should turn consultants into ‘critical friends’. That means friends who have a real contribution to make to the health of the business beyond simply highlighting what’s wrong with it. 2 Jun 2008 09:15:13 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8824/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8824/ Daymen International designs and distributes photographic equipment. Headquartered in Canada, the company has UK operations in Wolverhampton, as well as offices in Germany, Australia, the US and a sales team in Switzerland. 30 May 2008 11:00:37 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8822/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8822/ This case study demonstrates how Heinz installed videoconferencing after its senior managers requested the technology so they can communicate with one another face to face and take part in video meetings across the Heinz food empire. 29 May 2008 11:55:47 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8820/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8820/ The arrival of the new Corporate Manslaughter Law will mean that businesses of all sizes from SMEs to large international groups will have to take a fresh look at how they manage the safety of their employees that travel. 28 May 2008 10:34:51 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8785/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8785/ Today’s IT department is faced with challenges every day because of the introduction of new technology. Instant messaging (IM) has proved to be a bigger challenge than most because its use can spring up without the knowledge of the IT department as users download free IM clients such as MSN, Google Talk and Yahoo! onto their desktops. 27 May 2008 11:07:48 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8784/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8784/ Many existing VoIP systems were designed and installed using a simple security model. That model was to separate the voice and data components of a network and to run the VoIP system in isolation with no external IP network connections. 23 May 2008 07:03:39 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8782/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8782/ As a consulting / professional services organization you have a need to capture, control and disseminate the techniques and expertise which form the bedrock of your service provision. For many disciplines one of the most effective, efficient and visual mechanisms for achieving this kind of “Knowledge Management” is Process Mapping... 22 May 2008 07:25:00 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8781/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8781/ Staff are often blamed, cursed and lambasted for crashing their own computers, causing havoc with email and wasting the IT manager’s time, but is it really their fault? At the same time, users curse the IT team when technical problems slow them down, caused missed deadlines and hold up communication between colleagues... 21 May 2008 07:32:13 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8778/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8778/ Psychological profiling can be used to assess law graduates and trainees as well as more experienced lawyers. However, is it wise or even right to encourage specialisation at law school? 20 May 2008 07:30:54 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8777/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8777/ MTA Solicitors (MTA) is a successful law practice that focuses on providing high quality, cost effective legal services to both private and corporate clients. The company has five offices - three in London and two in Manchester - and employs around 250 people. 19 May 2008 07:44:43 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8773/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8773/ As management consultancy recruiters we are rarely asked to find ‘raw’ graduates for management consultancies. But we take a keen interest in them because, two or three years later, they start to appear on our radar when our consulting clients seek Analysts or Junior Consultants. 16 May 2008 08:26:05 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8772/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8772/ Most UK SME’s do not realise the benefits of switching to using Voice over IP (VoIP) communications. Despite the significant added functionality and savings to be made, internet telephony has a negative stigma attached to it regarding call quality and reliability. However, now that technological advancements have ironed out these problematic creases, it’s time for businesses and specifically SMEs to wise up and take advantage of the possibilities. 15 May 2008 07:35:03 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8657/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8657/ Today’s global economy means businesses, more often than not, will find themselves working over geographical boundaries with colleagues, partners, suppliers or customers. Globalisation is far from a new phenomenon, but it’s only now that companies are truly getting to grips with how to best exploit these long-distance relationships and deliver the best possible return. 14 May 2008 08:54:38 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8656/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8656/ Desktop Complexity is a relatively new problem. As little as ten years ago, the typical customer service desktop was not so complex; maybe one or two green-screen applications and a phone sitting next to the computer was all an agent needed. Today, we see desktops with five, 10, 20 or more applications. 13 May 2008 15:18:22 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8757/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8757/ Kier Building Maintenance (KBM) wanted to modernise its communication and reporting systems. It dreamed of reducing the use of paper forms, encouraging efficiency and having a real-time system to keep its customers up to date. 12 May 2008 08:39:17 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8679/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8679/ 3 is one of the leading mobile networks in the UK and is known as the challenger brand - constantly striving to improve the industry and offer innovative new products. 3UK is wholly owned by Hutchison Wampoa who operate the 3 network in eight countries with more than 10 million customers worldwide. 9 May 2008 10:12:26 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8738/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8738/ Joan Yeadon, Proprietor of Credit Control Consultancy explains how to apply the principles of Transactional Analysis to credit management. The hypothesis is that all debtors are playing a game but their tenacity varies. 8 May 2008 09:11:25 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8736/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8736/ Delete-a leading creative design agency based in central London -maintained business maintained business continuity during two office relocations and has enabled a more mobile and flexible work ethic. 7 May 2008 10:04:42 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8606/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8606/ Oxford Said Business Centre researchers presented two papers at the European Tax Policy Forum conference recently highlighting concerns that UK corporation tax deters companies from locating here and that UK Government's corporation tax proposals could damage the UK's competitiveness. 6 May 2008 14:27:48 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8727/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8727/ The time is fast approaching for billboard bills and showcase statements. The rather drab transactional documents of yesteryear are being transformed into dynamic multi-purpose communications where sales messages and marketing offers sit within the correspondence a consumer receives from their bank, phone or credit card supplier. 2 May 2008 09:50:51 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8680/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8680/ This document looks at intellectual property rights (IPR) loss, legality and record keeping for compliance to highlight some of the check points that need to be addressed with an outbound email system. 1 May 2008 12:05:32 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8681/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8681/ GI Insight’s latest study into communications and marketing relevance has found that marketers are shooting themselves in the foot by paying too little attention to the highest earning age group in the UK. The study reveals that an overemphasis is being placed on targeting efforts towards younger age groups, in contrast with the 45+ consumer. 30 Apr 2008 12:38:10 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8706/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8706/ Modus Group’s Toby Benzecry highlights the growth in RFID technology in the workplace, and what technological developments like this mean for managers. 29 Apr 2008 18:00:06 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8712/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8712/ Mobile TV has been a hot topic in telecommunications for a few years now. It has been touted as a significant tool for differentiation and value creation in an increasingly competitive market. However, the service needs to work well and key players will need to focus on a number of issues to ensure that this happens. A good start would be to define the target market(s) and expected consumer behaviour. Next operators should assess technologies and handsets. Then there are questions around what content and who to partner with. It does not end here. 28 Apr 2008 13:27:54 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8707/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8707/ Video conferencing has been around since the 1970s. Back then, the experience was ‘clunky’, to say the least. It was hard to set up, the screens were small and the bills were large. As a result, few used the service but new technology has changed all that. As you press a few buttons, people from all over the world take ‘seats’ around your meeting table - and all without leaving their office. It’s going to make a huge difference in all sorts of areas of business. 25 Apr 2008 12:42:17 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8615/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8615/ Corporate responsibility - it’s a term that has been on the lips of every business manager and passed around board room tables for years now, but what exactly does it entail? This spring, the new Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 has gone into effect and as a result, companies are once again paying close and serious attention to corporate responsibility. 24 Apr 2008 12:05:07 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8607/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8607/ An enterprising company - thetrainline.com was launched in 1997 to meet the growth in customer demand for rail services via telephone, the internet, and other interactive channels. thetrainline was the first impartial rail retailer to sell train tickets online with its internet service launched in early 1999. 23 Apr 2008 11:54:07 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8440/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8440/ The decision by Shire plc this week to relocate its holding company to Ireland for tax reasons has reignited concerns that UK corporation tax deters companies from locating here. 22 Apr 2008 10:18:01 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8547/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8547/ Managing absence effectively is a challenging task for large organisations. Nine out of ten respondents to the CIPD’s annual survey identified employee absence as a ‘significant’ or ‘very significant’ cost to business. 21 Apr 2008 14:02:24 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8544/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8544/ Follow these five simple steps to make sure you’re ready to implement IT process automation Does this sound familiar: An hour sitting in a change management meeting, a half-hour provisioning new-user services, forty-five minutes rebooting a server farm to deal with memory leaks, another hour deleting files to free up disk space. Before you know it, an entire day has slipped by while your systems administrator slogs away at a pile of mundane tasks -- tasks that can’t be ignored but hardly make the best use of such a valuable staff member’s time. In the meantime, project schedules suffer and strategic business programs get put on hold for a lack of IT resources. 18 Apr 2008 10:51:18 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8441/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8441/ Recent retail figures suggest what many of us have suspected for a long time. Shoppers are increasingly turning to the internet for their retail purchases and as a consequence retailers are having to raise their game on the e-commerce front to achieve their sales targets and to maintain brand loyalty through capturing more of their revenue online. 17 Apr 2008 06:19:19 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8442/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8442/ Today’s supply chains are complex networks of interdependent elements. Whilst each element must be optimised, nothing contributes more to supply chain excellence than good communication between all parties. Everything must work in concert, requiring not only harmonisation of technology and process but a common culture supported by the best communications infrastructure. 16 Apr 2008 12:01:32 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8444/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8444/ This Case Study demonstrates how the retailer wanted to differentiate itself and add value to its customer service. One prime way it saw to so this was to "get away from putting all of its customers into one generic bucket"! 15 Apr 2008 11:06:33 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8492/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8492/ The following white paper from Netcetera covers the following topics: The Isle of Man - A great place to host an e-Business, An attractive environment, What’s in it for you? 14 Apr 2008 11:14:58 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8499/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8499/ The corporate governance systems of public companies listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) are governed by the Combined Code on Corporate Governance. The principles, rules and requirements set out in the Combined Code are aimed at increasing the effectiveness of information disclosure, thus increasing the transparency of public companies. 11 Apr 2008 12:11:35 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8494/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8494/ Choosing the most effective methods for communicating with an audience is a challenge for most organisations, especially those that have a specific group of people in mind that they want to target. 10 Apr 2008 10:21:09 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8473/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8473/ Lakeland is one of the UK’s leading retailers of creative kitchenware. Family-run, the company has grown from a home-based mail order business to a thriving corporation. Rapid growth, an international customer base and a product range of more than 4,000 items combined to present Lakeland with process challenges. 9 Apr 2008 11:25:29 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8445/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8445/ A changing economy and increased regulatory requirements have put increased pressure on banks and their core banking systems. However, according to the 2008 Core Banking Systems Survey* from Capgemini, almost all of the top retail banks globally are still using legacy systems dating from the 1960s and 1970s in domestic markets; despite the growth of packaged banking solutions in international operations over the last three decades... 8 Apr 2008 09:10:58 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8302/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8302/ Our people are our greatest asset. How many times do we hear this tarnished, worn out old cliché trotted out? Undervalued through over use, it’s a glib platitude that often has no basis in fact at the companies who use it, where there is no policy or infrastructure to encourage the best and brightest on board. 7 Apr 2008 15:48:35 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8281/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8281/ In this article, Gerard Tilley, Managing Director for FAST Corporate Services Ltd explores some of the issues that are preventing organisations from putting in place a comprehensive software compliance programme. He looks at the barriers and provides some useful insight into what organisations need to consider. 4 Apr 2008 12:19:54 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8273/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8273/ With e-skills UK citing the need for 140,000 new employees every year in the UK’s IT and telecomms sector, and UK applications to IT-related degrees tumbling by 50 per cent over the last five years, the incentive for employers to entice the right candidates has never been greater. 2 Apr 2008 11:41:23 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8258/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8258/ Recruiting shouldn’t be viewed as a way to fill gaps in the organisation's structure, but one in which the company's strategy is the driver for its decisions about who to hire, what management skills they must possess, and how they should lead in an increasingly global workplace. 1 Apr 2008 11:30:13 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8245/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8245/ As the dividing line between work time and personal time becomes increasingly blurred, Simon Norris of Temperus argues that a self-regulating approach, in which staff are free to organise and manage their own time in a responsible way, can offer significant benefits to both parties. 31 Mar 2008 12:01:34 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8203/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8203/ When a company employs an executive it’s all too common for them to be left to their own devices as their new employers assume they know the ropes. Often, it seems that people do not want to insult a senior figure, or are too nervous to suggest that an induction may be necessary. 28 Mar 2008 10:25:27 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8202/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8202/ Michael Sandison, Client Director Financial Services at THUS plc, discusses the interplay between financial service regulations and communications networks. 27 Mar 2008 09:46:06 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8201/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8201/ Although the human resources department has long been seen as a necessary evil at best, the scope of human resources management systems (HRMS) has been extended to include recruiting, competency management, training, time management, performance management, and so forth. 26 Mar 2008 12:11:28 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8200/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8200/ Sir David Varney’s recent report, "Service transformation: A better service for citizens and businesses, a better deal for the taxpayer", recommends sweeping changes in order to rationalise public sector services, and deliver greater efficiency. New multi-channel methods for service delivery and vast quantities of IT centric change programmes can be anticipated. All such initiatives share a common critical success factor - user adoption. Without that, performance, efficiency and the desired transformation of service delivery will be lacking. 25 Mar 2008 07:30:33 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8199/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8199/ Many people think recruitment is easy and it can be if you follow a few simple principles. Recruitment is not just about inviting a potential employee in and asking them a few questions and if you like them offering them the job. The danger is that you could be taking on someone who isn’t suitable and may not possibly be able to do the job... 20 Mar 2008 11:01:34 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8166/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8166/ Is the employee of the future going to be a young, be-suited man or woman sitting at a desk from nine to five? Could it be that future workspaces will be made up of meeting space, and the concept of having your own desk at work no longer existing? The notion of nine to five might gradually disappear, with staff working ad-hoc hours around their home commitments... 19 Mar 2008 09:29:34 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8165/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8165/ Improvement of government practices has long been a goal of many politicians. New thinking has proven that local governments can benefit from Six Sigma methodologies, helping streamline many of the tedious government hurdles necessary to do business on a day to day basis... 18 Mar 2008 09:20:21 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8153/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8153/ As a sector with people at its core, the recruitment industry is built on the foundations of personal data. Millions of names, addresses, ages, and personal statistics are circulated in the recruitment space every day as part of normal operations, with little thought into the implications of this.. 17 Mar 2008 12:17:50 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8149/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8149/ Mavericks are often described by Judith Germain as being wilfully independent, a trait which companies need to utilise if they want to remain competitive and successful. This wilfulness, however, needs to be harnessed because, left unchecked; it can bring down a company with dramatic consequences... 17 Mar 2008 09:30:51 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8147/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8147/ The transportation industry in the UK is facing a real and immediate skills crisis. In fact research shows that a minimum of 30-40% additional qualified transport professionals are needed to competently complete existing projects. Worryingly – that doesn’t even take into account the support needed on Government and Olympic Committee transport reforms! 17 Mar 2008 08:17:48 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8146/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8146/ Nottingham City Council blends InstantAtlas with ESRI to deliver community-level geographical information Integration of GeoWise InstantAtlas with ESRI’s ArcGIS (Geographical Information System) and ArcIMS (Internet Map Server) is allowing Nottingham’s GIS team to present strategic partner data online in a localised, interactive and eye-catching graphical format - supporting evidence-based decision making and reporting at the community level for this city of some 275,000 inhabitants... 14 Mar 2008 12:28:20 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8132/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8132/ Malcolm Etchells discusses how HR departments need to gain better insight into email usage patterns to prevent email misuse and potentially embarrassing situations for their organisations as well as ensuring productivity gains from the workforce... 13 Mar 2008 11:29:40 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8131/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8131/ FPS Umbrella, providers of the easiest, fastest and simplest way to be paid for contract and temp work, has made available their new white paper entitled “Recruitment & IT- Shaping the Future”. The white paper focuses on the trends, issues and challenges of recruitment in today's super-competitive industry... 12 Mar 2008 14:15:23 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8130/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8130/ Tim Hyman - Head of IT at Taylor Wessing explains the growing need for law firms for take back control of the email management and archival systems for this business-critical application and communication tool... 11 Mar 2008 13:52:08 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8047/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8047/ Proving and communicating the business value of IT services and investments is a constant challenge for CIOs, with many areas of the organisation not understanding or wanting to have to think about the technology. As businesses become more and more reliant on IT to underpin critical processes; how... 11 Mar 2008 09:54:57 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8048/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8048/ How a Changing Corporate Mindset and Advanced Tools are Enabling New Forms of Collaboration and Closure... 10 Mar 2008 06:48:30 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8106/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8106/ Control Risks is an independent, specialist risk consultancy with 18 offices on five continents. It provides advice and services that enable companies, governments and international organisations to accelerate opportunities and manage strategic and operational risks in complex and hostile... 10 Mar 2008 06:48:25 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8105/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8105/ In this article, Andy White, Director for EMEA & APAC at Numara Software shares his views on the issues which effect IT directors. On the one hand they’re juggling the day-to-day pressures involved in running a busy IT department and on the other they’re desperately trying to elevate their... 10 Mar 2008 06:45:07 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8034/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8034/ Organisation Profile Osborne Clarke is one of Europe's most respected and dynamic law firms. Their success, recognised by the UK Law Firm of the Year award 2006, is the result of delivering excellent, business-focused legal advice in an energetic, straightforward and efficient way... 7 Mar 2008 14:53:25 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8071/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/8071/ The Sarbanes-Oxley Act, also called the Public Company Accounting Reform and Investor Protection Act of 2002 was signed into law on July 30, 2002 by President Bush. In the aftermath of Enron, Arthur Andersen, Global Crossing, and WorldCom, SOX promises greater corporate accountability and... 6 Mar 2008 19:58:32 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/747/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/747/ Customer relationship management (CRM) is one of the most effective tools for improving customer relationships and therefore increasing revenue, customer satisfaction, and customer retention. Unfortunately, some CRM strategies fail. This leaves CRM vendors and their customers baffled... 4 Mar 2008 11:11:15 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/719/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/719/ Your small business needs an appealing and professional website but that is just the beginning. If no one visits your website and -- more importantly -- if it does not bring in new customers and allows you to sell more to your current customers, then your site is not effective. What do you need... 4 Mar 2008 11:19:08 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/721/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/721/ If you want an email campaign to succeed, you don?t want to offend anyone when sending your messages. Turn off a consumer with your email and you can be sure they?ll tune out your message. Don?t let that happen to you... 4 Mar 2008 11:59:28 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/724/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/724/ Audiences who saw the fabled Broadway musical, Chorus Line, marvelled at the intricate timing and seamless interaction of the dancers as they mastered the choreographer?s precision steps after many false starts in rehearsal... 4 Mar 2008 11:21:04 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/726/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/726/ Analyzing Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains consulting in the Clinton era, then in recession time 2000-2003 and now, at the post-recession, we would like to give certain prognoses for the next five years. This might be attributable to the whole industry: Oracle Financials, Accpac, MAS500... 4 Mar 2008 11:21:32 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/728/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/728/ It?s time to put your trusty CRM software to work; to let it earn its keep. You're about to blast an email out to several thousand potential customers. First you run a search of people and companies you want to target. You soon realize something?s wrong when your list is far smaller than anticipate... 4 Mar 2008 11:22:01 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/731/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/731/ Religion breeds fanatics. We've all seen that. And if it works for a bunch of crazies, why not make the same marketing strategies work for your product or service? Can you possibly adapt a system that has worked flawlessly for thousands of years to your business? Do you want to have customers chant... 4 Mar 2008 11:22:33 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/734/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/734/ The ingredients of success for an on-line business are the same ingredients that make any business effective. The only difference is that in an on-line business we don?t see our customers. We don?t see the other people who work in our business. We don?t see most of the people we bring in to the... 4 Mar 2008 11:23:06 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/736/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/736/ Email marketing isn't complex or new. Yet we see the same mistakes being made over and over by the marketing executives, sales professionals and owners of small businesses... 4 Mar 2008 11:23:54 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/743/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/743/ What is an Opt-in List and what is its significance in Affiliate Marketing? This may be the question playing in your mind, especially for Affiliate Marketing neophytes; and it is a question worth asking... 4 Mar 2008 11:24:36 GMT http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/745/ http://www.consultantsunited.com/cgi-bin/network/id/745/