4-CONSULTING E-ZINE

Through a long, hot summer we've been growing our business. Marketing continues to be a key part of building our customer base and understanding our customers' needs and expectations is critical. In this edition, we look at how you can improve your marketing effectiveness.

The most successful businesses have inspirational leaders at the their head. We look at a little known tool developed by the DTI that enables you to assess your own leadership qualities.

We offer you more of our popular Microsoft Office Tricks 'n' Tips; this time focussing on PowerPoint and Excel.

We hope that you'll pass on this e-zine to a colleague.

For more information about 4-consulting click here

In this issue

Marketing - The Power of Corporate Blogging

Successful businesses in the digital age are turning to corporate blogging to expand their customers' understanding of the business and to build the corporate brand. Blogs must be designed as part of your organisation's marketing and communications strategies.

To read the complete article, visit:
http://www.4-consulting.com/News/Ezine_10/Ezine_10_01.htm

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Inspired Leadership

Leadership is about inspiration and vision rather than technical competence and is a transferable skill that can be developed by continued learning.  Research has shown that effective leaders work in four dimensions and the DTI's Insight to Action tool gives you insight into your own leadership qualities.

To read the complete article, visit:
http://www.4-consulting.com/News/Ezine_10/Ezine_10_02.htm

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Making the Most of PowerPoint and Excel

Our regular "tricks and tips" features offers practical advice on creating, formatting and navigating PowerPoint Slideshows and spreadsheet workbooks.

To read the complete article, visit:
http://www.4-consulting.com/News/Ezine_10/Ezine_10_03.htm

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Recent Successes

Over the summer months, we have added some new customers to our portfolio.  Here's a selection of some of our new business.

We have been commissioned to provide independent advice and assistance in developing the plans for shared support services for the proposed co-location of Borders College & Heriot-Watt University on the Netherdale campus as part of a new inter-institutional model for delivery of Further and Higher Education in the Scottish Borders.  4-consulting director, Ralph Leishman, is a member of a team (with DTZ Consulting & Research) appointed by the Scottish Executive to carry out research into Accountability and Governance in Scottish FE colleges as part of the Review of Scotland’s Colleges.  Working with Andrew Jack of Business Excellence International, who developed the ValueMapping® performance management approach and system, we have now implemented ValueMapping® to enable outcome rather than output based reporting of performance in the Violence Reduction Unit of Strathclyde Police, which is a police unit that works on long term solutions for reducing violent crime in Scotland in collaboration with other professionals, including social workers, health experts, educationalists and academics.  Most recently, we have been retained by HBOS plc to develop a best practice protocol, related training and mentoring in the management of risk in the use of spreadsheets.

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Tell us your view

Almost three-quarters of our respondents to our last edition felt that their organisation had no business continuity plan.  

 We hope that you will take a moment to answer the following question:

There is much debate among knowledge management enthusiasts about the importance of tacit knowledge which cannot easily be written down. Tacit knowledge is possessed by the people within your organisation.  When they leave they take their knowledge with them denying your organisation any further access to that knowledge. There are ways of sharing tacit knowledge to reduce the dependence on particular individuals.  However, ultimately the largest part of your organisation's knowledge base will be in the minds of your staff.

Do you believe that sharing knowledge should be an organisational value and that staff should be rewarded accordingly?

Answer our question and let us know – all responses are confidential.

   

If you would like to suggest a topic for future e-zines or have any comments about this one, please send it to: ezine@4-consulting.com.

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For more information about 4-consulting visit our web site at:
http://www.4-consulting.com/

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