The Streamlined Business Blog is all about getting—and keeping—Operations Under Control by implementing good business systems, processes, and standard operating procedures. Our staff experts blog regularly on a range of topics including: Operations Mapping approaches, systems-based management, standardizing operations, calculating costs and ROI for systems improvements and a whole lot more.
Operations Mapping Method
CFPB Changes for the Mortgage Industry Driving Strong Interest in Zavanta
Interest in Zavanta Policy and Procedure Software continues to increase as more aspects of the CFPB’s (Consumer Financial Protection Bureau) come online. Established in 2010, with a mandate to regulate and enforce consumer financial protection laws this year will bring changes for the mortgage industry starting in August 2015. Gearing up for procedural changes in READ MORE
Write, Share, Manage SOPs – The Core Functions
For people new to Zavanta software, understanding a few key concepts is the first step to success. As part of our Getting Started Coaching and onboarding for new clients, I start at the very beginning. Zavanta is user-friendly software that helps you with SOPs. I helps with three core things. It helps you: Write READ MORE
Want your New Hires to Stick Around? Train them
A great, quick read from INC magazine by Abigail Tracy highlighting a recent study that argues that new hires are less interested in perks and more interested in trainings. Employees want to be set up for success. Interested? Read More Here Onboarding new hires don’t care about perks The benefit of investing in your employees READ MORE
“Wait, Do you Work Here?!?”
There are many reasons companies implement Zavanta SOP software, but at the top of the list is because that things have become operationally uncomfortable. A software package that doesn’t fit, a data entry structure that has become impossible to keep track of, systems put in place that once made sense but are now cumbersome and READ MORE
The Propagation of “Busy” is Dangerous Trend
“Do you rush through the morning paper, barely skimming the headlines while answering emails and making kids’ lunches? Do you compete with coworkers over how late you stay at the office each night?” Lisa Evan’s recent piece in Fast Company provides a brief overview of the culture of busy. It is a topic that is READ MORE
Employee Training – Are you Setting Your Organization Up for Success?
In a recent INC Magazine article, Jeff James of the Disney Institute shares his philosophy on employee training. Arguing for training programs that cultivate employee growth at varying career stages, he writes: “Training should not be seen as optional; rather, it should be operationalized and embedded into the fabric of your organization.” James highlights three READ MORE
Are you throwing money away writing policies and procedures no one uses? (Part 2)
How can you tell if your company’s policies and procedures are delivering business benefits? To assess the business value you are getting from your Policy and Procedures ask yourself the following questions: Does everyone in the organization have easy visibility on how things are done at all levels? Are roles and responsibilities clearly defined? Are READ MORE
Set a Goal Date to Finally Get Your Procedure Manual Done
Is yours one of the many organizations that wants to develop better standard operating procedures and operations manuals, and maybe even have started projects to bring your corporate policies and procedures manuals up to date, but—despite your good intentions—the effort always seems to take a back seat to other priorities and nothing ever manages to READ MORE
Divide and Conquer to Complete Your Operations Manuals Quickly
As we began in our previous post, 5 Ways to Finally Get Your Procedure Manuals Done, often organizations really want to develop standard operating procedures and improve their operations manuals, but their goal never gets past the “good intentions” stage. There doesn’t seem to be enough time or resources to complete the entire project. Well, READ MORE
Start Small and Build on Your Success
Expanding on the points from our previous post, 5 Ways to Finally Get Your Procedure Manuals Done, if you have been wanting to develop standard operating procedures and improved operations manuals for your organization, but keep getting bogged down, maybe you are trying to take on too much at once. Many organizations want to review READ MORE