3*- THE 6 KEY TOOLS THAT WILL BOOST YOUR BUSINESS PERFORMANCE
There are many productivity tools developed through business & industry history but I consider that these selected top business strategies properly applied can lead into remarkable results and basically represent the main structured schemes of management thinking. Once you understand these reference guides, you will notice in which moment are applicable for your interests. In general all your action plans and decisions should be aligned with the company vision, mission and values in order to develop an identity according to your integrity.
I preferred to condense the information rather than going too deep into interpretations, so you have plenty margin to develop your own conclusions. It is essential that in the initial stage where your project ideas are being defined; you need to set a limit in your endless search of perfection otherwise you will inevitably fall into the loop of procrastination.
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THE SMART STRATEGY:
- This is a business strategy has 5 basic parameters designed to define and achieve specific objectives by means of a logical roadmap with all the keys to reach the expected results.

In other words…
- SPECIFIC:
Answers to the questions: What, Why, Who, Where and which. Simplicity is always an added value.
- MEASURABLE:
Explains How the strategy should be built up. In order to evaluate the steps of the progress; some KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) need to be settled down. These tracking data aids are part of a wider scope metrics and usually have a minimum value and a desirable critical parameter to keep the focus on performance during the process evolution.

- RELEVANT:
Answer to the questions: are we the right persons/team? The objective is according to company´s mission?, do we have the proper resources to achieve the success?, is it worth trying?, etc.
- TIMELY:
As always a deadline must define the work team commitment to reach the objective. Extension of action plan duration can lead into a poor efficiency, lack of resources or weakening of motivation.
“SOMETIMES YOU WIN, SOMETIMES YOU LEARN”
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THE SWOT METHOD:
Another important way to develop a project assessment is taking into consideration 4 key parameters. Two of them are external (market: risks & opportunities) and the other two are internal based on your own strong & weak points. It is very important to create a brainstorming session with relevant specialist people in the different disciplines in order not to forget a critical issue.

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STRENGHTS:
List of advantages of our company compared to the competitors.
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WEAKNESSES:
Knowledge of own areas of improvement to reach competitors level.
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OPPORTUNITIES:
Market needs not covered by the competitors.
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THREADS:
Competitors comparison about who can satisfy better the customers demand.
An alternative to SWOT is SOAR analysis. Both strategies have in common the Strength and the Opportunities but SOAR is more focused on other positive approaches like Aspirations (innovation) and Results (defined targets with metrics) than SWOT worried about a competitive mindset.
“THE FIRST STEP DOES NOT TAKE YOU WHERE YOU WANT BUT GET OUT FROM WHERE YOU ARE”
- THE VMOST and VMVGSTP SCHEME:
VMOST (Vision+Mission+Objectives+Strategies+Tactics) defines a corporate structure where develop future action plans. It represents a pyramid hierarchy plan that helps to keep a permanent focus on main company strategies which defines the identity of the overall business philosophy. The VMVGSTP is a more detailed wide-scope framework.
The way to develop a project assessment is taking into consideration 4 key parameters. Two of them are external (market: risks & opportunities) and the other two settings are internal based on your own strong & weak points. It is very important to create a brainstorming session with relevant specialist people in the different disciplines in order not to forget a critical issue and for enriching the scope.

VMVGSTP acronym means…
VISION:
It is part of the company culture essence and answers the questions what to want to be in the future. Usually represents an ideal picture.
MISSION:
Is the other part of the company culture essence and describes what we do and why. It is a timeless doctrine.
VALUES:
Are the guiding principles settled by the top management like: Respect, safety, ethics, integrity, customer commitment, fairness, innovation oriented, personal development, quality excellence, passion, etc.
GOALS:
Are the long term expected core achievements?
STRATEGIES:
Are organizational procedures aiming to reach intermediate targets (around 1 year ahead) also define the next objectives
TACTICS:
Is it a business project built with all the steps to reach objectives?
ACTION PLANS:
It is the group of performance measures valid to monitor the progress parameters.
“THE PESSIMIST COMPLAINS ABOUT THE WIND, THE OPTIMIST EXPECTS IT TO CHANGE AND THE REALIST ADJUST THE SAILS”
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6S LEAN WORKPLACE MANAGEMENT:
It is continuous improvement management plan based on the Japanese method “KAIZEN 5S” focused to reduce wastage of: time, services and resources (products, manpower, stock, etc.) but considering also safety issues, pointing to reach the quality excellence in workplaces through development of optimized working habits.

SORT:
Eliminate those objects that are not in use.
SET:
Arrange items in proper locations for quick access when required.
SHINE:
The working area is clean and consolidates the tidiness culture.
STANDARDIZE:
Creation of desirable condition templates as references.
SUSTAIN:
Creation of habit by means of an initial discipline and regular audits.
SAFETY:
Minimize always the factors of risks at any task.
“CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT IS BETTER THAN DELAYED PERFECTION”
In combination with above principles there is a list of typical failures affecting to the productivity and final quality. It is crucial to get rid of them.

Same defects can be converted to the industry production. In this case “Over processing” must be understood as adding extra values to goods that customers are not willing to pay. “Inventory” should focus on a moveable stock. “Waiting” is applicable to any kind of production delay.
“INNOVATION AND INSPIRATION TO OTHERS BY OWN ACTIONS, DISTINGUISHES A LEADER FROM A BOSS”
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THE EISENHOWER PRIORITY MATRIX:
It is a simple but great matrix that helps to decide which action has priority over others.
Nowadays the multitasking role is overestimated but in poor organized environments or with a clear deficit of resources… there is no choice. To achieve a high degree in quality it is essential a thorough dedication nevertheless the Eisenhower matrix (also known as Stephen Covey time management matrix) is one of the best tools for managers who have to take daily decisions and deeply affect to the organizational planning of a teamwork.
This basic utility model is self-explanatory but is a key mindset scheme to avoid bottlenecks.

“THE KEY IS NOT PRIORITIZE WHAT IS ON YOUR SCHEDULE BUT TO SCHEDULE ON YOUR PRIORITIES”
“OUR DECISIONS, NOT OUR CONDITIONS DETERMINE MAINLY OUR DESTINY”
* THE PARETO PRINCIPLE:
This simple formula has been proven and match reality in the majority of cases. It is required from time to time to perform an overall assessment of work flow efforts and to reroute the resources to the most productive outcomes by a strategic selection of 20% of our best inputs. This usually means to move out of the comfort area and assume some risks in order to grow in the fields we still have some market advantages.

“MOVE OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE. YOU CAN ONLY GROW IF YOU ARE WILLING TO FEEL AWKWARD WHEN YOU TRY SOMETHING NEW”
“SUCCESS OCCURS WHEN YOUR DREAMS ARE BIGGER THAN YOUR EXCUSES”