Business Manangement Articles from Management Consulting Comp

Business Management Articles

Fishbone Diagram - (Found July 8, 2008 )

The Cause and Effect Diagram, or IshikawaFishbone Map
http://www.envisionsoftware.com/articles/Fishbone_Diagram.html

The Red Queen Principle - (Found July 8, 2008 )

L. van Valen noted an effect within competitive evolutionary systems: As one system improves, all other, competitive systems have to progress similarly to maintain their relative place.
http://www.envisionsoftware.com/articles/Red_Queen_Principle.html

The Pareto Principle - (Found July 8, 2008 )

Dr. Joseph Juran took Vilfredo Pareto's economic study one step further, and unlocked the universal secret of distribution, which is the keystone for modern scientific management and productivity improvement. Since Juran's work was based upon Pareto's original findings, it has been dubbed The Pareto Principle.
http://www.envisionsoftware.com/articles/Pareto_Principle.html

Alderfer's ERG Theory - (Found July 8, 2008 )

Clayton Alderfer improved upon Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs by accounting for some of the shortcomings in the original definition of human motivators. His enhancement is called the ERG theory because it reduces Maslow's somewhat overlapping needs to three fundamental needs: Existence, Relatedness, and Growth.
http://www.envisionsoftware.com/articles/ERG_Theory.html

McGregor's Theory X and Theory Y - (Found July 8, 2008 )

Douglas McGregor documented the distinctions between two modes of thought regarding managing staff. He defines these two motivational theories as X and Y, and indicates how they impact the motivation and effectiveness of the staff with whom they are practiced.
http://www.envisionsoftware.com/articles/Theory_X.html

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs - (Found July 8, 2008 )

Abraham Maslow devised the defining work of human motivation. He theorizes how humanity is motivated by more than simply the desire to survive, and that these needs build upon one another, as each need is fulfilled, a greater need takes over.
http://www.envisionsoftware.com/articles/Maslows_Needs_Hierarchy.html

The Hawthorne Effect - (Found July 8, 2008 )

Elton Mayo examined productivity and work conditions at the Western Electric Hawthorne Works. The results were not what anyone had anticipated, and the startling results were thereafter referred to as the Hawthorne Effect.
http://www.envisionsoftware.com/articles/Hawthorne_Effect.html

Give Your Employees a Break Today: Are You a McJob Manager - (Found July 8, 2008 )

The 21st Century is upon us. The world has changed significantly since the 1950's. Even McDonald's is taking notice, and taking offense at the new dictionary entry: McJob. While McDonald's (and the rest of the world) are changing with the times, some managers practice antiquated management techniques. Those techniques may suffice while the economy is still recovering, but when prospects improve, their wage slaves will jump ship at the first site of land, ultimately leaving the manager at...
http://www.envisionsoftware.com/articles/McJob.html

Will American Businesses Ever Recover - (Found July 8, 2008 )

The economy is recovering, but sensationalist media prevents the average American from truly feeling the impact. As business people, it has become our responsibility to ensure that consumers become conscious of the economic resurgence and to motivate purchasing decisions, instead of sitting idly, waiting for things to get better.
http://www.envisionsoftware.com/articles/American_Recession_Recovery.html

Break the Golden Rule: Rewarding Top Performers (Small Business Version) - (Found July 8, 2008 )

The Golden Rule is deceptively simple. And it's simply wrong. Everyone is different and, as a result, different things motivate them. Rather than doing for others, such as employees, as we would like to have done to ourselves, we should, instead, the golden rule.
http://www.envisionsoftware.com/articles/Break_the_Golden_Rule.html