Sharing Fresh Tips, Tricks and Articles: 2011

Sunday, 27 November 2011

Taking a big picture look at business strategy

Having an effective business strategy is tantamount for a successful project. Taking a holistic approach to business strategy could make or break a project you're managing.

PM-Partners Group is dedicated to developing well devised business strategies and analysing how these can improve project management results. Through our project management research into business strategy we have devised a range of courses to improve business stragety- to elegantly define your overall vision and sculpting each of your project within those parameters.

PM-Partners has developed courses to boost your business analysis skills

After completing these project management courses with PM-Partners, you will have a range of business strategy tools to draw upon.

Defined boundaries for projects leading to refined outcomes
Effectively map and analyse your business process
Analyse information from high to detailed levels

Business strategy is about developing and implementing a fine tuned solution for your company. Sustainable success relies upon each resolution being based on precise, valid and complete requirements to fully address the issue or opportunity.

Research has shown that not defining project requirements is a standard reason why projects fail. So it's important to be able to comprehensively understand how to effectively analyse your business and translate that information into effective business strategy parameters- such as scope, business drivers, and business needs.

By creating an iron proof business strategy, your staff are guided by not only a project framework, but also a bird’s eye view of where your business is headed. By creating a crystal clear statement of requirements you are able to effectively lead your team towards successful outcomes.

Monday, 14 November 2011

Uncovering the Business Value of Enterprise Project & Portfolio Management

If you’re a CEO or General Manager you need visibility over your business in order to make decisions and prioritise projects. Chances are your business has multiple projects on the go. But how do you get a top level view on cost control, use of resources and performance of the various projects across your business?

Introducing Enterprise Project & Portfolio Management

Project management tools have been available for many years and most enable project planning from the bottom up. In other words, the project manager enters in costs, resources etc and the software helps him/her to keep track of the project. To date, few systems have focused on portfolio management that give businesses visibility over all the projects from the top down. PPM (Portfolio Project Management) systems help highlight issues such as escalating costs, squandered resources and conflicting priorities so they can be addressed.

Benefits of Enterprise Project & Portfolio Management Systems:

Improve resource scheduling
Optimise project and resource prioritisation and selection
Gain visibility through project dashboards
Improved resource utilisation and modelling
Resource capacity planning simplified and traceable
Faster and simpler time and cost capture
Can be provided online (no infrastructure) or on premises

Helping you find right project & portfolio management solution

The PM-Partners group have become implementation partners for two leading Enterprise Project & Portfolio Management software providers so we can facilitate the deployment of EPM to our customers. As project management consultants, our focus is on helping you work out the best solution according to your level of project management maturity and the complexity of your project portfolio. If this means deploying a high level framework to get started we have a great solution, alternatively if an EPM system is required, we now have three options available:

Planview is a sophisticated market leading solution used worldwide by leading organisations, ideal for enterprise, multiple or complex project portfolio environments. Rated as a leading visionary in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Enterprise Portfolio Management.

iPlanWare is simple to use, fast to set up system, based on cloud computing, so there’s no investment in software or ongoing IT maintenance issues. It is a pre-configured, out of the box solution; easy to set up and easy to use. Value is delivered quickly because of time saved in setting up bespoke systems in-house.

Virtual PMO is a packaged solution for organisations that do not have a project management methodology, portfolio management methodology or both. It contains all the tools, templates, process flows and guidelines packaged within a simple to use EPM system. We can provide the Virtual PMO out of the box for you to implement following brief training, implement for you to operate or as part of a managed service for a monthly fee.

Applying ‘Intelligence’ to Projects

Approximately two-thirds (66%) of all projects surveyed over the past decade have failed or were challenged. Most troublesome were larger projects. Only 19% of large- projects costing US$750,000 to US$3 million were successful in 2009 (The Standish Group 2009).

The major causes of project failure are well documented. The causes highest on the list are not process related, as maybe expected, but are directly driven by the people dynamics of the project. PM-Partners group refers to this as the "art" and "science" of project management. Most organisations invest heavily in the "science" of project management (e.g. systems, methodology and performance management) but neglect the "art" of stakeholder management, team engagement and communication. The ability of a project manager to build a team that addresses both the art and science of project management will substantially improve the success rate of projects for an organisation.

Top 3 Causes of Poor Performance*

Lack of User Involvement - 15.9%
Lack of Executive Support - 12.8%
Lack of User Input - 12.3%

Valuing Diversity

Emerging science indicates that there are four intelligence groups that need to be harnessed within a successful project team.

As with many other aspects of life, people have different ways of approaching a challenge such as the delivery of a project. Some people will be successful at the art, and others will excel at the science. A person's experience, natural inclinations, education and influences will determine which intelligence they have developed.

Emotional Intelligence (EQ)

Emotional Intelligence encapsulates the soft skills required to effectively engage people. Within the project management context these people are most adept when engaging with stakeholders. People with high "EQ" are able to take a very considered approach to their communication and interaction with others. They understand the logic surrounding what needs to be achieved, they can put themselves into the shoes of others and use well-honed communication skills to bring about a positive response. Contrary to popular understanding having good "people" skills doesn't mean you're always placating people. Instead, having high EQ means you also know when to stand firm and how to crack the whip when appropriate.

Management Intelligence (MQ)

People with high management intelligence are masters of managing the interface between the project and the organisation. They have a "head" for organisational structure and are able to translate organisational goals and needs into project outcomes. They understand how to work the system to secure resources for the project. They know when to engage in politics and when to avoid it.

Process Intelligence

Vital to all projects is effective methodology; finding the balance between control and flexibility, enabling people to efficiently and effectively complete tasks. People with high process intelligence know how to strike that balance. They know how to create trusted processes that give people clear direction and confidence.

Conflict Intelligence

In the project management context, conflict intelligence isn't so much about sorting out problems between people but rather having the smarts to effectively manage competing solutions. Often there is more than one way to complete a task or achieve an outcome. A person with high conflict intelligence can work through the benefits of each solution, assess relevance, impact and requirements and then recommend the optimum path.

Optimising Your Project Team

Whether you have the opportunity to build a team from scratch or have inherited an existing team, there are some fundamental steps you can take to optimise the performance of your team.

The first principle to keep top of mind is that you want all four intelligence groups to be covered by your team. The absence of any of the groups will contribute to project failure. If there are any significant gaps in the team then you need to consider ways of bridging that gap, either through recruitment or skills development.

1. Capability Assessments

Conduct an assessment of each team member using proven psychological profiling tools such as Bar-On EQi to identify each person's strengths. Build people's roles within the team to play to their strengths. If you are recruiting new members, assess gaps within the existing team and use your recruitment strategy to address those shortfalls.

2. Competency Training and Mentoring

No team or person is perfect. In most instances new skills will need to be developed. There are a variety of formalised training courses available that address each of the required skills areas. It is important to note, from our experience, that training delivers only part of the desired outcome. If you are managing a complex or important project we strongly recommend combining training with on-the-job mentoring by experienced project managers with the skill sets you would like to replicate.

3. Health Checks

Project health checks can be conducted at the start, during or at the end of a project. Health checks are an easy, unobtrusive spot check on how the team is performing in practice. Health checks will provide you with valuable insights enabling you to fine-tune team performance.

Unexplained Death In Public Hospital – Steps You Must Take For Help!

In a finding of the Coroner’s Court in New South Wales into the unexplained death of a 16 year old girl while in a Public Hospital the Deputy State Coroner highlighted the current problems in the hospital system and said:

As the Deputy State Coroner for the past six years I have regrettably resided over many inquests involving deaths in hospital. In many of those cases one error or omission, sometimes a serious one, led to death.

If a loved one has died while in hospital and the death is unexplained, then you need to act quickly to ensure that you get the answers you need on the reason for the death. Unexplained deaths in public hospitals, can be a result of understaffed hospitals, inexperienced staff and poor communication, record keeping and management. If the actions or omissions of the medical staff and the hospital management have resulted in the death of your loved one, then you need to follow all avenues to ensure that this death does not go unnoticed or unrecognised.

At Schreuder Partners our expert personal injury lawyers have acted for people who have lost loved ones in an unexplained death in a public hospital. Following investigations and the appropriate legal avenues, these unexplained deaths have been found to be the result of error on part of the hospital. We understand the investigations that need to take place, the way public hospitals work and we use this knowledge to help families and friends who have lost a loved one in the public health system, to understand the reason for the death and to obtain compensation for their devastating loss.

Our expert personal injury lawyers will explain to you how a Coronial Inquest works, where a Coroner considers the evidence to determine the medical cause of the death. We will also explain the avenues for compensation for the death of your loved one and what this compensation may include.

It is extremely important to speak to a lawyer as soon as possible after the death of your loved one, in an unexplained public hospital death, to ensure that all the evidence needed to show the death, was the fault of the hospital and for information to be gathered.

Applying ‘Intelligence’ to Projects

Top 3 Causes of Poor Performance*

Lack of User Involvement - 15.9%
Lack of Executive Support - 12.8%
Lack of User Input - 12.3%

Valuing Diversity

Emerging science indicates that there are four intelligence groups that need to be harnessed within a successful project team.

Emotional Intelligence (EQ)

Management Intelligence (MQ)

Process Intelligence

Conflict Intelligence

Optimising Your Project Team

Whether you have the opportunity to build a team from scratch or have inherited an existing team, there are some fundamental steps you can take to optimise the performance of your team.

1. Capability Assessments

2. Competency Training and Mentoring

3. Health Checks

Uncovering the Business Value of Enterprise Project & Portfolio Management

Introducing Enterprise Project & Portfolio Management

Benefits of Enterprise Project & Portfolio Management Systems:

Improve resource scheduling
Optimise project and resource prioritisation and selection
Gain visibility through project dashboards
Improved resource utilisation and modelling
Resource capacity planning simplified and traceable
Faster and simpler time and cost capture
Can be provided online (no infrastructure) or on premises

Helping you find right project & portfolio management solution

Sunday, 30 October 2011

Business Analysis Tool Kit

Implementing the best possible business strategy depends on implementing the best solution possible. Without proper skills and training in business analysis – choosing the best strategy could be guess work. Business Analysis, much like its focus, is an ever evolving field yet there are certain tools everyone investigating their business procedures and programs.

Quantifying your businesses current state of affairs- presenting a visual on how your company is being able to perform is important. This creates a base rate for the future- allowing you to show tangible evidence on how far the projects and business has come. Visual representatives such as Pareto Charts and Control Charts are tools used to determine whether or not a manufacturing or business process is in a state of statistical control.

Root Cause Analysis is another important business analysis tool- discovering the cause and effect relationships with problems within a project and business.

Root Cause Analysis tools include-

5 whys
Five Ws
Brainstorming, mind-mapping and associated software
Fishbone diagrams
Scattergrams
Six thinking hats

Another important aspect of Business Analysis are Mapping techniques- which are used to define exactly what a business does. Measuring apparatus such as context and data flow diagrams visually represent your businesses objectives.

These and many other tools can help you extract and exactly the right kind of information analyze it to develop the best work practices for your community.

PM Partners offers Project Delivery Services as well as a range of courses to help develop your Business analysis tool kit. These include-

Project Management Skills For Business Analysts

Why it's important to have well trained Project Managers

Project management is an often overlooked aspect of business. With a third of all projects finished behind schedule and just over 20% reportedly not being finished at all, trained project managers are able to turn schedule lag around, using a range of project management strategies.

Recently, we conducted a survey into attitudes towards Project Management; the majority of respondents said project management staff should have industry recognised qualifications. An industry trained project manager shows both clients and staff that the most effective and enduring project management strategies are being utilised.

The following courses are designed to boost the credentials of your project management staff:

In these workshops you will discover the fundamentals of effectively managing a project and what makes a project succeed. These industry accredited courses are the gold standard in project management training. The particulars within project management are covered within straightforward and easy to understand workshops.

The following aspects of project management are covered:

Examining a project life cycle: such as phase activities and results.
Structuring your project for effective management and outcomes.
Beginning and controlling a project effectively.
Formally closing a project and conducting a review on achievements.

A project manager trained by PM-Partners will have a range of tools to draw upon, particularly knowing where most projects fall down and how to avoid these common mistakes. Being able to create a work breakdown structure and create a reliable breakdown of this for base lining, tracking and control is another significant skill in Project Management. Being able to elegantly balance cost, schedule and scope is another training outcome, highly valued in the field of Project management. This and much more is provided by PM-Partners.

When it comes managing a project PM-Partners group are a wealth of knowledge they keep up to date with the latest innovations in project management. PM-Partners group provides business and individual's tools to achieve a fantastic - on time - result for your clients.

Greening Your Hotel Program

The hospitality industry is getting serious about sustainability. In late August, the World Travel & Tourism Council and International Tourism Partnership jointly announced that 12 of the globe’s largest hotel groups had formed a working party to establish a standard for calculating and reporting hotel carbon emissions. Hilton Worldwide, Hyatt Hotels & Resorts, InterContinental Hotels Group, Marriott International, Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts, Premier Inn and Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide are among the big names participating, and the first standards are expected in time for the 2013 request for proposal season.

Sean Curley, director of consulting for BCD Travel’s consultancy wing Advito, welcomes the news. “A lot of clients ask green questions in their hotel RFPs, but they don’t always get an answer,” he says. “It is very encouraging that this group is approaching the issue as a collaborative effort. From a global perspective, they are the leaders.”

Under the plan, hotels will not only give buyers more green data, but that data will be consistent, allowing buyers to more accurately compare hotels’ environmental records. It won’t solve all of the verification problems that have made environmental credentials a contentious issue within the industry. But just having a single standard will be an improvement. Right now, numerous green accreditation schemes operate on regional, national or even local levels — all using different reporting criteria and methods of measurement.

While standardizing hotel carbon emissions is a move in the right direction, it’s just one step, Curley says. A carbon assessment shows consumption of electricity and other forms of energy, but that’s only one component of a comprehensive green evaluation that looks at the sustainability of materials used in construction; water conservation; food disposal; the use of environmentally friendly cleaning products; and more. He cautions that broadening the assessment will raise additional questions for travel buyers. For example, is it fair to evaluate a new property built with the latest low-carbon construction techniques against one that dates from the 19^th century?

Collecting environmental information is a challenge, and that may explain why it has taken years for the big hotels to put their heads together on this issue. Another reason for slow movement may be found in the numbers themselves. According to the Hotel Carbon Index Co., another organization that has tried to create an industry standard measurement, average carbon consumption per hotel room night is 30 kilograms (about 66 pounds). That is minuscule compared with a return flight from, say, Atlanta to Frankfurt, which the TRX Airline Carbon Emissions Calculator computes at 1,169 kg in economy class and 2,151 kg in business class (roughly 2,500 and 4,700 pounds, respectively).

Defenders of hotel carbon reporting say the collective hotel-related carbon output is significant. Plus, with many companies committed — in some cases legally — to reporting their emissions, buyers need a figure.

This leads to the final challenge regarding carbon hotel reporting: Is there any point in producing numbers if they do not lead to action? “For many companies, hotel carbon emissions is a metric in the record, but not a decision-making criterion,” Curley says.

So far, initiatives to influence traveler booking choices based on a hotel’s environmental record have mainly been in the public sector. California operates a Green Lodging Program and urges state employees to use hotels listed in the program. Similarly, the Scottish government encourages staff to use accommodation included in the United Kingdom-based Green Tourism Business Scheme, if the room rate is comparable to a hotel that is not listed.

Curley contends part of the reason businesses have not made buying choices based on hotel carbon emissions is because of the limited data. “Once the information really starts to filter through, things may change,” he says. “If this new initiative is a success, hotel carbon emissions could be a much hotter topic next year.”

GREENING YOUR HOTEL PROGRAM
Sourcing accommodation with a good environmental record is an important aspect of green hotel management, but travel buyers also can reduce environmental impacts in other ways:

Short transfers — Choose preferred hotels that are close to locations your travelers visit regularly.
Transport — Select hotels near good public transport and encourage staff to use it when appropriate.
Traveler behavior — Use travel policies to reinforce environmentally friendly practices such as switching off lights and air conditioning when leaving hotel rooms.
Conferences — Reduce paper use, avoid condiment packets at meal times, arrange for unused food to be donated and recycle paper and food and beverage containers.
Travel avoidance — Create policies and processes that ensure employees only travel when necessary.

BCD Travel Recommends: Sydney

Australia’s oldest city is beautiful, vibrant and diverse. From the Blue Mountains in the west to the famous white sands of Bondi beach to the east, Sydney is home to one of the most striking harbors in the world, crowned by its iconic white-sailed opera house. The city is the business and financial capital of Australia’s economy, which has grown through the global economic slowdown. Sydney encompasses nature, culture, history, cuisine, commerce and design in an enviable setting. And its fun-loving, laid-back charm will leave you hooked.

Getting there from the airport:
Sydney’s Kingsford Smith Airport is Australia’s busiest airport, being the gateway for both tourists and business travelers. The airport is 8 kilometers (about 5 miles) from Sydney’s central business district and is easily accessible by train, taxi, bus and rental car. Expect to pay Australian $45-65 (US$46-67 at $1.02 to the Australian dollar) for a taxi ride to the city center. Note that passengers are responsible for paying all tolls, including the A$3 surcharge on all taxis entering and departing the airport.

The AirportLink subway train is part of the city’s public transportation system and provides quick and efficient service. Trains run every 10 minutes, and the 13-minute journey into the city costs about A$15.80 for a single ride. Alternatively, the KST Sydney Airporter runs shuttle buses between the airport and hotels in the city center. Book online in advance and pay A$28.80 for a return trip.

Getting around Sydney:
An excellent network of buses, trains, ferries and cycle lanes makes getting around central Sydney easy. You’ll also find taxis at various taxi ranks, or it’s simple to flag one down on the street. But walking is recommended for those with time to spare, as the city’s many pedestrian-only areas house art galleries, cafés and shops.

Where to stay:
Hotels abound in Sydney and cater to every budget. In the luxury/full-service bracket is the InterContinental Sydney, corner of Bridge and Phillip streets, Ph: 61-2-92539000; Shangri-La Sydney, 176 Cumberland St., Ph: 61-2-92514133; and the Hilton Sydney, 488 George St., Ph: 61-2-92662000.

Midscale, full service options include the All Seasons Crows Nest Sydney, 220 Pacific Hwy., Ph: 61-2-99575744 and Mercure Sydney, 818-820 George St., Ph: 61-2-92176666. If you’re looking for budget accommodation, try the Econo Lodge Sydney South, 40-44 Wentworth Ave., Ph: 61-2-82628844.

Things to do:
You’ll see two of Sydney’s most iconic features even before you land. The Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge are among the most recognized structures in the world, and they make a stunning backdrop for photography aficionados.

Wander the cobbled street of one of Sydney’s oldest inner city areas that once housed dockworkers – The Rocks. More than 200 stalls grace The Rocks Weekend Markets — a must for lovers of art, design, clothing and crafts. Shoppers will also find a haven at Pitt Street Mall, the Queen Victoria Building (QVB), The Galeries and Castlereagh Street.

To learn more about Australia’s art and culture, visit the Australian National Maritime Museum, Museum of Contemporary Art or the Art Gallery of NSW, all within a few kilometers of one another. Entry prices are reasonable, and admission may be free at certain times.

For a taste of Australian wildlife and horticulture, venture to the 30-hectare Royal Botanic Gardens. Cycle up Mount Annan, jog along a scenic trail or take a picnic. Animal enthusiasts won’t want to miss the nearby Sydney Aquarium and WILD LIFE Sydney. Father afield is the Taronga Zoo, where you can get a close-up view of a koala. For sand, surf and sun, head to Sydney’s Bondi beach where you can relax on the golden sand, learn to surf, stroll around the shops or enjoy a coffee in one of Bondi’s many cafés.

Travelers with extra time can venture out of the city to one of many nearby national parks for a hike. Wine connoisseurs can test their knowledge in the Hunter Valley, where adventure-seekers go skydiving, white-water canoeing, ballooning or flying. The majestic scenery of the Blue Mountains, located west of Sydney, can be taken in at several lookout points in the area. Thredbo, 500 kilometers (about 300 miles) south of Sydney, is a ski resort by winter and a hiking and summer sport destination by summer.

Dining out:
Sydney’s cosmopolitan atmosphere extends to dining. Whether you’re having Chinese food in Chinatown, Spanish cuisine on Liverpool Street, Thai in Newtown, Italian in Leichhardt or Japanese in Crows Nest, you’ll find options to suit all budgets and palates.

Want to try something “Australian”? Try The Australian Hotel’s pub restaurant in The Rocks, which has pepper kangaroo and saltwater crocodile pizzas on offer. 100 Cumberland St., The Rocks, Ph: 61-2-9247-2229, www.australianheritagehotel.com.

Workplace Injury Advice – What you need to know

If you have been injured at work, you need to be aware of your rights to compensation! To ensure that you receive the correct compensation for your injuries, you need to take the following action as soon as your injury occurs:

1. Notify your employer of your injury as soon as possible and ensure that it is recorded in your employer’s Register of Injuries. Your employer is legally obligated to report your injury to their insurer within 48 hours of this notification.

2. Seek medical attention from your doctor and ask them to complete a Work Cover medical certificate.

3. Sign the Work Cover medical certificate and give it to your employer, as well as any medical or treatment bills you have had to pay as a result of your injury.

4. Make sure that your claim for workers compensation for your injury is made within six months of the accident.

When you have suffered a work place injury, the most important thing you need to do is talk to an expert workers compensation lawyer about your entitlements to compensation. Workers Compensation is a complex area of law and a failure to receive the correct legal advice will impact on your compensation payout. This is because in New South Wales you may be entitled to compensation under the Workers Compensation scheme, or you may be eligible for work injury damages.

At Schreuder Partners Compensation Lawyers, we will discuss the circumstances surrounding your workplace injury so that we can develop a strategy to ensure you receive your just entitlements to workers compensation. We also understand that when you suffer a workplace injury, you may not be able to attend an appointment at our office in the Sydney CBD. This is why we provide a platinum client service by making arrangements to visit you either at home, at hospital, or at any of the serviced offices located in the metropolitan area and throughout regional New South Wales, the ACT and Queensland. We do not charge for this service!

What Happens if I Have a Motor Vehicle Accident if I’m on Holiday or Interstate? Where Do I Get Help From?

The Christmas and New Year holiday period is upon us and with the festive season comes the increased risk of being involved in a car accident on the roads.

At Schreuder Partners we are available to advise our client’s over the holiday period in the event that they are involved in a car accident. If you are unable to talk to us straight away than you need to make sure you take the following steps as soon as possible after your car accident:

Obtain the registration details, licence details and contact details of any other people involved in the accident and the contact details of any witnesses to the accident. It is important to remember that the motor accidents compensation scheme includes compensation for pedestrians, cyclists, motor bike riders and passengers in cars and on motorbikes injured as a result of a motor vehicle accident.
Report the accident to the police as soon as possible and obtain a police event number for the accident. If the accident was a hit and run where the other vehicle involved failed to stop than ask the police to attempt to locate the other vehicle involved in the accident. Don’t worry if the police can’t locate the other vehicle – you are still able to make a full claim for compensation for your injuries under the motor vehicle accident compensation scheme against the Nominal Defendant.
Obtain all necessary medical assistance for your injuries and make sure you explain to your doctor or any other medical specialist the reason for your injuries including when and where the accident occurred.
Lodge an Accident Notification Form within 28 days of the accident to obtain access to up to $5,000.00 early assistance to pay your medical bills and loss of income as a result of the accident. These payments are not an indication that the insurance company accepts liability for the accident as liability will be determined when you make a full claim for personal injury compensation.
Make an appointment to see one of the expert motor vehicle accident compensation lawyers at Schreuder Partners as soon as you return from holiday or interstate. Our expert team will talk you through the motor accident compensation scheme to ensure that you receive your maximum entitlements to personal injury compensation for your injuries.

If you have lost a loved one in a motor vehicle accident than Schreuder Partners Compensation Lawyers are the people you need to call. We have over twenty years experience in personal injury compensation and we offer a free no obligation appointment to assess your claim for compensation.

Monday, 24 October 2011

Unearthing the PRINCE2 methodology

For developing project managers, one of the most frequently asked questions concerns the nature of the PRINCE2 methodology – what exactly does it involve and how can it better my project management practices?

The give you a little bit of insight into the history of the PRINCE2 course, the concept of PRINCE2 is a derivative of an I.T. project management methodology originating in the UK, which has since been adopted as a general project management methodology. Today, PRINCE2 is considered one of the most powerful and successful project management methodologies used in excess of 150 countries worldwide.

When observed in practice, the PRINCE2 methodology implicates a fascinating and meticulous hierarchical structure that places strong emphasis on process driven project management. The project is divided into manageable and controllable stages, providing an inherent contingency plan for achieving project completion in working under the assumption that not all resources will be producing maximum levels of output from the conception to completion of the project.

In Australia, PRINCE2 is one of two favourable project management methodologies, particularly for larger organizations. The PRINCE2 methodology is deployed across Australian state government bodies as a sturdy framework for controlling the output across a large expanse of organizational resources, and is also prevalent amongst companies with head offices in the UK and Europe. One of the primary advantages of the PRINCE2 framework is that it is highly malleable, so yeah, if you’re a small-medium business owner and you feel like you’re missing out on one of the best project management methodologies known to man – you can tailor your own PRINCE2 framework for your company, hence the warm acceptance and high demand of this methodology!

PRINCE2 training sessions will teach you the mechanics of this methodology and how to effectively apply them in an organization of any size and help you to get your PRINCE2 certification in less time.

Monday, 17 October 2011

Event Invitation: The Advito 2012 Industry Forecast in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney What’s in store for 2012?

2011 has been a year of healthy recovery for corporate travel. Booking numbers have returned to close to 2008 levels as companies display renewed interest and enthusiasm for travel, especially to and from developing markets driving global growth.

But recently, headlines have grown ominous: volatile stock markets, concerns about government debt in the US and Europe, worry over a double-dip recession. What can travel program stakeholders anticipate for supply and price development next year, and how can they best manage purchasing, costs and services in a volatile environment?

Advito, the independent consulting unit of BCD Travel has released its Industry Forecast which offers insight into industry trends and developments that will impact travel programs across the globe. It includes:

Spotlights on the Asia-Pacific market, airline consolidation, ancillary fees
Forecasts for air, hotel and ground transportation
Key industry developments and their effect on managed travel
The influence of global and regional macroeconomic factors
Key tactics for optimising supplier negotiations
NEW THIS YEAR: Technology trends and hot topics

BCD Travel, with their sponsors are holding sessions in Brisbane (24 October), Melbourne (25 October) and Sydney (26 October). For more information and to register, please click on the link for each city.

QANTAS PREPARING FOR UNION STRIKE TUESDAY 20TH SEPTEMBER

Qantas is readying contingency plans after 3,800 baggage handlers, ground staff and other employees announced a four hour walkout next week.

The national strike by the Transport Workers Union (TWU) during next Tuesday’s morning peak — 5am to 9am — would be accompanied by running work bans that could affect flights for up to two days, Qantas said.

“Our priority is to the Australian travelling public and we are currently developing contingency plans to minimise disruptions to our customers as a result of the union’s action,” said Qantas media chief Olivia Wirth.

She said the TWU was “effectively holding passengers to ransom as it seeks pay rises” by “intentionally disrupting the travel plans of Australians”.

“We encourage the TWU to continue negotiations rather than going on strike.”

Scott Connolly, lead negotiator for the TWU, said the walkout and bans on performing higher duties or doing paperwork followed a breakdown in negotiations over pay and conditions.

“TWU members will take this industrial action as Qantas has left them with no choice,” Connolly said.

“TWU members have been patient and negotiated in good faith. Qantas has however sought to frustrate every move to secure our members’ jobs and decent pay and conditions.”

Over the past month Connolly said Qantas had recorded annual profit of $250 million, more than doubling last year’s result, and handed chief executive Alan Joyce a 71 percent pay rise to $5 million.

It has also announced a controversial Asia-focussed restructure of its international operations that will see 1,000 workers sacked, and Connolly said staff had “had enough” of the airline’s “stonewalling”.

But Wirth condemned their demands as excessive and unreasonable and said the strike was part of a coordinated industrial campaign between the TWU, the pilots’ union and its licensed aircraft engineers.

“While Qantas is focused on building a better airline for our customers, employees and shareholders, the unions are taking coordinated action to disrupt passengers,” she said.

The airline is locked in a bitter industrial dispute with its pilots, who have taken low-level protest action but not yet resorted to full-blown strikes.

Engineers have also downed tools for one-minute periods and worked with just one hand as part of their token campaign.

Angered by the Asia rebranding plan, both groups have warned that they will step up their actions without assurances about jobs and conditions from Qantas.

BCD Travel will continue monitoring the situation for any changes, and keep you updated when they occur.

Children and Motor Vehicle Accidents

My five year old son was injured when a car hit my husband’s bike. My son was strapped into an approved child safety seat on the back of the bike. Is my son entitled to personal injury compensation?

Your son is entitled to personal injury compensation for injuries sustained in the accident.

Your son is also entitled to make a claim for the special benefit that is available to children under 16 years of age who were residents in New South Wales at the time of the accident. This special benefit is available regardless of who was at fault for the accident and includes the payment of the following expenses:

Hospital, medical and pharmaceutical expenses;
Rehabilitation expenses;
Respite care expenses;
Attendant care expenses.

As the accident was the fault of the driver of the car, your son is entitled to make a claim for personal injury compensation for his injuries under the motor accidents compensation scheme within six months of the date of the accident.

The compensation that your son may be entitled to receive includes:

Compensation for economic loss; and
Compensation for non-economic loss (more commonly referred to as ‘Pain and Suffering’) if your son has suffered a whole person impairment of more than10% as a result of the injuries sustained in the accident.

As the parent of a child injured in a motor vehicle accident, you need to make sure that your son receives the maximum amount of compensation to which he is entitled for his accident. The best way to ensure this happens is to speak to the expert compensation lawyers at Schreuder Partners Compensation Lawyers who have over 20 years experience in handling personal injury compensation claims.

We understand the worry and stress when your child has suffered an injury in a motor vehicle accident and we consider it our job to take away some of this stress, by ensuring that your son receives the maximum amount of financial compensation for his injuries.

The motor vehicle accident compensation scheme can be complex and confusing, particularly in relation to children injured in motor vehicle accidents. Our expert compensation lawyers deal with motor accident compensation claims every day and it is because of our specialisation in the area of personal injury law that we know exactly how to make the system work for our clients in as short a time-frame as possible.

To ensure that your son is assisted by the best compensation legal team in New South Wales you need to call us for a confidential, no obligation discussion on your son’s rights and entitlements to motor accidents compensation.

Car Accidents and Car Crash Overview

The recent release of NSW Roads and Traffic Authority preliminary statistics shows that in the last twelve months 409 people were killed and 23,246 people injured in car accidents on NSW roads.

These statistics drive home that you, a loved one, or a friend, will be involved in a car accident at some point in your life. The resulting injuries range from minor to debilitating! This is why it is important to understand how the motor accidents statutory scheme works in New South Wales, what you are required to do and what compensation you are entitled to receive.

The first important point to remember is that, it is not just people involved in car accidents that are able to receive compensation for an injury sustained on our roads. The motor accident scheme provides compensation for passengers in cars, motorbike riders and pillion passengers, pedestrians and bike riders.

The second point to remember is, that the motor vehicle accident compensation scheme has tight deadlines for making a claim for compensation, with certain requirements that need to be met to be eligible to receive compensation. This includes notifying the police of the accident within 28 days and lodging a claim form for personal injury compensation within six months of the date of the accident.

The third point to be aware of is that even if you were partly at fault for the accident, or involved in a blameless accident, you will still have an entitlement to receive motor vehicle accident compensation. Partly at fault can mean, that you weren’t wearing a seatbelt and a blameless accident can be one where, the accident was caused by an unavoidable collision with an animal on the road.

The fourth point to be aware of is that, motor accidents compensation is divided into a number of areas in which you can receive compensation including:

Reimbursement of your medical, hospital and rehabilitation expenses.
Reimbursement and compensation for any past and future attendant care expenses.
Compensation for any past or future economic loss such as loss of wages or superannuation contributions.
Lump sum compensation payments if you have suffered a permanent impairment.
Lump sum compensation payments for pain and suffering.
Payment of your legal fees.

The final point to remember is that, obtaining expert legal advice on your motor accident claim for compensation, is easier than you think. Our expert legal team is available over the phone or face to face to advise you on your entitlements to compensation.

Sunday, 9 October 2011

Back Injury and Termination of Employment

I have suffered a musculo-ligamentus injury to my lower back, whilst carrying boxes as part of my job in a factory. I have lodged a claim for compensation which I had accepted. I was put on temporary light duties at work, but my employer has now terminated me due to the fact that they have no permanent openings and they have also stopped my benefit – Can Schreuder’s Lawyers help me?

Yes, the expert workers compensation lawyers at Schreuder Partners can help you. We are Accredited Specialists in Personal Injury Law and we assist injured workers every day to ensure that they are not disadvantaged as a result of their workplace injury.

Your claim for workers compensation has been accepted by the insurer and you have been receiving weekly benefits under the Workers Compensation Act (“the Act”) while you recover from your injury.

While working temporary light duties your employer terminated your employment stating that they have no permanent openings. In this situation you need to be aware of your rights as an injured worked under the Act including:

It is an offence under the Act for an employer, to dismiss an injured worker because they were not fit for employment as a result of the injury within six months of the date of the injury. This six month period may be longer if the worker comes under a State industrial instrument.
Your employer has legal obligations in relation to your return to work. If you are partially incapacitated for work, as a result of your injury and are not suitably employed during this incapacity then you are entitled to receive weekly compensation benefits.
To ensure that your weekly benefits are reinstated you need to act quickly and obtain legal advice.

It is important to remember when deciding to seek legal advice for your workers compensation matter that, Schreuder Partners operate on a strict “No-Win No-Fee” policy. This means that if your claim is unsuccessful you do not have to pay our legal fees.

We also understand that when you are injured it can be very difficult to attend an appointment at our office which is why we attend appointments at your home, at hospital and regularly trave

Important Tips for Your Construction Accident Claim

I was injured when I was working on a construction site. Am I able to make a claim against my employer or do I need to go and speak to the Union?

You are able to make a claim for workers compensation under the New South Wales workers compensation scheme.

You do not need to go and speak to the Union however, it is in your best interests to obtain legal advice on your injury and your workers compensation claim.

At Schreuder Partners we have achieved maximum workers compensation benefits for construction workers, so we understand how the construction industry works. At your first free no-obligation consultation our expert workers compensation lawyers will, explain what needs to be done to protect your workers compensation rights and the amount of compensation you are entitled to receive. We will ensure that you have notified your employer of your injury, as soon as possible and that you have seen your doctor to obtain a Work Cover medical certificate. We will also ensure that you comply with any time requirements in relation to making a claim for workers compensation as there are strict time limits in place for making a claim.

Our expert workers compensation lawyers will talk you through the different elements that make up workers compensation including:

The payment of weekly benefits and the amount of weekly benefits you will receive.
The payment of your medical, hospital, rehabilitation and other expenses incurred as a result of your workplace injury.
The payment of lump sum compensation in the event that your workplace injury has resulted in a permanent impairment.
The payment of lump sum compensation for your pain and suffering in certain circumstances.

It is important to remember when deciding to seek legal advice for your workers compensation claim, that Schreuder Partners operate on a strict “No-Win No-Fee” policy. This means that if your claim for workers compensation is unsuccessful you do not have to pay our legal fees.

We also understand that when you are injured, it can be very difficult to attend an appointment at our office, which is why we attend appointments at your home, at hospital and regularly travel to our offices throughout regional New South Wales, the ACT and Queensland.

At Schreuder Partners Compensation Lawyers, our no obligation assessment of your claim over the phone and our "No Win No Fee"* policy means that you have nothing to lose, but everything to gain in talking to our expert personal injury compensation team. Call us today on 1800 909 104 or fill out our Free Case Appraisal Form and email us, Schreuder Partners Compensation Lawyers - "we listen, we care, we win"

HOW TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE A CORPORATE TRAVEL WINNER DURING THE 2012 OLYMPICS

The race already has begun among travel buyers to find reasonable hotel rates around the time of next summer’s Olympics in London. BCD Travel offers 10 tips to help corporate travel managers take the gold in the heated competition for accommodation.

The Olympic Games may be the greatest show on earth, but for travel managers the event is creating the biggest headache on the planet. The search for reasonably priced business travel accommodation in London during the 2012 Summer Games is proving a gruelling one.

The Olympics are scheduled in London from July 27-Aug. 12, a period when the city’s hotels are overstretched even during a normal summer. In July of this year, the U.K. capital hit a record occupancy rate of 92.4 percent, according to TRI Hospitality Consulting. Hospitality industry professionals expect rooms to be scarce from the beginning of July until a week or so after the Games. The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (which run from 29 Aug. 29-Sept. 12, 2012) has reserved two-thirds of the city’s entire 53,000-room stock for the event.

Some hotels have responded to the laws of supply and demand in predictable fashion. “We have seen examples of hotels demanding five times their normal rate” says Michelle Hurst, United Kingdom & Ireland Supplier Relations manager for BCD Travel.

Advito, BCD Travel’s consulting arm, gave unequivocal guidance to travel managers in its just-released 2012 Industry Forecast: “Our advice for London during the 2012 Olympics can be summarized in one word: avoid.” But what should you do if you have no choice but to send business travelers to London during those high-demand weeks next summer? Hurst offers the following tips:

1. Start now
Buyers must take immediate steps to have any chance of helping their travelers next summer.

2. Review your London travel needs
Ask all departments to outline their anticipated demand for travel to London in July and August 2012. Are meetings planned? How many of their travelers usually visit the city during this period? Will any major corporate projects require trips there?

3. Impose a blackout
Communicate across your company that travelers should — or must — stay away from London during the Games. “A lot of companies are allowing essential travel only,” Hurst says.

4. Find alternative locations
If employees need to meet during the Games, but the location is flexible, direct them to cities elsewhere in the United Kingdom. If they need to be in London for daytime appointments, look for accommodation within an hour’s rail journey, in Oxford or Milton Keynes, for example.

5. Talk to your top hotel suppliers
Companies that must find accommodation for business travelers during the Olympics should work with hotel suppliers with whom they have the strongest relationships. They may be pleasantly surprised, Hurst says. “Some hotels are working very closely with their corporate customers. They understand that while the Olympics are good for the British economy, they are only for a couple of months, whereas their regular customers are here to stay. Those hotels are trying to accommodate their corporate clients’ needs. A couple of hotel brands are even maintaining their corporate rates during the Games.”

6. Ask for allocations
You may be able to persuade your preferred suppliers to block space, setting aside allocations of rooms even if you cannot yet identify the employees who will use them.

7. Consider extended-stay properties
Hurst says some extended-stay brands are imposing only marginal increases on their apartments during the Games. They consider the Olympics an excellent opportunity to persuade potential corporate clients to try their product.

8. Remember the impact on air travel
BCD Travel already is seeing indications that increased demand will tighten flight availability to and from London next summer. “We expect a surge in the price of air travel,” says Hurst. “This is when the route deal will be of great relevance. I don’t see airlines closing off access for corporate customers to J and Y classes, the fare classes to which negotiated discounts are usually applied. The corporate agreement will really make a difference.”

9. Keep the situation under review
The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games will release unused room allocations back to hotels beginning in early 2012. If demand is softer than expected, it could change buyers’ calculations. However, it would be risky to take no action now on the assumption that demand will be lower than anticipated.

10. Prepare for potential disruptions
At best, London will be a difficult city to move around in during the Games, owing to the exceptionally high number of visitors and heightened security. If officials issue any security alerts, journey times could stretch even longer. Remind travelers to allow plenty of time between appointments and to create contingency plans for getting around London.

BCD Travel Recommends: Helsinki

Helsinki is a pocket-sized metropolis where natural beauty blends with quirky and compelling architecture. A hub for cosmopolitan living, the city offers open-air cafés, sleek bars and clubs, green parks and waterways. Finland’s capital is a center for government and commerce and is home to many of the country’s landmarks and arts institutions. Helsinki has been named by the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design as the World Design Capital for 2012. The city can even stake a claim to the celestial Northern Lights, which sometimes appear overhead.

Getting there from the airport:
The airport is highly efficient and modern. You’ll find numerous fixed-fare shared taxi operators who will coordinate your trip with one or more passengers traveling to the same area. Rates vary depending on the number of passengers but are generally cheaper than a standard taxi, which costs around 40 euros (approximately US$58 at $1.44 to the euro). Journey time to the city center is about 30 minutes. For 6.20 euros you can catch the Finnair bus from Platform 10 outside of the airport. It stops at the railway station and various hotels. From Platform 22, you can hop on the 615 bus to the city center for 4 euros.

Getting around:
Getting around by foot or bicycle is easy in Helsinki. Bike rental outlets throughout the city charge approximately 25-35 euros per day. The city’s public transport system, Helsingin Kaupungin Liikennelaitos (www.hkl.fi) operates buses, metro and local trains, trams and a ferry to Suomenlinna. A single ticket costs 2 euros from a ticket machine and can be used on all modes of transport except trams for one hour. An unlimited-use card costs 7 euros for one day, 10.50 euros for two days and 14 euros for three days. If you choose to rent a car, the roads are well marked and easy to navigate.

Where to stay:
There are many hotel options available to suit all budgets. Mid-scale properties include the
Hilton Helsinki Strand, John Stenbergin Ranta 4, Ph: 358-9-39351 and the Holiday Inn Helsinki City-West, Sulhasenkuja 3, Ph: 358-9-41521000.

Upscale, full-service options include the Crowne Plaza Hotel Helsinki, Mannerheimintie 50, Ph: 358-9-2521 0000; Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel, Mikonkatu 23, Ph: 358-20-1234 703; and the Radisson Blu Seaside Hotel, Ruoholahdenranta 3, Ph: 358-20-1234 707.

Things to do:
Museum of Contemporary Art KiasmaHelsinki is filled with architectural treasures. A half-hour walk from the district of Katajanokka to Töölönlahti Bay will take you from bold Jugend-Art Nouveau designs past Neoclassical monuments to modernist masterpieces designed by top architect Alvar Aalto. Along the way you will also get a taste of Helsinki’s Byzantine-Russian heritage, Neo-Renaissance buildings and contemporary glass-and-steel superstructures. For the culturally inclined, a visit to the Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma, Mannerheiminaukio 2, (www.kiasma.fi) is worthwhile.

You can get back to nature in one of Helsinki’s numerous parks and green spaces. The most popular are Nuuksio National Park, the University Botanical Gardens, Kaisaniemi Park and the Winter Gardens. Or take to the water and cruise around the archipelago that surrounds Helsinki.

Almost 2 million people flock to Finland’s festivals each year. The annual 17-day Helsinki Festivaltakes place in August/September and is a celebration of music and dance. The Forces of Light Festival takes place in the dark months of November and December, bringing artistic warmth to the streets with lights and burning fire swirls. Walpurgis Night (May 1) is one of Finland’s biggest festivals; the carnival-like celebration involves abundant consumption of food and drink.

Radisson Blue Seaside saunaIf you’re looking for nightlife Helsinki has a thriving club scene and plenty of live music. Tavastia is one of the best-known rock clubs in Scandinavia. Storyville, next to Parliament House, has been listed among the Top 100 jazz clubs in the world.

Or if you just want to unwind after a long meeting, try a sauna, a cultural staple in Finland. You’ll find saunas all over the city.

Dining out:
Helsinki restaurants serve everything from traditional food to gourmet dishes. The easiest way to discover local specialties is to order from the HelsinkiMenu, available in about 20 participating restaurants, including Lasipalatsi located in Mannerheimintie 22-24, Ph: 358 20 7424 290 (www.ravintola.lasipalatsi.fi).

Chez Dominique: Holding two Michelin stars, this French-Finnish restaurant offers innovative creations, such as a terrine of foie gras with duck confit and a side of shallot ice cream or fried halibut with snail porridge. Ludviginkatu 3-5, Ph: 358-9-612 7393, (www.chezdominique.fi)

Baltic HerringKosmos: This renowned restaurant serves up terrific classic Finnish food. The simple but elegant decor dates back to the 1930s, and traditional delicacies includeVorschmack (an intensely salty dish prepared with minced meat, anchovies or herring and onions, served with pickles and sour cream) and fried Baltic herring. Kalevankatu 3, Ph: 358 9-64-72-55 (www.ravintolakosmos.fi)

For more corporate travel management information please visit http://express.bcdtravel.com.au/

Back Injury and Termination of Employment

Your claim for workers compensation has been accepted by the insurer and you have been receiving weekly benefits under the Workers Compensation Act (“the Act”) while you recover from your injury.

It is an offence under the Act for an employer, to dismiss an injured worker because they were not fit for employment as a result of the injury within six months of the date of the injury. This six month period may be longer if the worker comes under a State industrial instrument.
Your employer has legal obligations in relation to your return to work. If you are partially incapacitated for work, as a result of your injury and are not suitably employed during this incapacity then you are entitled to receive weekly compensation benefits.
To ensure that your weekly benefits are reinstated you need to act quickly and obtain legal advice.

We also understand that when you are injured it can be very difficult to attend an appointment at our office which is why we attend appointments at your home, at hospital and regularly trave

Important Tips for Your Construction Accident Claim

I was injured when I was working on a construction site. Am I able to make a claim against my employer or do I need to go and speak to the Union?

You are able to make a claim for workers compensation under the New South Wales workers compensation scheme.

You do not need to go and speak to the Union however, it is in your best interests to obtain legal advice on your injury and your workers compensation claim.

Our expert workers compensation lawyers will talk you through the different elements that make up workers compensation including:

The payment of weekly benefits and the amount of weekly benefits you will receive.
The payment of your medical, hospital, rehabilitation and other expenses incurred as a result of your workplace injury.
The payment of lump sum compensation in the event that your workplace injury has resulted in a permanent impairment.
The payment of lump sum compensation for your pain and suffering in certain circumstances.

B&D Doors and Openers Launches Facebook Competition to Share What's Behind your Garage Door

Market leading garage door manufacturer B&D Doors and Openers today announced the launch of it's new online competition, ‘What's behind your garage door?'. Through sharing photos and videos of the household garage, the competition encourages Australians to rediscover their garage's hidden value.

From the fascinating, to the funny, to the totally bizarre, every household garage contains trinkets worth sharing.

"It's a new way for families to embrace their garage as proper part of their home," said B&DMarketing Manager, Stacey Smith "We know there are so many fascinating garages out there, being used for more than simply storing Dad’s tools, and we want to find the best out there."

The competition is part of B&D's commitment to quality products and support. It reinforces why homeowners should have a garage that not only states their individuality, but is practical in its protection.

B&D Doors and Openers manufacture quality residential garage doors and also provide durable industrial garage solutions. Doors range from the popular Roll-A-Door to sectional doors and specialist doors for unusual or tight spaces. B&D is also a leading supplier of door openers and accessories, installed and serviced by a nationwide accredited dealer network.

Marketing Manager, Stacey Smith said that the company is proud to have products that have had a profound impact on urban streetscapes and the Australian dream of home-ownership.

"We're looking forward to see how those products have changed homes and communities," she said.

Simply by uploading a photo or video of their garage, anyone can be in the running to win the $5000 grand cash prize, or the $2000 runner up prize. There's also the option to browse through other's entries.

For homeowners, online gallery provides a great way to discover new, innovative uses of garage space. The possibilities don't stop at car storage. Large garages are often home to rumpus rooms, workshops, band practice, or weird and wonderful collections.

Garages are increasingly showing their potential to be more than just a garage.

The ‘What's behind your garage door?’ competition is now running at http://www.facebook.com/BnDGarageDoors. Upload photos or videos of your garage today to be in the running for the $5000 grand prize.

Entries close on 30 November 2011 at 3pm AEST. Winners will be notified from 4pm AEST onwards of the same day.

Cost Efficiency Spearheads Change In Fashion Industry

Wholesale furniture suppliers sit in a unique position within todays market. They're the gatekee-pers of what lighting and furniture styles make it into the consumer market, and how accessible those styles are for the everyday homeowner. The driving force behind movements in consumer furniture styles is fundamentally cost efficiency on both the consumer and retailer level.

Over the past few years there has ben a fascinating alignment of commercial wholesale lighting styles and residential lighting styles. Down lights that began in up-market stores are now a popu-lar inclusion in homes, as are area specific feature lights and energy-saving fluorescent tubes.

This obvious link has been helped along by lower price disparities between the wholesale and consumer furniture markets. It's a positive evolution of how wholesale furniture suppliers can serve retail clients, and changes what styles make their way into the retail market. But not only does price drive what wholesale lighting suppliers can bring into the market, it enables retailers and business to take risks with the styles they adopt or resell. Such risks add vibrance into the lighting and furniture range, and can be massively successful for retailers when introduced prop-erly.

This ever growing link means that retailers and businesses must evaluate the fluidity of wholesale lighting and furniture catalogues. As domestic trends are more closely following corporate trends, look into what's just coming in to the corporate design world to ensure the styles you select to resell are on the bleeding edge of the market. If your wholesale lighting supplier's catalogue is slow to update, you'll be the one disadvantaged. Your products will be appealing for a shorter period of time, and you may not be able to take advantage of more inexpensive, mass-manufactured products.

It's great to see these innovations in corporate lighting and furnishing make it into the retail space so quickly. Corporate and retail lighting is evolving to become more energy efficient and fire rated. Fire rated lights can be installed without ruining the integrity and fire saftey rating of the ceiling. Built from durable materials that will withstand high temperatures, fire rated lights are able to seal their ceiling fittings to help protect the building from further damage.

As the price for this technology has quickly gone into the consumer bracket, retailers have been able to introduce this technology into the market. It's just one example of how cost efficiency is a primary driver for the evolution of trends, and wholesale furniture and wholesale lighting suppliers are in a strong position to provide these benefits to the greater market.

It's exciting to see the radical styles introduced in wholesale lighting supplier catalogues make their way into both stores, businesses and homes. Providing stylish fittings and furniture at a fraction of the normal cost.

Enterprise Data Storage: Getting Your Money's Worth

RAID or Redundant Array of Independent Disks is the industry standard for enterprise level data storage where write speeds and data redundancy have a high priority. Developed back in 1987, the storage system has been adopted by enterprise IT systems, hosting companies and recently advanced cloud computing platforms.

However the benefits of a RAID array will always come at a price. As RAID works by creating da-ta redundancy across multiple disks, often organisations will need to purchase double the storage they actually plan to use to accommodate these backups.

There are a range of RAID setups that can be adopted by an IT service provider, each with their own unique benefits and cost implications. In a world where the data baggage being carried around by large enterprise is growing at phenomenal rates, large and cost-effective storage sys-tems are increasingly sought after. Careful selection of RAID configuration can save hundreds if not thousands of dollars for organisations of any size.

When both data redundancy and fast write speeds need to be achieved, the options are generally RAID 5 or RAID 10. Lets pit the two configurations against each other to see how they come out. It's also important to look at the RAID recovery implications for each.

RAID 5 is a storage system based on achieving data parity across a series of disks. It spreads data backups across multiple disks in an attempt to avoid having to perform RAID 5 recovery or service interruptions in the event of a disk failure. However managing the disks is a complicated and processor-intensive process, often resulting in performance implications. Although multiple write heads can be used at once to write data, that data also needs to be made redundant across multiple disks at the same time. Such a complicated system means more resistance to disk fail-ure, but also a much more complicated RAID recovery process. From a cost perspective, RAID 5 is generally seen as a cost effective option. The configuration, however, has hidden costs you may not encounter until the system is up and running. RAID 5 is more expensive for write inten-sive applications, less resilient to disk outages and expensive to repair than RAID 1 or RAID 10 systems.

With decreasing hardware costs, RAID 10 is becoming a much more attractive configuration. RAID 10 is a pairing of the RAID 0 and RAID 1 configurations, achieving fast write speeds and complete data redundancy without overhead of managing disk parity. It offers a read speed of 4x a single disk, and write speed increase of 2x. This is in some cases half of what a RAID 5 confi-guration can offer. Due to the (relatively) simplistic nature of a RAID 10 array, RAID recovery is a much less inhibiting expense should multiple disk failures occur. It is also less expensive to repair and maintain, with less strain put on individual disks.

It's important to take the time to assess your configuration options when setting up your own sto-rage infrastructure. Keep in mind the total cost of ownership (TCO) of any system, including the ongoing maintenance and potential RAID recovery expenses.

More Successful Projects Through Good Deci-sion-Making

No matter how qualified, indecision can happen to any project manager. It affects the flow of your project and impacts on the prioritisation of tasks. Effective, fast decision making will help a project move quickly and efficiently through the various stages of it's life.

More often than not, project task management falls within Parkinson's Law. For each task, work will expand to fill the time allocated to it. Like you have to give your team a timeline for each indi-vidual task, applying the same principal to your decision-making process can be beneficial. Give yourself a timeline in which to make decisions and keep yourself accountable for it.

Adding this extra level of structure to project management is particularly effective within the product-orientated PRINCE2 project management system. Project managers with a PRINCE2 Certification understand that structured, timely decision-making allows for more a appropriate delegation of responsibilities to team members. Undergoing a PRINCE2 course will help any project manager understand these concepts more thoroughly.

Regardless of how assertive or fast a decision-maker you are, being faced with a multitude of options can be daunting and bring project process to a grinding halt. The decision is made even more difficult when the respective benefits of each option are unclear or undefined. Applying a systematic ratings system to a range of options allows for an objective and structured evaluation. Assessing the benefits of each option against set criteria allow for a comparison on an objective foundation.

As the PRINCE2 project management framework has it's roots in government and IT, it has a clearly defined structure that helps with such decisions. PRINCE2 training when done by a quali-fied provider will give you the tools to implement structure within projects of any size. The PRINCE2 approach to management is fundamentally pragmatic and robust enough to accommo-date these real world complications.

Although implementing structure and criteria around a decision-making process is the first step to improving project management, it's easy to fall into the trap of always waiting for more information. Remember that you may never have all of the information pertaining to a particular decision or task. Instead assess the information you do have and move along accordingly, being prepared to adapt the task if more information comes in. Keeping projects moving throughout the process means better adherence to a deadline and budget. Undertaking a PRINCE2 course will help you understand how to work with structure throughout the management project. The PRINCE2 system has been praised for its ability to ensure ongoing project visibility, clear and effective delegation, and a product-focused approach to project delivery.

With PRINCE2 being widely used in most major economies, a PRINCE2 certification is becoming more and more important for project managers to have. PRINCE2 training will provide a practical understanding of structured project management, and give project managers the tools required to mitigate issues that arise quickly and effectively.

Wednesday, 28 September 2011

How Can Schreuders Help If I Have My Claim Denied?

If you have been injured at work but the insurance company has denied your claim for workers compensation Schreuder Partners can help.

Insurance companies deny claims for workers compensation everyday. The worst thing an injured employee can do about the denial of their claim is to accept it!

If your claim for workers compensation has been denied then you need to talk to the expert workers compensation lawyers at Schreuder Partners. We deal with insurance company’s everyday and we have the practical knowledge to ensure that your claim for workers compensation is reviewed and reconsidered.

At your first no-obligation free appointment, we will review the circumstances surrounding your injury and the reasons why the insurance company has denied your claim. Some common reasons for denying a workers compensation claim include:

   1. You were injured in a journey claim and the insurance company denies that your injury happened while you were at work. Under Section 10 of the Act workers compensation is payable when a worker is injured on journeys between their home and place or work or other journeys for work purposes.
   2. You were injured while on a break from work and the insurance company denies that your injury arose out of, or in the course of your employment. Under Section 11 of the Act, workers compensation is payable when a worker has gone to work and is injured while temporarily absent from work. These claims are called “recess claims”.
   3. You had a pre-existing injury and than suffered a similar workplace injury and the insurance company deny that the second injury arose out of or in the course of your employment.
   4. Your injury consisted of an aggravation, acceleration, exacerbation or deterioration of a disease and the insurance company denies that your employment was a substantial contributing factor to this aggravation, exacerbation or deterioration.

What will Schreuder Partners do about the denial of my workers compensation claim?

After we have reviewed the circumstances surrounding your injury and the reasons that your workers compensation claim were denied, we will submit a formal application for review to the insurance company. This may include additional medical reports in relation to your injury or witness statements to support your claim for compensation.

If the insurance company still does not accept the claim, we will lodge a dispute with the Workers Compensation Commission on your behalf where the parties will engage in conciliation and arbitration of the dispute.

How much will this cost me?

Schreuder Partners operate on a strict “No-Win No-Fee” policy which means that if your claim for workers compensation is unsuccessful you do not have to pay our legal fees.

Sunday, 25 September 2011

Why You Should Buy Furniture Online

The 21st Century has redefined the interior design paradigm, particularly in the corporate world. More and more businesses are redefining their office space to reflect the values of modern work. That means more open spaces, more interaction, and more personality is being injected into working spaces across the country.

Wholesale furniture sales have moved with this trend, going online in order to offer a fluid catalogue with more options, and more fresh styles. Constructing your office space to reflect the values of your organisation is tantamount to improving the productivity of your workers and image of your business. Purchasing wholesale furniture online opens up a whole new world of style options for you to adopt without emptying your wallet. We believe at Cafe Lighting that buying stylish furniture wholesale should be accessible to any business, with our online catalogue including many contemporary pieces without the huge designer price tag.

When planning out a office renovation it's important to consider the practical implications of your design and furniture options. Ask the question what work will be done on your office furniture? Do your employees work on computers, or on paper? Your wholesale furniture decisions should help facilitate your business' activities, and buying online allows you to select and compare a range of options across the catalogue.

The flexibility of buying wholesale furniture online doesn't stop at corporate office space. If your business is in the hospitality or retail industry, kitting out your spaces is easier with the selection provided by online catalogues. Bedroom furniture is a great example. For hotel and accommodation organisations, careful bedroom furniture selection is an important part of running the business. If you buy bedroom furniture online you can access a range of beds, chests, tables and cupboards complete with dimensions without spending the time travelling between warehouses or furniture retailers. Staying up to date with your decor will keep people talking about your business, and encourage them to stay again. A huge bedroom furniture range is all online at the Cafe Lighting catalogue, providing the ultimate convenience for the 21st Century business.

As a forward looking business in the fashion industry, Cafe Lighting is constantly embracing the convenience and flexibility than is achieved through online catalogues. With over 70% of stock refreshed yearly, there's no better way to access the latest styles than if you buy your wholesale furniture online. With a range that lets you buy bedroom furniture online, office furniture online and everything in between, Cafe Lighting wants to help businesses find their unique style and image. Log on to our interactive catalogue today to browse our constantly updated range and highly competitive pricing. With styles from sleek modern to colourful retro and pieces for bedrooms, living rooms, offices and showrooms, we're the one stop shop for all wholesale furniture purchases.