Blog

How to Select an ERP System (Video Version)

As companies grow, they always have some system they use, whether they are moving past true startup with spreadsheets and basic accounting (i.e. Excel and Quickbooks), have a legacy system that they have outgrown, or may not be in the cloud. Similarly, leaders in these companies often recognize that they need to upgrade their systems, but are unsure about the leading indicators for doing so, knowing when to start, and how best to go about selecting the right system for them.

Where did Agile Come From?

Have you ever wondered where the term “Agile” came from? This word has been thrown around as a buzz word frequently of late. As in: “We need to be Agile,” or “Our organization’s agile approach allows us to be flexible.” This article discusses the origins of Agile, what it is, and our key take-aways about what Agile means.

Meet Terry Smith – Organizational Development Consultant

OD has to do with being intentional about the organization’s evolution, understanding the talent you have, and building ways to ensure that talent stays and grows with you. OD is about the organization seeing its’ internal SWOT clearly, and about ensuring that clarity translates to effective strategic capability.

Does this “Agile” thing work outside of software?

Agile is actually a collection of frameworks that have their roots in Lean manufacturing. Using Agile, just like Lean, should be part of an overall execution strategy – and should be considered in the right context. If your company has knowledge workers, there is a good chance that some Agile frameworks that are focused on planning and execution and can help visualize capacity, especially when it is hard to “see” work in the form of tangible goods, work-in-progress, or materials.

How to Create a Milestone Schedule in the form of an Agile Project Backlog

Given the inevitability of change, creating a static “Waterfall” schedule with all tasks and dependencies fully known at the outset of a project seems antiquated at best. Here is how we recommend generating a tried-and-true Milestone Schedule in an Agile fashion – specifically by creating an Agile Project Backlog.

Seeing the Path Sometimes Takes an Accountability Partner

This describes AJC’s value of Foster Accountability. We have executed projects and change before and can help our clients’ teams create and visualize the path. At first, all they need to worry about is visualizing working with our team. We will help them create and follow the path so that over time, they will be able to see the path for themselves and can execute on their own the next time.

Four Common Misconceptions of Project Management

Leaders think that Project Management will just “happen” even without a designated Project Manager. We talked to an Executive the other day who said that most of the details for 75% of their initiatives aimed at developing capacity to manage their explosive growth, were “in the head” of their President. The Executive asked us if they should consider a Project Manager to handle these projects?

Servant Leadership: Is it True, Is it Kind, Is it Necessary?

It is very important to note that helping others succeed does not necessarily feel good in the moment. Helping others succeed sometimes means having uncomfortable conversations. We are fans of having these conversations in an empathetic way. This is pretty nebulous because it’s hard to quantify what “an empathetic way” really means. Here is a pretty simple way to check if one is in an empathetic frame of mind when discussing uncomfortable topics.

Saved by “Plan B:” The Importance of an Effective Project Manager

This story from one of AJC’s clients shows how an effective project manager can save more than nine stitches in time, particularly when Plan A doesn’t go according to plan. We also share these three Reasons to Hire an External Project Manager: 1. Experience anticipating and preparing for contingencies 2. Objectivity 3. Saving time and costs