Business in brief library

Human Resources Techniques

SMART Targets

SMART Targets

Goals and targeted plans without well-formulated goals lack rationale, strategies lack relevance, actions lack direction, projects lack accountability, and organisations lack purpose (Bratton, et al, 2007). Smart Goal Targets need to be properly constructed to serve as credible and usable benchmarks by which results can be monitored and evaluated.

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Social Learning Theory

Social Learning Theory

Social learning theory has been applied in a wide range of areas and is highly relevant in organisations in formal and informal mentoring and knowledge transfer of new knowledge to learners.

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Social Network Analysis

Social Network Analysis

The concept reviews the development of social network analysis, its origins, and main contributors. It introduces the basic concepts and methods of social network analysis, their capabilities and limitations, as well as their business applications.

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Span of Control

Span of Control

There are a number of different approaches to defining the ideal span of control. Success factors, limitations and implementation steps are provided, alongside case evidence from different sectors to help managers understand the effects of delayering on organisational design and performance.

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Strategic Alignment

Strategic Alignment

Strategic alignment is a fundamental business concept that determines the competitiveness of an organisation. The concept explains how organisations can better achieve strategic alignment to increase growth and profitability - even in the toughest markets and economic climates.

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Strategic and Total Reward

Strategic and Total Reward

Strategic and total reward connects organisational goals with employee needs. By aligning tangible and intangible rewards with strategy, organisations can improve engagement, retention, and performance. A holistic approach enables employers to balance cost-effectiveness with fairness, motivation, and long-term sustainability.

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Strategic Business Units

Strategic Business Units

A strategic business unit is a separate, specialised subsystem in the company which acts as an independent company. Having SBU assists organisations to plan their strategies and make manufacturing decisions. The concept provides a review of the critical issues on an SBU benefits and success factors.

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Strategy Map

Strategy Map

The concept explains how organisations can use strategy maps as an essential tool in their strategy and planning activities. It describes how organisations have successfully used strategy maps to achieve strategic alignment and identifies the steps required to apply the concept in practice.

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Successful Project Management

Successful Project Management

Successful project management aligns people, process and governance around an evolving definition of success that blends time, cost and quality with benefits and stakeholder value (Ika and Pinto, 2022). Outcomes hinge on leadership and project-manager competencies (Abbas and Ali, 2023).

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Succession Planning

Succession Planning

Good succession planning is the key to future proof your organisation. This concept explains how to ensure a consistent effort to create a pool of high potential candidates who possess the critical competencies to step up to critical roles.

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T-Shaped People

T-Shaped People

Expand creativity and innovation in your company by attracting T-shaped people.

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The McKinsey 7S Model

The McKinsey 7S Model

The McKinsey 7S model, developed in the 1980s by consultants Thomas J. Peters and Robert H. Waterman, is a widely used strategic planning tool. It helps organisations identify how they operate and highlights areas for change, ensuring that those changes align effectively with each other for improved performance.

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The Thinking Environment

The Thinking Environment

The origins of the Thinking Environment are steeped in one observation and one question. The observation is "The quality of everything we do depends on the quality of the thinking we do first", a statement that has powerful implications. The consequent question is: “What does it take for people to help each other to think well for themselves?

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