Recent Articles
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How to mitigate risks in your supply chain
Sasha Viasasha Distribution & WarehousingIf there were no risks, there would be no rewards. Yet customers do not pay for explanations. They demand a steady supply of goods no matter what your individual risks are. Although risk is just part of the equation when it comes to logistics, successful companies are able to minimize risks by planning for the unexpected. From weather to world events, there is a great deal of volatility at every step along a complex supply chain. Here is a breakdown of how to identify those risks before they arise, how to assess their impact and ultimately how to overcome them.
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The importance of new director orientation and mentoring
John T. Dinner Association ManagementI hear two recurring concerns among directors in the course of my boarding consulting practice: the poor quality of information provided to boards before meetings and the inadequacy of new director orientation.
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Are you working for God or with God?
Deborah Ike Religious CommunityThere's an interesting dynamic that occurs when you earn a paycheck in ministry. Your work, and particularly, your performance on the job becomes tied into your relationship with God. When I worked for a ministry, I struggled with viewing my relationship (and right-standing) with God through the lens of how I felt I was performing on the job. Looking back, I realize how dangerous that mindset can be to our faith.
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Tips for success in a small-town restaurant
Danielle Manley Food & BeverageRestaurants in small towns across the U.S. struggle to stay alive on a daily basis. New restaurants are opened often, but they close often, too. How does a small-town restaurant succeed in such a difficult environment? The owners of Magnolia Station offer some pointers.
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Supportive workplaces: The gift that keeps on giving
Michael J. Berens Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementThe start of a new year is the time for evaluating performance and deciding who will get the bigger carrot and who will get the bigger stick. Your employees' hearts and minds may be focused on their wallets, but studies show that employee satisfaction and productivity are greatly influenced by their work environment in the long run, perhaps even more so than by their compensation or bonuses. What's more, new research suggests the work environment also affects how employees regard the organization's leadership.
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Breast cancer screening: A long road ahead
Dr. Jonathan Kaplan Medical & Allied HealthcareIn a recent New York Times article, the authors give a great summation into the truth and uncertainty in breast cancer screening. With such an emotional and destabilizing life event as breast cancer, women want clear and concise information. This article and the JAMA article it is based on takes a courageous stand to say: It's not clear and certainly not concise.
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Changing school culture 1 step at a time
Steve Wehrle EducationOften physical education teachers feel there is a great number of difficulties and obstacles that can get in the way of creating a quality physical education program. These obstacles include physical education time being cut for standardized test subjects, overcrowding of classrooms, and sometimes even the general impression that physical education is not valued. This culture is present in many schools across the country, but it doesn’t mean that it cannot change — one small step at a time.
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Health spending growth low for 4th consecutive year
Pamela Lewis Dolan Healthcare AdministrationFor the fourth consecutive year, growth in healthcare spending remained historically low. But the likelihood this trend will continue, and how the Affordable Care Act will impact it, is still in question. From 2009 to 2012, the U.S. saw the slowest growth in healthcare spending since the government started tracking these trends in the 1960s, according to data released by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
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Strong to the finish: Impact of lutein and zeaxanthin on cognitive functions
Dr. Denise A. Valenti Sports & FitnessStaying strong to the finish; that is a goal for all of us. Staying strong for nine innings and routinely sending a baseball into the stands is a goal few attain. But it is possible. There is ever increasing evidence that a healthy lifestyle, including a diet rich in fruits and vegetables enhances visual performance, stabilizes cognitive function and prolongs tissue vitality — particularly keeping neural cells such as those in the retina of the eye healthy.
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Including sustainability in the risk framework
Dr. David Hillson Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementSustainability has become increasingly important to organizations across the world in recent years, as both a business objective and a necessary constraint. But what does it mean? And how should it be included in the risk process? The word sustainability has changed its meaning significantly over time in the business world.