How the CIA Makes Tough Decisions & More (Work Management Roundup)
Welcome to your fresh new Friday habit, the Work Management Friday Roundup — a collection of articles we've spotted over the course of the week that will help you manage your workload, be more productive, and simply become an awesome contributor to your team. How the CIA Makes Decisions: If you're facing a tough decision, then you may need this 5-step process created by a former CIA executive who, during his career, had to make difficult recommendations on some of the biggest threats to national safety. Minimum Lovable Product: Startups take note: Instead of building the minimum VIABLE product, why not aim to build a minimum LOVABLE product? After all, investing in what customers will "love" instead of what they simply "need" makes good business sense. Dread Opening Email? If you're one of those people who dread opening their email, then you could be subscribed to way too many newsletters. Or you just might be in a destructive relationship with email as the collaboration tool you can't let go of. More must-reads: Feel Like Giving Up? Here are some things to remind yourself when you feel like giving up, by productivity author James Clear. Productivity Challenged? Read 8 tips to double your productivity and learn how to cut down the number of meetings you attend, put all your work in one place, and more. Thumbs Down to Open Offices? The open office trend seems to be reversing itself. Consider these points before planning your new office. Do You Give Good Feedback? If not, learn the art of giving feedback. Because if your team doesn’t know what you expect from them, you are unlikely to get the performance you need. Do You Need a Portable Work Desk at Home? If you work from home and you're looking for an inexpensive work table that can be put away when not in use, consider a folding table. Follow "Productivity Works!" on Flipboard Are you a Flipboard user? Then you need to follow our Productivity Works! magazine. We promise you'll love it: View my Flipboard Magazine. Top image credit: Ludovic Bertron
11 Attitudes More Important to Success Than Raw Talent (Work Management Roundup)
Our latest weekly roundup touches on 11 habits you need to succeed, all of which are more important than raw talent. Because personal success really does boil down to how you think. Plus many more articles on productivity and work.
Silicon Valley vs. Beijing: Who’s More Productive? (Work Management Roundup)
Welcome back to the weekly Work Management Roundup where we collect and curate the week’s best reads in work and management. This week, we talk a lot about productivity. We lead off with an article on Beijing's workaholic startups and continue with discussions on busy work vs. productive work, and why we need new ways to measure the productivity of our workers. Read on for more!
What You Need to Know About Work Order Management
Offices aren’t exempt from needing work done every once in a while. Maybe you’ve needed the printer repaired, made a standard maintenance call such as an air filter replacement, or appliances in the breakroom stopped working suddenly. These are just a few examples of times when a work order — the connecting communication between you as the customer, the work that needs to be completed, and the vendor — comes in handy. We’ve pulled together everything you need to know about work order management and how a work order management system can help your business thrive. What is a work order? A work order (sometimes referred to as a WO) is a document that describes in detail the work between a customer and a contractor. It’s the bridge between a customer’s needs and the work they want to have done to get them from where they are to where they want to be. Contractor work orders are the backbone of service and maintenance industries. Generally speaking, a work order includes a description of the job, with cost estimates that include labor, materials, and other applicable fees. Special instructions or other agreed-upon terms may also be included depending on the type of work, along with customer information for invoicing purposes. These documents are useful in scheduling and assigning work and for managing resources and deploying them to execute the work. You may be most familiar with work orders for maintenance requests — think about when you’ve needed a maintenance service, such as work completed by a mechanic on your car. But work orders come in handy for other industries, especially for facility management, maintenance technician requests, computer services, and ultimately any other work completed by general contractors. Who receives work orders? Once a work order gets created, whether by hand or through an automated system, it gets assigned to a technician or contractor who will be executing the work. The person or team responsible for completing the job receives a work order, accepts it, and then schedules or assigns the job out as needed. Using maintenance requests as an example, a technician generally receives work orders from a maintenance supervisor or manager. This is how work gets assigned to the right people. Once assigned, the technician can prioritize the work order against their current list of requests. In some cases, the work order might not be sent outside of the organization if the request was created internally and is going to be fulfilled by someone with the organization. Think of the IT team as an example. Perhaps an employee needs assistance with their work equipment that the IT department can provide. In this case, your organization should define who should be responsible for receiving work orders and assigning them out. Are there different types of work orders? Not all work orders are the same or serve the same purpose, and there are a few different ways to think about work orders based on the job that needs completing. Let’s break down some of the types of work orders you might encounter based on the need. But keep in mind, work orders can be flexible based on the industry and type of work. Where is the work coming from? Internal work order: The request originated within the organization and will also get assigned to someone within the organization. Your contractor, in this instance, is another direct employee rather than an external contractor. Internal resource planning is key for this type of work order. External work order: The request originated outside of the organization. If the request originated outside of the organization, you may or may not be aware of the issue beforehand. Was the problem planned for? Planned work order: The work was planned for and may deal with preventative maintenance or a recurring schedule of work. Routine maintenance checks in the office, such as testing fire alarms, would appear on planned work orders. Unplanned work order: The work was unexpected or unknown in advance. In these instances, we can think about things like a laptop crashing and needing repairs or replacement. How is the work going to be scheduled? Manual work order: As the title suggests, this type of work order is scheduled manually, often following a work request. This might require making a phone call or reaching out via email to set up a timeframe to complete the work. Automatic work order: These work orders can be automatically scheduled using work order software. If you know when the next work order will need to be planned or collect data that could indicate that it’s time for another work order to be placed, scheduling software can take the manual scheduling off your hands. Free work order template Work orders don’t need to be overly complex. In fact, keeping your work order simple and straightforward is the best way to go. So, what should you include in your work order? Here are the nuts and bolts sections that an effective work order needs. Company contact information: All work orders should include the company name, address, phone number, email address, and other critical contact information. This is especially important if your work order will be sent to an external contractor. Work order number and title: Designate a unique number to assign to the work order. This is key for organizational and reference purposes. You can also add a title for an added layer of description. Key dates: Include all of the dates associated with the work — meaning when the work is expected to start, finish, and space for the actual completion date when the work order is closed out. This helps prevent deadline issues or confusion about when work should be completed by. Priority level: When handling multiple work orders, assigning a priority level can help determine which contractor work orders take precedence over or have dependencies on others. Setting a priority can be helpful for the contractor assigned to the work too. They’ll need to know if your request is urgent, and they should bump your work order to the top of their to-do list. Who is performing the work: Name the assignee, vendor, or internal team member responsible for finishing the job. Job description: Arguably, the most important part of your work order is the description of the job. Lay it all out in this section. Describe the work that needs to be done, requirements needed to complete the job, materials required, and the total cost. Don’t forget to add in labor charges, taxes, and fees. You can also include billing and payment information as you see fit for invoicing purposes. Location-related details: If applicable, include the location where the contractor or vendor should complete the work. Perhaps the work needs to happen in a specific office space, for example. Include the office number to ensure the work occurs in the right place. Work order best practices Work order management can be inefficient and ineffective if the right processes and systems aren’t in place. From how to organize work orders to prioritizing requests accordingly and everything in between — establishing work order best practices ensures you’re setting your team up for ongoing success. Here are some best practices to keep in mind when building out your work order processes in your business. 1. Designate approving authorities for various types of work orders It’s important to identify staff members who can approve work orders and for all team members to have a clear understanding of who the approving authorities are. Especially for contractor work being completed by an outside vendor, having approving authorities in place can help prevent bottlenecks in work not being completed on time. 2. Establish priority definitions for your work orders and categorize them accordingly Work order prioritization helps ensure that any critical issues are taken care of prior to any other work, preventing them from getting lost in a backlog. If your organization handles a lot of internal work orders, prioritizing these requests will also allow you to guide your team’s workload and allow you to better manage your internal resources. 3. Assign tasks to appropriate team members If you’re pushing work orders through your organization and your team is fulfilling requests, be mindful when assigning the work orders out. Learn and know your team’s strengths and weaknesses so that you can use their capabilities to your advantage, making the entire work order process more seamless. 4. Organize all of your work orders for quick reference Once you close your work order, it should be stored with other files in an organized system. Maybe you store your work orders by request type, vendor name, or by month of completion. No matter what method you choose, ensure that all work orders are closed out and stored accordingly. 5. Automate your work orders to reduce human errors and improve efficiencies Managing work orders the old-fashioned way on paper and spreadsheets leaves room for human error and inefficiencies. Centralizing the entire process using work order software or a work order management system helps ensure that your team is highly productive, efficient, and accurate. What to look for in a work order management system Gone are the days of traditional work orders. Written requests on paper are subject to getting lost or misfiled. Spreadsheets can be helpful, but they still require a great deal of manual entry and aren’t always ideal for moving quickly. What’s a work order management system, and how can it help? Put simply, it’s software that can help you organize your work orders and streamline processes for your teams. Known for enhancing operational practices, work order management systems are finding their place within organizations. Research suggests that the work order management systems market is expected to reach $836 million in 2026 as the demand for these systems continues to increase. These systems vary in capability, which means you can choose one that works best for you and your organization. Not sure where to start? Here are a few things to think about when selecting a work order management system. Is the system easy to use? Remember that the purpose of implementing a work order management system is to streamline processes and create efficiencies, which means the system should be user-friendly. You want to manage work orders with a few simple clicks, not a lengthy process that will bog your team down. What information are you looking to house in your work order management system? Clearly define your goals and expectations of the system before you begin your search. Know what your non-negotiables are, such as having the ability to track all work orders, no matter what type. Perhaps you’re looking to run certain kinds of reports. Specific requirements identification will set you on the right track to finding the best system for you and your team. How necessary are customization and flexibility for you and your team? No two organizations manage and organize work orders in the same way, and no two work order management systems are identical either. There are a variety of systems available, and some come with more customization and feature options than others. Consider your short and long-term plans to determine how flexible a system you need to fit your team’s current needs and potential future needs. What’s your budget? Understanding all costs associated with a work order management system will help you determine whether it falls in your budget or not. Learn about the cost to purchase the system, whether there are individual licensing charges, training fees, support costs, and any additional monetary considerations that need to be accounted for. It’s important to know who will be using the system now and how that might grow and affect future costs. Understand the ROI of implementing a system versus manual work to manage the work orders. How to organize your work orders with Wrike For teams that are looking for a work order management software that is flexible and easy-to-use, Wrike is a great option for streamlining and organizing processes. Wrike makes it easy to set up request forms that both internal and external teams can use to submit project or work requests. Those forms are easily customizable so that you can get all of the information you need. The best part? Wrike can automatically create a templatized project from that request form, meaning that you and your team can spend less time understanding the work request or order — and more time working. R
VCs Foresee a Bleak Future for Startups? (Work Management Roundup)
Welcome back to the weekly Work Management Roundup, where we collect and curate the latest articles on productivity, business, and work. This week, we're looking into the future of work. We lead off with eight VCs foretelling the future of startups. Then we follow up with six trends that will affect how work will be done a few years from now. Read on!
What is Knowledge Process Outsourcing? (KPO)
Wondering what knowledge process outsourcing is and whether your firm needs it? If you're a vendor manager looking for support in data analytics, market research, global reporting, or performance management, this is the resource for you. In this guide, we’ve outlined exactly what KPO is, how it differs from BPO, and who is responsible for managing it all. We’ve also included plenty of examples, benefits, challenges, and a tool you can use to maximize your investment. Keep reading to learn more about knowledge process outsourcing and how Wrike can help you manage it. Introducing knowledge process outsourcing (KPO) Knowledge process outsourcing (KPO) is the practice of tasking contractors with information-related business activity. These contractors are typically freelance individuals with highly specialized knowledge in a particular area. This makes them more qualified to understand and apply the data collected. The biggest difference between KPO and business process outsourcing (BPO) is that BPO is all about creating and following a process, whereas KPO is focused on providing a specialized knowledge set along with their services. Essentially, you’re choosing between a firm with a highly efficient process without experts versus a firm with specialists who can create custom processes depending on the needs of the complex topics at hand. The information KPOs process is essential for business. It’s centered around data that is a foundational element of the brand’s value chain. Not only is it necessary for operations, but it’s also key for creating valuable products and services. This process is heavily data-driven and complex. It includes everything from identifying data points for collection to mining it all for actionable insights. The work involved is considered intense. And with the number of special skills required to tackle the various areas, it’s no surprise that businesses often hire more than one outsourced employee or a KPO firm to assist them. These outsourcing facilities are located all over the world. This can be very cost-effective for businesses located in countries with stronger currencies. But it also presents challenges typical for remote work. Who manages knowledge process outsourcing? Vendor managers, business operations managers, and management consultants are all great candidates for managing knowledge process outsourcing. Their biggest challenge is aligning internal and external collaborators. This business process management is commonly built from the ground up. But it can also be based on past experience and workflows on other data-related projects. The other biggest challenge KPO managers face is finding and keeping the best possible talent. According to India news outlet Firstpost, it’s important to find KPO firms that focus heavily on understanding the domain and objectives. They go on to say that, “investing in strong domain specialists [who are] relentlessly living the culture of the domain in which they operate” is an absolute must for successful KPO organizations. This means vendor managers will be the ones responsible for making sure that communication is strong and KPO firm alignment is stronger in order to succeed. Advanced tools such as business process management software are vital for every step of KPO management. When do you need KPO? There are three major scenarios businesses face that make them great contenders for knowledge process outsourcing. The first is a lack of specialization. Their teams may be missing someone with a deep knowledge of a particular data area. Or they lack data analysis experience. They may even have one or two qualified team members, but the task at hand requires additional support. The second, as we’ve just mentioned, is a lack of employees. Whether that means having a team that lacks qualifications or one that is already overburdened, businesses may need additional help for this process. This reason is especially prevalent among bootstrapped startups. The third is a lack of resources. That could mean teams are already short on time, the KPO process has a tight deadline, or businesses lack the funds to hire full-time employees. The hiring process for temporary employees and partners is less costly than the hiring process for salaried team members. Plus, the cost of doing business with a KPO firm is low risk because the prices are typically lower than the in-house equivalent and they are only onboard temporarily for this one project. What types of businesses use knowledge process outsourcing? There are many different types of businesses that use KPO. But what they all have in common is the need to collect, store, and analyze a high volume of valuable data. This is especially prevalent in industries such as finance, law, engineering, medicine, and technology. It’s also key for certain government agencies and researchers in nearly any discipline. Even if a business doesn’t fit under these categories, they may have an internal department that can make use of KPO. For example, creative teams such as content marketing and graphic design often need data support since their work is directly tied to marketplace and audience information. KPO even covers operational needs that every corporation uses. An international KPO firm named airisX offers services such as back-office support with customer solutions and sales. They also provide support for e-commerce and enterprise data management. So as you can tell, there’s no shortage of industries that can benefit from partnering with a KPO firm. Even if a company doesn’t fall under the categories listed above, it may still need the support either out of necessity or as part of a larger resource management strategy. Types of KPO services Clutch recently listed the top KPO companies of 2021 based on customer reviews. Aidey, Unity Communications, and ARDEM Incorporated make up the top three. Here is a sampling of what they and other KPO firms have to offer: Customer Service, Experience, and Success Technology Support Back Office Functions Operations Streamlining Telecom Integration Data Entry Accounts Payable Utilities Management Call Centers Healthcare Services In addition to the services they provide, top KPO companies also include essentials such as data security, industry experts, and a high level of quality management. Reviewers on Clutch point out that responsiveness and attention to detail were some of the other service-related offerings customers can expect from KPO firms. Overall, KPO services tend to be well-rounded but also include experts who can provide great experiences for both you and your customers. What are the advantages of KPO? The biggest advantage of using knowledge process outsourcing in project procurement management is cost. KPO firms often provide competitive pricing. They’re also contract workers, so corporations save on some tax and benefits packages. Vendor managers can choose when to hire new talent or pause contracts as needed. So with a little forecasting, businesses can reliably stay within budget by eliminating what might otherwise be fixed expenses. Companies that choose to outsource also save on training and resources since most KPO firms take on the burden of providing both to their employees. For highly technical skills, this could mean big savings when it comes to recruitment costs. This is especially true if the role will be short-term or if it’s slated to begin sooner than later. Beyond the financial opportunities, some other advantages of KPO include increasing process efficiency and sourcing unique talent. Most knowledge process outsourcing firms have the experience and tools needed to streamline operations for any organization. Whether that means taking on the burden of heavy task loads or simply providing streamlined workflows, KPOs offer smarter resources management. And when it comes to sourcing unique talent, KPOs present fast and easy solutions for finding a subject matter expert as needed. Since KPOs tend to have a wide variety of team members, there is a good chance that they’ll be able to provide a specialist for any project right when you need them. They’ll already be trained, are familiar with your industry, and are able to onboard much quicker than traditional hiring processes because they’re already part of the KPO team you’ve partnered with. What are the challenges of KPO? According to Outsource Philippines, where KPO firms are set to become “the second largest source of the country’s foreign exchange,” the biggest challenges revolve around security. Sharing data with a third party always poses a risk. Data can be stolen, sold, or even lost in the process of working with an outside vendor. That’s why it’s so important that vendor managers take extra precautions when making their final hiring decisions. Another challenge to consider is fit. Just because a KPO offers a comprehensive list of services doesn’t mean they’re the best partner for a particular company. And with high staff turnover rates, vendor managers may find themselves spending more time getting acquainted with new account managers and specialists on a regular basis, sometimes even mid-project. Compliance is another issue KPO firms regularly deal with. That means dealing with the risk of data confidentiality and security. A strong HR department can prevent obstacles like these. However, it’s nearly impossible to know how well a KPO brand deals with these issues before you partner with them. With all this in mind, vendor managers should make sure they’ve thoroughly researched the reputations of their prospective KPOs and look for established brands to partner with. Knowledge process outsourcing examples Again, it’s important to keep in mind that the unique value proposition KPOs offer is specialty, which is why they are a great option for tasks such as: Medical hospital invoicing and billing for complex surgeries B2B tech software development firms that need assistance streamlining their production line to maximize profit without sacrificing quality VC firms that need assistance with investment research for interesting yet time-sensitive new opportunities How to manage knowledge process outsourcing with Wrike Wrike is a project management software that makes working with a KPO safer and more efficient. Project management timelines and tasks make it easy to assign work both internally and externally. And because project Gantt charts are highly visual, outsourced specialists can quickly reference their own personal due dates, as well as where their work fits into the bigger picture. Wrike also provides a solution to data sharing with enterprise-level security. Not only can your team share and store data files right within the platform, but they can also control who has access to what. This ensures that information is still easy to locate, but it also keeps sensitive and unrelated information on a need-to-view basis. The more you work with KPOs, the more you’ll want to use a robust and secure project management platform such as Wrike to maximize the impact of your investment. Choosing the right KPO firm to partner with is challenging when your company’s most valuable data is on the line. Wrike creates peace of mind with the help of advanced features perfectly suited for third-party collaboration. Start your free trial today.
Is Red Tape Stifling Your Creative Team? (Work Management Roundup)
Welcome back to the weekly Work Management Roundup where we collect and curate great articles about work, productivity, collaboration, and life hacks. This week, we open with a great discussion on how administrative processes and compliance issues often stifle the creativity of your best people. Read on!
What Is Business Process Outsourcing? A Guide
As businesses scale and grow, they often have requirements that cannot be addressed internally — whether because of resource or budgetary constraints. Business process outsourcing (BPO) can be a solution that enables organizations to grow and scale effectively. But exactly what is business process outsourcing? What are the risks associated with the practice, and how can corporate leaders use business process as a service (BPaaS) to their advantage? BPO meaning: What is business process outsourcing? Business process outsourcing describes a practice where specific tasks, functions, or processes within a company are contracted out to third-party organizations and vendors. These outside organizations have expertise in their specified area, which allows them to manage tasks and processes on behalf of other businesses. For example, a marketing agency, during their resource planning process, may choose to outsource their payroll and accounting functions in order to focus on the core competencies of their organization. There are three types of business process outsourcing: offshore, nearshore, and onshore outsourcing. Offshore outsourcing: The function is managed by an operator or vendor in a different country (often far away and in another time zone) Nearshore outsourcing: The function is managed by an operator or vendor in a neighboring/closeby country Onshore outsourcing: The function is managed by an operator or vendor within the same country — but could be in another state or region Business functions ideal for outsourcing may include admin, customer service, PR, data entry, HR, content moderation, and more. Business process outsourcing can improve efficiency and present significant cost savings for companies that may not have the resources to hire a team of in-house customer service specialists or payroll professionals, for example. In fact, Deloitte research indicates that 59% of companies who outsource say they do so with cost savings as a primary motivator. What is business process as service (BPaaS)? Business process as a service enables BPO by managing specific functions through cloud-based delivery systems. The global BPaaS market is extensive and expected to reach a value of $77.8 billion by 2023. Some well-known names in BPaaS include Accenture and IBM. BPaaS can help manage: Finance and accounting IT services eCommerce Customer service processes BPaaS leverages the capabilities of infrastructure as a service (IaaS), software as a service (SaaS), and platform as a service (PaaS) solutions in order to help companies manage and address their business objectives. Business process as a service also relies on automation in many cases, reducing the need for manual intervention. Who needs business process as a service (BPaaS)? Business process as a service can be beneficial for organizations across sizes and industries. For example, instead of hiring an outside firm to manage their finance and accounting needs, a company might instead execute this function via a cloud-based platform licensed through a monthly subscription model. This naturally brings costs down and offers a more flexible and scalable way of managing operations. Any company looking to manage processes without the costs associated with hiring, training, and managing an internal team or department may find that BPaaS is an effective solution. What are the benefits of outsourcing business processes? There are many benefits associated with outsourcing business processes. These benefits include cost and time savings, efficiency gains, the ability to focus on core business competencies, and more. Be sure to keep these in mind when contemplating outsourcing professional services key success factors, and which professional services agency is right for you.Cost savingsHigh costs associated with labor, training, management, and infrastructure can be a barrier as an organization scales and grows its operations. Outsourcing non-core processes can enable businesses to meet their objectives and operational needs while minimizing these internal costs and time commitments. Access to expertise and improved efficiencyBPO gives businesses access to vendors that have the necessary expertise, equipment, and personnel needed to execute a project or function on their behalf. This expertise means they are better equipped to provide cutting-edge, compliant, and effective services. Ability to focus on key business competencies As a company grows and scales, there is often a need for growth or expansion in other areas of the business. For example, a high-growth eCommerce company may need increased customer support capabilities to provide quality assistance to customer queries and issues. In this instance, outsourcing customer support staff to an agency or outside vendor allows the business to focus on its main competencies while also addressing customer challenges that can impact the bottom line. As is the case with most things, business process outsourcing can have its set of challenges and risks. Are there risks to business process outsourcing? Risks in business process outsourcing can include lower than expected or inconsistent quality of service, lack of visibility and collaboration with the vendor, and security considerations. Inconsistent delivery We’ve all been there. A service looks good on paper, but the results turn out to be inconsistent or of a lower standard than expected. This is always a risk, especially when outside vendors are involved. Lack of visibility and collaboration When handing over the keys to a business function, visibility and communication allow those within the organization to accurately track progress, success, and any challenges. Lack of visibility is a huge risk and could mean that a lower standard of service is inadvertently being passed on to customers. Privacy and security concerns Privacy and security are a top concern in business process outsourcing. In most cases, BPO will involve some degree of handling sensitive or confidential internal data. Engaging a vendor with lax digital security policies may make an organization vulnerable to breaches or attacks. As Deloitte notes, the tax implications of business process outsourcing should also be a consideration and factored into any business case. How to choose the right BPO vendor Choosing the right vendor can help avoid headaches, losses, and disputes. Here are some tips for choosing the right BPO partner for your business. Due diligenceDue diligence will involve researching the vendor and their reputation to determine if they have success and experience with your industry, project type, or company size. Understand costsWhile cost-saving is a major factor when establishing a BPO partnership, unexpected fees may make outsourcing pricier than initially thought. Evaluate security infrastructureWhen determining the suitability of a vendor, be sure to assess their ability to manage and protect sensitive information. Communicate clear objectives and KPIsClearly communicate objectives, expected outcomes, and KPIs and ensure they have the capacity to deliver. Ensure stabilityOutsourcing a business function can be risky if the third party is in a financially, legally, or otherwise unstable position. Overreliance on unstable vendors can be a unique challenge to overcome. How to organize your BPO with Wrike Streamline and simplify your business process outsourcing with Wrike. With Wrike, you can: Create and manage a risk register for your vendor and the outsourced function Invite vendors as external collaborators to share reports and status updates Share and store vendor meeting minutes using our actional meeting notes template Integrate data from 400+ applications like Salesforce, Marketo, and more Take advantage of the cost savings, time savings, and expertise that BPO and BPaaS can afford your business. Be sure to track and manage progress, communication, and risk using Wrike. Sign up for a free two-week trial and discover why 2 million+ people trust Wrike to manage and execute their tasks and projects.
Should Founders Be More Transparent? (Work Management Roundup)
Welcome back to the weekly Work Management Roundup, where we collect and curate the week's best reads in productivity, management, and work. This week, we lead off with an interesting story about one founder's risky move in the face of a potential acquisition. He made his acquisition process public and shared crucial lessons that other entrepreneurs can now benefit from. But it was a risk. Is this kind of transparency worth it? You be the judge.
Why is U.S. Productivity So Low? (Work Management Roundup)
Welcome back to the weekly Work Management Roundup, where we collect and curate the standout business-related articles of the past week or so. This time, we lead off with a shocking headline: according to government labor measurements, recent US productivity hasn't been this low since Jimmy Carter was in the Oval Office. Don't believe it? Read on.
Collaborative Work Management: The Ultimate End-to-End Marketing Solution
Marketing teams need a centralized work management system that will consolidate the martech stack, streamline bloated processes, and consolidate information to create a manageable go-to-market workflow. The solution is collaborative work management.
3 Productivity Secrets: Sleep, Deep Work, No Multitasking (Work Management Roundup)
Welcome back to the weekly Work Management Roundup, where we collect the week's best reads in work, business management, and productivity to inspire you to work smarter. This week, we open with three articles that tackle why we're not performing at our best: we lack sleep, we don't schedule time for deep work, and we're addicted to multitasking. Read on!
It’s Time to Solve the Work Management Paradox & Spark Joy at Work
While big data and digital transformation have radically changed how companies operate, we've reached a point where knowledge workers are inundated with unnecessary information. Introducing Spaces and Wrike Integrate, two new ways to unify your digital world.
6 Benefits of Collaborative Work Management
"Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success." — Henry Ford The old way of working — where meetings aren't rescheduled, employees clock out at 5PM, and input only comes from select individuals — is dead. Companies are quickly recognizing that meetings can be a waste of time, mobile devices are improving productivity, and that two or more minds are often better than one. Welcome to the world of Collaborative Work Management. This style of work management strongly emphasizes the importance of collaboration and communication. Generally, collaboration tools are used to create a central location where all communication can be easily accessible. Here are the six major benefits of successful collaborative work management: 1. Collaboration is possible, regardless of location No, you don't always have to be within a 10-foot radius of one another to work together. Remote workers can be engaged too. Collaborative work management tools are great for supporting even your remote employees, including them on team projects, and tracking their productivity over time. 2. Collaborative work management tools provide a central location for communication Rummaging through email for the latest files or trying to track down that one conversation you had about a particular project can be frustrating and time consuming. And with so many teams now dispersed across continents, virtual project management tools are essential to efficient collaboration. Having a tool that allows you to keep the latest files, comments, project requirements, goals, and deadlines all in one place eliminates the need for "search parties" and allows your team to focus on more important tasks. Start your free 2-week trial of Wrike, the top-rated collaborative work management tool. 3. Increased visibility and transparency keeps stakeholders up-to-date Having a system where all project updates are visible helps stakeholders see the latest project status at all times. This helps set expectations and gives stakeholders the opportunity to jump in if necessary. It also increases accountability among the team and allows members to go back and see if and where mistakes were made and prevent them from recurring. 4. Saves time by eliminating meetings and spreadsheet management Because everything is documented in one tool, status updates and to-do meetings are made obsolete. By eliminating unnecessary meetings and spreadsheet updates, more time can be devoted to important decision-making and problem solving. 5. Allows for greater agility when demands change Sometimes plans change, and that's OK. However, being prepared for it can be tricky. Collaborative work management provides flexibility to adjust plans accordingly without endangering hard deadlines. And with everyone in-the-know about changing priorities or milestones, revisions won't come as a surprise. 6. Inspires collaboration and innovation across the team Most importantly, a culture of collaboration inspires teams to work at a new level. There are always new and refreshing ideas floating out there, and sometimes all it takes to get the ball rolling is to ask (or @mention) the person next to you. Here are additional resources if you're interested in learning more about collaborative work management or collaboration tools: Collaborative work management tools: Collaboration Software for Marketing Teams: A Buyer's Guide and Forrester Vendor Landscape: Collaborative Work Management For The Enterprise Building collaboration: Building a Collaborative Team Environment and Eight Ways to Build Collaborative Teams Successful collaboration:What Makes Collaboration Actually Work in a Company? Do you use collaborative work management techniques within your team? Tell us why or why not in the comments.
The Rise of the "Network of Teams" (Work Management Roundup)
Welcome back to the weekly Work Management Roundup, where we collect and curate the best reads from around the web regarding work, leadership, and —this week especially — teamwork. It turns out that hierarchies are out and functional teams are in, and those who are finding success engaging their workers do so by focusing on improving team dynamics. Read on! New Research Shows Why Focusing On Teams, Not Just Leaders, Is Key To Business Performance (Forbes): According to the Deloitte Human Capital Trends 2016 study, traditional hierarchies have taken a backseat to today's “network of teams.” These are teams that work to solve a specific goal regardless of job title, and where leaders are hands-on experts who come from the ranks. Most issues companies face are due to this new model, and now 92% of companies surveyed are redesigning the way they work because of it. The article identifies 4 keys to success using this "network of teams" model. Marketers Poised to Run the Customer Experience Show, Survey Says (Tech News World): In a recent study involving nearly 500 CMOs and marketing execs conducted by email automation company Marketo, the consensus is that marketing will have significant influence over business strategy and the entire customer experience by 2020. The Rise of the Agile Marketer: A Report on the State of Agile Marketing in 2016 (Marketer Gizmo): In a study involving 803 US-based marketers, some fascinating results surfaced: a whopping 63.4% are using at least some aspects of Agile methods. Though there's a surprisingly limited use of Scrum, and there are challenges in finding good Agile training. Bridging the Communication Gap Between Marketing and Creative Teams (Infographic) (Wrike): If you're part of either a marketing or creative team, you understand the frustrations of collaborating with one another. The language and even the focus is sometimes different for each side. This infographic lays out a few simple tweaks to your communication style that may make all the difference. Great Leaders Embrace Office Politics (Harvard Business Review): It's not just about delivering results; being a great leader means networking with influential people in the company, making sure your contributions are noticed and you are perceived as being executive material. Some advice on playing the game without using Machiavellian influence-building tactics. 20 High Achievers Share the Daily Routines That Make Them Successful (Inc): If successful people could distill their daily routines into a formula, would you actually use it? Here's your chance. This roundup gathers the daily tasks of 20 CEOs, founders, and thought leaders, ranging from the mundane ("eat lunch with your employees") to the inspirational ("treat every day like it's the first day on the job") to the unconventional ("run to trouble"). Celebrate small wins, celebrate big milestones. Whenever your team crosses a major hurdle, bring out the champagne and congratulate everyone for the hard work! #Wrike #wriketeam A video posted by Wrike (@wriketeam) on Apr 8, 2016 at 1:28am PDT More Work Management Reads Creativity/Productivity: Why You Need a “Deloading” Phase in Life (Four Hour Workweek) Productivity Zen: Tips and Techniques to Help Get Things Done (Business Zone) The Harsh Truth About Speed-Reading (The Kernel) - Basically, it doesn't work There’s More Than Enough Time, When You Use The Time You Have (Medium) Business: Landing Page Optimization: Find Heaven By Saving Your Visitors From Hell (KlientBoost) What Your Stakeholders Need To Know About Your Project (PM Tips) You Will Soon Be Able To Rent Out Office Space Inside A Staples Store (Consumerist) Behavior: Smokers Less Likely to Get Hired and Earn Less: Study (NBC News) What Every Startup Needs To Know About The Psychology Of Choice (Fast Company) Driving to Work Linked to a Fatter Middle Age (Fox News) Tools: Franz - one free, cross-platform messaging tool that consolidates your different accounts in Slack, Skype, Facebook Messenger, Google Hangouts, and more Google Calendar Update Helps Users Complete Personal Goals (Social Times): the new Goals feature helps users find free time to complete goals The End of Apps is Here. Long Live Chat Bots (The Telegraph) Browse Marketing Speak on Flipboard If you use Flipboard on your mobile device, then you might enjoy our links to all things digital marketing via our Marketing Speak magazine. View my Flipboard Magazine.
How to Get Unstuck: Focus on the Future (Work Management Roundup)
Welcome back to the weekly Work Management Roundup! We took last week off from the roundup in order to bring you our April Fools prank. But the hijinks were everywhere across the web: while some people lost their jobs because of a GIF, others were wowed by imaginary products, and people all over the globe scrolled through roundups of the best pranks to laugh with the rest of us. So this week, we're giving you a double helping of links to productivity-enhancing articles and management-improving blog posts to help you bounce back from the April 1st tomfoolery and get ready to tackle this new quarter with some verve. Read on! You Need to Practice Being Your Future Self (Harvard Business Review): The reason most of us are stuck in a rut? We're focusing on what's bugging us at this present moment instead of spending time moving toward our future goals. This means doing stuff which may feel unproductive at first because there's no instant gratification of marking off a checklist, but which will eventually help us achieve an end goal. How I've Learned To Get Through A 100-Hour Workweek In One Piece (Fast Company): The first rule is: if you can avoid it, do so. But if you can't, here's a comprehensive guide to surviving a hundred-hour workweek, including a handy infographic charting what tasks to do at which time of day, written by a survivor who didn't lose his mind while going through it. What Every Entrepreneur Should Learn from GoPro Founder Nick Woodman (Fortune): Today’s answer to the question “How do you come up with a new startup idea?” is quite simple: solve an existing problem. That's how GoPro founder Nick Woodman did it. And that's how all successful startups begin. The Hidden Psychology of Failure (BBC Capital): The rapid pace of business is forcing companies to fail fast and often — in short, experiment in order to innovate. Failure then isn't something to be feared, since the lessons learned can lead to a more successful future. But is there any scientific proof that successive failure propels innovation forward? 4 Ways to Keep Mobile Tech from Hindering Productivity in the Workplace (Entrepreneur): With BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) a reality in corporate offices everywhere, there's a very real struggle to keep workers productive when distractions are just a tap away. Here are 4 guidelines for ensuring devices help, instead of harm, worker productivity. New Report Released: How Marketers Get Things Done: The State of Agile Marketing in 2016 (Wrike): Our latest report explores the world of Agile and the challenges marketers are facing today. We surveyed 800 marketers about their work management, use of digital tools, and their collaborative relationship with other departments. And the results might surprise you. Working for a workaholic? If you're ever pressured to check work emails at all hours, or respond to requests on Sunday afternoons, then use these 10 strategies for impressing your workaholic boss without becoming one yourself. Here's the full blog post on #Wrike: ----- >>>>> http://bit.ly/workaholic-no A photo posted by Wrike (@wriketeam) on Mar 25, 2016 at 2:37pm PDT More Work Management Reads Business: Audio Of The Week: Albert Wenger and Mike Masnick on Encryption, Security, and Privacy (AVC) 4 Benefits of Managing Your MarTech Stack Like an Ecosystem (Boardview.io) Who Killed Project Management? A Baker’s Dozen of Project Management Do’s and Don’ts (PM Hut) Heavy Use of Social Media Linked to Depression in Young Adults (Psych Central) Study: Customers (Especially Millennials) Hate When You Fail to Deliver Cross-Device Experiences (Adweek) Creativity/Productivity: Adam Grant: The Surprising Habits of Original Thinkers (TED Talks) On Using Inspiring Locations to Inspire Deeper Work (Cal Newport's Study Hacks) OneTab - a browser extension that converts all your open tabs into a list Tutorials: How to Start a Blog in 5 Steps (ProBlogger) How to Write Email Subject Lines Like a Pro (Huffington Post) How to Start a Business With (Almost) No Money (Entrepreneur) Browse The Work Management Roundup on Flipboard If you use Flipboard on your mobile device, then you can check out these links via The Work Management Roundup magazine. View my Flipboard Magazine.
Combating Fear, the Productivity Killer (Work Management Roundup)
Welcome back to the weekly Work Management Roundup, where we share the week's best links to articles on work, productivity, focus, and success to inspire you to do great things. This week, our post title is an homage to a phrase in Frank Herbert's Dune novel ("Fear is the mind killer"), but we look at how fear blocks productivity and what we can do to get past it. Plus, learn how to create a work environment where productivity and creativity are abundant. Read on! My Most Important Productivity Method (Zen Habits): Productivity expert Leo Babauta pinpoints the one thing that gets in the way of our productivity: fear. In order to combat the fear of losing control, certainty, or comfort, he lists 5 steps that help you dive right into that uncertainty, and come to terms with how this fear is driving you to distraction. Building a Psychologically Safe Workplace: Amy Edmondson at TEDxHGSE (YouTube): In an earlier roundup, we linked to an article about what makes a great team, based on results from Google's Project Aristotle research. A chunk of that research stemmed from the earlier work of Amy Edmondson, a Novartis Professor of Leadership and Management at Harvard Business School, who is well-known for her work with teams. Her take on what makes a team successful? You must build a psychologically safe workplace. Watch her 11-minute TED talk for her suggestions on accomplishing this in your own workplace. The Career Advice No One Tells You (Quartz): Over on Quartz, entrepreneur and marketer Raghav Haran doles out 11 unspoken rules for career success, which includes nuggets such as "job requirements are negotiable," and "pick a boss, not a company." A good article for those trying to land their dream job, and a great reminder for those of us already in the workforce. What to Automate, What to Outsource and What to Do Yourself (Quuu): If you're feeling overwhelmed by your work, you can outsource and automate a lot of menial tasks. Just make sure that it supports, powers-up, or adds value to your workflow. Is Solitude a Key Element of Creativity? (Lifehacker): Creative insight depends on free-flowing ideas and emotions that go through our subconscious mind. Yes, we can nurture and control our subconscious mind through mindfulness exercises, but we also need periods of isolation to let ideas incubate properly. Want your remote teammates to feel like a real part of the team? Send them company swag. Company-branded gear will boost morale, and reinforce the fact that they’re valued just as highly as their colleagues who work from the office. #Wrike See more tips for including your remote team in your activities in this blog post: -------- >>>> http://bit.ly/RemoteTips A photo posted by Wrike (@wriketeam) on Mar 17, 2016 at 3:40pm PDT More Work Management Reads Think About This: What Happens When Millennials Run the Workplace? (New York Times) How Tracking Time on Projects Boosted One Company's Profits Almost 50% (A Girl's Guide to PM) Parental Leave (AVC) 10 Companies That Hacked Traditional PR for Big Digital Marketing Wins (Contentmarketer.io) Go Try This: Show Your Work (Seth Godin) Working for a Workaholic: 10 Tips to Reclaim Your Work-Life Balance (Infographic) (Wrike) This Cable-Wrapping Technique Will Stop Headphone Tangles And Change Your Life (Video) (Digg) How to Disagree With Your Boss Without Getting Fired (Lifehacker) Browse Productivity Works on Flipboard If you use Flipboard on your laptop or mobile, then you'll enjoy our magazine on productivity tips. Check out Productivity Works or click on the widget below: View my Flipboard Magazine.
How to Market Your App Successfully (Work Management Roundup)
Welcome back to the weekly Work Management Roundup, where we grab the week's best articles concerning work, productivity, entrepreneurship, and startups and hopefully inspire you to work smarter and be more successful. This week, we take a special look at startups in general and app developers in particular, with three meaty articles on finding app success. Read on! Life and Death in the App Store (The Verge): An eye opening story about how an app startup has to struggle not just with plummeting app sales but with customer fatigue. The average person spends 80% of their time on mobile using only 3 apps. So successfully selling a new mobile app right now is like hitting the lottery. 10 Killer App Store Marketing Tips (Slideshare): Despite the 1.5 million apps currently available to consumers, there are ways to increase customers and drive down the cost of user acquisition. This deck by StoreMaven examines a year's worth of data from leading developers worldwide such as Kabam, Zynga & Google, for these 10 solid tips on app store marketing. Facebook viral marketing: When and why do apps “jump the shark?” (Andrew Chen): Growth hacker Andrew Chen shares a technical discussion on how your app can go from success to epic failure. It delves into user acquisition, "virality," network saturation, and user retention. And it's got a downloadable spreadsheet. Motivating Millennials Takes More than Flexible Work Policies (Harvard Business Review): While having flexible work schedules is critical to attracting millennials to your organization, you have to go further to keep them engaged. Here are 5 tips to engage more with this demographic. How to Win at Medium (Medium): If you're blogging on the Medium platform, bookmark this blog post now. It presents a complete series of tips and tricks for writing your posts and making them both more readable and more visually appealing. Want to show your remote colleagues some love? Find fun ways to liven up conference calls and get to know each other. Just because you’re not all in the same physical location, doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy team bonding activities. #Wrike See more tips for including your remote team in your activities in this blog post: -------->>>> http://bit.ly/RemoteTips A photo posted by Wrike (@wriketeam) on Mar 14, 2016 at 3:40pm PDT More Work Management Reads Think About This: Some of the Best Things Lazy People Do (Conversation Agent) BYOD continues to add challenges for IT leaders (Computerworld Hong Kong) The Tricky Business of Conversion Optimization (Huffpost Business) Go Try This: 5 Methods of Collecting Project Requirements (PM Tips) The 8 Slack Communities Every Marketer Must Join (Klear) Improve Your Critical Thinking With This Five-Step Process (Lifehacker) Browse Productivity Works on Flipboard If you use Flipboard on your laptop or mobile, then you'll enjoy our magazine on productivity tips. Check out Productivity Works or click on the widget below: View my Flipboard Magazine.