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Business Management Degree: Top Degrees for Professionals Who Want to Start Their Own Businesses

James — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 19:40:33 +0000

What makes people like Bill Gates, Donald Trump, and Martha Stewart successful beyond their wildest dreams? In reality, there is no black and white instruction manual for creating a successful business empire. However, many aspiring entrepreneurs are heading back to the classroom for one of these 5 business degrees to develop their business sense and to increase their chances of success.

1. Bachelor Degree in Management with an E-Business Emphasis

The business management degree in E-Business equips students with an understanding of the global electronic market. Specific skills sets acquired at the completion of the business management degree include marketing, advertising, and information technology.

2. Bachelor Degree in Management with a Sales and Marketing Emphasis

Students learn about market research and effective sales techniques with this business management degree. Whether considering a business that offers a product or a service, sales and marketing are central to business growth.

3. Bachelor of Science in Business with a Finance Emphasis

A finance business management degree helps students learn how to properly manage cash flow in business start-ups. In addition to writing, oral communication, and other professional skills, the business management degree focuses on the development of effective financial decision making skills and an understanding of global finance.

4. Bachelor of Science in Business Administration

Students looking for a broad business management degree may be best suited for the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. In this business management degree, students acquire an all-encompassing skill set, including financial accounting, managerial finance, quantitative analysis, economics, marketing, and business-based research.

5. Associate Degree in Business and Management

Not all successful business owners have a bachelor business management degree on their resumes. Some professionals may simply need an educational jump-start with a two-year associate degree in business. The Associate of Applied Science in Business and Management is a streamlined business management degree that offers focused classes for business professionals.

For a complete list of campus-based and online business management degree programs, students are encouraged to visit College-Pages.com, the leading education and career resource website. Prospective students will also find links to informative articles for making education and career decisions in the field of business.

Tags: accounting, advertising, business, business administration, Business and Management, Business and Management, business degrees, business owners, entrepreneurs, finance, management, marketing

Earning a Degree in Business Administration

James — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 23:02:27 +0000

Since the creation of formal business education, colleges of Business Administration began appearing with specialized trainings and certifications. With big business becoming so prevalent in the United States and formal business education being established, colleges of Business Administration are now offering more advanced degree and certification programs in the educational forum. These more advanced degrees offered by colleges of Business Administration can be focused on Management, Accounting, and Marketing, Employee Relations, and Information Technology.

Today there are several options when choosing a college of Business Administration. Never has it been more convenient to receive a continuing education than today, with most colleges of Business Administration focusing on flexibility for the student. This flexibility is offered through the ability of the student to now obtain a degree online and more convenient evening and weekend courses for those students who wish to attend classes. Colleges of Business Administration have made education more accessible in the past by offering distance learning courses, in which materials and lessons were sent through service. However, this convenience has now been surpassed by one of the most common sources for formal education today – the Internet. These online degrees are increasingly being accepted as just as valuable as degrees provided by traditional on-campus programs offered by colleges of Business Administration. Several Colleges of Business Administration offer financial assistance and credit for prior learning.

In the college of Business Administration students may seek a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration as well as a Master’s and Doctorate degree. Colleges of Business Administration seek to prepare the individual to effectively organize companies, manage resources, oversee accounting and purchasing, analyze financials, develop critical and strategic thinking, and to manage risks and costs. Courses develop an understanding of management skills; the ability to work in a team based environment, and the comprehension and awareness of cultural issues in the business arena. Topics covered in degree programs offered by Colleges of Business Administration include Contract Procurement, IT Management, Financial Statement Analysis, Small Business Consulting, Legal Strategies, Personnel Management, Marketing Strategies, New Product Development, Business Forecasting, and Labor Economics. Several Master’s programs offer Mergers and Acquisitions, Advanced Corporate Finance, and Macrofinance.

Colorado Technical University offers a complete online degree program. Also offered at Colorado Technical University and other colleges of Business Administration are certification programs in Project Management, Information Technology, and Business Transformation. Specialty degrees are also offered by Colleges of Business Administration. Jones International University offers degrees in Business Administration with specialties in Accounting, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Global Enterprise Management, Health Care Management, Information Security Management, Information Technology management, Negotiation and Conflict management, and Project Management. Other Colleges of Business Administration offer specialties in Human Resource Management, e-Business, and Health Services.

Tags: accounting, business administration, Business and Management, Business and Management, entrepreneurs, finance, human resource, marketing, project management, technology management

Business Administration Management

James — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 02:39:16 +0000

Business Administration Management consists of the overseeing and implementation of a company’s departments and resources to maintain success in the business arena. With its ever-advancing technology and its “survival of the fittest” nature, managing a successful business has long been lofty task. In this advanced stage of business administration, it is essential that managers possess and maintain the necessary skills and up-to-date knowledge. But what skills are required to be a valued and sought-after business administration manager? What does the education of a Business Administration Manager consist of? What role do managers play in business administration? What are the responsibilities of a Business Administration Manager?

Business Administration Management is a popular career choice because of its demand in almost every industry. Opportunities in management include – but are not limited to – Government, Banking, Retail, Health Care, Insurance/Investments, Advertising, Loan Administration, and Hospitality. The world of business administration offers students and employees several areas of specialization. The possible options range from Human Resources and Finance, to Marketing, Sales, Information Technology, and Operations.

The skills of management in business administration vary according to the individual industry and department. The Management positions of Business Administration share a common set of required skills including the ability to build and lead teams, knowledge of small business management, comprehension of policy and structure, effective coordination of activities, and an understanding of ethical issues. In addition to these skills requirements, there are additional requirements for those whose management focuses on a specific Business Administration department.

Human Resource Management exists in virtually every industry and is attractive to some because it offers the opportunity to work on a self-employed consultant basis. Human Resource Managers are responsible for the function of the employment aspect of a company including training, assessment and evaluation, recruiting, policy and procedure development, facilitation of effective employee communication and interpersonal conflict-resolution, hiring/terminating, employee grievance resolution, and pensions/benefits/wages. Because Human Resource Managers are responsible for improving employee relations and work performance, they have a direct effect on employee morale. College degrees are more preferred than required in this field.

Financial managers are more challenged in Business Administration because almost all positions require a college degree and experience, in addition to the fact that they are required to stay abreast of the rapidly advancing services offered by financial institutions. This rapid growth of services leads many employers to seek out management with graduate degrees. Financial management education includes credits in Income Portfolio’s, Financial Strategy, Investments, Insurance, and Mergers and Acquisitions. Most Financial Management is found in the Banking and Insurance industries with duties including risk reduction, credit intermediation, direction of bank departments, and customer service. This management option also allows the freedom of working on a consultation basis to small firms.

Sales and Marketing managers are found within almost every industry in Business administration, with some employers preferring a college degree. Internships are recommended since experience is a must. Duties as a Marketing Manager include market research (identifying potential markets, pricing strategies), and promotion of the company’s products and services. Sales Managers are responsible for statistical sales research, advisement of advertising techniques, improvement of sales procedures, and maintenance of inventory requirements.

Tags: advertising, business, business administration, Business and Management, Business and Management, employment, finance, graduate degree, human resource, management, marketing

Finding a Business Administration Career

James — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 23:05:20 +0000

Business Administration careers have increased in demand considerably since the Industrial Revolution due to the advancement in the United States to big business and large corporations. A career in Business Administration offers perhaps more opportunities than any other career because its services are in demand in every arena of the business world. Employees that have chosen a Business Administration career have a myriad of options before them and hundreds of industries to choose from in which to utilize their skills. Business Administration careers range from industries such as Hospitality, Banking, and Community Outreach, to Insurance, Retail, and Government. Within these industries, even more opportunities are provided through the various departments of Business Administration including Human Resources, Accounting and Finance, Directorships, Marketing and Sales, Consulting Services, Information Technology, Operations, and General Management.

Education is key to success in a Business Administration career and greatly improves opportunities for advancement. Employers in most disciplines of Business Administration prefer, if not require, a college degree. Of the more popular disciplines, Finance and Sales, almost all employers require degrees. Of the remaining services, the greater the level of education obtained by the Business Administration employee, the greater the chances of success in any industry.

Obtaining the education for a successful career in Business Management has never been more convenient than it is today, with many colleges offering online degrees and more convenient evening and weekend classes for students. Colleges such as University of Phoenix, Ashford University, Warren National University provide online Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programs to students who wish to pursue a career in Business Administration. These colleges provide the necessary skills for a successful Business Administration career offer courses that cover such issues as human resource challenges, financial document analysis, investment and portfolio analysis, critical thinking, risk management, technological innovation, and conflict management.

A career in Business Administration offers many challenges and responsibilities unique to each individual industry and specialization. The Marketing industry of Business Management offers a career as a Manager, Entrepreneur, Consultant, or Executive. Duties of a Marketing career include direction of marketing strategy and activity, staff coordination and management, market forecasting, direction of marketing campaigns, sales analysis, and market research. The Information Technology career of Business Administration consists of duties such as consultation, system analysis, and e-business management and development. Duties specific to a Business Administration career in Human Resources consist of policy and procedure development and implementation, orientation and training, hiring and termination, assessment and evaluation, resolution of employee conflict, facilitation of employee communication, and administration of wages and benefits. Lastly, duties of careers in the financial arena of Business Administration consist of portfolio and investment analysis, financial statement analysis, risk assessment and reduction, and credit intermediation, to name a few.

The advantage of choosing a career and pursuing and education in Business Administration is that its disciplines are expected to consistently increase in demand, making it an increasingly popular career choice among students and employees.

Tags: accounting, business, business administration, Business and Management, Business and Management, careers, finance, human resource, management

Why Startups Should Seek Help From The Small Business Administration

James — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 17:40:35 +0000

Starting a new business isn’t an easy task. It takes a considerable amount of planning, marketing know how, capital, dedication. Getting through the regulatory red-tape requires perseverance, business savvy, and knowing where to look and what to do. To get a young business off the ground, consider checking out the resources available at the United States Small Business Administration.

Small businesses carry much of the employment burden without the benefits that larger corporations enjoy. They employ over half of the adult workforce in the United States. Recognizing the important contributions of small businesses, Congress established the US Small Business Administration in 1953 to give small businesses visibility in the marketplace and to promote fair and equitable competition in the business world. Today, the US Small Business Administration is an independent federal agency dedicated to addressing small business concerns, offering forms and publications, advice, and tips to help individuals contemplating starting up their own businesses succeed and grow.

As part of its goal to educate small business owners about the art of running a business, the US Small Business Administration maintains a training network through its Office of Entrepreneurial Development. Free online courses are offered in the following subjects:

Starting a business Managing a business Business planning tools Contracting with governmental agencies Risk management and security E-Commerce Financial management Training in understanding tax laws and regulations Marketing tools International trade topics

Among its more popular course offerings is the online class in Entrepreneurship: Starting and Managing Your Own Business.

The US Small Business Administration also sponsors national training events. These training events are taught by business professionals and offer young start-ups tips on such subjects as the following:

Devising the business plan Enacting e-commerce Driving sales through effective marketing Caring and growing a business Tax planning workshops Negotiation strategies

Information and registration at these training events are accessible through the US Small Business Administration’s training website.

Part of running a successful business requires an awareness of the regulations and policies affecting businesses. The US Small Business Administration provides business owners with regular postings of regulatory alerts, press releases, economic profiles, and new reports issued by Congress. Businesses can use the online law library to access forms, records, procedures, reports, and studies covering various aspects of small business administration.

If business owners aren’t clear about the applicability of specific rules and regulations as it relates to their business, they are free to step into a SBA field office to seek assistance from other local resources and counseling in the community. Each SBA field office features a program that offers information about starting businesses through the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) or the Small Business Development Center (SBDC). Information about disaster assistance, loans and financing a small business are also available at each field office.

Starting a business doesn’t have to be a lonely endeavor. Take advantage of the resources the US Small Business Administration has to offer, and take the start-up to the next level!

Tags: business, Business and Management, Business and Management, e-commerce, entrepreneurs, management, marketing, marketplace, sba, small business administration

Business Administration Schools Online

James — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 11:36:58 +0000

Business administration tops the list of ten most desirable and in-demand degrees to have. Higher starting salaries and better job advancement opportunities usually accompany an advanced degree in business administration. While traditionally the domain of young graduates, working men and women are returning to school to take advantage of the limitless opportunities afforded by accredited schools of business administration. These same men and women can best realize this potential by taking advantage of the numerous online business administration degree programs offered around the country.

Online schools of business administration are gaining competitive ground with traditional classroom programs. Company executives recognize that the online schools deliver the same educational objectives as classroom courses, while also preserving the integrity of the work force. In fact, companies proactively send employees back to the classroom and are rewarded with the return of a more educated, resourceful, and efficient employee base.

Working men and women aren’t limited to attending a school in a local or regional area. Online schools of business administration offer a limitless variety of opportunities and options all within the confines of the home, simply by connecting a computer or laptop to the Internet. While the options and pricing varies, many schools offer competitive programs at reasonable rates, a considerable value in realizing career ambitions.

Below are but two of the many options available for online business administration programs offered around the nation:

University of Phoenix Online

The University of Phoenix Online is a leader in online education. Students receive practical classroom experience delivered by experienced faculty.

Capella University – School of Business and Technology

Capella University offers concentrations in business organizational management, information technology, and human resource management in addition to standard coursework in business administration.

In an increasingly challenging business world, pursuing an online business administration degree makes financial sense, leading to greater value in the company and the business world at large.

Tags: business, business administration, Business and Management, Business and Management, capella university, degree programs, Degrees, human resource, management, returning to school, Schools, Schools

Earning an Education in Business Accounting

James — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 05:02:03 +0000

Maybe it’s just casual observation, but many times it seems that the small businesses that are troubled are businesses that find their accounting procedures to be drudgery or a mystery or both. Many times, financial crises in small businesses appear seemingly out of nowhere because the financial tracking system either isn’t there or isn’t functioning. Conversely, successful businesses use their accounting systems as tracking tools to anticipate problems like cash flow issues and use them also as analytical tools. A good accounting system in the hands of a businessman who knows what acceptable cost levels are is the most accurate planning device there is.

Many times, small business that are founded with the family checkbook and become rapidly successful can have a difficult transition into professional business keeping. For entrepreneurs who either want to keep the accounting in house or can’t afford to outsource it, a rapid education in business accounting is in order.

General ledgers? Depreciation? Inventory? Balance Sheets? Income Statements? TAXES? When these strange and ominous terms surface as a home venture becomes a going concern, the newly minted CEO needs to do some reading on the basics. Problems of success are nice problems to have, but problems nonetheless. One of the most comprehensive and time-efficient methods of becoming a good business accountant is pursuing an online course of study.

The primary focus of most online colleges is continuing education. That can mean starting a college education from scratch or it can mean continuing education for people brushing up on new developments in their profession. Either way, the schools primarily serve people who have entered the workforce and want to move up the ladder or who need to acquire a new skill in a big hurry – such as our entrepreneur with a booming business and no books.

Accounting can be a reliable and rewarding profession on its own. It can also lead to more advanced financial management opportunities with further education. Both can be achieved through online education.

Kaplan University offers an associate’s degree in business administration with specialization in accounting. They also have a bachelor’s degree available in accounting. Also included in their curricula are degrees in e-business, finance and just plain business. You can choose the level of your immediate needs, or you can opt for an educational improvement that will take you a few rungs up the ladder of your choice.

CDI College does not offer formal degrees in any subject, but they offer course work leading to certification in a number of areas. In each of their areas of concentration, they have certificate training in very specific categories. For accounting, a partial list of their choices includes:

Accounting and Computer Applications Accounting and Payroll Business Applications Specialist/Computerized Accounting Computerized Accounting Microcomputer Business Applications – Accounting

These are courses that can be taken in a matter of months. They can move an entry level employee from receptionist into the controller’s office, or can give a new and overwhelmed businessman the tools to get his enterprise under control. For a more comprehensive education in business accounting, University of Phoenix Online offers both a bachelor’s and an MBA in accounting. Every level of business accounting training and education can be found out on the internet.

Tags: accounting, business, business administration, Business and Management, Business and Management, education, finance, kaplan university, management, MBA

The Development of Information Technology

Shivani Bhatt — Tue, 27 May 2008 13:20:39 +0000

The word Information technology is often associated with the computer generation, it is as old as the word itself. In this article, the term “information technology” means the modern science of digital information and its various properties such as recording, use, and transmission through computers.

The First Computers!

The first Computers were integrated circuits on a single chip. Around the year 1980, the first computers were available which were priced suitably. In 1977, the first computer by Apple, Apple II was launched and soon after IBM came out with their PC in 1981. in the late 80’s the revolutionary Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs) came into the scene. This program allowed the users to look at their screens with windows; also the clickable commands and color appeared. In 1983 Windows was introduced in the market and simultaneously the first Apple Macintosh was launched in 1984.

With the rapid development of computers, in 1965, Gordon Moore gave a law. He predicted that the number of transistors on a computer chip would double every 18 months. Gordan Moore is the co-founder of the world’s leading computer chip manufacturer, Intel. His rule was true for chips for about thirty years. In the current scenario, the speed of the chips has declined to some extent but the density of data involved in computer functions has followed Moore’s law.

Software Programs that take a lot of Computer Memory are introduced

To keep up with this exploding industry, there was a simultaneous introduction of chips that were faster and could handle software programs using a lot of memory and hard drives that were constantly upgrading its capacity. About a decade and half ago, computers with 24 MB of RAM was adequate for general use. Today, the most common users need computers with more than a gigabyte – a forty-fold increase! Similar trends have been visible in standard computer data-memory capacity.

From stand alones to Networks

The world of IT on the same time has moved from working on stand-alone computers to networks of computers. Transfer of information and data has contributed immensely to the world of business. Networking has helped in providing access to common databases, resulting in the database becoming the main source of business records for a number of organizations. Software utilizing these databases has become a highly profitable industry. Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software drives business activities for many big organizations which are occupied in product sales across the global markets

Information Technology Introduces Us to a Friend We’ll Never Forget

Information technology has also brought us the Internet. The web has become a primary communications device via email. It has become a full color, multimedia advertising platform for millions of small businesses. It has become a sales tool for increasing numbers of retailers, large and small. This, in turn, has led to an IT industry with software that handles online transactions, tracks shipping, and distributes orders within the business itself. Information technology has made it possible to make purchases online, and online sales have risen billions of dollars each year over the last five years – doubling in some of those years.

In a related field, information technology has made it possible to pay our bills and do our banking online. The Internet is on its way to replacing Main Street as the primary commercial avenue in this country. It’s an industry that will continue to grow larger and add access into new areas of our society for some time to come.

Tags: advertising, business, Business and Management, computer science, computers, Computers and Technology, Computers and Technology, Degrees, information technology, management, Online Degrees, science, Science and Engineering

The Information Technology Industry

Shivani Bhatt — Sun, 18 May 2008 13:25:38 +0000

The term Information technology covers an ever-widening group of businesses and services that are associated with consumer technology. There are enterprises which are run by a single person that cater to the computer and software support and maintenance needs of the family computer market. These single enterprises are an important market segment, especially for people whose computers show problems and can’t be taken to a service center.

These are small networking enterprises offer their networking services to the offices, interconnecting the work stations at every employee’s desk. A networked office is a very important in today’s work culture. This has happened because internet and email has become the main agent for communication. And instead of providing each terminal with internet connections it is more cost friendly to connect them with interoffice network and then give this network a common internet access. This network of computers now no longer need to have separate printers, scanners and other paraphernalia as these could be shared via the same network. The storage space of such an office also increases drastically as all the office files can now be stored at one server and can be accessed by all without any problem.

The major networking companies have developed their own hardwire systems to offer proprietary service for large and multinational conglomerates. Some companies have also created networks in urban centers; here they can acquire large business clients for networking and internet services. These major networking companies leave the consumer market to the large ISPs, like Earthlink or AOL, and give attention to business services.

Next, there is a great scope in the software market. Organizations such as Oracle, Peoplesoft, and Siebel, have earned billions of dollars selling industry and commerce related software to mega corporations. Classy database systems from these software organizations and other similar ones provide businesses with the latest customer service management software. This is so designed as to create the best possible relationship with a business client and also maximize sales. Other software packages such as Accounting and business tracking software packages satisfy other important purposes in the corporate software world.

The above mentioned are a few examples of the kinds of organizations that have succeeded in the world of information technology. Making a career with an organization of information technology needs knowing the product they are offering, their marketplace and their competitors. Technical knowhow for some of these careers can be located through online training centers and colleges.

An online training course offers certificates in various areas of IT industry. About nine online training programs are offered by the CDI College. These certificates focus on different specializations in the networking trade. Their program/developer division of CDI College has five courses of study focused on programming, especially for the web. You can earn a certification in any or all of these fields.

A course in computer information systems and automated office technology is offered by Everest College. A technician certificate can be earned after the completion of a 9- to 18-month training program.

Other schools such as Kaplan University, have courses for a variety of associate’s degrees in information technology. They also have IT bachelor’s degrees. The syllabus of Kaplan’s programs include: BSIT/Database, BSIT/Multimedia and Animation, BSIT/Networking, BSIT/Programming, BSIT/Web development.

If you have the inclination for a career as a technician or as a expert in the IT industry, visit the job listings for the industry and see the educational requirements for the various positions. Especially the jobs which require a certification in IT, the requirement are regarding very specific certificates needed for some positions. Once you know the requirements you can concentrate on those particular courses which are very high in demand. Earn your certificates and prepare yourself for an exciting career.

Tags: accounting, Arts and Humanities, business, Business and Management, business degrees, Certificates, computer science, computers, Computers and Technology, Degrees, education, information technology, management, Online Degrees, Schools, science, specialization, universities, Vocational and Trade

Online Advertising Degrees

Shivani Bhatt — Fri, 09 May 2008 16:00:37 +0000

To enhance the image of any company, so that it has a new outlook and to improve the company’s position in the market, advertisers are very much needed. They change the look o the company with their promotions and campaigns. A advertising degree may provide you with the necessary qualification to do the job and result in a glowing career.

In case you are awarded this job of image improvement. You should know that the company needs to update its image keeping in view the latest trends going around in the market. Also you will have to develop the strategy and not to mention, deliver it all within a fixed deadline. So there you are using your online advertising degree.

With the knowledge gained from the online degree, you integrate the vision of your bosses with your game plan and finally improving the image. Your hard work has paid off and the image of the company in the market has suitably improved. You have proved to yourself and to the company your worth and be sure you will now be busy blushing with pride every time somebody praises your accomplishment.

There are a number of places from where you can earn your online advertising degree. We are making it much easier for you here. Listed below are some of the most sought after online advertising programs. You can choose the one which is most suitable to you, keeping in mind your schedule and of course your job responsibilities. These programs are tailor made for the already working professionals.

American InterContinental Uniersity (AIU) Online offers a number of advertising programs designed for professionals. They are: Associate of Arts in Business Administration (AABA) – Visual Communication. Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) – Digital Design. Students at AIU attend classes in five-week terms.

The same university also offers a Bachelor’s of Business Administration (BBA) in Marketing.

A part of the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, The Art Institute Online, offers courses for both business and creative interests in advertising. It offers both associate and bachelor degree in graphic design, and a bachelor degree in advertising. This course puts emphasis on concept development, storyboards, and communication.

The Baker College offers online marketing degree that can be earned in 36 credit hours (Associates), or in 48 credit hours (Bachelors). It also offers an MBA program in marketing.

Several online advertising degrees are also offered by Golden Gate University in San Francisco, California. These are both undergraduate and graduate certificate courses in advertising and public relations. Degree programs include a BBA and MBA program with specialization in marketing, along with a master’s degree in integrated marketing communications.

A master’s degree in advertising design and illustration can be earned from the Syracuse University. A minimum of thirty credits are required to obtain the graduate degree, with three, 2-week residencies required on-campus. This most sought after program accepts only 15 students per year.

Among the leaders in online education is University of Maryland. The University offers a bachelor’s degree in marketing and a graduate certificate in advertising.

University of Missouri at Columbia offers master’s degree in journalism. It emphasizes on global strategic planning. This program is designed to meet the needs of professionals with couple of experience in the advertising and public relations fields.

One of the best in the country is the master’s degree in Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) at West Virginia University. Besides being one of the first online programs, it is quite sought after also. It requires 39 credit hours of .

Make the organization a success and help it attain its vision. Earn your degree and make your organization shine.

Tags: advertising, Arts and Humanities, associates degree, bachelors, business, Business and Management, Business and Management, Campus Degrees, Certificates, Degrees, education, Education and Teaching, graduate degree, management, marketing, Masters Degrees, MBA, Online Degrees, Online Degrees, Schools, specialization, universities

Your Future with an Online Business Administration Degree

Shivani Bhatt — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 14:21:20 +0000

If your career is not moving forward or is lagging behind the others, all you need is a leap to get your career going. Obtaining an online degree in business management could provide you with the necessary impetus that is needed to drive you ahead. You no longer need to sulk while every one is getting ahead around you. The opportunities are limitless and there is no need to shirk or give up your responsibilities to get a degree. Excuses such as lack of time or money will sound silly when you realize that your dreams were never as far as you always perceived them to be.

You will observe a complete change in your career and the possibilities that have opened up in front of you. The business world influences each and every one around us. A business administration degree might be just the thing needed for your growth. No matter what your career focus is, a degree in business management can give you a boost, augment your career and result in dramatic changes in your profession and boost your income as well as your image in your organization.

Most of the online degree programs acclaim the hard work done and experience already gained. And some of them can be completed within a year to 18 months. The professors and teaching staff of Warren National University, for example, are from Stanford, UCLA, Purdue, Penn State, NYU, Pepperdine and more. The course fee is also cost affective. It costs a third of what a campus course would cost and provide the benefits of a full time on campus course. like Saint Leo University, offer the same curriculum, professors, and textbooks as those offered to the traditional, on-campus students.

Online degrees in this fast changing times are becoming a norm. Universities like Saint Leo University provide the same curriculum, professors, and textbooks as those offered to the regular, on-campus students. Saint Leo has been nominated as a “leading Southern University” by the “U.S. News & World Report”. This is an apt example of the fact that online degrees are considered at par with the regular on campus degrees.

Another very popular online program is offered by the University of Phoenix Online. It has more than 18 years experience in providing online education making it one of the oldest universities to do so. It was fashioned with the cooperation and support of business leaders. This university also constantly updates and revises its course curriculum to help the students to succeed in the present business world.

Sometimes in order to succeed, it becomes very important to go back. Go back to school and start all over again to succeed.

Tags: business, Business and Management, Business and Management, Campus Degrees, curriculum, Degrees, education, management, MBA, Online Degrees, universities

Managers and Management Training Through Example

Shivani Bhatt — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 14:18:06 +0000

Many organizations spend a lot on management training. They send their employees on business trips, conduct seminars or them, teach them team building and conduct workshops on every aspect of management. After the training these newly trained managers are ready and all geared up to conquer the corporate world. These trained and motivated managers lead their team and become responsible for the growth and achievements of their organization.

These new managers grow to become on of the two kinds of leaders. The American corporate world is run by two kinds of managers who are at opposites of each other. They then guide, train and instruct people around them to either behave like them or impel them to behave exactly the opposite.

The Soft Manager

This category is of the nice managers. The president of the organization who always sends a thank you not after a job well accomplished. The supervisor who identifies his juniors by their first names. And also always remembers their birthdays too. These are the kind of people who you feel nice to meet and exchange pleasantries with. You stop by their office every morning to wish a pleasant hello.

This kind of management training is provided to the employees through example and a constructive temperament. It is no longer required to have “efficiency days” and take away precious lunch hours to gaze at old-fashioned informational movies on the policies of the organization. His kinds of manager motivate their juniors to work hard without compelling or harassing them. When you are with pleasant person, you want the thing to remain pleasant for all times. Employees do not generally undermine the “nice soft boss”. As they very well know that the “I’ll scratch your back, you scratch mine” set-up is an ideal and satisfying environment and is very helpful when you have to spend 40 hours each week.

A soft manager is not only soft, he is also conscious of his surrounding and his responsibilities. These managers are usually very learned individuals with very high professional degrees and even PhD’s. They are fair but not naive, experienced but not unsentimental. They happen to follow the philosophy that each day is a great learning experience and one is never too old to learn. This stance is very contagious. These managers take their organizations to the apex. They are great ideals for their employees who look up to them and try to become like them.

The Hard Taskmaster

You come across this kind of managers too often. They are smooth but so corrupting that you feel that you have changed a lot since you have started working for him. They interview very well and take hold of the situation very brusquely. They make their employees work very hard and yet they stay cool and calm. These kinds of managers are friendly but suspicious in the presence of an outside authority or an associate.

These types of managers also give management training by example. Individuals who have worked under him then lead and direct as they have been lead in the past. Some of them, due to the difficulties that they have faced when they worked under a hard taskmaster, learn to behave in a way that is completely opposite to the one they have gone through.

In the present world, both kinds of managers are required. At some places, the difficult one are needed to drive the employees to success, while a number of others need the soft and understanding ones, gently encouraging the employees to success. Both are of immense value. What you need to know is under whom you would like to work. And more so which of the above ones you would like to become.

Tags: business, Business and Management, Business and Management, Degrees, management

Decline in Applications for Online MBA Degrees. Myth or Fact

Shivani Bhatt — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 12:26:15 +0000

Business Week Online has reported that there is a sharp decline in the number of MBA applicants. The reason behind this is thought to be that the students are opting for part time, executive or non USA programs.

There is a general feeling that a more universal education for management is required to cater to the escalating global economy. If you are not moving ahead in your professional life, this decline may prove to be a boon. For if there are less MBA’s around, the chances of you exploiting the situation increases. Thus, making a secure future for you.

If you do not possess a MBA degree, you are probably being regularly superceded. A degree or an advanced course will immensely benefit you. But if you are unable to quit your day job, have a family to support or cannot move to another place, you still have options open for you.

You may be aware of online courses. More so about the online MBA programs. You may have a feeling that they are no as influential as a usual on campus degree. It might appear to you as not the real thing but you are wrong here. Increasingly large numbers of companies are hiring candidates with online MBA degree. They don’t discriminate between the candidates on the basis of type of course completed to obtain the degree.

At present, approximately 19,000 students have enrolled in the University of Phoenix for online degree programs. The website for MBA Business Schools offer a listing of schools and details of the programs offered by them, online or on campus and a comparioson of both. There are about 150 schools listed and a brief synopsis of each school and its philosophy.

MBA360.com is another useful site which helps to decide the type of schools that suits you best. It outlines the curriculum of the program, its duration, delivery method, placement opportunities offered, networking capability and financing of your enrollment.

Finally what you have to understand is that advanced knowledge has a role in furthering your career and providing you with better job options. If less people are enrolling in online or say traditional MBA programs, it doesn’t mean that the degree is not valuable. Advanced education and degree is useful tool in the financial workplace, including the global economy. A degree in related specialization goes a long way in making or breaking a career. Many a times, seemingly negative statistics as decrease in MBA enrollment by some organizations, can make things better for you.

So don’t wait for changes to happen. Change them yourself. Discover the diversity of options out there waiting for you. You won’t regret the decision. Advanced education and training always reaps positive results.

Tags: business, Business and Management, Business and Management, curriculum, education, management, MBA, Schools, specialization

Are Your Small Business Accounting Practices up to Speed?

James — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 21:00:44 +0000

New and current business owners should always look into the accounting methods that are used to run their businesses. Accounting is one of the key components of a business and it should never be overlooked.

As a business owner, you have a view of the way you want your business to operate. You dream of running a successful business and the life that will follow it. Your business plan is sound and your products and services are highly sought after. However when it comes the core of business, it might pass right over your head. There is a lot to consider. You might be selling bug traps, or Internet based services, either way you will want to analyze your financing and accounting to enable to run your business as a well oiled machine and make you money. Business accounting is called as such, because you have to account for everything everyday.

There is a wide range of topics in business accounting. Workers compensation, employee insurance, 401(k) plans, business insurance for your assets, these are all things you will need to take into consideration. How do you plan on allowing customers to pay? Will you accept credit cards, will you invoice them, or accept cash only? These are some other issues that you will need to think about.

Something important to consider is whether your company will be based on accrual or cash, if you are not sure of this difference you should take some time to learn soon. Do you know who will be handling employee paychecks, if its not done in house are you considering outsourcing it to a payroll service? Do you have a CPA do handle your taxes? It is also important you know how to read balance and loss statements.

The heart of any business is analyzing finances and dealing with the incoming and outgoing money, this is something you will have to learn to analyze.

Do you want to allow employees to have company credit cards for business expenses? How do you plan on handling invoicing customers? Do you know how often you want to follow up on outstanding invoices?

An obvious but often over looked question is what do you plan on charging for your products or services? Do you know what the minimum and maximum amounts you can charge are? You will need a good bookkeeping system and a good accounts payable system as well.

Don’t worry if these questions are overwhelming you, there is a lot of help available to you. There are always business accounts whom you can hire to help you. Along with that, there is a lot of available information in the Internet. Websites such as Inc.com details all the questions and answers you need to run a successful business.

The subjects may seem overwhelming but they really do not need to be. The basic thing to understand is that you need a healthy accounting system to have a successful business. Now is the time to check on your accounting system.

Tags: accounting, business, Business and Management, Business and Management

Websites Helping Small Business

James — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 02:44:08 +0000

Small business owners, entrepreneurs, and those wishing to start a business should be aware of the information available to you on-line.

Recently, the U.S. Department of Social Security reported that 85 percent of Americans 65 and over do not have more than $250. Only two percent in this age range do not need help from churches, relatives, or the Government. To avoid this, there are many tools on-line that you can use to build a successful small business and create a brighter future for yourself and your family.

One magazine of interest to many small business owners is SmallBiz, published by Business Week Magazine. SmallBiz offers information and statistics for business owners on taxes, tax deadlines, and ways in which to grow your business. SmallBiz continuously publishes tips that you may have never thought of.

To help and assist home based businesses, Business Week’s on-line site contains tons of useful information and tips. There you will find anything from increasing profits of your business using ads and slogans to finding better ways of using your corporate website to link and share information with other companies and websites. Networking is the key for most businesses who have a hard time getting their business operating the way they want.

Your business could be one of the numerous on-line success stories. There are places on-line that inform you about developing business plans and how to properly go about buying or selling a business. In just a few minutes you can learn everything from determining your advertising market to incorporating your business. Even more, there is a ton of information on buying franchises, how to raise money for your business, and the financing and accounting that needs to be done to run a successful business.

The SmallBiz Magazine website dedicates most of its topics to research statistics, keeping accounting documents organized, hiring employees, 401k and health plans, and ways to increase business. They often suggest ways to increase your presence on the web and the technology used to run a business.

Another website, Inc.com details the process of the concept of your business idea to the creating of your company website. In short it states that all successful small businesses have a website and ideas on how to make sales from the web.

The SBA (Small Business Administration) runs a website containing helpful ideas for a new start-up, the latest business opportunities and news, and ways to apply for loans or funding from the SBA.

There are many website dedicated to this kind of information and small business owners. They are there waiting for you to find them so that they can assist you in ever detail possible. Why not use information that is so easily accessible?

* Resources mentioned in this article are located at:
Business Week Magazine – http://www.businessweek.com
SmallBiz Magazine – http://mediakit.businessweek.com/Products/Magazines/SmallBiz
Small Business Administration – http://www.sba.gov
Inc.com – http://www.inc.com
U.S. Department of Social Security – http://www.ssa.gov

Tags: accounting, business, Business and Management, Business and Management

Me Versus the Bachelor Degree In Business

Kristen — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 16:26:25 +0000

Liberal arts majors and business majors are like oil and vinegar. They don’t exactly blend well together, but for some reason when you combine the two they are absolutely fantastic.

I learned this my final year of college when I moved into the sorority house and instantly bonded with my business major roommate, Jenny. I was an English major and the two of us were intermingled with several other girls with varying interests and educational pursuits. But for some reason, while Jenny and I were the most different, we ended up becoming almost the same.

I was messy and artistic, Jenny was organized and, I hate to admit it, a little sterile. She liked things where she liked them and anything out of place was sure to trigger a conniption. She instantly made our bills into an Excel spreadsheet and wrote out “invoices” each month to each housemate for their share of the gas, water, and…frozen waffles? Down to our grocery shopping, she inventoried everything and left me awestruck and wondering, “Who does things like that?!”

Apparently a lot of people as I met many business majors during my college years. And for some uncanny reason, they were always the ones that I hit it off with the most. My quirkiness meshed together with their straight man personality. My creativity was enhanced by their organization, and while it seems as if our worlds would collide, they seldom did.

There were a few times that we butted heads, when my dance team crashed the house and we kept the karaoke machine on a little too loud a little too late. Jenny would throw herself into a tirade about her 8 am accounting final and couldn’t we PLEASE just keep it down a bit? (Answer: no, but we will pretend to try.) And there were times I left the half eaten bowl of macaroni on the stove top and Jenny found it before I remembered I had left it there. (Truth: it was usually about three days later.) But all in all, we became the best of friends. My carefree outlook softened her anal retentive views toward college and life. Her orderly conduct encouraged me to be more responsible with money and especially with sleep. I started to value going to class more, and learned that there was more to get out of college than just the degree. The funny thing is that in a different way, I taught her that as well.

I learned from rooming with “Miss BA in Business” that sometimes the people the most unlike us are the ones that we are destined to enjoy and cherish the most in life. I’ve done my best to keep in contact with Jenny, and though I rarely see her, I’m grateful for the communication and correspondence we do have.

Jenny continues to go down the straight and narrow path. She’s made some great achievements and built a solid resume. I seem to remain all over the map. I run a dance company, work as a freelance writer, and travel the world every chance I get. While she loved her accounting firm internship, I loved my trip to Africa. We enhance each others’ lives more than I experience with my friends who are a lot like me. Cookie cutters are not always a positive thing. A flair for the variety is often the more successful of pairings.

Tags: accounting, Bachelors Degrees, Bachelors Degrees, business, Business and Management, Business and Management, education, educational pursuit

How to Become a Financial Analyst in Your Own Life

James — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 00:57:54 +0000

I am horrible with the checkbook. I fell into the same trap as many twenty somethings did back in their teens when the credit card companies made them a member of their mass mailing club. I received my ‘You’ve been pre approved!’ envelopes containing persuasive letters from the big guns of the credit world. Visa, MasterCard, and the pro of all marketing ploys: American Express. It is tantalizing to a 16 year old, you spend like the plastic doesn’t represent real money, and then you get the bill. Ow, reality hurts.

Now I am twenty four and still cleaning up my mess. My credit is shot and despite my carefree outlook on life, I have realized that I need to start learning how to be financially responsible so I can hope to buy a home and be successful with my income in the future.

Being your own financial analyst means realizing that what you earn is not necessarily what you can spend. While I am fully supportive of the idea of blowing that first celebratory paycheck at the mall, I do also want to stress that I have learned the importance of savings and cutting out what it is in life that causes expenses that you don’t really need.

A great first step is to find a bank that offers direct savings programs. Many, if not all banks, will set up a joint checking/savings account for you, which automatically deposits a percentage each month from your checking into your savings. It is usually a small enough of an amount that you don’t even miss it, and at the same time you have accomplished a brainless way to save money. This can add up, and when you get your monthly statements, you will be pleased to realize that you have managed to save some cash without suffering during the process.

Secondly, draw upon your bank statement to make an itemized list of what you spend your money on each month. What will you simply die without and what can you manage to kiss goodbye? A night out at the movies is an average of $9.50 per person. Blockbuster is 4 bucks. Which movies can you turn away from until they arrive onto DVD? A meal out can average anywhere from $4 for a fast food lunch to $15-20 a person for a median priced sit down. Grocery shopping and cooking at home saves the average family more than you probably realized. And you hone a new skill at the same time.

Next make a budget and consider it the unbreakable law. Find out how much you are able to spend & save, and stick to it! Don’t impulse buy. Walk away for a few hours from items that you see, and then come back to the situation later on to decide if you really do want to purchase it. Surprisingly, you will find that there are many things you don’t really want or need.

Lastly, consider hiring a real financial analyst to help you take the steps to become your own. Though costly, they are a money saver in the long run. Do what you need to do to achieve self control. You will thank yourself later.

It is easier than you think to financially analyze your own situation. Everyone has the opportunity to be successful in money and in life. Give yourself the chance that you deserve.

Tags: business, Business and Management, Business and Management, financial analyst, management, marketing

The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly About Online MBA Courses

Kristen — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 22:04:53 +0000

After struggling through five years (yes, five) of college, I proudly graduated with not only my B.A. degree, but also a 20/20 hindsight reflection as to what was successful for me and what was distracting. Not surprisingly, the distractions also happened to be some of my favorite things about the college years. Living in the sorority house, staying out too late, the fact that work interfered with my class schedule, and just an overall struggle with balancing my daily academic responsibilities with what I really wanted to spend my time doing.

With all this being said, imagine my surprise when I hit the real world and quickly discovered that the “promising future promise” of a bachelor’s degree was not quite as lucrative of an opportunity as had been presented to me. People were one jump ahead of me with masters’ degrees and I was being dragged one step behind by my outstanding student loan debts. What’s a girl to do?

It was at this point in life that I started to really pay attention to the TV commercials for higher education, dismissing my previous judgments that they were geared solely toward down and outers and deadbeats. Now suddenly it looked appealing. I didn’t want to go back to college. I had since married my high school sweetheart and working full time was a necessity for both of us. I couldn’t just skip out on the weekly board meeting to go hang out in British Literature 101. Could an online MBA be a reality? Is there a catch to it? Do employers really respect it as much as a regular, hard earned degree? Yes and no.

First of all, realize that while it is not regular, it IS hard earned. Online MBA degrees require a tremendous amount of discipline, since there is no professor in front of you on a daily basis, providing tutoring sessions and guidance on that upcoming assignment. Online MBA candidates must be disciplined enough to carve out their own time for the three R’s and a lot of times your life that you were fighting to keep in the first place by choosing to do an online MBA may suffer the consequences. It is a lot of work.

Another downer to the online MBA is that it comes with a pretty threatening price tag. Many colleges and universities, no matter how established by name, made a huge investment in the birth of online degree programs. Because the majority of students still enroll in traditional desk time courses, colleges have but no choice to hike up online tuition enough to justify the program and make it profitable.

Of course, the price depends on the school that you are looking into enrolling at, and many people, including myself will assure you that it is still a great idea. I can’t go to graduate school, and I don’t agree with the philosophy that when “life slows down” I can jump back into the academia life. Circumstances often change, but rarely slow down, and I am constantly battling my ambition and drive to accomplish all that I plan to at a young age.

With this being said, the online MBA program may or may not be for you. Look into financial aid, explore the sites, and make a decision that fits your lifestyle. If you are like me, then it just may work out. If you are the opposite, then it may be more worth your while to enroll in a traditional program. Either way, the educational system will embrace you, and thankfully so will employers. Recent studies show that an online MBA is quickly enjoying more solid of a reputation and commanding more respect from hiring companies. In the next few years, the college experience and the “college experience” are expected to be regarded as equals. Study hard.

Tags: academic, Business and Management, Business and Management, colleges and universities, Degrees, education, MBA, universities

A Career in Accounting Can Really Add Up

James — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 15:13:42 +0000

At first glance, it may seem that an accounting career is a boring career path to take. When I picture an accountant, I picture a socially inept individual huddled in the middle of a desk covered in paperwork. It doesn’t seem like an exciting career at all, and even if you earn a lot of money at it, when would you have the time to spend it? Accountants work extremely long hours.

However, there are some plus sides to the accounting world that are important to consider when you are choosing what you want to do with the rest of your life.

One of the neatest things about being an accountant, especially an entry level one, is the fact that you get to see the inside workings of a lot of different businesses. You can think of it as on the job training without having to be responsible for all aspects of a job. You learn what mistakes good and bad a company has made financially, which can be a stepping stone for success in other aspects of your life. Ever thought of starting your own business? Being an accountant is a great way to start because you will learn so much about the ins and outs that you would not normally consider.

Most entry level accounts start out by working in an accounting firm, and this can be a great place to shadow the “head cheese” and really get your foot in the door. This is a great thing about careers in accounting; you have the chance to be studious and really learn and grow, as opposed to a more specialized field that expects you to be a pro at everything immediately, with little room for advancement.

Accounting is such a broad field that you can try different sorts of genres as you advance in your career and eventually find your niche. This is why you don’t have to be a certain personality type in order for accounting to work for you. You can work for a firm, you can do people’s taxes, you can consult for a small business; the possibilities are endless.

Are you not sure if you are ready to commit to being an accountant? There are smaller steps that you can take to see if it is something that catches your interest. Take a community college class and learn QuickBooks, Peachtree, and other computer programs that accountants often use. Do you pick them up quickly? Is it something that you can picture yourself using full time?

Begin to network with other accountants. Consider doing an unpaid internship (of course, if you can get paid, great!), or joining an online forum of people in the accounting field. Accounting is a field that really helps people to succeed in business as well as life. When the economy drops, accountants help it come back up. They are the instated emergency system for some. Not many people consider accountants to be unsung heroes, but in a lot of ways, that is exactly what they are.

Accountants come from all walks of life and there is a niche in the field for most people. Be motivated enough to check it out.

Tags: accounting, business, Business and Management, Business and Management, management, MBA

The Trouble with Accounting Terminology

James — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 18:25:02 +0000

When I was eight years old, my father, who never completed college, decided to better himself by taking an accounting course at the local community college. He got so frustrated with it, and struggled with it so much that one day he was in his study and he just let out this holler and threw the accounting textbook across the room. Then again, maybe it was Calculus he was taking, not accounting. Whatever. Either way they are both awful and often necessary evils for the college student. I inherited my father’s artistic flair and numerical impairments, and so I too have trouble understanding the world of accounting. Especially their terms. It is, however, ironic how these terms can cross over to us creative folks who cannot crunch numbers or financially map out a corporation to save our lives. Some examples of this are listed below*, sure to get a cringe or a chuckle out of any accounting student.

A Misstatement is Inconsequential

If a reasonable person would conclude after considering the possibility of further undetected misstatements that the misstatement either individually or when aggregated with other misstatements would clearly be immaterial to the financial statements. If a reasonable person could not reach such a conclusion regarding a particular misstatement, that misstatement is more than inconsequential.

This is easy to understand. Basically all it is saying is that if a person lies to you once, chancesare they will lie again. I have had friends and lovers that I can say are representatives of a misstatement that is inconsequential. What does this have to do with accounting? This is everyday social reality, baby.

Adjusting Journal Entry

An accounting entry made into a subsidiary ledger called the General journal to account for a periods changes, omissions or other financial data required to be reported “in the books”.

While I am not quite sure what this means in accounting, I can tell you that there are a lot of adjusted journal entries in my life. There is plenty of financial data that has been required to be reported into our checkbook balancer and through receipts that I should have, but when it comes right down to it, I don’t want my husband to know where I spend some of our money. He would go through the roof and never let me go to Macy’s again. Marriage has a general journal. There is nowhere that states that we have to actually use it all of the time.

Assertion

Explicit or implicit representations by an entity’s management that are embodied in financial statement components and for which the auditor obtains and evaluates evidential matter when forming his or her opinion on the entity’s financial statements.

Again, my husband may form an opinion on our financial statement, but that won’t stop me from shopping. He can be as assertive as he wants, that doesn’t stop the end of summer sales.

Balance

Sum of DEBIT entries minus the SUM of CREDIT entries in an ACCOUNT. If positive, the difference is called a DEBIT BALANCE; if negative, a CREDIT BALANCE.

In layman’s terms, we all have to find our balance in life. Some people owe us big time, and others we are eternally indebted to. You win some, you lose some, and we all just need to be okay with who we are in the end.

I don’t need to be an accountant to see how these terms still apply to me in my every day life. They cross over just fine. And who says I needed to be a business major to comprehend the terms to today’s business professionals?

* All accounting definitions come from New York State Society of CPAs. www.nysscpa.org

Tags: accounting, business, Business and Management, Business and Management, management

The Lessons Learned in Advertising Courses for the Rest of Us

James — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 01:58:19 +0000

I will never understand the world of advertising. Why do companies like Coca Cola and Wal Mart advertise? We all know that they are there. We can’t live without them, nor would we want to. Are the commercials merely a further reminder of our addiction to them in society? And why don’t our favorite hole in the wall restaurants and boutiques invest in national commercial campaigns? They are fabulous and the world should know it! But then again perhaps that is why they are fabulous; because they are unknown and special to a handful of people instead of an entire country. And they are exceptionally special to you. Why do some companies advertise until it gets to the point where you can close your eyes and picture their commercial in your head down to the smallest detail, while other companies rarely make a peep in the promotional world and still flourish just the same?

Companies that you consider to be fantastic but remain undiscovered are not exactly suffering the majority of the time. Often their low profile is premeditated. A lot of companies enjoy success in the median, they don’t want to be a super star corporation. In the movie Spanglish, Adam Sandler’s character portrays the perfect example of this. A restaurant owner who is upset when a restaurant reviewer gives his establishment a 5 star rating, he curses to high heaven and mourns the fact that his small town success is now going to be a huge restaurant where the regular patrons from the neighborhood will no longer be able to get a reservation.

Many companies embrace the small town feel of their business. They want to spend time with their families and run their one shop; not an entire chain. On the other end of the spectrum, we see that the big businesses advertise constantly. Why is this? Perhaps it is because they are threatened by the little guys inching their way up the food chain.

I refuse to go to Starbucks. I think it is too “trendy” and I prefer to patronize my local neighborhood coffee house. It has more charm and needs my business more than the coffee bean ruler of the world does. But what if everyone began to think as I do? Where would Starbucks be? Exactly.

Large corporations want their store’s image imprinted in your mind so that you won’t be distracted by the up and comers. Target has to advertise as much as Wal-Mart. TGI Fridays has to promote themselves as much as Chili’s. And so on and so forth until we are so bombarded by the giant commercial campaigns, that we wouldn’t dream of going anywhere else.

I for one prefer the smaller establishment that is comfortable in its own skin and is enjoying its low key success. Others enjoy the multi million dollar corporations in “Anytown”, USA. The choice is yours. Everyone always complains that they don’t have enough money these days, so make sure that yours is spent in the best way!

Tags: business, Business and Management, Business and Management, management, MBA

After the Management MBA

James — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 01:28:49 +0000

I have high hopes for the future MBA holders of the world. I am hoping that as they get their feet wet in the working world and pursue this great degree, that they will learn from the example of their bosses, and move forward with the knowledge that sometimes, no matter how much education you have, there isn’t an excuse for being unbearable in the workplace.

I am writing this in light of a boss I know that single handedly turned a safe and secure corporate America into a horrific experience with his public relations stunts and lack of honesty. It is important to keep things in perspective, and realize that there are good things in every person. This is definitely true, and I would be able to easily sit down and write a list of this particular boss’ good qualities, but unfortunately the bad has outweighed the good. It compels me to write this so that future managers of the world know that some tactics are just not good, no matter how good your intentions may be.

Double Standards

In this particular company, we mentor young people, and they are deducted points and are punished accordingly for using vulgarities on campus. In turn, our president spends his days swearing up and down our hallways, within ear shot of the students. This sets the model for hypocrisy and though he has since had this brought to his attention and he has cut down significantly, he has still set the example of hypocrisy. This is a very difficult thing to reverse.

In other instances, this has been taken a little bit farther, by demanding loyalty from employees while demeaning them at the same time. Know that, as a manager, your leadership is most effective when other people feel as if you have “been there” at their level. People are going to respect you much more if you come alongside them instead of trying to be in front of them pulling the leash.

Honesty

Bosses who are continually dishonest sometimes believe that it will not catch up with them because they are the head of a company. Chances are though, that your employees are on to you or soon will be, and there is always a higher up somewhere, somehow to complain to. People never like being lied to. It is probably the quickest way to violate any trust as well as being the most difficult to earn back.

Lying to scare, coerce, or convince employees to partake in whatever your wish is for them to do, is not going to get you anywhere in the long run. Your mother told you that honesty is the best policy. And really, they told the truth.

Know that integrity outruns deceit and that investment in people is going to outshine any investments in education. Recognize your audience and work accordingly. You have been put in a position of leadership for a distinct reason. You have been given a higher purpose. Use that in a positive way.

Tags: business, Business and Management, Business and Management, business degrees, education, management, Masters Degrees, MBA

Life is the Best Financial Planning Education

Kristen — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 02:40:55 +0000

My parents warned me. They told me over and over again how living the life of a 18 year old was great and carefree, but that it was a good thing to try and not be TOO carefree. I didn’t listen. I got my first Visa card application in the mail and felt instantly like a million bucks. I will never forget my first splurge. Bras & panties in an array of colors from the local mall’s Victoria’s Secret. I don’t know why I remember that exactly, but for some reason it sticks out in my mind. I was completely freed from my parents in two distinct ways. The first was of course the freedom to pick out and purchase my own undergarments without any comments from mom intruding on my joy. “RED underwear?! My goodness, isn’t that a little SUGGESTIVE?!”

The second was the fact that I had financial freedom.

The freedom had me down in chains a little quicker than I thought possible. My first Visa bill statement was reasonable and more importantly, payable. So were the second and third. But then costs started to mount, interest came into play, and then I came home for the summer while the bills went to my college housing, and suddenly it was 3 months overdue. 4 months. Then it was Christmas and I just couldn’t possibly make a payment because hello, I obviously had to spend my money on gifts for others. The credit agency would understand. I was merely being charitable.

Now I am 24 and reeling from the consequences. I got married last October, and still my in laws had to cosign for our first apartment. Why? Because even though both my husband and I had full time stable jobs, my credit was trashed. We have looked into applying for home loans and the banks have all but told us it is impossible, at least for the next 7 years as we fix…you guessed it…MY credit. My husband, my soul mate, my partner in life is suffering because of MY mistakes.

I am not saying this to be overtly dramatic or scare you into being anally responsible and driving your friends and family mad with your immaculate fiscal responsibility. But I am stating the facts. I didn’t think that credit was that big of a deal, and now I am suffering the consequences. I am singing the same “ I didn’t think it could happen to me” song from the world of recovering alcoholics and drug addicts, only my tune is even a little more bittersweet. Recovering substance abusers can choose who they share that with. My little “issue” is displayed on a computer screen to banks, credit card companies, mortage companies, department stores, my employer, and pretty much anyone else who wants to find out. I have the scarlet letter of debt pinned to my life and there isn’t exactly an easy escape.

Get a credit card, sure. But only get one. Or maybe two if you have been complimented on the past on our great self control and ability to pay things on time. But be careful. Don’t end up like me. It isn’t worth it. Debt isn’t fun, and an indebted reputation is even worse.

Tags: business, Business and Management, Business and Management, education, financial prospects, financial security, management

The Trials and Tribulations of a Distance Learning MBA

James — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 18:16:08 +0000

I am looking into beginning a distance learning MBA. The reasons behind this are simple. I want to pursue higher education, obtain a masters’ degree, and I made the “follow your heart” mistake during my undergrad years and majored Creative Writing, my first love. Now I am trapped with a degree that I can’t use and am longing for a job that I can’t find. But I digress. Point being, I am working up the courage to begin a distance learning MBA.

The reason I use the words “courage” and “looking into” is because I am beginning to realize that it is going to be a very difficult road. I have seen my friends who are pursuing their MBA in night school. One warned me recently that working full time and going to graduate school after the sun goes down is not a task for the faint of heart. It is hard work with very little reassurance. And I am going to attempt to take it one step further by completing mine through distance learning. I know about these distance learning classes. They are tough.

It is easy to be sold on them. The idea of taking an exam in your pajamas, or being able to be home during Oprah is certainly appealing, but a lot of people do not realize the work and self discipline that goes into earning an online degree. Americans love easy street. We simplify everything. Fast food, fast cars, fast life. But let me warn you, distance learning is simultaneously a great opportunity and a disaster waiting to happen.

If you identify with any of these statements, then chances are it isn’t for you.

I Am Distracted Easily

Learning from the comfort of home sounds great, but remember that is the main thing that may also work against you. Home is not a classroom, it is a place of relaxation and familiarity. And distractions. TV, music, DVDs, your computer, your bed, the phone, visitors and a pet or two can cause the most destructive learning environment ever created. It is hard to learn Statistics when you have one eye on the MTV. It makes things more challenging a million times over. If you are easily distracted, this may not be a good route for you.

I Am Barely Making Ends Meet

Online courses are expensive. And even if you are just taking distance learning courses from a regular college, remember that regular college is expensive too! It is great that you are trying to increase your income by achieving higher educational goals, but please take note that it is going to surely shrink your income before it expands it.

I Am Too Busy To Go To Back To School

If you are too busy to sit in a real classroom for a few hours a day, chances are, you are too busy to be disciplined enough to finish your learning on your own. Distance learning is perfect for people who work part time, stay at home moms, and people who don’t want to have a life outside of work. It is tough. I know because I am none of these things. I am a full time working social butterfly who whines and carries on about how I never have enough time to see the people I love. So I am a little hesitant about this whole process. However I realize, as I am telling you now, that there is a silver lining in every tough challenge and I am determined to being committed to make this work. So good luck to you and good luck to me. And hey, can someone pass the remote?

Tags: business, Business and Management, Business and Management, distance learning, distance learning courses, education, management, MBA

Small Business Management and Accounting Software

James — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 22:47:46 +0000

There are different levels of small business management and accounting software. There are relatively inexpensive packages designed for truly small businesses with home-based endeavors or businesses with twenty five or fewer employees. Two of the leading brands in this category are Microsoft Office Small Business Accounting and Quickbooks, which is an Intuit product.

This level of accounting and management software provides invoicing and purchase order systems as well as receipts, bank deposits and bill payments. These systems will provide financial statements, generate reports based on your design, and they also include the graphics capability to develop flowcharts and similar visual analytical tools. In the case of the Microsoft Office product, the accounting software will integrate your contact management tool into a chart of accounts and provide for data transfer among the various Office software products utilized for business management – Word, Excel and Outlook.

These products and others like them are relatively inexpensive. They are primarily finance tools, used for accounting and, if the business is small enough, for payroll management.

Moving into the realm of business management combined with business accounting, you will find a new range of software products with more features and a higher price tag. Many of these software packages are sold in modular fashion; you can customize your business management software to meet your needs. If you want to add an additional feature at a later time you can purchase it and “bolt it on,” so to speak. These systems are also “scaleable,” a term which refers to the modular design and the fact that they can be designed to handle businesses of many different sizes.

Business management and accounting software (as differentiated from simply accounting software, like Quickbooks) provide an assortment of additional functions. Features may include inventory control software, CRM software, point of sale and invoicing software, billing software, email software, contact manager, task scheduler, time and attendance, payroll, document management system and so on.

CRM (Customer Relations Management) software has become an important management tool for many larger businesses that operate out of multiple sites. This type of database provides a wealth of information on each customer and manages the contact with that customer who may also have multiple business sites. Information on sales, preferences, contacts, ancillary information on the customer’s capacity and growth potential, a program for near-term future contacts – CRM software is a database on your business contacts that can be as detailed as you wish.

The CRM approach is also “scaleable” and can provide valuable support to business operations for mid-sized businesses as well. With the right information in your customer database, you can customize your marketing efforts and make many of your sales pitches through electronic means, rather than direct mail or standard advertising.

This is one example of the integration of business and accounting functions into a single software package. Software as comprehensive as this requires training for your staff and cooperation in keeping it updated and functioning properly. Utilized properly, CRM and analytic accounting software can replace a lot of business meetings and strategy sessions that fill many an executive’s day.

Tags: accounting, business, Business and Management, Business and Management, management, marketing, MBA

College-Pages.com » Business and Management

Business Management Degree: Top Degrees for Professionals Who Want to Start Their Own Businesses

1. Bachelor Degree in Management with an E-Business Emphasis

2. Bachelor Degree in Management with a Sales and Marketing Emphasis

3. Bachelor of Science in Business with a Finance Emphasis

4. Bachelor of Science in Business Administration

5. Associate Degree in Business and Management

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