Best Practices in small businesses, do you need it?

Yes. And do you need to dig deep in to your pockets to find it? No! In today’s world business owners are confronted with new business problems and opportunities on a regular basis. Running a company requires the ability to seek outside the box for solutions, ideas, and best practices. Having said this, borrowing ideas and best practices can be faced with danger . Study what big business already know about benchmarking, best practices and how to effectively borrow ideas, tactics, and strategies.

A ‘ best practice‘ is the process of finding and using ideas and strategies from outside your company and industry to improve performance in any given area. Big business has used the best practices in benchmarking over decades, saved billions and generated greater revenues in all areas of business operations. Small business can reap even greater rewards from best practices.

Benefits of applying Best Practices for Small Business:

• Reduce Costs: “Re-invent the wheel”. By learning what other companies have successfully done, a small business can save money and avoid testing new ideas.
• Avoid Mistakes: Solving business problems on your own can result in costly errors. Learning what others have done can keep your business in shape.
• Discovering New Ideas: Adopting the “Not-Invented-Here” attitude can spell disaster for small businesses. Learn how to borrow the best from beyond your company.
• Improve Performance: When your business looks for best practices outside your business, a wonderful thing happens. You raise the bar of performance and set new standards of excellence to propel your company forward.

How to identify and remove inefficient resources

Many people drift through life with no real objectives. Often reacting to circumstances negatively and not having a clear plan of what they want or where they want to be. It has been observed that workers are clueless and do not know as to what is happening in their organization. Gone unnoticed, these resources are a waste of time and defective to the more skilled workers, around them. One bad apple is enough to bring down all the hard work put in to the growth of the company.

Considering the circumstances, how do you save your company?  As a business manager, you realize that time is a precious resource. It is hard to be the Principal, as each employee who does not take charge and responsibility in discharging their duties must be removed immediately upon detection. Attitudes are the driving force behind your actions. This section on positive thinking will show you how to build on that power and never let any outside influences bring it down. As a sales professional or sales manager, you face rejection and potentially negative situations every day. This technique will keep you positive and ready to use your skills and resources to their full in any situation.

Make a human connection; they cannot make that emotional connection which is uniquely human. The old adage “People like to do business with people they like” applies more than ever in today’s  fast paced, low touch world. Encourage your staff to avoid any distracting activities during work hours and for meaningful conversation.

If you decide someone should no longer be part of a project with a definite reason, you might want to remove the subject from the project. They will no longer be fruitful for the project . DO NOT add them as a project resource.

How to motivate your sales team?

Many managers assume that some of their sales force are already motivated and don’t need their help in that area, but that the majority seem to need constant motivating, mentoring, counseling. This does sound familiar.

An Integral part of any business is the sales team, they are your ambassadors, and an unmotivated sales team is the downfall of any organization.  So how and what must one do to motivate sales people? This is an age-old question and in this time and day, it’s arguably more important than ever, as organizations across the board face critical talent shortages that could impede their plans for growth. A better understanding of basic human needs and the methods that can sustain high levels of motivation among ones sales staff is important.

Organizations need to motivate and engage their best workers to increase the chances those workers sticking around and companies want to motivate those who remain to perform at the highest productivity levels possible, in both cases it’s a big challenge.

What you need to do is involve them; many employees want to be involved in the ongoing development and progress of their company. Plus, they often have creative ideas that can make a significant difference in the company. Challenging goals, if you set challenging goals your team will work hard to accomplish them. Celebrate individual and team performance. Catch people doing something right and focus on recognizing the excellent performance.

Create a clear and solid sales plan, provide ample sales training, motivate with significant bonuses, and establish a solid base salary in addition to their commissions and bonuses, grant sales awards, such as sales person of the month or sales person of the year. Believe and trust in your people, show them that you are confident in them, a majority of people want to do well, and very many managers run their business thinking that employees must be treated with the “watchdog” mentality, cut down on the red tape and make yourself accessible to them.  When trust is absent, sales professionals generally respond by creating their own individualized shadow accounting processes most often an automated spreadsheet or other tool they use to verify the accuracy of their paychecks and incentive payouts.

Give them the tools to succeed. No team will stay motivated if they do not have the necessary tools required to do their job. This includes; equipment, internal support, marketing materials, and importantly training, etc.

By understanding how an integrated approach to motivation works the importance of trust, of social recognition, of improved chances to fulfill one’s potential, traditional incentive compensation management strategies can be rethought and implemented in ways that improve the performance of the sales force and help the entire company achieve high performance.

But remember that true motivation comes from within

How does Speed detector Cameras Works?

Many of my friends from time to time have asked me on how a Speed detector Cameras functions.  So I figured it was time to write about it.

The Radars that is in use all around us, all thought it is invisible.  Air traffic control towers uses it track planes both on the ground and in the air.  NASA uses radars to map the earth and other planets.  Military uses it to detect enemy.  Traffic Police uses to track the speed of motorists.  Here I am going to give you insights on the speed camera radars.

The traffic radar, which consists of microwaves, travels in straight lines and is easily reflected by objects such as cars, trucks, even guardrails and overpasses.  The radar works by directing its microwave beam down the road.  As a vehicle travels into range, the microwave beam bounces off the car, and the radar antenna looks for the reflections.  Using the Doppler Principle, the radar equipment then calculates your speed by comparing the frequency of the reflection of your car to the original frequency of the beam sent out.

For those of you who sat out the science class The Doppler effect (or Doppler shift), named after Austrian physicist Christian Doppler who proposed it in 1842, is the change in frequency of a wave for an observer moving relative to the source of the wave. It is commonly heard when a vehicle sounding a siren or horn approaches, passes, and recedes from an observer. The received frequency is higher (compared to the emitted frequency) during the approach, it is identical at the instant of passing by, and it is lower during the recession.

For waves that propagate in a medium, such as sound waves, the velocities of the observer and of the source are relative to the medium in which the waves are transmitted. The total Doppler Effect may therefore result from motion of the source, motion of the observer, or motion of the medium. Each of these effects is analyzed separately. For waves which do not require a medium, such as light or gravity in general relativity, only the relative difference in velocity between the observer and the source needs to be considered

The concept of using radio waves to detect objects goes back as far as 1902.  But the practical system we know as radar began in the late 1930s.  Radar technology has improved considerably since the days of World War II.

Traffic radar has limitations, the most significant of these being that it typically can monitor only one target at a time.  If there is more than one vehicle within range; it is up to the radar operator to decide which target is producing the strongest reflection.  Since the strength of the reflection is affected by both the size of the vehicle and its proximity to the antenna, it is difficult for the radar operator to determine if the signal is from a sports car nearby or a pick up van in several meters away.

Radar range also depends on the power of the radar equipment itself.  The strength of the radar unit’s beam diminishes with distance.  The further the radar has to travel the less energy it has for speed detection.

The “POP” is a relatively new feature for radar gun manufactures.  It works by transmitting an extremely short burst, within the allocated band, to identify speeding vehicles in traffic.  Once the target is identified, or “POPPED”  the gun is then turned to its normal operating mode to provide a vehicle tracking history.

Laser speed detection is another new radar technology and is not a widespread as conventional radar system.  Light Detection and Ranging – LIDAR guns project a beam of invisible infrared light.  The signal is a series of very short infrared light energy pulses which move, in a  straight line, reflecting off your car and returning to the gun.  LIDAR uses these light pulses to measure the distance to a vehicle.  Speed is then calculated by measuring how quickloy these pulses are reflected given the known speed of light. LIDAR transmits a much narrower beam than the radar, it is so much more accurate in its ability to distinguish between targets and is also more difficult to detect.  But there are lot of limitations to LIDAR equipment.  LIDAR gu’s range will be decreased by anything affecting visibility such as rain, fog or smoke.  A LIDAR gun cannot operate through glass and it must be stationary in order to get an accurate reading.

There are many different brands of radar detectors available and in many countries; it is legal to use those devices.  Some countries banned using radar detectors.  One of the reasons for banning radar detector is not because it is detecting radars.  Apart from that those devices will detect intrusion alarms and motions sensors.  This is a big concern for Govt departments.

What is NVR (Network Video Recorder)?

As digital video recording capabilities improve, the systems that control cameras and store video have lagged behind. Fortunately, new hardware solutions designed specifically for the latest generation of powerful IP cameras help organizations stream, store, manage, control, search and archive video. They’re called Network Video Recorders or NVRs. These systems are designed to connect dozens of cameras while providing centralized access and management both locally and via the Internet.

New, user-friendly software interfaces make the systems easy to install, configure and operate with a simple Web browser. Now users can centrally and/or remotely monitor and record from cameras that reside in locations all over the world. Live video streams and stored video are accessible via desktop, PDA or mobile phone. This White paper describes the new opportunities available to organizations that look forward to deploy NVRs, the technology involved, and the features typical in modern NVR solutions and the key differences between the NVR and the DVR.

What is an NVR?

A Network Video Recorder (NVR) is a centralized, networked recorder solution that connects multiple IP cameras simultaneously. It’s essentially a networked server and storage solution that’s designed specifically for network video applications and IP cameras (although analog cameras can be included). The technology uses open IP standards, so connectivity, compatibility and flexibility are easy. These are IP-connected devices that aggregate IP cameras. NVR’s allow you to view, control, and record video from all your cameras via one centralized interface. The interface is Web connected, so you can view, manipulate and manage the video from any IP connected device, including desktops, wireless PDAs, cell phones and so forth.

What will I do after 10 years?

I am still not sure what should I do after 10 years.  But I am interested in farming and I believe I should look at this option.  In this case, Vertical Farming will be a good idea!

The concept of city based vertical farms, with hydroponically-fed food being grown in multi-storey buildings. These offer the potential to dramatically increase farm yield and reduce environmental degradation.

For this I will be requiring expertise in a range of scientific disciplines, engineering and commerce.

Any of you have better suggestion for me?

How Will IP Camera Standards Impact Video Surveillance?

Recently I found an interesting article by John Voinovich and thought of putting it here is a good idea.

Over the next 6 months, more than a dozen manufacturers are likely to announce production support for ONVIF (Open Network Video Interface Forum; http://www.onvif.org ) or PSIA (Physical Security Interoperability Alliance; http://www.psialliance.org ) IP camera specifications. While the practical impact will take longer, this is the first stage of interoperability specifications being used in practice.

This impending shift raises an important question: How will IP Camera Standards Impact Video Surveillance?

As interoperability increases, end users of video surveillance will definitely benefit from decreased lock-in, lower support problems and lower cost product options (though how much and how soon still needs to be seen).

There are also some more controversial changes that may occur:

• Expansion of low cost IP cameras
• Lowering of IP video software prices
• Weakening of manufacturers who sell packages of cameras and recorders
• Diminishing competitive advantage of IT integrators over security integrators decrease
• Weakening of Analog products

[Note: These points are not my conclusion or projections. These are potential developments that are offered for discussion.]

Lower Priced IP Cameras

Today, it is difficult for IP camera manufacturers to gain support from many IP video software providers. This provides pricing power for the largest IP camera manufacturers (e.g., Axis, Sony, Panasonic) who are broadly supported. Expansion of IP camera standards would reduce and potentially eliminate this advantage.

Lower Priced IP Video Software

The larger IP video software providers (e.g., Milestone, OnSSI, Genetec) benefit from significantly higher IP camera support than smaller providers. For the smaller software companies, adding in dozens of IP cameras can be cost prohibitive. Camera standards could allow smaller providers to catch up on IP camera support. Moreover, it could allow some software providers to offer very cheap or free support for IP cameras that use the IP camera ‘standards’.

Manufacturers Selling Packages Weaken

Many manufacturers sell bundles of their own cameras and video management systems. Package manufacturers emphasize that their package work better than the proprietary integrations of third party IP cameras and software. IP camera standards would diminish that advantage as greater interoperability and higher assurance of compatibility would exist for non-packaged providers.

IT Integrators Lose Advantage over Security Integrators

The complexity of integrating and troubleshooting proprietary IP camera – IP video software interfaces requires higher IT skills. This has made many traditional security integrators reluctant or disadvantaged at deploying IP video systems. IP camera interoperability could help reduce the need for IT expertise as systems become more ‘plug n play’.

Analog Products Become Less Attractive

As prices decrease for IP products and become simpler to deploy, the resulting impact could reduce the motivation to stay with and use traditional analog systems.

Chaperone service for women on visits

Chaperone service for women on visits

Loveday Morris *

Last Updated: July 12. 2009 9:19PM UAE / July 12. 2009 5:19PM GMT

A new chaperone service, the first of its kind in the region, will enable women visiting the country to book a female “friend” to accompany them on a shopping trip or to dinner. May Russell, a former British police officer, and Shaik Hamdan, an Abu Dhabi-based businessman, plan to launch the company Exclusively Yours, run “by women for women”, at the end of September. Ms Russell, who runs a similar service in the UK, sees the Emirates as an ideal market for the chaperone service, with an increasing number of women travelling to the country either alone, or with their spouse on a business trip. “When you travel you often see single women in hotel lounges or by the pool buried in a book,” she said. “These may be confident women but they might not like the idea of going out to dinner or shopping alone.” The service will target businesswomen, those accompanying their husbands on business, tourists and newly arrived expatriates, providing them with a “companion” familiar with the city, Ms Russell said. “I want the woman to feel like she’s going out with a friend. “It’s such a shame if women visit the UAE and don’t see much past their hotel.” The company has signed-up about 30 women to work full- or part-time, as “chaperones”. The women speak several languages including Arabic, English, Hindi and Russian. “We will tailor the service to whatever the particular client requires,” said Mr Hamdan, the co-founder of the company. He said the service had already attracted interest from several clients. However, the service, which will initially be available in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, will not come cheap: prices are still being finalised, but are likely to be at least US$200 (Dh730) a day.

lmorris@thenational.ae

http://www.thenational.ae/article/20090713/NATIONAL/707129894/1010

Advantage of IP based CCTV System

Here are some reasons why….

IP-based system offers a lower total cost of ownership than a traditional analogue-based surveillance system. The IP-based video surveillance system will cost less in particular with a number of cameras in a network greater than 16. Factors such as system maintenance, video recording and playback, cameras, installation, configuration, training and cable infrastructure will save up to 30 to 40% in cost & time. The cost to acquire, install and operate an IP-based system is between 10 and 50 per cent lower than a legacy system (depending on the individual parameters) consisting of analogue cameras and DVR-based recording. Overall, an installation with 32 cameras is the break-even point for IP-based systems versus analogue systems.

An IP-based system will cost less than an analogue system if the installation includes at least 32 cameras. With any installation between 16 and 32 cameras, the cost of IP versus analogue is similar although slightly lower for analogue systems. Where an existing IT infrastructure, IP-based surveillance systems would always be lower cost, i.e. even for systems consisting of 1 to 32 cameras. There is an overwhelming lack of knowledge about the total cost of ownership when it comes to analogue versus IP-based systems. It is well known to us that the costs and the values of an IP system are still misconceived by most of the public.

Network cameras provide superior scalability, greater flexibility and image quality, also mega pixel functionality and offer video compression based on H.264 standard, which produces better image quality streams for a given bit rate when compared to MPEG4 based video compression. This allows you to save up to 50% of bandwidth for remote monitoring via Internet. In addition, IP systems typically include better maintenance and service agreements for the equipment, plus they can be remotely serviced over the network for easier maintenance. IP systems clearly make the most sense both from an economic and technological standpoint.

Last but not least, the IP technology represents the future and any existing legacy system will therefore phase out sooner or later into an IP-based system.

Future Proofing

By deploying an IP CCTV solution future proofing can be achieved by enabling integration and support for new technologies and applications such  HD,  proximity access control and identification indexing, Video Analytics, Facial Recognition and Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR).

Integration with the above technologies enables CCTV to be extended to provide an additional level of security for traffic monitoring, parking, and access control applications.

Linking CCTV with Access Control technology can deliver real benefits. For example in a school a single card could be used for students and staff for access to secure areas, library card, identification, time and attendance records and cashless vending. CCTV images can be linked to Access Control records so that in the event of crimes such as vandalism, pilfering or identity theft rather than simply having a database you have a visual image to quickly identify if the access records are correct and also avoid any rebuttal from potential suspects.

Remote Accessibility

Secure remote access enables an IP based solution to be monitored from anywhere not just in a central control room. Using the integrated intelligence of IP based solutions automated audio response and alarm escalation out of hours can also be achieved as well as incorporation of help points and streaming video to mobile phones.

Analytic

Below are the features that can be integrated in an IP CCTV environment at any time without disturbing or replacing any hardware.

• License Plate Recognition
• Container Plate Recognition
• Face Capture and Recognition
• Multi-Zone Motion Detection
• Body Tracking
• Object Tracking
• Left Baggage Detection
• People Counting
• Traffic Monitoring
• Video and transaction synchronization indexing

Surround yourself with positive people

Make friends with people who will encourage you on the path to your goals, and always find ways to spend more time with them. Share your goals only with people who will support you, not those who will respond with cynicism or indifference. If you want to lose weight, for instance, get yourself into a gym, and start befriending those who are already in great shape. You’ll find that their attitudes become infectious, and you’ll start believing that you can do it too. Meeting people who’ve lost one hundred pounds or more can be extremely motivating. If you want to start a new business, join the local chamber of commerce or a trade association. Do whatever it takes to make new friends who will help you keep your commitment.

Although this can be difficult for some people, you also need to fire the negative people from your life. I once read that you can see your future just by looking at the six people with whom you spend the most time. If you don’t like what you see, then change those people. There’s no honor in remaining loyal to people who expect you to fail. One of the reasons people fail to start their own businesses, for instance, is that they spend most of their time associating with other employees. The way out of this trap is to start spending a lot more time associating with business owners, such as by joining a trade association, Networking groups etc. Mindsets are contagious. So spend your time with people whose mindsets are worth catching.