Solving The Value Equation

300 sessions, 300 brands at the Microsoft Envision Conference April 4-6 in New Orleans

Microsoft Envision 2016 Conference Recap 

About the Conference "Designed for CxOs and their senior department and functional leaders, Microsoft Envision provides an opportunity for attendees to hear from some of the most forward-thinking minds in business and technology, with each day featuring prominent industry visionaries and business experts who will share the latest ideas, trends and innovations. Participants can explore the latest solutions, and discover the strategies that will help them, their teams, and their business achieve more," the company said.

The inaugural Envision event will take place on April 4-6 in New Orleans, La., replacing Convergence 2016, which had originally been planned for April 4-7. The old Convergence 2016 Web site now directs readers to the Envision 2016 site. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella will deliver the opening Envision keynote.

Unlike Convergence, which was known for being Microsoft's stage to announce its Dynamics roadmaps and discuss new product features, Envision appears to be more focused on broader business topics. According to the Web site, Envision sessions will fall into three areas:

• Business trends and themes -- including Internet of Things (IoT), big data and analytics, cybersecurity, productivity, mobility, and more.
• Industry trends -- including Manufacturing, Retail, Financial Services, Public Sector, Consumer Packaged Goods, Hospitality and Travel, Professional Services, and more.
• Leadership growth in key business roles -- including sales, operations, IT, marketing, finance, customer service, and more.

Microsoft's major North America conference schedule for 2016 now stands as follows:

• Build: March 30-April 1
• Envision: April 4-6
• Worldwide Partner Conference: July 10-14
• Ignite: Sept. 26-30

 

Links & Sources:

https://rcpmag.com/articles/2016/01/13/microsoft-axes-convergence-for-envision.aspx

2016 Microsoft Conference Calendar

https://rcpmag.com/articles/2016/01/05/2016-microsoft-conference-calendar.aspx

Breaking Silos to Improve Performance : The Social Management of Work

People are inherently social. The trouble is, organizations typically do not harness this natural inclination well. Rather, they create barriers that hinder how employees engage with one another, and limit agility in how they collaborate
and make decisions.

They do this by forming complex hierarchies and reporting structures, excessively layering new processes and controls without reviewing or removing existing ones, as well as creating functional silos with defined yet competing interests.
In an effort to control and converge the way people work, organizations have hindered their productivity and increased bureaucracy—so much so that traditional management think is no longer working. Employees and employers alike are looking for a new way of interacting that’s more productive, more efficient and more responsive to what’s happening here and now—not what was happening when all these processes and hierarchies were created.

By redefining how we manage, and by striving to better reflect how people want to work in an information-based knowledge economy, we can improve communication and collaboration, and eliminate waste. This is what social management at work is all about and we’re already doing it ourselves.

Read the full paper here:

The Social Management of Work whitepaper

The silos present in many traditional business structures have the effect of limiting access to critical communication—not only vertically but also horizontally.

While some hierarchy is necessary—the buck has to stop somewhere—social management ignores the idea that “cascades” must only occur within silos. Instead, it embraces a more transparent and flattened business structure, facilitated by perpetual (rather than linear) processes, and by social technology.

It’s new technology and a new mindset.

Businesses willing to implement social technology and to adopt the mindset necessary to support its complete adoption have seen the greatest gains. Those that implemented social technology in one vertical only, or for just one process, have seen fluctuating gains and inconsistencies.

 

Perpetual management processes, aided by social technology, allow organizations and managers to augment event management with process management. In an organization that follows an event management approach, the goal is
business as usual, and only the exceptions are exceptional. However, in an organization driven by a perpetual management approach, the goal is continuous
improvement on every front. When social technology is integrated into this approach, the gains can increase productivity up to 25 percent. However, the danger of social technology is similar to any other technology— companies that see the tool as the solution will stumble. It is critical that
innovation and advancement occur simultaneously.

Organizations that are interested in seeing the benefits must be bold enough to bring both the social technology and the management tools to their employees in parallel.

The way we work is changing, and businesses must be ready to tailor social technology to their own needs; integrate that technology into their business processes; and manage the people, the technology and outcomes effectively.
Instead of holding fast to linear, control-driven ways of working and managing, organizations must find ways to integrate social technologies across all areas of their business. They are now being challenged to manage differently, and in
a way that better reflects how people want to work in an information-based, knowledge economy.

Ultimately, social management—and the technology that facilitates it—is about improving communication and collaboration and eliminating waste. It’s about
finding ways to make better business decisions, to engage employees in the strategic intent of the organization and to improve performance.

Social management has worked for us and for many of our clients. If you’d like to know more, please get in touch. @ephorG

YTD 2013 M&A Transactions Recap

YTD 2013 M&A Forecast & Landscape:

We anticipate M&A activity to be quite robust over the next 9 to 18 months as SaaS technology expands and as service providers consolidate to become solution providers.

 

Mergers and acquisitions in the B2B software, information technology and BPO services continued at a fast clip in Q1 2013 (# of 2012 deals rose over 2011 levels).

• Strategic acquirers have been focusing on complementary acquisitions, with the majority of transactions less than $100M and seeking complimentary assets/capabilities and also distressed or stagnant businesses without access to capital (stuck in the growth capital liquidity trap).

For companies with less than $10 million in EBITDA there is a shortage of financial acquirers as private equity firms have focused predominantly on companies with $10 million in EBITDA or more.

The Bottom line: The race is on for both IP and market share dominance as BPOs and solution providers as well as enterprise software vendors look to fill gaps in their product and service strategies.

 

Related articles:

2013 Marketing services M&A Valuations, Multiple Outlook

How Cloud Computing Is Redefining the M&A Landscape

PWC 2013 US technology M&A insights

TeXchange Houston Announces Revenue Opportunity Management a Success.

Sales & Marketing Tactics for Growth for C-Level Executives of Technology and Services overview of April and May 17th events.

 

Last week’s Houston TeXchange event for Houston technology and emerging business community was a standing success.

Speaker’s for last week’s event titled: Revenue Opportunity Management Part A: Marketing Technology & Tactics for Growth included panelist Bret Star, Managing Partner from The Starr Conspiracy and Daniel Lynton, CEO and Founder of LytnonWeb, as well as moderator Garry E. Meier, Ephor Group Founder and TeXchange Chairman.

“Way too many companies cheat,” said Bret Starr when asked about why small businesses are not successful marketers. “Marketing is easy for great brands. Marketing is easy for great writers. Marketing is easy for small business when you have the right strategy, focus and approach.”

“Marketing success is not only about technology tools or content,” remarked Daniel Lytnon. “Reaching success requires online marketing technology solutions directly connected to business growth strategies.”

Download the full recap for Revenue Opportunity Management: Marketing Technology & Tactics for Growth.

 

Part B of Revenue Opportunity Management: Sales Strategies for Growth in 2012, will be held Thursday, May 17^th and is open to both members and guests.

The Future of Work

Driving Employee Engagement Practices via Social Performance Management Lunch and Learn.

Did you know that only 1 in 3 employees is engaged?

• Research studies have repeatedly shown that approximately 20% of the workforce is actively disengaged (i.e. spreading malcontent and malfeasance) and another 1/3 is disengaged meaning lower productivity and effort.

 

Advances in technology (think social collaboration and work communications) plus the rise of employee consumerism (meaning employees want access to the same online apps and self-service tools for business that they enjoy at home) means that companies must adopt new technology and processes or be left behind.

 

Learn more at an upcoming lunch and learn event hosted by BullseyeEvaluation titled Driving Workforce Productivity, Engagement, and Retention with today’s Technology & Tools. Case studies will be shared and executives will receive a "business case ROI calculator" to evaluate workforce initiatives impact on the P&L. Read more about the the future of work, the panelists and the lunch and learn event here: http://blog.bullseyeevaluation.com/

Register for the event via LinkedIn: http://linkd.in/HITVRE

 

Why Employee Engagement Matters:

Why Employee Engagement Matters:

2012 HR Software Technology Forecast

“The times they are a changing…”

As the famous Bob Dylan song goes, 2012 is going to be known as the year many leaders separated from the pack and overcame the slow growth economy, global and competitive pressures, and leveraged HR software technology to thrive.

In 2012, many buyers of HR software technology will opt for:

• Solutions and not software.  Software that is not easily deployable with near-term ROI (i.e. a few months as opposed to years) is fading away.
• Self-Service in order to empower employees (employee engagement) and enable both managers and HR professionals to focus on strategic activities. “Consumerization” is the key in healthcare, software, and many B2B services.
• Social and mobile tools to drive collaboration and productivity.
• SaaS and cloud based applications or “apps” that are available on-demand, easily deployable, and easily integrate with other applications.
• Business-centric decision making for investment and budget justifications. HR will become business centric.
• Data management tools and best practices.

In light of all the changes in today’s economy, such as increased regulations, cost pressures regarding health and welfare, and the need to get more done with fewer resources, managing today’s workforce is a real challenge.

Download a copy of recently published 2012 HR Technology eBooks below.

HR Technology Guide for Workforce Management e-Book which includes:

• 2012 HR Technology Guide
• Workforce Performance Management Strategies for 2012 and Beyond
• The Evolution of HR Technology
• Workforce Research Findings Report Summary

 

Fully Engaged! People Strategies for Tough Times.

Download the eBook and boost employee engagement, productivity, and revenues.

Garry Meier Unveils Small Business Playbook for the New Economy

At an event earlier this week at the UT Club in Austin, TX Garry Meier presented “Small Business Playbook for the New Economy” to business advisors and small business executives.

Garry’s presentation highlighted the current affect of the Stimulus Bill on small business (Garry participated in the US Senate Small Business Advisory Panel back in Feb 2009 when the Stimulus Bill was being created), and forecasted the state of the union for small business. 

Garry also shared his “required actions” that executives must take to protect and create wealth in the new economy.

Memorable Quotes:

“In 2009 and beyond, wealth will be created for ‘perform businesses’ that are the most productive, cost efficient, promote and excel at change management, and focus on being REALLY good at a few things.”

“Prosperity and economic growth has no doubt been suspended for the near future. Small businesses that are and will prosper illustrate unique business models that add significant value to the consumer... change is upon us and those that embrace it and make it an asset will enjoy opportunistic times”

Download the full presentation: Small Business Playbook for the New Economy.

1 in 6 American Workers Underemployed

The unemployment rate, which includes people working part-time jobs even though they'd rather be working full time, has risen to  16.4%. That means that 1 out of every 6 workers are either out-of-work or working part time jobs even though they want to work full time.

Involuntary Part-Time Employment Chart:

Underemployment by State for June 2009 Chart:

Quotes for those let go:

Getting fired is nature's way of telling you that you had the wrong job in the first place. – Hal Lancaster, in The Wall Street Journal

Never continue in a job you don't enjoy. If you're happy in what you're doing, you'll like yourself, you'll have inner peace. And if you have that, along with physical health, you will have had more success than you could possibly have imagined. – Johnny Carson

 

I didn't see it then, but it turned out that getting fired from Apple was the best thing that could have ever happened to me. The heaviness of being successful was replaced by the lightness of being a beginner again, less sure about everything. It freed me to enter one of the most creative periods of my life. –Steve Jobs, (1955- ) Co-Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Apple Inc. (fired in 1986; re-hired in 1996), and former CEO of Pixar.