Using Porter's Five Forces Model

According to Porter’s Five Forces Model, in my opinion, competition has increased overall as a result of the internet and e-Commerce. The internet and IT has made it possible to both focus on the top and bottom lines and market share is expanded and costs are cut. Many products and services exist just online, major companies have gone online to successfully augment the brick and mortar corporations, and the playing field is all the way to edges of cyberspace, wherever that is. We will further evaluate this stepping through all five forces.
Buyer power is higher when buyers have more choices. Businesses are forced to add value to their products and services to get loyalty. Many loyalty programs include excellent services that customers demand on-line. Customers want to solve their problems and many times they are more successful on-line than on-phone. Also, we see internet savvy businesses springing up offering more valuable goods and services at lower costs. Now with the advent of eBay, many people are assuming roles as drop shippers. Individuals can have a thriving business selling goods of larger companies without having to carry inventory.
Supplier power is higher when buyers have fewer choices from whom to buy. As mentioned earlier, drop shipping has increased the amount of suppliers available. All an individual has to do is form and agreement to sell products for the company. The company takes care of all the logistics. The same is true of associates programs that amazon.com and google.com offer. See my website for examples. Associates allow a webmaster to earn money by recommending products from others. This increases supplier offerings.
Threat of substitute products or services is high when there are many product alternatives. This is different than having many suppliers. Examples of alternatives are exchanging brand names, substituting credit card capabilities, and looking at better values from cheaper sources. The internet allows this with the “global economy”. I can substitute my product by purchasing from companies overseas where labor, services and products are cheaper, but of comparable quality.
Threat of new entrants is high when it is easy for new competition to enter the market. Well, what have we been talking about? Now, small operations can open shop with less than $10.00 per month and make a lot of money. As inventive as people are, there are always opportunities to do improve a product or service or just create and sell something new. Recently, many new entrants have made even more money authoring eBooks that tell others how to do what they did. Rivalry among competitors is high when competition is more intense within industries. On-line book stores and catalog companies are an excellent example. Amazon.com and Barnesandnoble.com are very competitive. However, ] there are many also smaller niche affiliate bookstores that when combined take a great deal of market share. They offer even more competition. However, both major bookstores have used IT to create value for their customers. These values include associates programs, ease of payment and shipping and many, many others.
The internet offers avenues of competition to existing companies and opportunities for start ups. Now businesses can enter the market on-line with few barriers to entry. Porter’s Five Forces Model can help demonstrate the attractiveness of starting your on-line business. A business person should use the model to identify competition, make a plan, and implement the process.

The Neural Network -- Oh the Wonder

If someone were to have a neural network that could scan all aspects of my life, there would be many places to find information about me. This information could be used to help me improve my life and be more efficient. The scanning would include my life as a husband, father, church volunteer, professional and writer. As a matter of fact, I kind of like the idea of having a data warehouse of information about my life and be able to use this information to save time, be more helpful and goal oriented.
As a husband, it’s sometimes hard to be the best when I am juggling all other areas of my life. Who wouldn’t want to be the best at everything? However, I find myself lacking in this area as I give way to children’s needs, sleep, work and the MBA program I am currently attending. If the neural network would scan our online purchases, bank card transactions, to best determine where we shop, how we spend our money and where we spend our money there would be a huge depository of gold to mine. After receiving a report, I could better deduct where to take my wife on a date, buy her next Christmas, Mothers Day or birthday present. I couldn’t miss.
To help me be a great father, the neural network would look for patterns of how we provided for our children. It would scan where my family purchased children’s articles, where we spent money at children’s events, when we scanned our children into the church’s security system and what happened at the doctor’s office. Perhaps the patterns discovered could help us develop better routes to save time in our travels, errands, where to buy the next present for the friend’s birthday party and where the party is. Saturday is “daddy day” at our house. I have to plan the entertainment and this would be a great tool.
As a church volunteer, the neural network would process information of where I spend most of my time, how I tithe my money and which charitable organizations I give to. The successful volunteers are the ones who spend their efforts on activities that match their skills, talents and gifts. This neural network would be a tool to answer the age old questions: How can I be more helpful? What are my God given gives and talents? Where do I use them the most effectively? The volunteer leader could use the tool incrementally to discover team effectiveness.
As a professional, my life could be tracked through our corporate badge system. My progress through the building could be tracked as I consulted with our employees about the security needs and requirements. This tracking could determine my best routes as I made my way around the work campus. Our security system could help me discover areas that I am not reporting to or best determine more efficient routes to take. This system could also help remind me to keep access limited in certain areas and evaluate the frequency of my visits to help me better comply with government regulations. The internet tracking could report the amount of time I am wasting or show me the websites of research that could prove more beneficial. The web traffic report could also reveal surfing habits and show me where I am most productive.
This neural network would help me in the marketing of my writing. I publish articles in magazines, ezines, blogs and sell books on my website and on amazon.com. The network could track my transactions on the internet and detect patterns of where I am successful. Instead of writing in areas that I am not very successful or that may not produce a return on investment, I could focus on more lucrative venues. The tool could also recognized patterns where my marketing directs visitors to my website. It could also detect what draws interest while they are at my website.
Self-help books abound with topics including: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Execution, Now, Discover Your Strengths, and other titles that help you put the first things first. We busy ourselves writing in PDA’s, calendars, schedulers and notebooks as we try to capture time and squeeze more out of 24 hours. A neural network is just the tool to help us establish successful priorities in our lives that make us successful in each or our many roles. Though this network would get into very personal information that would have to be protected, it could help make our lives easier. We could decide when the best time to make doctors appointments or which DMV is better organized to serve our needs based on our schedules and habits as tracked through the neural network.

Customer Relationship Management

Customer Relationship ManagementSystems is a tactical and strategic tool. If used correctly, this tool can forecast trends and help a company with the top and bottom lines. Today, many businesses do not look the same as they may have many years ago. They have definitely left their core competency to move onto something more profitable. The internet and information technology have made that possible.
General Motors and eBay are two companies who have reduced focus from their original purpose to reflect financing. They have both learned that keeping the customer in debt through interest bearing finance for longer periods of time is more beneficial to the business.
Another example is from the best seller Good to Great. This book lists Kimberly Clark as a successful company that thrived in a dying industry. This company moved from being a supplier of coated paper to consumer goods like Huggies and Kleenex.
How did these companies transform to this kind of success? I believe it was from a keen insight into customer relationship management. Even at its primitive form, before current software availability, the astute business leaders recognized the trend in the market place. It wasn’t hard for the visionaries at places like GM, eBay and Kimberly-Clark to see the potential for huge profits.
Like many explorers and adventurers, each of the CEOs and other leaders received harsh criticism and ne’er do wells from peers and medial alike. Many engrained in tradition expressed disappointment. The leaders were left with dreams, plans, execution and the true possibilities displayed in sales history, demographics, profiles, and shifts in buying trends.
This CRM uses sales force automation to expedite sales and assist the sales force, customer service and support to align sales with suppliers, and marketing management and analysis to find the market. These interact to align the business with customers’ needs and meeting them more promptly at the point of sale.
With evolving technology and high tech consumers, we can expect many more companies to leave their original core competencies to ones that earn them more money with fewer costs. Much business is growing on-line. Without the proper risk of visionaries, and data used properly from CRM a company may die in its antiquity.

ISP Certification

ISP CERTIFICATIONBy: Jeffrey W. Bennett, ISP

Have you taken the next step to being competitive in the security arena? If not, this article will provide information and tips based on a proven method of studying for and passing the exam.
Out of the 2,000 NCMS members only 6% hold the ISP certification. In July 2005 there were only 75 ISPs and as of October 2006 the number has increased to 117. The test is challenging and the pass rate is 80%. However, this pass rate is expected to improve.
Why certify? The ISP holder demonstrates a high level of knowledge. The certification is based on the NISPOM but also covers electives such as: COMSEC, OPSEC, and other topics.
This certified professional communicates to upper management that they are committed to the business, the industry and the protection of national interests. It puts the company in a stronger position while bidding on contracts and lends credibility to relationships with the oversight agency the Defense Security Services (DSS). Most of all, it gives the bearer confidence in their ability to apply their knowledge. As this certification program evolves, more and more employers will require the certification.
According to the book, Now, Discover Your Strengths! s, the difference between mediocrity and excellence is a small margin. For example, a horse wins a race by fractions of a second and employees excel faster by completing only one more small action a day. In my case, I studied for a few minutes every day for five months. The few minutes made a big difference.
There are many excuses not to take the exam: the cost, time involved, or fear of failure. NCMS is doing a lot to train, mitigate the expense and studies show that salaries do increase with the certification.
I hope this tip will build your confidence. Take the online test! If you can perform a search in a PDF file, you can pass the test. The exam gives 110 multiple choice questions and takes up to 120 minutes. There is a clock that keeps track of the time and the test times out automatically. How convenient.
I recommend using two monitors. Open the test in one monitor and the PDF version of the NISPOM in the other. Open the search function in the NISPOM and type key words from the test question to find the reference. It’s that simple, but takes some practice.
The following are websites that offer reference for the ISP test study. The first website offers 20 free practice questions and PDF files of the NISPOM.
http://www.ispcert.com
The next two websites offers the NISPOM, test taking tips, study materials and conference calls.
http://www.ncms-isp.org/StudyReferences.html
http://www.classmgmt.com/ISP_Certification_Program/references.htm
You can pass this test! Use the study references and you will succeed.

Information Technology and Convergence

The bottom line to measure success stems from accountability. This accountability can be measured using proper business metrics. The metrics include milestones to tell you whether or not your business is on track and what adjustments need to be made.

I am reminded of a very informative set of books that I have recently read and reread. One is called Executionand the other Profitable Growth is Everyone's Business. These books point out the importance of not only having a business plan, but of tracking the plans’ success.

Both books emphasize that marketing and meeting the customer where they are as key principles of sales. Being at the point of sale and meeting the customer needs there are vital and milestones should be set to meet those goals.

In the case of the article, IT is a great tool to expedite such marketing goals. With IT, data that took hundreds of man hours can be accomplished with computer assistance. Marketing techniques are covered from advertising to the point of sale data. This data research and quick input has allowed the Miami Dolphins to be more efficient and more effective. They can put a solid return on investment and meet metrics goals almost immediately.

The other benefit of such IT help involves assisting the sales person or agent. In the past, businesses have had to do more with less. That meant sales folks had to manage the point of sale and do necessary paperwork. In my own sales experience, the paperwork sometimes becomes the focus because managers need to track demographics. However, the paperwork tasks often moved into sales time. Now, sales and demographics are performed simultaneously and managers are kept informed of all transactions.

It can be a great benefit if used as a proper tool. It can assist and report, taking the load off the sales representative as well as management. Now the customers needs can be tracked and he or she can benefit from better supply opportunities.

My experience in sales was as an officer in recruiting command. Iraq war was going strong and the job of recruiting was tough. Our command recruited out of Minnesota where there was not a heavy army presence. The only thing most people knew about the army was from their relatives experiences 20 years prior or from television and movies.

Our market target was constantly moving. The army had moved away from a rescue mission of recruiting those who have tried everything, to enticing the cream of the crop to join after high school or during college.

This was tough because many of these bright people did not see a future in the army. They were going to rule the world in the corporate or public service market. We needed a plan to entice these people.

Our recruiters had never been taught how to break into the quality college market and many had never even been to college. However, our studies had shown that many who had tried college were dropping out.

We were busy compiling data and we owed reports every night and sometimes several times per day. The paperwork took most of the recruiters time, yet they were on tap for thier recruiting as well.

The recruiting command invested lots of money in new relationship building campaigns and in new IT that helped gather data from colleges, highschools and the workplace. We learned to partnership with business, acedamia and civic organizaitons to showing the benefits of hiring veterans.

One example follows: Do you rember what I wrote earlier of the high college drop out rate? We became proactive in contacting guidance councelors and developing plans to reduce their dropout percentage. If a drop out enrolled in a job (army) it wasn't considered a drop out statistics. We also helped to enroll veterans and USAR soldiers into our local college systems. When at one time colleges saw us as competition, now saw us as help.

IT helped us gather this data as well as collaberate resources.

Hire the Ultimate Security Team

The best case scenario,your company is growing and you find yourself reassessing your security manning needs. In the worse case, you find yourself severely lacking the personnel required to effectively perform security functions. In either case, it is up to you to hire the perfect employee.

The perfect employee? Though a daunting task, it is important that you hire and build a team of excellent security managers. Never, ever settle for a warm body just to get the job done. Many of you know from experience the issues of hiring the wrong candidate bring about.

There are a few good observations about potential candidates that can further them into the hiring process. These include: What does the company value and what do you value as a security manager? We will also cover where to find potential candidates, the interview process and building the team.

First and foremost, all qualified applicants must reflect the company culture. What kind of employee does the company value? You must know this before you begin the search process. If your company values initiative, make sure your prescreen selects thinkers who can execute security functions with limited supervision. Know yourself and what you value. Obviously your values support the company culture, but here is where you use your “gut” to identify successful people. The successful person must also be mindful of the NISPOM. Your job is to filter technically proficient applicants with initiative to learn and execute security procedures. Then, recommend them for the interview.

How do you find these successful people? First you identify the need and post it with the company. Review your job announcement and make sure it specifically identifies the need and requirements. If not, spend some time editing it. This will prevent wasted time reviewing unqualified resumes. Word of mouth and networking with NCMS is another great resource. You never know who might be looking for a career boosting job or different work experiences. Also, consider temporary agencies. They are a resource full of qualified potential applicants.

The next step is the interview. Alright, here is where you need to be the most prepared. Rehearse, rehearse, rehearse! Here is your first impression of the applicant and vice-versa. It is important to find out everything about this applicant considering company culture and qualifications.

Tell the applicant about the job description and the company. Use this time to evaluate their posture, bearing and interest. Then use open ended questions to assess their capabilities. For company culture consider: Describe at time you made a decision; or, what security initiatives have you implemented and how were they received by management? For security qualifications ask: How do you wrap classified material? Describe how you open a safe? What steps do you follow to send a visit request? Be as specific as possible. Remember, you want to identify someone who supports company culture and is capable of either learning or performing the job. For better interview questions, consider reading Kock 'em Dead by Martin Yate.

Finally, once you have made a decision to hire, assimilate this person onto the team. On day one, spend a few hours with your new hire to review company values, introduce to the team, and further outline the job requirements. Be quick to welcome this person and involve the rest of the team. Later, To help foster relationships between coworkers. The best way is have them train and cross train. This builds cohesion and breaks down pre-existing barriers. Your team will communicate better and appreciate your decision to hire this applicant.

With practice and the right skills your journey to hiring the perfect candidate and building a great team will be rewarding. Know your company, your requirements, identify qualifications, rehearse and conduct the interview, then build your team.

About the Author: Jeffrey W. Bennett is a corporate security officer. He also holds the coveted ISP certification. Jeff also speaks and writes on how to earn the ISP as well as similar concepts taught in most MBA courses and makes it easy to adapt to all leadership levels. The volunteer drives our communities and the impact can be amazing. For more information on this article, practice test questions and the upcoming book, visit: www.ispcert.com He is also the author of the Missionary/Adventure novel Under the Lontar Palm available on line at http://www.jeffreywbennett.com or in major and online bookstores.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeffrey_Bennett

Reinvigorating the Network

Even after reading Dig Your Well Before You’re Thirsty by Harvey Mackay; Brag!: The Art Of Tooting Your Own Horn Without Blowing It. by Peggy Klaus, nothing less than experience can prepare the professional for the necessity of good old fashion networking. This is especially true if security is a new career field, or you are continuing your career in a new company or location.

A career in security is rewarding and challenging. The work is important and people genuinely appreciate our service. The security profession requires a high degree of interaction as our paths cross in training or through contractual execution. However, we are somewhat guarded discussing our business with new or otherwise unknown persons. Security professionals require time to develop trusting working relationships. It’s the nature of the business. Try conducting business over the phone with someone you don’t know. Chances are you had to be cautious and it took a few more interactions before finally recognized names and working relationships.

So, how do we accelerate this networking curve? That’s right, through fostering relationships on the job and professional organizations such as NCMS or ASIS All of you have a lot of experience that is definitely worth sharing. You may also consider joining committees volunteering in the community or sharing your expertise in a few key areas. There are skills that you have and others who are willing to learn.

It doesn't take much to network. Just a willingness to both help and to learn. What you contribute is invaluable and you are never to old to learn from others.

About the Author: Jeffrey W. Bennett is a corporate security officer . He also holds the coveted ISP certification. Jeff also speaks and writes on how to earn the ISP as well as similar concepts taught in most MBA courses and makes it easy to adapt to all leadership levels. The volunteer drives our communities and the impact can be amazing. For more information on this article, practice test questions and the upcoming book, visit: http://www.ispcert.com. He is also the author of the Missionary/Adventure novel Under the Lontar Palm available on line at http://www.jeffreywbennett.com or in major and online bookstores.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeffrey_Bennett

ISP Certification

Wow! I passed my ISP Certification. It was tough, but well worth it. Almost immediately it seemed I gained credibility, got a new job and a significant raise. For those security professionals and FSOs who have earned your certification, you know what feeling of accomplishment that is. For those who haven't started, what are you waiting for?

I studied for six months, before I had the courage to take the test. Once I passed, I took notes and began writing a book. I have a database of 400 questions that will definitely help guarantee your success. Take a look.

Whether you’re employed in the security field as a government employee, contractor, loss prevention or IT, you need the competitive edge. At LayMentor, we want to help. Studies show that certifications can help increase your earnings by 20-60%. The Industrial Security Professional Certification is no exception.

We have designed a study system that will guarantee your odds of not only improving your chances of success, but will help you further your career. Just read the excerpts of the recent job postings and see…

“Must have CPP or ISP certification…”

“Certification as a CPP or ISP preferred…”

Vision

Vision




Establishing vision is an essential part of any volunteer goal or mission. Without set vision just about everyone will have their own agenda and you will see the project slowing down and some infighting as everyone attempts to see their ideas through. Ideas are great and personal initiative is vital. However, they only work in support of an umbrella vision that provides goals and milestones.



Proverbs 4: 22-27 gives us direction on how to create a vision and stay focused on what lies ahead. It involves our active participation in keeping our hearts, mouths, eyes and feet firmly established on the target and how to get there. Once the vision is set, our hearts should buy-in and the vision should take root. When speaking, we should support the vision and offer encouragement to others working in service of the vision. Our eyes should be focused on what success looks like and the path that should take us there. On our journey, we should recognize the milestones, benchmarks or highway markers that let us know we are on the way and on time. We had a saying in the army, "On Time—On Target!"



Ask yourself the following questions?

Heart: Do I know what the vision is and have I bought in? Is my heart in the project? If the answers are no, go back and reaffirm the vision. Make sure you understand and have all questions answered. Go to your team and get them up to speed. Once you are at yes, you will succeed in the other areas.



Mouth: Am I supporting the vision with my mouth? Am I speaking the vision and encouraging others? Can I see the goal in my mind? Do I recognize what success looks like? Encouraging words are like food. They give energy to the project and help others keep motivated. They also help remind others of the importance of their focus.



Feet: Are my feet directed to the work ahead? Are they set toward the final prize? If the answer is yes, continue the good work

Leave the Right Legacy

Leave the Right Legacy
What's In Your Legacy

Recently a well known politician has been brought into accountability for something he wrote many years ago. In one of his novels he wrote about a graphic and violent act. Whether or not he intended it to be gratuitous or simply part of the developing storyline, he will now be known for writing something that has called into question his ability to lead.


I had a similar experience many years ago as I worked on my first novel. I had not dedicated myself to writing values based fiction at the time. However, once I had typed (yes on a typewriter) the first 80 pages, I decided to destroy the manuscript. It wasn't a hard choice, the manuscript was pure garbage. I did not want my legacy to be tainted by something that may have done well in the mainstream, but may have caused others to question my character. It definitely was not uplifting fiction and I had decided then and there to get rid of it.

I try to write uplifting fiction that is thrilling to the reader. It can be done and many fine authors have done so. Heroes can be brave without compromising integrity or using gratuitous swearing, gore or sex. I have come to realize that and analyze not only the book cover, but between the pages.

What kind of treasures are you storing? This above passage doesn't simply refer to money, but the kind of life we are leading and how we will be judged once we are gone. Make your decision now to live a life of character that can't be questioned. Don't compromise for the quick and easy gain, but hang in there for the long haul.