HP, one of the first (if not the first!) company to allow telecommuting, just announced that it was wiping out its IT telecommuting!
Most, if not all, of its 1000 persons IT staff around the world will now report to one of 25 offices nearest their homes. In some cases, this may mean quite a move, even thousands of miles.
The standards and practices of some of the telecommuters was less than ideal … You’ve heard of the expression, “One bad apple can spoil the barrel.” Apparently, enough questionable practices surfaced to compel the new division chief, formerly with 2 major high tech companies, to re-examine this practice and eliminate it … at least for the moment.
What impact will this move have on industry in general and on law firms in particular? The debate has festered for years in large law firms, with the desire for telecommuting seeminly winning … HP may be opening the door on yet another movement, this time back to the office where people can physically and frequently interact with one another to make the entire team effort more effective and more productive!
Tom Kane has an interesting comment that should cause those consumed with marketing for new clients to take pause. As he says, don’t stray too far from home — take care of existing clients before looking outside.
Michelle Golden has done a marvelous piece about delegation and why it is so important to increase profits, to enhance marketing and to retain capable associates. A must read!
Phone companies are charging us $1.00 or more for 411 / information calls when there is little justification, other than their desire to make more moeny. Remember when there was no charge?
When you want to use the 411 / information option, without cost to you, simply dial 1-800-FREE-411 or 1 800 373-3411!
Ron Baker, a noted consultant and principal of Verisage Institute, quotes from Peter Drucker: “What is value to the customer?”
The customer never buys a product. By definition, the customer buys the satisfaction of a want…” Following Drucker’s idea, Ron Baker is the promoter of “The Chief Value Officer” concept. He encourages professional service firms to think in terms of value rather than time. In an interview with Ed Poll, Ron discusses this concept further.
Our goal with everything we do at LawBiz is to be the first stop in your search for content of value that will help you with The Business of Law�� and improve the management of your firm. (more…)
Howard Putnam, former CEO of Southwest Airlines and author of Winds of Turbulence, introduces our newest publication: The Lawyer Banker Relationship: A LawBiz Management Special Report. He says …
