Making the Good GREAT!
Any good business can be better. Existing business owners—even
successful ones—can learn more about how to improve their company
by conducting a self-assessment designed specifically for small businesses.
"The SMART Self-Assessment: The First Step to Adding Value
and Improving Profits" is an intensive course that will help
owners and managers understand how to analyze their company using the
Criteria for Performance Excellence, the acknowledged best measure of
management performance in the business world. However, in this offering,
the Criteria been adapted to meet the needs, conditions and environments
of small businesses.
The course was developed by work teams from the Missouri Business Development
Network, a coalition of state and university resources dedicated to
enhancing the competitiveness of Missouri's small businesses. MoBDN
members include University of Missouri Extension (UO/E),
the Missouri Small Business Development Centers (MO SBDC) and the Missouri
Departments of Agriculture and Economic Development.
"The SMART Self-Assessment: The First Step to Adding Value
and Improving Profits" will help entrepreneurs objectively
identify the strengths in their business and the areas in which their
business could use improvement. The assessment takes a holistic look
at management operations—specifically in the following areas: Leadership;
Strategic Planning; Customer and Market Focus; Process Management; Information
and Analysis, Human Resources Management and Business Results.
Upon completion of this training, a small business will be able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of the value of the Criteria for Performance
Excellence.
- Apply the Criteria's core values and concepts to business operations.
- Use the Criteria's questions to assess organizational performance.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the self-assessment process.
To supplement this training event, small business counselors are available
through the MO SBDC to help owners and managers address those
identified areas for improvement with actions that will result in visible
and positive change. The cost for the course, which is typically presented
over several days, is $150.
Although the course is presented at an introductory level, it will
be most effective for those individuals who have an intimate knowledge
of the business and are in a position within the organization to effect
change.
For more information on the time and place of the next offering for
"The SMART Self-Assessment: The First Step to Adding Value and
Improving Profits," call the MO SBDC 573-884-1555
or visit www.missouribusiness.net.
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Authored by: Jackie Rasmussen, Business and Industry
Specialist, University of Missouri Extension
Source: Creating Quality Newsletter, Volume
12, Number 4, April 2003
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