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Project Portfolio Management Projects Must Position The Firm For Future Success

Project Portfolio Management Projects Must Position The Firm For Future Success

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Submitted by: Jessie L Warner

This is the last article in a series of articles discussing how to effectively use project portfolio management in your business. In this article, I want to talk about how projects should contribute to the firm s health and help position the firm for future success.

Remember, for project portfolio management to be effective, projects must:

1.Be aligned with the firm s strategy and goals

2.Be consistent with the firm s values and culture

3.Contribute (directly or indirectly) to a positive cash flow for the enterprise.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkuUBcmmBpk[/youtube]

4.Effectively use the firm s resources both people and resources

5.Not only provide for current contributions to the firm s health but must help to position the firm for future success.

Projects Must Contribute to the Firm s Health

When we talk about a firm s health, we are typically referring to the financial stability of the company. In an article by Lynn Westergard titled Measuring Company Health Via Cash Flow Ratios he refers to the Statement of Cash Flows as being the best indicator for measuring health. The most useful cash flow ratios fall into two general categories. The first group consists of ratios that test for solvency and liquidity: operating cash flow, fund flow coverage, cash interest coverage and cash debt coverage. The second group of ratios indicates the viability of a business as an ongoing concern. It includes “cash to capital expenditures” (CE) and “cash to total debt” (TD) ratios.

Without going into a class on how to interpret financial statements, let s summarize what Lynn Westergard said by simply stating that for a firm to be healthy it must be able to meet its current liabilities and be in a position to finance its future growth. Because projects are often resource and cash intensive, selecting the right projects are key to the health of the firm. Projects that contribute to the financial stability of the company provide additional cash flow and financial leverage to help the company be profitable today and in the future. Selecting the wrong projects can cause unnecessary debt in both the short-term and long-term, as well as significantly impact the firm s ability to grow.

Projects Must Help Position the Firm for Future Success

Along with their ability to contribute to the firm s current health, projects must help position the firm for future success. Below are few questions to consider when selecting projects:

– Will this project provide a competitive advantage for my company?

– Does the project enhance my product or service offering?

– Can I use the project to demonstrate company stability?

– Can I use the project as a reference to help me get more projects?

– Does the project provide future cash flows to help sustain my company s growth?

– When can I expect a return on my investment? Is it a short-term or long-term return?

I m sure that are many more questions you could ask, but the real point here is that for project portfolio management to be effective, you must consider the company s future when selecting projects. Will it help the company be more successful or will it hurt the company?

About the Author: Jessie L. Warner, MBA and a life-long student of project management, seeks to promote the need for and benefits of project management software. Learn more about AtTask by visiting

attask.com

Source:

isnare.com

Permanent Link:

isnare.com/?aid=579292&ca=Business+Management

<div class=French fashion brand Lacoste announces limited-edition logo change from crocodile to endangered animals
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French fashion brand Lacoste announces limited-edition logo change from crocodile to endangered animals

Posted on by Admin

Saturday, March 3, 2018

On Wednesday, French sports clothing brand Lacoste announced producing a limited edition of polo shirts featuring top-ten endangered animal species as the logo, instead of the company’s usual crocodile logo, in a measure to protect those animals, partnering with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Lacoste announced partnering with IUCN at the Paris Fashion Week. Proceeds from the sale would be donated to the IUCN, online magazine Dezeen reported. The collaboration was a part of IUCN’s “Save our Species” (SOS) programme.

The endangered animals to feature on the polo shirts were: vaquita, Burmese roofed turtle, northern sportive lemur, Javan rhino, Cao-vit gibbon, kakapo, California condor, saola, Sumatran tiger, and Anegada ground iguana.

The limited edition polos were to be produced in the count of the endangered animals, meaning 30 shirts featuring the vaquita, a mammal found near the Californian Gulf, would be produced as only 30 vaquitas are believed remaining. In total, 1775 polos featuring an endangered animal as the logo would be produced.

Lacoste was founded by tennis player René Lacoste and André Gillier in 1933 and their crocodile logo was never changed until now, in the 85-year-history of the clothing brand.

The limited edition shirts were to be available in only some European countries and the United States.

Endangered animal Count Location
Vaquita 30 Gulf of California (Mexico)
Burmese roofed turtle 40 Myanmar
Northern sportive lemur 50 Northern Madagascar
Javan rhino 67 Java (Indonesia)
Cao-vit gibbon 150 China, Vietnam
Kakapo 157 New Zealand
California condor 231 United States
Saola 250 Vietnam, Laos
Sumatran tiger 350 Sumatra (Indonesia)
Anegada ground iguana 450 Anegada (British Virgin Islands)
Note: Statistics from Lacoste’s website
Retrieved from “https://en.wikinews.org/w/index.php?title=French_fashion_brand_Lacoste_announces_limited-edition_logo_change_from_crocodile_to_endangered_animals&oldid=4557039”
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<div class=Google removes German BMW from search results
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Google removes German BMW from search results

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Monday, February 6, 2006

The search engine Google announced the removal of the official German BMW web site from its search results today. Google is reported to have removed the website due to the use of a trick to raise its website ratings in the search engine’s results.

The online version of Forbes magazine reported that the German word for used car, Gebrauchtwagen, appeared 42 times in a doorway web page created by the German car manufacturer. Doorway web pages contain many keywords designed to attract search robots. The page presented to Google’s robot for indexing was significantly different from the page presented to the site’s visitors.

According to a recent blog post by Matt Cutts, one of Google’s software engineers, this technique is “a violation of our webmaster quality guidelines.” These guidelines encourage webmasters to “avoid tricks intended to improve search engine rankings.”

BMW reacted to the measure by claiming that it had no intention of manipulating the search results, but instead used the doorway pages with the objective of “offering a better service” to those looking for used cars.

Retrieved from “https://en.wikinews.org/w/index.php?title=Google_removes_German_BMW_from_search_results&oldid=1109079”
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Why You Should Find Great Brazilian Bikini Swimwear In Miami, Fl

Why You Should Find Great Brazilian Bikini Swimwear In Miami, Fl

Posted on by Admin

byadmin

Finding a unique bikini style when you live in Florida is actually extremely important. You want to look your very best all year round, especially since Florida stays warm most of the year. Everyone enjoys wearing their swimsuits and soaking up the warm Florida sun. You want to be sure that you look your very best as well.

When you are searching for good swimwear, you should consider looking into Brazilian bikini swimwear in Miami, FL. You want to look as stylish as possible while also feeling unique. When you come out with a bikini style that is unique and fun, then you will definitely stand out from the crowd. In a sea of people wearing the same-looking swimwear, you will be noticeable and fun in your Brazilian bikini swimwear.

Why You Should Stand Out

When everyone around you is constantly sporting new bikinis to fit the Miami fashions, you want to be able to stand out. When you have a style that is unique and fun, you’ll be sure to get a lot of inquiries. When everyone is complimenting your adorable and stylish swimwear, it will definitely boost your confidence. Knowing that you are someone who doesn’t go with the flow and is willing to look unique will help build up your self-esteem.

Why Brazilian Bikini Swimwear Is So Special

Brazilian bikini swimwear is a very fun style that will breathe life into your summer fashion. This look is so daring and attractive that everyone will be looking at you. With so many options, you can feel attractive and comfortable in your new swimwear. If standing out instead of going with the flow is something you like to do, then the fun feeling of this swimwear is definitely right for you.

<div class=Category:Featured article
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Category:Featured article

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Shortcut:WN:FA

Featured articles are selected by the community to represent the best of Wikinews. See the Featured Article Candidates page for nominations and discussions of candidate articles for this page. Or, subscribe to the RSS feed!

[edit]

Pages in category “Featured article”

Retrieved from “https://en.wikinews.org/w/index.php?title=Category:Featured_article&oldid=2870736”
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<div class=Minimum wage to be increased in New Zealand
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Minimum wage to be increased in New Zealand

Posted on by Admin

Monday, December 18, 2006

File:New Zealand money.jpg

The minimum wage in New Zealand will be increased by 9.8% on 1 April, 2007, the biggest increase in New Zealand for seven years.

The announcement was made today by Labour minister, Ruth Dyson, and will make the current minimum wage for workers over 18-years NZ$11.25 per hour, an increase $1.00 from the current wage of $10.25. Youth workers and youth workers being trained aged 16-years and 17-years will see an increase of $0.80 to $9.00, remaining at 80% of the adult minimum wage.

Ms Dyson said: “The boost in the minimum wage will ensure that lower paid workers share the benefits of economic growth, encourage people to join the workforce and provide protection for some of New Zealand’s most vulnerable workers.”

The Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand has welcomed the announcement. Sue Bradford, spokesperson for the Greens’ Industrial Relations, said: “There is no better time than during a strong economy for New Zealand to boost the current poverty level minimum wages.”

Ms Bradford said: “The rise announced today is not overly generous. When cost of living adjustments are taken into account, the $12 an hour minimum wage level called for by the Greens during the 2005 election campaign, has now moved to just over $13 per hour. If one applied the European Union social standard – which sets the minimum wage at two thirds of the average wage – we would be setting New Zealand’s minimum wage at $13.66.”

However HealthCare Providers New Zealand is criticising the wage increases as currently the difference in minimum wage and the average caregiver wage rate is 10% ($10.25 and $11.33 respectively). Martin Taylor, chief executive officer, said: “If more funding is not made available then the government is agreeing to caregiving becoming a minimum wage occupation.”

Mr Taylor said: “We believe caregiving is an important job that deserves better wages, but you cannot pay out more than you are funded for. This sector is depended on government funding and we have already been waiting 9 months for DHBs to agree to our funding claim for the last minimum wage increase.”

The government believes that the change will benefit 110,000 adults of which the majority are woman, and 9,200 youth workers.

“With four months till the changes come into effect, businesses will have time to prepare. The date of 1 April was chosen to reduce compliance costs for businesses as it will coincide with the implementation date of four weeks’ annual holidays,” Ms Dyson said.

The government wishes that by the end of 2008 they will be able to increase the minimum wage of adults to at least $12.00 per hour, however the government will be keeping a close eye on the economy.

Retrieved from “https://en.wikinews.org/w/index.php?title=Minimum_wage_to_be_increased_in_New_Zealand&oldid=3480553”
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<div class=Paul Schneider leaving NBC’s Parks and Recreation; Rob Lowe, Adam Scott to appear in series
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Paul Schneider leaving NBC’s Parks and Recreation; Rob Lowe, Adam Scott to appear in series

Posted on by Admin

Monday, March 15, 2010

The NBC comedy series Parks and Recreation will experience a shake-up in its cast as Paul Schneider, a regular cast member with the critically acclaimed series, will depart at the end of this season.

Officials with the show have also announced this month that Rob Lowe will make an extended guest appearance on the series, and Adam Scott will join as a regular cast member.

Michael Schur, who co-created Parks and Recreation along with The Office creator Greg Daniels, said Schneider is expected to make guest appearances in the third season.

Schneider plays Mark Brendanawicz, a jaded city planner who started in the first season as a love interest for the show’s protagonist Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler), the deputy director of a small town Indiana town. Currently, Schneider’s character is dating Rashida Jones‘s character, Ann Perkins.

Schneider is leaving the show to focus on his movie career, following the success of such independent films as Bright Star. Schur added when the character was originally conceived, it was anticipated he would appear infrequently in Parks and Recreation, switching between his city planner job and work in the private sector.

“It’s not something you usually do on TV shows but we thought it was a good way to illustrate both the positive and negative aspects of working for a government,” Schur told the Los Angeles Times. “It was one of the first things we talked about with him.”

Schur added, “He’s going to remain in the world of the show in a way that not only allows but hopefully demands that he’ll reenter it. He’s not going to be killed in some weird accident.”

Lowe and Scott are expected to join the show in May, during the final two episodes of the season. Schur has indicated they will both play characters coming in from outside Pawnee to help the town deal with budget problems.

Lowe, fresh off his departure from the ABC drama series Brothers & Sisters, will continue a string of guest appearances into the third season.

Adam Scott would leave his regular role on the Starz comedy series Party Down to join the permanent cast of Parks and Recreation.

“Adam is one of the funniest and most versatile performers around,” Schur told Variety magazine. “When we designed the character he is going to play, we used him as the dream scenario of who we could get.”

Parks and Recreation received mixed to negative reviews during its first season, with detractors claiming it was too similar to The Office, and that Leslie Knope too closely resembled that show’s protagonist Michael Scott), played by Steve Carell.

But The second season, despite lagging in the Nielsen ratings, has been a critical success, with several commentators declaring it a major improvement over the first season and one of the best comedies currently on television.

Retrieved from “https://en.wikinews.org/w/index.php?title=Paul_Schneider_leaving_NBC%27s_Parks_and_Recreation;_Rob_Lowe,_Adam_Scott_to_appear_in_series&oldid=981746”
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Medical Health Insurance For Children And Students

Medical Health Insurance For Children And Students

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In order to deal with a growing problem of children living in the United States without health insurance some 10 years ago Congress passed a plan entitled Title XXI, or the State Children’s Health Insurance Program [SCHIP]. Under this state plan families whose income is insufficient to afford private medical health insurance and too high to apply for Medicaid can receive medical care for their children by paying a maximum of 5% of their gross annual income or, in many cases, by paying nothing at all.

Title XXI lays down minimum standards which must be met by each state, such as the provision of well-baby and well-child physical examinations, immunization programs and emergency services, but states are also given considerably freedom under Title XXI and programs vary from state to state.

It should be noted that this plan is designed to provide cover for children who do not have any form of medical insurance cover and that children who are already covered under a health insurance policy cannot also receive cover under the provisions of this plan.

Where children are not eligible for cover under this state plan and are ineligible for Medicare you will need to consider covering them under a private family plan or on their own individual plan. In this case it will normally, but not always, be cost-effective to provide cover under a family plan although, if you are looking to cover only one child, an individual plan for that child may prove the best option.

In the case of students the majority of colleges and universities operate their own health care clinics for the treatment of routine ailments such as colds, sore throats and minor sports injuries. Nevertheless, you should take out some form of medical health insurance to cover unexpected medical problems including more serious illnesses and surgery.

Wherever possible, you should look to cover children under your own individual or family plan and most plans will cover children even when they are away at school. There may however be some restrictions imposed under these circumstances and you should read through the details of your plan carefully.

Should your children need individual medical health insurance plans to cover them at college, then there are several insurance companies that cater specifically to the needs of students. This is an area which you should research carefully however to ensure your children are getting the cover they need.

Whatever else you do, you should not assume that the government will take responsibility for the care of your children at home and that colleges and universities will do the same once they become students. As parents, the responsibility for providing healthcare for your children falls squarely on your shoulders.

<div class=FDA issues proposed rules requiring calorie content on menus
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FDA issues proposed rules requiring calorie content on menus

Posted on by Admin

Sunday, April 3, 2011

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued proposed calorie labeling rules requiring most retail food vendors to display the calorie counts in items on their menus and menu boards. The proposed rules, issued Friday and expected to be finalized in 2012, would apply to most restaurants, snack bars, vending machines, coffee shops, drive-through restaurants, and convenience and grocery stores.

The US Congress required the rules in the health-care reform law passed in 2010. The rules proposed by the FDA must undergo a public comment period before they are finalized and take effect, said Michael R. Taylor, Deputy Director for Foods at the FDA.

The proposed regulations pertain to businesses devoting more than 50 percent of their floor space to the sale of food or that consider themselves restaurants, specifically food-selling chains with at least 20 stores nationally. Included are candy stores, bakeries, and ice-cream parlors.

The FDA’s proposed guidelines specify that chains post the calorie counts of foods and drinks on menus and menu boards or next to the food item, such as at a salad bar. The menu is to prominently exhibit the calorie content of each item in a way customers can see easily, giving them the same information packaged foods prepared at home currently provide. The information must be displayed in “clear and conspicuous” print and colors.

Giving consumers clear nutritional information makes it easier for them to choose healthier options that can help fight obesity and make us all healthier.

Many cities and states have passed laws requiring calorie labeling on menus, beginning with New York City in 2008. California implemented a similar law in January, although many counties are waiting for the release of the federal guidelines before they begin enforcement. Some fast-food chains there, such as McDonald’s and Starbucks, are displaying calorie counts on menus in some of their stores.

The rules are intended to curb the national obesity epidemic since, according to FDA estimates, one third of the calories people consume yearly come from food eaten out. In a statement issued yesterday, Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary of Health and Human Services said, “Giving consumers clear nutritional information makes it easier for them to choose healthier options that can help fight obesity and make us all healthier.”

Excluded from the rules are businesses whose primary product is not food sales but that sell it, such as bowling alleys, airports and airplanes, amusement parks, hotels and movie theaters. Alcohol is also excluded.

Retrieved from “https://en.wikinews.org/w/index.php?title=FDA_issues_proposed_rules_requiring_calorie_content_on_menus&oldid=1982833”
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Automated Forex Trading Systems 3 Sure Signs Of A Scam

Automated Forex Trading Systems 3 Sure Signs Of A Scam

Posted on by Admin

Automated Forex Trading Systems – 3 Sure Signs Of A Scam

by

Thad B.

So you’re considering buying an automated Forex trading system, but you want to be very sure that you’re investing in a system that is going to give you safe, consistent and lasting trading profits, right?

The last thing you’ll want is to lose your hard earned money to a scam, but how do you differentiate between legitimate and fake Forex EAs when there are so many out there?

As a Professional Systems Developer, I’ve tested my fair share of Automated Forex Trading Systems. Based on my experience, I’ve discovered that there are 3 sure signs of a scam:

1. The promise of totally unrealistic returns

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5zIEIwaG6E[/youtube]

Most scams trap traders with the promise of totally unrealistic returns. You’ve read the sales letters selling the dream of doubling your account every few days, or turning $1,000 to $10,000 in 30 days. It works because it plays on one of our fundamental human weaknesses: greed.

The truth is that even if the automated Forex trading system in question can really double your money, it does so with a very high risk of blowing out your trading account, and the chances of you repeatedly doubling your money is at best on par with your nearest casino. Expect to experience a complete wipeout sooner rather than later.

2. Backtest results that show very few or no losses

Most people hate losing, and scammers know this all too well. They take advantage of this by playing on every traders fantasy: an Automated Forex Trading Systems that cannot lose. It’s easy to fabricate backtest results, because you can tailor the system to fit the data that you already know.

The problem comes when you try to apply such a system to reality. Live price action is very unforgiving towards ‘curve-fitted’, over-optimized automated Forex trading systems. If you really want to know if an EA works, a live demo test is essential. Which brings us to the third sign…

3. No money back guarantee

If the automated Forex trading system is not sold through a reputable vendor like Clickbank with the mandatory 60 day money back guarantee, forget it. It’s simply not worth the risk, regardless of how attractive it may look.

The 60 day money back guarantee is very important because it gives you the opportunity to do your own live system testing and validate the results for yourself. Also, I would never test any EA with real funds that I haven’t personally validated with demo account trading first.

Remember, if the automated Forex trading system you are considering does not pass any one of these three criteria, don’t take the risk. Capital preservation comes before profits, always.

Thad B. is a Professional Trading Systems Developer who has developed and managed dozens of profitable trading system over the years for a private hedge fund.

For an in depth guide on how to choose the best

Automatic Forex Trading Systems

to meet your financial goals, get his free report: The Truth About

Forex Trading Systems

.

Article Source:

Automated Forex Trading Systems – 3 Sure Signs Of A Scam