Case Study 1
Requirement: The client was looking for assistance in finding another secretary to replace their current one, as he did not feel the current one was meeting the requirements of the job at present.
Solution: I performed a Training Needs Analysis of the staff compared to the job and person specifications and found the work the owner of the business wanted the staff to do, was not included in the job and person specifications. The owner then rewrote the job and person specifications for each position, for when they decide to employ staff in the future.
Rather than spending money on the recruiting process, staff were offered further training to help them work towards achieving the outcomes the manager wanted to occur.
Happy manager meant happy staff, and staff were able to keep their jobs.
Case Study 2
Requirement: The client was having cashflow concerns, e.g wondering why it seemed they were always working, and yet the money did not appear to be in their bank account, therefore falling behind in some business debts.
Solution: I audited his work/job task sheets against his account program, and found 20% of his clients for the 6-month period had not been invoiced for the work done. Invoices were soon raised, and a letter sent to the client explaining the situation.
He then wrote a Terms of Payment Policy, for his clients to work with, instead of being 30days from the end of the month, everything is now 14 days maximum, although a deposit to cover items for the job is also now included in the policy.
I then changed his Chart of Accounts in his account program, so he could see which services he was offering were performing the best, and then ensured he knew the profit margin for each job he was carrying out.
Case Study 3
Requirement: The client contacted SGH Business Services as his factory was broken into three times in one month. This was frustrating for them, as they had just replaced everything, and then the same thing re-occurred. They were confused as to why this kept happening, considering after the first break-in, they updated their security system with glass break detectors and extra sensors for the factory.
Solution: I performed a Security and Risk Assessment of the factory and recommended a few changes, including new stronger locks on the doors, and moving computer systems and other electronic items away from the windows. I noticed the alarm sensor did not cover a small area in the office near the front door, so this was moved.
Extra security lights, which operate on a sensor, are to be added to the external side of the premises. We looked at the bushes outside the premises and discussed trimming of such bushes so the external doors and windows can be seen by cars/walkers passing by.
We discussed security cameras (CCTV), which although would not prevent the break-ins, they may help to apprehend the offenders if the cameras were suitable for night-time. We discussed the purposes of night-time security patrols, and how they operate.
I then completed a Business Continuity Plan for the client, which including regular backing up of computer data, so the factory still had the information available, should their computers be stolen in the future.
We discussed roller shutters may be worth considering, depending on council requirements, which help to protect the windows.