Every company has one desire above all else – to make it in the business world. This goal can only be reached when the productivity of the company is supported by good performance in all levels and departments. In the same manner, this can only be ensured through the formulation of balanced scorecard solutions. Companies need not spend so much in monitoring their own performance levels since this method is already self-reliant by being able to monitor all the aspects of a company’s functions comprehensively. More, the instrument is easy enough to be implemented that it does not need an entire team of evaluators to use the same.
The usual problem in the different levels and departments of a company is that performance is usually not being monitored and that as time goes by, productivity levels decrease as performance levels fail. This results in a drastic decrease in overall productivity, which will eventually lead to the failure of the business and ultimately, the dissolution of the company and losses that would amount to hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of hard-earned dollars.
Fortunately, the balanced scorecard is an economical and self-reliant method of monitoring the performance levels of a company by taking into consideration all the aspects of production and performance that contribute to the overall standing of the company. Even a common person can implement the method just by understanding the principles behind it and being familiar with the aspects that need monitoring and measurement. There is also no need to spend a substantial amount of money in its implementation for the reason that there is no more need to conduct other programs aside from the method itself, unlike other measurement and evaluation tools.
What the company needs is an efficient and effective measurement and evaluation tool that can do the job at minimal cost and effort. This is what the balanced scorecard is all about. With the information that is given out by the key performance indicators under the method, there is an instant basis for analysis and study. Recommendations can then be made and solutions and remedies can easily be formulated as a result. These will be used by the company in addressing the problems and insufficiencies that plague its departments for the purpose of enhancing productivity and performance for the good of the company and ultimately, for the good of its members.
Being able to comprehend and implement the balanced scorecard will indeed become a benefit to the company. It would be able to save money and have an efficient and accurate description of its current status for its own benefit. All that has to be done by the person in charge of its implementation is to monitor the same and record all the results and information given by the key performance indicators to come up with the balanced scorecard solutions. Companies will be able to easily improve their performance and productivity levels and will have more than a good fighting chance to recover and get back on its feet from any state it may be, for as long as the instrument is implemented properly and effectively.
Archive for: ‘December 2011’
Balanced Scorecard Solutions – Companies’ Lifesavers
The 6 Rules Of Commercial Music Success
Over the years I have had many conversations with music artists about commercial music, which usually leads to them disclosing their disdain and hatred of it. Some refer to Pop music (“Pop,” as in what’s popular now) as commercial music.
Others think of anything that is receiving heavy rotation on radio as commercial music. Whatever their definition, one thing is often overlooked: commercial music is the heart of the music industry which pumps the blood that keeps it alive.
So why then are so many music artists resistant to making commercial music? The answer that I’m often given is because they don’t want to “sell-out” their creative integrity by conforming to some industry version of what’s popular (i.e. what’s selling at the moment). It becomes very obvious to me that the problem is not commercial music, but rather the perception and definition of it.
The misconception is that the music industry created this superficial definition of commercial music to strip away the artistry and true identity of artists for the purpose of making money; forcing artist to create songs that the “masses” will enjoy. That fallacy is often perpetuated by music artists who are usually incapable (not unwilling) of creating commercially viable songs. The truth is the public, not the industry, dictates what is commercial, and for decades they have gravitated towards, embraced, and purchased songs that adhere to a commercial music format.
If commercial music is the rule for success and sales in the music industry, there are inevitably going to be some exceptions to it, but unfortunately, the tendency is for music artists to try and become the exception, instead of observing the rules and why they exist.
Simply put: the rules of commercial music success have not, and will not change. Not in your life time or your children’s lifetime. They exist because it’s human nature to reject the unfamiliar; in the music industry, similarity is the cornerstone of acceptance. This is why so many popular songs sound similar and contain familiar elements.
It’s a rule that is prevalent in every genre, and on every continent. There are those artists who do a masterful job of observing their own artistic values while delicately balancing the demands for commercial music by industry professionals. Artists such as Prince, Sting and Bjork, have pushed the envelope of creativity for years. But artists of their caliber who possess such sublime talent and vision are rare.
For the sake of clarification and argument, I will offer my explanation and industry definition of what commercial music is; based on 25 years of listening to recordings as a music lover, music industry professional, and music critic. They are songs that have the following:
1.) A STRONG HOOK/MEMORABLE CHORUS.
If no one knows what your song is called, they can’t request it when they hear it on the radio. More importantly, they can’t buy it at retail…or track it down on the Internet to illegally download a copy of it.
2.) GOOD MELODY.
Commercial music is characterized by good melodies (i.e. verses, choruses, and sometimes bridges that get stuck in your head and make you want to sing-along). What can the top selling hip-hop acts of the last 10 years (Tupac, Notorious B.I.G., Jay-Z, Eminem, and 50 Cent) attribute their success to? Good melodies (not cool beats) that increase the commercial value of their music.
3.) WELL-PRODUCED.
Coming from an R&B background where producers are a pivotal part of commercial music success, I did not realize until I became a consultant that many rock bands don’t utilize, nor value producers like R&B music acts. Perhaps they should since the record company often assigns top-notch producers to enhance the quality of songs (through their musical expertise) and enrich the records (through their experience and proficiency in the recording process), ultimately making them more enjoyable to listen to and, you guessed it…more commercial!
4.) APPEALING LYRICS.
The lyrics don’t have to be profound; people just have to be able to emotionally connect with and mentally relate to them. If you have a way of saying common things in an uncommon way, your lyrics will have an edge over the songwriter whose song is about the same topic. Write about what’s closest to your heart for credibility and sincerity, and others will be able to relate to your songs – especially if it’s on a subject matter that they know or have
experienced.
5.) KEEP IT SHORT.
Keep the length of your songs down to a maximum of four minutes. Jazz and World Music are exceptions. A song that is well-written makes people want to hear it again, and again, and again. The longer the song is, the less likely that will happen. Don’t believe me? Check the length of your favorite songs.
6.) TALENT/WELL-PERFORMED.
Most outstanding vocalists are often surprised by how low this rule is on the list. The fact is that there are more mediocre songs performed by outstanding vocalists, than there are mediocre vocalists performing outstanding songs. A good song that is well-performed gives it an edge, but if the song is lacking, all of the yelling and vocal acrobatics that singers tend to use to compensate for it will not make it a better song…though it may help the singer to attract better songwriters to work with. If you lack talent and it’s a really good song, someone more talented can (and will) sing the song and make it better.
Now that you know the 6 rules of commercial music success, hopefully you will be able to use this information to your advantage and create songs that will increase your chances of success in your professional music endeavors…or you can ignore them and continue to wonder why no one (other than your friends and family – all of which listen to commercial music) like your songs.
Commercial Fridge
Fridges or (Refrigerators) are one of the most important appliances in a commercial kitchen… if the food is left out on the sides it will not last, become mouldy and in turn be a hazard to health. Commercial fridges solve this problem and allow all the food to be stored at the correct cold temperature, preserving the food and keeping it health to eat.
The refrigerator is essentially a cooling system that consists of a compartment that is thermally insulated and a heat pump that is either mechanical or chemical. The pump is used to transfer warm air (heat) from the fridge the outside environment in turn this cools the products (contents) to a temperature that is below ambient.
Refrigerators and Freezers only differ in name because of a few degrees in temperature. A device that cools products to a temperature of a few degrees above the freezing point of water is known as the former and then from the freezing point of water and below it is then known as a freezer.
The fridge as an appliance is actually a fairly new invention among kitchen equipment and has replaced the ‘Icebox’ which for a century and a half prior was a common household appliance.
In fact the Commercial version was used over 40 years prior to when the 1st one was used for domestic uses, they used to use a system that leaked which made them unsafe and therefore not available for domestic uses (that system was a toxic gas).