Julian Rains, Author at Julian Rains

25th January 2020 by Julian Rains

My personal eco war. How to drive low cost positive change in your organisation every single day. #Microchange.

Switch on the TV or open a newspaper these days and it’s a certainty they’ll be something on the threat of climate change. The end is nigh. We’re all doomed. It doesn’t make comfortable reading. And if the situation isn’t bad enough neither does there seem to be a human solution.

Global problem with no human solution?

Yes, perhaps. The jury’s still out. The world’s got a global problem but not the global governance needed; in fact populations seem increasingly nationalistic. The world needs a long-term approach but long-term decision-making in the democratic government context is challenging.

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17th October 2019 by Julian Rains

Business Software. Who’s in control? Seven signs your organisation isn’t getting the most from its software apps.

Seems like a strange question doesn’t it? Right now you’re possibly thinking of course our business software is working for us … that’s why we have it … that’s why we pay for the licences. OK fair point, let me rephrase my question. Is your software working as well for your business as it could or should? If the answer’s “no” or “maybe” then read on.

Why should I care about optimising my organisation’s use of business software?

Because business software exists to increase productivity and to increase control. On the productivity-side, software can do many things faster and at a lower cost. Whether it’s making a record of a sale or a purchase, doing a calculation, creating a document or providing information for a report then the chances are that software will do it

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6th January 2019 by Julian Rains

Business processes. Why do they matter? How to make yours best in class.

Much of my work involves reviewing companies’ processes and procedures. This is in order to establish them formally within the business and to find and implement improvements. Perhaps the organisation has grown to a point where its operations are too large to control without more formality. It might have standard processes and procedures already which need updating or re-establishing.

Business processes explained

I should say here that by “business processes” I mean the groups of related tasks performed by staff to operate the business day-to-day, week-to-week etc. Processes exist in a hierarchy. At the very highest level each should be describable in one or two words e.g. Buy, Make, Stock, Distribute, Sell, Invoice etc. Often every part of the operation can be reflected on one side of an A4 piece of paper. That’s all very nice you might think but so what? Well, apart from gaining a view of the

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8th December 2017 by Julian Rains

Stop digging. Have a look around. Find out what customers value about your company’s operations.

Of course to determine the best way to run the business, management has to look outside and inside the organisation. But for me, looking externally to understand what customers value is the priority. What it is about the products, services, service-levels, quality, price and location that influences customers’ decisions to do business with your company?

Apply efficiencies only to effective operations

If we think of effectiveness as “doing the right things” and think of efficiency as “doing things right” then surely it’s a waste to apply efficiency improvements to operations which aren’t directed in the right way. Company owners and managers hire me to help them uncover and implement better ways to operate their businesses.

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27th June 2017 by Julian Rains

Data Protection. What is the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)? What impact will it have? What should I do?

Next year on 25 May the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) comes into force. GDPR will replace the existing “EC Data Protection Directive” and is intended to harmonise personal data protection across the EU. Below I describe my understanding of GDPR and its likely impact. Before you read on though here’s my disclaimer … I’m not a lawyer and this is not legal advice!

A significant change in the potential fines for a breach

Someone commented to me that this new law differs significantly in the scale of its fines. The top tier of fines will allow regulatory bodies to levy 4% of an entity’s global (no hiding behind a small subsidiary) turnover or 20m euros, whichever is the greater. Additionally individuals will be able to claim compensation for damages and EU member states will be able to create local laws to bring criminal proceedings.

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