Last Tuesday Nelly Yusupova of Webgrrls treated us to an energetic and entertaining couple of hours in a discussion about how and why we should introduce technology into our business processes.

When I had my business, a number of years ago, I couldn’t wait to get a computer and wanted a small business electronic POS system almost before they were invented. I wish I had known then what I know now. It’s so easy to take the wrong path, spend money unwisely, introduce technology that is not appropriate to the size and nature of the business and, worse, buy the shiny toys instead of the helpful tools.

That’s why Nelly’s words of wisdom rang true to me, and, I hope, to the other businesses gathered at the WECM/ICTAM “Tech Café” event on November 16.

The basics of a technology plan, which Nelly assures us, every business should have, starts with the strategic step of outlining the major goals and objectives of the business. Following that, businesses should document the major issues with which they are faced and what problems are the most needful of remedy. The next step is to look at what technologies (and I mean here, hardware, software and electronic marketing and communications mediums) we are currently using, how they are serving us and whether or not they are being used appropriately.



The rest of the planning exercise is to match the desired technology solution with the issue identified and ensure that its use is aligned overall with company goals, both current and long-term. Other questions we need to ask are: What features do we need? What purchase choices do we have? What resources do we need? and How do we measure success?

Along the way, we should see whether bringing on a technology expert will help us in making good decisions and, if so, ensuring that our tech guru speaks our language, understands our needs and is professionally competent.

Tuesday’s presentation was aligned with WECM’s WEC-Tech program, helping women to better utilize technology in their businesses. You can get more info on the program at http://www.wecm.ca/WEC_Tech/Wec_Tech_Program.cfm.

Posted by Sandra Altner at 1:48 PM 0 Comments

Tags Women’s Enterprise Centre of Manitoba  WEC-Tech  Nelly Yusupova  Webgrrls International  technology plan  women in business  women business owners 

Today was both exhausting and exhilarating – trying to be in two places at one time in order to hear speakers in areas that were of particular interest to me: Financing, Networks, and Impact Assessment. More and more business service providers are discovering how valuable academic research can be. The scientific approach to gathering and analyzing data, while seemingly abstract, can result in outcomes with practical application in the world of business development and support. Our WEC-Tech program is a good example; it was inspired by research done in the US examining how women business owners adopt and utilize technology.

Similarly, the projects we are developing based on the hands-on work with women entrepreneurs provide areas of further study for our academic colleagues. Tracy Scarlett, CEO of Alberta Women Entrepreneurs, presented a paper outlining the evolution of the Women’s Enterprise Initiative (WEI) in western Canada. The foundation of the paper was the impact studies that have been carried out over the years to measure the success of the initiative. This was of particular interest to practitioners from Europe and the UK whose varied funding models and approaches differ from the Canadian model. Our results were seen to be highly estimable. A good part of our networking at the conference was with women business support practitioners whose work in other countries, often under more difficult circumstances, provided a two-way learning opportunity. Of particular note were the wonderful women of Train 2000 from Liverpool, who are building an incubator for women business owners in the north of England.

The conference not only presented intellectual challenges (these academic papers really stretch the brain), but the location tested our physical and directional abilities as well. The Banff Springs Hotel, built in the latter part of the 19th century, was modeled on a Scottish baronial castle. There have been renovations to the original buildings that have created a warren of confusing stairways and halls that never seem to lead where one expects. My room, in the renovated section, always seemed to be in a different place, reached by two banks of elevators, a series of up and down staircases, and long stretches of carpeted corridors, some of which decanted into cul-de sacs and dead ends. Elegant, but decidedly difficult terrain to manage, especially if one has had a glass of wine at dinner. Having said that, however, it should be noted that the venue was a wonderful accommodation with a spectacular view of the mountains and excellent service.

Now the real work starts: I brought back a pile of books and papers to peruse, ideas to consider, a dozen people to connect with for ongoing discussion and plans to meet again to continue our dialogues and to share projects and programs that can benefit all of our clients.

Posted by Sandra Altner at 10:40 AM 0 Comments

Tags women entrepreneurs  women business owners  Diana Project  Diana Conference 2010  Train 2000  Alberta Women Entrepreneurs  

Developing an employee handbook (also known as a policy and procedures manual) for your business may seem a bit overwhelming. In actual fact it’s not really that difficult.

Having established policies, written in a handbook, eliminates confusion about what you expect from your employees, and what they can expect from you as the employer.

There are many templates, guidelines and sample policies available on the internet to help you. An easy way to get started is by visiting the Manitoba Labour Standards website. It identifies minimum workplace standards that can form the beginning of your handbook. It also covers topics such as working alone, employee records, payroll deductions, scheduling, overtime, unpaid and paid leaves, vacation and vacation pay, general holidays, and notice of termination to name a few.

The minimum workplace standards must be respected, but employers may choose to provide more benefits or pay higher wages.

Additional policies relating more specifically to your industry, such as professional codes of conduct, should also be included in the handbook.

A summary of your company’s history, values and beliefs, vision, mission and philosophies makes a good introduction for your handbook. It is the employee’s responsibility to read and understand the content. As part of the performance review process, some organizations have their staff sign an acknowledgement statement indicating they have read the handbook. This statement is then kept in the employee’s personnel file.

Posted by Pat Sargeant at 1:17 PM 0 Comments

Tags employee handbooks  policy and procedures manual  Manitoba Labour Standards  policies  women business owners 

I was up for the better part of last night watching a marathon presentation of the first two seasons of Mad Men, a TV drama about a posh advertising agency in the 1960s. This is really addictive stuff, believe it or not, if only for the stunning changes in social mores in the short span of 50 years. Everyone in the show smokes, and smokes incessantly, in meetings, at the dinner table, in bed. As well, the amount of booze that is imbibed in each episode is phenomenal…three-martini lunches, scotch and soda mid-afternoon breaks, wine and cocktails at dinner. And let’s not even talk about the blatant prejudice expressed with horrific ignorance of the most basic principles of human rights and dignity.

But what I found most interesting was the way women were portrayed in the series – North American post-war machismo is slowly eroding under insidious (r)evolution by women who were just beginning to learn how to use power. While home and work relationships appear to be down-home Americana (housewives and secretaries), the seeds are planted and beginning to sprout, soon to bloom into some of the late 60s and early 70s movements that presaged today’s changed environments.

So why am I talking about this on the Women’s Enterprise Centre website? While certainly there has been progress and change, I don’t believe we are quite yet there. ‘There’ is the equal treatment and opportunity that women continue to strive for but haven’t yet attained. Today the bias is not as blatant as it was 50 years ago; the systemic inequities are covert, but no less harmful.

A recent study done by the Clayman Institute for Gender Research at Stanford University investigated why women receive just 4.2% of venture capital funding. Their conclusion was that “the playing field is not level for women entrepreneurs” and that “it is time to break down the barriers to their success.” Recommendations include the need for women to gain more experience in technical fields, increase networking opportunities, and promote the business case for women entrepreneurs.

More on this in days to come.

Posted by Sandra Altner at 11:16 AM 1 Comments

Tags women entrepreneurs; venture capital inequities  women business owners  women owned businesses