Kathy Mast Consulting

A New Season

Ah - the end of summer. It is delightful to linger and languish in the last few days before fall rushes in with all its activities. It has been nice to take a break from some routine work, putting it on the "back burner" while we've vacationed and read books on the beach about how to improve our businesses. So now is a great time to think about what we've gleaned over the summer and want to accomplish in the last four months of the year.

I definitely want to connect more with you, my readers and clients. It's time for me to get back to posting on my blog, finishing up preparations for new speaking presentations and wrapping up a couple of consulting engagements before year end. What's on your list?

Along with researching and preparing to write on new topics, I've received specific requests over the summer to write about current challenges and issues in the workplace. I'm always pleased to know more about content of interest to you, and I'll address a few of those topics in upcoming blogs. I'm also updating content for the Merger & Acquisition market and how best to achieve a greater ROI in today's global business environment. Watch for new posts on that topic.

A new Web site launch for balancing women's business issues with everyday life comes from www.w2wlink.com. I'm beginning my second series as the writer/leader of a network circle on w2wlink titled "Mastering the Art of Innovation." Plan to join the network circle, whether you are female or male, and participate in discussions on best practices for innovation, contribute successful examples from your business and read about the latest products, services and processes for innovation.

My goal in both of these blogs is to hear from, and dialog with, you! A dynamic and interesting interchange of practical, usable ideas will help us keep our businesses at the forefront of the global marketplace and build a sustainable competitive advantage.

"Fun" with Governance

In speaking to a group of I/T executives this week, I suggested a few tips on improving their governance process. I suggested that they find ways to make it "fun." One of the audience members said something to the effect of "if you have any suggestions on how to do that, we'd like to hear them." That, of course, brought ripples of laughter.

New Tips on Strategy

I've had two invitations in the past few weeks to hear Robert Bloom speak and introduce his new book, written with Dave Conit, The Inside Advantage. Mr Bloom is an entrepreneur and advertising executive who now specializes in helping other companies grow their business. I heard his presentation this week at an SMU breakfast hosted by the Cox School of Business.

Suspicion or Empowerment

Take a minute to read today's post at Gartner's blog on Communication Innovations written by Nick Jones, VP Distinguished Analyst: http://blog.gartner.com/blog/comminn.php?itemid=2186. He provides good insights into the downsides of trying to separate business and personal communications through ever increasing amounts of monitoring and security. Having worked in many client offices, I can say that the truly innovative companies are those with an open and empowering environment. They combine good leadership with adequate controls that instill trust and integrity to create and maintain a secure and future focused organization.

2007 - A New Beginning

Happy New Year!!

The start of a new year always brings to mind thoughts of a fresh beginning. It's a great time to set new business and personal goals. The first email I received with New Year wishes was also an offer for assistance for setting and achieving goals, or an updated brand assessment, for KMC for the coming year. What a great opportunity and client service from the team at Brandego!

Creating Our Next Best Story

As I discussed my business, Kathy Mast Consulting, with Gartner analysts at the recent conference, they recommended that I turn my experience with aligning and enhancing the business and I/T relationship into a book. This was not the first time a colleague has suggested this. I keep putting it on the "back burner" because of the time and effort I know it will require. Don't get me wrong, I'm an advocate of hard work and investing "over and above," but I've enjoyed having a little more spare time after completing my Executive MBA degree. At least as much spare time as having a family and building a consulting practice allows.

Compliance Opportunities

In recent consulting engagements, KMC has repeatedly dealt with the impact of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002 (SOX) on businesses. Whether a business is creating new processes or improving existing processes, SOX compliance must be an integral part of all deliverables.

Strategic Planning

This week marks the beginning of the last month of the second quarter, which will, with its passing, bring us to the mid-point for the year. This is an appropriate time to review business accomplishments to date against quarterly and annual strategic plans and goals. Yes, I know. Some of us, perhaps most, would rather visit the dentist (no disrespect to the profession) than review strategy, goals and competitive positions for our companies. While I am energized when I work with clients on their goals for business, technology and creating a future-focused foundation, I, too, encounter thoughts of procrastination when it comes to examining my own business. As I began writing this, I received an email newsletter from BPM Express stating that "financial and operational performance management activities must derive from corporate strategy to be effective, [but]...a growing body of research indicates that despite all the exposure they've had to this argument, many executives still fail to adequately think through their strategy. And many of those that do strategize successfully fail to execute on the outcome of that process."

Successful Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A)

I was having one of those “why doesn’t this work” days that is a routine occurrence in the field of technology when I got a call from a client, the CIO of a major, US (global) corporation. Reaching his office, I heard the familiar, “We’ve just announced the acquisition of a new company and I want plans, people and operations in place to manage the transition no later than next week.”  Big announcements like this are not always acquisitions, but they are usually disruptive to the tasks at hand! That day, at least, it was (temporarily) a nice distraction!

Rapidly Emerging Global Markets

The BRICs economies: Brazil, Russia, India, & China! Rapidly emerging global markets. I attended the Greater Dallas Chamber luncheon this week on engaging the Brazilian market. 100+ attendees. My tablemates: an Insurance executive from Baltimore planning to start doing business there, a sales executive already doing business there, and a counselor from DBU who expects more students in the future from Brazil. If your company is considering business growth through international markets, you may want to consider Brazil.