Teams, Scrums and Agile, Empowered Work Groups

Teams, Scrums and Agile, Empowered Work Groups

Originating from the IT sector, the empowered, agile workgroup is now pervasive across all business functional groups.  Agile is a time-boxed, iterative approach to product delivery that builds products incrementally from the start of the project, instead of trying to deliver it all at once near the end. 

It means smaller benefits are available to customers faster, potentially driving constant improvement in revenues and customer satisfaction, ensure all required skills are in the group, keep them small, empower them and customize the approach based on your specific business operations, and reward fast and agile performance.  The benefits can come very quickly.

Automation and Data Science

Automation and Data Science

Digital ‘workers’, or automated team members, and bots, are on the rise.  They are increasingly easy to develop at a relatively low cost.  Digital workers are able to automate a standard process or procedure and remove the costly errors which often arise from humans performing boring roles.

We hear a lot about the jobs that are disappearing with AI and automation, but there are a corresponding number of roles being created as business practices and tools shift.  As one example, the demand for data scientists and data analysts is on the rise.  Data is everywhere. The cost of hiring data analysts is coming down and now at a price point to empower and help SMEs gain more insight about their clients. 
Alternatively, retraining existing employees in data science lets them contribute to the future success of your business, keeps them employed and motivated.

Climate and Environmental Sustainability

Related to the visceral impact of the fires in Australia, climate change links to these, as well as intense media coverage of worldwide activists, the many issues around the environment will become part of the strategic planning and execution for all businesses.  From a government perspective, it will start to move into the mainstream and not have the pariah and partisan status of the past.

For small businesses, it means considering the climate and environment trends for investment, innovation, customer service and operational excellence.  It also means considering real actions that are also integrated with company vision and values.  One example of the trend in this area is the fresh and exciting online market place, Stride Collective , which is focused on a range of products produced in a sustainable and environmentally friendly manner.

2020 The Year Ahead

2020 The Year Ahead

Happy New Year!  I hope you have had some time to relax with your family and friends over the holiday period.  Traditionally in Australia, it is a time of long, hot, lazy days, lots of great seasonal foods and new year’s resolutions around professional goals and health.


Certainly, this year has been more dramatic and different than is easy to state.  The fires and the damage in their wake have resulted in incredible amounts of hardship for thousands of people who have lost loved ones, property and their livelihoods.  The real social and economic impact will not be known for months.  I know all of us are supporting and empathizing in any way that is possible.


For the year ahead I am really excited.  In many ways, it is going to be a great year of change and challenge.


Based on many conversations with business people and ongoing research, I believe there are a few major trends which should be top of mind for SMEs that are determined to Scale New Heights with their businesses.


Craig Saphin

Creating your juggernaut – Communications Strategy

Creating your juggernaut – Communications Strategy

Contemporary politics is based on an ever-shortening news cycle.  As an integral part of this, the daily political talking points from our politicians are used to answer all and any question from the media and constituents.  It doesn’t seem to matter that the question is not being answered.  It does matter if the daily talking point is not aired. It matters who is controlling the current headline or lead story. This approach can be perceived to be arrogant, but it reflects the importance of the communications strategy and the increasing efforts to control what we hear and see from our political leaders. 

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Awakening asset: time to review data Protection and Privacy Policy

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Awakening asset: time to review data Protection and Privacy Policy

 A good friend of mine in Japan is a loyalty card junky.  She appears to have loyalty cards for every retailer he does business with.  The cards are stored in multiple business cardholders.  The flurry at the time of payment to secure the correct card can be an amusing and earnest dance.  However, when I question her on the benefits, except for a few, there seem to be minimal tangible benefits to her for using these cards.  This while the many retail businesses aggregate data on her buying habits.

From a different perspective, the rise of web page tracking with cookies

Building Communities – Customer Events

Building Communities – Customer Events

epending on the reach of your sales teams, these CEOs may or may not have had direct contact with your company.  However, when they turn up, they will know who you are and what you do.   Their staff and line managers will also know they are attending.  Sales efforts are not required.  These time-poor individuals have joined your event.  That’s enough selling.