Bench Management in a Crazy Economy
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Is this the worst financial crisis since The Great Depression? Some say it is, but few are willing to predict what the practical implications might be, and fewer still can say what it means for the AV industry. It seems that every trade organization and magazine is sending around a survey to see what we business owners think of the global outlook, but I wonder how many respondents are still "whistling through the graveyard".
Pro AV magazine reports that some industry professionals believe projects are not being cancelled; they are just being postponed until the economy improves, when we will be inundated with pent-up work. This is similar to late 2005, when we noticed a steep drop off in the project pipeline. Everyone wondered what it meant for the AV industry, but it turned out to be a lag caused by post-Katrina anxiety about energy costs spiking. By January 2006, when it became clear that the flow of oil and gas would not be seriously affected by the hurricane, all the delayed projects came back on line in a big hurry, and we were buried.
Maybe the current market issues will work the same way for the AV industry, or maybe not. Either way, we all have to plot a course into the fog.
So how to manage your bench as this unprecedented economic crisis unfolds? Many business leaders are falling back on fundamentals....
· Stay ahead of revenue, whether increasing or decreasing.
· Keep enough service personnel on staff to meet the daily demands of your customer service agreements, but use contract partners to meet peak demand.
· Focus on core services; don't keep expensive experts on staff, bring them in when you need them.
· Look for contract partners who fit your business model. Flexibility, responsiveness and reliability are essential to successful relationships.
Many AV professionals view our industry as recession proof. I sure hope that's true. But the business pragmatist in me says to plan for survival today and perhaps be pleasantly surprised. That's far better than the other way around.
-Howard
hnunes@pepperdash.com
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PepperDash Profile: Myles O'Brien
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Title:Sales Engineer
Tell us about your job:
I review the documentation we receive in order to define the
scope of work on a given project.
This
involves examining drawing sets, schematics, equipment lists, and executive and functional summaries. Then I build a
quote based upon the particular aspects of the project that relate to
programming. There's a good deal of cycling back and forth between your team and ours in order to
iron out potential design issues before we get caught with them in the field.
What aspect of your job interests you the most?
I like the opportunity to research new and emerging technologies.
Since I come across a wide variety of system
designs and specifications, analyzing the implementation of something new gives
me a chance to learn more.
What's the most high tech gadget that you own?
My Giro bike helmet - it's made with carbon
fiber and is wind tunnel tested. Does
that count as a gadget?
Favorite Bar: The Independent in Somerville's Union Square is
a good local spot. It has a nice
selection, and really good macaroni & cheese. When in New York City, I have to visit Hecho En
Dumbo in Brooklyn...incredible
Mexican food and a resident accordionist! Who can beat that?
Albums currently on your playlist: David Byrne & Brian Eno's new collaboration Everything that happens will happen today,
the Life Aquatic Soundtrack (constant
replay), The BLOW's Paper Television,
and R.L. Burnside's First Recordings.
Best Advice: Please send every piece of documentation you
have available for a given project, even if it does not seem at all relevant to
the programming. It is much easier to
sort through a project when we have all the details in front of us.
You can reach Myles at his direct line: 617.206.9814 or
email him at: mobrien@pepperdash.com.
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Quick Contacts
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Quotes and change requests:
Myles O'Brien, Sales Engineer
mobrien@pepperdash.com | 617.206.9814
Project scheduling:
Christina Friskey, Project Coordinator
cfriskey@pepperdash.com | 617.206.9805
Not sure? info@pepperdash.com | 800.377.9112
Visit PepperDash at www.pepperdash.com
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© 2008 Pepperdash Technology Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
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Trivia Contest
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What is the name of InfoComm's user interface guideline?
A) GUI Gallery
B) Dashboard for Controls
C) Roadmap to Control
D) InfoComm User Interface Guideline
E) None of the above
Click here and enter to win a collection of our favorite hot sauces and a $50 donation to your favorite charity.
One winner will be randomly selected from the correct answers to this month's Trivia Contest.
Congratulations
David Sheggrud!
David won last month's trivia contest. A donation has been made in his name to St. Jude's Children's
Research Hospital and he has been sent a box full of hot-sauce goodness.
Last month's answer: the world's hottest pepper is a Bhut Jolokia, rated a tongue-blistering million+ Scovilles!! (Yes, we recognize that there's some dispute here, but we're sticking with Guinness on this one!)
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