An organisation which is eager to achieve efficiency in its offices is bound to allocate a sufficient proportion of time to observing operations in the offices, to looking for ways to improvement, to the stimulation of helpful suggestions. It might be guided by the following principles, although it is unlikely in practice to go as far as formulating a list such as that given here:
Full use is to be made of delegation of authority to ensure that time and effort are being economically spent. Too much centralisation of operation can lead to duplication. It may also weaken the motivation to work of the office staff.
Lines of authority should be made clear, so as to remove uncertainty about responsibility for taking decisions and carrying out operations.
Sub-division of tasks should not be carried so far that there has to be unnecessary controls and paperwork, and futile expenditure of effort. Research into the intense sub-division of office tasks suggests that it leads to monotony and lower standards of performance.
In some circumstances very large general offices can be the cause of reduced efficiency.
A specialised service unit, e.g. for imputing computer data, keying, or filing, or mailing, can be expected to perform more efficiently than a large number of separate service units, one for each division of the office.
Communication channels should be such as to encourage the flow of productive suggestions up the line of authority.
Co-ordination may quickly lapse in vital areas unless constant vigilance is exercised over it.
In selecting managerial staff for the office, leadership and initiative count as well as technical and professional qualifications.
Office training at all levels cannot be safely neglected.
Wherever possible, the techniques of work measurement should be applied to the control of standard of output.
The role of supervisors and section leaders in maintaining morale and productivity should be recognised.
Office management is part of the ACCA Paper F1 syllabus and is covered by the tony.surridge.co.uk ACCA e-books which cover exam text, diagnostic questions and answers, mnemonics and charts in selected subjects.
Saturday, 20 August 2011
The nature of office work
THE NATURE OF OFFICE WORK
Understanding the nature of office work is part of the ACCA Paper F1 syllabus.
In all offices, whether they are large or small, or whether they are in government, business or commerce, there is discernible a common pattern or cycle of activity. Information, usually in the form of electronic media, writing, or printing, is received. The piece of paper or form may have come through the post, from another office in the same organisation, or it may have originated in the office itself as the result of a telephone call or electronic processing. This information or ‘data’ is now invariably the subject of clerical activity. Broadly, this work consists of examining documents and deciding what to do with them, checking the data on the documents for completeness or credibility, sorting the documents, copying the data from one document to another, doing arithmetic on the data, summarising and analysing the data, and checking the results for accuracy. This electronic flow or ‘paperwork’, which may be performed with or without the assistance of machines, constitutes the processing of data.
SERVICES PROVIDED BY AN OFFICEAn office gives the following service:
Communication, both inside and outside the organisation. This will include writing, word processing, emailing, oral communication, meetings and mailing services. Some office records are made obligatory by law, e.g. certain forms of accounts. Others are maintained for their contributionto business efficiency.
The processing of information, including indexing, coding, sorting, collating and arithmetical processes.
The storage of information, including recording, copying and duplicating. One may also include here the transporting of data and the posting of records to another place. This can involve electronic data flow or manual work.
Management information, including aids to decision making.
The safeguarding of assets. Under this will come the protection of cash, inspecting, checking,comparing, auditing and arranging insurance cover.
Understanding the nature of office work is part of the ACCA Paper F1 syllabus.
In all offices, whether they are large or small, or whether they are in government, business or commerce, there is discernible a common pattern or cycle of activity. Information, usually in the form of electronic media, writing, or printing, is received. The piece of paper or form may have come through the post, from another office in the same organisation, or it may have originated in the office itself as the result of a telephone call or electronic processing. This information or ‘data’ is now invariably the subject of clerical activity. Broadly, this work consists of examining documents and deciding what to do with them, checking the data on the documents for completeness or credibility, sorting the documents, copying the data from one document to another, doing arithmetic on the data, summarising and analysing the data, and checking the results for accuracy. This electronic flow or ‘paperwork’, which may be performed with or without the assistance of machines, constitutes the processing of data.
SERVICES PROVIDED BY AN OFFICEAn office gives the following service:
Communication, both inside and outside the organisation. This will include writing, word processing, emailing, oral communication, meetings and mailing services. Some office records are made obligatory by law, e.g. certain forms of accounts. Others are maintained for their contributionto business efficiency.
The processing of information, including indexing, coding, sorting, collating and arithmetical processes.
The storage of information, including recording, copying and duplicating. One may also include here the transporting of data and the posting of records to another place. This can involve electronic data flow or manual work.
Management information, including aids to decision making.
The safeguarding of assets. Under this will come the protection of cash, inspecting, checking,comparing, auditing and arranging insurance cover.
Focus groups
The use of focus groups is one tool used in market research.
A focus group usually consists of a representative group of consumers who agree to provide data on a continuous basis about a particular product or service or marketing element, such as price and advertising. This group of people are asked about their attitude towards the product, service, idea, concept, advertisement, packaging or price in an interactive group setting where participants are free to talk with other group members.
In the world of marketing, focus groups are seen as an important tool for acquiring feedback regarding new products, and changes to the marketing mix. In particular, focus groups allow a panel of consumers of a company wishing to develop, name, package, price, promote or test market a new product, to view, test and discuss the new product before it is made available to the public. This can provide invaluable information about the potential market acceptance of the product.
In a typical focus group, a number of respondents gather in the same room. They have already been selected to ensure that they are part of the relevant target market and that the group is a representative subgroup of this market segment. There are usually 6 to 10 members in the group, and the session lasts for 1 to 2 hours. A moderator guides the group through a discussion that probes about the company's (client's) proposed products or services. The discussion is loosely structured, and the moderator encourages the free flow of ideas. The moderator is typically given a list of objectives or an anticipated outline. He/she will generally have only a few specific questions prepared prior to the focus group. These questions will serve to initiate open-ended discussions.
Usually, a video camera records the meeting so that it can be seen by others who were not able to travel to the site. Transcripts can be created from video tape.
If the participants speak different languages a simultaneous interpreter may be used.
Knowledge of the use of focus groups is part of both ACCA Paper F5 and Paper P3, both of which are covered by the tony.surridge.co.uk ACCA e-books which cover exam text, diagnostic questions and answers, mnemonics and charts in selected subjects for the ACCA syllabuses.
A focus group usually consists of a representative group of consumers who agree to provide data on a continuous basis about a particular product or service or marketing element, such as price and advertising. This group of people are asked about their attitude towards the product, service, idea, concept, advertisement, packaging or price in an interactive group setting where participants are free to talk with other group members.
In the world of marketing, focus groups are seen as an important tool for acquiring feedback regarding new products, and changes to the marketing mix. In particular, focus groups allow a panel of consumers of a company wishing to develop, name, package, price, promote or test market a new product, to view, test and discuss the new product before it is made available to the public. This can provide invaluable information about the potential market acceptance of the product.
In a typical focus group, a number of respondents gather in the same room. They have already been selected to ensure that they are part of the relevant target market and that the group is a representative subgroup of this market segment. There are usually 6 to 10 members in the group, and the session lasts for 1 to 2 hours. A moderator guides the group through a discussion that probes about the company's (client's) proposed products or services. The discussion is loosely structured, and the moderator encourages the free flow of ideas. The moderator is typically given a list of objectives or an anticipated outline. He/she will generally have only a few specific questions prepared prior to the focus group. These questions will serve to initiate open-ended discussions.
Usually, a video camera records the meeting so that it can be seen by others who were not able to travel to the site. Transcripts can be created from video tape.
If the participants speak different languages a simultaneous interpreter may be used.
Knowledge of the use of focus groups is part of both ACCA Paper F5 and Paper P3, both of which are covered by the tony.surridge.co.uk ACCA e-books which cover exam text, diagnostic questions and answers, mnemonics and charts in selected subjects for the ACCA syllabuses.
Friday, 19 August 2011
Market research
Market research is activity which is used specifically to provide data to facilitate the making of marketing decisions - namely: product development, pricing, communication and distribution decisions. Such decisions can be classified as either ongoing, i.e. relating to the problems encountered in the continuous process of marketing a portfolio of products or services; or ad hoc, i.e. arising out of particular problems or developments.
Market research consists of a variety of techniques each of which matches a particular need;examples of such techniques include the following:
- web scanning
- monitoring trade press
- marketing feedback
- focus groups (see below)
- structured and unstructured interviews
- observation
- motivational research
- market surveys
- marketing experimentation
Market research is covered in the syllabus of ACCA and is covered by the e-books of tony.surridge.co.uk.
We recommend the tony.surridge.co.uk ACCA e-books which cover exam text, diagnostic questions and answers, mnemonics and charts in selected subjects. These provide important support for students studying the ACCA syllabus.
Market research consists of a variety of techniques each of which matches a particular need;examples of such techniques include the following:
- web scanning
- monitoring trade press
- marketing feedback
- focus groups (see below)
- structured and unstructured interviews
- observation
- motivational research
- market surveys
- marketing experimentation
Market research is covered in the syllabus of ACCA and is covered by the e-books of tony.surridge.co.uk.
We recommend the tony.surridge.co.uk ACCA e-books which cover exam text, diagnostic questions and answers, mnemonics and charts in selected subjects. These provide important support for students studying the ACCA syllabus.
Production Control
Production control is an inevitable consequence of the need for production planning. Any plan must incorporate certain controls to ensure that targets are achieved. In particular, there must be provision for managers to be informed of, and to investigate, unexpected variances from the plan. In a large organisation a wide range of production controls will exist as shown below:
Progress Control, which is the control of production programmes and schedules in order to ensure that planned output is attained.
Cost Control, which is the control of a whole series of budgets, including such aspects as material cost control and labour cost control, in order to ensure that the original budget for costs of production is observed.
Quality Control, which is the control of the quality or standard of the product. This is closely allied to, and indeed will often be the responsibility of the inspection department.
Machine Utilisation Control, which is the control of machine loading, in order to ensure that the ‘load’ is related to machine capacity.
Stock (inventory) Control, which is the control of stocks and stores, in order to ensure that supplies are available as required and that their availability will not, therefore, interrupt production schedules.
Computer Control, which is the control of some operation which is entirely automatic. It differs fundamentally from the other controls in that, whereas, they involve taking corrective action in response to a detected deviation from target, usually some time after the deviation has been detected,computer control involves an immediate and automatic adjustment to maintain the required target. In other words, control is ‘in-built’ and there is no separate control process.
Production control is -part of the ACCA syllabus and is covered by the e-books of tony.surridge.co.uk
We recommend the tony.surridge.co.uk ACCA e-books which cover exam text, diagnostic questions and answers, mnemonics and charts in selected subjects. These provide important support for students studying the ACCA syllabus.
Progress Control, which is the control of production programmes and schedules in order to ensure that planned output is attained.
Cost Control, which is the control of a whole series of budgets, including such aspects as material cost control and labour cost control, in order to ensure that the original budget for costs of production is observed.
Quality Control, which is the control of the quality or standard of the product. This is closely allied to, and indeed will often be the responsibility of the inspection department.
Machine Utilisation Control, which is the control of machine loading, in order to ensure that the ‘load’ is related to machine capacity.
Stock (inventory) Control, which is the control of stocks and stores, in order to ensure that supplies are available as required and that their availability will not, therefore, interrupt production schedules.
Computer Control, which is the control of some operation which is entirely automatic. It differs fundamentally from the other controls in that, whereas, they involve taking corrective action in response to a detected deviation from target, usually some time after the deviation has been detected,computer control involves an immediate and automatic adjustment to maintain the required target. In other words, control is ‘in-built’ and there is no separate control process.
Production control is -part of the ACCA syllabus and is covered by the e-books of tony.surridge.co.uk
We recommend the tony.surridge.co.uk ACCA e-books which cover exam text, diagnostic questions and answers, mnemonics and charts in selected subjects. These provide important support for students studying the ACCA syllabus.
What is an entrepreneur? ACCA publisher TonySurridge looks for an answer
Entrepreneur in English is a term applied to the type of personality who is willing to take upon himself or herself a new venture or enterprise and accepts full responsibility for the outcome. Jean-Baptiste Say, a French economist, believed to have coined the word Entrepreneur first in about at 1800. He said an entrepreneur is "one who undertakes an enterprise, especially a contractor, acting as intermediatory between capital and labour".
Entrepreneurship is often difficult and tricky, resulting in many new ventures failing. The word entrepreneur is often synonymous with founder. Most commonly, the term entrepreneur applies to someone who creates value by offering a product or service, by carving out a niche in the market that may not exist currently. Entrepreneurs tend to identify a market opportunity and exploit it by organising their resources effectively to accomplish an outcome that changes existing interactions within a given sector.
Business entrepreneurs are viewed as fundamentally important in the capitalistic society.
This type of enterprise normally uses the simplest form of organisational structure where the owner makes all the major decisions. The role and tasks of the other employees are determined by the owner on an ad hoc basis. It exhibits Handy’s ‘Power culture’ which is covered in several ACCA study e-books published by ACCA study publishers TonySurridge.co.uk.
We recommend the TonySurridge.co.uk ACCA study e-books which cover exam text, diagnostic questions and answers, mnemonics and charts in selected subjects. These provide important support for students studying the ACCA syllabus.
Entrepreneurship is often difficult and tricky, resulting in many new ventures failing. The word entrepreneur is often synonymous with founder. Most commonly, the term entrepreneur applies to someone who creates value by offering a product or service, by carving out a niche in the market that may not exist currently. Entrepreneurs tend to identify a market opportunity and exploit it by organising their resources effectively to accomplish an outcome that changes existing interactions within a given sector.
Business entrepreneurs are viewed as fundamentally important in the capitalistic society.
This type of enterprise normally uses the simplest form of organisational structure where the owner makes all the major decisions. The role and tasks of the other employees are determined by the owner on an ad hoc basis. It exhibits Handy’s ‘Power culture’ which is covered in several ACCA study e-books published by ACCA study publishers TonySurridge.co.uk.
We recommend the TonySurridge.co.uk ACCA study e-books which cover exam text, diagnostic questions and answers, mnemonics and charts in selected subjects. These provide important support for students studying the ACCA syllabus.
Wednesday, 17 August 2011
ACCA exam preparation and the ACCA revision required.
ACCA revision time
August sees the start of a new semester, and as the term proceeds and the December ACCA exams loom ever near many a student will fear - as a sudden sense of doubt and worry sets in the student’s mind - the one over-ruling question – “Have I done enough revision to pass my ACCA exams?”
Exam time is never easy, and as educational professionals in the industry, we are constantly asked by students the same question – “How much time should I spend on my ACCA revision?” And every time we must reply the same response – it differs from student to student, with no real set answer. Unlike registering for a new subject where there are a set number of hours you should study in order to fully absorb the information (usually 40 hours), revision for your ACCA exams is slightly harder to gauge.
Revision is always subjective, depending on the student’s quick learning ability, if they have an existing aptitude for the topics in that subject (e.g. if the ACCA Paper involves more calculations and is orientated around figures, or whether it is a discursive paper) and also most importantly, if they already have prior knowledge of the subject. Some students may be taking a re-sit, and know the subject better than others, or if the subject is an advanced paper and the student already has a solid understanding of the foundation level that preceded it. All these factors will play a part in their ACCA revision.
However, as a benchmark we would always advise to try for 18 hours revision per subject. If they are taking multiple ACCA exams at the same sitting, with time dwindling away, it’s down to the ACCA student’s ability to manage their time efficiently and prioritise where the bulk of their time should be spent.
For more advise and ACCA study guides for ACCA revision, see the TonySurridge.co.uk website.
August sees the start of a new semester, and as the term proceeds and the December ACCA exams loom ever near many a student will fear - as a sudden sense of doubt and worry sets in the student’s mind - the one over-ruling question – “Have I done enough revision to pass my ACCA exams?”
Exam time is never easy, and as educational professionals in the industry, we are constantly asked by students the same question – “How much time should I spend on my ACCA revision?” And every time we must reply the same response – it differs from student to student, with no real set answer. Unlike registering for a new subject where there are a set number of hours you should study in order to fully absorb the information (usually 40 hours), revision for your ACCA exams is slightly harder to gauge.
Revision is always subjective, depending on the student’s quick learning ability, if they have an existing aptitude for the topics in that subject (e.g. if the ACCA Paper involves more calculations and is orientated around figures, or whether it is a discursive paper) and also most importantly, if they already have prior knowledge of the subject. Some students may be taking a re-sit, and know the subject better than others, or if the subject is an advanced paper and the student already has a solid understanding of the foundation level that preceded it. All these factors will play a part in their ACCA revision.
However, as a benchmark we would always advise to try for 18 hours revision per subject. If they are taking multiple ACCA exams at the same sitting, with time dwindling away, it’s down to the ACCA student’s ability to manage their time efficiently and prioritise where the bulk of their time should be spent.
For more advise and ACCA study guides for ACCA revision, see the TonySurridge.co.uk website.
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