 |
Manual Computing – a Modern Oxymoron
Author: tom  | Posted: 22-04-2008 | Comments: 0 | Views: 2 | Rating: (50)  (?) 
So when it comes to collecting time, why oh why are so many businesses still using time sheets? Of course you need to collect time metrics, that’s a given, but it never ceases to amaze me why so many people believe that time sheets are a reasonable solution to this natty problem. First off, the act of writing out what you’ve done in the day, along with how long you spent doing it, can only be regarded as a fool’s errand. You don’t walk behind your car measuring the distance you’ve travelled - that’s what an odometer is for. So why do you insist on keeping manual time sheets, be it pen and paper or their software equivalent?
To give you an example, I was asked to help streamline a local architect business who were complaining because, as a business, they lacked suitable productivity tools. As the credit crunch begins to bite home, raising prices onto the client isn’t always the best solutions, so becoming more productive and hence more efficient is an alternative gateway to business success. When I arrived at the customer’s premises, I was introduced to a young lady, who was head of HR. We talked about the processes and procedures the organization followed, all of which had a good sense of flow, with only minor challenges to increase productivity. However, when the conversation turned to time capture, I was agog with what came next.
“Oh, we’ve got that covered” she said. “We have an in-house solution that feeds into our billing system.”
“And how often do your staff make entries”. I asked unimpressed by the term in-house.
“Oh that depends.” Came her reply. “Usually at the end of the day, sometimes at the end of the week. But it’s okay, the data is pumped straight into our billing system”. I was getting a clearer picture.
“And how long do you estimated each staff member spends in a day completing their timesheets?” I asked.
“Erm.. not long, probably about 20 minutes.” 20 minutes? 20 minutes? I was astounded. Here was a bright intelligent woman unable to calculate the loss her employees were costing the business. In this particular organization, the average charge-out rate was $150/hour. That’s $12k dollars per year, per employee and with over 100 staff, this business was loosing about $1.5M/year just from the time to complete their timesheets. I also estimated another $2.5M were being lost though forgetfulness and unlogged time from interruptions and phonecalls.
However, had this business used an automated hand-free software package like MetriQ, where the software utilizes the power of the computer to do all the timing for you, then this company would have been well on its way to improving its efficiency hand over fist. In so doing, they’d have been able to reduce their costs, not increase them, giving them an edge when it came to bidding for other jobs.
The morale of this tale is to understand that incremental process improvement can yield incredible results, in areas that are ordinarily neglected. The MetriQ software would have been an ideal productivity tool to help this business save a sizeable chunk of money while at the same time, freeing all the employees from the daily grind of completing timesheets. The software is also accurate to the nearest second, so clients get a more detailed account of how their money was spent. Interruptions and phone calls could also have been logged, as well giving management a good window on how staff were performing, and any time sinks in the general software thet used. In all a win win outcome, if only they’d heard of hands-free time capture!
Rate this Article:
Current: 0 / 5 stars - 0 vote(s).
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/management-articles/manual-computing-a-modern-oxymoron-393081.html
About the Author:About Me: I'm a freelance journalist who specializes in time management. Over the past 25 years I have worked in a variety of industries, and now focus on bringing the word how businesses can boot strap into the 21 Century, ditching their time sheets as they go, using products like MetriQ.
MetriQ - Personal Time Management Software
|
Submitting articles has become one of the most popular means of generating quality backlinks and targeted traffic to your website. Join us today - It's Free! |
|
Related Articles
Car Buyers Should Make Sure They Do Their Financial Homework
By: Mark Dawson | 22/08/2008 | Loans
With the new vehicle registration plates set for launch at the beginning of next month, it is important that those looking to buy a car take the time to do their research when making such a purchase.
Are Your Measurements Making You Look Bad?
By: Donald Mitchell | 14/12/2007 | Management
Most organizations have measurements they use to establish how well they are doing. Many of these measurements can be misleading when it comes to performing well for customers. This article explains better ways of measuring to get the optimal results.
The More You Know About Advertising, the Better It Works for
You!
By: Marion B Staerns | 09/09/2005 | Advertising
How to Shop Around
Like shopping for anything, it's just smart to evaluate BENEFITS
before you buy advertising. Engage your brain when you shop for
good promotional.
Prevent Credit Problems
By: Alphonso Smith | 03/05/2007 | Self Help
Prevent Credit Problems from the Guide to Good Credit
Credit problems usually result from a lack of communication between the consumer and the creditor. The consumer is not always responsible for credit problems which occur. Losses which occur due to mail, delayed payments and clerical/computer errors are the most common credit...
Capped Price Energy Deals not Being Taken Up
By: Abbi Rouse | 19/08/2008 | Finance
More than half of householders were unable to secure a capped price energy tariff prior to the latest round of price hikes, the Motley Fool has indicated.
Simplify Your Work to Make Your Work Better
By: Donald Mitchell | 27/12/2007 | Management
Many people cannot resist adding little touches to improve an offering or a way of providing that offering. Yet if those little touches add more work, they may ultimately diminish the value for customers and users by increasing mistakes while driving those who produce the offering crazy. Keep it simple!
The Ultimate Wealth Building System
By: Sandra Simmons | 26/11/2007 | Finance
Most people search for the ultimate wealth building system for most of their lives. It may surprise you to know that you own half of it the day you are born.
What half do you own? It's your ability to make money. No matter what your education level or skill level,...
Stop Saying "i Have a Problem" is the Solution to the Problem
By: Zubli Zainordin | 05/11/2006 | Motivational
In this life, does anyone here who has never encountered a problem? Or have you ever said at least once, "I have a problem". Or you heard someone who says, "I have a problem". Do you know that when you stop saying, "I have a problem", Zubli Zainordin says, "You have found the solution to the problem".
Got a Question? Ask.
Ask the community a question about this article:
Q&A Powered by: 
Latest Management Articles
Diversity Management
By: Janine Sergay | 16/10/2008
Opportunity for all
Is it not every individual's right to be afforded opportunities to put forward their best efforts? To develop their potential? And to show their worth through the results they produce? Not only is this a moral and ethical imperative but, within many countries, a legal one too.
Simple statistics...
Inventory Management System for Proper Demand and Supply
By: spinxwebdesign | 16/10/2008
Inventory management system is being popularly used by many companies and organization worldwide.
Executive Coaching India : How Does Coaching Work?
By: Vaishally Nath | 14/10/2008
Executive Coaching India
www.executivecoachingindia.com
The Orange Academy (www.executivecoachingindia.com) is one of the front runners of coaching in India. The organization has in its fold world class coaches with sizeable experience and insights at the leadership levels. Their expertise gives The Orange Academy an edge to provide the best of coaching results.
This article outlines the coaching process and answes some frequently asked questions by the users consumers of coaching services.
Six Sigma Green Belt Certification
By: Robert | 14/10/2008
six sigma green belt certification as an employee can increase your effectiveness as an employee and save you thousands or millions of dollars as a business owner.
Tips on Looking for a Good Venture Capital Business Firm
By: Trisha Rich | 14/10/2008
Numerous ventures are experienced with the challenging task of increasing thier venture capital. If you are one them, then this process might be helpful on finding the right venture capital firm for your business. Although this may look easy.
Improve Employee Performance by Letting "talkers" Speak
By: Barbara Brown, PhD | 14/10/2008
If you have employees who love to talk, consider using their passion for talking as a way to encourage greater cooperation and contributions. This article explains the usefulness of this approach and gives you four situations where you might apply it.
Payroll Frequency: the Difference and the Cost Savings
By: Rebecca Beckett | 14/10/2008
It is essential that companies consider payroll frequency when looking for a way to cut costs. Choosing the frequency best for your company will make for a smooth process.
Problem-solving Success Tip - Know the Job is Really Done
By: Jeanne Sawyer | 14/10/2008
Know a job is REALLY done by using completion criteria. You don't want to tell someone who has worked really hard to complete a task that what they did isn't what you meant. This tip tells you how to avoid this common problem.
More from tom
Timesheet Obsolescence
By: tom | 26/09/2007 | Strategic Planning
In the United States alone, businesses loose an estimated eight billion US dollars annually with the time used for their employees just completing timesheets (http://www.metriq.biz/Company/CostCalc.php). This article gives a brief overview of timesheets and their disadvantages, showing how to save your business more money than you would think possible, simply by turning off this wasteful resource tap – and as a bonus, still manage and collect all of your time metrics, with an increased accuracy
|
|
Business 
