For entrepreneurs, a marketing plan is an essential resource, as it outlines the new venture's approach to attracting potential customers and convincing them to buy the products or services. It can also be used to obtain funding from investors.

Entrepreneurs rely on marketing plans to quantify expected marketing goals and results and provide a reference point for the organization; they also offer structure and direction for the marketing effort. In addition, a marketing plan can be employed to communicate marketing strategy and objectives to others in the organization.

When starting a new venture or business, there is a sequential process that you can follow to help you stay on course. This process can be broken down into eight stages, starting with discovery and ending with implementation.   

Much of the entrepreneurial process is focused on developing a product or service and planning how to successfully introduce it into the marketplace. To do this successfully, you need strong leadership in place. Leadership is particularly central to Stage Four: Strategic Planning, in which the vision for the venture is established.

Leadership and ethical conduct go hand in hand. Principled leaders demand principled behavior. In turn, ethical behavior is a foundation of effective leadership.

When it comes to organizational ethics, it starts at the top. No organization can achieve a sustainable ethical culture without senior management setting the example and leading the way.

As corporate social responsibility (CSR) gains widespread currency in the business world, corporate leaders are under increasing pressure to make socially responsible decisions on behalf of their companies. These decisions must adhere to legal requirements while also maximizing profits. 

Enlightened senior management perceives CSR not as a burden but as an opportunity. Yes, social responsibility exacts demands on companies that commit themselves to it, but it also introduces chances for businesses to build social value. Not all corporate good deeds get rewarded by the marketplace. That being said, companies that undertake a thoughtful approach to CSR are more likely to increase their value while creating positive outcomes for society at large.

Managers are often called upon to handle change in their organizations. Some changes are small and do not require much of a manager. But many are significant, requiring a strong leader to orchestrate the details. Whether it be handling new products, new technologies, new people, or new departmental missions, managers must be able to deal with change in an efficient and non-disruptive way.

With the rapid growth of large-scale businesses during the Industrial Revolution, business owners recognized the need to hire managers to handle employee relations. Thus began the evolution of HR, from Frederick Taylor’s scientific management approach in the late 1800’s to the 20th-century human resources policies that remain in practice today. Check out our latest infographic to learn more about the key moments that shaped HR.

As part of its "Project Oxygen," designed to improve managerial performance, Google analyzed more than 10,000 performance reviews, feedback surveys, and other reports to figure out what makes a manager effective. After analyzing the data, the company circulated eight behaviors that managers could model to improve the quality of their management. Check out our latest infographic to learn more.

Investors are tasked with making critical decisions. Using information gleaned from financial statements, investors will perform a variety of analyses to help them measure potential risks and rewards. Check out our latest infographic, which looks at six common analyses investors like to perform and provides sample benchmarks for each type of analysis.

A job interview provides the hiring organization with an opportunity to learn more about you as a potential employee. It gives you the chance to discuss your experience, skills, and career goals in relation to the job. It also allows you, the job seeker, to ask detailed questions about the organization and the position. Our infographic covers the five stages of the interviewing process to help you prepare for your next job interview.

Microsoft Excel has become the industry standard program for data management in businesses of all sizes and across all industries. The adoption of Excel in the workplace knows no bounds, as science and engineering professionals use Excel to calculate statistical formulas and graphs; business and sales professionals use the program to develop invoice and revenue reports; administrative professionals use Excel to track expense reports, payroll, and contact lists; and accountants use it to calculate budgets, forecasts, and financial results.