Lean and Six Sigma initiatives are popular amongst medium and large manufacturing firms. These data-driven approaches to managing quality, waste, and continuous improvement are ideal for complex manufacturing environments where a large volume of data can be collected and analyzed, however businesses of all sizes and sectors can use the strategies to improve their operational…
Developing value-added products and services is critical to Canada’s knowledge economy and competitiveness. More than ever, startups and early-stage businesses are being called on to support innovation and respond to new consumer/market preferences. Because of the rising demand for new consumer products, Canadian startups should focus on finding and establishing themselves within this market. Thankfully,…
I love hockey. I love the intensity, the camaraderie, and the tradition. Growing up, hockey was, and still is, a centrepiece in my household. Many other sports bring my family together – baseball, football, the Olympics – but despite our love for watching sports, neither my sister nor I ever played team sports and we…
In 2016, Canada’s Liberal Party placed a tremendous focus on environmental and economic issues. This is clearly evidenced in their Real Change program, which contrasts the strategic differences between them and the previously elected Conservative Party. Publications on Canada’s clean technology (cleantech) sector note that Canada lost between 41-71% of its market share globally since…
For almost 10 years I’ve held management roles in both for-profit and non-profit organizations. As a young manager, I thought that in order to motivate others, I first needed to show them how to achieve desired results. This was a grave mistake, as it was only part of the picture. I rarely shared why I…
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in the following article are those of the guest author and do not necessarily represent or reflect Mentor Works Ltd. One of the many challenges of managing a small business is dealing with the complexities of growth. There are more clients, more employees, more problems, and more decisions to…
The Lord of the Rings is a massive fantasy work of 481,000 words, with dozens of characters, themes, and messages intertwined. The novel is split into 3 volumes, each with 2 parts (6 total). I have always loved this book, and its multitude of themes and characters can be applied to the business world. I…
I often discuss growth strategies with some of the most brilliant business leaders in Canada. Their minds are full of innovative concepts and technologies that are set to transform the world we live and work in. I’m honoured to work alongside these talented professionals as they seek investment for strategic growth projects. But while these…
Picture this scenario: You’re a manufacturer who designs and sells customized products. A customer’s order was shipped last week and was supposed to arrive yesterday, however the shipment was not delivered. Your client calls you and starts panicking because the product they ordered was required to fulfill a promise for one of their clients. This…
What if everything your business has been doing since its inception was flipped upside down and the complete opposite approach was enforced? This is the concept behind W. Chan Kim and Renée A. Maurborgne’s Blue Ocean Strategy, which was created based off of primary research conducted on over 150 businesses across more than 30 industries…