4-CONSULTING E-ZINE

The summer's here and we're thinking about holidays - sun, sand and hoping that nothing goes wrong while we're away!

In this edition, we look at how few organisations have any real plans for coping while disasters and we explore the importance for third sector organisations being "fit for purpose" for delivering public services on behalf of government.

Our consultancy team have lots of experience in these and other interesting areas and we're keen to share our knowledge with our readers. One of our directors has recently been appointed a director of the Scottish Charities' Regulator ("OSCR").

We hope you’ll find the articles of interest and, if there is a topic you would like us to cover in a future issue, please let us know.

Please feel free to forward this e-zine to a colleague.

For more information about 4-consulting click here

In this issue

Business Continuity Management
Third Sector Organisations - Fit for Purpose?
Making the Most of Word and Excel
Recent Successes
What's new?
Tell us your view

Business Continuity Management

The results of a recent survey of business managers attitudes to Business Continuity Planning ("BCP"), carried out by the Chartered Management Institute, makes grim reading. Less than half of the interviewees reported that their organisation had any form of Business Continuity Plans ("BCP") although 75% of the organisations said that they thought BCP was important. To make matters worse, only a third of those organisations that did have a BCP had carried out any form of testing on their plans.

To read the complete article, visit:

http://www.4-consulting.com/News/Ezine_15/Ezine_15_01.htm

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Third Sector Organisations - Fit for Purpose?

As government looks to the third sector for the delivery of many public services, we consider what has to be done to ensure that the quality of management in these organisations is good enough.

To read the complete article, visit:

http://www.4-consulting.com/News/Ezine_15/Ezine_15_02.htm

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Making the Most of PowerPoint and Excel

Our regular "tricks and tips" features offers practical advice on getting the most out of your word processor and creating better spreadsheet workbooks.

To read the complete article, visit:

http://www.4-consulting.com/News/Ezine_15/Ezine_15_03.htm

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Recent Successes

Since our last e-zine, we completed the development and publication of the ICT Strategic Plan for the University of St Andrews, we've been commissioned to carry out an evaluation of the Edinburgh Criminal Justice Project, and we've carried out an IT Risk Audit for Marathon Oil (Europe) Ltd.

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What's New?

New service - We are delighted that Peter Siviter, has joined us as an Associate enabling us to extend our services to encompass recruitment to senior public sector roles. If you would like more information about our capability, please contact SALES@4-consulting.com.

New Associates - Over the past six months, we have added three new Associates to our network of specialist consultants with skills and experience in IT, management development and information engineering.

New Tools - Over the years, we've developed a number of Access database applications for our clients and we're delighted to open them up to our readers. We created our Impact Matrix™ to enable organisations prioritise their project portfolios focusing on strategic alignment, realisable benefits and achieving long-term objectives.

Most recently, we launched the Risk Register database designed to help organisations to comply with their legal, governance and funding obligations. The Register can configured for all types of risks including Strategic, Operational, IT, Health & Safety.

We've created a demonstration version specifically for charities and other versions will come on stream in the next month or so. If you would like to try out our demonstrations of either Tool, please contact Sandy.Pratt@4-consulting.com or visit our download page on our web site.

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Tell us your view

In our last e-Zine, we asked if you thought an ailing bank should be propped up by central government. Your responses flew in and 85% of your replies said "No".

We hope that you will take a moment to answer the following question:

Do you think the UK economy will have improved by this time next year?

Answer our question and let us know – all responses are confidential.

If you would like to suggest a topic for future e-zines or have any comments about this one, please send it to: ezine@4-consulting.com.

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For more information about 4-consulting visit our web site at: www.4-consulting.com. Please feel free to forward this e-zine to a colleague.

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