Publications by Management QuarterlyResent articles by the "Management Quarterly" from The Free Libraryhttp://www.thefreelibrary.comen-usFarlex, Inc.Thu, 17 Dec 2009 00:25:23 GMT360Free Online Libraryhttp://www.thefreelibrary.comhttp://www.thefreelibrary.com/_/static/TFLbyFarlex.gif17565Tue, 22 Sep 2009 00:00:00 NRECA 2009 calendar (Current as of August 2009).http://www.thefreelibrary.com/NRECA+2009+calendar+(Current+as+of+August+2009).-a0210724250OCTOBER 2009

Management Essentials

October 12-15

Nashville, TN

Cooperative Supervisor Institute

October 12-16

Nashville, TN

Region 7 Meeting

October 14-15

Cheyenne, WY

Region 6 Meeting

October 28-29

]]>Tue, 22 Sep 2009 00:00:00 Two dimensions of financial stewardship.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Two+dimensions+of+financial+stewardship.-a0210724249The front page of the paper is a tough place to be these days.

Almost daily, headlines identify corporate scandal after corporate scandal involving waste, perilous excess, violations of the law and failures of leadership.

The rural electric industry is composed of cooperative-owned and other public power entities with excellent track records of success. And though rural electric...]]>Tue, 22 Sep 2009 00:00:00 Disclosure rules to build an effective executive compensation strategy.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Disclosure+rules+to+build+an+effective+executive+compensation...-a0210724248The evolution of disclosing the total value of executive compensation packages and the methodology organizations use to compensate senior management has occurred at a rapid pace in the past few years. Since the first major changes in the public sector with the Securities and Exchange Commission modifying the disclosure requirements for publicly traded companies, investors have demanded further...]]>Tue, 22 Sep 2009 00:00:00 The supply chain: benchmarking for success.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/The+supply+chain%3a+benchmarking+for+success.-a0210724247Why Benchmark

Highly effective Supply Chain management will have a direct and substantial impact on your cost of doing business. Every dollar of savings achieved by your purchasing organization goes directly to the bottom line in lower costs for your members. Effective Supply Chain processes also allow operating organizations and other internal clients to concentrate on their core...]]>Tue, 22 Sep 2009 00:00:00 Leveraging business acumen for utility success.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Leveraging+business+acumen+for+utility+success.-a0210724246There's a perfect storm brewing. And it's headed our way.

In organizations that are responsible for delivering utility services, the business side of the equation is often overshadowed by the technical and operational components. The reason is simple: customers notice when the lights go out or water stops flowing, but rarely take the time to question the effectiveness of the business...]]>Mon, 22 Jun 2009 00:00:00 NRECA 2009 calendar: (Current as of July 2009).http://www.thefreelibrary.com/NRECA+2009+calendar%3a+(Current+as+of+July+2009).-a0205989970AUGUST 2009

Workplace Law

August 3

Hilton Head, SC

Legal Seminar 49

August 4-5

Hilton Head, SC

Benefits Update Conference

August 17-20

Las Vegas, NV

SEPTEMBER 2009

Region 1 & 4 Meeting

]]>Mon, 22 Jun 2009 00:00:00 Blueprint for developing a culture of safety--part two: a report from the Federated Rural Electric Insurance Exchange.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Blueprint+for+developing+a+culture+of+safety--part+two%3a+a+report+from...-a0205989969Your employees' actions, attitudes and beliefs turn your Culture of Safety into reality. The kind of people you hire, and how you train, discipline and reward them will determine whether you succeed in making safety an intrinsic part of your cooperative's culture. This article focuses on sustaining a culture of safety through your employees.

]]>Mon, 22 Jun 2009 00:00:00 Simple payback: the wrong tool for energy project analysis?http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Simple+payback%3a+the+wrong+tool+for+energy+project+analysis%3f-a0205989968Industrial decision-makers everywhere depend on "simple payback" as a way to evaluate proposed investments in their facilities. Compared to more sophisticated financial measures such as net present value and internal rate of return, payback is comparatively simple to understand and calculate --perfect for "back of the envelope" analysis. But its inherent simplicity also creates problems. As a...]]>Mon, 22 Jun 2009 00:00:00 Leveraging the true value of legacy customer information systems.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Leveraging+the+true+value+of+legacy+customer+information+systems.-a0205989967For many years, customer information systems (CIS) have been at the heart of utility operations and the principal system of record for customer data and transactions. Long before regulators introduced concepts of separation, unbundling or sought to inject choice and competition in the energy retail markets, utilities have relied on their CIS, developed for the most part as proprietary...]]>Mon, 22 Jun 2009 00:00:00 Smart grids need even smarter governance.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Smart+grids+need+even+smarter+governance.-a0205989966"Smart Grid." What do these words conjure up for you? For the typical individual working in our industry, these words might conjure up images of the various technologies associated with making the grid more intelligent: two-way communication meters, sensors and controls to improve reliability and reduce system stress, in-home control portals, meter data management systems, and the list goes...]]>Sun, 22 Mar 2009 00:00:00 NRECA 2009 calendar: (current as of June 2009).http://www.thefreelibrary.com/NRECA+2009+calendar%3a+(current+as+of+June+2009).-a0203280195JULY 2009

Accounting Finance & Tax Conference

July 12-15

Minneapolis, MN

Benefits Update Conference

July 14-17

Indianapolis, IN

Summer School East

July 25-30

Hilton Head, SC

Benefits Update Conference

]]>Sun, 22 Mar 2009 00:00:00 Blueprint for developing a culture of safety--Part One: a report from the Federated Rural Electric Insurance Exchange.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Blueprint+for+developing+a+culture+of+safety--Part+One%3a+a+report+from...-a0203280194Whenever an accident or injury occurs, the immediate reaction is to figure out what happened. A report is completed with all the details--date, location, circumstances, who was involved, any injuries. So you have all the necessary information to pinpoint the cause. But not really. Most accident reports give a snapshot of what happened in that moment and on that day, offering only a glimpse of...]]>Sun, 22 Mar 2009 00:00:00 Plan for success and measure it.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Plan+for+success+and+measure+it.-a0203280193As we enter a new frontier of providing electric service, the role of communication in the cooperative landscape has become increasingly more important. Our members are continually inundated with news of rate increases, climate change and the possibility of running out of power. What's more, the membership base of electric cooperatives is evolving into a younger, more disconnected populous....]]>Sun, 22 Mar 2009 00:00:00 Communication from the top down.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Communication+from+the+top+down.-a0203280192Chris Hamon, PE, chief executive officer of White River Valley Electric Cooperative in Branson, MO, is the 2009 recipient of the J.C. Brown CEO Communication Leadership Award conferred by the electric cooperative industry's Spotlight on Excellence Awards program. The award memorializes the late J.C. Brown and his unwavering dedication to the importance of communication as a vital link...]]>Sun, 22 Mar 2009 00:00:00 Lessons from Mickey & Minnie: the new definition of good faith in governance.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Lessons+from+Mickey+%26+Minnie%3a+the+new+definition+of+good+faith+in...-a02032801911996 was a year of change and strange events. The O.J. Simpson trial began, Nintendo 64 was released, Dolly the Sheep was cloned in Britain, the FBI arrested the Unabomber, and Prince Charles and Princess Diana agreed to divorce.

And in Burbank, California, the Disney Corporation, an American icon and stalwart of family-friendly entertainment, was having a crisis of leadership. It was a...]]>Sun, 22 Mar 2009 00:00:00 Re-establishing trust at Pedernales.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Re-establishing+trust+at+Pedernales.-a0203280190If there is one essential, but sometimes elusive asset in today's business world it is trust. For cooperatives, trust is our member/owners' belief in our character, strength, service and integrity.

Trust can sometimes take a generation to build, but can be lost in no time at all. The nature and importance of trust means we, as corporate citizens, must take great care to protect it once...]]>Mon, 22 Dec 2008 00:00:00 NRECA 2009 Calendar.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/NRECA+2009+Calendar.-a0192588446NRECA 2009 CALENDAR

(Current as of November 2008)

JANUARY 2009

CEO Close-UP

January 11-14

Marco Island, FL

Touchstone Energy[R] NET 2009

January 19-21

Tucson, AZ

FEBRUARY 2009

TechAdvantage Conference & Expo

]]>Mon, 22 Dec 2008 00:00:00 Management in real life: top communicators.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Management+in+real+life%3a+top+communicators.-a0192588445Ah, the power of information! Both research and experience tells us that when employees understand how the business operates, can connect their work to company financials, and know what has to be done for the business to compete, they are likely to be more engaged. Why? Because they have context for what they do each day and the ability to contribute more. That's why some business leaders work...]]>Mon, 22 Dec 2008 00:00:00 A relational framework for understanding board commitment: a cooperative governance survey.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/A+relational+framework+for+understanding+board+commitment%3a+a...-a0192588444There have been many surveys and studies done of corporate governance by any number of organizations and academic professionals. Most of these studies focus on corporate duties such as setting direction, formulating policy and monitoring results. Few delve into the psychological and social aspects of board governance. These aspects of governance explore some of the reasons that board members...]]>Mon, 22 Dec 2008 00:00:00 Effectively managing aging assets: using a simulation model to improve O&M and capital planning processes.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Effectively+managing+aging+assets%3a+using+a+simulation+model+to...-a0192588443Electric utilities must manage a variety of aging distribution assets that are critical to system reliability. They are also faced with potentially huge costs when they need to replace these assets to maintain reliability. Making intelligent decisions about asset maintenance and replacement first requires that utilities have accurate information about the failure patterns of these assets over...]]>Mon, 22 Dec 2008 00:00:00 The smart utility will be a connected utility.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/The+smart+utility+will+be+a+connected+utility.-a0192588442The energy crisis in the US is driving a major transformation in the business model of how the utility industry operates, requiring rapid and pervasive deployment of reliable, secure, and two-way broadband communications throughout its infrastructure. Utilities and regulators are putting significant amounts of time and energy into the selection of new physical equipment (smart meters and other...]]>Mon, 22 Sep 2008 00:00:00 Calendar of key events.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Calendar+of+key+events.-a0192053236NRECA 2009 CALENDAR

(Current as of November 2008)

JANUARY 2009

CEO Close-UP

January 11-14

Marco Island, FL

Touchstone Energy[R] NET 2009

January 19-21

Tucson, AZ

FEBRUARY 2009

TechAdvantage Conference & Expo

]]>Mon, 22 Sep 2008 00:00:00 It's not your father's board seat: the evolution of corporate governance in an era of scandal.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/It's+not+your+father's+board+seat%3a+the+evolution+of+corporate...-a0192053235It's been a rough decade for corporate directors. Business had been pretty good and predictable as we approached the new millennium. Large, publicly traded companies were growing and reaping the rewards of success; the economy was growing nicely; charities were bringing in record donations; stock prices were up; educational institutions were flourishing. Serving as a director of an...]]>Mon, 22 Sep 2008 00:00:00 Enhanced business processes yield savings of time and money for cooperatives.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Enhanced+business+processes+yield+savings+of+time+and+money+for...-a0192053234Leading companies across industries have demonstrated considerable success in applying a process-based approach--managing end-to-end business processes across departments--to improve corporate performance. Seeking to emulate these improvements in corporate performance, the Cooperative Research Network's (CRN) Distribution Operations Best Practices advisory group directed CRN to explore whether...]]>Mon, 22 Sep 2008 00:00:00 Vital signs: NRECA'S summary of distribution cooperative data.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Vital+signs%3a+NRECA'S+summary+of+distribution+cooperative+data.-a0192053233Vital Signs, first produced in 1985, is an annual analysis of the data reported by rural electric systems, from the end of the previous calendar year. This year's report is based upon 2007 data from 820 distribution systems. All data is treated confidentially and no individual system data is released or published.

]]>Sun, 22 Jun 2008 00:00:00 Calendar of key events.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Calendar+of+key+events.-a0185330819
NRECA 2008 CALENDAR

JANUARY 2008

CEO Close-UP

January 14-16

Indian Wells, CA

Touchstone Energy[R] NET Conference

January 29-31

Hilton Head, SC

FEBRUARY 2008

TechAdvantage Conference & Expo

February 20-25

Anaheim, CA

Pre-Annual Meeting Training

February 21-24...]]>Sun, 22 Jun 2008 00:00:00 Are you ready for company?http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Are+you+ready+for+company%3f-a0185330817
"Company's coming!" In the small-town, pre-Internet, pre-videogame world that I grew up in, those words were almost always good news. It usually meant that friends or relatives were on their way, and that our family would enjoy visits with people of importance to us. Or sometimes, the company would be more official in nature, such as the local priest or minister, or someone calling from...]]>Sun, 22 Jun 2008 00:00:00 Making business alliances work.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Making+business+alliances+work.-a0185330816
Creating, building and managing successful alliances is a capability that is critical to associations and companies of all sizes. As global markets become more complex--yet needing essential local expertise--and as industries in media, communications and all their supporting technologies converge, competition intensifies. Alliances enable organizations to focus on what they do best,...]]>Sun, 22 Jun 2008 00:00:00 Business performance management: a road map for utilities.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Business+performance+management%3a+a+road+map+for+utilities.-a0185330815
The product/service offerings based on business intelligence have come a long way since its inception. Utilities worldwide have realized the potential of this technology and have made significant investments into harnessing the benefit of these technology offerings. By leveraging analytics, utilities have been able to harness key information out of the operational processes. Taking a...]]>Sun, 22 Jun 2008 00:00:00 Cooperatives in transition: restructuring and recovery in Georgia.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Cooperatives+in+transition%3a+restructuring+and+recovery+in+Georgia.-a0185330814
The forces of deregulation and the promise of low cost competitively priced power have created volatile market conditions and concurrent changes to organizations throughout the electric power industry over the past decade. This article examines how deregulation and restructuring induced changes in management strategies, organizational structures, and organizational...]]>