Modern Etiquette: Business Cocktail Etiquette

Modern Etiquette: Business cocktail etiquette Mon Jan 13, 2014 3:08am EST Small Business » (Reuters) - In the world of business, networking is everything. Among the most valuable venues for networking are after-hours business cocktail parties and receptions. These events provide opportunities for meeting new people and establishing relationships. The key is knowing how to work the event. That's right. Work. Just because an event takes place after hours doesn't mean you're off the clock. In fact, the time you spend at an event may be the most valuable time you put in that day and in your career. Former General Electric CEO Jack Welch used to hold cocktail parties specifically to vet junior executives. He looked for budding professionals who knew how to make the most of the moment versus those who only had eyes for the open bar and buffet. Here are my tips for making the right impression at an after-hours event no matter who's watching: 1. Before the Event: Prepare for Success - Because what you're wearing is key to your first impression wear appropriate business attire. - Take your cue from the venue and tone of the event regarding how formal to dress. - Even if the invitation states "business casual" avoid going too casual. You never want to be the worst dressed individual at an event. - Bring plenty of business cards with you and keep them in an accessible business card holder. - Always eat before you go. You were invited not because you're hungry but because you have something to contribute. Plus, eating in advance will keep you from drinking on an empty stomach. 2. At the Event: Make the Right Impression - Do your best to arrive on time. - When you enter, step to the side and assess the space, looking for the location of the bar, food, and people. - Once you decide where to go, move there with purpose. - If you go to the bar, take and keep your drink in your left hand so your right hand is free (and dry) to shake when meeting others. - If you head to the buffet, choose foods that are eaten with a fork or toothpick so your hands remain clean. - If you choose to mingle, avoid approaching individuals engaged in serious conversations. Look for groups where people are open in their body language and appear friendly. - Don't barge into conversations. Instead, move near the group, make eye contact, smile, and ask, "May I join you?" - Shake hands with each individual looking them in the eye and clearly stating your name as well as theirs — "Joe, it's great to meet you." - Repeat with each person. - When making small talk, ask about the other individual—where they're from or if they came into town for the event. Simple questions help you learn about the person and provide topics for discussion. - When sharing business cards, present yours so it can be read by the person receiving it. - When accepting a card, read it thoroughly, noting the individual's title, company, and location, which may offer points for discussion and connection. Making the most of an event doesn't have to be difficult. Just remain mindful that it's a professional event and do your best to make a positive impression that indicates doing business with you is a pleasure. (Pamela Eyring is the owner and president of The Protocol School of Washington® (PSOW), which provides professional business etiquette and international protocol training. Founded in 1988, PSOW is the only school of its kind in the U.S. to become accredited. Any opinions expressed are her own. PSOW's website is: www.psow.edu) (Editing by Michael Roddy)

Backoffice Associates Announces Global Reseller Agreement With Sap To Help Accelerate Information Management Projects

It is expected that enterprises will be able to benefit from rapid data quality results that will enable business-ready data for implementations of SAP software, all through a central, secure governance model. The solutions being resold by SAP are as follows: SAP Data Services Migration Accelerator, integrated with SAP Data Services software, will help migration teams connect, prepare and validate data prior to loading. Its project management console provides end-to-end visibility across tasks and schedules. The built-in methodology makes complex processes easier to manage, and intuitive screens and templates help reduce the time it takes to complete a go-live implementation. SAP Information Steward Accelerator The custom edition provides data stewards and business users with a content-rich passive data governance solution. Integrated with SAP Information Steward software, it is designed to minimize time and effort spent on investigating and eliminating data errors and to deliver trusted data in support of data quality, master data management and information governance objectives. The HCM edition provides the same benefits as the custom edition with the addition of specific content and reporting designed to accelerate and optimize data quality in implementations of HCM solutions.

Business Process Management Provider Veldos Continues Its Market Growth With Three Acquisitions

The announcement was made on the eve of the 17th Annual DBA Conference at the Aria Hotel in Las Vegas, February 5-7. Veldos is a sponsor of the conference. (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140204/NY59006 ) Veldos has acquired NCO's Operation Centers in New Jersey and Hawaii, NCO's Healthcare Information Management unit in the Philippines and Asset Management Professionals, an Account Receivables Management company in Georgia. Integration is moving forward and the senior management from those businesses will continue to lead their units. These acquisitions are the first major steps since Veldos was formed from a spin off from Accenture in 2012. "We are very excited about these acquisitions, which allow news us to quickly expand our analytical capabilities, enhance our management talent and improve our technology platform," said Veldos CEO, Dave DeLellis. "The Veldos model is designed to apply innovation, through analytics, technology and customer-centricity, to industries that are going through major transformations. Financial Services and Healthcare are perfect examples of industries in transition." DeLellis was formerly an executive at JP Morgan Chase and GE. "We are always raising the performance bar, working to improve our skills and collaborating for maximum range of ideas and unified execution," said Steve Kietz, Vice Chairman of Veldos. "This is a winning formula. We think of ourselves as brand builders by providing extraordinary service at every touch point." Kietz previously served in a variety of senior roles at Citi and JP Morgan Chase. About Veldos: Based in Wayne, Pennsylvania, Veldos provides business process management solutions in receivables management, customer care and health care revenue cycle management. Its leadership team has deep experience on both the client side and services side at some of the highest-profile companies in the world, as well as a strong focus on analytics to drive actions quickly and efficiently. For more information, please visit www.veldos.com . Professional Services

Airbnb Backer General Catalyst Starts $675 Million Venture Fund

Airbnb backer General Catalyst starts $675 million venture fund SAN FRANCISCO Mon Dec 23, 2013 2:31pm EST Small Business » SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Airbnb backer General Catalyst said on Monday it has established a new $675 million venture-capital fund to invest in early-stage technology firms. The firm, known for investments in fleeting photo-sharing service Snapchat, payments service Stripe, and accommodation service Airbnb, said in a blog post the new fund - its seventh - would grow its presence in Silicon Valley. A fund of $675 million is considered large in the venture capital business. While the occasional fund crosses the $1 billion mark, most add up to well under $300 million. General Catalyst's last fund was a $500 million vehicle raised in 2011. (Reporting by Sarah McBride; Editing by Krista Hughes) FILED UNDER:

What Is Information Management Agility?

What is Information Management? The term information management basically means the gathering and managing of information, and ensuring that the right information is made available to the right people. What constitutes information is typically up for discussion, but encompasses everything from structured and unstructured content, records, social media and so on. Managing that information can take many different forms from document management, capture and archiving, records management and more. What is Information Management Agility? We know how important information is for our organizations. But it's not simply a matter of managing our information effectively. It's also about how we use this information to quickly respond to the rapid changes taking place in market. Quickly responding is the key here meaning that we are agile. How can we manage our information and make it available to the right people at the right time to provide competitive advantage. In an article on CIO ,Michael Schrage describes agility this way: In the first and final analysis, agility is about timely and cost-effective implementation. Full stop. Planning is nice. Analysis is good. Governance is groovy. But agility means action.

Hearst Forms Health Care Information Services Branch

"Hearst Health's leadership position in the health care information industry is rooted in that commitment. The goal of all of our health care businesses is to help our clients achieve excellence in care through access to better information." In the health care sector in North America, Hearst owns and operates First Databank (FDB), a provider of drug knowledge bases that power health care information systems and help health care professionals to make better medication-related decisions, and Zynx Health, a provider of evidence-based care plans, as well as order sets and clinical optimization programs, to measurably improve patient outcomes, enhance safety and lower costs. Hearst also operates MCG (formerly Milliman Care Guidelines), a developer and producer of globally sourced, clinically validated best practices for health systems and insurance companies to drive effective and Windows 8 address manager software cost-appropriate care, and Homecare Homebase--a provider of software-as-service (SaaS) solutions to the homecare and hospice market. "Hearst has been operating in the health care information industry since 1980. Each of our companies pioneered their markets and emerged as leaders," Richard Malloch, president of Hearst Business Media, which oversees Hearst Health, said in a statement. "Our companies complement each other under their shared mission of putting vital information into the hands of everyone who touches a person's health journey. Establishing the Hearst Health brand will elevate the awareness of what we do in the health care marketplace." Extensions of Hearst Health include Hearst Health Ventures and the Hearst Health Innovation Lab. Led by managing director Ellen Koskinas, Hearst Health Ventures is a newly formed fund that invests in startups offering health IT solutions and technology-enabled health care services.