Is there life on Mars..?

Now the celebrations about the Apollo Moon landings have died down the question is now being raised about sending a Man (or Woman) to Mars.

Considering the original cost of the Apollo programme has been estimated at 23 billion dollars is this really the right time to even consider sending a human being to Mars. With current U.S debt at a staggering 11.6 TRILLION DOLLARS (see below)

Visit the U.S. National Debt Clock

and UK national debt at a mind boggling 800 BILLION POUNDS !

the only people we should be even considering sending to Mars are politicians and bankers !

People hate change, right ?

Wrong !!!

People “enjoy a change”, go on holiday “for as change”, stay at home “for a change”
Go out for a beer “cos it makes a change”

People love change.

What they hate is:-

Change imposed upon them.

Change over which they have no choice

Change over which they have no control.

If you want to make changes within your organization there are key rules you should follow if you want that change to be effective & embedded.

1) Communicate the change.

Explain what needs to be changed, why it needs to be changed, who is going to be affected and who isn’t.

2) Manage the change.

Set up a steering committee to manage the change process, select team members from across the organisation, from all areas affected & from different levels within the organization.

3) Prepare for change.

Set out a clear timetable stating what’s changing and when it’s happening and communicate this to the whole organiszation.

Stress the positives and benefits but also listen to peoples concerns and acknowledge
that not everyone will benefit.

4) Make the Change.

Ensure that the previously communicated schedule is adhered to and that all aspects of the planned change are completed. Actively involve those whom the change affects.

5) Institutionalize the Change.

Old habits die hard, make sure that systems and procedures are modified to reinforce and institutionalize the change so that old ingrained habits can not be followed.

6) Review the change.

After a suitable period (typically 3 months) review the changes and the lessons learned. Any modifications should be introduced in the next change program.


Embrace Change - Life would be very dull without it !

Earth Rise

All this week we are celebrating the 40 th anniversary of the Apollo moon landings. This photograph is incredibly important as it represents the first time we were able to look back on Mother Earth and see our home from a different perspective. There are no political boundaries, this pearlescent sphere is the only living thing in the known Universe and floats in majestic spleandour gazing out across the vast emptiness of space.

What is most significance is the fragility of the atmosphere, draped over us like a gossamer veil it is the only thing which stops us being as dead and barren as the lunar landsape.

This image is probably the most important in the history of humankind as it awoken in us the realization of our unique and fragile position in space and time.



Chris@Amberhill.biz

One small step for a man......

.......but one heck of a project plan.

This week (July 20th) sees the 40th anniversary of the first moon landing, and if your old enough to remember you'll know what tremendous excitement that magnificent event generated.

The end of the sixties was a very positive and forward looking period when optimism knew no bounds and this was reflected in the public support the space program received from the general public.

Also hanging over the whole event was the black shadow of the "Cold War" and it could be argued that the race to the moon announced by Kennedy in 1961 was in direct response to the launch of Sputnik, the World's first artificial satellite launched by U.S.S.R in 1957.

We all know the name of the men who took those first tentative steps on another world but how many people know the name of the project manager (officially Flight Director) who led the Apollo team which put them there.

Gene Krantz, Apollo Flight Director at NASA throughout the Apollo programme (including the Apollo 11 mission) we salute you !

Happy Independence Day

On July 4th millions of Americans around the globe will be celebrating the American declaration of Independence marking that nations separation from British rule in 1776.

We applaud you all and hope you "have a nice day"

Lets also celebrate all those people around the world who have gained their own individual Independence. The small business owners who struggle on a daily basis to eke a living. The freelancers who sell their skills and abilities on the open market. The greens who have set up their own self sufficient communities. The mums working from home who have brilliant and original ideas. The entrepreneurs who have built up businesses from scratch.

Independents of the world we salute you.

outsourcing saves jobs.....

It is often assumed that outsourcing costs jobs. Whilst it is often the case that outsourcing key activities may get rid of some jobs it often creates others and remains cheaper overall.

Many companies are struggling to maintain profitability in the current economic climate and face possible extinction.

These are usually manufacturing entities which make everything in house.

However there are many companies which continue to thrive having outsourced the bulk of manufacture to cheaper third parties whilst retaining their support functions and, most importantly their Research and Development in house.

With engineering resource freed up to focus on product development and bringing to market high value, high margin cutting edge products, whilst the "cash cow" of production is outsourced to a competent subcontractor, the company becomes more profitable, innovative and efficient.

Consequently - outsourcing saves jobs.

Amberhill Associates can help you establish this model.

For more information email us at info@amberhill.biz