Thursday, October 27, 2011

Four Wins for this project

Imagine starting a company where you were paid to have your raw materials dropped off at your dock, where your workers were supplied free as part of a training program for the unemployed, where your rent was subsidized as part of a community redevelopment program yet you could sell your final product at high prices because of its ‘green’ value. Now that’s worthy of the term WIN WIN WIN WIN.

Check out the business model of Big City Forest, based in the Bronx, New York. I read about these people over ten years ago in an article in the Times and hope they are still going strong.

New York City sees thousands of full pallets entering every day and being discarded. Landfills won’t take them so trucking companies will charge for their removal. But these are usually turned into wood chips, a pity for the strong wood they are made from. Big City Forest charges people 75 cents for each pallet dropped off at their loading dock.

 
Unemployed people need experience and new skills. The governments, rather than simply pay for unemployment benefits, would prefer to see them learn these skills. So the workers are given to Big City Forest where they trade free labor for furniture-making experience and skills.
The South Bronx has a lot of abandoned buildings subject to drug use and other crimes. It is in the community’s best interest to have viable businesses operating in these buildings so the borough substantially subsidizes the rent on these buildings to Big City Forest.


Pallets turned into wood-chips, burned or thrown into landfills mean other trees need to be cut down to make furniture. And pallets are usually made of excellent wood like rosewood, cherry, oak, mahogany, maple. So here is the ‘Green’ hook for this company.

As chips, the wood is worth about $30 a ton. As flooring, the value rises to $1,200 a ton, and as furniture, the wood in pallets is worth $6,000 a ton.

This wood makes excellent furniture. Butcher-block tables and benches with the company's logo are sold to institutional clients like foster-care centers and Cornell University -- ''they're frat proof,'' Ms. Dimino said -- but are also showing up in chic shops like Terra Verde in SoHo.
Customers happily pay $750 for a five-foot table, said the shop's owner, Katherine Tiddens.
''They're like a rock,'' Ms. Tiddens said, ''like a lesson in wood.''

1 comment:


  1. Tag: PM201A53. Let me share all of you about #5 Tips for Project Management Success,, I hope you enjoy it

    1. Plan your day using time management techniques

    As a project manager, time management skills are essential because you are dealing with a wide range of tasks that demand a quick turnaround time. Planning your day will go a long way in keeping you organized and increasing your productivity. Assist your task planning by using project management software which helps you track the work of you and your team.

    If you are not very tech savvy, a simple to-do list can also be a great organizational tool. Prioritize your most important tasks by putting them at the top of the list and less important ones at the bottom. Having a visual plan of your daily tasks helps to keep you on track and aware of time.

    Related post: Free ebook 104 secrets to become a great project manager

    2. Include stakeholders in important project conversations

    While you will have plenty of responsibilities regarding the project, don’t neglect your clients.

    Good communication is essential is keeping both parties informed of project progression, curtailing scope creep, and apprised of changing requirements. Some clients may have different expectations when it comes to communication, so make sure to establish the frequency and type of communication (like emails, phone calls, and face-to-face conversations) at the beginning of your project.

    Establishing communication expectations early helps alleviate stakeholder uncertainty about communication frequency and delivery.

    3. Regularly communicate with your team

    Daily team communication helps keep misunderstandings and unclear requirements under control. Keeping your team informed in every step of the project is essential to project management success.

    For example, a study published by Procedia Technology found that good communication skills were the cornerstone of project management. The study examined over 300 “construction project managers, architects, construction managers, engineers and quantity surveyors” and their successes and failures on various construction projects.

    4. Anticipate project setbacks

    Even the best-laid plans often go awry.

    Remember that even with a high amount of planning and attention to detail, your project may still encounter some challenges. Pay attention to complaints from stakeholders or colleagues, and other warning signs, like a missed deadline or cost overrun, that there may be a problem.

    Preventing a crisis will keep your project running smoothly, save you a lot of time, and keep you, your team, and your stakeholders confident in progressing with the project.

    Unfortunately not every complication can be avoided. Crisis management skills are essential for dealing with the unexpected. Project managers need to be flexible and pragmatic. Improvise and make sharp decisions when needed.

    Related post: 92 free project management templates

    5. Stay focused on the details

    A common problem project managers encounter is having the project aims not aligned with the organization’s objectives. A great project manager will strategize a plan for the project to lead back to the overall success of the business.

    Know your project’s scope by heart and avoid wandering outside of the project’s requirements. It’s too easy to get lost in minor details and forget what your focus is, so a well-planned project scope is essential for success.

    And final, you should use KPI to measure effectiveness of the project, here are full list: 76 project management KPIs



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