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Part of a manager's daily responsibilities is keeping employees on task and productive. Several tools – including business productivity programs and database software – can help these executives in that never-ending obligation, but it may also pay off to encourage a handful of strong employee habits.

In a recent piece on Inc.com, project management expert Tony Wong shared some of his tips for a more productive worker. These included a de-emphasis on multitasking, which requires individuals to stretch their capabilities too thin, ultimately hurting the quality of work they produce.

Similarly, Wong suggested that workers should expedite certain tasks by taking the quicker route – long, time-consuming email chains might be resolved more quickly with a phone conversation, for instance. In addition, productive employees should eliminate distractions – many of which are borne of multitasking – and schedule regular breaks to recharge.

While a manager may suggest their employees adopt many of these habits, developing a workplace that maximizes these strategies may be another challenge altogether. After all, short of imposing strict rules to manage workers' time and habits, it can be difficult to monitor if employees are following any of these methods.

As a result, it may be most beneficial for workers and employees to maintain a collaborative dialogue in which both sides work to increase productivity overall. While employees can work on bettering their workplace habits, employers can hold up their end of the bargain by providing employees with the tools they need to succeed.

Custom application development might help businesses plug gaps in productivity with beneficial database software. While many software developing companies offer this service, the best take a consultative approach that identifies weaknesses in existing processes and maximizes their strengths.
 

Most people find the holiday season to be stressful in some ways, not the least of which involves actually shopping for gifts for friends and family. Many working individuals take advantage of their lunch breaks to cross items off their shopping list, although a new report suggests employees may be taking more liberties with their work time than expected.

The Massachusetts-based IT company Ipswitch reported that, among the businesses that tracked their employee’s productivity, 42 percent found that employees were taking time away from important work tasks to finish their holiday shopping. While most companies did not appear to mind how employees used their lunch break, problems do arise when workers are cutting into their productivity by searching the Web for gifts.

Nearly 12 percent had policies in place to restrict online shopping in the workplace, but more than 15 percent of companies said workers spent two hours or more shopping instead of working.

“In addition to lost productivity, online shopping can put additional strain on business-critical network infrastructure, so it is imperative that network administrators are aware of what traffic is flowing around the network,” Ennio Carboni, of Ipswitch, said in a press release.

Businesses can exercise administrative power to place certain internet restrictions on their employees, and it is within their right to stress the importance of a productive workplace with workers. The best tool to limit abuse may be to monitor network traffic while also remaining communicative with workers about upholding their responsibilities during this hectic time of year.

In addition, turning to business productivity tools such as database software may ensure that when employees are working, they are able to do so at maximum efficiency. The holiday season can provide many challenges for a business even in the best of circumstances, and as such, custom application development can yield beneficial tools to ensure work is conducted at a healthy rate.

Companies that seek custom application development may initially do so to address a database or procedural weakness in their business, but in some cases they run the risk of simply moving from one unproductive system to another.

That’s because sometimes, new database software that is abruptly introduced to a workplace might cause a shift in processes and procedures so sudden that workers have little time to adapt. Indeed, it is possible for new tools – meant to improve a company’s productivity – to actually inhibit companies’ abilities to grow and change when needed.

“It is hard to learn a new tool and a new process, and teams want to be sure that they don’t let the tool mold the process,” consultant Richard Cheng told The Software Development Times.

As a result, before researching software developing companies to create custom applications, businesses should embrace a corporate culture that is open to evolution. If work teams are prepared for a disruption in existing procedures and willing to provide feedback and analysis during the custom application development process, the implementation of new database software might proceed smoother.

The next step is finding a software developing company that exercises a consultative approach to custom application development. Programmers that work in step with clients and are willing to accept feedback may be more likely to create database software that’s responsive to an organization’s top concerns, but also lightweight enough to be changed when necessary.

These types of software developing companies might also be able to create applications that are more helpful to a wider range of employees, benefiting both those who are highly proficient with new technology as well as those who require a bit more assistance with training and troubleshooting.

For many companies, database software has served as an important provider of workplace information and analytics that can help them make crucial business decisions. If a new survey is any indication, business owners around the country may need to rely on that data more than ever to shape cost-cutting efforts in the year ahead.

The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia released its December Business Outlook Survey, which queried business owners around the country. According to the results, most companies have been faced with higher input costs in the past few months, and many expect that trend to continue into the new year.

In fact, more firms predict their operating costs – which include both labor and non-labor expenses – to increase in 2012 from the previous year, suggesting many business owners are prepared to buckle down for financial challenges.

An analysis of the data by The Wall Street Journal notes that many businesses have been able to find a balance between rising expenses and increasingly frugal consumers by getting the most out of their current workforce. However, the analysis questions how likely it is that companies can continue this strategy in the months ahead, as many workers have already been stretched thin.

At the same time, business productivity technology, such as database software, may provide owners with a clearer view of their operations to determine where inefficiencies may be hemorrhaging finances. With these metrics at arm’s reach, managers may be able to make stronger, productivity-focused decisions to reduce needless expenses and run a tighter ship in 2012.

Additionally, custom application development offers companies the tools they need to ensure a more productive workforce. Those who fear their employees’ output may be lacking may be able to resist financial pressures by relying on database software as an efficient workplace tool.

Traditionally, experience has been a trump card for many individuals in the job-seeking market. However, outside factors have changed the business world significantly, and more companies now see great value in hiring younger job applicants straight out of college.

There are short- and long-term advantages to hiring a recent college graduate, according to ere.net, a recruiting news and advice website. It makes financial sense – young job hopefuls are simply more willing to work for less, and can be hired on relatively smaller entry-level salaries compared to their more experienced counterparts.

However, these workers might also be easier to train and develop professionally, said the source. That’s because college graduates are not far from the learning environment, making them more likely to grasp workplace concepts and practices compared to older applicants.

Similarly, these individuals may find it easier to work with technology – such as a company’s database software – and are often more likely to produce innovative work and ideas, said the report. As a result, the short- and long-term returns on this investment can be high.

At the same time, experienced candidates are not to be excluded entirely. Instead, these applicants might be better able to fit into specialized roles that depend largely on experience and talents within a specific field.

For instance, an organization may require an experienced human resources administrator who has history managing company payrolls and other related finances. By equipping this person with accessible and straightforward database software, companies may be able to overcome an extended learning curve that may be a concern with older candidates.

Turning to a developer that emphasizes a consultative approach to custom application development may be the best way to create database software that increases the productivity of young and old employees alike.

Workers have much to manage throughout the year, and it’s up to administrators to do what they can to alleviate any resulting stress. That means providing the tools and resources that can help employees stay organized and productive. Database software can play an integral role in this process, providing offices with intuitive programs that help manage certain processes.

However, the holiday season often serves to add to workers’ personal and professional burdens. Many employees look to juggle holiday-related responsibilities – such as gift shopping, a child’s holiday recital at school, office gift exchanges and the company holiday party – with other work-based concerns.

That’s not to mention the physical byproducts of the season, such as sickness brought on by colder weather or even too much stress. As a result, it may be more important than ever for managers to be sensitive to their employees’ conditions during this time of year.

In a column for California’s North Bay Business Journal, human resource specialist Diana Gregory offered a few tips for managers looking to maintain productivity throughout the hectic holiday season. Workplace wellness programs centered on fitness and exercise can help alleviate stress and keep employees healthy, Gregory wrote, while third-party counseling services can provide workers with the emotional support they may need.

Support can also come in the form of increased communication and encouragement from upper management, said Gregory. Ultimately, managers need to demonstrate their willingness to compromise and empathize with workers during this time of year. Strategies that can make work tasks simpler and more effective can only help this process.

By researching software developing companies and selecting a trusted developer of database software, business owners may find the beneficial tools they need to empower employees not just during the holiday season, but also throughout the entire year.

A global report on the use of data in the workplace reveals that while companies in a number of industries recognize the value of database software for leading the discussion on business intelligence, not all are equipped with the knowledge and skills to make the most of this information.

EMC released its Data Science Study, which reported that the rising access and declining cost of custom application development and other data services has increased the prevalence of intelligence gathering at businesses around the world. However, the dearth of qualified professionals on staff to analyze this data leaves many businesses at a loss at how to maximize the information they receive.

For example, the study – which surveyed businesses in the United States, Germany, China, France, India and the United Kingdom – found that only 33 percent of respondents were “very confident” in their company’s ability to turn data into fruitful business decisions. Data scientists noted a lack of strong tools and primary decision-makers bemoaned an inability to use data to make the most of trends.

“The Big Data era has arrived in full force, bringing with it an unprecedented opportunity to transform business and the way we work and live,” Jeremy Burton, an executive at EMC, said in a press release. “What’s needed to fully realize its value is a vibrant, interconnected, highly-skilled and empowered data science community to reveal relevant trend patterns and uncover new insights hidden within.”

As a result, businesses looking to make the most of custom application development to build programs that can improve workplace productivity and provide predictive modeling for consumer trends and industry growth may want to consider the most trusted software developing companies. Top programmers not only offer the tools to develop such database software, but also a consultative approach that ensures clients can make the most of their investment.

More and more businesses are finding tablet technology to be valuable in their efforts to limit administrative burdens and increase productivity in the workplace. However, some have been challenged with finding a cost-effective and easy-to-use option that would allow employees to grasp tablet technology quickly.

For many businesses, solutions for maximizing tablet technology can be found via database software powered by FileMaker. In its "Top 10 Business Trends of 2012" piece, Baseline Magazine predicted the use of tablets in the workplace to increase next year, led in part by FileMaker database software.

The source provided the example of the Austin Convention Center in Texas, which turned to custom application development to create a mobile version of its existing FileMaker-powered office database software. By using the intuitive technology, ACC was able to shorten the amount of time it spent training its workers to use tablets and saved at least $50,000 annually in improved productivity.

"We gave our maintenance service workers 10 minutes of training and off they went," the center's IT services manager, Joe Gonzalez, told the source.

FileMaker is the top database application for iPad and iPhone platforms, making it a natural fit for companies looking to enable the popular mobile devices with effective database software. 

The technology has been used to improve operations for companies in a variety of industries. For example, entertainment firms have been able to track financial and licensing information with tablet-based database software, while healthcare providers find its mobility to be an effective asset when caring for multiple patients in a hectic hospital environment.

Turnover is one of the realities of the working world, and it's one managers must prepare for from the first day they hire a new worker. By developing a firm foundation in their workplace – backed by solid hiring practices, regular employee encouragement and productivity tools like database software – managers may be able to survive the challenges caused by turnover.

According to The Wall Street Journal, it can cost businesses double a current employee's salary to hire and train his or her replacement. That's not to mention the loss of productivity that may be endured when one capable member of the staff chooses to leave the company.

Managers can limit turnover by establishing building blocks for a strong staff, the Journal advises. A thorough hiring process can help identify candidates that may be less likely to leave the company prematurely or abruptly. Similarly, open lines of communication between managers and employees can discourage the type of discontent that may lead a worker to submit his or her resignation.

Aside from adopting steps to limit turnover, managers may be able to prepare for this eventuality by firming up the overall team. The most rocky turnovers often occur when companies entrusted a single worker with too much responsibility or information. Smart Business provides the example of IT professionals, who are often given free reign over a company's tech operations and whose departure often leaves companies scrambling for help.

As a result, managers should develop processes that spread task assignments and resources evenly among the team, making it so that losing one member won't upend everything else. Similarly, by relying on inituitive database software to standardize and simplify operations, managers may be able to more easily plug a new employee into a vacated spot.
 

Many managers find themselves in a position of authority because they were able to demonstrate skill or proficiency in many administrative or technical tasks. However, one of their largest responsibilities is one that they may not have been challenged to display – a knack for people management.

The news source Small Business Trends published a review of "Full Engagement: Inspire, Motivate, and Bring Out the Best in Your People," a book written by business consultant Brian Tracy. According to the review, the book suggests managers engage in people management with full vigor and enthusiasm, since it is often the manager's attitude and decorum that steers the culture of the organization.

"The way you treat people, what you say and do that affects them emotionally, is more important in bringing out the best in people than all the education, intelligence or experience you might have at doing your job," Tracy writes in the introduction.

While the book describes a people-centric approach to management, it also behooves managers to arm themselves and their team with the tools for success. In this regard, it may be beneficial to turn to software developing companies for custom application development.

These consultant groups can help identify weaknesses or shortcomings in existing processes that may be mitigated through effective database software. They can also recommend the right software and vendor that may be able to help. FileMaker, for instance, is one top software that provides the intuitive interface and tools managers need to increase their productivity in a variety of fields.

Trusted FileMaker consultants may be able to connect clients in diverse industries such as education, government and nonprofit work with reliable database software that improves managers' and employees' workflows. As a result, managers can spend less time handling menial tasks and more time ensuring their workers are happy and productive.