The Four Pillars of Business (by Don Dennison)

As a business builder, I created what I call 'The Four Pillars of Business,' which enable a company to reach their full potential. The four pillars are: Company Product Value Assurance, Business Alignment, Strategic Planning for Sales, and Operations and Management Complexity.


Today we want to start with Company Product Value Assurance. There are many points, but I would like to cover only two. The first point is that our business needs to begin by making sure that our products are at the highest standard. Many companies today have their own private label products with their company logo. They are promoting themselves to their local, national, and international markets. In any industry, we need to have high standards, so that the highest quality is the end result. We need to be knowledgeable of the kinds of products that are being used in different markets.


Let me cover four points that we should follow in Company Product Value Assurance.


1. Product Value Quality Analysis
2. Company Procurement Guidelines
3. Finish Product Evaluation
4. Post Processing.


The four fundamentals above are simply guidelines to help you when it comes to achieving quality. If you want the complete picture of these fundamentals, just write me and I will gladly mail them to you. When you look at a company like Starbucks, you will find that their standard has been very high from its very beginnings. That's why they are the leader in the coffee industry today. It doesn't matter what you think of them. They are still the leader!


'What do my customers think of my product?' This is the most valuable feedback you can get. The end user is that person who buys your products. Again, let\'s look back at Starbuck's history. When they first started, they demanded a certain price for their products and they got it! Why? I believe it's because they have done the best job of marketing their products, as quality products. Who is asking for their products? The many people who are walking into their coffee shops each day are asking for great products. Starbucks has created a demand for their coffee. What they have done is created "Raving Fans".  It's time for all industries to reach another level or standard, and it begins with you and me.

In conclusion, let me remind you to read "Raving Fans" by Ken Blanchard and Sheldon Bowles. It is an easy read and it is a great book about satisfied customers... something we all need!

What is Fact & Reason (F&R)?

Simple.  The Fact & Reason (F&R) approach is about obtaining all relevant facts and figures, pertinent to a subject matter, and synthesizing the same using applicable analysis, deduction, and reasoning processes, so as to draw sensible, valid, and corroborated conclusions on the subject.

A straightforward example is say if it is postulated that Manchester United is the best football team in the world the following steps under the Fact & Reason approach would be used:

1.     Subject breakdown (Break down the subject into its constituent components).

• What does the statement "best football team" mean?
• Over what time period will the subject matter be measured?
• How would one be able to a objectively compared teams from different countries, different competitions, etc?

     2.  Obtain relevant facts and figures (For relevant time period and team universe)

• Obtain teams' certified results;
• Obtain teams' disciplinary records;
• Obtain teams' competitive awards history;
• Obtain teams' financial history;
• Obtain teams' fan club activity and support details;
• So no and so forth.

     3.  Analysis, compare, and contrast facts and figures for all members of the team    universe (Statistical, Econometric, Quantitative methods).

     4.  Deduction and conclusion drawing.

     5.  Testing of conclusions (Should have an element of independent review / opinion).

     6. Issue conclusion / view / opinion.

As simple as that.  Try it on any issue, starting with the simple day-to-day matters, get the hang of it and then begin applying the same to more difficult and challenging scenarios.  I will be happy to review your trials or provide independent feedback on the same, if you please.  Just post your F&R summary walk-throughs on this blog.  

Good luck and have fun.

Why I decided to blog?

It occurred to me that the global access and exposure that the internet can provide, to anyone interested, is simply priceless.  I have now spent just over two weeks on Facebook and it has provided me with the unique and unbelievable opportunity to reach scores of people, to be reached by them, to share my ideas, opinions, and views on a myriad of issues and matters, and to hear what others think as well.  The magical power to disseminate thoughts and ideas to thousands, via the internet, is too good to be true, but is clearly one of the attributes that makes the internet such a powerful global information-sharing platform.

I believe that the 21st century will mark the end of the reign of the importance of tangible material assets, and will usher in the true epitome of infinite value; data, information, and knowledge.  Notwithstanding, to my mind, these value drivers will be worthless if not applied properly, and the only way for that to happen is for them to be synthesized by fact and reason.  This is why I started this blog, so as to provide a stimulus and a platform to anyone and everyone interested in deducing actions, reactions, pro-actions on any matter or issue from the application of a fact and reason approach to available information.  It may be a life matter, an economic matter, a medical matter or a political matter, I strongly believe that the fact and reason approach can be of practical use as a model to guide, decisions, choices, options and solutions.

I would like this blog of mine to contribute to the positive, objective, and responsible discussion of issues, problems, and challenges, really of any size or nature, and encourage fruitful debate, engagement and idea-sharing for as many people as possible.  If this blog evolved into something of a think tank, or a reference point / sounding board for decision-making and action taking to any degree, I would be happy.