Technology Group International (TGI) and Panorama Consulting Group have announced a joint educational Webinar offering tips and techniques for successfully organizing and managing ERP software selection projects in the small to medium business (SMB) market. This free Webinar titled, "ERP Software: Failing to Plan Means Planning to Fail," will be held on Thursday, September 18, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. EDT. You can register in advance for the free online Webinar.

On the eve of a long weekend, it is tempting to overlook the role safety should play in everyone’s holiday plans. Whether a person is working, going on vacation or just hosting a barbeque at home, staying safe is key to having an enjoyable holiday.The American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) recommends employers commemorate Labor Day by conducting a companywide safety audit. Safety audits are important because they help businesses be proactive about safety and address problems before they result in an injury or illness.

New data based on analysis of the Internal Revenue Service's (IRS) National Research Program Individual Reporting Compliance Study of 2001, on which the agency's estimate of the "Tax Gap" is based, show that only one-half of Schedule C income and only 88 percent of capital gains are reported, David Cay Johnston, writing for Tax Notes says. Johnston obtained the data ahead of IRS publication.

Need a jingle for your business? Intuit, makers of QuickBooks software, has created a new Web site called the Intuit QuickBooks Jingle Generator. This automated process enables you to work with rock producer Tommy Silk to create your own personalized jingle.The first step entails choosing a business type. There are 20 categories to choose from, including Accounting Services, Real Estate, Consulting Services, Small Business (Other), Nonprofit/Causes, Restaurant/Catering, Retail/Shopping, and more.

The Financial Accounting Standards Board has issued a revised Exposure Draft (ED) of a proposed Statement of Financial Accounting Standards, Earnings per Share — an amendment of FASB Statement No. 128. The proposed Statement seeks to improve financial reporting by clarifying and simplifying the method of calculating earnings per share (EPS), while promoting the international convergence of accounting standards by eliminating major differences that currently exist between FASB Statement No. 128, Earnings per Share, and International Accounting Standard (IAS) 33, Earnings per Share.

By Mike Schultz and John DoerrFree is fine, but can I pay instead?Marketing is expensive. Especially when you sell complex products and services, your investments in brochures, Web sites, ads, direct mail, and PR can be steep. After all, you need to educate your prospects and seduce them with your solution and its benefits. This is a bit more involved than grabbing people's attention with a free sample for an impulse product like a cube of bubble gum with a gooey surprise in the middle.

Mentoring in general isn't a new concept, but for many firms, setting up a mentoring program is far down on the list of to-do's. Studies have shown that mentoring can be an effective workplace tool. Here are some tips for making the mentoring process a success.