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<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/" xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/" > <channel> <title>fsbmfms.info</title> <atom:link href="http://fsbmfms.info/feed" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" /> <link>https://fsbmfms.info</link> <description></description> <lastBuildDate>Sun, 24 Dec 2023 01:24:44 +0000</lastBuildDate> <language>en</language> <sy:updatePeriod>hourly</sy:updatePeriod> <sy:updateFrequency>1</sy:updateFrequency> <generator>http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3</generator> <item> <title>An Online Business School: The Best Fit for Your Education Needs</title> <link>https://fsbmfms.info/an-online-business-school-the-best-fit-for-your-education-needs,html</link> <comments>https://fsbmfms.info/an-online-business-school-the-best-fit-for-your-education-needs,html#comments</comments> <pubDate>Tue, 18 Apr 2023 12:22:08 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>admin</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Business]]></category> <category><![CDATA[business ideas]]></category> <category><![CDATA[business ideas 2023]]></category> <category><![CDATA[business insider]]></category> <category><![CDATA[business maker]]></category> <category><![CDATA[business maker 14]]></category> <category><![CDATA[business maker 2]]></category> <category><![CDATA[business motivation]]></category> <category><![CDATA[home based business]]></category> <category><![CDATA[how to start a business]]></category> <category><![CDATA[lyrics the business]]></category> <category><![CDATA[online business]]></category> <category><![CDATA[small business ideas]]></category> <category><![CDATA[the business]]></category> <category><![CDATA[the business lyrics]]></category> <category><![CDATA[the business music video]]></category> <category><![CDATA[the business tiesto]]></category> <category><![CDATA[the business tiesto video]]></category> <category><![CDATA[tiesto the business]]></category> <category><![CDATA[tiesto the business lyrics]]></category> <category><![CDATA[tiesto the business video]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://fsbmfms.info/?p=73</guid> <description><![CDATA[Online business schools have exploded in popularity in recent years. Whether it’s a working professional that wants to advance in his career or a younger student that doesn’t prefer the traditional classroom, online business education has become popular with all different types of students.If your job dictates that you can’t attend a traditional classroom during [...]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p> Online business schools have exploded in popularity in recent years. Whether it’s a working professional that wants to advance in his career or a younger student that doesn’t prefer the traditional classroom, online business education has become popular with all different types of students.If your job dictates that you can’t attend a traditional classroom during the day or live too far away from a campus, online schools or distance learning can help. Many new programs are hybrids–half classroom learning and the other half online. Many of these classes are also at night, so students can still work during the day.Online Education: Job-Saving AlternativeMany businesses pay more and give you more responsibility–and more pay–when you have a business education. But if you’re a working adult, that can put you in a pickle: keep working dutifully and stay in your current position, or quit altogether and go back to school and earn the degree that can put you ahead. Online business schools create a third and much preferred option: Keep your job and work toward your preferred degree via the Internet on your own schedule.Online Classrooms Direct to YouMany online business schools market themselves heavily toward the busy adult. For the distance learning institution, the traditional college student might be a stay-at-home-parent, willing to advance his career but preferring to avoid the ivy-covered buildings and throngs of recent high school graduates who tend to be more concerned with the university social scene than their education. Distance learning schools have irregular schedules to meet your needs or no schedule at all. Classes tend to go one at a time and are heavily concentrated. Remember summer school?Competing for Your DollarOnline business schools also give rise to regular competition for your local university. The local college used to be the only school. But now online studies are available to you almost anywhere in the country. If your college is based in Boston, Mass., but you’re in the middle of a garlic farm in Gilroy, Calif., you can still attend that school full-time without ever leaving home. If you don’t like what your local university has to offer, there are literally hundreds of online schools, all clamoring for your dollar.AdmissionsAdmissions at online schools tend to be more lenient. Don’t let that fool you, as the work loads are the same, but look for a few things:• Work experience in a field related to your business degree is almost as important as prior education.<br />• For many undergrad programs, you can apply with just a GED.<br />• MBA programs usually want more work experience than the undergrads. They obviously require a bachelor’s degree, but it doesn’t necessarily have to be in a business-related field or carry a high GPA.<br />• Despite higher tuition costs, most online business schools are quick to get you on the fast track for student aid.Online College ExplosionOnline education, or distance learning, has exploded in recent years. Colleges and universities that offer any form of distance learning is at 66 percent of all accredited schools. According to the Department of Education, more than 12 million students enrolled in distance learning: 77 percent online, 12 percent in hybrid/blended online and classroom courses, and 10 percent in other distance learning classes for the 2006 to 2007 school year.With so many options in online education, why not explore the range of business degree programs available to you. </p><div class="mads-block"></div>]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://fsbmfms.info/an-online-business-school-the-best-fit-for-your-education-needs,html/feed</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Will Obamacare Cause The Loss Of Healthcare Jobs?</title> <link>https://fsbmfms.info/will-obamacare-cause-the-loss-of-healthcare-jobs,html</link> <comments>https://fsbmfms.info/will-obamacare-cause-the-loss-of-healthcare-jobs,html#comments</comments> <pubDate>Mon, 17 Apr 2023 20:56:43 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>admin</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Healthcare]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://fsbmfms.info/?p=67</guid> <description><![CDATA[The Affordable Care Act, otherwise known as “Obamacare”, is scheduled to be fully implemented in 2014 unless a new president and congress can repeal it within the next year. On both sides of the aisle there’s plenty of argument about whether or not the coming regulations will be good for the industry. One question that [...]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p> The Affordable Care Act, otherwise known as “Obamacare”, is scheduled to be fully implemented in 2014 unless a new president and congress can repeal it within the next year. On both sides of the aisle there’s plenty of argument about whether or not the coming regulations will be good for the industry. One question that continues to be asked is whether or not Obamacare will cause the loss of healthcare jobs.It will if you believe a recent report from the Auburn Citizen in central New York. The Citizen ran a story reporting on U.S. Rep. Ann Marie Buerkle attacking fellow representative Dan Maffei and his support for the Affordable Care Act in 2010. According to Buerkle, the recent decision by a local hospital to lay off 25 workers can be directly attributed to the legislation and a fear of pending cuts in Medicare reimbursements. The Citizen story says the 25 layoffs bring the total number in the local area to 300.It’s interesting that the topic of healthcare jobs didn’t get much play in the debate leading up to the passage and signing of Obamacare. It was all about providing cheap, comprehensive healthcare to everyone in the country regardless of need and/or financial status. Yet hidden in the fine details, according to the Citizen and other sources, is the very real threat of significant funding cuts.Short and Long-Term EffectsOverall Obamacare shouldn’t have a drastic effect on healthcare jobs in the short term. For every facility that cuts workers because of Medicare reductions, other facilities will be hiring them to keep up with the demand created by millions of new clients being added to the healthcare roles. But if the fears about Obamacare turn out to be correct, healthcare jobs will be affected negatively in the long run.Opponents of Obamacare cite the Canadian and British models of healthcare as proof. In those countries healthcare funding is stretched to its absolute limit with no means to stretch it any further. So despite long wait times, understaffed clinics and hospitals, and general healthcare disarray no one can afford to hire more healthcare workers.To be fair, the systems in both Canada and the UK both have a good number of healthcare job openings at the current time. But most of them are for low-paying jobs with not enough stability to make them worthwhile. Healthcare professionals in both of those countries decry their working conditions, their compensation, and the quality of care they are dispense. Doctors even struck over the summer to secure better pay.No One Really KnowsNo matter which side of the argument you’re on, no one really knows what the future of America’s health care system is going to be. We can’t even look at the Canadian and British models for comparison because:1. We’re only getting half the truth from both sides of the argument.2. Our economic and political systems are significantly different. 3. Our attitudes about healthcare and its delivery are also different.In the end we just have to decide whether or not to repeal the Affordable Care Act and start over, or let it happen and hope for the best. I’m inclined to side with the first option, but not because of the threat to healthcare jobs. I’m inclined to repeal the law because past history demonstrates the U.S. government cannot do anything efficiently and effectively. If they can’t even manage the Postal Service, Amtrak, and Social Security, how on earth are they going to manage the health care system? </p>]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://fsbmfms.info/will-obamacare-cause-the-loss-of-healthcare-jobs,html/feed</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>How To Market Your Digital Art</title> <link>https://fsbmfms.info/how-to-market-your-digital-art,html</link> <comments>https://fsbmfms.info/how-to-market-your-digital-art,html#comments</comments> <pubDate>Sat, 01 Apr 2023 17:50:50 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>admin</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Digital Arts]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://fsbmfms.info/?p=65</guid> <description><![CDATA[Marketing Your Digital Art for Free Through Blogging:Step 1: Start your own blog.* Download and install a blog to your website. * Even if you are not a writer, begin your blog. Write about your art, other people’s art, techniques, skills, how-to’s or even simple musings. * Your postings do not have to be long. [...]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p> Marketing Your Digital Art for Free Through Blogging:Step 1: Start your own blog.* Download and install a blog to your website.<br />* Even if you are not a writer, begin your blog. Write about your art, other people’s art, techniques, skills, how-to’s or even simple musings.<br />* Your postings do not have to be long. In fact, it is sometimes better to keep them short and sweet.<br />* Make sure that your blog is formatted (ie. use bold, italics, bullet points etc to help the reader know what you are talking about)<br />* The point of your blog is threefold:1) Providing valuable and interesting information to readers,<br />2) Getting more content and keywords onto your website, and<br />3) Engaging with a network of peers and artists who can buy, recommend and link to your work.Step 2: Add your blog to Blog Directories* Once you have a bit of content (3-4 posts is probably enough), spend a day submitting your blog to blog directories. A quick search will pull up plenty.Step 3: Join in the blogging!!!* Check out the directories you just submitted to and try to find some blogs that are similar to yours.<br />* Start reading postings from other bloggers.<br />* Comment on postings. (PS. Do not bother commenting just to get your link there, bloggers are smarter than that and will delete your posts). Actually read what they wrote and make valuable remarks.<br />* Subscribe to blogs that you like. Bloggers are a friendly bunch, and it is a great way to get to know who else is out there.<br />* Remember: these are potential customers and also friends, so treat them as both. The more “Real” you are, the more likely someone will want to look at what you are doing too. </p>]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://fsbmfms.info/how-to-market-your-digital-art,html/feed</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Child Custody – Some FAQ’s</title> <link>https://fsbmfms.info/child-custody-some-faqs,html</link> <comments>https://fsbmfms.info/child-custody-some-faqs,html#comments</comments> <pubDate>Sat, 01 Apr 2023 06:47:18 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>admin</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Child Custody]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://fsbmfms.info/?p=63</guid> <description><![CDATA[For those unfamiliar with the process, child custody is one issue they would just as soon not get involved with. Unfortunately, since divorce brings with it the difficult problems of child custody and other attendant conflicts, people are now needing to learn more about certain aspects of it.Following are some of the most commonly asked [...]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p> For those unfamiliar with the process, child custody is one issue they would just as soon not get involved with. Unfortunately, since divorce brings with it the difficult problems of child custody and other attendant conflicts, people are now needing to learn more about certain aspects of it.Following are some of the most commonly asked questions from people who are not familiar with the subject. The answers represent responses collected from different child custody attorneys. Certainly, child custody laws are not the same for all states. The following answers are offered in general terms, and to the extent that they apply and/or are recognized by the courts.What Is Custody?”Custody” determines who is responsible for the child or children in cases when their parents do not live together. This will apply to couples who are separated, divorced, or who have never been married to each other.How Does Physical Custody Differ From Legal Custody?When a parent has physical custody, it refers to a situation in which the child will spend time living with that parent on a regular basis. If custody is “joint physical custody”, then the child is shuttled between the parent’s homes.When a parent has “sole legal custody”, that parent has the sole right to make decisions on the child’s education, health, and overall welfare (schools, doctor, etc). In “joint legal custody” both parents share in making the relevant decisions.How is a Decision Made?A judge usually gives his or her approval to a custody plan agreed on by the parents. If the parents cannot agree, they will have to speak with a mediator or counselor to help work out a plan. The judge will make the decision on any disputed issues that both parties are unable to resolve.Can a Child Still See a Parent Not Awarded Physical Custody?The court will usually order that the other parent be given generous visitation rights with the child. However, this will be restricted in cases where domestic violence has occurred, or the where parent’s ability to care for the child is in question.What Happens When A Custodial Parent Obstructs The Child’s Visit To The Other Parent?The non-custodial parent can ask the court for a “contempt” order. The parent who is denying visitation can receive court sanctions. If it can be proven that it was done intentionally, the non-custodial parent may have grounds to sue to be granted the child’s custody. The judge usually will first require the couple to attempt to work out things with the help of a mediator.Can A Custody Arrangement Be Altered If It Doesn’t Work?Parents usually are able to change a custody arrangement that doesn’t work, provided they are able to suggest a new plan, and they then ask the judge to make it official. If the parents continue to disagree, they can ask the judge to decide on the changes. The judge’s decision will be based on the best interests of the child. This can be difficult if the child has been well-cared for, or if the original custody plan has been in place for some time.Can Anybody Other Than The Parents Have Custody Over A Child?In California, a judge must consider the parents first, either singly or together. A judge may, however, grant custody to another person (a grandmother, step-parent, or a friend) with or without the parents’ consent. This can occur if the judge believes giving child custody to either parent would be detrimental to the child. </p>]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://fsbmfms.info/child-custody-some-faqs,html/feed</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Project Management 2.0 – The Ultimate Benefits Of The New Approach To Project Management</title> <link>https://fsbmfms.info/project-management-2-0-the-ultimate-benefits-of-the-new-approach-to-project-management,html</link> <comments>https://fsbmfms.info/project-management-2-0-the-ultimate-benefits-of-the-new-approach-to-project-management,html#comments</comments> <pubDate>Fri, 31 Mar 2023 20:46:11 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>admin</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Management]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://fsbmfms.info/?p=61</guid> <description><![CDATA[NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR BUSINESSES BROUGHT BY ENTERPRISE 2.0The social network phenomenon has already transformed the consumer Web into so-called “Web 2.0.” Now Web 2.0 is affecting business processes in thousands of organizations by offering incredible communication and collaboration opportunities known as “Enterprise 2.0.” “All these things that are thought to be consumer services are coming [...]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p> NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR BUSINESSES BROUGHT BY ENTERPRISE 2.0The social network phenomenon has already transformed the consumer Web into so-called “Web 2.0.” Now Web 2.0 is affecting business processes in thousands of organizations by offering incredible communication and collaboration opportunities known as “Enterprise 2.0.” “All these things that are thought to be consumer services are coming into the enterprise,” says former Oracle Corp. President Ray Lane, now a general partner at the venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers. Major corporations all over the world, such as IBM, Procter & Gamble, and Walt Disney, have embraced Enterprise 2.0 technologies. We are witnessing the transformation of traditional ways of doing business, and this transformation is caused by the new-generation applications.The term Enterprise 2.0 was coined by Andrew McAfee, an associate professor at Harvard Business School, in spring 2006. Professor McAfee introduced this term to describe the use of emergent social software platforms within companies, or between companies and their peers (partners or customers).Through the adoption of wikis, blogs, collaboration planning tools, social networks, and other “weapons of mass collaboration,” as Don Trapscott calls them in his book Wikinomics, collaboration patterns are changing in today’s organizations. Enterprise 2.0 software and business practices provide managers with access to the right information at the right time through a system of interconnected applications and services. Examples of thousands of small companies as well as giants like Microsoft, Toyota, and many others show that Web-based Enterprise 2.0 applications let businesses obtain a huge competitive advantage in the form of enforced innovation, productivity, and agility through access to the collective intelligence of many professionals.Efficient gathering and sharing of information, facilitated social connections within enterprises, and improved customer interactions are not the only benefits that Enterprise 2.0 software delivers to small companies and huge corporations. Let’s see how these tools can help to manage projects.THE NEW APPROACH TO MANAGING PROJECTSThe Enterprise 2.0 movement is naturally affecting and captivating project management in organizations. Blogs, wikis, and other second-generation tools offer better opportunities for communication and collaboration. Thus they provide a great potential for improving existing project management practices.Traditionally, a project manager is the major link in all project-related communications. This directly influences the efficiency of the team, as well as the manager’s own productivity. Nowadays, many companies still utilize Microsoft Excel spreadsheets or traditional project management applications, like Microsoft Project, for tracking their projects. E-mailing text documents and spreadsheets is still very popular, despite its many shortcomings.E-mail is a closed communication medium, and many companies confirm that it does a poor job of capturing and sharing knowledge. For example, if you e-mail a document to two people, you then have three copies of this document to manage, merge, and differentiate. It is hard to work on this document simultaneously. This is not the only problem. Knowledge is buried in e-mails, as it is available only to the sender and the recipients, so all the other team members cannot benefit from it. For example, if an employee e-mails a status update to his manager, the change will only be visible to other people after the manager manually updates the schedule. This produces unnecessary work and delays the exchange of information. There is little visibility and control over the project if all information is buried in thousands of e-mails residing in employees’ mailboxes. The list of disadvantages could go on.Traditional project management tools are not focused on collaboration, either. They were mostly designed with the top-down approach in mind and are not meant for open collaboration. These tools are focused on a project manager and make him the core element of the project communications. He first has to pull facts out of employees through meetings and e-mails, then put them into a file and communicate the project plan to upper management and clients. The process is then repeated every time something changes. The project manager also needs to play the role of an alarm clock, reminding employees of their deadlines and overdue tasks. The whole process turns out to be time-consuming and effortful, and it results in a heavy burden for a project manager. The amount of routine work sometimes does not leave the manager time for leadership.Enterprise 2.0 technologies catalyze innovations in project management. These innovations can be called Project Management 2.0. The term highlights a new approach to project management, characterized by a dramatic shift toward having collaboration as the heart of managing projects. The new-generation tools take care of the routine part of a project manager’s work: reminding team members about deadlines, merging status updates into a single plan, and communicating changes. New tools also let people collaborate and share information easily. The role of the project manager is changing; he is becoming a project visionary, instead of a taskmaster. New-generation tools give him more space for being a project leader.What makes the new technologies so effective? I will list the five key benefits below.Making It Simple to CollaborateOne of the major constraints associated with traditional project management software was its complexity. Traditional tools have hundreds of features, which take months to master. Adoption of traditional project management software is often connected with spending a lot of the employees’ time and the company’s money on training. In contrast, the second-generation project management tools are lightweight and easy to use. They provide an opportunity to start collaborating immediately, without any delays for extensive learning and initial set-up.New project management tools can be easily utilized even by unskilled computer users, making it possible to involve more people in project collaboration. A well-known example is blogging. It is very simple to share ideas in a blog and get feedback in comments. Simplicity drives adoption. When people like the software, they use it more often.New software tools provide a much better user experience, which helps to solve one of the biggest challenges of traditional software packages. One of the major problems with traditional tools was the users’ unwillingness to update data regularly. Plans often got outdated and became useless because of that. New tools are much more convenient to use. For example, they let you create tasks in the system by sending e-mails from their Blackberry devices. This level of simplicity and convenience engages users and thus helps to keep information up-to-date. This is a critical component for successful project management software implementation. The power of new tools comes to the surface when they turn simple actions of individual users into a great product of collective work. In Enterprise 2.0 terms, it is called collective intelligence and emergent structures.Collective intelligence is the capacity of human communities to evolve to higher order complexity and harmony, through differentiation, integration, competition and collaboration. In other words, it is a form of intelligence that emerges from the collaboration and competition of many individuals. This notion is closely connected with the term “emergent structures.”Emergence is a way complex systems and patterns arise out of a multiplicity of relatively simple interactions. In plain terms it is a form of collective behaviour, when parts of a system do together that they would not do by themselves. Therefore, emergent structures are the structures that appear as a result of multiple, relatively simple interactions of a number of individuals. The interactions are uncontrolled, but are purposeful.Together these two powerful principles make project management 2.0 tools powerful instruments for improving teams’ productivity.Taking Advantage of the Wisdom of the Whole TeamThe new-generation, Web-based tools give team members an easy way to contribute to the common repository of tasks and plans. These tools unleash the power of collective intelligence and change the pattern of project management.In his book The Wisdom of Crowds, James Surowiecki states that “groups are remarkably intelligent and are often smarter than the smartest people in them. Groups do not need to be dominated by exceptionally intelligent people in order to be smart.” He also stresses that “decentralization’s greatest strength is that it encourages independence and specialization on the one hand while still allowing people to coordinate their activities and solve difficult problems.”With the new technologies, people get a more efficient working environment where they can gather and share knowledge from different fields that each project team member is an expert in. The project manager guides the team’s work and chooses the right direction, based on the information received from the individual employees. The tools even help the manager to merge this information, turning an e-mail mess into well-organized timelines.At the same time the new-generation tools let project managers control changes and the progress of the project work. Reporting is highly automated on all levels, including corporate executives, who get their view of the project automatically.The reports are pulled on the fly from real data, so they are up-to-date. All these factors boost the team’s productivity and help the company make the right decisions at the right time.<br />Collective intelligence goes hand-in-hand with emergent structures, another practice that has a great impact on contemporary project management.Many-to-Many Structure BenefitsMicrosoft Project and many other traditional management tools allow you to have only a strict, one-to-many work breakdown structure of tasks (and other similar items). This creates several negative consequences. First, there can be only one view of the project, while in real life there might be a need to have many different views of the same project. Project marketers, business analyst, engineers, and testers might want to slice the project in different ways. Often, the same person needs different slices – for example, by release and by feature. This inconvenience makes the software less usable and thus people become hesitant to check plans and update them regularly. On one hand, these factors lead to obsolete and useless project plans. On the other hand, the necessity to select one work breakdown structure greatly increases the cost of mistake for the project manager.The whole process becomes very tricky and requires a lot of up-front thinking, predictions, and responsibility for the project manager.Project management 2.0 tools have fewer restrictions. They let structures emerge, without strong central control. These structures are born from lots of little interactions that are designed to solve specific problems. For example, collaboration planning tools, like Wrike allow work-breakdown structures to emerge from the bottom up. What employees design as the best work-breakdown structure for their tasks becomes a part of a bigger picture seen by the manager.In these tools hierarchies are many-to-many, in contrast to the one-to-many hierarchy in Microsoft Project. This effectively means that you can pick any reasonable sub-set of tasks, create a view and share it with someone who needs this view. It is not like all-or-nothing sharing of a file. At the end of the day more people can collaborate. As the new tools allow team members to make changes to the initial structure simultaneously, more people can organize and reorganize their views, and more structures emerge. The resulting structures fit project participants much better than one stiff work-breakdown structure.This agility helps to bring iterative and incremental practices into project management without giving away the control.The project manager’s job becomes more about coordination and guidance than routine manual updates, and the whole team can react to changes much faster.Project management 2.0 tools allow you to start with one task, add twenty more, organize them, add more tasks, reorganize them, and repeat the process on a daily basis by many or your employees and managers. When seven employees share their daily to-do lists with a team leader, the team leader gets a bigger picture. When five team leaders share their teams’ plans with project managers, a picture gets bigger. When it goes through directors and the vice president to the CEO, the whole structure evolves from what was one task into a big ecosystem that perfectly suits the organization. All with a help of very simple tools and very powerful principles that stay behind those tools – collective intelligence and emergent structures.Empowered by emergent structures and collective intelligence, project managers can combine field knowledge coming bottom-up with the guidance coming top-down. There is also a significant benefit for executives: emergent structures emergent allow you to get complete visibility that bridges the gap between strategic corporate plans and daily to-do lists of employees. Getting the Bigger Picture<br />Full insight into what is going on in the organization is vital for aligning internal business resources with the requirements of the changing environment. For example, if we speak of software development, the bug fixing schedule may affect the next release schedule. The next release schedule in its turn may affect the marketing campaign, which may affect sales plans. Sales plans will naturally have an impact on financial plans. Having the whole picture helps corporate executives to make a better choice for allocating internal resources when there is a need to react properly to the changes in the business environment. Project management 2.0 tools empowered by emergent structures and many-to-many hierarchies are naturally able to provide this big picture view. Emergent structures help to turn separated strategic plans, quarterly plans, project plans and daily to-do lists of team members into one business development master plan. Many-to-many hierarchies let corporate executives see each project and their whole organization from different points of view. These two powerful principles allow managers to drill down to each team member’s tasks and follow the work of the whole enterprise at the same time.<br />When project managers can easily view every detail of their project development, and corporate executives are able to use their business resources most rationally, projects bring value faster.Productivity BoostWith new tools, project managers save hours on routine operations related to aggregating the information from e-mails and meetings and keeping it up to date. Reporting is simplified on all levels, as part of it can be easily achieved by sharing the related part of the collaborative workspace. Second-generation project management software gives every team member an opportunity to be aware of the changes in the project without unnecessary meetings, e-mails, and phone calls. The collaboration becomes much faster and much more productive. It results in faster project delivery and faster return on investment.To start innovation and improvements in your organization is easy. As was already mentioned above, new tools are very user-friendly and easy to adopt. You just have to pick the right ones.PROJECT MANAGEMENT 2.0 TOOLS: A NEW COLLABORATIVE SPACEPerhaps the most popular of the new-generation applications that companies can benefit from are blogs, wikis, and collaboration planning tools.BlogsBoth internal and external use of blogs can be advantageous for a project. The major benefit of internal blogging is that it gives the opportunity to facilitate direct communication between various layers of an organization. Blogs allow team members who otherwise would not have been aware of or invited to participate in a discussion to contribute their expertise. Thousands of companies now use blogging tools like Blogger, LiveJournal, Typepad, Movable Type, WordPress or Radio UserLand. For example, British Library and University College London collaborate on a project called the LIFE (Lifecycle Information for E-Literature) through a blog. A blog is a way for these two organizations to work together more efficiently and keep all the project information in one place.External blogging helps to encourage the strongest community goodwill, and this goodwill, in turn, promotes significant marketing and sales gains. Thousands of companies are already reaping the rewards of their investment in external project blogging. For, example, companies like Microsoft, IBM, Google, Sun Microsystems, and SAP write project blogs on a regular basis. The number of non-technology organizations that have their own project blogs is rapidly growing, too. One of the most prominent examples is the From Edison’s Desk blog – a blog for the GE Global Research project. It offers an opportunity for technology enthusiasts around the globe to discuss the future of technology with top researchers from one of the world’s largest and most diverse industrial research labs.WikisA wiki is another technology that can be successfully applied to managing projects. Its basic advantage is that it lets users to create, edit, and link Web pages easily. Wikis usually have very few restrictions, thus they tend to accumulate a shared knowledge that was traditionally kept out of stiff corporate enterprise software and intranets – the knowledge that was usually buried in e-mails. A good example of wiki usage would be Dresdner Kleinwort, the investment banking division of Dresdner Bank AG that gained an e-mail traffic volume reduction by 75%. They also slashed meeting time in half. Another example is a Linux-based operating system called Fedora, which uses a project wiki to bring the end user’s point of view into the product development. There are a lot of wiki solutions that are be successfully used by many companies. The most well-known is an open source wiki called MediaWiki, the one that is used by Wikipedia.Wikis and blogs are good generic tools that can help to share knowledge much more effectively than e-mails. To gain visibility and control over operations, companies also need to empower their managers and employees with a collaborative planning solution.Collaboration Planning ToolsNew collaboration applications and platforms combine the level of control associated with traditional project management software with the benefits of Web 2.0 applications to give a productivity boost to companies and bring better visibility. The best tools in this field are integrated with e-mail and easy and inexpensive to adopt. They democratize project management software. Can you provide some examples<br />Collaboration planning tools bridge the gaps between employees’ to-do lists, project plans, and strategic goals. With the help of these tools, a project manager gains complete visibility of all the projects he is responsible for. The upper management knows what is going on inside of every project and has the whole picture. The software takes a lot of routine operations on its shoulders – turning e-mail mess into a nice-looking timeline, reminding people about overdue tasks and building reports. These tools help to collect information and make it accessible to any team member anywhere. This expedites information sharing and accelerates decision making.Governmental, educational, commercial, and non-profit organizations all over the world are embracing project management 2.0 tools to improve their project management. Corporations like McDonalds, Walt Disney, Apple, Toyota and Capgemini utilize second-generation project management applications within their departments.CONCLUSIONThe use of innovative project management technologies promises to have a profound and far-reaching effect on how projects are managed today. These technologies let companies acquire the key ingredient to success in any business – they help companies make better decisions faster. Project management 2.0 gives a great productivity boost to project managers and their teams.Today, the project management landscape is changing, opening new competitive advantages for companies. While some companies are struggling with the pains of traditional project management tools and e-mail, others are becoming more efficient and innovative by leveraging the benefits of the new technologies. I hope this article will help you adopt some of the Project Management 2.0 tools and practices. </p>]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://fsbmfms.info/project-management-2-0-the-ultimate-benefits-of-the-new-approach-to-project-management,html/feed</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Spa and Salon Marketing Ideas: The Value of Developing An Internet Presence for the Salon Or Spa</title> <link>https://fsbmfms.info/spa-and-salon-marketing-ideas-the-value-of-developing-an-internet-presence-for-the-salon-or-spa,html</link> <comments>https://fsbmfms.info/spa-and-salon-marketing-ideas-the-value-of-developing-an-internet-presence-for-the-salon-or-spa,html#comments</comments> <pubDate>Fri, 31 Mar 2023 18:22:33 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>admin</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Spa and Wellness]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://fsbmfms.info/?p=59</guid> <description><![CDATA[Spa and Salon marketing ideas using the Internet are generally not well-known. As a Hair Salon or Day Spa owner, your goal of getting new clients and repeat customers is significant for your small business enterprise to stay alive and expand. Having said that, promoting and promotion has ordinarily been a daunting job for a [...]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p> Spa and Salon marketing ideas using the Internet are generally not well-known. As a Hair Salon or Day Spa owner, your goal of getting new clients and repeat customers is significant for your small business enterprise to stay alive and expand. Having said that, promoting and promotion has ordinarily been a daunting job for a few Salons & Spas. Printing costs have become more expensive everyday. The same with TV ads, Radio ads, and other traditional forms of advertising.It’s hard for a Salon or Spa to stay alive and grow when traditional advertising costs are so high. This is why on the net Salon and Spa advertising and promoting concepts have become so popular. Traditional advertising procedures are no longer as effective as they used to be when it comes to placing your Salon or Spa in front of your local prospects.Remember when the Yellow Pages was a huge book? Not anymore, it’s about half the size it was a few short years ago. If this is where you are spending a majority of your funds promoting your Salon or Spa using Yellow Page ads and newspapers, you might want to re-evaluate whether or not it is actually producing a profit for you. It is almost impossible to track how much sales come from Yellow Page ads. Let me ask you a question… how many consumers still go to the Telephone Book to find a Salon or Day Spa?Your potential customer is searching for you on-line utilizing Google, Yahoo and Bing, with search terms like, “hair salon new york, or “day spa atlanta.” So it only makes sense that your Salon or Day Spa to have a higher search engine ranking if you want any chance of cornering your local market.Since most of your local shoppers are on the net anyway, your Salon or Spa must incorporate some new marketing and advertising tactics that will allow you to put your salon or spa right in front of your potential customer.If you want your firm to survive and grow, the best time to master the net and Technology is today, not 10 years from now when newer businesses end up putting you out of business because they mastered the Internet and you did not.In fact, did you recognize that some studies have shown that more than 92.3% of purchasers search on-line for local Salons and Spas? No one wants to open up telephone book (if they can even find it) to search for a local business. When it’s time to get their hair done or get a massage — their iPhone, laptop, home PC or work PC is generally right at their finger tips.As you can see, incorporating the Internet into Spa and Salon marketing ideas is vital. Based on these numbers, moving your Salon or Spa into Facebook, YouTube Video Advertising, Google Search Engine Optimization, Email Campaigns, and mobile technologies, will clearly help you reach a wider local audience.You probably agree that it makes sense to market your Salon or Spa where your target audience is spending a majority of their time – which is on the On the internet and on their mobile devices, like iPhones and iPads. Quickly start making use of Spa and Salon marketing ideas that include the World-wide-web before newer businesses that decide to embrace the Internet take all your local customers. </p>]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://fsbmfms.info/spa-and-salon-marketing-ideas-the-value-of-developing-an-internet-presence-for-the-salon-or-spa,html/feed</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>The Mind-Body-Spirit Diet</title> <link>https://fsbmfms.info/the-mind-body-spirit-diet,html</link> <comments>https://fsbmfms.info/the-mind-body-spirit-diet,html#comments</comments> <pubDate>Fri, 31 Mar 2023 16:41:05 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>admin</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Mind Body Spirit]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://fsbmfms.info/?p=57</guid> <description><![CDATA[The Mind-Body-Spirit diet isn’t just a normal ‘diet’, infact it isn’t so much a diet, but more a long-term plan that can help you lose weight and keep the weight off. Best of all it isn’t restricting you at any point. I must warn you, if you’re the kind of person that loves eating big [...]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p> The Mind-Body-Spirit diet isn’t just a normal ‘diet’, infact it isn’t so much a diet, but more a long-term plan that can help you lose weight and keep the weight off. Best of all it isn’t restricting you at any point. I must warn you, if you’re the kind of person that loves eating big amounts of food without thinking twice about the consequences then this diet will be challenging (to start off with). However, if you are serious about losing weight and/or maintaining your weight then this “diet” is for you.First of all, you may be wondering a little bit about this diet (or perhaps you’re thinking ‘shut up and get to the point’, in which I would be thinking too, if I were you.. but I promise I’ll get there..). Here are some questions and answers:Question: How long am I to go on this diet before I see results?<br />Answer: Combined with exercise, anytime between a week and two weeks. I can’t tell you how much you’ll lose because it really depends on the individual and how much they were eating before going on this “diet”.Question: Why should I follow this diet and not some other one that promises significant weight loss in a short amount of time?<br />Answer: I’m not saying you should. However, many diets are not sustainable, they promise quick weight loss but they either completely deprive yourself, or you cannot sustain a healthy living afterwards.Now, the rules are as follows. Keep in mind that you don’t have to beat yourself up if you don’t follow the rules strictly. Thats damaging to your soul… and that defeats the whole purpose. Rather these are guidelines that you should follow and get used to.[EAT WHATEVER YOU DESIRE] but…1) Think-before-you-eat<br />Before you consume such a food, think about how it makes you feel afterwards. Does it make you feel happy? Does it make you feel energized? Does it make you feel satisfied or wanting more?E.G you feel like a hamburger from McDonalds. It may make you feel groggy afterwards… so is it worth consuming? Keeping in mind not to think about the fat content or calories, just how it makes you feel. Thinking about this can change your decision – for the better or the worse.2) Decide if you really want it or you are just consuming it because of boredom?<br />If you really want it, then have it. If its out of boredom or something emotional then do something else to occupy your time. Empty calories on empty time don’t equal fun. Rather they equal extra calories that you simply do not need.3) Have small portions<br />If you have smaller portions of the food you love then not only will you not be overdoing it but you’ll be valueing it so much more because you know there is only a small amount infront of you.4) Balance your meals<br />If you feel like pancakes for breakfast then whats stopping you? Have them! But make sure that your next meal is full of protein and/or fiber. This way you are helping to get all food groups into your diet and aren’t fulling your body of unwanted fat/sugar.5) Eat till you are satisfied.<br />Not till you are finished the plate, not till you are full. You should eat till you are satisfied. Not only will you feel so much better at the end (which equals happiness) but you will be consuming the right amount of calories while enjoying every food you like.6) Eat slowly and thoughtfully<br />Which means don’t scoff your food down and don’t do other things will eating food (such as driving, watching tv or going on the computer). Enjoy your food – every mouthful. This will also result in inner peace, satisfaction and prevent you from eating more than you should.7) Put the food down when the bite isn’t as good as the last.<br />Because whats the point of eating it when it doesn’t taste as good anymore? By this point you would have been satisfied.For those wanting to lose weight by this, do power yoga or another form of exercise (that you enjoy) for at least half an hour a day. </p>]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://fsbmfms.info/the-mind-body-spirit-diet,html/feed</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Finding Cheap Airfare and Hotel Reservations – What is the Best Strategy?</title> <link>https://fsbmfms.info/finding-cheap-airfare-and-hotel-reservations-what-is-the-best-strategy,html</link> <comments>https://fsbmfms.info/finding-cheap-airfare-and-hotel-reservations-what-is-the-best-strategy,html#comments</comments> <pubDate>Thu, 02 Feb 2023 05:42:05 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>admin</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://fsbmfms.info/?p=54</guid> <description><![CDATA[For many people, vacations that we can afford usually require cheap airfare and hotel reservations.There seems to always a be a bounty of airfare deals, discount hotel accommodations and rental car promotions. But bear in mind that there are factors determining your final costs. The day and time of your scheduled flight, the days of [...]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p> For many people, vacations that we can afford usually require cheap airfare and hotel reservations.There seems to always a be a bounty of airfare deals, discount hotel accommodations and rental car promotions. But bear in mind that there are factors determining your final costs. The day and time of your scheduled flight, the days of the week you will occupy a hotel room or rent a car, and when you secure your reservations are controllable elements of booking reservations. Also, special promotions come, go and change constantly.Making your hotel reservations online is a good strategy. You will find everything at your fingertips. Great selection, great discounts and the internet offers unequaled comparison shopping.Package deals can definitely save you money. You can save hundreds of dollars when buying package deals. Online travel sites typically offer pricing for flights, hotels, and car rental separately or in whatever combination you want.A good way to save on hotel reservations is to go to the website of the hotel your interested in staying at. Hotel owners like their hotels full and if business is slow they can offer some amazing deals. If your over fifty, don’t forget to ask for a senior discount.Many experts in the travel industry recommend booking your air tickets and your hotel reservations as far ahead of time as you are able to. Advance booking, they claim, will frequently give you an advantage with more beneficial pricing. Booking well in advance of your trip puts you at ease because you can focus on the wonderful trip ahead. If you don’t want to gamble this is your best option. As you get closer to your departure date, check back with your travel website or to see if there are any new promotions available. They probably won’t contact you about them but you could very well get an even better deal even though you have already made your purchase.Many travelers wait until the last minute to look for cheap airfare and hotel deals. Sometimes, good deals can still be found but the flip side is that many have found themselves unable to book any type of hotel reservation or airfare because attendees of a big football game or convention had already gobbled up everything.So, the best strategy for securing your cheap airline and hotel reservations is to go ahead and book early for your peace of mind. Utilize the internet for comparison shopping. Do your homework and be aware of any additional discounts you may qualify for. Try for some last minute negotiating for an even better deal. And then, focus on more pleasurable things like shopping for your trip, reading up on all the neat things you will be able to do and see at your destination. </p>]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://fsbmfms.info/finding-cheap-airfare-and-hotel-reservations-what-is-the-best-strategy,html/feed</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Top 10 Myths For Payday Loans</title> <link>https://fsbmfms.info/top-10-myths-for-payday-loans,html</link> <comments>https://fsbmfms.info/top-10-myths-for-payday-loans,html#comments</comments> <pubDate>Wed, 01 Feb 2023 19:02:47 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>admin</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://fsbmfms.info/?p=52</guid> <description><![CDATA[1. Payday loans trap consumers in “cycle of debt” Although the phrase “cycle of debt” is a favourite among industry critics, it is not based on the truth. Researchers and American state regulators consistently report that 70-80% of customers use payday cash advances between once a year and once a month.It is important to understand [...]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p> 1. Payday loans trap consumers in “cycle of debt”<br />Although the phrase “cycle of debt” is a favourite among industry critics, it is not based on the truth. Researchers and American state regulators consistently report that 70-80% of customers use payday cash advances between once a year and once a month.It is important to understand that a payday advance is not meant to be a long term loan. What a payday loan has done is assist millions of families with emergency needs. This means that a payday advance is given only under the agreement that it will be paid off on the applicant’s next payday (hence the term, payday advance). Short-term loan providers also operate a rollover service to help keep the payday advance applicant from being stuck in a long term, high interest rate loan.2. All operate as loan sharks<br />A payday loan provided by a reputable payday loan or cash advance company does not take advantage of people. It is meant to be used only for a short term emergency situation by employed persons who need a little bit of help between paydays for emergencies. This is a very common occurrence when most families live pay check to pay check and may not be financially prepared for emergency repairs, travel or medical expenses. In reality, quick payday loans fill a necessary component in the economic world.3. Rude employees<br />Payday loan companies do not compete on the price of their loan, therefore it is important for them to compete on other aspects of the service to create a competitive advantage. One of these ways is through customer service and to ensure all employees are financially knowledgeable and are fully qualified for the job to certify their customers are given an excellent customer service. This is further enhanced through the recording and monitoring of telephone calls in and out of the company.4. Target vulnerable people, the poor etc<br />Payday advances are marketed toward subprime clients without a distinction in employment or culture. In fact, payday loans are marketed toward those people earning between £10 000 and £25 000 per year. Most payday advance members are under 45 years old and all applicants are currently employed with a steady income and have an active checking account. In reality, payday advances are meant for working adults with an immediate emergency need that cannot be satisfied through bank and union loans.5. Hide fees and have high interest rates<br />The payday cash loan facility is required by law to disclose any application fees, interest rates and other fees. In accordance with OFT guidelines, it is a legal requirement that all fees and rates must be clearly outlined and disclosed to the customer.A payday loan does have high interest rates. This is not because the lender is trying to take advantage of emergencies, but because they are a short term lender. The payday loans are meant to be short term loans, not long term loans that are constantly refinanced with monthly statements. This means that the payday loan company assumes greater risk at the same profit level as other financial institutions.6. Threaten customers with coercive collection practices<br />Short-term loan providers are committed to collecting past due accounts in a professional, fair and lawful manner involving no criminal actions. In accordance with BBCA’s guidelines, companies in the UK may not pursue criminal actions against a customer as a result of the customer not repaying their loan. If absolutely necessary and after all other approaches have been tried, the lender may turn the issue over to a collection agency.7. Operate outside the OFT guidelines<br />All short-term loan lenders should follow OFT guidelines and are dedicated to practicing all practices and collections in the best way possible. The company strives to educate the consumer and to make sure that our borrowers clearly understand the payday loan process. This is in accordance within the customer selection criteria in a Responsible Lending policy.8. Unethical<br />Many posts have been written on consumer forums about how payday loan lenders are unethical and immoral for taking money from people who need it the most. This is not the objective of payday advances; these short-term loans are meant to tie over consumers until payday and be paid back on time. One loan provider operate a ‘Responsible Lending’ policy, listed in this policy are guidelines stating that the company’s charges are transparent and only lend to customers who can pay the loan back. The company also offers a payment plan option if customers are unable to pay back the loan on time; this allows them to pay back a small amount per week which the customer can afford.Short-term loan lenders who offer payday advances have also been seen to partner with a charity to match customer donations made through the website. For example, one lender has partnered with Starlight Children’s Foundation to match the 50p donation, customers can choose to make on their interest payment.9. Adds unauthorised charges to accounts<br />Payday loan providers only charge customers what they owe, and do not want to charge customers more for their loan. All companies ethical practices and responsible lending policy ensures customers only pay back the interest payments and charges which are relevant to their account.10. Employees are trained to set hooks<br />Employees from payday loan providers are trained purely for business purposes, and to help customers as much as they can. Employees from short-term loan providers pride themselves on excellent customer service and helping customers out. To employees from this short-term loan lender happy customers mean increase commission. </p>]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://fsbmfms.info/top-10-myths-for-payday-loans,html/feed</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>How to Design a Sloping Garden</title> <link>https://fsbmfms.info/how-to-design-a-sloping-garden,html</link> <comments>https://fsbmfms.info/how-to-design-a-sloping-garden,html#comments</comments> <pubDate>Wed, 01 Feb 2023 15:24:39 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>admin</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://fsbmfms.info/?p=50</guid> <description><![CDATA[A good design can transform a sloping site into a spectacular garden. I have designed many sloping gardens, I love doing them but know how tricky they can be to get right. You need a thorough understanding of site topography and a detailed plan to address the level changes in order to avoid the many [...]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p> A good design can transform a sloping site into a spectacular garden. I have designed many sloping gardens, I love doing them but know how tricky they can be to get right. You need a thorough understanding of site topography and a detailed plan to address the level changes in order to avoid the many pitfalls of creating gardens on slopes.The best way to design gardens on sloping sites is to create terraces using retaining walls to provide flat areas that can be used as functional spaces within the garden. The level changes in a sloping garden dictate naturally the creation of outdoor rooms at different heights each with a unique atmosphere. The spaces can be enclosed and/or sunken for privacy and intimacy or opened up creating a sunny terrace with a fabulous view. The steps and ramps needed to navigate and access the levels can provide different journeys around the garden as well as being sculptural design features.The garden must be structured to create useable spaces that work with the level changes and meet the clients brief. In the UK, retaining walls can be no more than 1m high adjoining the roadway or 1.8m high elsewhere in the garden without needing planning permission. Always check house deeds as some have covenants that relate to maximum permissible heights of garden walls.It is rarely feasible or desirable to create one large retaining wall to reduce the garden to a single level. Other than on a very small slope this would be overbearing, make some parts of the garden hard to access, and almost certainly raise the garden so that it infringes on neighbors privacy. Avoid very high retaining walls, and split the garden into fewer, shallower levels.The new garden levels must not be raised so high that they are overlooking neighboring gardens. It may not be possible to construct a large terrace adjacent to the house if it sits on top of a steep bank. This would create a platform from which people could see directly into neighboring gardens and houses and this is neither desirable nor legal. In the UK, deck may not be raised more than 30cm from the existing ground level without planning permission. The solution is to create a seating area in a lower part of the garden – not quite so convenient, but more private for everyone concerned.The height differences between various parts of the garden dictate how high any retaining wall needs to be for any given distance away from the house. The further any terrace extends out over or into a slope the higher the retaining wall required.There are many different material options for constructing retaining walls, the most common is concrete blocks. Concrete blocks are relatively cheap and create robust, stable and long-lasting retaining walls. A blockwork wall can be rendered or faced with a wide variety of materials including brick, stone and even stainless steel sheets. I like facing retaining walls with slate cladding and pebble mosaic sheets to give textural contrast to other hard landscaping materials. Other options for wall construction include brick, stone, gabion cages, poured concrete, railway sleepers, timber and even compacted earth.The choice of building materials depends on budget, the style of the garden and what the wall is to support. Railway sleepers are cheap and quick to erect, but they are not as robust or long lasting as blockwork and are not recommended for higher retaining walls that must support large volumes of soil. Although they often seem like a cheap option, gabion cages can be time consuming to erect and more expensive than a stone-faced concrete blockwork wall.Getting rid of excavated soil is another important consideration. Excavating the levels and digging footings will create a surprisingly large pile of soil. Some, if not all, of this soil can be used to back fill the new terraced levels. But there is usually some excess and this needs to be factored into the project costs. Grab loaders and skips are expensive and it’s surprising how many people overlook this element when estimating project costs. A couple of sections through the various garden levels will enable some idea of how much soil will be left over after ‘cut and fill’.Plans for any garden construction project should always include a construction detail and setting out drawing. These are particularly important for facilitating the construction of a sloping garden. One or both of these drawings should include multiple sections through the garden showing existing garden levels and new finished levels of each garden terrace as well as the positions and finished heights of each retaining wall. This allows for accurate quotations as well as ensuring the build goes smoothly.Once all the terraces and heights of the retaining walls needed to create them have been established the next thing to do is decide how to access the various garden levels. Steps are a logical and obvious choice for getting from one level to another, but a winding ramp will create a lovely informal journey around the garden and break the harshness of the hard landscaping. If the garden includes a children’s play area some fun ways to navigate this area include a helter skelter, rope ladder and a fireman’s pole.If steps are being used to link the levels then creating walls with a finished height that is a multiple of the ideal step riser height of 150mm will make construction much easier. Ramps should have a slope of no more than 1:12 so this will also dictate the height of retaining walls.All raised garden areas should be secured with railings. There are many elegant options that avoid the construction of a hefty wooden barrier that interferes with a view or the overall garden aesthetic. Steel or wooden posts with tensioned wires look fabulous in a contemporary scheme. Glass panels can be used to give an unimpeded view of the garden or countryside beyond. There are many metalworkers who will fabricate unique railings that serve as sculptural additions to the garden as well as providing safety for its users.There are many considerations when creating a garden on a sloping site and many potential pitfalls. But having a good design with clear construction detailing, an experienced contractor and a realistic budget will produce an exceptional garden. </p>]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://fsbmfms.info/how-to-design-a-sloping-garden,html/feed</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> </channel></rss> If you would like to create a banner that links to this page (i.e. this validation result), do the following:
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