Canadian Management Centre, Leading Professional Training Provider, Now Offering Seminar on Advanced Strategic Marketing

Toronto, 2006 — Canadian Management Centre (CMC), a leading not-for-profit provider of training and development solutions, is now offering a new seminar focused on strategic marketing, allowing professionals to discover cutting-edge marketing models and their applications. "Canadian Management Centre’s Advanced Course in Strategic Marketing" will help mid- and senior-level managers from all functions enhance their organization’s strategic marketing models in order to stay current and adapt in the pressure of today’s business world.

As the business world grows and increases its pace, the workplace is beginning to resemble a war zone characterized by rapidly changing competition, technological advances, new laws and ever-changing customer loyalty. As a result, companies are increasingly forced to navigate through unfamiliar and ever-changing business landscapes in order to maintain their success.

As a result, this new territory favours organizations with adaptable perspectives on conducting business, particularly the strategic dimensions, such as positioning and brand equity. In order to stay current, the marketing discipline has to redevelop its concepts, skills and tools required for making sound business decisions.

"Canadian Management Centre’s Advanced Course in Strategic Marketing" provides the practical processes, strategies, knowledge and tools necessary to keep any organization’s marketing model current in today’s corporate environment. The three-day seminar will allow mid- and senior-level managers from all functions integrate marketing values with corporate goals, increase the spending rate of current customers, acquire new ones and maximize new e-commerce technologies. Each participant will acquire tools, strategies and models to apply directly to their individual organization in order to fully integrate an effective marketing plan upon return to the office. The seminar utilizes Real World examples and simulated business cases to foster interactive, hands-on, applicable learning.

"Canadian Management Centre’s Advanced Course in Strategic Marketing" will help Canadian Management Centre continue to provide corporate members and customers with cutting-edge developments in marketing theory and practice. This new seminar builds on the strengths of Canadian Management Centre’s current Marketing Management courses that provide organizations with the latest marketing theories, strategies and tools to maintain their competitive edge. Combined with Blended Learning Options, seminar participants can take advantage of workshops and on-line webinars to enhance their learning experience. "Canadian Management Centre’s Advanced Course in Strategic Marketing" will be offered throughout the upcoming summer and fall at Canadian Management Centre’s facility in Downtown Toronto. For a complete schedule, visit online at www.cmctraining.org.

Canadian Management Centre offers more than 140 seminars in human resources, general management, interpersonal skills, project management, communication skills, sales, marketing, leadership and finance. Programs are offered to business professionals at all levels, from CEOs and senior executives to new managers and administrative professionals. Business professionals with real-world experience facilitate Canadian Management Centre programs and use practical, action-oriented content that can be immediately applied in the workplace.

About Canadian Management Centre

With over 40 years experience; Canadian Management Centre has earned the reputation as a trusted partner in worldwide professional development and management education that improves the immediate performance and long-term results of over 10,000 Canadian individuals and organizations every year.

No one knows training better than Canadian Management Centre. Since 1963, the business community has turned to us for the practical training and business tools needed to improve individual and organizational performance-and achieve bottom-line results.

Today, Canadian Management Centre, along with our world wide affiliates at the American Management Association International network, is a global not-for-profit organization that provides a full range of management development and educational services to individuals, companies and government agencies worldwide. Each year, thousands of business professionals acquire the latest business know-how, valuable insights and increased confidence at our seminars, blended learning and Corporate Learning Solutions.

We currently offer over 100 high-calibre open enrollment programs, and have access to a range of highly specialized programs through our strategic partners. Our well-developed portfolio of programs spans a variety of vital business disciplines, ranging from general management, communication and leadership, to specific industries like marketing, finance, and project management, and customer service.

The concepts in our programs are brought to life by our inspiring and distinguished faculty. This group of individuals includes internationally recognized executives, consultants, keynote speakers, and best-selling authors who teach the latest business theories and offer innovative, interactive and practical workplace techniques. Our Faculty are not only highly skilled instructors, but also practitioners who work in today’s competitive and challenging business world.

Canadian Management Centre, Leading Professional Training Provider, Now Offering Seminar on Pricing Strategies

Toronto, July 2006 — Canadian Management Centre (CMC), a leading not-for-profit provider of training and development solutions, is now offering a new seminar aimed towards developing corporate pricing strategies to create and maintain customer loyalty. "Pricing Strategies" will help marketing, product managers and executives at all levels enhance their pricing position and develop an effective pricing strategy.

Within the four P’s of marketing, one of the most important and often overlooked is pricing. Recent studies place pricing as the most critical profit driver in today’s competitive business environment. And yet, many corporations lack a systematic pricing strategy, or the confidence to leverage their pricing to capture maximum value. Part art, part science, pricing strategies can have a large impact on sales and more importantly, on profits. Ad hoc, trial-and-error or hope-for-the-best pricing can significantly reduce a firm’s bottom line.

Canadian Management Centre’s, "Pricing Strategies" provides practical advice on how to understand, create and implement effective and optimizing pricing strategies that reflect corporate goals and objectives. The two-day seminar will allow marketing, product managers, executives as well as financial managers, sales and customer service managers and senior management to eliminate guess work and make pricing decisions based on proven processes. Each participant will create an action plan tailored to their organization’s goals, customers and market to be built into their organizational structure upon return. The seminar utilizes Real World examples and simulated business cases to foster interactive, hands-on, applicable learning.

"Pricing Strategies" will help Canadian Management Centre continue to provide corporate members and customers with cutting-edge developments in marketing theory and practice. This new seminar builds on the strengths of Canadian Management Centre’s current Marketing courses that provide the latest theories, strategies and tools to ensure that organizations maintain their competitive edge in the ever-changing business world. Combined with Blended Learning Options, seminar participants can take advantage of workshops or on-line webinars to enhance their learning experience. "Pricing Strategies" will be offered throughout the upcoming summer and fall at Canadian Management Centre’s facility in Downtown Toronto. For a complete schedule, visit online at www.cmctraining.org.

Canadian Management Centre offers more than 140 seminars in human resources, general management, interpersonal skills, project management, communication skills, sales, marketing, leadership and finance. Programs are offered to business professionals at all levels, from CEOs and senior executives to new managers and administrative professionals. Business professionals with real-world experience facilitate Canadian Management Centre programs and use practical, action-oriented content that can be immediately applied in the workplace.

About Canadian Management Centre

With over 40 years experience; Canadian Management Centre has earned the reputation as a trusted partner in worldwide professional development and management education that improves the immediate performance and long-term results of over 10,000 Canadian individuals and organizations every year.

No one knows training better than Canadian Management Centre. Since 1963, the business community has turned to us for the practical training and business tools needed to improve individual and organizational performance-and achieve bottom-line results.

Today, Canadian Management Centre, along with our world wide affiliates at the American Management Association International network, is a global not-for-profit organization that provides a full range of management development and educational services to individuals, companies and government agencies worldwide. Each year, thousands of business professionals acquire the latest business know-how, valuable insights and increased confidence at our seminars, blended learning and Corporate Learning Solutions.

We currently offer over 100 high-calibre open enrollment programs, and have access to a range of highly specialized programs through our strategic partners. Our well-developed portfolio of programs spans a variety of vital business disciplines, ranging from general management, communication and leadership, to specific industries like marketing, finance, and project management, and customer service.

The concepts in our programs are brought to life by our inspiring and distinguished faculty. This group of individuals includes internationally recognized executives, consultants, keynote speakers, and best-selling authors who teach the latest business theories and offer innovative, interactive and practical workplace techniques. Our Faculty are not only highly skilled instructors, but also practitioners who work in today’s competitive and challenging business world.

In the near future, tech integration will get more attention – The war-for-talent trend puts a lot of pressure on companies to leverage their workforce management technologies more effectively. Employers already recognize that the right equipment and processes could help them cultivate and retain talent, according to Steve Larson, senior consultant for Watson Wyatt Worldwide, but a lot of firms still lack the infrastructure needed to truly integrate recruitment, performance management, compensation and other workforce- related programs (Klaff, 2006). More companies are working to integrate their systems.

Check back every Wednesday from July-August 2006 for the next in our Future Trend Series.

Canadian Management Centre, Leaders in Training and Development, Now Offering Seminar on Fostering Innovation

Toronto,  2006 — Canadian Management Centre (CMC), a leading not-for-profit provider of training and development solutions, is now offering a new seminar aimed towards creating a culture of innovation and creativity. "Innovation and Creativity: How to Improve Performance and Foster Growth" will help leaders, managers and professionals of all industries enhance the development of creativity and innovation in themselves, their peers and direct reports.

Although once confined to research and development labs, innovation and creativity are becoming rising priorities in today’s business world, spanning all industries and professions. As the processes of globalization and development hasten, competition and scientific advances will only increase in the coming decades. As a result, many corporations are ramping up innovation as a strategy to remain current and competitive.

The push for innovation and creativity is particularly visible in the area of corporate strategy. As Jay Mattie of PricewaterhouseCoopers’ states, "The deep footprint of innovation in corporate strategy suggests that further impact can be expected elsewhere in the company." In fact, innovation has come to touch every function and employee, as CEOs begin to incorporate innovation into corporate strategies, new product development, employee training, public relations and other internal and external endeavors. As innovation takes an ever-increasing presence in the corporate environment, managers and team leaders who can harness and establish a climate of creativity will be in a position to improve their own performance and that of their team.

Canadian Management Centre’s, "Innovation and Creativity: How to Improve Performance and Foster Growth" provides practical advice and proven techniques for generating new ideas and creating an environment where creativity is embraced and fostered. The two-day, interactive seminar will allow managers, team leaders, supervisors and staff of all industries to embrace out-of-the-box thinking and risk-taking, overcoming mental barriers, unleashing creative potential and improving performance. This seminar utilizes Real World examples and simulated business cases to foster interactive, hands-on, applicable learning.

"Innovation and Creativity: How to Improve Performance and Foster Growth" will help Canadian Management Centre take the lead in providing corporate members and customers with cutting-edge developments in personal and organizational management. Combined with Blended Learning Options, seminar participants can take advantage of One-on-One coaching, workshops, on-line webinars or our affiliation with Harvard Business School Publishing to enhance their learning experience. The seminar will be offered throughout the upcoming fall at Canadian Management Centre’s facility in Downtown Toronto. For a complete schedule, visit online at www.cmctraining.org.

Canadian Management Centre offers more than 140 seminars in human resources, general management, interpersonal skills, project management, communication skills, sales, marketing, leadership and finance. Programs are offered to business professionals at all levels, from CEOs and senior executives to new managers and administrative professionals. Business professionals with real-world experience facilitate Canadian Management Centre programs and use practical, action-oriented content that can be immediately applied in the workplace.

About Canadian Management Centre

With over 40 years experience; Canadian Management Centre has earned the reputation as a trusted partner in worldwide professional development and management education that improves the immediate performance and long-term results of over 10,000 Canadian individuals and organizations every year.

No one knows training better than Canadian Management Centre. Since 1963, the business community has turned to us for the practical training and business tools needed to improve individual and organizational performance-and achieve bottom-line results.

Today, Canadian Management Centre, along with our world wide affiliates at the American Management Association International network, is a global not-for-profit organization that provides a full range of management development and educational services to individuals, companies and government agencies worldwide. Each year, thousands of business professionals acquire the latest business know-how, valuable insights and increased confidence at our seminars, blended learning and Corporate Learning Solutions.

We currently offer over 100 high-calibre open enrollment programs, and have access to a range of highly specialized programs through our strategic partners. Our well-developed portfolio of programs spans a variety of vital business disciplines, ranging from general management, communication and leadership, to specific industries like marketing, finance, and project management, and customer service.

The concepts in our programs are brought to life by our inspiring and distinguished faculty. This group of individuals includes internationally recognized executives, consultants, keynote speakers, and best-selling authors who teach the latest business theories and offer innovative, interactive and practical workplace techniques. Our Faculty are not only highly skilled instructors, but also practitioners who work in today’s competitive and challenging business world.

Canadian Management Centre, Leading Professional Training Provider, Now Offering Seminar on Market Research

Toronto,  2006 — Canadian Management Centre (CMC), a leading not-for-profit provider of training and development solutions, is now offering a new seminar on how to use market research to determine a company’s competitive position and ultimately enhance its performance. "Market Research: How to Get the Right Data to Make the Right Decisions" will help general managers and directors of marketing, as well as product or brand managers, and market research specialists discover a broad range of tools to gain the necessary insight to identify their industry opportunities, formulate strategies, and design new products and services.

It is often said that if marketing were a train, market research would be the engine. Although it may be a bit of a business truism, it still stands- even in today’s rapidly changing business world. Whether an organization is beginning a business initiative or expanding an established one, accurate customer data is a prerequisite to strategic business decisions. A company with a strong understanding of their customers, market, competitors, and external factors will not only stay current throughout the short and long-term future, but also competitive.

Canadian Management Centre’s, "Market Research: How to Get the Right Data to Make the Right Decisions" provides practical advice on how to collect and use market research in order to understand customer behaviour, predict future trends and enhance an organization’s competitive position and performance. The two-day seminar will allow marketing or brand directors and vice presidents as well as market research specialists gain specific research techniques in order to better understand which products and services meet customer demands, identify opportunities and threats in an industry and stay ahead of future trends and behaviours. Each participant will create a custom market research program for their company, as well as a tailored action plan for conducting future research and monitoring performance. The seminar utilizes Real World examples and simulated business cases to foster interactive, hands-on, applicable learning.

"Market Research: How to Get the Right Data to Make the Right Decisions" will help Canadian Management Centre continue to provide corporate members and customers with cutting-edge developments in marketing theory and practice. This new seminar builds on the strengths of Canadian Management Centre’s current Marketing management courses that provide the latest tools, theories and strategies to organizations who want to maintain a competitive edge in the ever-changing business world. Combined with Blended Learning Options, seminar participants can take advantage of workshops or on-line webinars to enhance their learning experience. "Market Research: How to Get the Right Data to Make the Right Decisions" will be offered throughout the upcoming summer and fall at Canadian Management Centre’s facility in Downtown Toronto. For a complete schedule, visit online at www.cmctraining.org.

Canadian Management Centre offers more than 140 seminars in human resources, general management, interpersonal skills, project management, communication skills, sales, marketing, leadership and finance. Programs are offered to business professionals at all levels, from CEOs and senior executives to new managers and administrative professionals. Business professionals with real-world experience facilitate Canadian Management Centre programs and use practical, action-oriented content that can be immediately applied in the workplace.

About Canadian Management Centre

With over 40 years experience; Canadian Management Centre has earned the reputation as a trusted partner in worldwide professional development and management education that improves the immediate performance and long-term results of over 10,000 Canadian individuals and organizations every year.

No one knows training better than Canadian Management Centre. Since 1963, the business community has turned to us for the practical training and business tools needed to improve individual and organizational performance-and achieve bottom-line results.

Today, Canadian Management Centre, along with our world wide affiliates at the American Management Association International network, is a global not-for-profit organization that provides a full range of management development and educational services to individuals, companies and government agencies worldwide. Each year, thousands of business professionals acquire the latest business know-how, valuable insights and increased confidence at our seminars, blended learning and Corporate Learning Solutions.

We currently offer over 100 high-calibre open enrollment programs, and have access to a range of highly specialized programs through our strategic partners. Our well-developed portfolio of programs spans a variety of vital business disciplines, ranging from general management, communication and leadership, to specific industries like marketing, finance, and project management, and customer service.

The concepts in our programs are brought to life by our inspiring and distinguished faculty. This group of individuals includes internationally recognized executives, consultants, keynote speakers, and best-selling authors who teach the latest business theories and offer innovative, interactive and practical workplace techniques. Our Faculty are not only highly skilled instructors, but also practitioners who work in today’s competitive and challenging business world.

In the near future, wages will inch up – If the competition for skilled employees intensifies, how much is this going to cost employers in terms of increased pay levels? The consensus seems to be “not a lot, but more than last year.” A CareerBuilder.com and America Online survey found that 51% of hiring managers plan to bump up initial offers for new workers, and 78% will increase the paychecks for current workers. But the projected increases won’t be huge. Only about a fifth of those planning increases are going to boost pay levels by 5% or more (”Higher,” 2005). And U.S. News & World Report states that there’s going to be “slight uptick in pay, from 3.6 to 3.8 percent” (Ramachandran, 2006, p. 37).

Check back every Wednesday from July-August 2006 for the next in our Future Trend Series.

Canadian Management Centre, Leaders in Management Training and Professional Development, Now Offering Seminar on Leading Virtual Teams

Toronto, 2006 — Canadian Management Centre (CMC), a leading not-for-profit provider of management training and professional development solutions, is now offering a new seminar addressing the challenges in managing and leading remote teams. "Leading Virtual and Remote Teams" will help managers, directors, project leaders and senior managers of all industries enhance the communication between them and their remote direct reports, promoting trust, productivity and ultimately, getting improved results.

With globalization hastening and new technologies increasing, virtual teams are becoming a staple in many organizations. As industries and multinational companies grow, team members working at a company’s headquarters have become less able to access critical information that resides with people and markets spread over the globe. As a result, remote teams enable organizations to develop products and services which meet the needs of international customers. Technology also plays its part, enabling team members in different locations to work together toward a common goal, despite little or no personal contact.

These elements of the changing business world increase the importance of properly managed remote teams. Many companies are realizing the power behind such teams, and plans to expand their use are only increasing. Despite the potential behind virtual teams, their success largely depends on corporate culture. Successful virtual teams work from organizations which value empowerment over control, innovation over standardized work processes and customer-focused risk-taking over management-focused rule following.

Canadian Management Centre’s, "Leading Virtual and Remote Teams" provides practical advice for team leaders to create a culture which embraces and enhances virtual teamwork. The three-day seminar will allow global and regional project managers, managers, directors and team members to apply effective communication methods to achieve desired team relationships and goals. The result is a motivated, cohesive virtual team which overcomes challenges and produces real results. The seminar utilizes Real World examples and simulated business cases to foster interactive, hands-on, applicable learning.

"Leading Virtual and Remote Teams" will help Canadian Management Centre continue to provide corporate members and customers with cutting-edge developments in leadership theory and practice. Combined with Blended Learning Options, seminar participants can take advantage of One-on-One coaching, Harvard Business School Publishing online courses, workshops or on-line webinars to enhance their learning experience. The new seminar will be offered throughout the upcoming fall at Canadian Management Centre’s facility in Downtown Toronto. For a complete schedule, visit online at www.cmctraining.org.

Canadian Management Centre offers more than 140 seminars in human resources, general management, interpersonal skills, project management, communication skills, sales, marketing, leadership and finance. Programs are offered to business professionals at all levels, from CEOs and senior executives to new managers and administrative professionals. Business professionals with real-world experience facilitate Canadian Management Centre programs and use practical, action-oriented content that can be immediately applied in the workplace.

About Canadian Management Centre

With over 40 years experience; Canadian Management Centre has earned the reputation as a trusted partner in worldwide professional development and management education that improves the immediate performance and long-term results of over 10,000 Canadian individuals and organizations every year.

No one knows training better than Canadian Management Centre. Since 1963, the business community has turned to us for the practical training and business tools needed to improve individual and organizational performance-and achieve bottom-line results.

Today, Canadian Management Centre, along with our world wide affiliates at the American Management Association International network, is a global not-for-profit organization that provides a full range of management development and educational services to individuals, companies and government agencies worldwide. Each year, thousands of business professionals acquire the latest business know-how, valuable insights and increased confidence at our seminars, blended learning and Corporate Learning Solutions.

We currently offer over 100 high-calibre open enrollment programs, and have access to a range of highly specialized programs through our strategic partners. Our well-developed portfolio of programs spans a variety of vital business disciplines, ranging from general management, communication and leadership, to specific industries like marketing, finance, and project management, and customer service.

The concepts in our programs are brought to life by our inspiring and distinguished faculty. This group of individuals includes internationally recognized executives, consultants, keynote speakers, and best-selling authors who teach the latest business theories and offer innovative, interactive and practical workplace techniques. Our Faculty are not only highly skilled instructors, but also practitioners who work in today’s competitive and challenging business world.

Women in the U.S. and the UK tend to regard the glass ceiling as "more of a societal obstacle than an individual barrier," according to the management consultancy Accenture. In early 2006, the company surveyed 1,200 executives of both genders working in eight nations in North America, Europe and Asia and assessed career success factors across individual, company and societal dimensions. Accenture reported that female executives in the U.S. and UK were "very confident of their own business capabilities" and were most likely to attribute career barriers to societal factors. Female survey respondents in Australia and Germany tended to agree with them. In contrast, women in Canada, Austria and the Philippines said glass ceilings were the product of corporate cultures. "Organizations - and societies - need to realize how important it is to capitalize and build upon the skills of women," commented Kedrick Adkins, chief diversity officer for Accenture. ("Most Executives Believe Workplace Equality for Women Still Lags Behind Men, Accenture Study Shows" [Accenture], press release, March 8, 2006)

As reported by HRI, core employees that are also unique are hard for competitors to imitate, so employers should focus on employing, retaining and developing such employees, according to researchers studying Spanish firms with more than 500 employees. The research also found that such unique, core employees contribute to organizational capability. Core employees are those involved in the company’s core activity, and their human capital has value. If their assets are also considered unique, they are a source of competitive advantage. Such unique, core employees were found to be positively associated with several management capabilities: "reinforcement of organizational culture," "strategic vision" and "obtaining employee potential" as well as with the "technical capability for innovation," "quality orientation" and "company-customer loyalty." Not all core employees can provide this competitive edge, but those who are also "high on uniqueness" contribute to the firm’s competitive advantage. (Human Resource Management [Lopez-Cabrales, Valle and Herrero], Spring 2006, pp. 81, 83-87, 100-101)

As reported by HRI, employees from organizations spanning the globe pointed out the important role that organizational culture plays in driving retention, reports the professional services firm Towers Perrin. The company’s 2005 online survey of more than 85,000 employees of midsized and large companies in 16 countries found that most of the top-five drivers of retention that employees identified were related to corporate culture. In order of significance per the respondents’ feedback, the drivers were an organization’s commitment to finding and keeping a high-quality and highly qualified workforce, workers’ satisfaction with the firm’s "people decisions," managers who possess insight into employee motivation, a good work/life balance and the organization’s standing as a "good employer." (WorldatWorkJournal [O'Neal and Gebauer], First Quarter 2006, pp. 7, 11-12)