One way to choose among the many creativity gurus is to find out if they've written a book on the subject, get a copy, and decide if the approach seems a good fit for your company. To get you started, here's a list of possibilities:
VanGundy & Associates (405-447-1946). Arthur B. VanGundy, a professor of communication at the University of Oklahoma, charges $3,500 and up for facilitating daily creativity sessions. He's written nine books on the subject, including Idea Power: Techniques and Resources to Unleash the Creativity in Your Organization (Amacom, 800-262-9699, 1992, $24.95) and Brain Boosters for Business Advantage: Ticklers, Grab Bags, Blue Skies, and Other Bionic Ideas (Jossey-Bass/Pfeiffer & Co., 800-956-4434, 1995, $29.95).
Innovation Focus (717-872-2400). Rates begin at $10,000 per day. Available free are three dozen published articles by founding partner Chris Miller. For $75, Miller will send you his step-by-step New Product Concept Workbook.
The Mattimore Group (203-359-1801). One- and two-day sessions, run by Bryan W. Mattimore, cost from $3,750 to $10,000. You can read about Mattimore's approach to sparking creativity in his 99% Inspiration: Tips, Tales and Techniques for Liberating Your Business Creativity (Amacom, 800-262-9699, 1993, $17.95).
Synectics (617-868-6530). This consulting and training organization has fathered a number of independent creativity consultants. Contact Synectics for information about its services. Books about creativity available through Synectics are The Innovator's Handbook, by Vincent Nolan (Sphere Books, 1987, $10), and Innovation and Creativity, by Jonne Ceserani and Peter Greatwood (Kogan Page, 1995, $20).
The Shallcross Creativity Institute (413-268-3404). Headed by Doris J. Shallcross, a former professor of creativity at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, the Institute charges daily fees of $1,000 to $2,000. Shallcross is the coauthor, with Dorothy A. Sisk, of Intuition: An Inner Way of Knowing (Bearly Limited, 716-883-4571, 1989, $12.95).
Compensation: Take a Number
If you're looking for additional information on how to set up an incentive-pay program, many good books are available to help. The Game of Work, by Charles Coonradt (The Game of Work, 800-438-6074, 1991, $19.95), offers practical advice and is a pleasant read. The Reward Plan Advantage, by Jerry McAdams (Jossey-Bass, 800-956-7739, 1996, $30.95), is particularly comprehensive and, for those interested, offers a historical perspective of pay-for-performance systems. Karen Jorgensen's Pay for Results (Merritt Publishing, 800-638-7597, 1996, $29.95) includes many helpful work sheets, forms, and checklists that will aid the design process.
You could also take a look at the Inc. archives for articles on incentive compensation. Two in particular you might want to check out: " Games Companies Play," by John Case, October 1994, which examines how companies use game-playing techniques in their incentive systems. For a contrarian view, try Patrick Lancaster's " Incentive Pay Isn't Good for Your Company," September 1994. Lancaster explains why he's not a big incentive-pay fan, citing various bonus plans he's used that met with less-than-stellar success.
Computer Networks: Are You Being Served?
There are numerous vendors selling servers. Many small businesses buy little-known brands, but others want the stability of a well-known company. Below are some of the biggest server vendors, along with a small-business product or product line from each:
The Hewlett-Packard Co. offers the E Series of servers. For the authorized dealer nearest you, call 800-533-1333.
For information about the IBM PC Server 300 series, call 800-426-2968. For reseller locations, call 800-772-2227.
To find out more about the Compaq Computer Corp. ProSignia 200 line, call 800-345-1518.
Dell Computer Corp. offers the PowerEdge 2100 and the PowerEdge 4100. For information, call 800-388-8542.
Gateway 2000 has a special small-business section on its Web site. For information about Gateway's G62000 line, call 800-846-2042.
Face-off: Should You Leave the Company to the Kids?
A huge number of family businesses are currently making succession decisions, and as one might expect, a virtual army of consultants, authors, and financial advisers are standing in line to help them out. Here's a partial list of reliable resources: Passing the Torch: Succession, Retirement, and Estate Planning in Family-Owned Businesses, by Mike Cohn (McGraw-Hill, 800-338-3987, 1992, $17.95); the Family Business Leadership Series, by Craig Aronoff and John Ward (Business Owner Resources, 800-551-0633, $14.95 for each of eight booklets published between 1992 and 1996); Working with the Ones You Love, by Dennis T. Jaffe (Aspen Family Business Group, 800-835-5883, 1991, $13); and Inside the Family Business, by Leon A. Danco (Center for Family Business, 216-442-0800, 1995, $19.95).
NetMarquee Family Business Network (www.nmq.com) is a top-notch Web site for family-business owners. You'll find articles, news items, and listings of seminars and conferences, plus a directory of family-business education programs offered by colleges and universities nationwide.
Transitions and Traditions is a bimonthly newsletter that covers financial and management issues specific to family businesses (Cohn Financial Group, 800-422-3883, $30 per year).
The Inc. Directory
