The USA has as many domestic flights as the rest of the world put together.  Project meeting with customer?  Flight. Project management training course?  Flight.  Travel budget and carbon footprint?  High.  So it’s no wonder the Americans have been at the forefront of finding project management training alternatives.  But what can we learn – good and bad – from their experience when considering training in the UK?

Project Training Options

The backdrop is good traditional project training such as PRINCE2 is pretty effective: studies show that lecture-based instruction gives an information retention rate of between 5-10%, while interactive and discussion-based activities, such as the average PRINCE2 course, improve it to 40-50%.  Hence the holy grail for Virtual is to keep that, then add the learn-anywhere benefits of eLearning, for the best of both worlds.

Virtual = Efficiency

Since the advent of virtual the big benefit for American companies has been the travel saving – both time and money.  In a much smaller country we are never far from PRINCE2 courses, so the travel saving can be much less.  But if you are posted on customer sites, including overseas, the benefit of doing PRINCE2 training from anywhere is very real.

The time benefit has also been taken up in a different way that is very relevant to us.  With virtual training ‘modules’ typically taking only 3-4 hours it is much easier to schedule PRINCE2 training alongside business-as-usual – no need to draft in someone to cover a week’s absence.

Prevalence of Virtual Learning

So as Virtual learning matures in the US when is it most often used?  As an alternative to PRINCE2 and other popular and specialist classroom project management courses it is proving to be a serious alternative.  Virtual is also increasingly being used for short learning ‘nuggets’ – short sessions that couldn’t be justified as a classroom training session.  As an example, imagine you are a PRINCE2 Practitioner facing a major project change of scope and you want to refresh yourself on best practice first: attending a two hour virtual training session that allows expert tutor led discussion of applying PRINCE2 theory to real-world situations is so much better than just reading the manual.

Conclusion

Amidst the hype some perspective is needed.  The majority of PRINCE2 courses are done face-to-face, something that is unlikely to change much in the future.  Where Virtual is finding its place is to compliment classroom training.  Out-of-hours courses, bite sized learning subscriptions and specialist courses that only run in one location all have a clear case for being better done virtually.

About the Author: This is a guest post from Jamie Simpson on behalf of QA, who are experts in Prince2 training in project management

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Even in the worst of economic times one finds it incredibly easy to accumulate massive amounts of debt. Sure, credit may be increasingly difficult to come by, however, the average consumer still discovers new ways to owe more. In good times or bad, getting out from under the oppression of debt can be overwhelming, challenging, and just plain exhausting. So why not think outside of the box?

Eliminate Debt With These 7 Tips

Following is a lucky list of seven ways to not only reduce ones debt and stay out of debt, but at least have a chance of enjoying the process at the same time.

Glass Half Empty or Half Full?

Even before one starts to employ debt reduction techniques, they must reassess how their outlook affects what they owe. Sure, being burdened with a stack of bills every month isn’t the greatest feeling, but it is what it is. Change starts in the mind, and changing one’s mind is as easy as deciding to do so. Of course, understanding that one’s habits must follow suit with regards changing spending patterns must also be employed.

2 + 2 always = 4!

Or put another way, monies coming in must be more than monies flowing out. It really is as simple an equation as that. Spend less money than required to cover monthly bills and there should be something left over. One way to help the incoming cover the outgoing is to stop using credit cards. Have a little fun with this. Cut up cards or run them through a heavy duty shredder. If the prospect of cancelling accounts is more than one can bear, freeze the accounts. Literally. Place the credit card in a bowl of water and freeze it. This can certainly make swiping the card for a purchase somewhat challenging!

Get Cloned

Perhaps a little before its time. But the concept of earning more is ageless. Get a second job. No time? Find other revenue sources. Rent out a bedroom. Live in a busy city where parking is a challenge? Rent your garage or space. Every little bit of extra incoming money can make reducing debt that much easier.

Get Skinnier

Really. It has been scientifically proven that skinnier people eat less food. When less food is purchased, less money is spent on that food. When less money is spent on food, more money is available for helping reduce the overhead of debt. Besides, most people eat much more than they need to survive anyway. Seriously, getting healthy by improving one’s body is always a good idea and if it can help reduce debt, why not consider it.

Spend the Kids Inheritance

They’re just going to waste whatever you are saving for them anyway, right? Maybe not. But holding onto a lot of “stuff” that has resale value could be keeping someone in debt. Consider reducing clutter and then selling off that which others might find useful. It really is a win win situation.

Do More With Less

Consider how much money is spent on rent or mortgage. Can just as comfortable a life be had in a third of the space? How about half the current livable square footage? Again, advanced mathematics show us that smaller abodes generally (though not always!) cost less money to live in. And how about the family vehicles? 3 cars? How about selling one and applying that money to reducing debt? Oh, and there’s the savings of gas/oil, insurance, repairs, cleaning, etc. It adds up. Is having every channel on cable really that important. For less than $20 one can sign up for DVD delivery service and online streaming of movies and TV series. Does anyone get cable for just $20?

Put Head On the Chopping Block

Again, not literally! When the individual has others hold them accountable, it becomes much harder to stray from goals and objectives. Tell the family, friends, neighbors, mayor of one’s city that spending excessive money on stuff is no longer a part of the overall game plan. If they catch an infraction be assured they are going to make the pain insufferable.

About the Author: Vern Marker is a freelance writer for My Credit Group. He works in the My Credit Group credit repair services department, as well as assisting with their content marketing.

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According to the Kauffman Foundation, almost 3,000 schools offer classes in entrepreneurship, up ten-fold since the mid-1980s. Entrepreneurs can spend thousands of dollars paying professionals to take care of various aspects of their businesses, or they can spend substantially less money and learn these tasks themselves by taking online courses.

Entrepreneurs and small business owners who don’t have the time or money to take an entrepreneurship degree program have the option of taking individual classes. They can also take a certificate or diploma program, options that cost less than degree programs and typically are completed in a few months.

Online classes provide entrepreneurs the opportunity to get expert advice from instructors and share ideas with other students. However, students should be aware of the dangers that may come with sharing their million dollar business ideas online.

There are numerous unaccredited, for profit schools offering entrepreneur related courses. The quality varies by the school. The admissions representatives from online, private schools, typically are also sales people and receive a commission for enrolling students. Do your homework before enrolling at one of these schools.

U.S. Small Business Administration

The U.S. Small Business Administration provides a free online training resource called The Small Business Primer – Strategies for Success. It is designed for those who want to start their own businesses and for those in the early stages of operating a company. This resource also provides links to numerous applicable resources and small business tools.

Best Colleges for Entrepreneurs

Fortune Small Business (FSB) has put together specialized lists of the best colleges for entrepreneurs. The lists are based on seven months of interviews with hundreds of entrepreneurs, students, professors, university administrators, alumni, and venture capitalists. FSB asked each person which programs they thought to be the most effective and innovative and why.

Below is FSB’s list of the best colleges for entrepreneurs that provide e-learning opportunities. (Note that these schools are listed alphabetically.)

• Boston University
• Grand Canyon University
• University of Houston at Victoria
• University of Wyoming
• Western Carolina University

Boston University offers an online four-course certificate in entrepreneurship. Some schools allow students to take just the courses they’re interested instead of the whole program.

The University of Arizona’s top-ranked McGuire Center for Entrepreneurship offers three separate non-credit entrepreneurship courses. The courses are offered through the University of Arizona’s Outreach College. The McGuire Center’s program has been ranked #2 nationally by The Princeton Review. It is designed for those hoping to start a small business or grow a current business. The program also provides mentoring from McGuire Center personnel.

Free Entrepreneur Classes

Here’s a list of colleges and universities offering free online entrepreneur courses:

• Kutztown University of Pennsylvania
• Capilano College
• Open University
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• UC Berkeley

(It should be noted the author has no connections with any of the schools mentioned in this article.)

Quality entrepreneur courses can be highly beneficial for entrepreneurs and small business owners. Online classes offer convenience and flexibility.

Photo Credit: lumaxart

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Choosing an entrepreneurial program is an important decision which can have a significant impact on wether or not an entrepreneur is successful.

With a large number of entrepreneur programs to choose from it can be difficult to make the ideal selection. Shown below are some important aspects to consider when selecting among the large number of entrepreneurship programs:

Location

Some experts recommend that individuals seeking a career in technology select a school located in a major tech entrepreneurial center such as Silicon Valley or the Boston region where venture capital deals are made all the time. For technology entrepreneurs, some experts suggest a second-tier school located in a major tech market is preferable to a prestigious school located in the Midwest.

Reputation and Track Record

A school’s ranking and having a national reputation of academic excellence are often important factors to potential employers. They can also be important factors to venture capitalists.

Questions: What is the percentage of graduates of a particular entrepreneurship program that begin their own business? One expert estimates that up to 20 percent of people majoring in entrepreneurship begin a business immediately after they graduate. Who are the successful entrepreneurs who graduated from the program?

On-Campus Resources

It’s important to select a school that provides active opportunities for students to meet investors. On-campus small business development centers and entrepreneurial centers can also be useful.

The school’s affiliations with businesses and business related organizations can also be helpful to students during an externship and in their careers. A school’s affiliation with national and international student organizations including Students in Free Enterprise may be a desirable factor for some students.

Curriculum

In some programs, students as individuals or as part of a team have the opportunity to operate their own company during a majority of the program. A significant trend is the tech-transfer model in which entrepreneurship is taught across the curriculum.

At some institutions faculty members and graduate students from medical and engineering schools team up with MBA students to take innovative ideas and commercialize them.

 Questions: What areas of concentration are available? Does the school have entrepreneurship clubs? Does the school have mentorship programs?

Flexibility

Online classes allow students to work at their own pace from home. They can take classes while building their business. Many school offer accelerated programs. Prospective students should make sure the online program they are considering offers all the important parts of on-campus programs.

Training

Externships provide valuable experience and networking opportunities.

Questions: Does the program provide a variety of externships? Do students have to find their own externships? Are they paid or unpaid externships?

Prerequisite Work

Some entrepreneur programs focus on entrepreneurial studies throughout the program, whereas other programs require an extensive amount of prerequisite work including business classes and general studies classes.

Faculty

Quality programs are taught by instructors that have been successful entrepreneurs.

Questions: What percentage of faculty members are entrepreneurs? How does the percentage compare to top ranked schools? Do some of the instructors have experience at developing Internet businesses?

Top Rated Entrepreneurial Undergraduate Programs

Some of the top rated entrepreneurial undergraduate degree programs are provided by the following schools:

• Babson College
• University of Houston
• Baylor University
• Temple University
• Drexel University
• University of Dayton
• DePaul University
• City University of New York – Baruch College
• University of Southern California
• University of Pennsylvania
• Indiana University – Bloomington
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Syracuse University
• University of Arizona
• Miami University
• University of Texas Austin
• Ball State University
• University of Oklahoma
• Northeastern University
• University of Alabama

Top Rated Entrepreneurial Graduate Programs

Some of the top rated entrepreneurship graduate degree programs are provided by the following schools:

• Babson College
• Stanford University
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Carnegie Mellon University
• Cornell University
• DePaul University
• Georgia Institute of Technology
• Harvard University
• Howard University
• University of Pennsylvania

About the Author: Brian Jenkins writes articles on management for Braintrack.com, including this article on General Management Careers.

Photo Credit: epak

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A reader of Small Biz Bee, Josef, recently asked me a very good question.

“I think a pretty interesting topic with rather limited coverage is how to decide whether an idea is worth starting a business. How to decide it’s worth quitting a safe, well paid day job? Should the idea be revolutionary? Or at least novel? Or it may be rather ordinary, just betting on good execution? Should I start only once I have a detailed business plan with detailed market research, or is that just a perfection paralysis and I should rely more on gut feelings? What are the signs it could go well or all wrong? Starting a new business may well be the most important decision in people’s life so no wonder it’s surrounded by endless questions and any guidance is highly appreciated.”

No doubt Josef is dealing with the myriad of questions that anyone thinking of starting a business goes through. And I agree, there is limited “real world” advice on the subject.

So, instead of answering all of Josef’s questions via email I’m going to answer them all right here in a four part series beginning tomorrow.

What We’ll Cover

• How to decide it’s worth quitting the safe, well paid day job to start a business
• Is your business idea “good enough”?
• Overcoming perfection paralysis
• Following the signs – early signs that your venture could go well, or all wrong.

Stay Tuned

That’s what we have on the docket in the next few days. I invite all of you to stop back by and check out the articles, and please lend your own expertise and opions to the subject in the comments of each.

Want Your Question Answered?

Do you have a business question you’d like answered “on air” here at Small Biz Bee? Drop us a line, we’d love to hear from you.

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If you’re looking for a big time business education without spending thousands of dollars, you’ve come to the right place. The following business videos and lectures are the same as you would get in the most prestigious MBA programs, all for free.

These videos range in complexity and length, but all incorporate the concepts and business foundations you will need to be successful. Some are as short as 1 minute and others are full class lectures, which cover topics such as entrepreneurship, financing, marketing, business planning, and more.

You can never have too much education, and thanks to the internet nearly everything you need to know is available to you, at your finger tips…for free, which is a pretty sweet deal.

I hope you find something here that helps you and your business be successful!

General Business – Getting Started

• Building a Company from the Ground Up
• Business Forms
• Formal Business Forms
• How Do You Find Your Passion and How Do You Pursue It?
• The Purpose of Business
• Debating the Merits of Business Education
• Experience Is Overrated
• Small Business: A profile
• “So You Want to Start a Business”
• What I Wish I’d Learned in College
• Business Owners Look Ahead

Startup

• Startup Resource: The Idea
• Startup Resource: Testing the Idea
• Startup Resource: Protecting the Idea
• Finding Good People
• Structuring the Business
• Starting Out on the Right Foot

Entrepreneurship

• What are the Best Qualities of Successful Entrepreneurs?
• What is Entrepreneurship?
• Entrepreneurial Spirit
• Entrepreneurial Women
• Google’s 5 Tips for Entrepreneurs
• New Media Entrepreneurship
• Can Innovation and Entrepreneurship be Taught?
• Eighteen and Entrepreneurial

Strategy

• Use Failure to Grow Your Business
• Startups: How to Avoid Being Squashed by Big Companies?
• The Five Competitive Forces That Shape Strategy
• The Management Process
• Managerial Issues
• Organizational Issues & Styles

Business Tips

• Google’s Matt Cutts Gives Tips to Small Business Owners
• Top 10 Tips for Entrepreneurs by the CEO Expert
• Small Business Magazine Business Tips

Marketing / Advertising

• Marketing Introduction
• Marketing Mix: The Product
• Marketing Mix: Price
• Marketing Mix: Place
• Marketing Mix: Promotion
• Marketing Strategy
• Getting Wize: Making Sense of Web 2.0
• Market Positioning and the Importance of Partnerships

Small Business Accounting

• Accounting: An Introduction
• Accounting: ‘The Rules’
• Accounting: Financial Statements

Financing

• Make a Great Pitch
• Looking for Investors
• Sources of Small Business Financing
• VC Startup Relationship
• Using Government Funding to Kick Start Your Start-Up
• Financial Markets
• Financial Management
• Financial Analysis
• Beyond Startups Webinar – How to Manage Cash Flow
• Understanding Cash Flow
• Finding the Money

Business Plans and Business Planning

• SBA Webinar – Develop Your Business Plan – Part 1
• SBA Webinar – Develop Your Business Plan – Part 2
• SBA Webinar – Develop Your Business Plan – Part 3
• SBA Webinar – Develop Your Business Plan – Part 4
• SBA Webinar – Develop Your Business Plan – Part 5
• SBA Webinar – Develop Your Business Plan – Part 6
• SBA Webinar – Develop Your Business Plan – Part 7
• SBA Webinar – Develop Your Business Plan – Part 8
• Ask Tim Berry – What Sort of Business Plan Do You Need?
• Ask Tim Berry – Common Business Planning Questions
• Purpose of a Business Plan
• The Business Plan

Leadership

• Leadership Brand
• Innovative Leadership during Economic Crisis
• Question Everything
• Values-Based Leadership with Steve Newberry
• 10 Leadership Principles I Learned in the Military and Put to Work for Donald Trump
• Southwest Airlines’ Colleen Barrett on ‘Servant Leadership’

Social Media for Business

• Building Brands with Viral Content
• How to Be a Social Media Change Agent
• O’Reilly Webcast: Twitter for Business
• How To Use Twitter For Business
• Social Media in Plain English
• Building Personal Brand Within the Social Media Landscape
• Hugh MacLeod: Web 2.0 (excerpt)

Branding

• Alfred Lin Lecture: “Building a Brand that Matters”
• Product, Brand, Experience – Nike & Sony
• How Starbucks Built a Global Brand, UCLA
• Ginny Shanks: Brand Management
• What is a Brand Really Worth?
• Marketing ROI Extends beyond the Bottom Line
• Building Global Brands

Business Profiles and Interviews

• Amazon.com: Customer Experience Matters
• A Few Things Learned from Craigslist
• A Conversation with Jack Welch
• A Conversation with Michael Dell
• Jeffrey Immelt, GE
• Kevin Plank, Chairman & CEO, Under Armour
• Warren Buffett MBA Talk
• Eye To Eye: Richard Branson
• How Starbucks Built a Global Brand
• Youtube Founders on Their Success
• Russel Simmons interview Bill Maher
• Ben & Jerry
• Bill Gates Speech at Harvard (part 1)
• Bill Gates Speech at Harvard (part 2)
• Bill Gates Speech at Harvard (part 3)
• Bill Gates Speech at Harvard (part 4)
• Bill Gates Speech at Harvard (part 5)

If you know of any free video lectures focused on small business or entrepreneurship let me know about them in the comments section and I’ll add them to the list.

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