As a business leader, it’s important to understand the policies and regulations now, and develop a strategy for meeting the ACA guidelines in a way that will limit unexpected financial burden and drive key business objectives. Identifying all of your full-time employees, as required by the ACA, and modeling several health plan scenarios are the first steps to making the most informed compliance decisions. Other important considerations including new reporting, systems, and communications requirements will also impact your business going forward. Are you fully prepared to act in the best interest of your company and your employees?

Navigate is ready to help. Using the resources and experience within our five key service areas, our team will work with you to assess your potential exposure to these new regulations. Our deep knowledge of organizational change and technology will help you achieve ongoing compliance with ACA regulations, maintain an informed and aligned workforce and preserve your business strategy.

To learn more about how Navigate might be able to help your company achieve ACA compliance, please contact Brian Lee.

The post Is Your Business Ready for the Affordable Care Act? appeared first on Navigate.

We were initially drawn to Community Backstop by its hands-on, grassroots approach – eliminating barriers and delivering direct relief – and also by its creative fundraising initiatives. This April, we sponsored the organization’s eighth annual Texas Hold ‘em event, a fun evening of friendly competition and one-of-a-kind auction items that not only helps generate critical dollars in available aid, but that also increases awareness of Community Backstop’s work. The organization relies on the community for support and also to inform them of area families experiencing any type of hardship, so that they can respond as quickly as possible.

We look forward to bringing our Navigate team, clients, and friends to this event each year – a great night for a truly important cause.

Community Backstop has raised over $500,000 and has distributed over $300,000 right back into our local community. I invite to learn more about the organization here.

The post Navigate goes “All in” for Community Backstop appeared first on Navigate.

Harvard Business Review published an article early last year by Jeffery Immelt, chairman and CEO of GE, touting the significant “human innovation and technical innovation” taking place in the U.S. – and how that will help his company remain competitive on a global scale and, in turn, create more jobs here.

In his article, Immelt discusses the challenges created by outsourcing – such as competition from companies overseas; a lack of supply chain control; and the growing cost of shipping, supplies, and labor. Most interestingly, GE realized that the true innovation that fuels engineering and manufacturing was strongest in the U.S. – and to separate design from production was simply not the right path to success.

In my work with our clients at Navigate, I see regularly how assessing current operations and developing creative and practical solutions drives company success. It is this constant evaluation and openness to new ideas that will continue to position the U.S. as a global business leader. As Immelt stated it:  “…when we invest in our people and our technologies and create new business models, we can bring manufacturing back to the United States and be profitable.”

I invite you to read the full article here.

The post Ourshoring…bringing jobs back to the US appeared first on Navigate.

Bill has worked with clients at all stages of solution implementation, from requirements identification, and design and selection of the optimal technology application; to preparation for system integration, execution, and post-go-live support. He has specific experience with companies in the manufacturing sector, where he has applied his strategic approach to project management to the particular needs of industrial environments.

“Bill brings a unique blend of expertise in an area so critical to companies today – the selection and implementation of the right technology solution to drive key business objectives,” said David Crossed, Managing Partner at Navigate. “We look forward to leveraging his knowledge and skills to benefit Navigate’s clients.”

Previously, Bill was a Director at Grant Thornton and a Senior Manager with LECG (formerly SMART Business Advisory & Consulting). Bill managed enterprise implementations for clients including Fox Rehabilitation, United Refrigeration, Inc., SunGard Availability Services, and Centocor Research and Development. Prior to that, he managed e-commerce assessments and implementations for clients such as Urban Outfitters and United Refrigeration Inc. as Manager at Andersen Business Consulting.

Bill earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Drexel University.

We are excited to have Bill on the Navigate team!

The post Navigate Welcomes Senior Manager Bill Derr, Experienced Leader of Strategic Technology Initiatives appeared first on Navigate.

In 1995, Harvard Business Review first published an article on successful change management written by John P. Kotter, a retired Harvard Business School professor and author of the book Leading Change. Since that time, Kotter’s ideas on executing change have become ingrained in the practices of strong business leaders.

Kotter presents eight critical steps to implementing change in an organization, principles that Navigate incorporates regularly as we guide our clients through transformation. While some of the ideas might seem simple or obvious, their value can’t be underestimated or overlooked during a transition. To start with, Kotter stresses the importance of establishing a sense of urgency. Without an explanation of the conditions or difficulties that are driving the change, it will not be easy to inspire motivation. Similarly, developing and communicating a vision helps employees better understand the objectives and expectations of the change. Along the way, Kotter points out the motivating power of short-term wins, and how formalizing new processes and procedures works to ensure the positive results continue.

 An important lesson learned from Kotter’s many years observing organizations manage (or mismanage) transformation is that ample time must be allotted for each phase of the change process. Trying to rush it or cut corners can have a devastating impact, slowing momentum and negating hard-won gains. Again we see how, despite advances in technology and the ups and downs of the economy, some business principles continue to stand the test of time.

Click to read: Leading Change: Why Transformation Efforts Fail – Harvard Business Review

Register for free with Harvard Business Review to access full article.

The post Article Spotlight: Leading Change: Why Transformation Efforts Fail appeared first on Navigate.

Navigate Partner Jerry Goldberg, who oversees the firm’s enterprise risk management services, recently presented to the Association of Audit Committee Members, the national leading resource for corporate governance and compliance, on the top risks for organizations to consider this year.

Factors such as the post-downturn economy and changing regulatory and industry requirements provide both opportunities and challenges for businesses. As Jerry shared with his audience, risks can arise from inside an organization – related to, for example, information security, IT strategy, or employee training – as well as from outside issues such as brand management and the evolving global marketplace.

Leading organizations monitor the conditions affecting their companies, identify potential risks, and make appropriate adjustments to their strategy and business model.

Contact Jerry Goldberg to learn more about today’s top risks and how your organization can best manage and respond to them.

The post Top Risks for 2013 – Are You Prepared? appeared first on Navigate.

Unfortunately, the function with some of the most impactful resources often lacks a voice in that process – the IT Department. Some organizations share their strategic plan with IT to better enable the department to align its goals with business needs; far fewer allow IT to contribute to the strategic planning process, empowering the department to synchronize its goals with organizational objectives. Even more alarming is that many organizations don’t see IT as a strategic resource at all, demanding little more from the department than to enforce compliance and “keep the lights on.”

I happened upon the following article a few weeks ago while doing some research. What struck me – beyond the well-articulated and spot-on point of view – was the publication date: June 4, 2003. The author discusses a long-overdue, yet finally emerging trend away from senior management-types formulating strategy then simply handing it off to IT. Yet today – 10 years later – we still see so many organizations viewing IT as a back-office service center, and so few trusting IT as a collaborative business partner and valued contributor to developing and maintaining strategy.

Ten years. Think about that. How much transformational change has the world seen over the last 10 years? How much change have you seen? How about your industry, your organization, or your client? Hopefully, you’re still on the road to success; if not, maybe it’s time for a little more change.

Click to Read: IT Must Have Role in Developing an Effective Business Plan – Tech Republic

The post Article Spotlight: Is Your Approach to Business Planning Stuck in 2003? appeared first on Navigate.

The post Safeguarding Cloud Computing: A Priority for Today’s CISO appeared first on Navigate.

However, as with any innovation, cloud computing does bring with it a whole new set of rules, particularly regarding how to best secure critical company data when hosted by a third party. Though cloud computing can be an ideal solution for many businesses, it does not relieve the chief information security officer (CISO) of the responsibility of data security. The CISO must make sure that the cloud services provider understands, agrees to, and adheres to all security measures required by the company and its industry. Disaster (IT) recovery and business continuity planning is as vital as ever – after all, if your data is on the line, so is your company, and, thus, so is your reputation.

Navigate is helping several clients make sure their cloud services solution is supported by the tightest approach to security. Senior Manager Stieven Weidner recently compiled a list of security concerns related to cloud services, based on his experiences. Have you thought through the critical considerations to best protect your company data? Find out here.

The post “Safeguarding Cloud Computing: A Priority for Today’s CISO” by, Steve Weidner appeared first on Navigate.

For those of us who practice in the service industry, “creativity” can be a scary term.  It tends to carry tones of uncertainty and desperation.  After all, how many times have you heard, “Let’s get creative!” in a good business situation?  Likely not many.  Which prompts the question: are we challenging ourselves to do the right things, or are we simply trying to do things right?

The following article, recently published by Harvard Business Review, outlines an emerging service model which encourages service practitioners to get creative.  As a result, participating professionals are revolutionizing service industries.  They are discovering new efficiencies.  They are solving problems that customers didn’t even know they had.  In today’s increasingly regulated and rapidly changing business environment, can you afford not to be effective?

Let’s get creative.

Click to Read: Four Ways to Reinvent Service Delivery – Harvard Business Review 

Register for free with Harvard Business Review to access full article.

The post Article Spotlight: Four Ways to Reinvent Service Delivery appeared first on Navigate.