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An investment in an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system may be one of the best investments a small business can make. ERP solutions are no longer just for large companies; as the costs have come down, it’s easier than ever for small and medium-sized businesses to operate similarly to – and compete with – larger enterprises.

Here are ten reasons to move away from your small business accounting software:

If the size and scope of a project are relatively small, project management is often quite straightforward. When it comes to managing multiple projects, however, or a single project with many moving parts, a useful resource planning tool can be a project manager’s best friend.

Individuals and organizations resist change for multiple reasons, including being comfortable with current processes, fear of the unknown, and – unfortunate but true – laziness. If your employees are resistant to change and you let them "win" by avoiding change projects, your business will fall behind its competition and you'll lose great ideas and chances for improvement.

It’s not quite the chicken or the egg conundrum, but putting a management accounting system implementation ahead of a business process review doesn’t make sense. It should be the opposite, in fact – you should always get a business process review before implementing a management accounting system.

Editor's Note: This post was originally published in June 2015 and has been updated for freshness, accuracy, and comprehensiveness.

In today’s economic conditions, it’s imperative for small to medium-sized businesses to manage their people, payrolls, and projects at a higher level of efficiency than ever before.

How do you implement change in an organization? Even if you don't envision change today, you will at some point need to prepare for changes within your business, from modification of workplace practices and processes to a general expansion of the business.

Only the proper implementation of change, however, will allow you to remain competitive in your marketplace and transform processes to the desired state. Whether it's people, technology, or software that requires changing, it's important that you approach this in an orderly manner.

Let's focus on some effective techniques that can eliminate the hassle associated with making changes in business.

Editor's Note: This post was originally published in December 2015 and has been updated for freshness, accuracy, and comprehensiveness.

Becoming an HVAC industry leader goes far beyond simply being good at your job. To be a true leader in the business world, you have to prove that your skills, your employees, and your business as a whole are phenomenal and clearly the best choice for the job.

But that alone isn't how to become an HVAC industry leader – so what is?

Are you preparing to launch a new project? If so, there are several things you should be checking off the to-do list, from carefully defining the necessary work to documenting goals, deadlines, and deliverables. Unless you fully understand the importance of project scope and having a risk plan, staying on track with the deadline and successfully completing the project will be tricky.

Before undertaking a project, understanding project objectives and identifying certain aspects is critical.

Editor's Note: This post was originally published in October 2015 and has been updated for freshness, accuracy, and comprehensiveness.

The Business Development Bank of Canada’s article – "The Five Do’s and Five Don’ts of Successful Businesses” – says “The most successful firms felt their biggest competitive edge came from offering a stimulating work environment and positive company culture.”

There are a few fundamental reasons that organizational change efforts often fail. One common issue is the lack of know-how for establishing leadership roles and getting everyone onboard with the change. It’s vital for everyone involved in change management to understand the roles and responsibilities they hold.