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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.

While QuickBooks software by Intuit is a necessity for many startup companies that can't afford an expensive accountant, there comes a time when something that handles more complex tasks is necessary. A business that outgrows QuickBooks and doesn't update its software will find itself losing ground to the competition until it shifts gears and gets a more robust platform.

Your company may be in danger of slowing itself down by staying with the software, but how do you know you have outgrown QuickBooks?

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.

You've grown your business to its current state with basic software, and that's great – but as you continue to grow in both size and complexity, you'll need to find an accounting product that can "stretch" to provide for your new needs. With so many products on the market, it might seem overwhelming, but we have a few recommendations to help you find the best accounting software for you.

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.

One of the most integral aspects of proper business functioning is good leadership. For an effective working environment, you should develop leadership skills and encourage company leaders to "get behind" their people. It's important to know how leaders should support employees.

If you can accomplish this, accomplishing organizational change and stimulating creativity and engagement in your workforce will be far easier.

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.

As a business leader – regardless of your industry, how long you've been in business, or your target audience – change management is always a consideration. Aligning your workforce for a positive change experience is the key to success in trying new business ventures. To ensure a smooth and stable transition, start with a strategic plan that includes best practices for change implementation and long-term success.