OPERATING OPPORTUNITIES

Builders Express, Inc. !O, Bo4 741623

Dallas, Tx.75243

mance againsr srandards and plans. The man- ager doei rhe same thing. Only his .films. are things like operating statements, budgets. pRIL is our month for treated lumber. unit projections and a general scrutiny of all rain showers and the beginning of the employees and the Sum total of their efforts. spring football practice. All this serves to remind one ofanticipated sales increases, flowers to come in May and a story about a marketing professor.

Dedicated to excellence in education. this professor spent his entire career campaigning for a departmental budget that would at least equal that provided the football team. While never openly hostile to the few athletes he met in class, he maintained an aloof oosture toward them.

As fate would have it, one year in the spring term, his class in "Management Communication" was heavily populated with foot ball players. Next year's budget had just been submitted, but he determined that his oersonal thoughts about athletes would not interfere with his teaching the group. The special lecture he prepared for the first day of the class went something like this:

"Managers of businesses and football coaches must of necessity communicate in much the same way with those surrounding them. Here are some examples.

"Ti.aining-Instruction in running. blocking. tackling, passing, kicking and receiving, all basic skills, are taught and explained before the season's start and then continually practiced for as long as the team exists. Business managers provide indoctrination for new employees and continually provide for the honing and reinforcing of their skills during the life of their employment.

"Operations Manual-In business, the manager provides written instructions and specialized training for each worker. The coach provides a 'play book' for each team member and drills everyone over and over again individually and collectively on execution. Both the manual and the book are designed to insure that efforts are directed to a desired end result on an efficient. but routine basis.

"Game Plan-Both the coach and the business manager must have a written plan which is covered in detail with those expected to be participating in implementing the plans. In business the manager might have several other names for his plan-marketing plan, business plan and selling plan are a few of these.

" Pefformance Measurement-When game films are reviewed in detail by several coaches, they grade each player's perfor-

"Gante Day-once a team has been indoctrinated into a system, knows the skills of their trade. learns the play book and the specifics of their jobs. an action plan can be implemented which is measurable-they're ready for game day. When a manager's team is sinrilarly prepared, they are able to support a business's 'Game Day'-their advertising."

Feeling confident that he had successfully masked his feelings about football, the professor concluded his remarks with a reouest for questions. Up went a lone arm attaahed to a very large body. "Do managers have off season programs, too?"