problem solving – FiscalShare

Tag: problem solving

Coding the LCAP

A colleague at another district said “When you figure out how to reflect the LCAP in the budget, let me know.” Really? I think you have too much faith in me. For those of you not in California, the problem is this. When we adopt a budget we have to be able to show how our

July 6, 2015 Short URLaccount codes, accounting, chart of accounts, LCAP, Local Control Accountability Plan, local control funding formula, problem solving, SACSAccounting, Budget, Daily Work, Procedures and Practices, Productivity

This is the Way We Have Always Done It

I learned a new expression recently. “Jumping the shark” means holding on to an idea that has run its course. It originally referred to the TV show Happy Days where one particularly silly plot device is now viewed as the moment when the show’s writers officially ran out of ideas. Rather than give the show a dignified send off, they

January 10, 2015 Short URLcreativity, employee engagement, innovation, problem solvingGovernment, Public Schools, Technology

The Giant Account Coding Monster

“Here’s your process. It satisfies all my needs.” Even when there is lots of customer input, the more powerful party will resolve disagreements in its own favor. Even though California’s Standardized Account Code Structure (SACS) is far superior the previous system and was a done deal fifteen years ago, whenever I take an assignment in

May 3, 2014 Short URLbloat, education, problem solving, school districtAccounting, Analysis, Data, Government, Laws and Regulations, Public Schools

Reasons and Excuses, Bali Edition

My grandfather used to say “reasons are not excuses,” meaning that just because you have a reason, don’t expect that to function as an excuse to relieve you of the consequences of your actions. I used to plan our family vacations down to the gnat’s eyelash. For each trip I would make a binder that functioned as a

January 28, 2014 Short URLbusiness, excuses, passport, planning, problem solving, rationalizations. travel, reasonsManagement, Productivity, Uncategorized

Reasons, Excuses, Rationalizations

My mother recently had a fence replaced. The “Fence Guy” was a self-employed franchisee for a national chain. When he did not show up on the appointed day my mother left three unreturned messages before complaining to the franchisor. Fence Guy eventually called back and said he was behind and he would be there in three weeks.

January 26, 2014 Short URLappropriate work behavior, behavior, best practice, business, choice, choices, communication, deadlines, dependability, excuse, explanation, Management, missing deadlines, problem solving, rationalization, reason, reasonable person defense, reliability, schedule, workManagement, Productivity

Oh Crap!

Some time back I was a passenger in a car that my friend was driving. We were sideswiped by a 17-year-old driver in a massive truck. This smashed the passenger side. We were pushed into the central freeway barrier. This smashed the driver’s side. Then we spun around several times and ended up on the shoulder,

January 9, 2014 Short URLaccident, best practice, career development, disaster recovery, firefighters, Management, problem solvingCareer Development, Management, Productivity, Risk Management, School District Jobs, Working Together

A Different Approach to Hiring?

Over the years I have hired a some stars and some near misses as well. Upon reflection my hires generally fall into four groups: Intelligent, motivated, with great interpersonal skills (IQ, MQ, EQ). These are our stars, who are promoted quickly. Intelligent, motivated, with poor interpersonal skills (IQ, MQ). Despite their talents and eagerness, they irritate their fellow workers.

January 5, 2014 Short URLbest practice, budget analyst, business, career development, employee engagement, employment, EQ, hiring, human resources, interpersonal skills, interview, job interview, jobs, motivated employees, motivation, MQ, myers-briggs, personality tests, problem solving, public education, public school finance, public schools, school district business, show me the money, unions, Vladimir PutinCareer Development, Management, School District Jobs, Working Together

Excel Solver for Expense Transfers

Thank you Pronger for your post about the Excel solver function. Follow this link to view his explanation and instructions. The solver function is especially useful if you deal with a multitude of funding sources such as state and local grants, federal awards and bond funds. Each restricted funding source has very particular spending rules and most have

December 31, 2013 Short URLaccounting, Accounts Payable, analysis, best practice, data, Excel, Excel solver, Excel spreadsheet, Expense, funding sources, Funds, General Journal, government spending, governmental accounting, information technology, Invoice, Microsoft, Microsoft Excel, nonprofit accounting, problem solving, public school finance, school district business, school districts, school finance, solver, solver function in Excel, spreadsheetsAccounting, Finance, Government, Public Schools, School Construction

The Long and the Short of It

Or, Don’t Use Your Credit Card to Buy Groceries (and Don’t use Bonds to Buy Technology) I was walking by Fort Point in San Francisco (you’ll know the spot from Hitchcock’s “Vertigo”). I fell into conversation with a guy who, by coincidence, was a new customer at the bank where I worked. He went on to

December 6, 2013 Short URLbonds, California, capitalization, capitalized equipment, common core, computers, finance, finance techniques, government, information technology, LA Unified, on-line testing, parcel tax, problem solving, public education, public finance, public school finance, school district business, school districts, school finance, standardized tests, technology iPads, testing, testsGovernment, Management, Public Schools

Make Them Cry “Uncle!”

My boss and mentor used to chastise me. “Pile work on your staff until they cry ‘uncle’ ” she would say. Is that really a valid management technique? Sounds a bit draconian. “Not at all,” she would counter. “You don’t really know if they are working at full capacity until you give them too much

November 22, 2013 Short URLbusiness, complainers, cross-training, human resources, job, job description, job rotation, Management, problem solving, public education, work-avoiders, workloadManagement

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