Business management has changed significantly compared to 20 years ago. Today, it takes stronger soft skills, supported by coaching and business consulting programs. Want to learn more? Keep reading.
Table of contents
What is business management?
Business management is not, as you might think, just “reporting”. It’s a set of strategies and day-to-day operational decisions involving people, processes, tools, and financial resources.
When we talk about business management, we’re not only referring to how a company coordinates activities to reach its goals and generate profit, but also to the mix of reporting, management, and financing activities that make up a company’s life cycle.
Companies like Sibill, for example, point out that business management includes four core managerial functions:
- planning: defining vision, mission, and KPIs (clear, measurable objectives);
- organizing: structures, roles, and responsibilities;
- leadership: guiding and motivating people toward the right goals;
- control: monitoring results and adjusting course (when needed).
Fondazione ITSSI also highlights that business management matters not only for large organizations, but for SMEs as well, where it can be the deciding factor between success and failure over the medium to long term.
Business consulting, therefore, is simply external support from professionals who work alongside entrepreneurs and managers to strengthen business management.
How to improve business management?
Improving business management means acting at the same time on strategy, people, processes, and tools. Many experts agree on a few key steps:
1. Definire e aggiornare la strategia
Strategic planning is the first step toward effective business management. In practical terms, this means setting long-term goals, developing concrete plans by area (business development, HR, marketing, and so on), and building a clear vision of where the company is headed.
At this stage, business consulting can help to:
- analyze the market (competitors and trends);
- develop business plans;
- define roadmaps and KPIs.
2. Strengthen the org chart and accountability
Business management becomes more mature when roles are clearly defined and responsibilities are formalized within the organization. Factorial, for example, highlights that for effective management it’s important to establish from the outset who does what, with clear goals and measurable metrics (a data-driven approach).
Here are a few practical actions you can take:
- define an org chart and clear job responsibilities from the start;
- appoint department leads (including in micro, small, and medium-sized businesses);
- formalize procedures and workflows.
3. Invest in leadership and employee motivation
Business management isn’t just about numbers—we’ve said that—it’s also about people. That’s why it’s essential to:
- develop distributed leadership skills, rather than placing the entire burden of management on the top level;
- learn to delegate tasks and responsibilities to the right people, with the right level of autonomy and support;
- build a motivating workplace, with recognition of results, growth paths, and transparent communication.
4. Use KPIs and management control to make data-driven decisions
Another key element is performance indicators (KPIs) and management control systems, which help monitor profitability.
There are different types of KPIs, including:
- financial and economic;
- operational;
- sales and marketing.
For a deeper dive, read more here.
5. Embrace digital transformation
Riding the wave of digital transformation is just as important. Cash flow management software, HR management platforms, and process automation tools can significantly improve business management.
Moving from scattered spreadsheets to cloud-based solutions means, in practical terms:
- reducing errors and manual work;
- having up-to-date, centralized data;
- being able to model scenarios and make informed decisions.
6. Rely on business consulting to accelerate change
Business consultants are external professionals who bring specialized expertise, a neutral perspective, and proven ways of working, through:
- an objective assessment of issues and opportunities;
- tailored strategies (not “copy-and-paste” solutions);
- hands-on support in implementing changes;
- training and knowledge transfer to the internal team.
Summary
In short:
- business management covers strategy, organization, finance, and people;
- company management is how these elements are applied in day-to-day processes;
- business consulting helps turn theory into practice with fewer mistakes and a data-driven approach.
For many SMEs, working with experienced consultants means accelerating growth, preventing crises, and improving profitability in an increasingly competitive market.
How can JO Group support you with business management?
The business consulting services offered by the JO Group cluster of companies, active since 1998, are designed to support you in a simple and effective way. We offer:
- business management analysis;
- definition or review of your strategic plan and the business models you use;
- design of management control systems and KPI tracking;
- support in digitizing processes and adopting new tools;
- training and coaching programs for entrepreneurs and managers on leadership, delegation, and change management.
If you want to turn business management from a constant stream of day-to-day emergencies into a driver of growth, get in touch. We can design a consulting path tailored to your organization, your goals, and the resources you have available.
- Phone: +390950936053
- Email: fill out the contact form below
- WhatsApp (JO Consulting): wa.me/390950936053