Ask a Business Expert

A: Have decision–making personnel in each section get together to: Brainstorm all the features they would like the part of the new facility that houses them to include. (Remember, brainstorming means getting everyone to suggest anything and everything that comes to their mind, no criticisms allowed!) Have the group divide the suggestions into three categories: A for Absolutely Necessary, B for Better Yet, and C for Cream of the Crop. Items that go into Category A are the kind of thing that this part of your business needs in order to function. Items that go into Category B are the ones that make this move a step toward a more positive physical or cash flow for the section, an improvement over the old place. And Category C items are those "absolutely ideal!" ones that would make the move a treat! Once each section has completed their categories, have representatives bring the lists to a joint meeting. List each section's A's, B's and C's together. Allow for plenty of discussion, determining if each item in each category fits the definition of that category: Necessary to Function, Moving towards Improvement, or Ideal. Then have upper management examine the A list to see if those items, as agreed on by the representatives of the different sections, are financially possible. Adjust as necessary until the answer is yes. Then inform realtors to give you a list only of properties that include ALL of your A requirements. Among these, determine which have the most of your B requirements. And then begin your actual inspections, with the ones of those that turn out to have the most of C requirements. The end result: you'll spend a lot less time and end up far happier with the move.