http://www.labmanager.com/ Lab Manager Magazine Article RSS Feed for Lab Management Matters en-us ©2011 LabManager, a division of the LabX Media Group. All Rights Reserved. Sat, 18 May 2013 23:43:00 EST 120 http://www.labmanager.com//images/site/LabManagerPrintLogo.jpg http://www.labmanager.com/ http://www.labmanager.com//?articles.view/articleNo/6026/article/Marital-Status---Another-Issue-for-Lab-Managers- http://www.labmanager.com//?articles.view/articleNo/6026/article/Marital-Status---Another-Issue-for-Lab-Managers- It’s widely known that unemployment creates strain on marriage even when both partners work. New Ohio State University research on employment and divorce suggests that pressure on husbands to be wage earners remains. The focus of Liana Sayer&rs Lab Management Matters Mon, 31 Oct 2011 00:00:00 EST http://www.labmanager.com//?articles.view/articleNo/5861/article/Taking-Responsibility--Essential-for-Good-Decision-making http://www.labmanager.com//?articles.view/articleNo/5861/article/Taking-Responsibility--Essential-for-Good-Decision-making More evidence of poor decision-making as a cause for the Gulf of Mexico oil well blowout recently emerged. The sorry situation holds valuable lessons for lab managers.   Houston Chronicle business columnist Loren Steffy noted, “It& Lab Management Matters Mon, 10 Oct 2011 00:00:00 EST http://www.labmanager.com//?articles.view/articleNo/5822/article/Dealing-with-Unplanned-Early-Retirement http://www.labmanager.com//?articles.view/articleNo/5822/article/Dealing-with-Unplanned-Early-Retirement Many laboratory professionals – and their managers – would like to delay their retirements. I wrote about this in an earlier blog. However, this is often not an option for scientists, engineers and technicians who lost their laboratory jo Lab Management Matters Mon, 03 Oct 2011 00:00:00 EST http://www.labmanager.com//?articles.view/articleNo/5756/article/Avoiding-Scope-Creep-in-Technical-Service-Work http://www.labmanager.com//?articles.view/articleNo/5756/article/Avoiding-Scope-Creep-in-Technical-Service-Work Scope creep refers to uncontrolled changes in a technical service project's scope. These can swell the amount of work associated with the project. This makes the project take longer and cost more than anticipated. When this occurs neither you nor Lab Management Matters Mon, 26 Sep 2011 00:00:00 EST http://www.labmanager.com//?articles.view/articleNo/5187/article/Developing-Managers-for-Emerging-Economy-Operations http://www.labmanager.com//?articles.view/articleNo/5187/article/Developing-Managers-for-Emerging-Economy-Operations The era of the Western expatriate manager is ending argues Jeffrey Joerres, CEO of the global staffing firm Manpower, Inc. in the May 2011 McKinsey Monthly Newsletter. It’s time for a local approach, he says.   Why is this? Accordi Lab Management Matters Mon, 19 Sep 2011 00:00:00 EST http://www.labmanager.com//?articles.view/articleNo/5159/article/Double-Dip-Recession http://www.labmanager.com//?articles.view/articleNo/5159/article/Double-Dip-Recession Throughout the summer economists have voiced disappointment in the U.S. economy. Recovery from the recession appears to have been losing steam. The Dow Jones barometer of the stock market has lost 1,000 points over couple of months. The S&P has a Lab Management Matters Mon, 12 Sep 2011 00:00:00 EST http://www.labmanager.com//?articles.view/articleNo/5160/article/Double-Dip-Recession http://www.labmanager.com//?articles.view/articleNo/5160/article/Double-Dip-Recession Throughout the summer economists have voiced disappointment in the U.S. economy. Recovery from the recession appears to have been losing steam. The Dow Jones barometer of the stock market has lost 1,000 points over couple of months. The S&P has a Lab Management Matters Mon, 12 Sep 2011 00:00:00 EST http://www.labmanager.com//?articles.view/articleNo/5167/article/Double-Dip-Recession- http://www.labmanager.com//?articles.view/articleNo/5167/article/Double-Dip-Recession- Throughout the summer economists have voiced disappointment in the U.S. economy. Recovery from the recession appears to have been losing steam. The Dow Jones barometer of the stock market has lost 1,000 points over couple of months. The S&P has a Lab Management Matters Mon, 12 Sep 2011 00:00:00 EST http://www.labmanager.com//?articles.view/articleNo/5130/article/Penny-wise--Pound-foolish- http://www.labmanager.com//?articles.view/articleNo/5130/article/Penny-wise--Pound-foolish- Are lab managers being penny-wise and pound-foolish in not hiring contractors to perform work that needs to be done but that their own staff can’t handle in a first-class manner because they are already over-worked?   By the number Lab Management Matters Tue, 06 Sep 2011 00:00:00 EST http://www.labmanager.com//?articles.view/articleNo/5046/article/Employee-Engagement-and-Workplace-Stress http://www.labmanager.com//?articles.view/articleNo/5046/article/Employee-Engagement-and-Workplace-Stress Encouraging employee engagement is a hot topic for lab managers and human resources specialists. Employees psychologically committed to their jobs are more productive and easier to manage. Yet there is a downside to high employee engagement as well. Lab Management Matters Mon, 22 Aug 2011 00:00:00 EST http://www.labmanager.com//?articles.view/articleNo/5025/article/Don-t-Be-Overly-Commercial-in-Your-Conference-Presentations http://www.labmanager.com//?articles.view/articleNo/5025/article/Don-t-Be-Overly-Commercial-in-Your-Conference-Presentations Speaking at an international conference, the speaker had just completed a well-organized, polished presentation. Yet there was almost no applause. In contrast to the many questions other speakers received after their presentations, this speaker didn& Lab Management Matters Mon, 15 Aug 2011 00:00:00 EST http://www.labmanager.com//?articles.view/articleNo/4990/article/Offshore-Oil-Platforms-Make-Novel-Laboratories http://www.labmanager.com//?articles.view/articleNo/4990/article/Offshore-Oil-Platforms-Make-Novel-Laboratories   Deep water offshore oil and gas platforms can lead double lives from the time when drilling begins to after the wells are depleted and oil and gas production shut down. Platforms house the people and equipment to drill the well s and produ Lab Management Matters Mon, 08 Aug 2011 00:00:00 EST http://www.labmanager.com//?articles.view/articleNo/4964/article/Offshore-Oil-Platforms-Make-Novel-Labs http://www.labmanager.com//?articles.view/articleNo/4964/article/Offshore-Oil-Platforms-Make-Novel-Labs   Deep water offshore oil and gas production platforms can lead double lives from the time of their installation to after the wells are depleted and oil and gas production shut down. Platforms house the people and equipment to produce oil an Lab Management Matters Thu, 28 Jul 2011 00:00:00 EST http://www.labmanager.com//?articles.view/articleNo/4884/article/Helping-Staff-Members-Overcome-Job-Security-Jitters http://www.labmanager.com//?articles.view/articleNo/4884/article/Helping-Staff-Members-Overcome-Job-Security-Jitters Employees – and lab managers as well – worried about being laid off seldom perform at their best. If many lab staff members are worried about keeping jobs, job security jitters affect overall lab productivity and morale.   Th Lab Management Matters Mon, 11 Jul 2011 00:00:00 EST http://www.labmanager.com//?articles.view/articleNo/4851/article/Look-for-Enthusiasm-in-Job-Candidates- http://www.labmanager.com//?articles.view/articleNo/4851/article/Look-for-Enthusiasm-in-Job-Candidates-   Hiring managers should look for enthusiasm in job candidates during screening and on-site interviews. Enthusiasm indicates job candidates are interested in working for the employer and excited about their profession. This enthusiasm is usu Lab Management Matters Tue, 05 Jul 2011 00:00:00 EST http://www.labmanager.com//?articles.view/articleNo/4833/article/Accomplishing-More-with-Less http://www.labmanager.com//?articles.view/articleNo/4833/article/Accomplishing-More-with-Less The U.S. Navy offers an interesting lesson to laboratories on how to get more work done with reduced staffing levels. During the Cold War guided missile cruisers were manned by 380 people. Today those same cruisers are manned by 310 people. Future cr Lab Management Matters Mon, 27 Jun 2011 00:00:00 EST http://www.labmanager.com//?articles.view/articleNo/4821/article/Helping-Staff-Members-Overcome-Job-Security-Jitters http://www.labmanager.com//?articles.view/articleNo/4821/article/Helping-Staff-Members-Overcome-Job-Security-Jitters Employees – and lab managers as well – worried about being laid off seldom perform at their best. If many lab staff members are worried about keeping jobs, job security jitters affect overall lab productivity and morale.   Th Lab Management Matters Mon, 20 Jun 2011 00:00:00 EST http://www.labmanager.com//?articles.view/articleNo/4813/article/More-Lab-Layoffs- http://www.labmanager.com//?articles.view/articleNo/4813/article/More-Lab-Layoffs- Throughout the spring economists have voiced disappointment in the U.S. economy. Recovery from the recession appears to have been losing steam. The Dow Jones barometer of the stock market has lost 500 points over the past month. The S&P has also Lab Management Matters Mon, 13 Jun 2011 00:00:00 EST http://www.labmanager.com//?articles.view/articleNo/4799/article/Make-Job-Candidates-Prove-Their-Worth http://www.labmanager.com//?articles.view/articleNo/4799/article/Make-Job-Candidates-Prove-Their-Worth It is critical for lab managers to hire job candidates who will be real contributors and not just those who have learned to interview well. So when I interview job candidates, I ask them to discuss real examples of their skills and accomplishments. I Lab Management Matters Mon, 06 Jun 2011 00:00:00 EST http://www.labmanager.com//?articles.view/articleNo/4789/article/Avoiding-the-Blame-Game http://www.labmanager.com//?articles.view/articleNo/4789/article/Avoiding-the-Blame-Game In a perfect laboratory managers would accept staff members for taking calculated risks even if the outcome isn’t successful. Coworkers wouldn’t steal others ideas and credit would be given where it is due. Sadly, in reality some managers Lab Management Matters Tue, 31 May 2011 00:00:00 EST http://www.labmanager.com//?articles.view/articleNo/4742/article/Gender-Disparities-in-Career-Expectations http://www.labmanager.com//?articles.view/articleNo/4742/article/Gender-Disparities-in-Career-Expectations Women have lower career expectations than men. They expect lower salaries and longer periods between promotions than their male counterparts according to a new study from business professors Linda Schweitzer, Ed Ng and Sean Lyons of Carleton Universi Lab Management Matters Mon, 23 May 2011 00:00:00 EST http://www.labmanager.com//?articles.view/articleNo/4732/article/Expanding-the-Boundaries-of-Personal-Autonomy http://www.labmanager.com//?articles.view/articleNo/4732/article/Expanding-the-Boundaries-of-Personal-Autonomy I once had a manager who equated managing his research group to being the father of a large, unruly family. Such was his personal tact that he often brought this up in group meetings. However, the analogy has some truth to it. As children mature and Lab Management Matters Mon, 16 May 2011 00:00:00 EST http://www.labmanager.com//?articles.view/articleNo/4695/article/6-C-s-of-Managers--Career-Control http://www.labmanager.com//?articles.view/articleNo/4695/article/6-C-s-of-Managers--Career-Control   There are six methods that you can use to control your career as a lab manager. What are the 6 C?s of control?   Control the clock   Some of us spend our entire careers struggling with time management. Tim Lab Management Matters Mon, 09 May 2011 00:00:00 EST http://www.labmanager.com//?articles.view/articleNo/4658/article/Reducing-Laboratory-Workplace-Discrimination-Based-on-Sexual-Orientation--Gender-Identity-and-Expression http://www.labmanager.com//?articles.view/articleNo/4658/article/Reducing-Laboratory-Workplace-Discrimination-Based-on-Sexual-Orientation--Gender-Identity-and-Expression Discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity and expression is a significant workplace concern in part because it is related to the productivity of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) employees. As a result, lab manag Lab Management Matters Mon, 02 May 2011 00:00:00 EST http://www.labmanager.com//?articles.view/articleNo/4610/article/Lab-Layoffs-from-the-Manager-s-Perspective http://www.labmanager.com//?articles.view/articleNo/4610/article/Lab-Layoffs-from-the-Manager-s-Perspective Laboratory layoffs continue although at a substantially slower pace. Currently lab layoffs are due largely to industry restructuring. Nobody likes layoffs. That includes lower and middle level lab managers. Conducting layoffs can be very stressful fo Lab Management Matters Mon, 25 Apr 2011 00:00:00 EST http://www.labmanager.com//?articles.view/articleNo/4589/article/Recycling-Closed-Labs-Revisited http://www.labmanager.com//?articles.view/articleNo/4589/article/Recycling-Closed-Labs-Revisited It’s time to update my September 2011 “Lab Manager” article  (http://labmanager.com/articles.asp?ID=718) on what has happened to closed U.S. pharmaceutical, chemical and oil industry laboratories This blog will discuss recent d Lab Management Matters Sun, 17 Apr 2011 00:00:00 EST http://www.labmanager.com//?articles.view/articleNo/4549/article/Hire-the--Over-qualified- http://www.labmanager.com//?articles.view/articleNo/4549/article/Hire-the--Over-qualified- When applying for jobs many older job hunters hear the dreaded words, “I’m sorry, you’re over-qualified.” Sometimes this is a euphemism for too old; sometimes it means hiring managers fear the candidate would cost too much. So Lab Management Matters Mon, 11 Apr 2011 00:00:00 EST http://www.labmanager.com//?articles.view/articleNo/4531/article/Avoid-Enabling-Unproductive-Workplace-Behaviors http://www.labmanager.com//?articles.view/articleNo/4531/article/Avoid-Enabling-Unproductive-Workplace-Behaviors There is a fine line between helping staff members with workplace problems and enabling them in ways that promote persistence of the problem. Of course, as a manager, you should help staff members who need it. However, you should not help staff membe Lab Management Matters Tue, 05 Apr 2011 00:00:00 EST http://www.labmanager.com//?articles.view/articleNo/4467/article/Dealing-with-Problem-Employees http://www.labmanager.com//?articles.view/articleNo/4467/article/Dealing-with-Problem-Employees There are often problem employees even in downsized organizations that have already reduced their staffs. In some ways an organization such as a work group, team or department is like a person. All it takes is one problem employee and the entire orga Lab Management Matters Mon, 21 Mar 2011 00:00:00 EST http://www.labmanager.com//?articles.view/articleNo/4449/article/Hiring-the-Disabled-often-a-Wise-Decision http://www.labmanager.com//?articles.view/articleNo/4449/article/Hiring-the-Disabled-often-a-Wise-Decision You have about a 20% chance of becoming disabled at some point in your career. A 2002 National Science Foundation study indicates this is the case for scientists and engineers (www.nsf.gov/pubs/2002/nsf029024/nsf029024.pdf). This report indicates, &l Lab Management Matters Mon, 14 Mar 2011 00:00:00 EST http://www.labmanager.com//?articles.view/articleNo/4428/article/Corporate-Social-Networks http://www.labmanager.com//?articles.view/articleNo/4428/article/Corporate-Social-Networks Many global corporations have laboratories located in several or more countries. Laboratory managers can benefit greatly by establishing a corporate intranet social networking site or utilizing an already existing one. A corporate intranet social net Lab Management Matters Mon, 07 Mar 2011 00:00:00 EST http://www.labmanager.com//?articles.view/articleNo/4401/article/Hiring-the-Unemployed http://www.labmanager.com//?articles.view/articleNo/4401/article/Hiring-the-Unemployed Anecdotal information suggests that some firms place job advertisements that discourage the unemployed from applying. Employers and staffing agencies have advertised jobs in technology fields such as electrical engineering noting that only currently Lab Management Matters Sun, 27 Feb 2011 00:00:00 EST http://www.labmanager.com//?articles.view/articleNo/4376/article/Being-a-Good-Supervisor-in-Tough-Times--2 http://www.labmanager.com//?articles.view/articleNo/4376/article/Being-a-Good-Supervisor-in-Tough-Times--2   This week we’ll continue our discussion of how to be a good manager in tough times. Additional constructive manager behaviors are discussed below.   Accept responsibility   Accept blame when appropriate. Pre Lab Management Matters Mon, 21 Feb 2011 00:00:00 EST http://www.labmanager.com//?articles.view/articleNo/4240/article/Being-a-Good-Supervisor-in-Tough-Times--Part-1 http://www.labmanager.com//?articles.view/articleNo/4240/article/Being-a-Good-Supervisor-in-Tough-Times--Part-1 It is easier to be a good supervisor in tough times than in economically easier ones. One is faced with more difficult decisions and problems during difficult economic conditions for your employer. What are some management behaviors that can improve Lab Management Matters Fri, 11 Feb 2011 00:00:00 EST http://www.labmanager.com//?articles.view/articleNo/4103/article/The-State-of-the-Union-Address---Industrial-R-D http://www.labmanager.com//?articles.view/articleNo/4103/article/The-State-of-the-Union-Address---Industrial-R-D Listening to President Obama's State of the Union speech last night prompted me to think about leadership and laboratory management. I found his theme of support for American innovation encouraging but without offering specifics. "The first Lab Management Matters Tue, 25 Jan 2011 00:00:00 EST http://www.labmanager.com//?articles.view/articleNo/4104/article/Stepping-into-Your-Boss--Shoes http://www.labmanager.com//?articles.view/articleNo/4104/article/Stepping-into-Your-Boss--Shoes You suspect your boss is going to be promoted or transferred or may retire soon. How can you position yourself to be the first in line to inherit his/her job?   Train for your boss's job Many laboratory staff members have only a Lab Management Matters Wed, 19 Jan 2011 00:00:00 EST http://www.labmanager.com//?articles.view/articleNo/4105/article/Hiring-Temporary-Staff-Members http://www.labmanager.com//?articles.view/articleNo/4105/article/Hiring-Temporary-Staff-Members Corporate hiring is picking up – finally. This solves some problems for some lab managers coping with accomplishing goals with a limited number of laboratory staff members. However, resuming hiring gives rise to a new concern: making good hirin Lab Management Matters Wed, 12 Jan 2011 00:00:00 EST http://www.labmanager.com//?articles.view/articleNo/4161/article/Reducing-Lab-Bureaucracy http://www.labmanager.com//?articles.view/articleNo/4161/article/Reducing-Lab-Bureaucracy Lab managers can reduce overhead costs by reducing unnecessary bureaucracy. A rough rule of thumb is that larger laboratories tend to have more bureaucracy. Staff members often find their productivity increases substantially when they change jobs and Lab Management Matters Wed, 05 Jan 2011 00:00:00 EST http://www.labmanager.com//?articles.view/articleNo/4164/article/Christmas-Break http://www.labmanager.com//?articles.view/articleNo/4164/article/Christmas-Break Due to the holidays, I won't be posting new blogs until January 5. Enjoy the holidays everyone! Lab Management Matters Wed, 22 Dec 2010 00:00:00 EST http://www.labmanager.com//?articles.view/articleNo/4166/article/Hiring-Impact-Players http://www.labmanager.com//?articles.view/articleNo/4166/article/Hiring-Impact-Players Impact players are employees whose knowledge, skills and work habits make them exceptionally productive. Of course, one always wants to hire new employees who have these attributes. In this post-recession period, financial managers are beginning to g Lab Management Matters Wed, 15 Dec 2010 00:00:00 EST http://www.labmanager.com//?articles.view/articleNo/4167/article/Delaying-Your-Retirement http://www.labmanager.com//?articles.view/articleNo/4167/article/Delaying-Your-Retirement Delaying retirement? You are not alone. Many baby boomers currently are delaying their retirement. One-third plan to retire only after age 65 according to an Employment Benefit Research Institute survey. In another recent survey of more than 2,200 U. Lab Management Matters Wed, 08 Dec 2010 00:00:00 EST http://www.labmanager.com//?articles.view/articleNo/4168/article/Downsides-of-Flextime http://www.labmanager.com//?articles.view/articleNo/4168/article/Downsides-of-Flextime Much has been written about the advantages of flextime for both employees and employers. However, there are downsides as well ? downsides that are seldom mentioned. This is particularly the case for people working in laboratories. Safety The la Lab Management Matters Wed, 01 Dec 2010 00:00:00 EST http://www.labmanager.com//?articles.view/articleNo/4170/article/Social-Networking-for-Laboratories http://www.labmanager.com//?articles.view/articleNo/4170/article/Social-Networking-for-Laboratories Laboratory managers can benefit greatly by establishing a corporate social networking site or utilizing an already existing one. Think FaceBook on a corporate intranet. The software isn't the challenge. Rather it is defining your objectives and strat Lab Management Matters Tue, 23 Nov 2010 00:00:00 EST http://www.labmanager.com//?articles.view/articleNo/4172/article/Writing-Corporate-Newsletters-and-Blogs http://www.labmanager.com//?articles.view/articleNo/4172/article/Writing-Corporate-Newsletters-and-Blogs For companies marketing to a large number of customers and potential customers, newsletters and blogs offer a way to keep them in touch with customers informing them of new products and generic descriptions of how their products solved other customer Lab Management Matters Wed, 17 Nov 2010 00:00:00 EST http://www.labmanager.com//?articles.view/articleNo/4173/article/Screening-Job-Applicants-Online---Part-2 http://www.labmanager.com//?articles.view/articleNo/4173/article/Screening-Job-Applicants-Online---Part-2 Many lab managers could ignore a rising tide of incoming résumés for the past two years or so since staffing levels were frozen or being reduced. However, as they begin to hire again they have to deal with this flood. This is a particular problem for Lab Management Matters Wed, 10 Nov 2010 00:00:00 EST http://www.labmanager.com//?articles.view/articleNo/4174/article/Individual-Managers-Determine-Gender-Equity-in-the-Laboratory http://www.labmanager.com//?articles.view/articleNo/4174/article/Individual-Managers-Determine-Gender-Equity-in-the-Laboratory The primary basis for employee job satisfaction is your personal relationship with your manager. Next is importance is your personal relationship with coworkers and the people that report to you. Only then do broad personnel practices come into play. Lab Management Matters Wed, 03 Nov 2010 00:00:00 EST http://www.labmanager.com//?articles.view/articleNo/4175/article/Breaking-Through-Barriers-to-Change http://www.labmanager.com//?articles.view/articleNo/4175/article/Breaking-Through-Barriers-to-Change 'Better the devil you know than the one you don't.' is a familiar proverb. Whether consciously or unconsciously, many lab managers are guided by this proverb in the way they manage their laboratories. The result is a static workplace culture that can Lab Management Matters Thu, 28 Oct 2010 00:00:00 EST http://www.labmanager.com//?articles.view/articleNo/4176/article/Training-Staff-Members http://www.labmanager.com//?articles.view/articleNo/4176/article/Training-Staff-Members Lab managers have been faced with cuts in their training budgets since the recession began. Upper level managers have been cutting back on the number of employees allowed to enroll in external training programs and limiting lab staff participation in Lab Management Matters Tue, 19 Oct 2010 00:00:00 EST http://www.labmanager.com//?articles.view/articleNo/4182/article/Screening-Job-Applicants http://www.labmanager.com//?articles.view/articleNo/4182/article/Screening-Job-Applicants In the wake of widespread layoffs, laboratory managers are beginning to hire again as the economy slowly recovers. Lab managers could ignore a flood of incoming résumés while staffing levels were frozen. However, as they begin to hire they have to de Lab Management Matters Wed, 13 Oct 2010 00:00:00 EST http://www.labmanager.com//?articles.view/articleNo/4183/article/Gender-Equity-in-the-Workplace http://www.labmanager.com//?articles.view/articleNo/4183/article/Gender-Equity-in-the-Workplace The primary basis for employee job satisfaction is your personal relationship with your manager. Next is importance is your personal relationship with coworkers and the people that report to you. Only then do broad personnel practices come into play. Lab Management Matters Tue, 05 Oct 2010 00:00:00 EST