The Frelix Group professionals invest in the gathering and analysis of resources and information in order to keep fresh perspectives on the business environment. This section of our website is designed to pass along interesting information from other sources and insight from our professionals.

• The Role of HR in Strategic Planning
  By: Alan Frelix
  
  There is an ongoing debate about the role of human resources in strategic planning. In some cases, senior managers view human resource management solely as a compliance function. Other senior managers look to the HR function for more consultative services such as leadership development, performance management and employee engagement. Often times HR is called to help implement a key initiative of strategy after the decision has already been made. Meanwhile, HR professionals are looking for the proverbial “seat at the table” in the strategic planning process. The fact is that strategy is rarely developed without the consideration of human capital. Perhaps more importantly, no strategic plan is successful without the successful recruitment, deployment, development and management of human capital. The answer is that the HR function must create a perception of value throughout the planning cycle by demonstrating its knowledge, alignment, and success. In other words, the HR function must successfully prove its ability to create value to the organization at every step in the strategic planning process from environmental scanning, to organizational assessment, to strategy development, implementation, and performance measurement. This article discusses four guiding principles that will lead the HR professional to be invited to “the table” and more importantly that will ensure that his/her seat stays “reserved.”  (Read More)
  
  
• Starting a New Business While Still Employed
  By: ALEXANDRA LEVIT
  
  People like to fantasize about quitting their jobs one day and starting their own businesses the next. But for most, it doesn't happen that way. In fact, the average entrepreneur is fully employed while he takes steps to get his venture off the ground.  (Read More)
  
  
• Starting Over - as an Entrepreneur
  By: Kelly K. Spors and Raymund Flandez
  
  For laid-off or worried workers, launching a business may seem the best path to survival. Here are the stories of five people who are taking that route—and the lessons they’ve learned so far.  (Read More)
  
  
• The Multicultural Economy 2009
  By: Jeffrey M. Humphreys
  
  The Selig Center’s estimates and projections of buying power for 1990-2014 show that minorities—African Americans, Asians, Native Americans, and Hispanics—wield formidable eco¬nomic clout. The numbers are impressive. In 2009, both the African-American market ($910 billion) and the Hispanic market ($978 billion) are larger than the entire economies (2008 GDP measured in U.S. dollars) of all but fourteen countries in the world—smaller than the GDP of Australia and larger than the GDP of the Netherlands.  (Read More)
  
  
• How Start-Ups Attract Corporate Acquirers - And How They Blow It
  By: Tomio Geron
  
  Corporate investors and acquirers are showing more interest in potential deals after a difficult economic downturn, but start-ups can improve their chances of a favorable exit by taking some steps of their own.  (Read More)
  
  
• One Year Later: Lessons Learned From the Downturn
  By: DIANA RANSOM
  
  Lessons From the Downturn.  (Read More)
  
  
• Six Ways to Speed Up SBA Loan Approval
  By: DIANA RANSOM
  
  Attention small-business owners: Time is running out on an opportunity to access fee-free business loans that are guaranteed up to 90%.  (Read More)
  
  
• Maximizing Shareholder Value: A Case Study
  By: Kurt S. Knipp, Randall Wright Patterson
  
  This article explains how the underperforming company sought the advice of outside professionals whose coordinated efforts enhanced shareholder value by more than $100 million in 18 months. It provides a history of the company leading up to the engagement of outside professionals, discusses how a turnaround plan was created and implemented, and details the final results from the implementation of a coordinated strategy between the company’s investment bankers and turnaround professionals.  (Read More)
  
  
• Democratizing Capital for Emerging Domestic Markets
  By: Minority Business Development Agency & Milken Institute
  
  Economic growth cannot be sustained without inclusion of Minority Business and the infusion of capital into those businesses. This report provides recommendations for increasing financing opportunities for minority businesses.  (Read More)
  
  
• Emerging Domestic Markets: Increasing Capital by Improving Data
  By: Glenn Yago, Betsy Zeidman, Teresa Magula and Jon Sederstrom April 2007
  
  This report surveys the current research on EDM data and offers an approach for data sharing, a “data consortium,” that leverages existing resources and provides opportunities for improved analysis, policymaking, and product development.  (Read More)