ResidentialBusiness

Small dwelling units are booming as solutions for affordable housing, camping, and glamping. But of most interest, at present, is the opportunity this category provides as a source of transitional housing during times of climate crisis and regional disasters such as the L.A. fires. California already had increasingly positive regulation toward accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and tiny homes prior to the January 2025 Los Angeles fires. In the wake of the current disaster, L.A. Mayor Karen Bass issued an emergency executive order: Return and Rebuild. This new mandate eliminates the significant regulatory hurdles of rebuilding to organize efforts with a theme of “urgency, common sense, and compassion.” We applaud this effort, which includes allowing the use of park models, RVs, and other structures as needed to allow owners of the 12,000-plus homes affected to recover and rebuild as quickly as possible. This is an area where the industry for sustainable and high-quality park models will shine. Beyond California, recovery efforts from other disasters are shining a floodlight on the need and benefit of affordable and weather-resistant small homes for many thousands of additional people throughout the U.S. and beyond. I recently interviewed Dan Fitzpatrick, the president of the Tiny Home Industry Association about these needs. Dan has 49 years’ experience in both public and private roles. He’s had a front-row view of the need and the power of public/private partnerships to accomplish projects such as the Rio Mesa master-planned community of 15,000 on the north side of Fresno, California, as well as Tesoro Vieja, a 400-acre planned lake community in the state’s Central Valley. What L.A. can learn from recent hurricane disasters in the southeast Dan and I have observed the damage across Florida and North Carolina from three catastrophic hurricanes in 2024: Debby, Helene, and Milton. FEMA responded to those disasters with approval for more than $2.1 billion in aid, including $931.7 million for housing repairs and personal property replacement, along with more than $1.18 billion to support local and state governments in recovery efforts including debris removal and emergency protective measures. These situations caused the demand for tiny homes as transitional housing to skyrocket. The units are proving to be especially beneficial in allowing homeowners continual proximity to manage and monitor the rebuilds and can serve as permanent and property-enhancing studios and accessory dwellings after the rebuilds are complete. California is following suit In addition to the emergency order by Mayor Bass, the January 2025 executive order by California Governor Gavin Newsom is expediting the rapid rebuilding efforts now required in L.A. This new order suspends key permitting and review requirements under the California Environmental Quality Act and the California Coastal Act, to facilitate faster property restoration. As a response to natural disasters, we can anticipate the demand for tiny homes to surge well beyond the already aggressive predictions for growth. “The prefabricated home sector is on track to grow by more than $30 billion over the coming few years,” Dan told me. “Tiny homes hold the potential to be the ideal answer to increase our country’s resilience to natural disasters.” However, he also notes that while the importance of this category is increasingly obvious, there are critical nuances involved. Speed is our friend– but also our enemy. While Mayor Bass’s and Governor Newsom’s order are vital steps toward removing the bureaucratic hurdles to expedite rebuilding, we must strike the right balance between rapid reconstruction and adherence to environmental safeguards. The quality and nature of tiny homes is critical to avoid the prospect of having quickly erected small home communities turn into poorly constructed and badly located “shanty towns”—a worry large enough to lead some regions to enact regulation against them. NPR has also noted vast ranges in quality among tiny home shelters, ranging from “cabins with a cot to miniature houses with kitchens and bathrooms.” In my own company’s case, our Los Angeles, California facility, in operation since 2022, has more than tripled its capacity in 2024 to 24/7 operation to meet the rising demand. We are 3D printing homes from recycled polymers and fiberglass to create units that are energy efficient and sustainable as well weather resilient. Clearly the need and the demand for high quality, sustainable and weather resistant tiny homes has never been higher. It is an industry that will impact all areas of the U.S. and the regions beyond in 2025 and in the years and seasons to come. Gene Eidelman is the cofounder of Azure Printed Homes. View the full article

My mother was always the last parent to pick me up from gymnastics practice. While other moms arrived in jeans, she’d sweep in wearing a power suit, fresh from her role as a senior marketing executive at a major software company. At the time, it was a bit embarrassing. Looking back, I realize I was witnessing someone who refused to accept artificial limitations on what she could achieve. Years later, as a CMO, I’ve come to appreciate how those early lessons shaped my understanding of professional possibilities. As a CMO in the ‘80s, my mother was a trailblazer—it was not typical for a woman to have a seat at the board table. But I’ve also learned that even with strong role models, we can still construct invisible barriers that limit our potential. These self-imposed ceilings manifest in unexpected ways—not just in career aspirations, but in how we think about work itself. Years before remote work became mainstream, I questioned another artificial boundary: the assumption that effective leadership required a physical office. The answers about where and how we could work seemed predetermined by longstanding corporate norms, until I proved otherwise. Where’s your artificial ceiling? The pattern of self-limitation is pervasive in the business world, especially in how we perceive career progression. I have personally experienced how these artificial barriers affect leaders, restricting our potential for further growth and advancement despite our knowledge of customers, market dynamics, and business strategy. Nevertheless, numerous skilled marketing leaders, including myself until recently, hesitate to pursue a trajectory beyond CMO. This is not due to a lack of capability, but rather because we have internalized certain assumptions about our career path direction and the roles that align with our expertise. The same can be said for other professions. Regardless of your department or title, where do you see yourself “topping out?” What’s the limit? And why is that the limit? Ask yourself those questions. And then make sure the ceiling you envision genuinely where you want your ceiling to be. (Of course, not everyone aspires to be a CEO; I’m talking about aligning your perceived ceiling with your desired ceiling.) Break through the ceiling My own process of breaking through these limitations began with redefining success on my terms. That meant moving beyond traditional career metrics to focus on creating lasting impact. To me, this meant developing the next generation of diverse business professionals, building high-performance teams rooted in different perspectives, and pursuing roles challenging conventional wisdom about career progression. Breaking through artificial ceilings is about more than career paths. It’s about how we work. Long before the recent global shift to remote work, I chose to lead my teams from a distance. This was in an era when many questioned whether remote leadership could truly work. But I’ve built and led high-performing teams across distances for years, proving that physical presence doesn’t define leadership impact. Today, my long-term success as a remote executive serves as evidence that meaningful mentorship, team development, and career growth don’t require shared office space. My professional goals have evolved beyond the CMO role—a goal that once seemed beyond my scope but now forms the core of my professional vision. The interesting thing is that breaking through the limitations was never just about moving up the ladder; it’s more that I realized that the metrics that matter to me, and the impact I want to have are beyond the CMO role. My perceived ceiling now aligns with my desired ceiling. Elevate others along the way The process of dismantling these self-imposed barriers isn’t just personal; it’s about creating ripple effects throughout organizations as well as our families, social circles, communities, and more. In my role mentoring emerging business professionals, I’ve seen how one person breaking through their perceived limitations can inspire others to do the same. (Really!) It’s so much easier to recognize and dismantle artificial ceilings when you’re doing so in an environment that actively encourages it. Again, this doesn’t require physical proximity. When we challenge assumptions about where and how work gets done, we open new possibilities for talent, collaboration, and achievement. My teams have consistently demonstrated that leadership excellence transcends physical location. That’s why, for your sake and for the sake of the people around you, I strongly encourage you to take the lead in creating that environment—wherever you are. Empowering employees to challenge self-imposed boundaries requires intentional action: Actively questioning assumptions about traditional career trajectories Building support systems that encourage ambitious professional moves Developing teams that celebrate diverse perspectives and approaches Combining specialist expertise with broader leadership skills Creating opportunities for others to expand their perceived limitations Can you imagine the collective power of everyone redefining success, questioning assumptions, dismantling boundaries, and striving for their full potential? The potential impact on their individual success and career satisfaction is pretty amazing. Plus, you can combine that with the impact on the overall organization as people become more intentional about excellence and achievement. Even if you’re not in a position to spearhead a cultural change within your own organization, you can still lead by example. Create a new pathway for others to follow. Turn uncertainties into possibilities For those questioning their own artificial ceilings, start by examining your automatic responses to career opportunities. Do you immediately rule out certain roles? Do you assume some positions are out of reach? Challenge these assumptions. Consider whether you’re limiting yourself based on outdated notions of what’s possible. It’s okay to be uncertain; that’s natural when you’re in a new scenario and pushing through barriers. But that means you’re getting somewhere. It means you’re turning uncertainties into possibilities. I started my career stuffing envelopes. To get to the C-suite, there had to be a lot of new scenarios, and a lot of barriers to push through. And I’m still working on it. The key is recognizing these self-imposed barriers for what they are: artificial constructs that can be dismantled with intention and support. The next time you encounter an opportunity that seems just beyond your reach, pause and ask yourself: Is this a real ceiling, or one I’ve built myself? The answer might reveal possibilities you never considered achievable—and the first step toward breaking through to your full potential. Melissa Puls is chief marketing officer and SVP of customer success at Ivanti. View the full article

YouTube now dominates U.S. TV streaming, surpassing mobile, offering marketers new ad formats and longer viewer engagement opportunities. The post YouTube Dominates TV Streaming: New Opportunities For Marketers appeared first on Search Engine Journal. View the full article

The big Google review count bug, that we first reported on Friday and that later Google confirmed on Monday afternoon, is now being fixed. We can now see review counts climbing again and many small business owners and local SEOs are reporting improvements.View the full article

The White House’s recent decision to grant press credentials to independent journalists, podcasters, and social media influencers marks a defining moment in the evolution of modern media. It acknowledges a reality that has been unfolding for years: How people consume information has fundamentally changed. For years, traditional media outlets have been the primary gatekeepers of news and information. Today, the landscape is fragmented, dynamic, and decentralized. Millions of people now turn to independent content creators, newsletters, and podcasts—often in place of mainstream news sources. This shift raises essential opportunities and challenges for companies and executives navigating today’s complex media environment. It’s no longer enough to focus solely on securing a headline in The Wall Street Journal or The New York Times. Brands must now consider a broader media strategy that embraces both traditional outlets and the increasingly influential world of digital-first journalism. But with this new ecosystem comes a critical question: What does credibility look like in a fractured media landscape? The new credibility equation For decades, legacy news organizations have been built on a foundation of editorial rigor, fact-checking, and accountability. Their reputations were shaped by rigorous journalistic standards and the trust they cultivated over time. Meanwhile, digital-native journalists and independent voices have built influence through transparency, authenticity, and direct engagement with their audiences. These two worlds—traditional journalism and the creator-driven media ecosystem—are now colliding. The rise of Substack writers with niche but highly engaged followings, YouTubers who command audiences in the millions, and podcasters shaping public discourse means companies must rethink their media approach. This shift makes it more critical than ever to scrutinize who is shaping the narrative and how companies engage with them. The days of assuming that credibility is tied only to newsroom mastheads are over. Today, credibility is about trust—and trust is built differently across different platforms. Traditional media still matters—but it’s not enough Despite the rapid changes in how people consume information, traditional media remains critical—and for good reason. Legacy outlets’ journalistic rigor, editorial accountability, and broad reach continue to make them essential players in shaping public perception. However, traditional media is under immense pressure. Shrinking newsrooms, declining ad revenue, and increased financial strain have led to fewer reporters covering more topics with less time. Many once-dominant outlets have had to pivot toward subscription models or lean into digital strategies just to survive. This means fewer opportunities for companies to secure high-impact, in-depth coverage from traditional newsrooms. In this environment, relying solely on traditional media is no longer viable. Companies must balance traditional earned media with owned content and engagement with non-traditional outlets. Those who do will be in the strongest position to shape and control their narratives. What this means for strategic communications As strategic communicators, our role is not just to secure media coverage—it’s to ensure the right message reaches the right audience through the right medium and with the right voices. This means taking a more nuanced approach in a world where influence is distributed across a diverse range of platforms. Here’s how companies should be thinking about media strategy in this new era: 1. Expand your definition of media The traditional definition of “earned media” has changed. Companies must now balance legacy media’s historical rigor with independent voices’ growing influence. That means evaluating a broader range of outlets, from traditional newspapers to influential newsletters, YouTube channels, and LinkedIn thought leaders. Reaching audiences effectively requires meeting them where they are. For younger generations, that might mean TikTok explainers or long-form podcasts rather than a story in a top-tier news outlet. To reach more specific B2B audiences, it could mean a niche Substack written by an insider rather than a mainstream business publication. Companies that fail to expand their media strategy risk missing out on key audiences who no longer consume information in traditional ways. 2. Prioritize journalistic integrity—vetting matters While the range of credible media voices has expanded, the core principles of credibility remain the same. Companies must vet every media opportunity—whether it’s an interview with a top-tier publication, a widely followed YouTuber, or an independent podcaster. The key questions to ask: What is their reputation for accuracy and fairness? How do they engage with their audience? Do they have a history of sensationalism or misinformation? Credibility should not be sacrificed for reach. While a viral podcast might attract an attractive audience, if it lacks journalistic integrity, the long-term reputational risks outweigh the short-term exposure. 3. Own your narrative through direct storytelling With more voices shaping the public conversation, companies must take greater control of their messaging. That means investing in owned media channels—blogs, newsletters, corporate podcasts, and executive platforms—to provide direct, unfiltered context. A strong owned media strategy allows companies to: Reinforce key messages consistently Provide additional context to paint the whole picture Build direct relationships with key audiences Executives who consistently engage on LinkedIn, for example—sharing insights, reactions to news, and original analysis—are positioning themselves as trusted sources in their industries. In doing so, they’re not just relying on traditional media to tell their story—they’re actively shaping it. The future of media engagement The evolution of media is exciting and complex. In the years ahead, the companies that embrace this shift rather than resist it will shape the narrative. This new landscape offers unprecedented opportunities to connect with audiences more directly and meaningfully. However, it also demands a new level of discernment, strategic thinking, and adaptability. Companies must now balance the credibility and rigor of traditional media with the authenticity and engagement of independent voices while strengthening their channels for direct storytelling. Those who can do this effectively will not only navigate the new media world but also help define it. Tyler Perry is co-CEO of Mission North. View the full article

Higher rates and economic fears persuade retirees to opt for guaranteed incomesView the full article

Cross-party committee warns agency is not ‘sufficiently curious’ about scale of illegal practiceView the full article

Diversity initiatives, often called DEI, are in the political and business crosshairs. In recent weeks, Meta, Walmart, Target, Ford, and McDonald’s are among global companies ending their formal DEI initiatives. Some of the bluster is performative. And yet, for many employees and global firms, there’s a sense that this is an opportunity to rebalance the goals and rethink the strategy by innovating diversity practices to better meet the global business goals. Most DEI programs were crafted years ago, and their relevance and impact has been diminishing. Many initiatives overreached and have not adequately evolved to meet the changing environment. Like with any business process, companies need to innovate their approach to global diversity initiatives. There’s no doubt international companies recognize the value of having varied perspectives, experiences, and skills in all areas of their business. The global firms we work with know that having different voices and perspectives is essential to enhancing how teams function. It improves processes, productivity, and innovation. Companies are able to better understand their global customers’ needs and expectations, ultimately leading to increased profitability. The focus is then on how to ensure that there are diverse perspectives at every stage of a business process. Diversity is defined different ways A core element of our work focuses on applying social sciences, including cultural anthropology, to understand how local factors impact how companies achieve their business objectives. This is distinctly different from diversity initiatives, which are more focused on getting everyone to follow one standardized playbook for engagement, not necessarily prioritizing business goals. In the DEI playbook, there is only one accepted definition of diversity, when in reality diversity’s definition differs across cultures. In the U.S., U.K., and Canada, for example, there’s a tendency to focus on visible characteristics given the countries’ multicultural demographics. American companies have tried to export this version of DEI, but it does not work in every culture. The way American firms approach diversity has been stuck at the visible characteristics phase. In other countries, invisible characteristics like region, rural/urban setting, income, education, religion, tribe, caste, etc. can be more relevant, impacting how people communicate, interact, operate, and manage. It’s essential to recognize that people who look different can actually think alike. And people who look alike can think differently. We already know that having people of different socioeconomic backgrounds provides more varied perspectives that can impact business objectives and innovation. For example, diversity of educational backgrounds means that companies are increasingly recognizing that they need to recruit from a wider range of colleges and universities around the world. Rethink diversity It’s time to innovate by rethinking and expanding how we talk about diversity, making sure that it’s globally relevant for all stakeholders. And in this current environment, we have a unique opportunity to innovate diversity initiatives to meet the evolving needs of employees and customers worldwide. To be effective, it’s essential to integrate cultural nuances and localize any global strategies, including diversity initiatives, to achieve business objectives. There are key points to keep in mind as global firms integrate varied perspectives, voices, and roles into their business operations and processes. First, the current DEI concept is heavily influenced by American perspectives and values and it may not translate to local cultures. Focusing on shared values and business objectives, our cultural framework uses a methodology integrating social sciences and business. Companies should focus on how to improve their stakeholder engagement—with employees, customers, and partners—to achieve business goals. Diversity as the end goal is insufficient. It has to integrate into how people communicate, interact, and manage. Integrating cultural frameworks helps focus companies on making sure their teams work more effectively across cultures to better achieve business goals. For example, global hospitality and travel firms we work with recognize that global customer engagement teams with varied experiences result in better overall customer experience and satisfaction metrics, including higher NPS (Net Promoter Score) and improved profitability. What are the company’s goals, and how can everyone collectively work together toward those goals? Starting with that premise enables teams to focus on how to communicate and interact more effectively across cultures, engaging local teams to better understand the opportunities and challenges for getting all team members involved. Share perspectives Second, ensure that everyone throughout your organization can provide their perspective wherever relevant and useful. Ensure that virtual and in-person teams are cognizant of local cultural communications patterns so all ideas and perspectives are shared. For example, our cultural framework integrates a number of cultural factors to compare and contrast cultures. Individualistic versus collective. It’s not surprising that on a comparative basis, the U.S. is the most individualistic culture in the world. American business metrics tend to reward and advocate for the individual. In contrast, Asian, Middle Eastern, African, and Latin American cultures value group goals and teamwork more. So, any diversity and business initiative that focuses on the individual ahead of the group may not work locally. It’s more valued to be respectful of the group dynamics. For example, throughout Asia, the focus is on the collective good. Highlighting individual differences—visible or invisible—is considered a negative. People from diverse backgrounds and cultures communicate differently. A fundamental concept is verbal and nonverbal communications (high-low context). People who expect direct communications and clear verbal directness—e.g., in the U.S.—will miss nonverbal cues from colleagues who are accustomed to reading the context, such as in East Asia. Add in hierarchical cultural value, where junior team members are less likely to speak up in the presence of respected senior team members. Other factors can complicate communications and team dynamics including invisible characteristics such as local income, education, caste, tribe, etc. These are simple examples of invisible characteristics, but they illustrate that companies need to be clear about diversity goal efforts. Diversity for the sake of diversity may not be as successful across cultures, but diversity as a way to achieve shared corporate values and goals is more likely to resonate. When developing a diversity program, be careful not to tell people how to be diverse but rather provide a conversation forum. We need to innovate how we view diversity, integrate invisible characteristics across cultures, and focus on shared purpose and business goals. In the long run, our goal should be to infuse diversity in every business process and team rather than a separate business unit. It will become ubiquitous. Sanjyot P. Dunung is founder and CEO of Atma Global. View the full article

The cost of Valentine’s Day may be a lot higher this year compared to last year. You’ve probably heard the price of eggs has skyrocketed, but if you haven’t already started shopping for your Valentine, be prepared for some sticker shock, especially for perennial favorites like roses and chocolates. Here’s why. How much will I pay for roses this year? Depending on where you live, you might be paying a hefty price. This Valentine’s Day, the average price for a dozen long-stemmed roses (red or white) is a staggering $90.50, 2% more than last year, according to FinanceBuzz as reported by CBS News. Yet a 2% hike would be getting off easy, considering that if you live in Hawaii, you’ll have to shell out $143 for that same dozen, which is 58% more expensive than the national average. Wondering where the best bargain can be found? It’s California, where you’ll pay an average of $68 for a dozen roses, compared to $110 in Texas (where the cost of living is on average much cheaper than in California). Another reason for the hefty price tag on bouquets? Inflation over multiple years. The average price went up from $80.16 in 2023 to $88.61 last year. Here are the states where roses are most expensive these days, rounded to the nearest dollar based on data from FinanceBuzz: Hawaii: $143 per dozen Texas: $110 per dozen Washington: $107 per dozen Montana: $105 per dozen Kentucky: $102 per dozen Wyoming: $102 per dozen Ohio: $102 per dozen South Carolina: $102 per dozen Kansas: $100 per dozen Iowa: $99 per dozen While erratic weather patterns can also play a role in flower production and prices, this year’s prices are mostly a result of, and in line with, inflation, as supplies remain high. In fact, some 940 million cut flower stems have already arrived in the U.S. for the holiday via Miami International Airport, mostly from Colombia and Ecuador, according to ABC News. Around 90% of holiday flowers sold in the U.S. from around the world transit through Miami, with the other 10% transiting through Los Angeles before they are distributed to stores around the country, according to ABC. What about chocolate prices? Alas, sweets for your sweet will cost you more this year, too. With the price of cocoa more than double what it was at the start of 2024, expect to pay 10% to 20% more for a box of chocolates this Valentine’s Day, according to a Wells Fargo analyst, as reported by CNN. The reason? Like eggs, cocoa production has been hit with supply chain issues stemming from COVID-19, inflation, and the weather. In West Africa, which produces 70% of the globe’s cocoa supply, extreme weather events, including El Niño, have raised temperatures in the region, created both drought conditions and flooding that led to fungus on the crops. As a result, growers have been producing fewer crops, which means fewer cocoa beans. At the time of this writing (midday on Tuesday), cocoa was trading at $10,103.13 per metric ton, up 72% in the first few months of 2025, but still down from its December high. View the full article

Chancellor’s headroom against her key budget rule has been wiped out, according to preliminary forecasts by watchdogView the full article

Plaintiffs alleging the lender manipulated home valuations ten years prior argued the interpretation of the rule cited in determining the case's standing was a stretch. View the full article

Wireless earbuds are great, but they can be pretty same-y from one brand to the next. Most adopt the classic AirPods design language—small buds, usually with some sort of stem, all of which travel in a charging case. Each has its own list of pros and cons, of course, but the product category has certainly homogenized. The newly announced Powerbeats Pro 2 seem a bit different, though. Of course, these new buds do all the things you'd expect from a pair of $250 headphones: They have active noise cancelling and transparency mode—the latter of which pumps in sounds from the world around you so you can hear what's going on with your earbuds in. They're IPX4 sweat- and water-resistant, and have a respectable 45-hour battery life when you consider the extra boost from the charging case. But they look different than other earbuds, thanks to the buds' "earhooks." (I'd argue the Electric Orange color also helps in this department.) If you find that traditional wireless earbuds tend to fall out of your ears, the hooks in the Powerbeats Pro 2 (carried over from the original Powerbeats Pro) might offer some extra support. But, then again, if you're used to the feeling of traditional earbuds, the extra pressure from the earhook could be different. I'd recommend trying both types of earbuds on if you're unsure. But, either way, the visual differences definitely make the Powerbeats Pro 2 stand out. Powerbeats Pro 2 can track your heart rateWhat caught my attention, however, was the built-in heart rate monitor. These sensors sit on the side of each earbud and track your heart rate through your ear. It's like having a little Apple Watch in each of your ears—which is a little weird, but also really cool. They're not the first earbuds to do this: As CNET's David Carnoy pointed out, Sennheiser's Momentum Sport Earbuds came with similar sensors. Those heart rate monitors were fairly accurate in Carnoy's experience, as are the ones on the Powerbeats Pro 2. Beats says that the heart rate monitors in its new buds work across a number of platforms, including Apple, Android, and other Bluetooth-enabled fitness equipment. However, it's worth noting that if you use the Powerbeats Pro 2 with an Apple Watch, the Health app on your iPhone will pull from the watch rather than your earbuds. You'll have to take off your Apple Watch or disable the heart tracker on the watch if you want to rely on the heart rate monitors on your Powerbeats. If you don't like the earhooks on the Powerbeats Pro 2, or you're just a dedicated AirPods fan, don't worry: This tech is coming to Apple's flagship earbuds as well—just not immediately. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, these new AirPods are "still many months away," so the Powerbeats Pro 2 will remain the only Apple-produced earbud with heart rate tracking for a bit longer. Other Powerbeats Pro 2 perksWhile Powerbeats work with many platforms, they're definitely designed for Apple's own ecosystem. If you have other Apple devices, your Powerbeats will switch between each device as you play an audio source, just like other Apple earbuds. There's also Personalized Spatial Audio, audio sharing (RIP headphone splitters), and hands-free Siri, if you like to ping the assistant while wearing your earbuds. The buds also have physical playback controls through the "b" button on each bud, as well as volume rockers on both. As someone who still uses a first-gen pair of AirPods Pro, physical controls embedded onto the buds is very tempting. In Carnoy's review for CNET, he found the Powerbeats Pro 2 to be quite similar to the AirPods Pro 2 in audio quality and noise cancellation performance, although he thought the AirPods had a more consistent performance overall. The Powerbeats Pro 2 are missing some AirPods Pro 2 features, such as Adaptive Audio, which automatically blocks out noises over a certain decibel, or Conversation Awareness, which lowers the volume when it detects you're talking to someone. View the full article

In the Northern Hemisphere, February is the middle of winter. According to NASA, this is why Native American tribes named this month’s full moon the Snow Moon. Historically, the shortest month of the year was also the coldest because of the heavy snowfall that occurred. Another name for this lunar display of grandeur is the Hunger Moon. That name also makes historical sense because of how the snowiest month made hunting and gathering more difficult. If you didn’t plan ahead properly, your stomach was bound to rumble. Let’s take a deeper look at the winter of it all, and when to best peep up at the night sky for optimal full moon viewing. When exactly is the middle of winter? Many people believe that Groundhog Day marks the middle of winter. It’s a close approximation, but not always 100% accurate. If you want to get technical, according to the Farmer’s Almanac, the middle of winter varies from year to year. Groundhog Day always falls on February 2, and this year, the following day was actually the halfway mark between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox. Winter takes the prize for both the coldest and shortest season of the year. It lasts 88.99 days on average. Its brevity is due to perihelion, the point in the Earth’s orbit that it is closest to the sun. The cold is caused by Earth’s axial tilt, or obliquity. In the Northern Hemisphere, from December to February, the earth is tilted away from the sun, which means less direct sunshine and chillier days. The tilt overrides the nearness of the sun. What’s a groundhog got to do with it? Groundhog Day was created by German-speaking immigrants in the United States, who became known as the Pennsylvania Dutch because of a misinterpretation of the word “Deutsch.” It was based on the Christian tradition of Candlemas, a feast celebrating the day that Jesus was presented at Temple by Joseph and Mary. The early Christian church incorporated pagan traditions into its calendar. For Candlemas, one of these was weather-predicting folklore. In Germany, a bear or badger was used, but in the United States, groundhogs took center stage. The best known groundhog these days is Punxsutawney Phil, who calls Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania home. This year, he predicted six more weeks of winter after seeing his shadow. How to see the full snow moon In parts of the country, such as the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic, snow storms may prevent one from catching the snow moon. Talk about irony. The rest of the country will also experience cloudy skies amid potential rainstorms. If you want to try your luck, according to EarthSky, the full moon will reach peak illumination on Wednesday morning (February 12) at 8:53 a.m. ET. The celestial orb will also appear full Thursday and Friday. View the full article

An apparent bug in Google's Sitelinks algorithm is showing links to unhelpful pages. The post Google Sitelinks Algorithm Bug Shows Wrong Links appeared first on Search Engine Journal. View the full article

CSV, or Comma Separated Values, are files used for all kinds of things, from managing large datasets to exporting data to move it between web services. You might think CSV files are just spreadsheets, similar to Excel files, but it's a lot more interesting than that: Open any CSV file in a text document and you'll learn that the "comma separated" thing is literal. Really, these files are just text documents—every line break is a row in the table, and columns are the items in each row, all separated by commas. There is nothing stopping you from editing the values right there in your text editor of choice, but doing so would be extremely annoying. And while you can import CSV files into Excel and work with them there, it can get confusing—you have to keep track of which Excel features work in CSV files, and which do not. That's why, if you have to work in a CSV file, it's best to have a dedicated tool. A better tool for editing CSV filesModernCSV, an indie app for Linux, Mac, and Windows computers, is the best tool I've come across for this purpose. If you work with CSV files frequently, or just need to edit one quickly, it's worth checking out. This application is built specifically with CSV files in mind and makes working with them simple. For example: you can double-click the column number to re-order all items in the list based on that row. To test it, I downloaded a CSV breaking down all U.S. counties by population. The original file was organized by population; by double-clicking the state ID column I could quickly sort by state. After saving, the CSV itself was changed. Credit: Justin Pot That's just one example. It also offers complete find-and-replace, which is perfect for cleaning up corrupted files. It supports filtering, and lets you edit multiple cells at once: just select all the cells you want to edit and start typing, everything highlighted will be affected. There's even a command bar, triggered with the keyboard shortcut CLTR/CMD-L. This lets you quickly use any of the commands offered by the application without needing to learn the dedicated keyboard shortcut—just type what you want to do and hit enter. Credit: Justin Pot The app also offers support for quick pivot tables, which helps provide greater insight into the data. Case in point: I was able to use my information about U.S. counties to extrapolate U.S. state populations. Credit: Justin Pot There are more features worth digging into, but I recommend you check out the documentation if you want to learn more—there' a lot there. Free or paid versionsModernCSV offers a free version that includes many of the best features discussed above. There are two paid versions: Premium Personal for $39—adding features like filtering and date conversions—and Premium Business for $59, which offers pivot tables and other advanced reporting features. I think the free version is worth having on hand for anyone who even occasionally needs to edit CSV files, while the paid versions are great if you're a power user. View the full article

Trader Joe’s and other grocers are limiting the number of eggs customers can buy across the U.S., citing limited supply caused by the ongoing bird flu outbreak. Trader Joe’s is capping purchases to one carton per customer each day, the Monrovia, California-based chain confirmed. That limit applies to all of Trader Joe’s locations across the country. “We hope these limits will help to ensure that as many of our customers who need eggs are able to purchase them when they visit Trader Joe’s,” the company said in a statement sent to The Associated Press Tuesday. Photos of in-store notices about eggs purchase limits at retailers nationwide have swirled around online in recent weeks. In addition to Trader Joe’s, consumers and several local media outlets have also reported varying limits seen at stores like Costco, Whole Foods, Kroger and Aldi locations. When each limit went into effect is unclear, however. And not all are being implemented nationally. A spokesperson for Kroger, for example, confirmed that the supermarket giant doesn’t currently have “enterprise-wide limits” in place — but said some of regional divisions and store banners are asking customers to cap egg purchases to two dozen per trip. Walmart says it also hasn’t imposed national limits — expect for bulkier purchases of 60-count cartons, which have been capped to two per purchase, the Bentonville, Arkansas-based retail giant confirmed Tuesday. “Although supply is very tight, we’re working with suppliers to try and help meet customer demand, while striving to keep prices as low as possible,” Walmart said in an emailed statement. Costco, Whole Foods and Aldi did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Tuesday. But Costco confirmed to CNN that the chain was limiting its customers to three packages of eggs, which are typically sold in two-dozen or four-dozen cartons. Meanwhile, notices previously seen in some Target locations have warned about supplier shortages, but don’t indicate specific purchase limits. The AP reached out to the retailer for further information. Avian flu is forcing farmers to slaughter millions of chickens a month, pushing U.S. egg prices to more than double their cost in the summer of 2023. The average price per dozen nationwide hit $4.15 in December — and it appears there may be no relief in sight, with the Agriculture Department predicting prices will soar another 20% this year. Retailers could notably feel added pressures with Easter demand fast approaching. Beyond grocery stores limits, U.S. consumers are also facing more expensive eggs in some restaurants. Last week, Waffle House, for example, said it would be adding a 50-cent surcharge per egg on all of its menus. —Wyatte Grantham-Philips, Associated Press View the full article

In comments to reporters, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., underscored what she said was a conflict of interest between Elon Musk's DOGE's actions at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and his business interests with X Money. View the full article

Joseph Otting, who is leading Flagstar's turnaround, said potential buyers may be interested in acquiring the regional bank once it gets past certain challenges. View the full article

Neo Home Loans, the business at the center of the trade secrets suit, has always maintained its independence in its lender partnerships, its co-creator claims. View the full article

Google will soon fully transition to automatically generated publication pages next month, in March. Back in April 2024, Google told us Publisher Center will soon stop allowing you to add publications and now this is the next step. This means that all publication pages in Google News will be generated automatically by Google. What Google said. Google wrote: Following our announcement in April 2024 last year, Google News will fully transition to automatically generated publication pages in March. This change improves our existing publisher workflow and simplifies our current product experience. Moving forward, all publication pages in Google News will be generated automatically. As a result, publication pages that had been created by publishers manually will no longer appear to users in Google News. Publisher Center will discontinue customization features for publication pages in Google News, and the Google News tile will no longer appear in Publisher Center. What is not changing. Google said this has no impact on what content is eligible to appear in Google News or other Google News related surfaces. “Content from publishers that adheres to our content policies is automatically eligible for consideration in Google News and across news surfaces,” Google wrote. Google will still use its confusing automated methods for determining what is included and not included in Google News. Also, for Google News Showcase and Reader Revenue Manager, publishers will continue to submit logos through Publisher Center. What is changing. Here is what is changing: Custom sections that were previously created in Google Publisher Center will no longer appear on publisher Google News landing pages. Publishers will no longer be able to use Google Publisher Center to customer their logos and publication titles. Google News will use a site’s favicon for the publisher logo instead. Google News will use the site names for publication titles instead. Why we care. Google Publisher Center, which was once a really great place for news publishers to control and maintain their publications in Google News, is becoming less and less value to news publishers. Google wants to automate the process and claims, “This change improves our existing publisher workflow and simplifies our current product experience.” However, I know that news publishers continue to miss the old method for Google News and Publisher Center. View the full article

Lenders increased offerings in jumbo and non-QM segments as the industry focuses on customers with strong credit, the Mortgage Bankers Association said. View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. Presidents Day is not until Feb. 17, 2025, but as is often the case, retailers have started their sales well in advance. Best Buy has the best sale I've seen so far, with great deals on major appliances and tech products, including headphones, TVs, soundbars, washers, and more. Here are my favorite deals from the sale worth considering. Resolution: 4K, Size: 55 inches, Display: LED, Backlight: Edge Lit, Voice Assistant: Alexa. 55” Samsung The Frame (LS03D, 2024) $899.99 at Best Buy $1,499.99 Save $600.00 Get Deal Get Deal $899.99 at Best Buy $1,499.99 Save $600.00 Wireless Connectivity: Bluetooth, Maximum Frequency Response: 20 kilohertz, Peak Power: 550 Watts JBL Soundbar with Wireless Subwoofer 5.1-Channel $259.99 at Best Buy $599.99 Save $340.00 Get Deal Get Deal $259.99 at Best Buy $599.99 Save $340.00 Noise Cancelling (Active): No, Wireless Connectivity: Bluetooth, Water Resistant: Yes. Apple - AirPods 4 $99.99 at Best Buy $129.99 Save $30.00 Get Deal Get Deal $99.99 at Best Buy $129.99 Save $30.00 Capacity: 4.5 cubic feet, High-Efficiency: Yes, Washer Load Type: Front load, App Compatible: Yes. Samsung 4.5 Cu. Ft. Smart Front Load Washer $699.99 at Best Buy $1,034.99 Save $335.00 Get Deal Get Deal $699.99 at Best Buy $1,034.99 Save $335.00 Processor Model: i7, Graphics: Intel Iris Xe, RAM: 16 GB, Display Type: LED, Screen Size: 15.6 in. HP 15 (Intel Core i7 12th Gen, 512GB SSD, 16GB RAM, Touch Display, 2024 Model) $499.99 at Best Buy $799.99 Save $300.00 Get Deal Get Deal $499.99 at Best Buy $799.99 Save $300.00 Screen Size: 40 millimeters, Operating System: watchOS, App: Yes, Built-in Storage: 32 GB. Apple Watch SE 2nd Generation $169.00 at Best Buy $249.00 Save $80.00 Get Deal Get Deal $169.00 at Best Buy $249.00 Save $80.00 SEE 3 MORE A Samsung washer with a $335 discountIf you're looking for a washer, peep this Samsung 4.5 Cu. Ft. Smart front load washer for $699.99 (originally $1,034.99), the lowest price it has been over the last few months, according to price-tracking tools. If you need other major appliances and like free TVs (who doesn't?), Best Buy is offering a free 75-inch Samsung Crystal UHD TV when you buy two or more appliances and they total at least $2,499.99. Very doable if you need a stove or fridge. The Frame TV is $600 offSamsung's The Frame is perfect for those who don't want an ugly TV to be the centerpiece of their living room. The matte and anti-reflective screen truly makes it look like you have a piece of art hanging on your wall (I've been fooled by them before). You can get the 55-inch The Frame for $899.99 (originally $1,499.99), the lowest price it's been over the last few months. A JBL soundbar and subwoofer combo over 50% offBuck for buck, there's nothing that elevates a home theater setup like getting a soundbar and subwoofer combo. The JBL 5.1 Channel Soundbar and Subwoofer combo is $259.99 (originally $599.99), a killer deal and the cheapest it has been over the last few months. You can read more about the PCMag review here. A powerful HP laptop for less than $500An HP laptop with an i7 processor with 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage for $499.99 (originally $799.99) is impressive. Make sure you're OK having a 15.6-inch screen, which is definitely on the bigger end of the spectrum. The resolution isn't 4K (only Full HD) with an LED display, but if you care about performance over design and aesthetics, it's a good choice. Apple Watch and AirPods up to $80 offApple users will enjoy the budget Apple Watch SE 2nd Generation for $169 (originally $249) and the new AirPods 4 for $99.99 (originally $129.99). Both of these are at the lowest price they've been over the last few months. Finally, a note of caution: If you've been eyeing that Google Pixel 7 Pro deal at Best Buy, don't buy it. It's much cheaper over at Woot with more storage. You're welcome. View the full article

For a decade, Dr. Bronner’s has been a certified B Corp, a designation issued by the nonprofit B Lab that confirms a company has met certain environmental, social, and governance standards. But now the soap company is dropping its B Corp certification without plans to renew. Dr. Bronner’s says B Lab’s standards are weak, and that some multinational corporations are now using its seal—an encircled B, which became a symbol that businesses can be “a force for good”—as a form of greenwashing. Dr. Bronner’s mainly takes issue with B Lab’s increasing certifications of multinational corporations like Unilever Australia, Nespresso, and Nestle Health Science—and the fact that these businesses are not required to provide third-party certifications on the humans rights or environmental impacts of their supply chains. Instead, a business can still get a B Corp certification by scoring high in other assessment areas, like if it monitors waste or has a certain percentage of management from underrepresented populations. To Dr. Bronner’s, this means B Lab is failing to ensure that its certification “won’t be used to mislead consumers,” David and Michael Bronner, CEO and President of Dr. Bronner’s, said in a joint statement. “Sharing the same logo and messaging regarding being of ‘benefit’ to the world with large multinational CPG companies with a history of serious ecological and labor issues, and no comprehensive or credible eco-social certification of supply chains, is unacceptable to us.” A B Lab spokesperson says the nonprofit remains “deeply committed” to its mission, and that “catalyzing business as a force for good is a journey rather than a destination.” It has been working with its member businesses, advocacy groups, and independent experts to strengthen its standards, and in early 2025 will publish new requirements. These updated standards, the spokesperson says, “address today’s most urgent social and environmental challenges, providing clear, impactful requirements that companies must meet in order to deliver leadership and systemic change.” Dr. Bronner first became a certified B Corp in 2015, the same year it became a benefit corporation—a separate, unrelated legal designation that allows companies to pursue social good instead of simply profit. In the years since, it’s become one of the top-scoring B Corps. The company currently has an overall score of 206.7, while the B Corp website notes that the median score for “ordinary businesses” is 50.9. (It’s also reportedly the highest score ever awarded by the nonprofit). The minimum score to become a certified B Corp is 80 points over five areas: governance, workers, community, environment, and customers. B Corp’s logo has graced thousands of brands, including notably progressive ones like Patagonia and Ben & Jerry’s. Dr. Bronner’s says its B Corp fee is paid through September 2025, but that the company won’t renew after that point. It’s also begun removing the B Corp logo from branding and marketing materials. For the past few years, Dr. Bronner’s has been pushing B Lab to improve its standards—especially after larger companies joined the B Corp community. In 2022, the Nestlé-owned coffee company Nespresso announced that it received B Corp certification, setting off a wave of backlash from other B Corps. Just two months after that announcement, 30 certified B Corps—including Dr. Bronner’s—signed an open letter to B Lab protesting the certification, pointing to the history of child labor and wage theft on farms that grew Nespresso’s beans. B Lab’s standards have been questioned before, especially as the number of certification submissions has surged. And B Lab has taken action against some companies for behaviors that go against its ethos. In 2022, Scottish brewery BrewDog announced it was no longer a certified B Corp—though they said their status wasn’t revoked, just that they withdrew after B Lab “requested additional measures” that they couldn’t fulfill. (BrewDog received scrutiny after its certification from former employees who said the company’s culture compromised their health and safety.) In 2024, B Lab stripped Havas, a French public relations company, of its certification because of the agency’s relationship with Shell. But it’s mostly B Lab’s certification of multinational companies that has received the most criticism, especially from its own B Corp community. It’s these large companies that are using their B Corp certification as a marketing ploy, Dr. Bronner’s says in its statement. Dr. Bronner’s has been pushing B Lab to require companies, especially those multinational corporations, to certify all major supply chains. “The raw agricultural materials a company uses—whether meat, milk, eggs, palm oil, cocoa, coffee, cotton, and any others—are often produced in terrible ways in terms of social and environmental impact, “ the Bronners said. Requiring third party eco-social certification for major multinational supply chains would, they added, “protect against the B Corp Certification being misused by companies to hide these unsustainable and unjust corporate practices.” They acknowledged that some certified B Corps do already practice this, including Patagonia, another prominent example of a purpose-driven business. But, they said, “they are unfortunately a minority and this is not required by B Lab, most glaringly in the case of large multinational companies and their enormous supply chains.” View the full article

It turns out that getting your news from robots playing telephone with actual sources might not be the best idea. In a BBC study of OpenAI, Google Gemini, Microsoft Copilot, and Perplexity’s news prowess, the news organization found that “51% of all AI answers” about news topics had “significant issues of some form.” The study involved asking each bot to answer 100 questions about the news, using BBC sources when available, with their answers then being rated by “journalists who were relevant experts in the subject of the article.” A few examples of issues include Gemini suggesting that the UK’s NHS (National Health Service) does not recommend vaping as a method for quitting smoking (it does), as well as ChatGPT and Copilot saying politicians who had left office were actually still serving their terms. More concerning, Perplexity misrepresented a BBC story on Iran and Israel, attributing viewpoints to the author and his sources that the article does not share. Regarding its own articles specifically, the BBC says 19% of AI summaries introduced these kinds of factual errors, hallucinating false statements, numbers, and dates. Additionally, 13% of direct quotes were “either altered from the original source or not present in the article cited.” Inaccuracies were not fully distributed between the bots, although this might come as cold comfort given that none performed especially well either. “Microsoft's Copilot and Google's Gemini had more significant issues than OpenAI's ChatGPT and Perplexity,” the BBC says, but on the flip side, Perplexity and ChatGPT each still had issues with more than 40% of responses. In a blog, BBC CEO Deborah Turness had harsh words for the tested companies, saying that while AI offers “endless opportunities,” current implementations of it are “playing with fire.” "We live in troubled times,” Turness wrote. “How long will it be before an AI-distorted headline causes significant real world harm?" The study is not the first time the BBC has called out AI news summaries, as its prior reporting arguably convinced Apple to shut down its own AI news summaries just last month. Journalists have also previously butted heads with Perplexity over copyright concerns, with Wired accusing the bot of bypassing paywalls and the New York Times sending the company a cease-and-desist letter. News Corp, which owns the New York Post and The Wall Street Journals, went a step further, and is currently suing Perplexity. To conduct its tests, the BBC temporarily lifted restrictions preventing AI from accessing its sites, but has since reinstated them. Regardless of these blocks and Turness’ harsh words, however, the news organization is not against AI as a rule. “We want AI companies to hear our concerns and work constructively with us,” the BBC study states. “We want to understand how they will rectify the issues we have identified and discuss the right long-term approach to ensuring accuracy and trustworthiness in AI assistants. We are willing to work closely with them to do this.” View the full article

Construction projects are notoriously difficult. They involve multiple teams, suppliers and more when building a structure. Ensuring the schedule is realistic and the project can be delivered on time requires techniques such as CPM construction. What is CPM construction? It stands for the critical path method in construction. What is critical path construction? That’s what we’ll learn, including how to make a CPM construction schedule and why general contractors want to use it. We’ll even throw in a free critical path template. What Is the Critical Path Method (CPM) in Construction? As noted above, CPM construction stands for the critical path method. It’s a project management technique used to make a construction schedule, determine the longest sequence of dependent tasks and identify the shortest possible duration for completing the project. Using CPM in construction helps project managers prioritize tasks, allocate resources effectively and identify potential delays. This is crucial for keeping projects on schedule, optimizing resource allocation and minimizing delays or cost overruns. Two key elements of CPM construction are the critical path diagram and the critical path algorithm. They help visualize and calculate the project schedule. Let’s look at both of these elements to better understand them. Critical Path Diagram: This visually represents the project’s activities, dependencies and the sequence in which tasks must be completed. It helps identify the project’s critical path. Critical Path Algorithm: This is used to calculate the critical path and project schedule. It is typically performed using one of two methods: forward pass and backward pass. The algorithm helps determine the project’s duration, identify critical tasks and calculate float or slack time (the amount of time a specific task or activity can be delayed without negatively impacting the project’s schedule). We’ll show how to create a CPM construction schedule by hand, but who has time for that? When managing a construction project, general contractors and their teams need to be more efficient, which is why they use construction project management software. ProjectManager is award-winning construction project and portfolio management software with robust Gantt charts to create schedules and identify the critical path. Like any Gantt chart, ours can organize tasks and allocate resources and costs. But we go beyond that to link all four types of task dependencies to avoid delays and cost overruns and can set a baseline to track progress in real time. There’s also a filter to identify the critical path, without having to pick up pen and paper or engage in complex calculations. Get started with ProjectManager today for free. /wp-content/uploads/2024/04/critical-path-light-mode-gantt-construction-CTA.pngProjectManager has Gantt charts that filter for the critical path and more. Learn more What Is the Critical Path of a Construction Project? The critical path of a construction project is the series of tasks that determine the earliest possible completion date for the project. As noted above, it’s the longest sequence of dependent activities, meaning these tasks are directly connected. Any delay in one of them will result in a delay in the project’s overall completion. In simpler terms, the critical path represents the chain of activities that have no slack time. In other words, there is no room for delay in these tasks without pushing back the final project deadline. Knowing this is critical for project planning and monitoring. It helps project managers focus on the most important tasks that could impact the project’s success. By identifying the critical path, construction crews can allocate resources more effectively and complete tasks on schedule. How to Make a CPM Construction Schedule Creating a critical path method construction schedule involves several steps. Note, this is how one would make the CPM construction schedule with a pen and paper. The following is a detailed guide on how to do it manually. 1. Create a List of Tasks Start by creating a comprehensive list of all tasks involved in the project. These tasks should represent the activities that need to be completed during the construction process. It’s ideal to use a work breakdown structure (WBS). This hierarchical diagram captures all the deliverables in the project and the tasks or activities needed to complete them. 2. Estimate the Duration of Tasks For each task, estimate the duration. There are several ways to help make a more accurate forecast. For example, there’s historical data from past, similar projects. Also, seek out experts for their judgment. 3. Identify Task Dependencies At this point, the general contractor or whoever is building the construction schedule, has to determine the tasks that are dependent on other tasks. This means that one task can’t start or end until another dependent task has been started or completed. 4. Draw a Critical Path Diagram Now, use a piece of paper to visually represent the tasks and their dependencies in a network diagram. This is typically done using nodes, a circle to represent tasks, and arrows to show dependencies. 5. Calculate the Critical Path of the Project To calculate the critical path and determine the longest path through the network’s diagram, one must calculate the earliest start time (ES) and earliest finish time (EF) for each task, as well as the latest start time (LS) and latest finish time (LF). Any tasks with zero float (the difference between the earliest and latest times) are on the critical path. Critical Path Template Finding the critical path on paper is one way to help when scheduling a CPM construction project. However, there are more efficient ways. The best is the use of construction project management software, but for those who aren’t ready to upgrade, download this free critical path template for Excel. /wp-content/uploads/2024/05/critical-path-method-screenshot.png Use this free template during the planning phase of a CPM construction project. It helps determine a more realistic schedule that can be followed to deliver the project on time. Instead of creating a CPM construction schedule from scratch, this free template lays it all out, from ES, EF, LS, LF and slack. Benefits of Implementing CPM in Construction Projects Using CPM in construction projects offers several significant benefits. These advantages help improve project planning, execution and control. They help projects deliver on time and within budget. Here are a few key benefits. Prioritizes the Allocation of Resources for Critical Tasks One key benefit of CPM construction is that it helps project managers identify which tasks are on the critical path, meaning these tasks directly impact the project’s overall completion time. These tasks are the most important to complete on time and any delay in them will cause a delay in the entire project. The critical path does this by focusing on those critical tasks, optimizing resource use, helping with resource-leveling to balance resources across tasks, managing dependencies and minimizing delays. Facilitates Project Task Sequencing and Workflow Management One primary goal of CPM construction is to help project managers plan and coordinate all tasks involved in the construction process, ensuring they are completed in the right order with minimal delays. It assists in task sequencing by defining task dependencies, establishing the critical path and defining task duration. In terms of workflow management, CPM in construction visualizes task dependencies and scheduling to see the flow of tasks and their dependencies, which makes managing the workflow easier. It minimizes downtime by making sure when one task is done, the next can start. It also optimizes resources across tasks. Helps Accurately Track Project Progress CPM construction is also an excellent way to accurately track project progress. It helps project managers continuously monitor the status of tasks, identify potential bottlenecks and ensure the project stays on track. Monitoring critical tasks in real time is essential for regular updates, as well as tracking milestones and identifying delays and taking corrective action. It also tracks float and slack time and can forecast project completion, which keeps stakeholders informed. ProjectManager Is CPM Scheduling Software for Construction All of those advantages can be achieved. Project managers might reap the benefits by creating a CPM construction schedule on paper or even the free template we offer. However, the point of using the critical path in scheduling a construction project is to work more efficiently. This requires investing in construction project management software. But not all software is equal. ProjectManager is award-winning construction project and portfolio management software with powerful Gantt charts that can make construction schedules that identify the critical path. This forecasts projects more accurately and provides tools to track project progress in real time. Track Labor Costs With Timesheets and Workload Management Charts Monitoring progress is important, but there’s more to time management when running a construction project. If the budget gets out of hand, general contractors can kiss their profit margin goodbye. Therefore, costs are also a critical metric to track. Secure timesheets streamline payroll and offer a window into labor costs. To keep labor working as scheduled, our resource management tools balance workload and provide a real-time overview of resource allocation with color-coded workload charts. There’s even a team page that summarizes crew activities on a daily or weekly basis. It can be filtered to view priority, progress and more. /wp-content/uploads/2024/05/timesheet-lightmode-good-version-lots-of-tasks.png Monitor Project Progress With Real-Time Dashboards There are multiple ways to monitor costs and other key performance indicators (KPIs). Project managers can have a high-level view of the project by toggling to the real-time project or portfolio dashboards. These tools automatically collect live data and display them in easy-to-read graphs and charts that show time, cost, workload, health and more. It’s an instant status report. For a real status or portfolio report, as well as reports on variance, timesheets, workload and more, visit our reporting page. All reports are customizable, meaning they can be filtered to show details or provide a summary and share easily to update stakeholders. /wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Dashboard-light-mode.jpg Related CPM Construction Content Critical path construction is important. For those who want to delve into the critical path, there’s more to learn. Below are a handful of recent articles we’ve published on CPM with Gantt charts, how to use PERT with CPM and much more. Critical Path Method (CPM) in Project Management Displaying the Critical Path on a Gantt Chart Critical Path Template for Excel (Free Download) How to Make a CPM Schedule: CPM Scheduling Basics PERT and CPM: Their Differences and How to Use Them Together ProjectManager is online construction project and portfolio management software that connects teams whether they’re in the office or on the job site. They can share files, comment at the task level and stay updated with email and in-app notifications. Get started with ProjectManager today for free. The post Critical Path Method (CPM) in Construction: A Quick Guide appeared first on ProjectManager. View the full article