Managing Information To Support Strategic Planning

Establishing An Information Management Policy, by: acknowledging the importance of information to the strategic planning process and to the operational performance of the organisation; implementing an information management policy that will ensure a continuous flow of appropriate information to all levels of the organisation; allocating responsibility for the maintenance and improvement of the policy to an executive level manager; allocating level-specific responsibilities for the maintenance of the information flow.

Implementing an information management policy that is robust and rigorous is essential, not only at the strategic, corporate levels, but operationally as well. In the case of strategic planning, the quality of the information gathered, the channels used to distribute that information laterally and vertically throughout the organisation, and the interpretation of the information gathered, is vital. Without a sound foundation, the policy and its procedures, the information that is fed into the strategic planning process will be flawed, in parts at least. This will, inevitably, be damaging to the chances of the chosen strategies being successful.

Identify Information Needs, by: discussing information needs with the strategic planning team; using scenario building techniques to identify potentially differing information needs; identifying information needs of partners and key stakeholders who will be involved in the planning process; forecasting information needs for the strategic planning process; forecasting post-implementation information needs; reviewing existing information, channels and flows and identifying gaps and inadequacies; drawing up a list of information needs. This is another crucial early stage in the use of information in the strategic planning process. The leader(s) and other members of the planning team must be clear about their information needs. Whilst at this stage it is not possible to identify all the specific details, it is essential to draw up a list of categories of information that will lead to sufficient information being gathered. For example, one of the categories will be information on forecast changes in the external environment, another will be information on current and predicted competitor behaviour, another may be information on potential manpower resources, and so on. For public sector organisations one of the categories will be predicted government actions, such as in the setting of financial targets or other performance indicators. The role of the planning team is to ensure that their needs are understood and satisfied.

Establish Effective Gathering Methods, by: evaluating methods of information gathering currently used in the organisation; evaluating methods of information gathering not currently used in the organisation; selecting an appropriate range of methods for use in the strategic planning process; selecting individuals and teams to carry out the information gathering activities; providing training, financial and physical resources, to support the information gathering activity; implementing a monitoring and control procedure to ensure the process continues to be productive. There is a range of well established methods used internally by organisations, and well established commercial companies, that will provide the required information. In both cases, the methods used in gathering information must be appropriate and effective, in terms of being cost-effective and in terms of the quality of information gathered. In addition, particularly in the case of the commercial providers, the methods should be ethically sound. Whilst information gathered through unethical methods may not directly damage the strategic planning process, damage may well be caused to the reputation of the receiving organisation, and this may well then damage the chances of the strategies being successful. Obtain Required Information, by: obtaining primary and secondary objective information from internal sources and external providers; obtaining subjective information from analytical techniques such as PEST and SWOT analysis; obtaining subjective information from Competitor Analysis techniques.

Validating Information Obtained, by: vetting the quality of all sources and providers of information; testing the validity of information received; replacing unsafe information or at least acknowledging the weaknesses in it and highlighting this when it is used in the planning process. It is critical that the information used in the strategic planning process is valid. Plans based, even in part, on inaccurate, invalid, or in any way inappropriate, information, are inherently flawed and will almost certainly fail in part or totally. Internal sources of information, and the process of gathering that information, must be rigorously checked on a regular basis. External providers of information, such as commercial companies that carry out surveys or other information gathering activities, must be treated in the same way as other suppliers, in that they must be vetted for appropriate expertise and experience, for their operational quality levels, for financial standing, as well as for their ability to understand and interpret the needs of the purchasing organisation. Regarding the analytical techniques used, there are a huge range of tools and techniques that can be used to analyse information. The techniques mentioned above are named because they are common ones, familiar to most senior managers. There are many other proven methods, and these should be evaluated and used where appropriate. It is however, important to be aware that the quality of the output, the findings, from these analytical techniques are dependent on the skills of those using them and the interpretation, the conclusions, made by the analysers, and then by the end users.

Apply Outcomes To Strategic Planning Process, by: interpreting and applying the findings to the deliberations and decision making activity; regularly reviewing the validity of information and interpretations used, during the process; refreshing the information and interpretations as necessary. Using the information in the decision making activity, in building up the strategic plan, must be seen as a continuous process and one that must be monitored and controlled. If, for example, information is gathered and interpreted at the start of the planning process, and is only applied at a later stage (some annual strategic planning processes can last for many months) then the validity, the currency, of that information and its interpretation, must be challenged and if necessary discarded and replaced.

Review Effectiveness Of Process, by: carrying out regular audits on the effectiveness of the methods, tools and techniques, used in the information gathering process; carrying out regular audits on the relevance, accuracy, and value of information used in the planning process; regularly reviewing the value of the information inputs as part of the strategic planning review sessions; taking corrective action where necessary. The whole information gathering process must be reviewed on a regular basis. Ideally this should be an agenda item on all the scheduled strategic level team meetings. An additional review should take place before each distinct strategic planning process starts. In addition, the Information Management Policy itself must be reviewed and refreshed annually. To rely on outdated, inappropriate, invalid, information gathering processes would be highly damaging to the chances of future success.

Establish Future Information Needs, by: implementing a continuous development approach to information gathering, whereby the information needs of the organisation, at strategic and operational levels are continuously assessed and action instigated to satisfy those needs. In todays fast changing world of business the strategic planning process is one that is repeated at least annually, often more frequently to the point where for many organisations it is now a continuous process. Satisfying future information needs cannot be carried out as a discrete pre-planning activity. Information gathering must be continuous, and therefore future information needs must be identified on a regular basis, and these needs must then be satisfied by the information gatherers. In this way the planners have access to the necessary information as and when they need it.

In Summary: High quality information is critical to the success of the strategic plans of any organisation. All other factors can be in place, but if the information is flawed in any way, then success is much less likely. If success is achieved it may well be at a high cost. High quality information must be acknowledged as one of the organisations top priorities. Adopting a continuous development and improvement approach to the information gathering and interpretation process is essential. A complimentary approach that should be implemented in parallel with this is that of Knowledge Management. This relatively new approach is in response to the recognition of the increasing importance of identifying and gathering the internally generated information and the accumulated knowledge held within the organisation, and making effective use of these. The leader(s) of the strategic planning activity should combine the established principles of continuous development and improvement with the techniques of knowledge management, and build this into the strategies of the organisation. In this way the organisation is generating a continuous flow of high quality information, and making the most effective use of that information to support its chosen strategies.

Make the relocation process less bothersome with Long Island movers

Undoubtedly, moving is one of the most nerve-racking affairs for everyone; be it an individual or business organization, relocation pesters both equally. Since it is a tedious task, it consumes a huge share of ones precious time; in fact, inconvenience caused during relocation can utterly affect ones personal as well as professional life. Relocation includes various monotonous tasks such as packaging and unpackeging of goods, cleaning of destination building or house and arrangement of household or official things. Since one cannot manage to give proper time to these tasks, it is always advisable to take help of a moving company. At present, these companies offer moving and packing services in every state and city through their widespread network. Therefore, if you are planning to relocate your home or office within Long Island, then you can make your moving less burdensome with the help of Long Island movers.

With the support of Long Island movers, you can have an enjoyable relocation, as their efficient professionals perfectly handle every task related to relocation. Their services are reliable and set you free to perform your routine personal and official tasks. Usually, people start packing their goods in advance, which consumes a lot of unnecessary time and energy. This tendency is nothing but anxiety of relocation and the only way to cope up with it is to hire the services of Long Island movers. For people who lead a busy life, hiring their services can prove to be very beneficial as with it they can stay away from the hassle of relocation. Relocation professionals of such firms possess perfection in handling every task efficiently therefore they never let you realize that your home or office is changing its place.

Long Island movers offer services according to the clients requirement; basically, they classify relocation in various categories including personal and corporate relocation. Since effort and time can be estimated only after analyzing the subject of relocation, professionals of these firms visit the clients home or business to get a perfect idea about these issues. As far as charges of these service providers are concerned, you can be rest assured that you will be charged a reasonable amount only but if in any case you have any doubt regarding charges, you can compare them with other firms. In fact, doing a thorough market research will help you in getting a reliable firm with reasonable charges.

The biggest advantage associated with Long Island movers is that they offer insurance facility on damage or loss of goods. Therefore, if in any case, your precious goods are damaged, the firm will be responsible to pay a reasonable amount as compensation for loss. However, this condition does not appear, as they pay full attention towards the security of your goods; they provide your goods with safe packaging, careful loading and unloading and intensive placement, so that it may not face any damage. Since getting a reliable firm is not as easy as it seems to be, you need to do a thorough market research and comparison to extract the best deal from the market.

What can a Collection Company do?

What is a collection company?

There are two possibilities.

Some creditors will actually use a separate company name, address, and phone number for their internal collection departments, in order to give the impression of an "outside" agency, on the theory that debtors will take it more seriously. This strategy is generally only used when the debt is recent (under six months delinquent.)

However, the most successful collection activity is performed by an outside third-party collection company. Separate from the original creditors or 1st party they are able to work debts on behalf of all lenders. They, from time to time also buy bad account which have been designated as charge-offs by the original creditor.

This FAQ focuses on third-party collection companies.

How does a collection company get paid?

Third-party collection companies often work on commission, where they receive a percentage of the amount that they collect. Individual collectors are often paid a low base wage plus commissions based on their personal performance.

Some agencies also purchase large groups of charged-off bad debts for a small percentage of the face value (amount owed.) After a debt is sold, the debtor now owes the full amount to the purchaser. Since the chances of recovery decrease substantially with time, an agency might only pay 1% - 5% of face value. The agencies' profits come from the difference between the purchase price and the amounts that are eventually collected.

How does the collection company work?

The primary tools of a collection company are letters and telephone calls.

What are the letters like?

The letters are computer-generated, and are often in a standardized series which starts with a friendly, "reminder" tone, and may progress to ultimatums. The letters are pre-written and sent to many debtors; they are not personal.

The first letter must state that the recipient has the right to dispute the validity of the debt (in writing), and the agency must send some confirmation after verifying it with the original creditor. Collection letters must also contain the statement that they come from a debt collector, and that any information gathered will be used for the purpose of collecting the debt. Collectors are legally prohibited from printing anything on the outside of the envelope which indicates or suggests the nature of the communication. Even the return address must be discreet, so many agencies will just use their company's initials, or some other nondescript name.

The debtor's reaction to the notice will affect which additional notices the company will select from its library. Cooperation (e.g. making payment arrangements and/or partial payments) may result in letters with a gentler tone. Shifty or unfavorable reactions from the debtor may result in a more threatening tone.

Collectors attempt to create a sense of urgency, to try and collect the debt within the shortest amount of time. This hopefully will encourage the debtor to prioritize that particular obligation. Deadlines may be set, such as, Pay this amount within 10 days. There may also be threats, such as, ...Or we will proceed with further collection attempts. But most of the time, if a debtor fails to meet the deadline, all that will happen is that yet another dunning letter will arrive, making the same basic demand. The & further collection action usually just means more dunning letters.

Collection letters will always encourage the debtor to call the collection company on the phone. If the debtor doesn't call, then a collector will often call the debtor.

What are the phone calls purpose?

Individual phone collectors may be assigned a portfolio of accounts, and spend the bulk of the workday, every day, working them. The collectors devotion is fueled by frequent performance evaluations and personal commission payments. The size of a collector's own paycheck is dependent upon how much money s/he extracts from debtors. Between that factor, and the relentless confrontations, this is a very high-stress job, with high employee turnover.

If a debt collector calls and reaches someone other than the debtor (e.g. a friend), s/he is legally prohibited from disclosing That this is an attempt to collect a debt. Every state is different but this may or may not include the debtor's spouse. If the collector reaches an answering machine or voice mail, s/he will often leave a FDCPA approved message, but is prohibited from giving details for the call, since someone besides the debtor might hear it. The basic message goes something like, "I am calling for Jane Doe. It is very important that you call me back. My name is JR Rooney, and my number is 1-631-776-8109." S/he will typically sound rather unemotional and stiff. Collection companies may be required to provide a phone number which is free for the debtor to call. They also may attach their toll free numbers to caller ID equipment which instantly identifies and logs the phone number the debtor is calling from, in order to call the debtor at that number at a later date.

When speaking with a debtor, many collectors (especially those without much experience) will use a script, which contains a pre-written introduction, request for payment, and has various branches to follow, depending on how the debtor responds. If a particular debtor is taking up too much time, without making arrangements to pay, the collector will be inclined to move on to other accounts.

Any information that the debtor gives about his/her financial situation (e.g. income or current employment, etc.) will be noted on the file's record and used to estimate the probability of a recovery, the advantage of legal action, and so forth.

But what can the collection company actually do?

If they are working the debt on a contingent bases, they can send some more dunning letters and make some more scripted phone calls.

They can also report the item as refusing to pay with the credit bureaus. And if they are working on 100% contingent bases, they can recommend going legal, or if they own the debt outright, they can sue it themselves. However, the actual chances or intentions of this are often significantly less than they try to suggest to the debtor.

Collection companies can not legally seize a debtor's assets, bank accounts, or paycheck unless there has already been a successful lawsuit with a judgment awarded to them.

Collection companies can not legally make any kind of public announcements or disclosures concerning the debt, except to the credit bureaus.

Collection companies can not legally get a debtor fired from his/her job.

Collection companies can not legally engage in any type of physical violence or threats to collect.

Why does the debtor pay?

Often, the reasons include fear, guilt, intimidation, and a lack of understanding of the legal situation. Plus it is the right thing to do.

The debtor may feel guilty and ashamed of being a "deadbeat," and may perceive a judgment of his/her value as a person.

The debtor may have greatly exaggerated ideas about what collectors are (legally) capable of doing, and may have outdated stereotypes in mind.

The debtor may be intimidated by the relentless, confidant demands, from companies that may seem so powerful. S/he may take it personally, and assume that great individual attention is being given to this particular debt.

Consumers being contacted by collection companies are typically in serious financial difficulty, and under emotional stress about the general situation, so they may be confused and vulnerable.

Many debtors aren't aware of their legal rights, and feel powerless.

There are two main things that a collection company can actually do that a debtor should be concerned about. These involve damage to credit reports, and the smaller possibility of a lawsuit.

What about credit reports?

3rd party collection companies have the ability to report a debt to one or more of the credit bureaus, as a "Collection Account," including the amount, and whether it was paid or Refused to pay. Paying off a collection account will not result in the item being removed from the consumer's credit reports - it will simply be marked "Paid in full." Collection companies can report debts that they have purchased as well as debts that they are working on contingency.

Also, a collection company may request a debtor's credit report, in order to get an idea of his/her general financial situation, and to get an updated address and phone number.

How long do collection accounts last?

Collection accounts are subject to the normal 7 year time limit for appearing on a credit report. As specified in Section 605 of the FCRA this time limit is based on the date of the original delinquency.

What are the chances of a lawsuit?

If the debt still belongs to the original creditor, a third-party collection company cannot file a lawsuit. But if the balance is large, the debtor is being resistant, and if there are indications that the debtor has vulnerable assets, the agency may send the account back to the creditor with a recommendation to sue. Each creditor has its own criteria for the decision; for example, the amount must be substantial (often $1500 or more, at the very least.)

Collection companies try to avoid sending too many accounts back, it gives the appearance that they aren't very good at collecting. Also, letters and phone calls are much less expensive than filing suit.

If a collection company has purchased the debt, then they have the ability to file suit, but in most cases, the debt is likely to be rather old, and the agency doesn't have much money invested into it.

Fear and intimidation are a collectors biggest assets, since those things can work much more quickly, cheaply, and efficiently than filing suit.

Lawsuits certainly are brought against plenty of debtors, but not nearly as often as debtors fear. There is a big difference between, "Pay up or we will continue with collection action," compared to an actual Summons And Complaint.

If the debt is substantial and recent, and the debtor appears to be a good target (e.g. reasonable assets or income), a lawsuit is a real possibility. If you are served with legal documents specifying a particular court, hearing date, etc., you should see a qualified attorney immediately. That area is beyond the scope of this FAQ.

How are collection companies regulated?

The most important law is the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), which places many restrictions on collection activities. The FDCPA only covers third-party collection companies, not original creditors.

Every state has applicable laws regarding such things as telephone harassment.

Who enforces the FDCPA?

The Federal Trade Commission oversees the collections industry, and has the authority to impose fines or other penalties for violations. However, the FTC does not get involved with individual consumers' cases. They accept a large number of complaints, and look for patterns of violations which could then lead to action against a particular collection company.

What if a collection company has bought the debt?

The agency then becomes the creditor for most purposes. The debtor will not be able to make any settlements with the original creditor. The agency might be technically able to file a lawsuit against the debtor, (although this is not likely.)

However, the Federal Trade Commission has issued a Staff Opinion Letter which indicates that, even if a collection company has purchased a debt, it is still covered under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act as a "third-party debt collector."

What about the relevant time limits?

The debt does not become some kind of "new" debt just because it was sold. For example, the 7 year credit reporting time limit is still based on the original delinquency date with the original creditor. The statute of limitations for filing lawsuits is also based on that same date. These limits can not be legitimately "reset" by a collection company that has bought the debt.

However, the statute of limitations may possibly be reset if the debtor makes a specific promise to pay, or a partial payment.

Can they do anything after the time limits are up?

Yes. The statute of limitations only covers the filing of lawsuits, and the credit reporting time limit only covers bureau listings. There is no time limit on letters and phone calls.

A collection company that has purchased a bundle of "out-of-statute" debts (where the SOL has already expired, or "run") is hoping that, either the debtors will feel guilty, or that they won't be aware of that "out-of-statute" status. But if a particular debtor makes it clear that s/he understands the legal situation, then the collectors are likely to give up and move on to easier targets.

Can collectors call the debtor's place of employment?

Yes, but there are limitations. For example, they can not legally tell your employer about the debt, or try to have you fired.

Is there any way to make them stop calling?

Yes. According to section 805 of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act:

"(c) CEASING COMMUNICATION. If a consumer notifies a debt collector in writing that the consumer refuses to pay a debt or that the consumer wishes the debt collector to cease further communication with the consumer, the debt collector shall not communicate further with the consumer with respect to such debt, except --

(1) to advise the consumer that the debt collector's further efforts are being terminated;

(2) to notify the consumer that the debt collector or creditor may invoke specified remedies which are ordinarily invoked by such debt collector or creditor; or

(3) where applicable, to notify the consumer that the debt collector or creditor intends to invoke a specified remedy.

If such notice from the consumer is made by mail, notification shall be complete upon receipt."

So the consumer can just send a third-party collection company a written notice (preferably citing the FDCPA), ordering them to stop the collection letters and calls, and the agency is legally obligated to comply. The only permissible contact thereafter is to notify the debtor of specific "remedies," like legal action, but usually the collectors won't even bother.

If the creditor hasn't yet made a decision on whether or not to file suit, then that decision may be made at this point, rather than being delayed.

After a "cease and desist" notice from the consumer, the debt may then be returned to the original creditor, passed on to another third-party agency, or simply filed away, depending on the circumstances. The agency may still report the account to the credit bureaus.

Reach out for BPO Jobs in Hyderabad

Outsourcing to Hyderabad has been rising in waves, starting first with software in the late 80s; its now the BPO Industry that is flourishing! BPOs in Hyderabad are providing employment to thousands of job-seekers, to both experienced and fresh talent.

Call center jobs in Hyderabad are welcoming candidates willing to work in shifts, with excellent written and spoken english, comfortable talking to people and have good listening ability, possess sound understanding of work environment and delivery and command over technical, analytical and probing skills.

The basic academic background requisite to locate one-self in the industry is graduation. This will support you to get a job in Operations/ Customer care/ Telecalling/ Backend. Technical knowledge is essential for technical/ semi technical support. With an experience of 0 to 2 years an employee can earn a salary ranging from Rs.8000 - Rs.25000 per month.

There are multiple reputed companies recruiting talent in Hyderabad. At present, Nipuna offers BPO solutions in four core verticals, including telecoms, manufacturing, healthcare/insurance and banking-financial services. Its about to expand its BPO services palate by getting into animation and KPO. The companys total employee base is close to 2000. IBM Global Services is one of the prime IT MNC recruiting in Hyderabad. IBM India has a work force of 35000. India is Accenture's second largest country of operations. Leveraging our peoples skills in these locations, Accenture delivers consulting, technology solutions and business process outsourcing services to clients across a diverse range of industries around the world. Wipro BPO also has deep expertise in delivering process specific solutions in areas like Finance & Accounting, Procurement, HR Services, Loyalty Services and Knowledge Services.

Various Recruitment consultants in Hyderabad and giants like Kelly Services, Personnel Search Service Pvt. Ltd., Fact Personnel Pvt. Ltd. etc feel the city has huge potential for growth as head-hunting by employers is speeding up leaving behind past records!

Hyderabad has come up on the global platform. Its strong & steady growth suggests, the city has miles to climb! With Indian economy shining brighter, Hyderabads Job scene is out-shining all others like Pearl!

Baja Land For Sale

Cab San Lucas (popularly known as just Cabo) is the central hub of tourist activity in Baja California Sur. One of the most popular and also the most well developed places in the Baja region, Cabo has been at the heart of tourism and other tourist activities for many years. In fact it is a region of Mexico that has seen rapid real estate development, which has been both state funded, and funded by the real estate boom, a boom that has been fuelled by overseas buyers and purchases. There is a great demand for real estate in places in and around Cabo, which is why the real estate market is flourishing and constantly evolving to meet the needs of overseas buyers from all over the world, not just the Unites States.

Cabo has a magnificently young feel about it and is well known for its parties, yet at the same time it has preserved a mature and more 'colonial' lifestyle. Located on the southern tip of the Baja California Sur region, Cabo San Lucas is close to another popular tourist destination San Jose del Cabo. In terms of the value of the real estate, many real estate agents acknowledge the massive potential the land which lies between Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo has. Many people prefer places like Mexico to get away from the hectic life style they lead, and this is where the secluded, but easily accessible stretch of land between Cabo and San Jose del Cabo is so much in demand. In fact, the highway between Cabo and San Jose del Cabo, is almost sold out, as the golf course, and major hotels are all located in this particular stretch.

Apart from the region around Cabo, there are also numerous real estate options available within Cabo, from Villas, to well developed flats and condos. Cabo has a fantastic blend of modern and Mexican architecture about it. Since the number of tourists coming to Cabo seems to be increasing every year, real estate developers have already started catering to the taste of more international audience, and have developed some beautiful villas and beach front properties. In fact along with La Paz, Cabo is the best place to buy a beach front property, depending on a person's taste, the beach front properties are located both in famous 'party spots' and in secluded parts of Cabo.

The real estate boom Baja California Sur is experiencing today is mainly due to the impressive government and foreign investment that places like Cabo have received. Real estate is peaking at a ten year high, and with more and more villas, luxury resorts and beach front properties coming up, the future of real estate in Cabo looks very good. Anyone who is considering investing in real estate should consider investing in real estate or property in Cabo, as it has the right blend of youth and a laid back life style; Cabo is one of the few places in the Mexico that can claim to offer something for everyone, especially when it comes to real estate and property.

Womens Health and Herbs

Healthy Women, Healthy World

With limited access to education or employment in many nations, high illiteracy rates and increasing poverty levels are making health improvement for women exceedingly difficult. Many of the modest gains in womens health realized in recent decades are now threatened or have been reversed due to war, economic instability and the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

Women play a unique role in maintaining the health and well-being of their communities. Womens health issues have attained higher international visibility and renewed political commitment in recent decades.

Women always face unique health issues. From puberty through menopause, women deal with hormonal fluctuations, monthly menses, ovulation, pregnancy, and lactation. Breast cancer is a devastating illness striking women often in the prime of life. As many as 44,000 women die from breast cancer each year.

Women are also warned to guard against osteoporosis, or thinning and weakening of bones. The risk of heart disease climbs rapidly in women. As many as 36 per cent of American women, or about 375,000, die from heart disease each year. In addition, coronary risk factors such as obesity, diabetes and hypertension are all on the rise among women.

It is every womans birth right to avail good health; hale heart, strong bones, strength and vitality. Women need some tried and true, safe and simple way to nourish themselves, ease their daily discomforts as well as help guard against, and therefore prevent, serious, life threatening diseases. We've pulled together all our resources to help you get expert information on breast cancer prevention, treatment and more.

A variety of herbs are available to treat diseases related to women. Get information about natural remedies and herbs that provide safe and effective treatment to womens problems. We offer information about issues such as heavy bleeding, fibroids, hysterectomy, menopause and hormones, pelvic inflammatory disease, and ovarian problems.

If you have a personal health story; something which you have struggled through, but survived or something which you still face in your life and you would like to share it with other you can send it to Herbalist.com. Visit Herbalist and get answers to all questions related to womens health, herbal remedies, and herbal treatments.

LA Ink: Back for Another Year

Fans of the TLC reality television series LA Ink have reason to rejoice, as the show has been recently confirmed for renewal and one more season next year. The good news was revealed by show star Kat Von D, who works as one of the tattoo artists of the High Voltage Tattoo parlor, during an interview on the red carpet at the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards. During an interview with Buzznet.com, she remarked that production on the show was doing well and going really great. She added that as the first season had finished filming, the second season was then picked up by network executives.

Kat Von D also expressed her high level of excitement at another season, as well as the chance to show viewers what their show was truly all about. LA Ink is a spin-off of the previous reality television series Miami Ink, which also featured the day-to-day lives and work of a tattoo parlor based in Miami. She also appeared for two seasons on that parent show, though she had several arguments and disputes with fellow tattoo artist and Miami shop owner Ami James. Kat Von D eventually chose to move back to her hometown of Los Angeles, where she opened up and headed the High Voltage Tattoo establishment.

One of the main differences between the two shops and shows is that in LA Ink, the staff of the tattoo parlor is predominantly female. Four women out of five staff members are featured on the show, with Kat Von D as their leader. The others are Pixie Acia, Kim Saigh, and Hannah Aitchison. Kat Von D has explained that she wants her show to become a role model and inspiration for young girls not necessarily in guiding them towards also becoming tattoo artists, but in showing them a team of empowered, independent and artistically talented women.