Casual Articles - Business

Corporation - What Is It?
Simply put, a corporation is a form of business entity. You probably already know this, so this article delves into a few of the particulars.Separate EntityFor legal purposes, a corporation is considered a separate legal entity from those forming it. Although it is not a living person, a corporation generally has the same rights. It can own property, enter contracts and claim constitutional rights. Unluckily, a corporation also must pay taxes like you and me.Unlike each of us, a corporation can “live” for 100 years, 200 years or more. Certain forms of corporations were known to exist as far back as in the days of Ancient Rome. Despite it’s gladiator tendencies towards other companies, Microsoft was not the first corporation.State of IncorporationThese days, state law authorizes and governs the creation of corporations. In 1811, New York was the first state to pass laws authorizing corporations. As other states were created, the passage of laws authorizing the corporate enitity became standard practice. Today, corporations can be formed in every state.The Secretary of St

e not carried out as expected

The CONTROL phase

This is the most neglected but critical phase to ensure action / solution put in placed are permanently yield expected results. It cannot be over emphasized the importance of CONTROL. Not only team need to control the improvement result but equally important the action / solution. These are the critical components of the whole Improvement Projects to ensure sustainability of the improvement. However, members tends to keep track of the result without realizing it is the action / solution that bring about the improvement of the results. Besides tracking and monitoring, it is important that new action / solution are standardized across the company with simple yet effective work instructions and Standard Operating Procedures. And they are periodically audited for compliance. That Management team has included these items in their operation review meeting until such a time they feel it is sustainable. They are some basic tools used in this phase, namely:-

a) Trend Charting
b) Control Chart
c) Documentation
d) Audit
e) On-job training
f) Re-certification

During this phase, least difficulties were encountered by team members. Perhaps it

A Strong Sales Model Underlies Every Assumption In a Business Plan
One of the most difficult tasks a new prospective entrepreneur faces is the construction of a Sales Model. Many books devoted to instruction for writing a business plan devote little or no attention to this vital exercise. The knowledge needed to assemble a quantified, qualified and clearly narrated Sales Model is essential to convey the scope and validity of an opportunity.The most elemental data point required to commence assembling a strong sales proposition is the Cost of Goods (COG). Knowing with absolute certainty the all-inclusive COG is the foundation number necessary to build the Sales Model and ultimately a strong business plan. Guessing, estimating or hoping that the number you slot into your plan is accurate will lead to a solid dead end, and very quickly.The Sales Model, just like the completed business plan, is written based on a series of assumptions. These assumptions are then qualified (given historical and current market perspective), quantified (COG and sales goals are utilized to extrapolate a believable sales universe is available for the product) and narrated (explanation is

This article contains a summary of implementation of TQM improvement projects in the Manufacturing and Service Sectors over the last 5 years. It highlights difficulties encountered in using specific improvement tools as well as handling of the team members.

The TQM Improvement Methodology - D.A.I.C

Throughout these TQM improvement projects, a common methodology was used as a systematic way to Define-Analyse-Improve-Control the opportunity or problem. 7 QC tools are widely employed within this methodology

The DEFINE phase

In this phase, team members are required to identify improvement projects. Some tools commonly used to help members to select improvement projects are as follows :-

a) Brain Storming
b) Multi Voting
c) Selection Grid
d) Problem Statement

Upon completion of using the tools, team members will be able to select and agreed to a project which may be an opportunity for improvement or problem. A Problem Statement is used as a summary of this phase to state the nature of the project, boundaries of the process to be improved, goal and target, resource required and potential constraints

While this is a simple phase to accomplish, often team members are faced with difficulties for some valid reasons. Some of the common difficulties encountered are as follows :-

a) Team leader cannot decide whether to use the above tools to select project eventhough project is already assigned by the management
b) Team leader lack experience in directing team members
c) Lack of initial data to support decision making
d) Team members are not well verse with the subject matter
e) Lack understanding of the improvement tools

The ANALYSE phase

This is a critical phase where the current state of the subject matter as well as root causes will be analysed in detail. This analysis is done systematically and logically as follows:-

a) The scope of the subject matter
b) Current performance (problematic) trend
c) Identify possible causes of the opportunity or problem
d) Detail diagnostic to the root cause of the confirmed true causes

Certainly, these steps are performed using common improvement tools include 7-QC tools such as Brainstorming; Data collection; Trend Charting; Fish-Bone Diagram and why-Why Analysis. Team members use these tools selectively to dissect the problem into smaller junks and look at them critically. As expected, team members do not seems to able to grasp the use of these tools effectively. Often than not, team members make conclusion to the "root cause" too soon without factual data to support. The reason for this are several, some of them are as follows:-

a) Team leader dominate in team discussion
b) Some team members used past experience to make conclusion
c) Data collection is tedious
d) Lack data analytical skill
e) Lack focus during brainstorming on possible causes
f) Did not spend enough time to validate the possible causes
g) Too judgmental on the causes
h) Root cause analysis is often skip after possible causes is identified

The IMPROVE phase

There are two steps in this phase, namely; plan the improvement and Implement the improvement plan. Upon completed the Analyse phase, the team members would have some ideas what are some of the causes of the problem. And to some extend, the root causes of the problem is identified. Based on these causes, planning to improve them is the key objective of this IMPROVE Phase. There are several tools involve in doing so, namely:-

a) Brainstorming of action / solution
b) Selection Grid
c) Benchmarking
d) Cost-Benefit Analysis
e) Control lot and testing
f) Pilot the action / solution
g) Force-Field Analysis
h) Prevention Planner

Traditionally, when an action / solution is identified, often than not, they are implemented without considering the risk involved. Sometime when they are implemented, these action / solution causes different set of problem. During my consulting projects, team leaders failed to stay control of the "excitement of success" when action / solution is identified. Risk analysis was not enough or lacking before they are implemented. Some of the difficulties encountered by the team members during this IMPROVE phase are as follows:-

a) Action / solution taken causes other problem (Jump into the action without further evaluation of the risk)
b) Action / solution does not yield long term result (Member got over exited about the action / solution and forgot about the root causes.
c) Line workers refuse to abide to the new action / solution (Focus too much on technical aspect of the action / solution, forgot about the human factor. New action / solution involve change. Managing the change is often neglected)
d) Some action / solution are not carried out as expected

The CONTROL phase

a) Trend Charting
b) Control Chart
c) Documentation
d) Audit
e) On-job training
f) Re-certification

During this phase, least difficulties were encountered by team members. Perhaps it

Job Search - How to Stay Positive Despite Job Search Setbacks
Losing your job can be devastating. You have to deal with loss of income, colleagues, perks (e.g. a company car) plus wondering how you will manage – when will you get another job, how will you cope financially etc. There is also the underlying feeling of rejection – rejection from the job you have lost, plus more rejection each time you don’t get a job you have applied for.The hardest part of job search is keeping up a positive attitude, and it’s imperative you do this!The whole process of job search can make people feel depressed so you need to take good care of yourself. If you do become run down it can affect you mentally, physically, and socially. It can show itself in both body language and tone of voice. This will greatly reduce the likelihood of a successful interview.Here are 8 key ways to stay positive during job search:1. Look after your physical self Make sure you take good care of yourself physically. It is very easy to slip into unhealthy eating, drinking or smoking habits during a period of unemployment or stress. Take time for regular exercise

>While this is a simple phase to accomplish, often team members are faced with difficulties for some valid reasons. Some of the common difficulties encountered are as follows :-
a) Team leader cannot decide whether to use the above tools to select project eventhough project is already assigned by the management
b) Team leader lack experience in directing team members
c) Lack of initial data to support decision making
d) Team members are not well verse with the subject matter
e) Lack understanding of the improvement tools
The ANALYSE phase
This is a critical phase where the current state of the subject matter as well as root causes will be analysed in detail. This analysis is done systematically and logically as follows:-
a) The scope of the subject matter
b) Current performance (problematic) trend
c) Identify possible causes of the opportunity or problem
d) Detail diagnostic to the root cause of the confirmed true causes
Certainly, these steps are performed using common improvement tools include 7-QC tools such as Brainstorming; Data collection; Trend Charting; Fish-Bone Diagram and why-Why Analysis. Team members use these tools selectively to dissect the problem into smaller junks and look at them critically. As expected, team members do not seems to able to grasp the use of these tools effectively. Often than not, team members make conclusion to the "root cause" too soon without factual data to support. The reason for this are several, some of them are as follows:-
a) Team leader dominate in team discussion
b) Some team members used past experience to make conclusion
c) Data collection is tedious
d) Lack data analytical skill
e) Lack focus during brainstorming on possible causes
f) Did not spend enough time to validate the possible causes
g) Too judgmental on the causes
h) Root cause analysis is often skip after possible causes is identified
The IMPROVE phase
There are two steps in this phase, namely; plan the improvement and Implement the improvement plan. Upon completed the Analyse phase, the team members would have some ideas what are some of the causes of the problem. And to some extend, the root causes of the problem is identified. Based on these causes, planning to improve them is the key objective of this IMPROVE Phase. There are several tools involve in doing so, namely:-
a) Brainstorming of action / solution
b) Selection Grid
c) Benchmarking
d) Cost-Benefit Analysis
e) Control lot and testing
f) Pilot the action / solution
g) Force-Field Analysis
h) Prevention Planner
Traditionally, when an action / solution is identified, often than not, they are implemented without considering the risk involved. Sometime when they are implemented, these action / solution causes different set of problem. During my consulting projects, team leaders failed to stay control of the "excitement of success" when action / solution is identified. Risk analysis was not enough or lacking before they are implemented. Some of the difficulties encountered by the team members during this IMPROVE phase are as follows:-
a) Action / solution taken causes other problem (Jump into the action without further evaluation of the risk)
b) Action / solution does not yield long term result (Member got over exited about the action / solution and forgot about the root causes.
c) Line workers refuse to abide to the new action / solution (Focus too much on technical aspect of the action / solution, forgot about the human factor. New action / solution involve change. Managing the change is often neglected)
d) Some action / solution are not carried out as expected
The CONTROL phase
This is the most neglected but critical phase to ensure action / solution put in placed are permanently yield expected results. It cannot be over emphasized the importance of CONTROL. Not only team need to control the improvement result but equally important the action / solution. These are the critical components of the whole Improvement Projects to ensure sustainability of the improvement. However, members tends to keep track of the result without realizing it is the action / solution that bring about the improvement of the results. Besides tracking and monitoring, it is important that new action / solution are standardized across the company with simple yet effective work instructions and Standard Operating Procedures. And they are periodically audited for compliance. That Management team has included these items in their operation review meeting until such a time they feel it is sustainable. They are some basic tools used in this phase, namely:-
a) Trend Charting
b) Control Chart
c) Documentation
d) Audit
e) On-job training
f) Re-certification
During this phase, least difficulties were encountered by team members. Perhaps it
Finding Balance In A Tilted World
THE STRUGGLE -- I was recently talking with one of my entrepreneur friends. He has started three businesses in the last several years—a budding entrepreneur. He was relating some of the joys he has experienced in those enterprises: a sense of freedom from the corporate world, pursuing his dreams and passions, setting his own schedule, controlling his destiny and a large potential for financial rewards.However, he did mention a few downsides: little to no outside accountability, lack of consistent capital, feelings of loneliness, no steady revenue stream, feeling disconnected from others who don’t understand his drive to succeed, constant struggles to survive and a severe lack of work-life balance. Sound familiar?I think most entrepreneurs struggle with similar issues, especially balance. There are many reasons they can give for their lack of life balance and low satisfaction: “I have too much work to do. I just need a few more hours to finish this project. I need more money. I have bills to pay. My business depends on my hard work. My family needs more income. I am solely responsible for developin
m into smaller junks and look at them critically. As expected, team members do not seems to able to grasp the use of these tools effectively. Often than not, team members make conclusion to the "root cause" too soon without factual data to support. The reason for this are several, some of them are as follows:-
a) Team leader dominate in team discussion
b) Some team members used past experience to make conclusion
c) Data collection is tedious
d) Lack data analytical skill
e) Lack focus during brainstorming on possible causes
f) Did not spend enough time to validate the possible causes
g) Too judgmental on the causes
h) Root cause analysis is often skip after possible causes is identified
The IMPROVE phase
There are two steps in this phase, namely; plan the improvement and Implement the improvement plan. Upon completed the Analyse phase, the team members would have some ideas what are some of the causes of the problem. And to some extend, the root causes of the problem is identified. Based on these causes, planning to improve them is the key objective of this IMPROVE Phase. There are several tools involve in doing so, namely:-
a) Brainstorming of action / solution
b) Selection Grid
c) Benchmarking
d) Cost-Benefit Analysis
e) Control lot and testing
f) Pilot the action / solution
g) Force-Field Analysis
h) Prevention Planner
Traditionally, when an action / solution is identified, often than not, they are implemented without considering the risk involved. Sometime when they are implemented, these action / solution causes different set of problem. During my consulting projects, team leaders failed to stay control of the "excitement of success" when action / solution is identified. Risk analysis was not enough or lacking before they are implemented. Some of the difficulties encountered by the team members during this IMPROVE phase are as follows:-
a) Action / solution taken causes other problem (Jump into the action without further evaluation of the risk)
b) Action / solution does not yield long term result (Member got over exited about the action / solution and forgot about the root causes.
c) Line workers refuse to abide to the new action / solution (Focus too much on technical aspect of the action / solution, forgot about the human factor. New action / solution involve change. Managing the change is often neglected)
d) Some action / solution are not carried out as expected
The CONTROL phase
This is the most neglected but critical phase to ensure action / solution put in placed are permanently yield expected results. It cannot be over emphasized the importance of CONTROL. Not only team need to control the improvement result but equally important the action / solution. These are the critical components of the whole Improvement Projects to ensure sustainability of the improvement. However, members tends to keep track of the result without realizing it is the action / solution that bring about the improvement of the results. Besides tracking and monitoring, it is important that new action / solution are standardized across the company with simple yet effective work instructions and Standard Operating Procedures. And they are periodically audited for compliance. That Management team has included these items in their operation review meeting until such a time they feel it is sustainable. They are some basic tools used in this phase, namely:-
a) Trend Charting
b) Control Chart
c) Documentation
d) Audit
e) On-job training
f) Re-certification
During this phase, least difficulties were encountered by team members. Perhaps it
Donations that Are Very Easy and Make a Difference
Because of all the devastating problems in the world today homes, and lives have been severly changed. Rebuilding businesses and home properties requires a great deal of resources to accomplish. Getting aid from the government is extremely hard to do. Their aid falls short of what is really needed. Individual contributions from us the people is needed. Beyond regular contributions, donating a used car can greatly benefit the needs of these who are in great need. A car donation not only benefits those who recieve aid from it the donor is also benefited.Car Donations are simple, and are done through a charity vehicle donation program. Generally, a telephone call is all that is necessary. In addition to a clear title to the car. Many organizations will take car that are running or not running. The car donation program will arrange for the vehicle to be picked up, conduct a charity auction sale, and distribute the proceeds to the charity of your choice. In most instances those who donate just have their car waisting away and taking up space.Your car donation is tax deductible, as long as the charity i
r> b) Selection Grid
c) Benchmarking
d) Cost-Benefit Analysis
e) Control lot and testing
f) Pilot the action / solution
g) Force-Field Analysis
h) Prevention Planner
Traditionally, when an action / solution is identified, often than not, they are implemented without considering the risk involved. Sometime when they are implemented, these action / solution causes different set of problem. During my consulting projects, team leaders failed to stay control of the "excitement of success" when action / solution is identified. Risk analysis was not enough or lacking before they are implemented. Some of the difficulties encountered by the team members during this IMPROVE phase are as follows:-
a) Action / solution taken causes other problem (Jump into the action without further evaluation of the risk)
b) Action / solution does not yield long term result (Member got over exited about the action / solution and forgot about the root causes.
c) Line workers refuse to abide to the new action / solution (Focus too much on technical aspect of the action / solution, forgot about the human factor. New action / solution involve change. Managing the change is often neglected)
d) Some action / solution are not carried out as expected
The CONTROL phase
This is the most neglected but critical phase to ensure action / solution put in placed are permanently yield expected results. It cannot be over emphasized the importance of CONTROL. Not only team need to control the improvement result but equally important the action / solution. These are the critical components of the whole Improvement Projects to ensure sustainability of the improvement. However, members tends to keep track of the result without realizing it is the action / solution that bring about the improvement of the results. Besides tracking and monitoring, it is important that new action / solution are standardized across the company with simple yet effective work instructions and Standard Operating Procedures. And they are periodically audited for compliance. That Management team has included these items in their operation review meeting until such a time they feel it is sustainable. They are some basic tools used in this phase, namely:-
a) Trend Charting
b) Control Chart
c) Documentation
d) Audit
e) On-job training
f) Re-certification
During this phase, least difficulties were encountered by team members. Perhaps it
Starting Your Own Home Business
Starting your home business is no small venture, and may well be uncharted water, especially for the first time business owner. The best way to begin is to start reading and learning. Many articles and newsletters with information and advice are available, as both online and offline sources.Start by writing down your ideas, set a goal, and write a Business Plan. Be specific, and do not be afraid of revision, or multiple revisions. Determine the direction and purpose of your business, the target market, available budget and projected expenses, product or service, variables in market demand, identify competitors, advertising methods, online or offline, etc. Detail everything you know as to how you will operate your business. Then start to identify what you do not know, and how to obtain those issues for your business.Become familiar with internet message boards, both business-specific topic and advertising forums and blogs where you can read about helpful suggestions and pitfalls to avoid, plus ask questions and get advice from others involved with similar home businesses.Spend some time
e not carried out as expected
The CONTROL phase
This is the most neglected but critical phase to ensure action / solution put in placed are permanently yield expected results. It cannot be over emphasized the importance of CONTROL. Not only team need to control the improvement result but equally important the action / solution. These are the critical components of the whole Improvement Projects to ensure sustainability of the improvement. However, members tends to keep track of the result without realizing it is the action / solution that bring about the improvement of the results. Besides tracking and monitoring, it is important that new action / solution are standardized across the company with simple yet effective work instructions and Standard Operating Procedures. And they are periodically audited for compliance. That Management team has included these items in their operation review meeting until such a time they feel it is sustainable. They are some basic tools used in this phase, namely:-
a) Trend Charting
b) Control Chart
c) Documentation
d) Audit
e) On-job training
f) Re-certification
During this phase, least difficulties were encountered by team members. Perhaps it was due to the fact that most action / solution are taken placed in the work area they are in charge. However, there are cases where teams are set up for a cross-function project in which action / solution to be taken are in work areas not the responsibility of the team members. In which case, team members faced with the following difficulties :-
a) Action and solution are not carried out consistently
b) Some of the line workers are not aware of the changes
c) Tracking is focus on results but did not extend to the action / solution
The above article is a compilation of issues in several TQM projects facilitated by the author in various manufacturing and service sectors from year 2001 to 2006. These projects are categorized as :-
Sales Improvement Projects such as :-
a) Customer & Market Analysis
b) Reduction in Customer Complaints
c) Production Uptime
d) Delivery Cycle Time
e) Loan Processing
And Cost Reduction Projects such as :-
a) Quality Improvement
b) Process Optimization
c) Increase Boiler Efficiency
d) Reduce Material Losses
e) Reduce Electricity Consumption
f) Reduce Machine Downtime
g) Reduce Repair & Maintenance
h) Reconcile Insurance Policy Premium etc
This article deals with some common difficulties encountered during the implementation of improvement projects with regards to the use of tools, implementing action and solutions, sustaining the effort and so on. However, other aspects not included in this article are management commitment, sustainability and Reward & Recognition.
In summary, the above projects were completed and their duration varied depending on project complexity. Also, the cost of project, improvement and its related cost saving varied too. As an indication, the project saving ranged from few thousand to a million Malaysian Ringgit. Besides these tangible benefits, there are several intangible benefits too. To name a few; team member work well together as a team than before, gaining extra understanding to the processes, gain analytical and project improvement skill etc
D.A.I.C. (pronounced as "deck") is the methodology used in the above TQM Improvement projects. It is designed by the author based on a collation of best practices from TQM, Strategic Planning, 6-Sigma, PDCA, 7-QC tools etc . He welcomed feedback from readers of this articles. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

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