Some times I just feel I've been left outside.
I believe sales techniques should inform potential customers about the true characteristics of a product or service, so that the customer may take an informed decision to buy or not.
When the advertised quality is that the product is worth walking a mile, or that it will make me smell soo good that girls will fall for me, or that it's so delicious that a handsome teenager would kiss an ugly old lady to get Klondyke's double chocolate bar, I just don't get it.
I feel that I've been left outside looking in, and glad to feel so.
Fungus
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Wisdom
When we were young we asked questions that could not be answered, like:
Tell me how many times can a man turn his head, Pretending he just doesn't see?
The answer my friend, is blowing in the wind. The answer is blowing in the wind.
And we warned each other to: Never trust anyone over thirty.
Some 40 years later, I'm starting to find some answers.
I believe that we can sit in peace and talk things over. We can share our answers and our questions, and even before the recession was felt, we were doing it every day in Linkedin and in other forums.
True enough: The times, they are a'changin.
Now that the recession has settled, we are talking more than before, and we are talking more about more important things than one year ago.
Trust people well over thirty ... Humans, Elephants and Gorillas distinguish themselves from other animals because they care for their elders. And doing so, they show how smart they are. Tribes led by Old Cows, Silverbacks and Elders are more successful than gangs led by juveniles.
Smart human institutions know that. Democratic Legislating bodies, successful armed forces, prestigious universities, innovative research centers and, of course, the Jedi Council accept and welcome older experienced members as a matter of fact.
I don't understand why is it that Industry does not acknowledge the benefit of wisdom over strength.
Fungus
Tell me how many times can a man turn his head, Pretending he just doesn't see?
The answer my friend, is blowing in the wind. The answer is blowing in the wind.
And we warned each other to: Never trust anyone over thirty.
Some 40 years later, I'm starting to find some answers.
I believe that we can sit in peace and talk things over. We can share our answers and our questions, and even before the recession was felt, we were doing it every day in Linkedin and in other forums.
True enough: The times, they are a'changin.
Now that the recession has settled, we are talking more than before, and we are talking more about more important things than one year ago.
Trust people well over thirty ... Humans, Elephants and Gorillas distinguish themselves from other animals because they care for their elders. And doing so, they show how smart they are. Tribes led by Old Cows, Silverbacks and Elders are more successful than gangs led by juveniles.
Smart human institutions know that. Democratic Legislating bodies, successful armed forces, prestigious universities, innovative research centers and, of course, the Jedi Council accept and welcome older experienced members as a matter of fact.
I don't understand why is it that Industry does not acknowledge the benefit of wisdom over strength.
Fungus
Friday, July 31, 2009
Cooperation
Cooperation is a two way road.
If you feel that they don't cooperate with you. They may also feel that you don't cooperate with them.
If you asked me, I'd tell you that you probably don't share a common purpose. Maybe you want to go North and they want to go East. Why would they cooperate? Why would you? I suggest you:
1. Find the common ground,
2. Agree on the common purpose,
3. Define a shared work approach,
4. Let it happen.
If you find that you have different destinations, you may still agree to collaborate with each other until you get to the station, get the tickets, and part like friends in the platform.
But please never trick, manipulate, mislead or force the other person to go your way.
Fungus
If you feel that they don't cooperate with you. They may also feel that you don't cooperate with them.
If you asked me, I'd tell you that you probably don't share a common purpose. Maybe you want to go North and they want to go East. Why would they cooperate? Why would you? I suggest you:
1. Find the common ground,
2. Agree on the common purpose,
3. Define a shared work approach,
4. Let it happen.
If you find that you have different destinations, you may still agree to collaborate with each other until you get to the station, get the tickets, and part like friends in the platform.
But please never trick, manipulate, mislead or force the other person to go your way.
Fungus
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Afterservice
Customer service means two different things.
One. When I offer a service and charge for it.
Two. When I deliver a product that does not work and promise to make it up to you with free fixes and repairs.
Customer service (two) has been dead for a long time.
Deader still, if it is paid in advance. "Musica pagada toca mal son" (Musicians paid in advance play bad music).
Smart people use the Cost of Quality model described by Crosby, Juran, Gryna and others. They know that it costs more to deliver a low quality (or incomplete) product, than to invest in solid processes and training, and deliver high quality on time within budget.
But this model is a well kept secret and only smart people use it. A small group, as we all know.
Fungus
One. When I offer a service and charge for it.
Two. When I deliver a product that does not work and promise to make it up to you with free fixes and repairs.
Customer service (two) has been dead for a long time.
Deader still, if it is paid in advance. "Musica pagada toca mal son" (Musicians paid in advance play bad music).
Smart people use the Cost of Quality model described by Crosby, Juran, Gryna and others. They know that it costs more to deliver a low quality (or incomplete) product, than to invest in solid processes and training, and deliver high quality on time within budget.
But this model is a well kept secret and only smart people use it. A small group, as we all know.
Fungus
Monday, July 13, 2009
Reflection
Reflection is like looking at myself in the mirror.
It is doing something and watching myself as I do it.
It is a source of continuous and informed feedback. But only if I know what I want to see in the mirror. Only if I have the courage to see myself as I am.
Easier said than done.
Fungus
It is doing something and watching myself as I do it.
It is a source of continuous and informed feedback. But only if I know what I want to see in the mirror. Only if I have the courage to see myself as I am.
Easier said than done.
Fungus
Touchy-Feely
I've heard that thinking is what men do, and feeling is what women do.
I've also heard that thinking is what we do with the left half of our brain, and feeling is what we do with the right half. ... or was it the other way round?
I say that thinking and feeling are two distinct processes in our project to live. Both need to be performed right.
In ISO 9000 terms ... the thinking part is measurement and analysis and the feeling part is validation and verification. Of course, there are other processes. Of course, at the organizational level we may specialize.
I am quite good at measurement and analysis. My wife is better at validation and verification ... which may mean that in the end, thinking is what men do, and feeling is what women do.
But it only works when man and woman work as a team.
Fungus
I've also heard that thinking is what we do with the left half of our brain, and feeling is what we do with the right half. ... or was it the other way round?
I say that thinking and feeling are two distinct processes in our project to live. Both need to be performed right.
In ISO 9000 terms ... the thinking part is measurement and analysis and the feeling part is validation and verification. Of course, there are other processes. Of course, at the organizational level we may specialize.
I am quite good at measurement and analysis. My wife is better at validation and verification ... which may mean that in the end, thinking is what men do, and feeling is what women do.
But it only works when man and woman work as a team.
Fungus
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
FTE
Before getting into FTEs (Full Time Equivalents), you need to:
1. Know your goal.
2. Prepare a hierarchical map of the work packages you will need to achieve your goal (WBS).
3. Detail the lower level work packages, until you have tasks that can be accomplished by one individual in a week or so.
4. Estimate the number of hours for each role that you will need in a day (or week or month).
Then you can calculate the man-hours per day (or FTEs) that you will need.
It works both for continuous processes and for projects.
As you and your team develop skills, the required FTEs decrease, or the total work performed increases.
Of course this is only a practical, but rough approach. Real people have a heart, and perform different than mathematical FTEs.
Fungus
1. Know your goal.
2. Prepare a hierarchical map of the work packages you will need to achieve your goal (WBS).
3. Detail the lower level work packages, until you have tasks that can be accomplished by one individual in a week or so.
4. Estimate the number of hours for each role that you will need in a day (or week or month).
Then you can calculate the man-hours per day (or FTEs) that you will need.
It works both for continuous processes and for projects.
As you and your team develop skills, the required FTEs decrease, or the total work performed increases.
Of course this is only a practical, but rough approach. Real people have a heart, and perform different than mathematical FTEs.
Fungus
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