Supply chains had become popular in the 2020’s, thanks greatly to the era of the coronavirus pandemic when our world experienced major economic disruptions in transportation, production, and deliveries. Because of aggravations such as missed deliveries, shortages, and overstocked inventories, we pledged we’d do better in managing our supply chains. But we hadn’t done muchContinue reading “Five Characteristics of Supply Chains”
Author Archives: Ellery
The Need to Conform Before We Can Sell
There used to be a time when we made things, and they’d sell. Artists would draw their paintings or sculpt their masterpieces, display them, and people would walk up to buy them. Artisans would produce their wares (e.g. potteries, garments, trinkets), place them in front of their houses, and customers would purchase them outright. Continue reading “The Need to Conform Before We Can Sell”
Beware the Aggravation in Addressing Our Problems
Does it seem like there are more aggravations in our lives than ever before? Aggravations are facts of life for us humans. For most of our history here on Earth, we have had our share of aggravations. We’ve gone through wars, plagues, invasions, natural disasters, famines, and economic distresses. At a tad lower level, we’veContinue reading “Beware the Aggravation in Addressing Our Problems”
When Friends Become Customers
Several years ago, I approached an old classmate from high school who was in the construction business and asked him if he can quote me for a big project I was undertaking. He replied, “sorry, I’m too busy with other jobs.” Recently, I asked a friend if she can quote me for some equipment sheContinue reading “When Friends Become Customers”
A Primer on the Process of Order Creation & Fulfilment
The process of customer order creation and fulfilment is a core task of many enterprises. An order creation & fulfilment process in a business-to-business (B2B) relationship typically consists of the following steps: Enterprises who sell directly to end-users, that is business-to-consumer (B2C, e.g., supermarkets, e-commerce, restaurants) typically have a simpler process: Enterprises who offer services,Continue reading “A Primer on the Process of Order Creation & Fulfilment”
What Problems Will AI Solve?
The debut of artificial intelligence (AI) applications like ChatGPT in late 2022 ignited viral media firestorms around the world. AI is no longer science fiction. It is here. It has arrived. It is on our fingertips, demonstrating its power and ready for our use. With AI apps like ChatGPT, we can use our devices (i.e.,Continue reading “What Problems Will AI Solve?”
The Science Behind Management & Why We Need Engineering
In March of 1911, Frederick Winslow Taylor’s The Principles of Scientific Management debuted to the public. It was the height of the Industrial Revolution in the United States of America. Corporations were mass producing items and many Americans were employed in factories. Mr. Taylor’s Principles couldn’t have come at a better time as when itContinue reading “The Science Behind Management & Why We Need Engineering”
Why We Should Ask More Questions
Eight (8) utility posts fell on a busy street at Manila’s Binondo Chinatown district. The posts damaged cars and caused a power failure to commercial establishments. The power utility company, MERALCO, however, immediately removed and replaced the fallen posts. Power was restored within hours. Business on the street returned to normal. That wasn’t enough forContinue reading “Why We Should Ask More Questions”
Why We Need to Ask More (Right) Questions
We ask a lot of questions. But which questions do we choose to answer? Which questions do we delve into? Which questions become the bases of our lifetime quests? Both words, ‘Questions’ and ‘quests,’ have a similar origin: quaerere, to ask, seek. What we seek depends on what we ask. And the first things weContinue reading “Why We Need to Ask More (Right) Questions”
Enforcement is Not Necessarily a Solution
City traffic in Manila, the Philippines, is downright horrible. Driving a car in Manila is an adventure in patience and civility. It’s hard to be a nice person when we compete for road space in this city’s congested streets. Metropolitan Manila, formally known as the National Capital Region, is the urban centre and capital ofContinue reading “Enforcement is Not Necessarily a Solution”
Ellery's Essays 