While depositing Philippine coins at the bank one morning, I couldn’t figure out which was which. The 1-peso coin looked like the 5-peso coin which also looked like the 10-peso coin. Each coin was silver in colour and almost the same size. I also had older and much more different 5-peso and 10-peso coins toContinue reading “We Don’t Need Deep Science to Implement Change”
Author Archives: Ellery
The Importance of Making Available What We Promise
I ordered a box of latex gloves from a 3rd party seller on a popular e-commerce website. The seller confirmed my order by email and after 24 hours, the order status on the website was that the box of gloves was being prepared for shipment. One week later, the order status said it was atContinue reading “The Importance of Making Available What We Promise”
Four (4) Suggestions for a Client-Convenient Website
The phone company needs a password whenever I want to look at my bill. I enrolled into the phone company’s “paperless billing” system more than a year ago. Before, the “paper” bills were arriving late such that when I received them, they were already past the due date. With paperless billing, the phone company notifiesContinue reading “Four (4) Suggestions for a Client-Convenient Website”
Paying Attention versus Getting Attention
A columnist at a leading daily newspaper writes every week about ghosts, spirits, reincarnation, or in other words, supernatural stuff. He is obviously popular as he’s been writing for the newspaper for decades. He seems to be doing well as he’s consulted for some people and spoke at gatherings. I laugh at how people canContinue reading “Paying Attention versus Getting Attention”
Seen and Not Heard, Speak Only When Spoken To, Why It’s Good to Listen
In the old days (as late as the mid-20th century), many parents told their kids that children were meant to be “seen not heard” and that children can only “speak when spoken to.” This rule prevails among many families, never mind if it’s the 21st century and some people say we should be more liberalContinue reading “Seen and Not Heard, Speak Only When Spoken To, Why It’s Good to Listen”
How to Save Money When Renewing the Dreaded City Business Permit
Every time we enter a new year, many of us reflect on the past and make resolutions for the future. When the first working day arrives, however, we face reality. One of those realities is the dreaded city business permit renewal. Town and city governments in the Philippines require enterprises to register before they canContinue reading “How to Save Money When Renewing the Dreaded City Business Permit”
Four (4) Guidelines for Available Transportation
Many small business enterprises don’t put too much thought into deliveries. For those who are into e-commerce and sell one or very few items via the Internet, the enterprise’s flow of work is typically receiving orders, preparing the items, and booking & delivering via a 3rd party service (e.g., Grab, Lalamove). Many enterprises have seenContinue reading “Four (4) Guidelines for Available Transportation”
Lessons Learned from E-Commerce
December 28, 2020. We ordered the food but couldn’t find the riders to deliver them. Our family of cousins, uncles, and aunts couldn’t be together for New Year’s Eve. Reunions and parties were not allowed in lieu of ongoing restrictions brought on by the CoVID-19 pandemic. Instead, we ordered food from a food shop andContinue reading “Lessons Learned from E-Commerce”
Behold The PSI: A Basic Tool for Supply Chain Planning
The PSI or Production-Sales-Inventory is a basic spreadsheet template for supply chain planners. It looks like this: The PSI typically has three sections: production, sales, and inventories. Production represents the in-flow of an item or what’s going into inventory. A basic example is finished goods input coming from a manufacturing operation’s output. We can alsoContinue reading “Behold The PSI: A Basic Tool for Supply Chain Planning”
Why Shifting from the Month-End Surge to Delivery by Demand is Common Sense
“We just have to live with it,” the General Manager replied. The GM was responding to my comment that month-end surges in sales orders were causing inefficiencies in the company’s logistics operations. I was presenting an operations assessment report to a company that distributed name-brand computer printers and accessories. One of the key observations fromContinue reading “Why Shifting from the Month-End Surge to Delivery by Demand is Common Sense”
Ellery's Essays 