Joseph Biden wins the American presidency. Donald Trump has lost. Many people are rejoicing. But the election results were close. Very close. So close that one cannot discount that nearly half of the American electorate voted for either candidate. While President-elect Biden garnered more votes overall, soon-to-be former President Trump won as many as 2,500Continue reading “It’s Time to Start Listening”
Category Archives: Aha!
Do We Really Need New Capacity?
Do we really need a new highway? Metropolitan Manila, Philippines, has one of the worst urban traffic congestions on Earth (at least before the pandemic of 2020 forced people to stop travelling). This has led to a number of corporations and wealthy individuals to propose new roads, bridges, and tunnels. The proposals cite the obviousContinue reading “Do We Really Need New Capacity?”
Why and How Banks Should Improve their Services
In the late 1990’s, Asiatrust Development Bank, a relatively newcomer to the Philippine banking industry, expanded its banking hours from 8:30am to 6:00pm. It was a break from the traditional 10:00am to 3:00pm schedule that was the mainstay of other Philippine banks. Many small businesses and individuals particularly those who worked until evenings, flocked andContinue reading “Why and How Banks Should Improve their Services”
The Feasibility Study Ends with a Plan, Not A Solution
The feasibility study consists of the following steps: It starts with defining the problem. It ends with a plan. A lot of people make the mistake of ending a feasibility study with a solution. After they have the answer, many of them neglect to ask “what’s next?” They rely on the stakeholders to figure thatContinue reading “The Feasibility Study Ends with a Plan, Not A Solution”
How Do We Define Quality?
Quality is a strange subject. It’s strange because people talk about it a lot especially when they have a complaint or an admiration about a product or service. At the same time, people don’t seem to take it seriously especially when they settle for a cheaper product or service because they don’t have the budgetContinue reading “How Do We Define Quality?”
Bad Things Happen to Everyone
Asian airlines such as Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines, and ANA are known for their excellence in customer service. A lot of people love flying with these airlines. But thanks to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, these same airlines are experiencing their worst business slump in recent memory. No one wants to fly these airlines not becauseContinue reading “Bad Things Happen to Everyone”
About Overtimers Anonymous
I’ve been immersed in work since 1984. My long-spanning career since graduation from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee include managerial assignments at P&G Philippines, a harrowing experience as an entrepreneur in freight logistics, participation in several successful consultancy projects, and finally as an administrator of a company that builds and leases warehouses and offices. Overtimers AnonymousContinue reading “About Overtimers Anonymous”
“Are You Happy With Our Service?”
A bank had a survey booth near its front door in which one drops a small plastic ball in either of two (2) slots: Happy With Our Service Unhappy With Our Service I dropped the ball on the Happy slot. The teller was courteous and polite and since I was just updating a passbook, IContinue reading ““Are You Happy With Our Service?””
Beating the No-Win Scenario
In the movie, Star Trek: the Wrath of Khan, Lieutenant Saavik (played by Kirstie Alley) asks Captain Kirk (played by William Shatner) how he handled a no-win scenario called the Kobiyashi Maru when he was a cadet at the Starfleet Academy. It turns out Kirk is the only cadet in Starfleet history who ever beatContinue reading “Beating the No-Win Scenario”
What Have We Learned About Adversity vis-à-vis COVID19?
COVID19 is the latest and worst adversity to global economies in recent memory. Despite the early warnings in late 2019, enterprises around the world were caught off guard. Executives could only watch helplessly as borders closed and governments enforced lock-downs that shut many businesses down worldwide. Despite all our talents, experiences, and knowledge, weContinue reading “What Have We Learned About Adversity vis-à-vis COVID19?”
Ellery's Essays 