Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Deadlines .. deadlines

Its just days to go before I start my vacation. Well atleast I and my team members have finalised and submit the following so that HODs can start do their APAR:

1) APE
2) ASE
3) 2010 KPI Average
4) Overall incident/service requests tickets
5) ICT Awareness calendar - taken up by the not so new ISO.
6) PMO/Monthly report and servicedesk report - taken up by the not so new ISO.

Based on observation - he is doing good and the task I've assigned to him is in good hands. No need to worry! Training Calendar for new staff briefing is also completed.

We have also managed to finalised the BSC for 2010 with assistance from our ISO and part timer/practical trainee. They've done a good job these past 2 months.

The website is completed.. again thanks to Umi and Azizan who had finished the website on 31st December.

I think the last tasks before I leave for vacation is to ensure the UTICTEC minutes are distributed to all members, review policy documnent with legal and do a presentation slide for the big boss on Quality Service Delivery to New staff.

The three week vacation would be full with activities visiting family and also do some back log work on policies. Yes .. i am bringing work to India...what can I say .. I am a lousy person to boot la. I am targeting to have policies ammended within the weeks I'm in India... then when I come back - will start policy review meetings. Its high time i get back into gear to have the policies endorsed to the higher level- "The Majlis".

Good luck to me .. i really need it! Its 1.21 am .. I've to finish up the analysis la pula.

Sunday, January 16, 2011

Top place to go to in Kochi?

Kairali

The Kerala government emporium which sells the local handicrafts at fixed rates. It is open from 09:00 to 20:00. The artifacts, clothes and crafts are all typical to the state. A Kathakali mask makes a nice souvenir and comes in small, medium and large sizes.
The furniture is nice as well. If you want to pick out a typical local costume try the white sari with a golden border. A traditional bridal sari will have real gold thread hand woven into it.

Location : MG Road, Ernakulam
 

Spices

With a pepper exchange at Jew Town, spices are a great souvenir from Kochi. Most of them are well packed and compact making them easy to carry. They also make excellent gifts for people back home. Cinnamon, pepper, green cardamom, brown cardamom, cloves, bay leaf are all on offer.
The herbs include holy basil, fenugreek, and coriander. Try and pick well-sealed packets rather than open spices as the vacuum packed spices will keep fresh longer.
Location: most emporiums and shops have a section of spices. Also at most of the tourist spots there are spice stalls. There are a line of stores at Bazaar Road at Fort Cochin and Mattancherry Island.

 

Antiques and Reproductions

There is a line of shops dealing in antiques and reproductions here. The artifacts include miniatures of snake boats, spice boxes, wooden temples, wall hangings - all carved out of wood. There are also replications which will be much cheaper. Tiny bronze images and boxes are also available.
Make sure that you don’t pick up anything which they claim is more than 100 years old, as legally these antiques are not allowed to leave the country. If they insist it is over a century old and are still trying to sell it to you beware as it is most likely a reproduction. Just spend some time browsing if you don’t know what you wish to pick up first.
Location: A side street in the vicinity of the Synagogue at Fort Cochin and Mattancherry island



Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Check List for India Trip

1) Passport for Ayman - done
2) Visa for Naureen, Ayman and myself - Thursday
3) Print Air Asia E-ticket
4) Pack bags - 2 luggages and 1 empty
5) Essential stuffs to bring to India
- Milk powder for 3 weeks vacation
- medication for fever/flu/cough/colic
- nappies
- toiletries
- tit bits for the children
- portable DVD and toys and CDs
6) Take camera from company

other stuff will list again when i got time ..

Supervisor Vs Subordinate

Taken from www.wisegeek.com:

The role of a subordinate is to perform duties or accept delegated responsibilities assigned by a superior. An office manager, for example, may assign routine paperwork to a subordinate in order to concentrate on an important project of his or her own. Because the relationship is superior/subordinate, the employee has an obligation to perform the assigned task. This is not the same relationship as a co-worker asking for assistance or a personal favor. There is a certain level of respect for a superior's position that motivates a subordinate to accept the task or responsibility.

An employee on the bottom rung of a corporate ladder may be considered a subordinate to virtually everyone else, but eventually he or she may be promoted to a position with some managerial responsibilities. A subordinate often observes a superior's average workday in order to learn what skills would be necessary to advance. Bosses and their subordinates may have very strong working relationships, or they may not mesh well as a team. Personality clashes between a superior and a subordinate may also make their working relationship difficult. An employee in a subordinate role may feel undervalued, while a superior may feel a subordinate does not respect his or her authority.

The relationship between a subordinate and a superior may also be regulated by company policies. Because a certain level of respect and distance should be maintained, managers are often discouraged from fraternizing with subordinate employees outside the office. Too much familiarity with a subordinate could lead to charges of favoritism or leniency in the workplace. By restricting social contact between superiors and subordinates, many company leaders hope to keep relationships on a professional level.

There is also a great deal of emphasis placed on romantic relationships between subordinates and superiors. Even if the relationship itself is consensual, there is a risk that the superior may expose the company to a sexual harassment lawsuit if the relationship with a subordinate ends badly. Employees in a direct superior/subordinate professional relationship are often discouraged from forming personal relationships in order to avoid potential complications in the future.

My opinion:

1) As a muslim, relations amat penting. Meaning to be devoid of personal relationship would create robots or emphathic human being at the work place. I do not think that there is a need to sever social interactions or personal relations or not having good friends at the work place. Eventhough, one is a superior and the other is a subordinate, one can be good friends. But it is difficult, to ensure that the friendship that develops are not being abused my either party to gain LENIENCY or to be taken advantage upon on the trust or friendship that has developed through the years.

2) I tend to agree that an understanding between supervisor-subordinate on the work relation must be professional irregardless of how close you are. Again, there must be understanding between the two, if not you'll get problematic subordinate who in the end will sever his/her ties with you just because of issues at work!

3) A supervisor should also treats his/her staff with respect where respect is due. One should not blindly cover up problems/condone irresponsible behaviour just because you are close. Again... note that in a working relationship; it is regulated by Company policy. Hence, if your subordinate does something wrong i.e not showing up for work .. no communication .. non performance .. You as the supervisor need to communicate to the subordinate about this matter and also to ensure that company policies are adhered to. Of course kita ni manusia ... IHSAN .. kita tak kejam.. normally report for further action setelah berkali-kali remind to improve on job related matters or attendance matters.

4) As a boss, you need to get acquaintance with your subordinates; to understand their names, their routines, their strengths, their weaknesses, and equally important, is their attitudes. How will they build working relationship with you? How do you understand the dimensions behind the relationship? - taken from www.articlebase.com.
- Know their strength
- Know their weaknesses and attitudes
- routines and responsibilities

in the article it is stated that there are 3 types of relations between Sv & Subordinate.
1) Relationship by Job title - OKAY

The first step is relationship by title. In the very beginning, the relationship is merely relied on your superior job title over your subordinates; for instance, manager with staff, and supervisor with worker. Your relationship or source of power is come with the subordinates' perception of an authority attained from your superior status. Without this, you are nothing more than a peer working with them. You cannot order and instruct them


2) Relationship by Job Knowledge - OKAY


The second step or stage is the solid job-related knowledge carried with you. Your working experience and your education background will boost your professionalism and your authority in your department. In fact, your salary and package provided by the company is majority depended on this to negotiate during your job interview with current company. Your subordinates will come to you with questions, and sometimes with challenges, and look for your answers and advises. It is a right moment you can further enhance the relationship by providing them with expertise answers and effective instructions to resolve their problems.

3) Relationship by Respect - STILL NEED TO DEVELOP THIS SKILL.


The last step is the relationship by respect. This is one of the major ingredients to maintain the positive relationship with your team. If you can coach your subordinates with your professional knowledge and with enthusiastic attitude, you will win the respect from your team under your leadership. Equally important, you should respect them as they respect you. This step will help building a positive and long-lasting working relationship with your subordinates.

It is difficult to fulfill everybody's expectation or to be the most liked supervisor! In the end, it all comes down to roles and responsibilities. What are the supervisor's responsibilities and what are the subordinate's responsibilities. At the end of the day, you yourselves need to ask; what have you done today? Have you done your job to the expectation of your superior? Good? Mediocre?Excellent? Bad? Have you communicate issues that may have affected your deliverables? Do you take for granted or use the friendship that you had with your supervisor to gain/ or you expect leniency on issues that you may have brought up? Supervisor - are you to authoritative? Rigid? Do not reason well with subordinate? lack of empathy? Do you facilitate? Impart knowledge?- Now which one am I? I am a supervisor and also a subordinate to two bosses. So these questions also applies to me too. Have I done to the best of my ability to supersvise and guide my subordinate? As a subordinate; have I fullfilled the needs and tasks assigned by my senior bosses? Arghhhh .. lets see my APAR for 2010; whether they feel I did the job well or not.

These are my ramblings at 3.28 am. May I need to read back an article here by Patricia Wallington. Its a good read..mmg kena baca!