Friday, December 9, 2011
The Importance of Strategic Management
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Friday, December 2, 2011
Strategic Management Formulation: Assessing Company's Internal & External Situation
Monday, November 28, 2011
Words of Wisdom on leadership
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Help
Thursday, November 24, 2011
The Magic of Recurring Revenues - Another Strategic Management Tip
Whether you are just starting out or have had your business for years, every business owner should focus on developing recurring revenue streams. Few things have as much impact across so many elements of your business as this.
Recurring revenues streams are the portions of a company’s total revenue which are stable, very likely to continue and can be counted on with a high degree of certainty.
Predictable revenues produce stability, operational efficiencies and enable you to focus your time and energies on growing your business. Not every business can have one, but if you don’t, you should try really really hard to fix that.
Examples of businesses with recurring revenue streams
Examples of recurring revenues are gym memberships, insurance policies, maintenance and support services, telephone, internet and other services. There are many other types of businesses which not only enjoy this type of revenue but which are actually designed and built on this model.
There is a distinct trend right now, particularly with web based businesses to offer services under a subscription model rather than a traditional one time sale and licensing model. In addition to software services being delivered in this manner, most Managed Services Providers of IT services (MSP’s) are setup on a recurring revenue basis.
Benefits of recurring revenues
• Predictable cash flows
• Loyal repeat customers
• Lower sales costs
• More effective sales processes to develop new customers
• More effective sales processes to grow business with existing customers
• Increased revenues
• Increased profitability
• More effective use of everyone’s time
• Business stability
• Enhanced ability to plan, invest, develop, grow, and manage your business
10 Reasons why Small Businesses Fail
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Monday, November 21, 2011
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Advantages and Disadvantages of technology
Benefits of Strategic Management
The main advantages of strategic management have developed better strategies by aid agencies nor systematic, logical and realistic policy options.
Strategic Management offers the following financial and non financial:
Financial benefits of strategic management
First Study shows organizations, strategic management principles tend to be better rewarded than comparing productively with those who do not.
Second most powerful organizations tend to prepare for the implementation of strategic planning for future deviations in the external and internal environment. Companies with strategic planning have excellent long-term effectiveness in line with its monetary sector.
Non-financial benefits of strategic management
To avoid the first addition to the support of the destruction of corporate money, the strategic management of real additional benefits, including increased understanding of external threats, a better understanding of the strengths of competitors, improve employee productivity decreased resistance to change, and with a clear understanding of performance and rewarding relationships.
Second addition to strengthening management and employees, strategic management is often helpful to bring order and discipline to an organization.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Make a difference in the workplace
• Resist falling into the rut of reacting solely to the needs and demands of senior managers and line staff. Strategic thinkers develop an understanding of what needs to be accomplished by their work teams and strive to influence the way both senior managers and line staff view work priorities.
• Learn to be successful synthesizers of information. Senior managers rely on front-line or middle managers to translate policy directives and priorities from the top into useful and coherent instructions to line staff. Those who are able to successfully implement top-level decisions at the line-staff level are coveted by senior management. Senior staff members also rely on team leaders or managers to give them information about operational issues that they can use to make policies and set priorities. Strategic thinkers use this opportunity to provide information in ways that promote their priorities and the needs of their team members.
• Selectively champion goals and objectives that are important to them. Strategic thinkers identify one or two goals that are truly important and find ways to advocate for them among senior managers and line staff. Senior managers will quickly tire of someone who advocates for a wide variety of goals. However, if front-line and middle managers focus their efforts on a few important issues, senior managers—over time—will be tolerant and even come to expect specific reactions and feedback from them.
Friday, November 11, 2011
S t r a t e g i c M a n a g e m e n t f o r T o u r i s m
However, many of the concepts associated with strategy and strategic management are abstract in nature and can often be difficult for teaching staff, let alone students, to comprehend. It is important that lecturers and students are able to access resources that enable their wider understanding of the subject matter and create opportunities where theory can be effectively applied to practice.
Benchmarking
Thursday, November 10, 2011
The Behaviour Change Process
The Behaviour Change Process consists of four steps:
Non-awareness
This is defined as being unconscious of one’s behaviour that results in ineffectiveness. The process of behaviour change begins because we realise that there must be something wrong somewhere. More importantly, we realise that there must be something that can be done about it
Awareness
Being aware of an ineffective behaviour is a good start. What would be better is to find alternate ways of doing things so that we can be more effective. That’s the whole point of understanding the behaviour change process in the first place.
Internalising
Just like when toddlers begin to take little baby steps, regardless of how many times they stumbled. Just like when a consistent combination of steps became a short walk. Just like brisk walking turned into a run. We kept at it, because let’s face it… it sure beats crawling
Integration
To put it simply, integration means unconciously applying a new behaviour or skill. Let’s take the walking example used previously. I’m sure that you walk without even needing to think about how the process works.
http://www.heritage-tech.net/
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
How to be a strategic thinker
• Pay attention and be ready for the unexpected. One of the potential traps of front-line and middle management is the tendency to become myopic. Learn as much as you can about the entire organization and external and internal conditions that serve as opportunities or threats. Sometimes, circumstances can change very quickly and you want to be the person who is ready to adapt to new conditions.
• Determine how your team's efforts can add value to the organization. Try to look beyond the routine work of your team and determine how the needs and priorities of the organization are changing
• Understand the top priorities and concerns of senior management. Timing is everything when it comes to having a positive impact on the way senior management views your team. Develop an analytic approach to your dealings with top management. Ask yourself what things are important to the organization, what perspectives senior managers have toward organizational priorities, and more specifically, your work team, and which of your priorities or goals have the best chance to be viewed positively at any given moment.
Monday, November 7, 2011
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Step by Step Business Planning Process that Will Work in your Company
- "Our strategic planning process consumes too much time and resources, without commensurate results."
- "Our good ideas don’t seem to go anywhere."
- "We have a strategy, and lots of projects going on, but they don’t seem to be connected."
- "Major change is forcing us to step back and recast our strategic plan."
- "We don’t have a cohesive strategy that managers and employees can get behind."
- "We chronically miss our growth targets."
- "Our strategic plan and actions seem to be disjointed."
- "We are not an innovative company."
- "Our CEO and senior leaders are good operators, but they need to be more strategic."
- "We have a key issue that has been analyzed to death, but we never execute against it."
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Good Safety Behaviour
Don't wait for an accident to happen before you realize that safety trainings are much cheaper and sustainable.
The indicators of Good Safety Behaviour:
- Assertiveness
- Involvement
- Proactiveness
- Visibility
- Knowledge Actions
If your people are the key to your business... invest on them... it will surely pay the price.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Nokia bets on Windows Phone future
Quite a few interesting lessons from Nokia's new strategy:
1) new strategy was developed by the new CEO which links to leadership styles;
2) Nokia seems to be trying to develop a new segment in the market, which is a gamble, but its potential 'billion people';
3) interesting to note how Nokia tries to differentiate from direct competitors with services (think VCA);
4) Nokia's new strategy is based on a strategic alliance. This strategic alliance is particularly interesting because Microsoft does not have its own handsets (in contrast to Apple and Google).
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
The Code
471 is Made in Taiwan .
690 ~ 692 - CHINA
00 ~ 09 USA & CANADA
30 ~ 37 FRANCE
40 ~ 44 GERMANY
49 - JAPAN
50 - UK
The Process of Great Leadership
The road to great leadership (Kouzes & Posner, 1987) that is common to successful leaders:
◦Challenge the process - First, find a process that you believe needs to be improved the most.
◦Inspire a shared vision - Next, share your vision in words that can be understood by your followers.
◦Enable others to act - Give them the tools and methods to solve the problem.
◦Model the way - When the process gets tough, get your hands dirty. A boss tells others what to do, a leader shows that it can be done.
◦Encourage the heart - Share the glory with your followers' hearts, while keeping the pains within your own. (nwlink.com)
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Philex posts record profit
Strategies to Survive the Recession
In a weak economy, diversification may be your business' best friend. The more services you can offer, the more clients you will be able to find.
Outstanding Customer Service
Once you've started attracting customers, you'll have to worry about retaining them, and in a stagnating economy that may be even more difficult. You must provide not only a high quality product, but also exceptional customer service.
Marketing Intensification
One of the biggest mistakes business owners make during periods of economic slowdown is to cut back on marketing and advertising, doing this could be most detrimental to your business. Instead, your marketing needs to be more aggressive and more comprehensive than ever.
Adopt Cutting Edge Technologies
One of the best ways to stay ahead of your competitors is by keeping up with current technology. So if you aren't familiar with customer relation management software or even e-mail marketing, now is the time to do so.
Stay Focused
Nothing will damage your business more than business myopia or short sightedness.. In order to stay successful, you must always keep an eye on your long term goals and objectives.
Seek New Ways to Improve
If you are like most people, you are content with the status quo until something disturbs it. You should be constantly re-evaluating not just your marketing plan, but all of your business strategies including policies, pricing, and employee performance.
based from the article of Collin Almeida
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Father of artificial intelligence dies
McCarthy was a leader in the artificial intelligence field, coining the term in a 1955 research proposal. He said "every aspect of learning or any other feature of intelligence can in principle be so precisely described that a machine can be made to simulate it."
In 1958, McCarthy invented the programming language Lisp, which paved the way for voice recognition technology, including Siri, the personal assistant application on the newest iPhone.
McCarthy also developed the concept of computer time-sharing, which allowed multiple users to interact with a single computer. That lay the foundation for cloud computing today.
7 Ways to Make Meetings More Efficient
However, meetings are not an evil. Meetings are a necessary business tool for exchanging information, solving problems, and reviewing progress. But they must be managed and they must be used effectively.
Here are 7 ways to increase the efficiency and improve the results of meeting time:
1. Is the meeting necessary?
2. Write an agenda.
3. Start and stop on time.
4. Cover important items first.
5. Summarize each conclusion.
6. Assign specific responsibility.
7. Keep notes and circulate minutes.
Monday, October 24, 2011
Concept of Leadership
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Friday, October 21, 2011
A Quote on Leadership
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Strategy is Execution
If our strategy and its execution are both flawed, the effort is "doomed from the beginning." Our chances of success are zero, nil, nada, zilch.
If our strategy is sound but its execution is flawed, we are guilty of muffing it. We have what is commonly known as "a botched job."
An odd situation arises when our strategy is flawed but we execute it flawlessly. In this case, we are doing extremely well something we shouldn’t be doing at all.
Only when our strategy and its execution are sound do we stand a pretty good chance of success. Even then success is not guaranteed.
source: http://www.nickols.us/strategy_is.htm
Strategic Thinking and Management
Change your actions,
Change your results.
How do you keep thinking strategically on a daily basis? It's too easy to get caught up in the day-to-day tasks that must get done and not make time for longer-term strategy. This information provides tips on how to maintain your longer term focus and share that with staff so everyone in the organization understands the part they play in assuring the company's success. Think, Plan, Act differently to get the results you want in work and in life.
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT MODEL
1. Analyze the overall goal and the purpose of the project.
2. Asses the objectives, activities and values of the project.
3. Assess current strengths, successes and achievements. Consider quantitative and qualitative results.
4. Analyze what contributed to them (consider internal/external resources and capabilities).
5. Asses challenges and gaps. Analyze what contributed to each.
6. Adjust your current project plan in order to reflect best practices and a strategy to fill gaps.
7. Develop a generative vision. What is it about this project that inspired and will inspire to implement? How would success look like?
This strategic management model will help you manage and lead at the same time.
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
LPG Charter Rates Going Up
The surge in supply is a consequence of expanding natural gas output and oil refining, which produce LPGs as a byproduct.Demand for LPG is strengthening now because consumers are expanding stockpiles before the Northern Hemisphere’s winter begins.
The process of extracting natural gas destined for liquefaction yields about 5 percent propane and a similar amount of butane or ethane, according to the Paris-based World LP Gas Association. Liquefied natural gas is produced by cooling gas to about minus 260 degrees Fahrenheit. A barrel of crude typically yields about 3 percent LPGs when it is refined, accounting for about 40 percent of global LPG supply.
Monday, October 17, 2011
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Sample of Competitive Strengths
· Long-standing experience in the shipping market. The founders of Hellenic Carriers and their family and affiliates have been involved in shipping since the early 1950's with a history of profitability generated through various shipping cycles from efficient operations and well timed acquisitions.
· Established group with long-term, high-quality customer relationships. Hellenic Carriers has developed an extensive network of long-term business relationships with large, established charterers of dry bulk carriers, such as Bunge S.A., Baumarine AS, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Limited, Oldendorff Carriers GmbH & Co. KG, Armada Bulk Carriers Ltd, Dampskibsselskabet Norden A/S, Swissmarine Services S.A., China National Chartering Corporation, Cosco Bulk Carrier Co. Ltd, Hanjin Shipping Company, Korea Line Corporation and Cargill International SA.
· A modern, high quality fleet of dry bulk vessels.The weighted average age of the operating fleet on 31 December 2010 is 15.2 years. Following the delivery of the two Kamsarmax newbuilding vessels, currently on order, the fleet will comprise of seven dry bulk carriers, namely two Kamsarmaxes, three Panamaxes, one Supramax, and one Handymax with an aggregate carrying capacity of about 467,141dwt and a weighted average age of 12.5 years (as of 31 March 2013). All ships are built to high specifications in established leading shipyards, and are subject to high standards of maintenance.
· High standards of operation. Hellenic Shipmanagement Corp along with Mantinia Shipping Co S.A., to whom technical and operational management is sub-contracted, operate the fleet under a stringent safety management system and have an excellent operating track record.
· Balanced Employment Strategy.The Company implements a balanced chartering strategy fixing the majority of the vessels in medium to long term time charters aiming to secure visible and stable cash flows. By maintaining close ties with market sources, the Company continuously monitors developments in the market with the aim of highlighting and exploiting opportunities.
· An experienced management team with a proven track record. The executive management team of Hellenic Carriers is led by the Chief Executive Officer Fotini Karamanlis, who has over 16 years experience in the shipping industry. Hellenic Carriers believes that the members of its management team are skilled at recognising opportunities for the purchase and sale of vessels and that Hellenic Shipmanagement Corp. along with Mantinia Shipping Co S.A. have the technical, financial and managerial expertise to safely and efficiently manage a big bulk carrier fleet.
Friday, October 14, 2011
Sample Business Strategy of Hellenic Carriers
-Accretive growth through vessel acquisitions. The intention is to grow the fleet managed by Hellenic Shipmanagement through timely and selective acquisitions by its subsidiaries of second-hand, modern, high-quality dry bulk carriers.
-Management of a modern, high quality fleet of dry bulk carriers. Hellenic Shipmanagement will continue to focus on the Handymax, Supramax, Panamax and Kamsarmax dry bulk vessels, as these vessel types carry a wide variety of cargoes and trade over a wider range of routes, thus offering a greater number of chartering opportunities compared to larger vessels.
-Delivery of an outstanding service to customers through highly efficient operations with optimal fleet utilisation.
-Balanced chartering of the vessels managed by Hellenic Shipmanagement in a manner that provides the shipowning companies with stable cash flows. It is intended that the vessels managed by Hellenic Shipmanagement should be employed primarily on time charters with terms of between one and three years that provide relatively stable cash flows and high utilisation rates.
-Attraction and retention of blue-chip customers. Hellenic Shipmanagement has developed a network of business relationships with established, reputable charterers of dry bulk carriers as well as other key counterparties in the shipping industry (for example banks, insurers and brokers).
Business Goal Setting
To have a successful goal, you have to include the following:
1. Be Clear. You have to know exactly what you want.
2. Be Specific. The more specific you are, the less your brain wanders and has to figure out what you really want every time you think of your goal.
3. Set A Date For Completion. When you set a date for completion, then your brain reacts to action, because there is a sense of urgency.
4. Fine Tune Your Goal. After your first draft, go over your goal and ask the following questions:
a Does it make sense to you?
b. Do you believe it?
c. Do you feel you can accomplish it?
d. Does that date seem too long, short, or is it just right?
5. Envision Yourself Already Having Achieved That Goal. When you have your goal defined and fine tuned, then relax in a quiet place, and don't think of anything for two or three minutes.
6. Mix Your Goal With Emotion. You must have an intense desire for your goal to come true.
Source: http://www.atouchofbusiness.com/guides/eliminate-the-chaos-in-your-business/goal-setting-0005.html
Thursday, October 13, 2011
MEDITERRANEAN REGION BALLAST WATER MGT. REGULATION
With effect from January 1, 2012, all ships should exchange ballast water before entering the Mediterranean Sea or after leaving the Mediterranean Sea to meet the regulation D-1 standard of the Ballast Water Convention. Exchange should be carried out at least 200 nautical miles from land and in waters at least 200 metres deep. The sequential, flow through or dilution methods of ballast water exchange are accepted as meeting the D-1 standard.
In situations where this is not possible (because the ship will have to deviate from its intended voyage; because exchange will delay the ship; or for safety reasons) exchange should be undertaken before entering the Mediterranean Sea area, or after leaving the Mediterranean Sea area, as far from the nearest land as possible, and in all cases in waters at least 50 nautical miles from the nearest land and at least 200 metres deep.
Sediments collected during cleaning or repair of ballast tanks should be delivered to sediment reception facilities or be discharged to sea beyond 200 nautical miles from the nearest coastline when the ship is sailing in theMediterranean Sea area.
Source: Lloyd's Register
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Strategic Leadership
Google to buy Motorola Mobility ( Diversification-focus and external growth strategy)
Google to buy Motorola Mobility for $12.5bn
Internet giant Google has announced a deal to buy Motorola Mobility for $12.5bn (£7.7bn). A joint statement said the boards of both companies had unanimously approved the deal, which should be completed by the end of this year, or early in 2012.
Earlier this year, Motorola split into two separate companies. Mobility develops and manufactures mobile phones, while Motorola Solutions covers wider technologies for corporate customers and governments.
Monday, October 10, 2011
Saturday, October 8, 2011
STRATEGIC PLANNING
Strategic Plan and SWOT
Strategic planning is creating a vision of the future and managing toward that expectancy. It's operating under a mission statement umbrella that focuses the organization's effort. Strategic planning answers the three big questions:
- Where are we today?
- Where do we want to be in the future?
- What should we be focused on today, in order to make it more likely we will be where we want to be in the future?
Friday, October 7, 2011
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Do you have 5S?
What's Your Company's Competitive Edge?
Do you know the status of your company in terms of safety performance?
Can you determine whether you are above of below your competitors?
Do you know your company's competitive edge?
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Amazon unveils £130 iPad rival
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
A thought on leadership
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Saturday, October 1, 2011
STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT: The Effective Manager
The effective manager needs to understand and be able to use the latest strategy tools for analyzing industries, and be able to create strategies for sustainable advantage, and understand industry transformations.
Strategic management must include a broad set of strategic management issues, including:
• Industry analysis and the forces that determine industry attractiveness;
• Competitive positioning and the factors determining relative firm performance;
• Industry transformation and strategic sustainability;
• International strategy
Effective Managers must have the ability to develop, evaluate, and implement value-creating strategies for their business. They need to be exposed to the details that forces them to grapple with the real world tradeoffs, not just blackboard theories, and encourages them to work through strategic options.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Marine HR Strategy Development
and retention of competent
employees are key challenges for
any organisation and thereby it has
also become a focus point for most
businesses to improve employee
and organisational competence
development.
people perform and go beyond
expectations in their jobs is when
they have a personal interest or
they clearly see the purpose, believe
in their work and see the higher
meaning of it.
HR Strategy should include the following:
Thought on Managers and Leaders
If you want to get the best performance out of your team, identify who is skilled at accomplishing and driving tasks (managers) and who is skilled at setting vision and motivating people (leaders). Leverage their respective skills to enable your team to find its fullest capability. Assess yourself and determine in which direction you most want to grow. (Businesswiz)
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Friday, September 23, 2011
Benefits of Mergers
- i) technical economies if the firm has significant fixed costs then the new larger firm would have lower average costs
- ii) bulk buying – discount for buying large quantities of raw materials
- iii) financial – better rate of interest for large company
- iv) Organizational – one head office rather than two is more efficient
Note: A vertical merger would have less potential economies of scale than a horizontal merger e.g. a vertical merger could not benefit from technical economies of scale
2. International Competition. Mergers can help firms deal with the threat of multinationals and compete on an international scale
3. Mergers may allow greater investment in R&D This is because the new firm will have more profit. This can lead to a better quality of goods for consumers
4. Greater Efficiency. Redundancies can be merited if they can be employed more efficiently
Evaluation:
The desirability of a merger will depend upon several factors such as:
1. Is there scope for economies of scale
2. Will there be an increase in monopoly power and significant reduction in competition
3. Is the market still contestable (freedom of entry and exit)
source: http://www.economicshelp.org/microessays/competition/benefits-mergers.html
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Sunday, September 18, 2011
HOW TO BE A GREAT MANAGER THROUGH STRONG LEADERSHIP
The management skill of meeting goals is related to the leadership skill of sharing a vision. You as a leader must have a vision for a better future and motivate a group of people toward that vision while following the plans, procedures, and tasks you as a manager created.
As a leader you need to be proactive and creative. As a manager you need to be directive, action-oriented and responsive. You as a leader must get your organization to believe that the work and goals are worthwhile. As a manager, you need to make sure each individual has the skills necessary to achieve those goals. Quite simply, it takes a strong leader to get the group to see the big picture, and a great manager to get the individual to be a part of the big picture. They are different roles, but combined they create an incredible overall management style. (www.masterclassmanagement.com)
Thursday, September 15, 2011
SWOT: The Philippine outsourcing and offshoring industry
Strengths:
1. Strategic location in Asia
2. Infrastructure well developed infrastructure, redundant and cost-effective telecommunications, and centrally located IT parks
3. Highly skilled labor force
4. Ample support from government and industry associations
Weaknesses:
1. Scarcity of labor
2. Commoditization of services non-core processes are easily learned and replicated by others
3. Disorganization of some sectors
4. High cost of power
5. International perception: political instability, red tape/bureaucracy, unclear policies on labor and land ownership
Opportunities:
1. Infrastructure building capacity outside established hubs, or in emerging O & O centers, providing adequate and competent training, refining and enacting policies on data security and intellectual property rights
2. Emerging O & O segments in particular, the knowledge process outsourcing
3. Globalization
Threats:
1. Labor migration and attrition
2. Emerging O & O providers
source: http://www.outsourceit2philippines.com/news-outsource/SWOT-The-Philippine-outsourcing-and-offshoring-industry.htm
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Stress is unavoidable, but it doesn't have to be damaging. When managed correctly, strain can positively impact productivity and performance. Here are three things you can do to make stress work for you:
• Recognize worry for what it is. Stress is a feeling, not a sign of dysfunction. When you start to worry, realize it's an indication that you care about something, not a cause
for panic.
• Focus on what you can control. Too many people feel bad about things they simply can't change. Remember what you can affect and what you can't.
• Create a supportive network. Knowing you have somebody to turn to can help a lot. Build relationships so that you have people to rely on in times of stress.
From "Turning Stress into an Asset" by Amy Gallo.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Manila Amendments to STCW
It is widely known that IMO held a Diplomatic Conference in Manila, Philippines, earlier last year 2010 to discuss amendments to STCW. What most people fail to identify is the extent of revisions and the implementation realities behind that.
STCW Manila Amendments
On June 25th, 2010, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and other major stakeholders in the global shipping and manning industry formally ratified the so-called "Manila Amendments" to the current Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) and its associated Code. The amendments aim to bring the STCW up to date with developments since its conception and initial adoption in 1978, and the subsequent amendments in 1995.
Entry Into Force
The Convention amendments will be adopted with a tacit acceptance procedure which has been agreed indicating that amendments will be accepted by 1st July 2011 UNLESS more than 50% of the parties to the STCW object such a development. As a result STCW Amendments are set to enter into force on January 1, 2012.
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Mobile technology gains in supply chain and logistics sectors
With tablet computers and handheld devices maintaining their tight grip on the business world, it just makes sense that the logistics sector would continue its forward momentum toward a time when wires are a thing of the past.
Long talked about in supply chain circles, goals like “real time” and “visibility” are already coming to fruition for tech-savvy shippers that integrate wireless, RFID, and other mobile technologies into their operations.
Over the next few pages we’ll take a look at just how much traction mobile technologies have gained in today’s supply chain, discuss the benefits of RFID and wireless integrations, and highlight what barriers to adoption still remain. We’ll also illustrate just how close we are to real-time supply chain management and logistics visibility—and how far we have to go before we get there.
“One supply chain executive told me that by the time he goes through the six-month purchase approval process at his firm for wireless technology, three generations of smart phones have come and gone,” says Ellis.
IDC reports that mobile applications and devices are penetrating the sales and marketing organization at a “staggering pace,” and expects total worldwide smartphone shipments to reach 925.7 million units by 2015 (compared to 450 million in 2011). Computer tablets like the iPad, Motorola XOOM, and Samsung Galaxy Tab are also growing in popularity, and are on pace to reach shipments of roughly 50 million units in 2011 (up 18 million units in 2010).
Expect to see at least a portion of those mobile devices in the warehouse, where more shippers are gravitating toward wireless environments. In those logistics environments, Zimmerman says requirements for specific key sizes—and the ability to withstand multiple, 6-foot drops to a concrete floor—have given way to durable devices that share the operating systems, processors, communications, batteries, and even peripheralization with their more ruggedized brethren.
Not all shippers are reaping the rewards of these wireless advancements, although many are looking to upgrade and begin seeing those benefits. “A lot of [shippers] in the warehouse and distribution sector still have a lot of the old technology installed,” Zimmerman says, “and are looking to integrate the value and cost advantages of an 802.11n solution.”
That movement is also being driven by the fact that wireless handset providers like Motorola are rolling out 802.11n-capable devices. “That’s sending a signal to the industry that now is the time to upgrade wireless infrastructures to support those handhelds,” says Zimmerman, “and tap into the value that they provide.”
Part of the growth in wireless will come from the handheld market, where durable devices are gaining popularity among shippers that increasingly want to handle their warehouse and transportation operations without the hassle of wires. “The cost profiles and functionality of handheld devices is making their adoption more advantageous for companies,” says Zimmerman, who points out that improved Wi-Fi networks, Wi-Fi hot spots, and better cellular capabilities are all playing a role in the evolution.
AAPA to focus on Asia Pacific trade lanes
While the AAPA meeting is always stimulating and informative, this year’s event at the Port of Seattle should be especially engaging. Given that it’s being staged on the West Coast alone is sufficient reason to attend, for industry analysts agree that the dynamism and complexity of the Asia Pacific transport and logistics market offers the best prospects for growth and returns.
Of special note, convention attendees will have the opportunity to hear about the important economic role of ports from Washington. State Governor Chris Gregoire will give the opening day keynote address, sharing his perspective on the global economy. Then shippers will learn of trade trends from Microsoft Corporation General Counsel and Senior Vice President Brad Smith. Later in the week, the program will feature BNSF Chairman and CEO Matt Rose, who will speak on the value of, and challenges to, the global supply chain network.
The convention will conclude with a members-only annual meeting and installation of new officers for the Association’s upcoming fiscal year, including appointment of Virginia Port Authority Executive Director Jerry Bridges as chairman of the board for AAPA’s centennial year, 2011-2012.
Guess is that ports in the gulf and eastern seaboard will be keen on collecting market intelligence on Asia sourcing strategies that include using “all water” routes by 2014.
How to Get the Boring Tasks Done
Do it mindfully. When you sort papers, do the laundry or do the dishes be fully there. Focus 100% on just the fork with all your senses – how it feels, looks and smells – as you are scrubbing it and nothing else. Don’t get lost in daydreams. If you are just there I have found that even such a simple and mundane task becomes more enjoyable and something that can bring inner calm rather than distress.
Don’t think too much. Get going instead. The more you think about the boring task the more boring it seems in your mind. And so it becomes harder and harder to get started and to get to done. So try to think very little about it. Just make a decision to start doing the task, get up and go do it right away.
Make a deal with yourself and set a timer for 10 minutes. It is often in easier to do tasks like these in small bursts. So make a deal with yourself to make a dent in this task. Make a deal to just spend 10 minutes on your inbox, mundane reading or cleaning the house. Set a kitchen timer and say to yourself that you only have to do this work for 10 minutes. When the timer rings you can continue doing it if you feel like it (this often happens to me because getting started is the hard part). Or you can stop and go do something more interesting instead.
Create a pleasurable distraction. If possible, try to listen to the radio, your favorite songs, an audio book or watch a movie or TV-episode while doing your boring task. You don’t always have to do just one thing at a time in silence. I often listen to music or watch an episode of the Simpsons while doing the dishes or other routine work at home.
Reward yourself. When you are done with your task then reward yourself. Take a walk in the sun, move on to a more fun or creative task at work or in school or have a tasty treat. This habit can make it easier to get started and to keep going each day. Because you know that you can look forward to not just being done and the long-term payoff from that but also your immediate reward right after you are finished.
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Maggots
Friday, August 19, 2011
The International Chamber of Shipping has compiled a useful reference document collating the policy and rules of Flag States on the carriage of arms and private armed guards on board vessels.
The document, providing tabulated information on Flag States' rules, has been added to the ICS website and is proving to be a popular reference tool for shipowners and other interested parties within the shipping community.
Kiran Khosla, ICS Director of Legal Affairs and secretary of the ICS' maritime law and insurance committee, says:
"When the information is compiled together like this it is interesting to see the similarities
and variations in approach throughout the international community. Piracy remains a major source of concern among shipowners and the wider shipping industry and we are not surprised that members are keen to ensure they are up to speed with the latest recommendation and advice. The consensus view among ICS national shipowner associations remains that private armed guards are a clear second best to military personnel. However, in view of the current crisis, ICS has had to acknowledge that the decision to engage armed guards, whether military or private, is the decisionto be made by the ship operatorafter due consideration of all the risks and subject to the approval of the vessel's Flag State and insurer."
source: www.worldmaritimenews.com/archives/27970
Thursday, August 18, 2011
USA: BAEs Shipyard to Build Twin Screw Trailing Suction Hopper Dredger
BAE Systems Southeast Shipyards announced its first contract to build a new ship from scratch at its Mobile River facility.
Weeks Marine Inc. hired BAE to build a 356-foot-long, 79-foot-wide dredging vessel for use in the U.S., according to BAE. The twin screw trailing suction hopper will have a capacity of 8,500 cubic yards.
The contract is worth $85 million, according to BAE.
BAE officials said they will immediately begin engineering work and buying materials. The first steel for the ship will be cut in early 2012, and it will be delivered in January 2014.
The work will require the shipyard to add about 150 employees to its 800-person workforce during the life of the contract, according to Vic Rhoades, the general manager of BAE’s Mobile operation.