LIST OF
COMPETENCIES
Competency
Number
Unit of Competency
Module Title
Code
1
Participate in
workplace
communication
Participating in
workplace
communication
400311210
2
Work in team
environment
Working in team
environment
400311211
Solve/address
general
workplace
problems
Solving/
addressing
generalworkplace
problems
400311212
3
4
Develop career and
life decisions
Developing
careerand life
decisions
400311213
5
Contribute workplace
innovation
Contributing
workplace
innovation
400311214
6
Present relevant
information
Presenting
relevantinformation
400311215
7
Practice
occupationalsafety
and health policies
and procedures
Practicing
occupational
safety and health
policiesand
procedures
8
9
Exercise efficient
andeffective
sustainable
practices in the
workplace
Practice
entrepreneurial
skills in the
workplace
400311216
Exercising efficient
and effective
sustainable
practices in the
workplace
400311217
Practicing
entrepreneurial
skills in the
workplace
400311218
HOW TO USE THIS COMPETENCY BASED LEARNING MATERIAL
Welcome to the module; PRACTICING ENTREPRENEURIAL
SKILLS IN THE WORKPLACE. This module contains training
materials and activities for you to complete.
The unit of competency PRACTICE ENTREPRENEURIAL SKILLS
IN THE WORKPLACE contains the knowledge, skills, attitudes required
for a DESSMAKING NC II.
You are required to go through a series of learning activities in
order to complete each learning outcomes of the module. In each
learning outcome, are Learning Experiences, Information Sheets, SelfChecks, Answer Key, Task Sheet, Operation Sheet, Job Sheets and
Reference Materials for further reading to help you better understand the
required activities. Follow these activities on your own. Answer the selfcheck at the end of each learning outcome. If you have questions,
please don’t hesitateto ask your facilitator for assistance.
The goal of this training is the development of practical skills. To gain
these skills, you must learn basic components and terminology. For the
most part, you’ll get this information from the Information Sheets.
This module was prepared to help you achieve the required
competency in PRACTICE ENTREPRENEURIAL SKILLS IN THE
WORKPLACE. This will be the source of information to acquire knowledge
and skills in this particular competency independently and at your own pace
with minimum supervision or help from your instructor.
Remember to:
Work through all the information and complete the activities in each
section.
Read information sheets and complete the self-check. Suggested
references are included to supplement the materials provided in this
module.
Most probably your trainer will also be your supervisor or manager.
He/she is there to support you and show you the correct way to do the
things.
Your trainer will tell you about the important things you need to
consider when you are completing activities and it’s important that you
listen and take notes.
You will be given plenty of opportunity to ask questions and practice
on the job. Make sure you practice your new skills during regular work
shifts. This way you will improve your speed and memory and also your
confidence.
Talk to more experience workmates and ask for their guidance.
Use the self-check questions at the end of each section to test
yourown progress.
When you have completed this module and you feel confident that
you have had sufficient practice, ask your Trainer to evaluate you. The
result of your assessment will be recorded in your Progress Chart and
Accomplishment Chart and also to your Trainees’ Record Book.
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
You may have some of the knowledge and skills
learner’s guide because you have:
covered in this
- Been working for some time.
- Already completed training in this area
If you can demonstrate to your trainer that you are competent in a
particular skill, you don’t have to do this same thing again.
If you have qualification or Certificate of Competence from previous
training, show it to your trainer. If the skills you acquired are still relevant
to the module, they may become part of the evidence you can present for
RPL.
MODULE CONTENT
Qualification
:
Unit of Competency
:
Practice Entrepreneurial
Workplace
Module Title
:
Practicing Entrepreneurial
Workplace
Module Description
: This module covers the outcome required to
apply entrepreneurial
workplace
best
practices
and
implement
cost-effective
operations.
Nominal Duration
:
Learning Outcomes
:
Skills
Skills
in
the
in
the
4 hours
At the end of this module you MUST be able to:
1. Apply entrepreneurial workplace best practices
2. Communicate entrepreneurial workplace best practices
3. Implement cost-effective operations
Assessment Criteria:
 Good practices relating to workplace operations are observed
andselected following workplace policy.
 Quality procedures ad practices are complied with according
to workplace requirements.
 Cost-conscious habits in resource utilization are applied based
onindustry standards.
 Observe good practices relating to workplace operations
arecommunicated to appropriate person.
 Observed quality procedures and practices are communicated
toappropriate person.
 Cost-conscious habits in resource utilization are communicated
based on industry standards.
 Preservation and optimization of workplace resources is
implemented in accordance with enterprise policy.
 Judicious use of workplace tools, equipment and materials
areobserved according to manual and work requirements.
 Constructive contributions to office operations are made
accordingto enterprise requirements.
 Ability to work within one’s allotted time and finances is
sustained.
LEARNING OUTCOME
SUMMARY
LEARNING OUTCOME #1
Apply entrepreneurial
workplacebest practices
CONTENTS:
 Workplace best practices policies and criteria
 Resource utilization
 Ways in fostering entrepreneurial attitudes:
PERFORMANCE CRITERIA:
1. Good practices relating to workplace operations are observed
andselected following workplace policy.
2. Quality procedures and practices are complied with according
toworkplace requirements.
3. Cost-conscious habits in resource utilization are applied based
onindustry standards.
CONDITIONS:
The following resources should be provided to trainees:
- Workplace
- CBLM
- Manuals and references
ASSESSMENT METHOD:
 Written/Oral Examination
LEARNING OUTCOME
SUMMARY
LEARNING OUTCOME #2
Communicate entrepreneurial
workplace best practices
CONTENTS:
 Communication skills
 Complying with quality procedures
 Following workplace communication protocol
PERFORMANCE CRITERIA:
1. Observe good practices relating to workplace operations are
communicated to appropriate person.
2. Observed quality procedures and practices are communicated
to appropriate person.
3. Cost-conscious habits in resource utilization are
communicatedbased on industry standards.
CONDITIONS:
The following resources should be provided to trainees:
- Simulated to actual workplace
- CBLM
- References and manuals
ASSESSMENT METHOD:
 Written/Oral Examination
 Observation with Oral questioning
LEARNING OUTCOME
SUMMARY
LEARNING OUTCOME #3
Implement cost-effective
operations
CONTENTS:
 Optimization of workplace resources
 5S procedures
 Criteria for cost-effectiveness
 Workplace productivity
 Impact entrepreneurial mindset to workplace productivity
PERFORMANCE CRITERIA:
1. Preservation and optimization of workplace resources is
implemented in accordance with enterprise policy.
2. Judicious use of workplace tools, equipment and materials
areobserved according to manual and work requirements.
3. Constructive contributions to office operations are
madeaccording to enterprise requirements.
4. Ability to work within one’s allotted time and finances is
sustained.
CONDITIONS:
Trainees must be provided with the following:
 Simulated to actual workplace
 References and manuals
 Module
ASSESSMENT METHOD:
 Written/Oral Examination
 Observation with Oral questioning
LEARNING EXPERIENCES
Learning Outcome # 1 Apply entrepreneurial workplace best practices
Learning Activities
Special Instructions
Read Information Sheet 9.1-1 on
Answer Self-Check 9.1-1 and
Workplace best practices policies and compare your answer to Answer
criteria
Key9.1-1
Read Information Sheet 9.12Resource utilization
Answer Self-Check 9.1-2 and
compare your answer to Answer
Key9.1-2
Read Information Sheet 9.1-3 on
Ways in fostering entrepreneurial
attitudes: Patience, Honesty,
Quality consciousness, Safety
consciousness,Resourcefulness
Answer Self-Check 9.1-3 and
compare your answer to Answer
Key9.1-3
INFORMATION SHEET 9.1-1
Apply Entrepreneurial Workplace Best Practices
Learning Objective:
After reading this information sheet, you should be
able to apply entrepreneurial workplace
bestpractices.
INTRODUCTION
A happy workplace is a huge asset. In such places, something
happens that transcends policies and practices. It isn’t what the
companies are doing; it is how their leaders are doing it. Best workplace
practices include the day to day relationships that the employees
experience, and nota checklist of policies, programs and benefits.
Workplace best practices:
1. Provide Clear Expectations
People get frustrated and demotivated when they don’t know
exactly what is expected of them. Encourage your team to ask
questions. Ensure the communication is clear, specific and without
any doubts.
2. Give People The Opportunity To Use Their Skills
Frustration and boredom are counterproductive so you need to
align jobs with people with the right skills. Uncover the special skills
people could be using, and experiment with projects and roles to get the
alignment right. You need to recognize talent and use it. If a person is
recruited for a role and then not given the opportunity to use their skills,
they will not deliver their best work and may leave.
3. Support Your Team
There are many workplaces where managers don’t care about their
people and make no effort to show interest. This is bad word of
mouth. One should know about their staff: what is happening in their lives,
what motivates them, and offering assistance when they are overloaded.
4. Encourage People To Contribute Ideas And Get Involved In
Decisions
Involving people, asking their opinions and listening to their advice
and feedback makes a huge difference to them and will provide an
environment that is open to innovation and improvements.
5. Encourage Feedback and Recognition
Managers are leaders without the title, so being open to
feedback, and giving positive and constructive feedback is a great way
to establish an honest open feedback culture. Encourage day-today feedback discussions and the establishment of recognition
systems.
6. Do people have fun at work?
Everyone needs a downtime from work. This could be a casual
day, afternoon break with a difference like culturally focused food,
trivia competitions, team outing, etc. You need to find a way to build
this in as a regular part of your workplace.
7. Encourage learning and development
You need to promote learning, and opportunities to develop new
skills. People need to know there is the time to do it, and a positive
emphasis on gaining new skills and learning from mistakes. Learning is
about developing new skills and improving the ones you have. Give
people the opportunity to continuously grow, learn, explore, innovate and
you will have the best team ever!
8. Create a great workplace from an employee’s view.
A great



workplace is one where they:
Trust the people they work for.
Have pride in what they do.
Enjoy the people they work with.
Trust is the defining principle of great workplaces — created
through management’s credibility, the respect with which employees
feel they are treated, and the extent to which employees expect to be
treated fairly. The degree of pride and levels of authentic connection
and camaraderie employees feel with one are additional essential
components.
SELF CHECK 9.1-1
Enumerate your answer to the question below. Write it in your quiz
notebook.
1. What are the workplace best practices?
2. How can you create a great workplace?
Key to Answer 9.1-1
1. Workplace best practices:
- Provide clear expectations
- Give people the opportunity to use their skills
- Support your team
- Encourage people to contribute ideas and get involved in
decisions
- Encourage feedback and recognition
- Do people have fun at work?
- Encourage learning and development
- Create a great workplace from an employee’s view
2. Create a great workplace from an employee’s view by:
- Trust the people they work for.
- Have pride in what they do.
- Enjoy the people they work with.
INFORMATION SHEET 9.1-2
Resource Utilization
Learning Objective:
After reading this information sheet, you should be
able to utilize the resources with less wastage.
INTRODUCTION
Resource utilization can be a difficult objective, but it shouldn’t give
project leaders nightmares as they watch in horror as their projects veer offtrack, and their portfolios fail to generate return of investment (ROI).
What is Resource Utilization?
Resource utilization is a metric that shows on how much you’re
your team members spend on various tasks. While there are multiple
ways to measure resource utilization, the simplest and most common
method is by taking the actual number of hours worked by a resource,
and dividing it by the total number of hours that the resource could have
worked. It refers to the process of planning the project and making the
most of the available resources in the company.
Lower-than-expected resource utilization often indicates that the
project is over-staffed, or that incomplete tasks are blocking other scheduled
tasks. If any of these tasks fall along the critical path, then deadlines will be
missed, deliverables will be delayed, and costs will rise.
Higher-than-expected resource utilization might not be good news,
either. Instead of indicating that resources are being more efficient and
productive, it could mean that the project is under-staffed — or might
even be in crisis.
Obviously, the goal is to optimize resource utilization. Granted, this
is easier said than done; especially on complex, multi-faceted
projects. However, it’s certainly not a case of dreaming the impossible
dream.
To that end, here are Five Best Practices for Resource Utilization:
1. Start by Creating a Global Pool of Resources
Before allocating individual resources to specific projects, it’s
wise to take a step back and create a global inventory pool that is
comprised of resources that are currently needed, and of the
anticipated resources that will be required for projects coming down
the pipeline. This inventory helps project leaders know whether it
is
necessary to dial-up recruitment efforts, as well as determine resource
constraints that could (and probably will) impact project deadlines
and delivery dates.
2. Leverage Full Visibility to Allocate Resources
Once a global inventory pool has been created, project leaders
should leverage visibility to allocate resources based on availability
and need. This visibility is driven by project management software,
and is characterized by the ability to look across the entire project
pool, quickly determine overall capacity, and compare current load
with future demand.
3. Create a Detailed Project Plan
New project managers — as well as non-project managers who
have had the glory of project management thrust upon them — may
think that this best practice should be at the top of this list. After all,
shouldn’t project building start with the plan? The short answer is
no,it shouldn’t — although it often does.
The simplest, smartest, and most successful approach is (as
described above) to create an inventory of resources, and then
assign individual resources to specific projects as required. From
there, the project manager (sometimes with support from the resource
manager) has the inputs required — i.e. people — to build a detailed
and above- all-else realistic project plan. Indeed, it frankly doesn’t
matter how intricate a project plan is, and whether the work
breakdown structure is beautiful to behold. If the plan isn’t realistic
because it’s not aligned with available resources, then it is doomed
to fail before it starts.
4. Inform and Schedule Resources
All project leaders know that they need to tell resources that
their services are required, and schedule them accordingly for tasks.
However, what makes this process time consuming and errorriddled is when it must be done manually through emails,
sending spreadsheets back-and-forth, and so on. Granted, on very
small and simple projects this isn’t too much of a burden. But on
larger and more complex projects — which is the norm in
enterprise environments — trying to get on-site and remote
resources in the loop can be an exercise in frustration; and often,
futility as well.
Using powerful (but easy to use) cloud-based project
management software to assign individual resources to specific
work items is essential here, as it turns an uphill and unwelcome
challenge into a smooth, streamlined and largely automated
process.
5. Monitor Under-Loading and Over-Loading
As noted above, resource imbalances in either direction are a
major — and in some cases, catastrophic — project threat. To
mitigate this risk, project leaders need to regularly monitor load
and availability for all resources, and perform real-time balancing
that automatically updates schedules and budgets, and informs and
re-schedules resources as required.
SELF CHECK 9.1-2
Answer the following questions briefly.
1. What is resource utilization?
2. What are the five best practices for resource utilization?
3. What is ROI?
KEY TO ANSWER 9.1-2
1. Resource utilization is a metric that shows on how much you’re
yourteam members spend on various tasks.
2. Five
-
best practices for resource utilization:
Start by Creating a Global Pool of Resources
Leverage Full Visibility to Allocate Resources
Create a Detailed Project Plan
Inform and Schedule Resources
Monitor Under-Loading and Over-Loading
3. Return of investment
INFORMATION SHEET 9.1-3
Ways in Fostering Entrepreneurial Attitude
Learning Objective:
After reading this information sheet, you should be
able to identify the ways in fostering
entrepreneurialattitude
INTRODUCTION
Entrepreneurship is an attitude; it represents how you think and
act. It's not just a business term anymore; for more and more people,
entrepreneurship is a way of life.
Ways in Fostering Entrepreneurial Attitude:
Patience
Fostering the virtue of patience in our organization
make us better people for our business and customers.
Being patient means we treat other people with high
regard, and they will respond with loyalty and admiration
to our brand.
Honesty
Making realistic judgment about the course which the
company is taking can be very difficult, especially for
entrepreneurs who don’t
have
a
co-founder.
Entrepreneurs must be honest with themselves about
everything that is happening in their company. It is
important to judge realistically every aspect of the
business
–
from
finances
through
product
development to customer relationships.
Quality
Consciousness
Implies awareness of yourself and the environment
around you (including what constitutes quality and high
performance for people, processes and products –
most importantly, YOU). It also suggests that you
must achieve alignment of your consciousness with
the consciousness of the organization, which will aid in
full activity and engagement of the senses. Your
attention must be selectively focused onto what you
can accomplish in the present moment according to
that alignment (which implies that you are able to
effectively filter the rapid and voluminous streams of
information
coming at you).
Safety
Consciousness
must be comprehensive.
It must reach every
operation, it must be evident at all meetings; and, most
of all, and it must be so instilled that all personnel in
supervisory positions will set good examples in
safety to the personnel under them. Setting a good
example is a potent factor in reducing accidents and
is proof of the safety consciousness of the supervisor.
Resourcefulness is a mindset, and is especially relevant when the
goals you have set are difficult to achieve or you cannot
envision a clear path to get to where you desire to go.
With a resourcefulness mindset you are driven to find a
way. An attitude of resourcefulness inspires out-of-thebox thinking, the generation of new ideas, and the
ability to visualize all the possible ways to achieve what
you desire. Resourcefulness turns you into a
scrappy, inventive and enterprising entrepreneur. It
places you a
cut above the rest.
SELF-CHECK 9.1-3
Modified True or False. Write TRUE if the statement is correct, if otherwise,
underline the word/s that make the statement incorrect and write the
correct answer.
1. Fostering the virtue of honesty in our organization
make us better people for our business and
customers.
2. Entrepreneurs must be honest with themselves
abouteverything that is happening in their company.
3. Implies awareness of yourself and the environment
around you (including what constitutes quality and
high performance for people, processes and products
– most importantly, YOU).
4. Setting a good example is a potent factor in reducing
accidents and is proof of the safety consciousness
of the supervisor.
5. Patience is a mindset, and is especially relevant
when the goals you have set are difficult to achieve or
you cannot envision a clear path to get to where you
desire
to go
ANSWER KEY 9.1-3
1. Honesty – PATIENCE
2. TRUE
3. TRUE
4. TRUE
5. Patience – RESOURCEFULNESS
LEARNING EXPERIENCES
Learning Outcome # 2 Communicate Entrepreneurial Workplace Best
Practices
Learning Activities
Read Information Sheet 9.2-1
onCommunication Skills in the
Workplace
Read Information Sheet 9.2-2
Complying with Quality
Procedures
Read Information Sheet 9.2-3 on
Following Workplace Communication
Protocol
Special Instructions
Answer Self-Check 9.2-1 and
compare your answer to Answer
Key9.2-1
Answer Self-Check 9.2-2 and
compare your answer to Answer
Key9.2-2
Answer Self-Check 9.1-3 and
compare your answer to Answer
Key9.2-3
INFORMATION SHEET 9.2-1
Communication Skills in the Workplace
Learning Objectives: After reading this information sheet, you will be
able to communicate entrepreneurial workplace
best practices.
INTRODUCTION
Communication skill is a way to make interaction between people.
Entrepreneurs always try to improve their communication skills because it
will assist them in sharing their ideas and presenting them clearly and to
constantly work in a better way with their staff, team members, clients and
colleagues.
The basic steps of communication are:
1. The forming of communicative intent to make a healthy relationship.
2. Message composition to make a healthy dialogue between
twoparticipants.
3. Message encoding to hide your personal or confidential thoughts
in amessage.
4. Transmit encoded messages in a sequence of signals using
specific channels.
5. Checking reception of signals to ensure that they are
active in communication.
6. Reconstruction of the original message and acknowledge
on aparticular chat.
7. Interpretation of previous messages and making a
sensible reconstruction.
Presentation Skills for Entrepreneurs
Presentation skill is a way to represent your idea through pictures,
but it needs excellent communication skills too. Effective presentation can
help your business in growth. Once you explain everything digitally in a
conference hall, everyone likes your product.
A few steps which you should follow for convincing your target audiences
are as follows:
1. Before proceeding to the presentation, you should clear your
objective in advance. During a presentation, you can try to focus to
a specific topic, so the users are impressed with it and understand
your key motive and take a decision.
2. Practice your point of view in advance, so that you can be prepared
forthe target audience at the time of the presentation. It is a big
challenge to impress everyone, but when you know the people, then
you can give presentation as per their guidelines.
3. Self-confidence is the key to getting success; it means you must
know your positive points and limitations so that while presenting,
you should use your qualities and try to hide your weaknesses, so
they don’t affect your presentation.
SELF-CHECK 9.2-1
Answer the following questions.
1. What is communication skill?
2. What are the basic steps in communication?
3. What is presentation skill?
ANSWER KEY 9.2-1
1. Communication skill is a way to make interaction between people.
2. Basic steps in communication:
 The forming of communicative intent to make a healthy
relationship.
 Message composition to make a healthy dialogue between two
participants.
 Message encoding to hide your personal or confidential
thoughts in a message.
 Transmit encoded messages in a sequence of signals using
specific channels.
 Checking reception of signals to ensure that they are active
incommunication.
 Reconstruction of the original message and acknowledge
on aparticular chat.
 Interpretation of previous messages and making a sensible
reconstruction.
3. Presentation skill is a way to represent your idea through
pictures,but it needs excellent communication skills too.
INFORMATION 9.2-2
Complying with Quality Procedures
Learning Objectives: After reading this information sheet, you will be
able to comply with quality procedures.
INTRODUCTION
In its business sense, “compliance” refers to a company meeting its
legal obligations, often to protect the health, safety and welfare of others.
Complying with quality standards is no easy task, even with enough
resources available to manage them. Unfortunately, today’s difficult
business climate has not changed the tough quality standard
requirements. These requirements take a significant amount of time and
resources to manage.
The good news is that successfully managing an organization’s quality
management system with scarce resources is possible when armed with the
right tools. Following are steps to help guide you in the quest achieving
compliance to quality standards.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Define the Real Requirements. For each business process define
what is really needed (specific outputs and targets) to hit the
objective of the process. Focus on what it will take to drive high
customer satisfaction and build this into your process. This includes
minimizing the number of steps required to get the targeted process
successfully completed.
Discover ways to more easily meet quality management compliance.
Keep it Simple. Keep business processes as simple as possible.
Critically evaluate your processes. Remove unnecessary
meetings, consolidate approval steps, minimize the number of
approvers – focus on what the process is trying to achieve.
Document Everything. Document the business process and
have stakeholders review and approve each step. This ensures
expectations are set and that all are on the same page. It is easy
to refer back to a written document as opposed to trying to
remember what was verbally agreed upon.
Check for Understanding. Ensure that each process is
understood by all participants. This is the key to achieving quality
results. If the process is documented, expectations are set, and all
stakeholders have agreed upon its content, there is only this step
left. This is where clear, detailed work instructions and training will
be paramount to success.
BCAT
QA
SYSTEM
Learning Guide
Development Procedures
Document No.: STP-ISS-08-04-10-002
Issued by: BCAT
Date:
Revision No.:
P a g e | 98
Define Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s). Critically examine
what each process is trying to achieve, the required inputs and the
expected results. Document the drivers so as you examine the
measures later you can determine how to affect change.
7. Measure Results. Measure consistently the KPI’s for each
business process. Understanding the results of a process in a
timely manner allows for corrections to be made along. This
ultimately results in process optimization.
8. Assign Accountability. Hold process owners accountable
through goals and periodic, consistent review of the KPI’s. The
process owner will be much more motivated to ensure success if
they are being evaluated and ultimately compensated based on
the success of their work.
9. Simplify then Automate. Automate the high volume, high
complexity business processes with software and other
appropriate tools. Complexity generally leads to errors. So, be
sure to simplify before automating a process. The return on
investment for this effort is usually high as workers will become
more effective as they are able to focus on higher value-added
activities.
10. Leverage the Team. Spread work around by involving process
owners and let those owners lead their individual processes. One
of the ways to create leverage is to diversify, with people and
automated tools, so not too much of any given process is
dependent on few individuals. The more involved with less to do,
results in easy adoption and overall acceptance quicker.
11. Evaluate Improvement Opportunities. Develop a process to
routinely evaluate applicable quality standards to look for changes
and identify opportunities for improvement. Understanding and
acting appropriately on trends allows organizations to stay at the
forefront of innovation. Continuous improvement results in
optimization of the organization.
6.
In conclusion, an organization’s chance of achieving or surpassing
their objectives is higher with a proper plan for software rollout. Beware
of the pitfalls. These pitfalls are not new. Embracing lessons-learned from
experienced team members or other organizations is critical to minimizing
failures. Be honest about your resource needs, particularly team member
availability. Regular monitoring of your objectives versus actual performance
will ensure you get the most out of your investment
SELF-CHECK 9.2-2
1. Enumerate the steps in achieving compliance to quality standards.
‘
BCAT
QA
SYSTEM
Learning Guide
Development Procedures
Document No.: STP-ISS-08-04-10-002
Issued by: BCAT
Date:
Revision No.:
P a g e | 98
ANSWER KEY 9.2-2
1. Steps in achieving compliance to quality standards:
 Define the Real Requirements.
 Discover ways to more easily meet quality
managementcompliance
 Keep it Simple.
 Document Everything.
 Check for Understanding.
 Define Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s).
 Measure Results
 Assign Accountability
 Simplify then Automate
 Leverage the Team.
 Evaluate Improvement Opportunities.
INFORMATION SHEET 9.2-3
Following Workplace Communication Protocol
Learning Objectives: After reading this information sheet, you will be
able to follow the workplace communication
protocol.
INTRODUCTION
Companies need to minimize communication gaps, build alignment
with all levels of leadership, and ensure that employees receive
consistent messages.
The Communication Protocol outlines the types of information to
be communicated to the organization, as well as identifying the person(s)
responsible for communicating particular topics. In addition, the audience,
frequency, and suggested communication vehicles are also outlined.
Prominently displayed in all common areas such as lobby’s and
conferences, and distributed to all new hires, the Protocol ensures that
communications will align with the company’s key strategic priorities.
As importantly, the Protocol represents a set of company commitments to
employees:



Leaders will be held accountable for fulfilling their communication
responsibilities and assessed on the effectiveness and timeliness of
their communication.
Employees will receive regular updates about the progress,
initiatives, and changes that affect them.
And (most importantly for this step of the engagement process),
each communication
milestone
provides
opportunities
for
employees to ask questions, contribute ideas, and give or receive
feedback.
In turn, the expectations for employees are clear. All employees are
responsible to share information and give feedback to help the company
reach its goals, thereby reinforcing the desire for employees to communicate
“up” and bolstering the mutual commitment shared by employer and
employee.
A Communication Protocol will reinforce that one’s culture needs to
beone of mutual commitment and high performance. All new hires should
receive a copy of the Protocol, demonstrating the company’s promise to
communicate on day one.
There are several benefits to implementing a communication protocol.
A communication protocol does all the following:








Defines communication expectations for both employees
and leaders.
Builds consistency in communicating the firm’s mission, vision,
values, and strategy.
Creates alignment with employees at all levels.
Builds in circular communication. Circular communication
includes communication between those in a traditional hierarchy,
such as the boss and subordinate, as well as communication
between business units and departments and communication
that leverages task teams and focus groups. In a healthy circular
communication culture, you’re also including 360 feedback
assessments, customer feedback, and feedback within the
matrix relationship.
Ensures shared accountability, from top to bottom.
Helps ensure that messages are communicated 13 times, which
is the number of times some experts believe an employee needs
to hear something to absorb it.
Helps to leverage different communication venues and tools —
for example, town hall meetings, e-mails, vlogs (video blogs),
department meetings, and so on. (You can find out more about
these venues and tools later in this chapter.)
Helps connect all levels of your organization with your brand.
To build a communication protocol, you need a cross-sectional
team of executives (preferably including the “top dog”) along with a crosssectional group of key influencers, or connectors. The first thing this
team should do is assemble a draft of the communication protocol. (This
will take the group anywhere from two to eight hours.)
With a finalized protocol in hand, the team’s next move is to build a
plan to roll out the protocol. This rollout should involve significant fanfare
togenerate excitement.
SELF-CHECK 9.2-3
True or False. Write TRUE if the statement is correct and FALSE if the
statement in incorrect.
1. Defines communication expectations for both
employeesand leaders.
2. Builds consistency in communicating the firm’s
mission,vision, values, and strategy.
3. Creates alignment with employees at all levels.
4. Builds
in
circular
communication.
Circular
communication includes communication between those
in a traditional hierarchy, such as the boss and
subordinate, as well as communication between
business units and departments and communication
that leverages task teams and focus groups. In a
healthy circular communication culture, you’re also
including
360 feedback assessments, customer feedback, and
feedback within the matrix relationship.
5. Ensures shared accountability, from top to bottom.
6. Helps ensure that messages are communicated 13
times, which is the number of times some experts
believe an employee needs to hear something to
absorb it.
7. Helps to leverage different communication venues and
tools — for example, town hall meetings, e-mails, vlogs
(video blogs), department meetings, and so on. (You
can find out more about these venues and tools later in
this chapter.)
8. Helps connect all levels of your organization with your
brand.
ANSWER KEY 9.2-3
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
TRUE
TRUE
TRUE
TRUE
TRUE
TRUE
TRUE
TRUE
LEARNING EXPERIENCES
Learning Outcome # 3 Implement cost-effective operations
Learning Activities
Special Instructions
Read Information Sheet 9.3-1 on
Answer Self-Check 9.3-1 and
Optimization of Workplace Resources compare your answer to Answer
Key9.3-1
Read Information Sheet 9.3-2 on 5S
Procedures and Concepts
Answer Self-Check 9.3-2 and
compare your answer to Answer
Key9.3-2
Read Information Sheet 9.3-3 on
Criteria for cost-effectiveness
Answer Self-Check 9.3-3 and
compare your answer to Answer
Key9.3-3
Read Information Sheet 9.3-4 on
Workplace Productivity
Answer Self-Check 9.3-4 and
compare your answer to Answer
Key9.3-4
Read Information Sheet 9.3-5 on
Impact entrepreneurial mindset to
workplace productivity
Answer Self-Check 9.3-5 and
compare your answer to Answer
Key9.3-5
INFORMATION SHEET 9.3-1
Implement cost-effective operations
Learning Objective: After reading this information sheet, you will be able to
implement cost-effective operations
INTRODUCTION
Resource optimization is the set of processes and methods to
match the available resources (human, machinery, financial) with the
needs of the organization in order to achieve established goals.
When a company is managed using a systemic approach,
resource optimization is strictly linked to the concept of constraint and a
systemic vision of the company. Indeed, without a systemic vision of the
company we are unable to identify the global effectiveness of resource
allocation and we run the risk of using resources available mainly to
respond to emergencies that daily occur in the various parts of the
organization.
Intelligent Management sees the structure of an organization as a
network of projects which cut across company “functions”, in contrast with
the hierarchical view of a company divided up into silos unable to
recognize precise patterns and rules of interdependencies.
When we manage a company as a network of projects we must
be able to allocate the resources available in the most efficient way
possible, always bearing in mind that we have to achieve the global goal.
A project is itself a system: a network of elements (tasks) that are
interconnected and interdependent, that work together to achieve a
precise goal. The fact that the tasks are carried out by a pool of finite
resources means that optimizing the sequence of tasks is a matter of
considerablecomplexity. (cf. the well-known problem of P vs NP).
A further level of complexity is due to the human factor connected
with determining the length of individual tasks. It is well known that if we
are asked by our boss how long it takes us to complete a certain task,
wetend to protect ourselves by asking for considerably more time than is
strictly necessary. This is made worse by multitasking (the tendency to do
several things in parallel). While multitasking is very useful for computers
it is decidedly counterproductive for the human mind. Finally, there is the
effect of the so-called student syndrome, in other words whenever we
have
more time than we need to do something we will always put it off until the
last minute.
An efficient use of resources to carry out a project requires us to:





Have a shared vision of the global goal to be achieved (remove
unnecessary protection from individual tasks)
Eliminate multitasking (increased effectiveness in the tasks)
Identify the constraint (the critical chain) and protect it with a
buffer of time (thus protecting the project from variation)
Carefully manage the operational phases of the project
(capitalize on time gained)
Carry out a statistical analysis of the project buffer
consumption using Statistical Process Control (SPC) (more
effective project management)
The situation becomes more complex when multiple projects have
tobe managed, and possibly by different people.
3 Ways to Optimize Your Resources for Growth
For companies interested in growing their business, or simply
increasing profitability, the following are three ways to get more for the
money it takes to run your business.
1. Leverage the Power of Your People.



Communicate Openly and Often.
Facilitate Collaboration and Socializing.
Arm Them With What They Need to Do a Great Job.
2. Make Your Brand Matter.


Take Time to Clearly Define Your Brand.
Align Your Brand Ambition With How You Do Business.
3. Don't Try to Do Everything Yourself.
SELF-CHECK 9.3-1
Supply the missing word/s to make the statement complete.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
is the set of processes and methods to match
the available resources (human, machinery, financial) with the
needs of the organization in order to achieve established goals.
When a company is managed using a
,
resource optimization is strictly linked to the concept of
constraintand a
of the company.
sees the structure of an organization as a
network of projects which cut across company “functions”, in
contrast with the hierarchical view of a company divided up into
silos unable to recognize precise patterns and rules of
interdependencies.
When we manage a company as a _
we
must be able to allocate the resources available in the most efficient
way possible, always bearing in mind that we have to achieve the
global goal.
The fact
that
the
tasks
are
carried
out
by
a
pool
of
resources means that optimizing the
sequence of tasks is a matter of considerable complexity. (cf. the wellknown problem of P vs NP).
A further level of
is due to the human factor
connected with determining the length of individual tasks.
Finally, there is the effect of the so-called
, in
other words whenever we have more time than we need to do
something we will always put it off until the last minute.
ANSWER KEY 9.3-1
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Resource optimization
Systemic approach, systemic vision
Intelligent Management
Network of projects
Finite
Complexity
Student syndrome
INFORMATION SHEET 9.3-2
5S Procedures and Concepts
Learning Objectives: After reading this information sheet, you will be
able to distinguish the 5S procedures and concepts.
INTRODUCTION
5S is a systematic form of visual management utilizing everything
from floor tape to operations manuals. It is not just about cleanliness or
organization; it is also about maximizing efficiency and profit. 5S is a
framework that emphasizes the use of a specific mindset and tools to
create efficiency and value. It involves observing, analyzing, collaborating,
and searching for waste and also involves the practice of removing waste.
What Does 5S Stand For?
5S, sometimes referred to as 5s or Five S, refers to five Japanese
terms used to describe the steps of the 5S system of visual
management. Each term starts with an S. In Japanese, the five S's are
Seiri, Seiton, Seiso, Seiketsu, and Shitsuke. In English, the five S's
are translated as Sort, Set in Order, Shine, Standardize, and Sustain.
There are five key practices involved in 5S. They are as follows:
Japanese Term
American Term
Definition
Seiri
Sort
Sort through materials, keeping only the
essential items needed to complete tasks.
(This action involves going through all the
contents of a workspace to determine
which are needed and which can be
removed. Everything that is not used to
complete a work process should leave the
work area.)
Seiton
Set in Order
Ensure that all items are organized and
each item has a designated place.
Organize all the items left in the
workplace in a logical way so they make
tasks easier for workers to complete.
This often involves placing items in
ergonomic locations where people will
not need to bend or make extra
movements to reach
them.
Seiso
Shine
Proactive efforts to keep workplace
areas clean and orderly to ensure
purpose- driven work. This means
cleaning and maintaining the newly
organized workspace. It can involve
routine tasks such as mopping, dusting,
etc. or performing maintenance on
machinery, tools, and other equipment.
Seiketsu
Standardize
Create a set of standards for both
organization and processes. In essence,
this is where you take the first three S's
and make rules for how and when these
tasks
will
be
performed.
These
standards
can
involve
schedules,
charts, lists, etc.
Shitsuke
Sustain
Sustain new practices and conduct
audits to maintain discipline. This means
the previous four S's must be continued
over time. This is achieved by
developing a sense of self-discipline in
employees who
will participate in 5S.
SELF-CHECK 9.3-2
Multiple Choices. Select the best answer.
1. This action involves going through all the contents of a
workspace to determine which are needed and which
can
be removed.
Seire
Seiton
Seiso
Seiketsu
Shitsuke
2. This often involves placing items in ergonomic locations
where people will not need to bend or make extra
movements to reach them.
Seire
Seiton
Seiso
Seiketsu
Shitsuke
3. This means cleaning and maintaining the newly
organized workspace. It can involve routine tasks
such as mopping, dusting, etc. or performing
maintenance on machinery,
tools,
and
other
equipment.
Seire
Seiton
Seiso
Seiketsu
Shitsuke
4. These standards can involve schedules, charts, lists, etc.
Seire
Seiton
Seiso
Seiketsu
Shitsuke
5. This is achieved by developing a sense of selfdisciplinein employees who will participate in 5S.
Seire
Seiton
Seiso
Seiketsu
Shitsuke
ANSWER KEY 9.3-2
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Seiri
Seiton
Seiso
Seiketsu
Shitsuke.
INFORMATION SHEET 9.3-3
Criteria for Cost-effectiveness
Learning Objectives: After reading this information sheet, you will be
able to determine the criteria for cost-effectiveness.
INTRODUCTION
The term cost-effectiveness has become synonymous with health
economic evaluation and has been used (and misused) to depict the
extent to which interventions measure up to what can be considered to
represent value for money.
Cost-effectiveness analysis is one of a number of techniques of
economic evaluation, where the choice of technique depends on the
natureof the benefits specified.
In cost–utility analysis the benefits are expressed as quality-adjusted
life-years (QALYs) and in cost–benefit analysis in monetary terms. As
with all economic evaluation techniques, the aim of cost-effectiveness
analysis is to maximize the level of benefits – health effects – relative to the
level of resources available.
Costs are seen differently from different points of view. In
economics the notion of cost is based on the value that would be gained from
using resources elsewhere – referred to as the opportunity cost.
In cost-effectiveness analysis it is conventional to distinguish between
the direct costs and indirect or productivity costs associated with the
intervention, as well as what are termed intangibles, which, although they
may be difficult to quantify, are often consequences of the intervention and
should be included in the cost profile.



Direct costs: Medical: drugs; staff time; equipment. Patient:
transport; out-of-pocket expenses.
Productivity costs: production losses; other uses of time.
Intangibles: pain; suffering; adverse effects.
It is essential to specify which costs are included in a costeffectiveness analysis and which are not, to ensure that the findings are
not subject to misinterpretation.
How to use cost-effectiveness analysis
A distinction must be made between those interventions that are
completely independent – that is, where the costs and effects of one
intervention are not affected by the introduction or otherwise of other
interventions – and those that are mutually exclusive – that is, where
implementing one intervention means
that
another
cannot
be
implemented, or where the implementation of one intervention results in
changes to the costs and effects of another.
SELF-CHECK 9.3-3
Give examples of the following:
1. Direct costs
2. Productivity costs
3. Intangibles
ANSWER KEY 9.3-3
1. Direct costs:
 Medical: drugs; staff time; equipment
 Patient: transport; out-of-pocket expenses.
2. Productivity costs: production losses; other uses of time.
3. Intangibles: pain; suffering; adverse effects.
INFORMATION SHEET 9.3-4
Workplace Productivity
Learning Objective: After reading this information sheet, you will be able to
define workplace productivity.
INTRODUCTION
“Your business is only as good as your employees.” You may
have the best materials, the latest technology, the coolest working spaces,
the newest innovations, the most creative product - but all these things
are really quite meaningless without the core of your business: your
employees.
What is workplace productivity?
Workplace productivity is the efficiency in which tasks and goals are
completed for the company. By creating a productive workplace, benefits
such as profitability and employee morale will be more discernable.
Increasing Efficiency
Given that workplace productivity is basically completing goals in a
timely manner, it is important to understand how to accomplish that
without sacrificing the quality of the work. This means that in addition to
being quick, employees must also be correct. It is the efficiency that
cannotbe ignored if maximum productivity is the aim.
Efficiency is also hugely affected by goal setting. While a to-do
list can be daily goals of sorts, other goals, such as sales reached this
week, or total words written today can make noticeable positive changes.
Whatever it is that your company would like to accomplish for long term
reasons should be written down and truly attempted to achieve.
Productivity also gets a boost when your office space is clean and
properly organized. Ensuring that items are where they should not only
save time from looking for it, but it can help in the thought process. When
we have to stop during our most productive times in order to locate a
document, we can easily post our train of thought. Getting back into
the right mindset after searching for that document can be a struggle, thus
a productivity killer.
Advantages of Productivity in the Workplace
Profit
Productivity
rates
possibly one of the most important and most
convincing of benefits to productivity and efficiency.
When more work is getting completed in fewer hours,
less is being spent on the work itself. This means
that a
company can expect a higher profit.
On the other side of the business, a company will
likely see that the customers are much happier with
the turnaround times and overall efficiency. While
some internal aspects of a business are unclear to
the outside customer, there are some parts that
become
clear when a customer uses a company.
also make an impact on the image of a company.
From customers to shareholders and employees,
high productivity often gives off the image of having it
all together. However, a lower level of productivity
can make it seem as though the company is not on
top of things.
It has been made clear the most effective ways to increase
workplace productivity and why it is in a company’s best interest to do so.
By defining workplace productivity as the level of efficiency in which tasks
and goals are completed for a company, it is understood that it involves
both quality of work and the time it takes to complete it. By maximizing
workplace productivity, a business has the ability to flourish.
SELF-CHECK 9.3-4
1. Explain what is workplace productivity?
ANSWER KEY 9.3-4
1. Workplace productivity is the efficiency in which tasks and goals are
completed for the company. By creating a productive workplace,
benefits such as profitability and employee morale will be more
discernable.
INFORMATION SHEET 9.3-5
Impact of Entrepreneurial Mindset to Workplace Productivity
Learning Objective: After reading this information sheet, you will be able
to
learn the impact of
workplace productivity.
entrepreneurial
mindset
to
INTRODUCTION
An entrepreneurial mindset is a set of skills that enable people to
identify and make the most of opportunities, overcome and learn from
setbacks, and succeed in a variety of settings.
If you consider yourself an entrepreneur, it’s important to know why
entrepreneurial mindset is important for business.
1. Thinking like an entrepreneur will help you right from the
beginning

You have a plan for your business, you’ve figured out all the
details, and you’re ready to start making money, but it’s normal
tofeel worried or anxious about your new venture. Here’s where you
should begin to channel your inner entrepreneur! Creating that
entrepreneurial mindset will help you to think about what you’re
doing and why. It will help you to know where you would like your
business to lead you, and what risks you’re willing to take to
succeed. If you know the answers to these questions, you’ll be
ready to tackle all the challenges your new business throws at
you.
2. An entrepreneurial mindset will help you in other areas of your
life

Being willing to take risks and accept failure is a unique skill
that isn’t relevant solely in the business world. Incorporating an
entrepreneurial mindset into your everyday life will help you to
minimize the importance of failure and rejection in your life. It
will also help you to keep moving forward even when things are
difficult. Additionally, being able to plan ahead and foresee
potential problems (a key part of an entrepreneurial mindset)
will help you to live a more organized, less stressful life. In turn,
this will help you to better run your business.
3. Having an entrepreneurial mindset will encourage creativity

If you’re open to innovation and willing to take risks, you’ll be more
likely to think outside the box. If something isn’t working well,
there may be more than one fix, and you shouldn’t always fall
back on the simplest or safest method. Critical thinking is the key to
a successful business, and being willing to find creative
solutions even if it might mean more work will help your
business greatly inthe long run.
4. People trust others who seem to know what they’re doing

The old saying “fake it ‘til you make it” is especially true in
business. If you do your best to think, feel, and act like an
entrepreneur, people will treat you like one. By channeling an
entrepreneurial mindset, you’ll be able to make new contacts
withease.
5. Thinking like an entrepreneur will enable you to take healthy
breaks

Successful entrepreneurs know that focusing entirely on
business is a sure-fire way to burn out. Go on an international
trip. Relax and visit new destinations. You might be surprised
by the ideas and inspiration you can get by experiencing new
cultures. If you’re thinking like an entrepreneur, you’ll know that
taking regular breaks will actually benefit your business in the
long run and that you needn’t feel guilty for indulging once in a
while.
The benefits of this mindset extend well beyond entrepreneurship.
The ability to learn from failure, think creatively and identify opportunities
can foster success in all parts of your life, even if you never plan to start
your own business.
“To me, the entrepreneurial process and entrepreneurial mindset do
not just need to be confined to business situations in general, and new
ventures specifically,” Livengood said.
This entrepreneurial way of thinking can help you start a side
hustle, lead innovative ventures at your current job and be a better
problem solverin your personal life.
Just as important, the entrepreneurial mindset can make you more
adaptable to the rapid changes in today’s job market.
“Those who are able to identify problems or opportunities and then work to
generate creative solutions to those issues can also improve situations in
their personal lives,” Livengood said. “This can benefit the lives of those
around them as well.”
SELF-CHECK 9.3-5
1. Enumerate the importance of entrepreneurial mindset.
ANSWER KEY 9.3-5
1. Importance of Entrepreneurial Mindset:





Thinking like an entrepreneur will help you right from the
beginning
An entrepreneurial mindset will help you in other areas of
yourlife
Having an entrepreneurial mindset will encourage creativity
People trust others who seem to know what they’re doing
Thinking like an entrepreneur will enable you to take healthy
breaks
References:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/glennllopis/2013/01/15/working-with-anentrepreneurial-attitude-is-a-powerful-addiction/ https://joedalton.ie/howimportant-patience-business/
https://startupistanbul.com/blog/2015/01/the-role-of-honesty-inentrepreneurship/
https://qualityandinnovation.com/tag/qualityconsciousness/#:~:text=The%20reason%20we%20WANT%20quality,more%2
0streamlined%2C%20and%20more%20cost
https://www.iadc.org/safety-meeting-topics/safety-consciousness/
https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/272171#:~:text=An%20attitude%20
of%20resourcefulness%20inspires,a%20cut%20above%20the%20rest.https:
//www.tutorialspoint.com/entrepreneurship_skills/entrepreneurship_skills
_effective_communication.htm#:~:text=Communication%20is%20a%20way%
20to,team%20members%2C%20clients%20and%20colleagues.
https://smallbusiness.chron.com/importance-compliance-business71173.html
https://www.cebos.com/blog/10-easy-steps-to-quality-managementsystem-compliance/
https://employeeengagement.com/wpcontent/uploads/2014/01/CommunicationProtocolOverview.pdf
https://www.dummies.com/business/human-resources/employeeengagement/build-a-company-wide-communication-protocol/
https://www.intelligentmanagement.ws/learningcentre/how-can-weoptimize-resources-and-processes/resourceoptimization/#:~:text=Optimization%20consists%20in%20achieving%20desi
red,exceed%20the%20resources%20currently%20available.
https://www.cort.com/office-furniture-rental/resources/workplaceguides/optimize-resources-for-growth
https://www.creativesafetysupply.com/content/educationresearch/5S/index.html
http://www.bandolier.org.uk/painres/download/whatis/Cost-effect.pdf
https://www.texthelp.com/en-gb/company/workplace-blog/june2018/what-is-workplace-
productivity/#:~:text=When%20we%20talk%20about%20workplace,%2C%2
0in%20theory%2C%20be%20maximised.
https://www.opensourcedworkplace.com/news/what-is-workplaceproductivity-how-to-increase-and-why
https://www.nfte.com/entrepreneurial-mindset/
https://engineeringmanagementinstitute.org/entrepreneurial-mindsetessential-business/
https://cpe.asu.edu/how-you-can-benefit-entrepreneurial-mindset