Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Doctor’s Day:

National Doctor’s Day is a time for people to show appreciation and say thanks to the doctors who care for them. Doctors perform vital diagnosis and treatment. They care and cure their patients to keep them well. Doctors are the life saviors who work relentlessly to cure the ailments of the patients. When you are sick, there is no other person more important to you, than a doctor.
Doctor’s Day is celebrated in India on July 1st every year. Doctor’s Day celebrations started in 1991 when the Government of India recognised July 1, the birth anniversary as well as the date of demise of famous physician, Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy (BC Roy).
Doctor’s Day is celebrated in the US and other western countries on March 30 - the day when Dr. Crawford W. Long first used ether anaesthesia in surgery.

Monday, June 29, 2009

Niche Market:

A niche market is the subset of the market on which a specific product is focusing on; Therefore the market niche defines the specific product features aimed at satisfying specific market needs, as well as the price range, production quality and the demographics that is intended to impact.
Every single product that is on sale can be defined by its niche market. As of special note, the products aimed at a wide demographics audience, with the resulting low price (due to Price elasticity of demand), are said to belong to the Mainstream niche, in practice referred only as Mainstream or of high demand. Narrowed demographics though lead to elevated price because of the same principles.
In practice, product vendors and trade businesses are commonly referred as mainstream providers or narrow demographics niche market providers (colloquially shortened to just niche market providers). Small capital providers usually opt for a niche market with narrow demographics as a measure of increasing their gain margins.
Nevertheless, the final product quality (low or high) is not dependant on the price elasticity of demand though, it is more associated with the specific needs that the product is aimed at satisfy and in some cases with brand recognition which the vendor wants to be associated with (i.e Prestige, Practicability, Money saving, Expensiveness, Planet environment conscience, Power, etc)

Sunday, June 28, 2009

Open Notes directly to your email:

1. Right click on the Mail icon on the bookmark bar on the left side of the screen.
2. Choose "Set Bookmark as Home Page".
3. Rejoice in how easy it is to customize Notes to do almost anything!



By the way, you can do this for any bookmark, not just Mail.

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Poka yoke:

Poka-yoke is a Japanese term that means "fail-safing" or "mistake-proofing". A poka-yoke is any mechanism in a Lean manufacturing process that helps an equipment operator avoid (yokeru) mistakes (poka). Its purpose is to eliminate product defects by preventing, correcting, or drawing attention to human errors as they occur. The concept was formalised, and the term adopted, by Shigeo Shingo as part of the Toyota Production System. It was originally described as baka-yoke, but as this means "fool-proofing" (or "idiot-proofing") the name was changed to the milder poka-yoke.
Examples of poka-yoke in consumer products include:
• Automatic transmissions: the inability to remove a car key from the ignition switch of an automobile if the automatic transmission is not first put in the "Park" position, so that the driver cannot leave the car in an unsafe parking condition where the wheels are not locked against movement.
• 3.5" floppy disks: the top-right corner is shaped in a certain way so that the disk cannot be inserted upside-down.
• UK 13 amp electric plugs: it is impossible to wrongly insert the plug into the socket, due to its arrangement of three rectangular pins.
• Microwave ovens: a door switch automatically disconnects the activation button when the door of the oven is opened. As a result, it is impossible to cook anything in a microwave oven unless the door (which contains a Faraday cage to block microwaves) is fully closed. If it were possible to activate an oven with the door open, this would allow dangerous leakage of high intensity microwave radiation, which would be very harmful to any living creatures in the immediate area.
• SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) cards: The SIM card used in cellular phones has its upper left corner trimmed diagonally to guide the card correctly into position.

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Open Dating:

A date stamped or printed on the label of perishable items to indicate a pull date (a date by which the item must be sold or removed from the shelf) or pack date (the date the item was packaged).

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Inkless Pen:

Grand Illusions makes what it calls a "metal pen." Instead of ink, the pen writes with a metal alloy. The pen writes on most paper, and its writing looks similar to pencil. The company claims that, unlike pencil markings, the pen's metal alloy doesn't smudge and smear.

Monday, June 22, 2009

Convert Time to Decimal:

Use the HOUR and MINUTE formulas to extract the hour and minute numbers from the time.

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Father’s Day:

Father's Day is a day honoring fathers, celebrated on the third Sunday of June in 52 of the world's countries and on other days elsewhere. It complements Mother's Day, the celebration honoring mothers.
Father's Day is a celebration inaugurated in the early twentieth century to complement Mother's Day in celebrating fatherhood and male parenting, and to honor and commemorate fathers and forefathers. Father's Day is celebrated on a variety of dates worldwide and typically involves gift-giving, special dinners to fathers, and family-oriented activities.

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Smart Meeting Picker:

In Lotus Notes when creating a calendar entry, Notes can intelligently assist you in choosing the most convenient date/time and room for a meeting.

In addition to the graphical "free/busy time bars" display that most people use


you can choose to show the Scheduler in "Summary" mode. Below you can see that for the selected date the only free time available is 10-11am.


but by simply adjusting the two drop down boxes you can choose a different range of days to search, as well as adjust who is required to attend.

For example, how about searching for date/times when 50% of invitees can make a meeting in the next 7 days


The picture below shows how this search results in several more dates/time to choose from.

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Assignable cause:

A name for the source of variation in a process that is not due to chance and therefore can be identified and eliminated. Also called “special cause.”

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Margin Blending:

Margin is the difference between the cost and the retail selling price of goods.

Margin Blending is a combination of higher- and lower-margin products to achieve an overall margin figure.

Print Comments:

If your worksheet contains comments, you can print them as they appear on the sheet or at the end of the sheet.
1. Click the worksheet that contains the comments that you want to print.
2. To print the comments in place on the worksheet, display them by doing one of the following:
 To display an individual comment, click the cell that contains the comment, and then on the Review tab, in the Comments group, click Show/Hide Comment.
TIP You can also right-click the cell and then click Show/Hide Comments on the shortcut menu.
 To display all comments, on the Review tab, in the Comments group, click Show All Comments.

TIP You can move and resize any overlapping comments.
How to move or resize comments
1. Click the border of the comment box so that handles appear:

2. Do one or both of the following:
 To move the comment, drag the border of the comment box.
 To change the size, drag the handles on the sides and corners of the comment box.
3. On the Page Layout tab, in the Page Setup group, click the dialog box launcher next to Page Setup.

4. On the Sheet tab, in the Comments box, click As displayed on sheet or At end of sheet.
5. Click Print.
TIP To see how comments are printed, you can click Print Preview before you click Print.

Sunday, June 14, 2009

Flag Day:

A flag day is a flag-related holiday—either a day designated for flying a certain flag (such as a national flag), or a day set aside to celebrate a historical event such as a nation's adoption of its flag.
Flag days are usually codified in national statutes, however, in some countries a decree by the head of state can also order a flag day. The statute or decree may specify locations where flags are flown and how are they flown (for example, at full- or half-staff); alternatively, custom may prevail.
In the United States, Flag Day is celebrated on June 14. It commemorates the adoption of the flag of the United States, which happened that day by resolution of the Second Continental Congress in 1777. The largest Flag Day parade is held annually in Troy, New York, which bases its parade on the Quincy parade and typically draws 50,000 spectators.

The Armed Forces Flag Day or the Flag Day of India is a special day dedicated towards collection of funds from people of India, for the welfare of the armed forces personnel in India. It is observed on December 7, every year in India, from 1949. Funds are collected from the general public for the welfare of the Indian Armed Forces personnel. Over the years, it has become a tradition to commemorate this day as an honor to the brave soldiers, airmen and sailors of India.

Thursday, June 11, 2009

Voice of Customer (VOC):

The "voice of the customer" is a process used to capture the requirements/feedback from the customer (internal or external) to provide the customers with the best in class service/product quality. This process is all about being proactive and constantly innovative to capture the changing requirements of the customers with time.

The "voice of the customer" is the term used to describe the stated and unstated needs or requirements of the customer. The voice of the customer can be captured in a variety of ways: Direct discussion or interviews, surveys, focus groups, customer specifications, observation, warranty data, field reports, complaint logs, etc.

This data is used to identify the quality attributes needed for a supplied component or material to incorporate in the process or product.

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Labor Scheduling Software:

A computer software program that creates weekly work schedules for employees and departments. The software program inputs company parameters such as vacation, holidays, work availability, hours of operation, peak sales periods, etc.

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Find Duplicate items in combine columns:

--------------------------------------------
Dates in column A Text in Column B
--------------------------------------------
03/10/2003 | AAA
03/15/2003 | BBB
03/20/2003 | CCC
03/25/2003 | AAA
03/30/2003 | BBB
04/04/2003 | CCC
03/25/2003 | AAA
03/30/2003 | BBB
04/04/2003 | CCC
03/25/2003 | AAA
03/30/2003 | BBB
04/04/2003 | CCC


Enter the formula: =A1&B1 to cell C1 and copy / paste the formula to cells C2:C12

Enter the formula: =IF(COUNTIF($C$1:C1,C1)>1,"Duplicate","Unique")
to cell E1 and copy / paste the formula to cells E2:E12

Monday, June 8, 2009

The Net takes Flight:

The computer most people use comes with a standard 56K modem, which means that in an ideal situation your computer would downstream at a rate of 56 kilobits per second (Kbps). That speed is far too slow to handle the huge streaming-video and music files that more consumers are demanding today. That's where the need for bigger bandwidth -- broadband -- comes in, allowing a greater amount of data to flow to and from your computer. Land-based lines are limited physically in how much data they can deliver because of the diameter of the cable or phone line. In an airborne Internet, there is no such physical limitation, enabling a broader capacity.
Several companies have already shown that satellite Internet access can work. The airborne Internet will function much like satellite-based Internet access, but without the time delay. Bandwidth of satellite and airborne Internet access are typically the same, but it will take less time for the airborne Internet to relay data because it is not as high up. Satellites orbit at several hundreds of miles above Earth. The airborne-Internet aircraft will circle overhead at an altitude of 52,000 to 69,000 feet (15,849 to 21,031 meters). At this altitude, the aircraft will be undisturbed by inclement weather and flying well above commercial air traffic.
Networks using high-altitude aircraft will also have a cost advantage over satellites because the aircraft can be deployed easily -- they don't have to be launched into space. However, the airborne Internet will actually be used to compliment the satellite and ground-based networks, not replace them. These airborne networks will overcome the last-mile barriers facing conventional Internet access options. The "last mile" refers to the fact that access to high-speed cables still depends on physical proximity, and that for this reason, not everyone who wants access can have it. It would take a lot of time to provide universal access using cable or phone lines, just because of the time it takes to install the wires. An airborne network will immediately overcome the last mile as soon as the aircraft takes off.
The airborne Internet won't be completely wireless. There will be ground-based components to any type of airborne Internet network. The consumers will have to install an antenna on their home or business in order to receive signals from the network hub overhead. The networks will also work with established Internet Service Providers (ISPs), who will provide their high-capacity terminals for use by the network. These ISPs have a fiber point of presence -- their fiber optics are already set up. What the airborne Internet will do is provide an infrastructure that can reach areas that don't have broadband cables and wires.

Sunday, June 7, 2009

Negotiation:

Negotiation is something that we do all the time and is not only used for business purposes. For example, we use it in our social lives perhaps for deciding a time to meet, or where to go on a rainy day.

Negotiation is usually considered as a compromise to settle an argument or issue to benefit ourselves as much as possible.

Communication is always the link that will be used to negotiate the issue/argument whether it is face-to-face, on the telephone or in writing. Remember, negotiation is not always between two people: it can involve several members from two parties.

There are many reasons why you may want to negotiate and there are several ways to approach it. The following is a few things that you may want to consider.
Why Negotiate?
If your reason for negotiation is seen as 'beating' the opposition, it is known as 'Distributive negotiation'. This way, you must be prepared to use persuasive tactics and you may not end up with maximum benefit. This is because your agreement is not being directed to a certain compromise and both parties are looking for a different outcome.

Should you feel your negotiation is much more 'friendly' with both parties aiming to reach agreement, it is known as 'Integrative negotiation'. This way usually brings an outcome where you will both benefit highly.

Negotiation, in a business context, can be used for selling, purchasing, staff (e.g. contracts), borrowing (e.g. loans) and transactions, along with anything else that you feel are applicable for your business.

Pre-Negotiation

Before you decide to negotiate, it is a good idea to prepare. What is it exactly that you want to negotiate? Set out your objectives (e.g. I want more time to pay off the loan). You have to take into account how it will benefit the other party by offering some sort of reward or incentive (explained later).

What is involved (money, sales, time, conditions, discounts, terms, etc)? Know your extremes: how much extra can you afford to give to settle an agreement? Although you are not aiming to give out the maximum, it is worth knowing so that you will not go out of your limits.

Know what your opposition is trying to achieve by their negotiation. This is useful information that could be used to your benefit and may well be used to reach a final agreement.

Consider what is valuable to your business, not the costs. You may end up losing something in the negotiation that is more valuable to your business than money. It could be a reliable client or your company reputation.

Negotiating

It is important that you approach the other party directly to make an appointment to negotiate should it be in person, writing or by phone (not through a phone operator, receptionist, assistant etc) as this will allow you to set the agenda in advance, and improve the prospects of the other party preparing sufficiently enough to make a decision on the day. Try to be fairly open about your reason for contact or they may lose interest instantly and not follow up on the appointment. Save all your comments for the actual appointment- don't give away anything that will give them a chance to prepare too thoroughly: it's not war, but it is business!
So, it's time to negotiate and you've prepared well. What else must you have? Two things: confidence and power. Your power will come from your ability to influence.
It is always important that you keep the negotiation in your control: this can mean within your price range, your delivery time or your profit margin. If you fail to do so, you will end up on the wrong side of the agreement, and with nothing more out of the deal other than maintaining trading relationships.

When negotiating, aim as high as you feel necessary in order to gain the best deal for yourself. The other party may bring this down but it is a good tactic, as it is always easier to play down than to gain.

Make sure that you remain flexible throughout the negotiation in case the opposition decides to change the direction of the agreement (they may want different incentives or even change their objectives). This is where your preparation comes to good use: knowing your limits and the other party's needs. If you're a quick thinker then you've got an advantage. You'll need to turn it around quickly if things start to go against you without putting your objectives at risk.

Confidence comes from knowing your business, your product, what its worth, and being able to communicate this well to the other party: these people are almost impossible to get the better of, as some of you will know only too well.

Coming to an Agreement

Once you have come to a final agreement, it is important that you have it down in writing along with both parties' signature: this is not always possible or practical. Before it is signed, or formally ordered, it is wise not to say anything about the terms agreed because your next sentence could break the agreement: the best sales-people never over sell - well, not until they have to!

Summary

We use negotiation in everything we do but you have to be sure that it is done in the best way possible to achieve maximum benefit. The most important part is planning: preparing well will give you an advantage when negotiating.

Only use the knowledge and experience you need to achieve your objective. Have confidence and be sure that you can keep control at all times. Aim highly, but don't underestimate the opposition. They too may have just read the same advice. If you're selling something, be persuasive and offer some incentive to keep the customer interested.

Don't close an agreement until you are happy. This could be difficult if you have been put in a 'corner' but this would perhaps be an effect of poor preparation.

Friday, June 5, 2009

World Environment Day:

World Environment Day (WED) was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1972. WED is hosted every year by a different city and commemorated with an international exposition through the week of June 5. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), also created in 1972, uses WED to stimulate awareness of the environment and enhance political attention and public action.
The theme for WED 2009 is 'Your Planet Needs You - UNite to Combat Climate Change'. It reflects the urgency for nations to agree on a new deal at the crucial climate convention meeting in Copenhagen some 180 days later in the year, and the links with overcoming poverty and improved management of forests.
WED 2009’s host is Mexico which reflects the growing role of the Latin American country in the fight against climate change, including its growing participation in the carbon markets.
Mexico is also a leading partner in UNEP's Billion Tree Campaign. The country, with the support of its President and people, has spearheaded the pledging and planting of some 25 per cent of the trees under the campaign. Accounting for around 1.5 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, the country is demonstrating its commitment to climate change on several fronts.

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

To Replaces Zeros with dashes:

Press Ctrl+1 to open the Format Cells dialog box.
2. Select the Number tab, and from Category, select Custom.
3. In the Type box, enter the following Custom Formatting syntax:
#,##0 ;[Red](#,##0);- ;

Note:
The number formatting syntax is:
Positive; Negative; 0; Text

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

U Chart:

A u-chart is an attributes control chart used with data collected in subgroups of varying sizes. U-charts show how the process measured by the number of nonconformities per item or group of items changes over time. Nonconformities are defects or occurrences found in the sampled subgroup. They can be described as any characteristic that is present but should not be, or any characteristic that is not present but should be. For example, a scratch, dent, bubble, blemish, missing button, and a tear are all nonconformities. U-charts are used to determine if the process is stable and predictable, as well as to monitor the effects of process improvement theories. U-charts can be created using software programs like SQCpack and CHARTrunner.

Protect Slide Content:

When the corporate marketing department creates slides depicting performance of investments, it is very important for legal reasons that no changes get made when the slides are presented. If changes are made that misrepresent the facts, the organization can be subject to severe penalties and lawsuits.
One approach to protecting content is to restrict the access to the file in PowerPoint 2003 if you have installed the Information Rights Management module. In many cases this is a burden and there is an easier way to get almost all of the same benefits. It uses the ability of PowerPoint to save a slide as a graphic. Here are the instructions for this technique.
Step 1 – Create Your Slides
Create your slides in PowerPoint as you normally would, with all the graphics and text you need. Proofread and review your slides to make sure they are finalized.
Step 2 – Save the slides as Graphic Files
In PowerPoint, click File à Save As to display the Save As dialog box. Drop down the Save as type drop down box at the bottom of the dialog box and scroll down to the graphics formats as shown below.

Select the PNG Portable Network Graphics Format (Other formats such as GIF, JPG and TIF offer no better quality and result in larger files). Enter a file name for the graphic files in the File Name entry box. When you click on the Save button, it will ask you if you want to save all of the slides in the presentation or just the current slide. Select the appropriate choice for your situation. Your slides are now saved as images on your computer.
Step 3 – Create a New Presentation of Images
Start a new presentation. Click Insert à Picture à From File. Find your saved image files from Step 2. Select the image you want for this slide and click the OK button. If needed, size the image so it fills the screen. Repeat this procedure for other slides. These slides are now images and cannot be changed by others. Save this presentation with a new name so you don’t overwrite your original file.
You can use this process to make all of the slides unchangeable or you can use it just for selected slides. You may leave some of the text slides as regular slides and only protect the graphs or tables of data that should not be changed. If you use builds on your slides, where text or graphics are displayed as you advance through the slide, making the slide an image removes those builds, so think about what portions of the slide your need to protect. You can protect an underlying graph, then add text boxes on top of the image to retain the ability to build ideas on a slide.
Using this technique will allow you to give presenters the flexibility they need to customize each presentation, while protecting important data that needs to be in compliance with regulations. Make only the file with the images available to presenters on a corporate network so that the original data and graphs remain protected.