TWO ISSUES RAISED ON 26/01/2023 - JUST TO LET MALAYSIANS KNOW

 

GENERASI MUDA- DENGARLAH - PESANAN RINGKAS DARI NIK ZAFRI

 Pada pendapat saya, pada zaman yang serba mencabar ini, setiap rakyat Malaysia memerlukan kelulusan/kelayakan akademik sekurang-kurangnya secara asas untuk bekerja apatah lagi berniaga terutamanya generasi muda.

Jangan terpengaruh dengan kisah-kisah Bill Gates, Zuckerberg atau Elon Musk. Walaupun dikatakan mereka tidak berkelulusan tinggi tetapi mereka telah banyak membuat kajian dan mengambil kursus-kursus tertentu bersabit kemahiran/kompentensi mengenai elektrikal/elektronik, sains komputer, kejuruteraan dll.

Saya sendiri tidak mempunyai kelayakan tinggi (sehingga kini saya menyesal kerana tidak menyambung pelajaran ke peringkat lebih baik) kecuali mempunyai puluhan sijil-sijil kemahiran pelbagai berorientasikan kompetensi, cukup pengalaman bekerja dengan memberanikan diri berkhidmat dengan firma-firma antarabangsa seperti UK, Australia, US dan Jepun demi kemajuan diri.

Saya juga menanam dalam diri saya untuk gemar membaca buku pelbagai sabjek, menyertai kursus, belajar, sanggup menerima kritikan semasa bekerja dan membuat penyelidikan dan pembangunan di samping memberikan ceramah dan latihan di beberapa IPTS dan IPTA selain syarikat-syarikat MNC dan sektor Perkhidmatan Awam - sesetengahnya bertaraf PhD dan MBA.

Zaman saya adalah zaman yang berbeza dengan zaman sekarang - bukan ada PTPTN, tidak banyak IPT Swasta, bukan ada internet, bukan ada "Grab", bukan ada "cashless transaction" dan kemudahan-kemudahan lain - kesukaran-kesukaran inilah menjadikan saya lebih matang dan sanggup menghabiskan duit demi ilmu dan pengalaman.

Mungkin sekarang, generasi terkini tidak melalui kesempitan generasi kami atau generasi terdahulu dari kami - lalu merasakan satu tekanan untuk menimba ilmu dan pengalaman walhal kemudahan sentiasa ada untuk memudahkan kita menjadi masyarakat yang bijak.

Sekarang kita patut bersyukur kerana adanya akses pada internet. Bagi saya, secara peribadi, saya dapat melipatgandakan lagi pengetahuan dan kemahiran dalam bidang yang saya minati.

Saya juga bukan spesi yang fokus kepada satu bidang sahaja, tetapi saya juga membuka hati kepada bidang-bidang lain termasuk teknologi terkini.

PELAN PERNIAGAAN (PITCHING) UNTUK GERAN, MODAL TEROKA DLL.

Mempunyai pelan perniagaan yang baik adalah faktor penentu yang membezakan antara permulaan yang berjaya atau permulaan yang gagal. Kadangkala laporan prestasi perniagaan yang dibentangkan terlalu tebal – tanpa memikirkan psikologi pelabur yang kadangkala tidak mempunyai masa untuk membaca laporan berkenaan. (Tidak kira apakah jenis instrumen yang ingin anda pohon - modal teroka, geran, seed capital, angel funds dll)

Photo Source : http://www.marsdd.com

Memahami kehendak pelabur amat penting kerana mereka adalah pembiaya kepada perniagaan anda. Antara perkara yang perlu diketengahkan ialah beberapa unsur yang penting sahaja yang sering menjadi perhatian kepada pendengar terhadap sesuatu pelan perniagaan.

Pastikan pembentang tahu apa kehendak industri yang diceburi dan mempunyai pandangan yang munasabah terhadap masa depan perniagaan yang ingin diketengahkan. Ini termasuklah strategi pemasaran dan pulangan kewangan.

Pertama, kenali dahulu skop perkhidmatan/produk ICT yang dibekalkan serta persaingannya. Ini adalah antara perkara yang paling penting. Contohnya isu yang boleh disentuh ialah :

1. berapa besarkah industri ICT berkenaan,
2. siapakah di antara pesaing yang kuat,
3. kecepatan pertumbuhan industri ICT berkenaan,
4. adakah industri ICT berkenaan merupakan perintis (yang unik atau pertama) atau hanya salah satu industri yang telah ramai berkecimpung di dalamnya,
5. Bahagian pasaran manakah yang dapat menarik perhatian ramai,

Pelabur/Pembiaya biasanya ingin mendengar mengenai pasaran yang tumbuh dengan cepat dengan persaingan yang minima (contohnya segmen pasaran berkadar 20-30%)  Jika persembahan itu hanya mengenai sesuatu perisian – contohnya perisian pemprosesan perkataan (word-processing)‘kononnya’ bagi menggantikan MS-Word, maka persembahan berkenaan sudah pasti akan mencapai jalan yang buntu. Walaupun perisian berkenaan mendapat hakcipta sekalipun (ini juga kadangkala memerlukan kos yang tinggi) tetapi untuk bersaing dalam pasaran yang sering jauh lebih inovatif dan menyediakan pelbagai kelebihan, cadangan perniagaan berkenaan pasti akan mendapat sambutan yang hambar dari bakal pelabur.

Kedua, Model Pulangan dan Perniagaan –Pelabur sangat gemar kepada aliran hasil/keuntungan yang besar dan berulang-ulang serta meninggalkan kesan nilai tambah kepada pelanggan. Perkara yang perlu ditanya antara lain :

1. apakah jenis perniagaan baru yang bakal dibina dan prospeknya? 

1.1 Perkakasan komputer (contohnya) - Perisian yang boleh dipasang (install) atau dimuatturun? - Sistem yang berinteraksi secara talian sahaja?

Ketiga, Bagaimana cara pembayaran?

1. Adakah dengan sekali pembelian dan menanti pesanan baru?
2. Hasil bulanan yang berulang-ulang?
3. Penggunaan yang perlu dalam kuantiti yang banyak?
4. Harga berbanding dengan pesaing?
5. Apakah kelebihan unik yang ingin dipaparkan dalam pasaran atau hanya menggunakan cara yang umum digunakan oleh pengusaha lain?

Keempat, Pelan Pemasaran dan Jualan. Antara perkara-perkara yang perlu diperhatikan ialah strategi :

1. adakah ianya melibatkan jaringan B2C (perniagaan ke pengguna) atau B2B (perniagaan ke perniagaan)?
2. Adakah ianya memerlukan pasukan jualan yang besar?
3. Adakah pemasaran ke pengguna memerlukan pelaburan yang tinggi?
4. Adakah pemasaran menggunakan enjin carian di talian, e-mel atau melibatkan diri dalam pameran perniagaan?
5. Adakah perniagaan itu memerlukan media sosial seperti laman web (3D? html? Multimedia?) termasuk elemen video atau lain-lain audio visual dsb)
6. Bagaimanakah keupayaan bahan-bahan promosi di talian untuk menjadi ‘viral’

Biasanya konsep jualan secara ‘perniagaan ke perniagaan’ adalah lebih murah untuk dilancarkan berbanding dengan konsep pemasaran ‘perniagaan ke pengguna’. Namun B2B biasanya sukar mendapat perhatian pelabur kerana ianya mempunyai kitaran jualan yang lebih lama (dan banyak modal diperlukan). Namun ini tidak bermakna B2B tidak mampu bertahan, cuma ianya memerlukan modal terutamanya di pihak pembentang pelan perniagaan. (perniagaan yang telah berjaya tetapi memerlukan modal yang lebih untuk membesarkan lagi perniagaan berkenaan)

Tetapi ‘perniagaan ke pengguna’ jika diatur strategi yang betul, maka jualan di talian berpotensi untuk mendapatkan keuntungan yang besar. Jika ianya berjaya dalam tempoh beberapa tahun (dari segi keuntungan dan penjenamaan) mungkin periklanan dan promosi dapat dikembangkan lagi ke radio, television mahupun bahan bercetak.

Apapun, pastikan pelaburan ke atas pemasaran dan jualan adalah munasabah bagi mencapai skel pulangan yang disasarkan. Paling penting, anda dapat ‘membaca fikiran’ pelabur mengenai apa yang sebenarnya mereka mahu dari anda.

Akhir sekali - yang keempat - Pasukan Pengurusan

Ini juga penting – siapakah ahli-ahli atau kakitangan-kakitangan yang akan menguruskan perniagaan berkenaan. Yang penting adalah pengalaman mereka dan bukti bahawa mereka mahir mengurus dan mentadbir perniagaan mahupun teknikal yang dicadangkan. Perkara ini kadangkala dipandang remeh oleh pembentang kerana terlalu ingin berjimat kos daripada memikirkan pelaburan di atas pekerja atau kakitangan yang kompetan.

VENDOR DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY) - BY NIK ZAFRI

TRAINING, CONSULTANCY, WORKSHOP, SEMINAR, CONFERENCE - NIK ZAFRI

#Training #Consultancy #Workshop #Seminar #Conference

HARD TALK - IN SLIDES - NIK ZAFRI

BRAIN DRAIN, SKILLS, COMPETENCY, ACADEMIC?? WHAT? - by Nik Zafri

CONSTRUCTION - ISO 9000 CERTIFIED - SO WHAT? IMPROVEMENT REQUIRED.... (NIK ZAFRI)

These are part of my training slides for ISO certified company (using a high-impact approach). Further enquiry on the training, please e-mail nikzafri@yahoo.com (genuine RFQ only!)

QUALITY CONTINUOUS JOURNEY – WHAT ELSE CAN BE IMPROVED?

Introduction/Refresher

1.0 QUALITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

Definition for Quality: 

• Fitness for Purpose (Internal and External Quality Control - 50%) and 

• Client's and Internal Satisfaction (Internal and External Quality Assurance – 50%) - Both QC and QA have respective specifications to be fulfilled – combined both = Quality Management System (QMS)

Common Challenge 1

The word “Quality” on Manual, Policy, Procedures etc. should not be narrowed only to the Quality Department or Management Representative.

Quality is always a shared commitment.

Then Quality Manual, Quality Policy, Quality Procedures are to be deemed and understood as your Company's Manual, your Company's Policy, your Company's Procedures.

Rationale : to avoid 'finger pointing'

Common Challenge 2

Quality, Health and Safety, Security, Environment - Domino Theory – One tile fall, so will the others – ALL IS REQUIRED

Once again, the same as Common Challenge 1 – not to be narrowed to a certain department e.g. Safety & Health and Security is a SHARED COMMITMENT thus making them your Company's Manual, your Company's Policy, your Company's Procedures.

Rationale : to avoid 'finger pointing'

BRANDING :

THIS IS THE WAY YOUR COMPANY WORKS!!!

COMMON ERROR

Your Company is Certified NOT Accredited (by ISO....)

CERTIFICATION BODY – A body that issued the certificate according to the nature of business – e.g. SIRIM QAS, DET NORSKE VERITAS, LLOYDS, SGS ETC. 

ACCREDITATION BODY - A Body that accredits the scope of business/industry in order to qualify the certs issued by the certification body (Accredited Certification Body) e.g. – DEPARTMENT OF STANDARDS MALAYSIA (DSM), UNITED KINGDOM ACCREDITATION SERVICE (UKAS), ANSI-ASQ – NATIONAL ACCREDITATION SERVICE (US) ETC. (MINISTRY OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION (MOSTI)

OTHER KNOWN EXAMPLES

Education

INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING MALAYSIA (CERTIFICATE PROVIDER – PHD, DEGREE, DIPLOMA IN ???) MUST BE ACCREDITED BY MALAYSIAN QUALIFICATION AGENCY (MQA) – USED TO BE CALLED LAN. MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

Competency and Skills

COMPETENCY BASED INSTITUTION (CERTIFICATE PROVIDER – SKM 1 – 5 IN ???) MUST BE ACCREDITED BY NATIONAL VOCATIONAL TRAINING CENTRE (MLVK) – MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCES

2.0 DOCUMENTATION

2.1 Quality Manual

- Common Error : Do it make sufficient reference to the Laws, Regulations, Standards etc.? e.g. This Manual is developed by taking into account the following Laws, Regulations, Standards as far as is applicable:

a. Occupational Health and Safety Act 1994

b. Environmental Quality Act, 1974

c. The International Safety Management Code (ISM) – an International Management Code

for the Safe Operation of Ships and for Pollution Prevention,

d. Petroleum Mining Act, 1966

e. ISO 9001:2008

f. OHSAS 18001: 2007

g. EMS ISO 14000 : 2004

WHY?

This is :

a. To assure the Client's that every measure has been taken to customize the documentation to support contractual requirements.

b. To ensure a stringent enforcement

NOT A GREAT CHALLENGE : TO INTEGRATE QUALITY, HEALTH & SAFETY, SECURITY, ENVIRONMENT (HSEQ) MOST OF YOU HAVE DONE IT!

CHALLENGE 1 : CERTAIN CERTIFICATION BODIES VIA ADEQUACY/ COMPLIANCE/SURVEILLANCE ASSESSMENTS - TENDS TO TREAT QUALITY AS A SEPARATE ISSUE - (ISO 9000), HEALTH AND SAFETY A SEPARATE ISSUE (OHSAS 18000), ENVIRONMENT A SEPARATE ISSUE (EMS ISO 14000)

CHALLENGE 2 : THE RESPONSIBILITY SPELLED OUT IN PROCEDURES COMPARED TO JOB DESCRIPTION, DUTIES, RESPONSIBILITIES AND AUTHORITIES. INTEGRATE BOTH IN THE JD! NO OVERLAPPING!

CHALLENGE 3 : METHOD STATEMENTS VS JOB SAFETY ANALYSIS – INTEGRATE OR NOT TO INTEGRATE?

3.0 MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITY

What is RESPONSIBILITY? What is COMMITMENT?

Simple Formula

A) RESPONSIBILITY + COMMITMENT = ACCOUNTABILITY

Responsible for WHAT?

- Budget, Plant and Machinery, Conducive Working Environment, Transportation, ICT etc.

Commited to WHAT?

- ensure implementation of The LAW, Quality, Safety, Security, Environment, Standards, Customer Requirements/Specifications, Vision, Objectives, KRA-KPI, Balance Scorecard etc. 

ACCOUNTABLE to providing resources to ensure smooth operation from start to end.

So - the equation : 

   ACCOUNTABILITY 

+ RESPONSIBILITY 

+ COMMITMENT 

--------------------

= LEADERSHIP

-----------------

LEADERSHIP of WHAT?

PEOPLE

Common Error

KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS, KEY RESULT AREAS, BALANCE SCORECARDS, DEPARTMENT/UNIT OBJECTIVES ARE OF DIFFERENT PLANETS – NOT LINKED TO ONE ANOTHER - OBJECTIVES SHOULD BE CONSISTENT WITH KPI, KRA, BALANCE SCORECARD ETC. (CASCADING PRINCIPLE – PETER DRUCKER – MANAGEMENT BY OBJECTIVES) 

4.0  TRAINING

5.0  PLANNING, OPERATION, PROCUREMENT, CONTROL (PRODUCT REALIZATION)

5.1 Planning

You have proper scheduling – CONGRATULATIONS - with all the Critical Path Method (CPM) – Pert Analysis, Gantt Chart etc. GOOD! 

Improvement: The RED BAR to indicate CPM on every activity

Additional explanatory notes are REQUIRED besides than depending on the data inputs from the software. This is WHERE Quality comes in with the experience of Data Analysis and Improvement to be made! Thus the CPM should also take into account quality setbacks based on experience running a project. Hence will improve the timing accuracy 

THIS CAN BE REFLECTED IN THE PROJECT MANAGEMENT/PROGRESS REPORTS

Common Error 1

AUDIT? – A SCHEDULED & PERIODICAL ASSESSMENT ON THE OVERALL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM – BE IT QUALITY, SAFETY, ENVIRONMENT

INSPECTION? – A ROUTINE UNSCHEDULED ASSESSMENT ON PRODUCT & WORKMANSHIP (PROJECT) - CONTRACTED

SIMILARITY : BOTH CAN ISSUE NON-CONFORMANCE REPORTS (NCR) /CORRECTIVE ACTION REQUEST (CAR)

CHALLENGE

DO CLIENT REQUIRE PROJECT QUALITY (OR HSEQ) PLAN? OR PROJECT EXECUTION PLAN (IF YOU ARE IN THE CONSULTING/DESIGN CAPACITY) OR YOU JUST DEPEND ON THE CONTRACT SPECS OR IF THE CLIENT DO NOT NEED IT – WHY DO IT? (PROACTIVE VS REACTIVE!)

6.0 MEASUREMENT ANALYSIS AND IMPROVEMENT

DO YOU MEASURE COST OF QUALITY

(IS IT STATED ANYWHERE IN THE NCR?, SITE DIARY, LOGS - INTANGIBLE COST)

PREVENTIVE ACTION :

DO YOU TAKE INTO ACCOUNT PAST DATUM OF WASTAGE CONTROL, POSSIBLE REPAIR ETC (CONTINGENCY) - TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT IN THE FUTURE COSTING/BQ? 

QUALITY CAN HELP IN MAKING YOUR CONTINGENCY COST BETTER. ANALYSIS OF DATA, CONTINUAL IMPROVEMENT PROPOSAL FROM THE MANAGEMENT REVIEW MEETING - CAN BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT WHEN DOING FUTURE COSTING AND BILL OF QUANTITIES.

E.G. BUFFER STOCK – WHERE DID THE DATA CAME FROM?

CONCLUSION

QUALITY IS A CONTINUOUS JOURNEY.

DO NOT BE IN THE COMFORTABLE ZONE.

YOU’LL KNOW HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS WHEN YOUR COMPANY STARTS DIVERSIFYING FURTHER!

(well...THEY MIGHT!)

MANAGING BUSINESS IN AN ORGANIZATION - NIK ZAFRI

My lecture (mixed BM & English) for lecturers, tutors and management staff from Faculty of Health and Life Science, Department of Optomery and Visual Science, Management and Science University of Malaysia (MSU) during the Family Day. This module developed to suit the theme of motivation and team building. (This module is also part of our FB Pages - Knowledge Management & E-Smart Learning Solutions)

BRAIN DRAIN, SKILLS, COMPETENCY, ACADEMIC?? WHAT? - by Nik Zafri

Brain Drain seems to be a hot topic in Malaysia. I'm not going into politics or some racial matters but facts and figures.

The Economic Transformation Programme came into the picture with Talent Corp formation to focus on facilitating initiatives to attract, nurture, engage and retain talent to support the human capital.

Disclaimer : I have no qualms against whatever is right for Malaysia to move towards 2020 and I write this article with FULL understanding of Talent Corp. and the need to call for Malaysian talents from outside to return.

However, the questions lingering in my mind have never been properly answered by anyone in charge but whenever I ask the "silent majority"* which being "sampled" from the group of 40 years old and above, ranging from local young CEOs, MDs, Directors to scholars, freelance professionals etc.


*Surprisingly, some are working together in this program and have received 'instructions from above' to participate.

Here are their questions :

a) What about local talents that have nostalgically returned to this country a long time ago? What will happen to them? Are they not good enough to compete with the newbies? (this is not MY question, this is THEIR question)

b) Will there be salary scale difference for the local talents (also with accredited foreign qualifications) who have been working so hard developing the country in their very own way IF the "Malaysian talents outside" are to return to the country to respond to this call?

c) Does this mean that the local talents with local accredited (MQA) universities/institution of higher learning qualifications including local competency training institution (MLVK) and workshops/trainings that have been accredited outside Malaysia are more inferior? That we have to get Malaysians from outside that have "better" qualifications, skills and knowledge?

I sometimes wonder the need for "ranking the local universities to others" (except for acquiring grants for R & D that I do not know about*) when MQA's assessment is more than enough and equivalent to British Accreditation Council.

* Universities set 'mechanisms' via these R & D Grants and NOT 'innovations' according to one dean of a faculty.


d) Has anyone been asking some of the so-called talents outside that the countries that they are so proud residing are also having major problems to even maintain their very own economy?* Do a poll and find out! No names and personal details should be given. Otherwise they won't be telling the truth!

*Quoting General (Retired) Bill Creech in his book "The Five Pillars of Total Quality Management" which goes something like this :

"If the US universities are so good, why is the US economy doing so bad?"


e) Has anyone been asking some of the so-called talents outside what do they REALLY feel about returning to Malaysia - now that they have a GOOD remuneration and unmatchable to what the Government is offering? Do a poll and find out! No names and personal details should be given. Otherwise, they won't be telling the truth!

f) Has anyone been asking some of the so-called talents outside what do they REALLY say about Malaysia to foreigners, how they talk proudly about other nation and not being ungrateful or not even "recalling" where they come from?

Some are even "having amnesia" pathetically attempting their level best NOT to tell where they come from - even using foreign slangs to avoid detection. What a joke! Even worse, some of them are requesting to become foreign citizen.

Then another question should be posed...What about EX-MALAYSIANS who are now official foreign citizens?

These are only some of the questions go unanswered till now.

Before you start to say anything, please be reminded that I am NOT against everyone outside as many of us here now are foreign graduates as well.

And I did saw MANY GOOD Malaysians outside saying this to me :

"Give the local talents another chance, we are fine over here and we will come back eventually"

I've noticed over the years the growing trend of staff especially from the civil service chasing for better qualifications by studying up to MBA and PhD. But again, do qualifications really help nowadays when there is no control imposed over it?

(so many private and government institutions of higher learning are being established with so many academic programmes being offered and with so many people are now madly chasing for higher qualifications thinking of future promotion? Some even dare to "bypass" JPA and using their own expenses to gain a higher qualification. I once asked them (when I was lecturing for a UK-Based program in 1997) :


Q : "Why do you come here?"

A : "This program is accredited by JPA"

Q : "Yes I know, that's the reason why I am standing in front of you now, this program is also accredited by LAN (now MQA)" Forgive me for asking - I like to know if you have been permitted by JPA or your superiors to participate in this course?"

A : "No, but I will give them a copy of the qualification and hope to be promoted - either salary wise or designation wise"

Q : "I'm curious...what if they say this to you "I didn't ask you to do this?"

A : (pause for a while...) "What should I do?"

Q : "Either you ask for their permission now, or your answer should be "I'm looking for another job". And most importantly, I don't want you to start blaming me or this company or this course for not getting you a promotion!

(followed by laughter and the guy nodded his head in agreement...anyway, I followed up with him after he graduated with Honours, he told me that whatever I've predicted DID happened and he's now working as a General Manager for a private company (retired early)

-------------------------

1) When people come and tell me that we are lacking of English Language Teachers, I noticed that it is the 'senior generation of the English Medium or of Foreign Educated' stood up to answer the call but nobody seems to bother.

2) When people come and tell me "What kind of right approach to teach English for working people" I answered : "Teach them according to their expertise, so you need people from the field itself coupled with adequate fluency in English to teach working people...

for example, Civil Engineers, what do they need really? Take checklist or report writing for example, you need to teach them to understand how to describe words like "workmanship", "supervision" etc. Or you need to ask them question of what do they need from this course and you should be answering "in their lingo" by giving them samples of report which they can immediately use after taking the course. So, killing two birds with one stone - you teach them English and you teach them civil engineering "Report Writing"

3) When people come to me and start underestimating "SKM Level 3 to 5 (MLVK)" (thinking that it is only a 'cert') and started comparing with their Degree.

I told them this :

"Did you know that the "SKM Level 5" is a lot better than your Engineering Degree?

Quoting OSH regulations - phrase "a competent person" let's say "Welding and Fitting" - you should counter refer to any "Welding Codes of Practice" and you will find that he is much more AUTHORIZED to attend to "Welding and Fitting" rather than you M & E Degree.

The M & E graduate got more interested and finally I told him this :

"Bitter it may sound but we have different too many ministries to handle different trades. Academic is MOE's and MHL's turfs but SKILL and COMPETENCY are MHR's "babies"!


Learning to pass exam is DIFFERENT than learning how to work! But passing exam is the foundation and learning how to work is the next level which have not been properly introduced in our country. That's why employers keep giving you excuses "You don't have working experience - so you don't get the job"

I'm telling the universities or any other institution of higher learning be it private or government "Don't give guarantee to students or parents that they will get a good job once they have graduated"

There are few universities been integrating both academic and skills/competencies, take for example Defence University of Malaysia, I've visited them, talked to the ex-deputy vice chancellor and very impressed with the results!"

-------------------------

I'm also really shocked to learn ISO 9000 has been "legalized" (or rather "politicized") when it is only an international standard (a guide NOT gospel) And every other party started to emerge in the "power play"...I can name few "training authorities" that have proudly instructing me that "you consultants must be registered"

They said to me : "You don't register with us, you will not be recognized"

I asked them back : "Can you give me a project if I am to be registered with you?"

They replied : "No, No, No, we cannot give you warranty that we will award you with any project"

I replied : "So you want my money but you don't want to give yours"

They vetoed : "This is regulations"

I said in my heart : "yeah..you're HIDING behind regulations" and you're telling me that my "foreign chartered membership" is now invalid?

So I took a peek into "their system" that was displayed by a dismayed client and I quickly asked the client :

"Where's the method statement (according to the trades)...say "earthworks, or "piling" etc" These are SOPs and WIs, these are meant for factories and manufacturing, boss - NOT CONSTRUCTION"

"Where's the inspection and test plan, how do customize the manual for construction industry according to the contract mode - "Design & Build, Turnkey etc."? (Permissible Exclusion on Design & Development responsibilities)

"Where's your PQP?" and showed them clauses from the Main Contract (also CLIENT's requirements) requiring sample submission as well.

Where's your sample schedule (they did show but I told them "This is MSP not Primavera..have you been meeting the "construction PMC" lately? or just simply 'copy and paste?'

OHSAS 18000 (Standard for Occupational Safety and Health) has a disclaimer : "Compliance to this standard shall not provide immunity to the law"

Hahaha - and there is not even the word "ISO" in front OHSAS 18000 unlike EMS ISO 14000 and ISO 9000. (Bureaucracy is in progress)

-------------------------
I also noticed ICT companies with "M*C status" are "closing shop" one after another. Many of them told me that the grant is too low, we have no capital and GOD - we have to through so much levels in order to get "more money".

But ironically, those without the "status" are really "prosperous" (We don't need any status or certifications to be rich)

What's the point of having "pre-seed grants" or "level by level grants" or asking ex-participants to participate in any of related programs or having "incubation" courses in hotels with so many batches around and so-called "consultants" and only 1 - 2 will successfully get the "grant" after going into a 'reality show' kind of "pitching contest"?

I recalled seeing one of the participants who talks SO PROUDLY as if he is "Mr. Know Everything" but his business is doing SO BADLY...hmmm "typical"
-------------------------

I like to close this article by quoting a Chinese CEO of a 'very large company' saying this to me:

"How many people with "good qualifications" are known being involved in white or blue collar crimes? I think Nik, it's not so much about qualifications...it's the attitude, experience, competency and most important HONESTY"

I would rather look for honest people (I know when I see one) to take care of my money and organization and I'm willing to train such people to understand what I need, I don't like people who are too "smart" as they are the ones who tend to play tricks with figures. Don't quote me for that"

:-) Nik Zafri: Sorry, I have to quote your very good statement but I won't mention your name

The Star Global Malaysian Forum - Posted: 27 June 2005 at 2:31pm

Someone has asked me an interesting question that I would like to share with all of you as 'mind probe' to trigger our 'art of thinking capability'.

"I am an Accounting student who has passed with flying colours but still uncertain of what to do. I was called for an interview in a construction industry but I am scared that I might not 'make it' to the next level. Someone said to me that I must know the the difference between academic and competency and how to blend them together when I work, Please help"

It was a difficult question but I have answered to it anyway. In principle :

Academic - is a continual learning process - ending up with Certificate, Diploma, Degree and so on. (Authority - Ministry of Education/Ministry of Higher Learning)

Competency - is a staggard learning process - you will have to undergo one level to another. It's also a process 'having experience' before 'experience' and I called it 'learning to work'. (Authority - Ministry of Human Resources)

Both the above require 'accreditation' from the relevant statutory bodies typically on the Modules, Facilitators/Lecturers and Premise where both nature of courses are provided.

Both academic and competency are two core prequisites for fresh graduates but require a little bit of what I call 'customization to the needs of the industry that you are about to be in'.

In one of my lectures in one of the Malaysian local institution of higher learning - on Knowledge Management (Theme : Knowledge Worker), I have said that an Accounting student may not necessarily end up in an Accounting firm. He may also end up in a Construction Industry. Thus, this is where competency comes in where he has to gain some knowledge in advance about construction industry in order to apply his academic-based accounting knowledge.

After graduation, he may have to spend some money (I call it investment) to attend competency-based courses from CIDB, YSP, NIOSH, NPC etc. etc. Not to the level of becoming a Construction Supervisor or Project Manager but to understand the construction industry itself as he has no experience and don't know 'jack' about the construction industry.

He can also mingle round with some of the 'senior/matured 'technical' students' to gain a little bit of data before ascertaining the accounting knowledge that he may have to know before attending an interview with a Contractor (e.g. the COQ - Cost of Quality as a result of defect/repairing cost analysis and how these data contribute to future effective budgetting - project management or How Procurement (of Raw Materials) and a Quantity Surveyor (Bill of Quantities) interface with his accounting capability)

Apart from the abovementioned, I also ask him to refresh his studies on English Language (topics such as report writing and communication) and ICT - (IT application that may apply to him during his work - e.g. a little bit of knowledge of Intranet/Data Mining, ERP/MRP, CRM and how he can contribute his 'tacit data' towards these 'databases' (the main source) in order to have the output for 'explicit knowledge' (after it has been properly 'tapped' by means of QCC tools aided by computer-based analysis)

That's simply IT! Mind you, I didn't get these methods the easy way but I got it from 'hands-on experience', 'learning by heart' and 'continual improvement of my current knowledge and skills'. But for the fresh graduates, think of what I've said...it may prove you useful..one day!

I chuckled when this guy replied to me :

"Is it that difficult??"

Extracted from http://www.brint.com (Knowledge Management Portal)

Question from : W Hollenbaugh, United States.

In todays current financial status of the lower and middle class, is it possible for a person of my stature who is over their head in bills and general cost of living while all the while facing the rise of the cost of living to get ahead and provide a comfortable life for himself and his family when he does not have the financial means of his own to invest on the things available to get ahead and make a suitable life for his family? All questions, thoughts and direction of advise is greatly appreciated and needed.

Nik Zafri's response :

Thank you for your query Mr. Hollenbaugh. As a matter of fact, what you have highlighted is a universal problem (even to me as well). I can only quote you the examples from the Malaysian environment that is currently recovering from the fall in the late 90s. I've been queried many times by mostly small businessmen and freelance consultants of how they can sustain throughout this difficult period. What I've told them may not be the same with what you are encountering as the situation in the United States possibly a little bit different than what we have in South East Asia especially Malaysia.

In our quest towards recovery and ultimately a financial freedom, we have to go back to the 'basics'. Ask yourself what you are really good at? I call this 'your personal branding'. Then, you list down your other skills (Your Personal JD) but make sure they are according to your degree of ability (benchmarking) Then, you have to do some sort of a process flow chart of how you plan start this Main Competency/Other Skills of yours and where it ends.

Then you will have to measure them by putting some time frame i.e. how long can you usually finish this personal branding/other skills of yours - depending on the job you're doing, it may be a short or a long term project. (you need to classify what kind of job you're doing, short or long term)

Having done this, you need to have your own Personal Mission Statement (ambition/aspiration towards the future). In your objectives/goals/key result areas, you need to specifiy of 'when you're going to achieve these', 'do you need more exposure like training (Expected Ability minus Current Ability = Needs of Training - you can do this by taking your personal JD as a basis) ' or 'advertising (flyers as a start)' of your main skill/branding & other skills. There are quite a number of free seminars, go to these places and make friends with the more experienced people esp. the experts/speakers etc. (networking), always get in touch with them. If you have more money, you can always take up business classes to any extent that you wish - so long as this academic + skills classes are very related to what you are good at.

Another good thing you can do is to forecast your Profit & Loss. Do some personal survey through networking - through your friends or competitors..of course you don't need to travel one place to another to get this. Even by networking, you can get interesting information as well.

If you are good in quantitative techniques, QCC and operational research, you can always use these things to further analyse your achievement, data gained from survey and projects that you're doing such as complaints, comments etc. etc. This is especially good for when making final and 'almost' accurate decision making (after all nothing's perfect)- what you're going to do next or what are your future plans.

The Internet has a lot of resources on what you are doing. Find and read them. Always update yourself with the latest issues.

Of course; along the journey; you will find that sometimes your personal branding might have competitors. Don't worry about it, the market segment maybe quite big and there are many slices of cakes enough for everyone - if you're really up to it or strong enough.

If you find that your other skills are 'making more money' to you, don't be too distracted and leaving your Main Competency/Personal Branding. Many have failed by taking this dangerous path and pitfall as their profit generators. What should be done is to stick firmly to your Main Competency/Personal Branding - your identity - what you are good at and channel all the profits/money from your other skills to realize your aspiration - to be the best in what you do best (your Main Competency/Personal Branding)

Of course, what I'm saying here is very related only to those who wishes to open-up/establish their own business or freelancing. Being employed is still a good thing if you are only having 1-2 years experience. The best employment experience that I've ever seen (that works) is about 5-10 years minimum before considering to venture oneself into what I've mentioned above. Another thing need to be emphasized here is that, these employment experience; if possible; must come from multi-disciplines or multi-industrial ranging from different types/variations of products or different types of services. Yes, many also have said to me that "Rolling Stone Gathers No Moss" but there are also some pros besides contras - multi-industrial knowledge is a lot better then only to narrow yourself to one particular industry only...

Please note : I do not encourage employed people to do what I've said above as a 'part-time job' as based on my experience, no one can really focus being employed and doing something else to gain more money at the same time...It won't work...there will be time that you have to make a very critical choice of either to choose your job or your own business.

Good luck!

Accreditation - done by an independent institution/governing body to certify another institution for its' services & products (usually by means of a certificate) - Accreditation can also cover premise, modules, lecturers etc. etc.

Certification - done by an Accredited Certification Institution/body to organizations requiring such certification to boost confidence in their products and services. Accreditation is given based on specific trades/industrial expertise displayed by the certification body.

Consulting - a certified third party/person who guide organization to be certified based on law, standards and specifications
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Hakcipta Terpelihara 1998 dan 2000 Nik Zafri bin Abdul Majid. Segala bentuk penyalinan kembali harta intelek tanpa kebenaran adalah salah di sisi undang-undang (Nota : kemaskini - 2005/12 & 2006/11 - Rujukan : Sumber dari IAF, SC, TAG, ISO IEC dll)

AKREDITASI, PERSIJILAN DAN PERUNDINGAN - ISO

Oleh : Nik Zafri bin Abdul Majid


(Artikel ini sepatutnya disiarkan oleh sebuah akhbar tempatan tetapi telah dibatalkan tanpa alasan yang munasabah)

Kita sering terbaca mengenai firma-firma dari segenap pelusuk dunia mendapat persijilan ISO 9000 atau ISO 14000 atau lain-lain yang berkaitan dengan bidang/industri pembekalan perkhidmatan/produk masing-masing. Namun apa yang saya perhatikan, masih terdapat kekeliruan dalam penggunaan perkataan 'akreditasi' dan 'persijilan' Ada yang juga yang masih kabur dengan etika, fungsi dan had kuasa asas sebuah firma perunding, badan persijilan dan lembaga/badan akreditasi (ISO) Izinkan saya untuk mengupas sedikit secara ringkas persoalan yang kompleks ini sekaligus menghilangkan segala kekeliruan yang timbul.

Setiap piawaian spesifik ISO dan segala perinciannya berada di bawah penyeliaan langsung Jawatankuasa Teknikal Organisasi Standard Antarabangsa (ISOTC) Contohnya ISOTC 176 untuk ISO 9000 dan 207 untuk ISO 14000. Perincian elemen/komponen pula dilakukan oleh jawatankuasa-jawatankuasa kecil (SC). Kadangkala untuk membantu menguatkan lagi tonggak SC, Kumpulan Penasihat Teknikal - TAG (Technical Advisory Group) ditubuhkan.

Biasanya, piawaian yang dijadikan aras ukuran/model antarabangsa oleh ISOTC adalah berpunca daripada :- a) Piawaian tempatan negara-negara terpilih, umpamanya, Piawaian British BS 7750 telah dijadikan asas utama kepada EMS ISO 14000.

b) Penyelidikan dan Pembangunan serta penemuan baru sesuatu produk atau proses seperti penentukuran, ujian dan sebagainya daripada negara-negara terpilih yang kemudiannya dijadikan asas dan pemangkin kepada kewujudan piawaian-piawaian baru atau penyemakan semula piawaian-piawaian terdahulu.

c) Undang-Undang tertentu, umpamanya, yang berkisarkan Alam Sekeliling atau Keselamatan dan Kesihatan Pekerjaan ataupun Kejuruteraan.

d) Resolusi Persidangan-Persidangan Dunia umpamanya Geneva, Piagam Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu, dll.

Lembaga/Badan Akreditasi (juga dikenali sebagai correspondent member) biasanya ditubuhkan berlandaskan peruntukan undang-undang tertentu yang juga berkaitan dengan ISOTC. Mereka berkuasa penuh untuk menauliahkan/mengakreditasikan Badan Persijilan berlandaskan Panduan ISO/IEC (Contohnya 67 untuk ISO 14000) mengikut skop-skop kerja yang diluluskan sahaja. Contohnya sesebuah badan persijilan dapat mengeluarkan sijil ISO dalam skop kerja kejuruteraan aerospace untuk sesebuah organisasi/industri tidak semestinya boleh meluluskan persijilan untuk skop kerja farmaseutikal. Jadi organisasi farmaseutikal perlu mencari badan persijilan lain yang mampu meluluskan persijilan berkenaan.

Ringkasnya, Badan Persijilan pula berperanan antara lain :

a) Menilai/mengesahkan sistem ISO sesebuah organisasi bagi tujuan persijilan,

b) Mensijilkan organisasi yang layak,

c) Membuat penilaian susulan untuk memastikan kesinambungan penyelenggaraan dan peningkatan berterusan sesebuah organisasi setelah disijilkan,

d) Kebiasaannya, menjalankan latihan-latihan teknikal dan pengurusan yang menghalatuju kearah pemeriksaan yang bersabit dengan ISO (contohnya Penilaian Bertauliah dan Berdaftar)

Setakat artikel ini ditulis, tidak pula jelas dalam panduan-panduan ISO/IEC bahawa badan persijilan boleh mengendalikan perkhidmatan (d) ini kecuali dalam kes-kes seperti usahasama penajaan dan pengelolaan dengan perunding, pertubuhan-pertubuhan atau agensi yang berkaitan. Namun dari kajian saya mengenai draf/blueprint ISO 9001:2000 (versi terbaru ISO 9000 dijangka akan diterbitkan bulan November 2000) menunjukkan kekeliruan ini sedang diperjelaskan oleh ISOTC dan Forum Akreditasi Antarabangsa (IAF) menerusi Panduan ISO/IEC yang baru..

Selain itu, Badan Persijilan juga berperanan aktif dalam jawatankuasa teknikal tempatan untuk menjalankan ujian rapi secara saintifik serta R & D keatas draf/blueprint piawaian yang bakal diperkenalkan. Ini penting untuk menyesuai dan mengorientasikan elemen-elemen piawaian berkenaan dengan suasana setempat.

Pakar Perunding pula secara asasnya hanya memberikan khidmat nasihat, latihan, perundingan dan pembangunan sistem ISO kepada organisasi yang menuju kearah persijilan. Secara etikanya, mereka perlu bebas daripada sebarang ikatan langsung dengan badan persijilan dan akreditasi. Namun begitu mereka perlu berdaftar dengan mana-mana badan/agensi (afiliasi) mengikut peruntukan undang-undang jika ada.

Di peringkat antarabangsa, jarang saya mendengar samada :

a) Lembaga Akreditasi (ISO) dan Badan Persijilan menjadi selaku Pakar Perunding, atau

b) Firma Perunding diberikan akreditasi untuk mengeluarkan sijil ISO tanpa melalui Badan Persijilan.

Penilai-penilai ISO dari firma perunding biasanya memiliki pengalaman dan pendedahan yang luas kepada berbagai jenis industri. Mereka juga merupakan penilai bertauliah/berdaftar serta ahli pertubuhan-pertubuhan professional (afiliasi) dalam bidang kualiti, keselamatan & kesihatan pekerjaan, alam sekitar, pengurusan dll.

Sememangnya, dalam membicarakan subjek yang sungguh luas ini, masih banyak perincian yang boleh dilakukan. Umpamanya saya meramalkan bahawa bidang akreditasi yang meliputi pendidikan/akademik, kemahiran/ketrampilan (LAN-MOE/MLVK-MHR), perkhidmatan, produk dll akan berpayung di bawah satu Lembaga Akreditasi (bebas) sahaja untuk memudahkan kerja-kerja penauliahan - tanpa sebarang kecenderungan Ini telah pun berlaku di kebanyakan negara-negara Eropah terutamanya UK.

Antara kebaikan-kebaikan hasil penjelasan saya ini ialah :-

a) menghilangkan kekeliruan dalam peristilahan dan mengurangkan tindihan kuasa pihak-pihak yang terbabit.

b) menjadi pemangkin kepada anjakan paradigma professional dalam konteks ISO yang semakin diabaikan.

c) mewujudkan 'quality spirit' yang asli sekaligus menghapuskan unsur bias.

d) mengecap hasil penerimaan sebenar produk/perkhidmatan di pasaran antarabangsa oleh industri-industri dan bukan hanya 'lip service' semata-mata dengan sekeping sijil yang belum tentu dapat dibawa kemana-mana.

e) organisasi perlu lebih professional dan mampu memahami sedalam-dalamnya apa-apa yang telah dijelaskan diatas demi ketepatan terutamanya dalam membuat pilihan yang betul dan tepat serta menguntungkan dari segi jangkapanjang operasi mereka.

Nota Penulis (selaku perunding berpengalaman (domestik/antarabangsa) > 15 tahun) : Dalam keghairahan semua pihak yang mempunyai kepentingan dalam 'jaringan akreditasi/persijilan/perundingan' yang luas ini - harus perlu memahami dan menumpukan perhatian kepada segmen pasaran masing-masing kerana ketiga-tiga tret ini adalah complementary dan adalah tidak wajar dijadikan asas untuk 'bertanding secara tidak sihat' atau mencari kepentingan 'perniagaan berlebih-lebihan' (tetapi tiada hasil akhirnya kerana kurang pengalaman) kerana tidak ada mana-mana pihak pun yang akan menang dan akan kalah lebih-lebih lagi dalam dunia dan era 'Knowledge Management' dan globalisasi ini.