This post brought to you by Express. All opinions are 100% mine.

How men behave and how they look arguably can be as significant as, if not more important than, the content discussed in the business meeting. There is little disagreement that attire has communicative power, and the topic has been the subject of research for years due to its cultural and social significance.

While the debate regarding effective business pitch continues, it is apparent that the professional appearance and attire of the professor has a positive impact on the business colleagues’ perceptions of a number of traits that are often considered in the evaluation of a technical proposal or a business venture. The results of some informal studies suggest that the way a person package himself in a business meeting leaves others with a more positive perception on the credibility and viability of what that person is talking about.

It is obvious by now in the corporate world that dressing men, especially men's suits from Express make very much impact on his personality whether it is a business meeting or a corporate negotiation. Express professional attire dictates their overall personality and their line of men suit is the most appropriate dress code for any business occasion. Clients of Express have already communicated to everyone that they are ready to make the transition from just in business into a respectful working professional.

Often you see men not being dressed accordingly to their line of business. A suit from Express not only underlines one’s personality, it also underlines the quality of their work. If a person has a serious business to offer then they need to start serious considering the way they look and how Express can help give that makeover.

Another good thing about getting suits from Express right now is that they are giving their customers a chance to win US$500 Suiting Makeover. Enter the Express sweepstakes everyday and earn an additional entry (up to 20 total) when you share this opportunity with a friend who also signs up. So why not take advantage of this opportunity to win some cash, get some new suits and impress the people you want to work with.

If you want to say something, especially on what is the purpose for wearing a suit, just post it in the suggestion or comment box and we will try to make a suit that is appropriate to your situation.

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Quality management is becoming increasingly important to the leadership and management of all organisations. It is necessary to identify Quality Management as a distinct discipline of management and lay down universally understood and accepted rules for this discipline.

The ISO technical committee working on the ISO9000 standards had published a document detailing the quality management principles and application guidelines. The latest revision (version 2008) of ISO9000 standards are based on these principles.

A quality management principle is a comprehensive and fundamental rule or belief, for leading and operating an organization. It is aimed at continually improving performance over the long-term by focusing on customers while addressing the needs of all other stakeholders

The eight principles are:

Principle 1 - Customer-Focused Organization

"Organisations depend on their customers and therefore should understand current and future customer needs, meet customer requirements and strive to exceed customer expectations".

Steps in application of this principle are:

1. Understand customer needs and expectations for products, delivery, price, dependability, etc.


2. Ensure a balanced approach among customers and other stake holders (owners, people, suppliers, local communities and society at large) needs and expectations.


3. Communicate these needs and expectations throughout the organization.


4. Measure customer satisfaction & act on results, and


5. Manage customer relationships.

Principle 2 - Leadership

"Leaders establish unity of purpose and direction of the organisation. They should create and maintain the internal environment in which people can become fully involved in achieving the organisation's objectives."

Steps in application of this principle are:

1. Be proactive and lead by example.


2. Understand and respond to changes in the external environment.


3. Consider the needs of all stake holders including customers, owners, people, suppliers, local communities and society at large.


4. Establish a clear vision of the organization's future.


5. Establish shared values and ethical role models at all levels of the organization.


6. Build trust and eliminate fear.


7. Provide people with the required resources and freedom to act with responsibility and accountability.


8. Inspire, encourage and recognize people's contributions.


9. Promote open and honest communication.


10. Educate, train and coach people.


11. Set challenging goals and targets, and


12. Implement a strategy to achieve these goals and targets.

Principle 3 - Involvement of People

"People at all levels are the essence of an organization and their full involvement enables their abilities to be used for the organization's benefit".

Steps in application of this principle are:

1. Accept ownership and responsibility to solve problems.


2. Actively seek opportunities to make improvements, and enhance competencies, knowledge and experience.


3. Freely share knowledge & experience in teams.


4. Focus on the creation of value for customers.


5. Be innovative in furthering the organization’s objectives.


6. Improve the way of representing the organization to customers, local communities and society at large.


7. Help people derive satisfaction from their work, and


8. Make people enthusiastic and proud to be part of the organization.

Principle 4 - Process Approach

"A desired result is achieved more efficiently when related resources and activities are managed as a process."

Steps in application of this principle are:

1. Define the process to achieve the desired result.


2. Identify and measure the inputs and outputs of the process.


3. Identify the interfaces of the process with the functions of the organization.


4. Evaluate possible risks, consequences and impacts of processes on customers, suppliers and other stake holders of the process.


5. Establish clear responsibility, authority, and accountability for managing the process.


6. Identify internal and external customers, suppliers and other stake holders of the process, and


7. When designing processes, consider process steps, activities, flows, control measures, training needs, equipment, methods, information, materials and other resources to achieve the desired result.

Principle 5 - System Approach to Management

"Identifying, understanding and managing a system of interrelated processes for a given objective improves the organization's effectiveness and efficiency."

Steps in application of this principle are:

1. Define the system by identifying or developing the processes that affect a given objective.


2. Structure the system to achieve the objective in the most efficient way.


3. Understand the inter-dependencies among the processes of the system.


4. Continually improve the system through measurement and evaluation, and


5. Estimate the resource requirements and establish resource constraints prior to action.

Principle 6 - Continual Improvement

"Continual improvement should be a permanent objective of the organization."

Steps in application of this principle are:

1. Make continual improvement of products, processes and systems an objective for every individual in the organization.


2. Apply the basic improvement concepts of incremental improvement and breakthrough improvement.


3. Use periodic assessments against established criteria of excellence to identify areas for potential improvement.


4. Continually improve the efficiency and effectiveness of all processes.


5. Promote prevention based activities.


6. Provide every member of the organization with appropriate education and training, on the methods and tools of continual improvement such as the Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle, problem solving, process re-engineering, and process innovation.


7. Establish measures and goals to guide and track improvements,and


8. Recognize improvements.

Principle 7 - Factual Approach to Decision Making

"Effective decisions are based on the analysis of data and information."

Steps in application of this principle are:

1. Take measurements and collect data and information relevant to the objective.


2. Ensure that the data and information are sufficiently accurate, reliable and accessible.


3. Analyze the data and information using valid methods.


4. Understand the value of appropriate statistical techniques, and


5. Make decisions and take action based on the results of logical analysis balanced with experience and intuition.

Principle 8 - Mutually Beneficial Supplier Relationships

"An organization and its suppliers are interdependent, and a mutually beneficial relationship enhances the ability of both to create value."

Steps in application of this principle are:

1. Identify and select key suppliers.


2. Establish supplier relationships that balance short-term gains with long-term considerations for the organization and society at large.


3. Create clear and open communications.


4. Initiate joint development and improvement of products and processes.


5. Jointly establish a clear understanding of customers' needs.


6. Share information and future plans, and


7. Recognize supplier improvements and achievements.

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This post brought to you by Net10. All opinions are 100% mine.

There is good news and bad news to Net 10 subscribers. The network is currently offering unlimited call, text and data for only US$ 50.00 a month. That's definitely good news. The bad news is that the promo is only available if phones are not sold out in selected areas.

If a Real NET10 customer requires more credits later, airtime cards can be bought from the Net 10 website. Any communication issues can also be reported to the site and quality service will be provided.

Some phone user may think that the unlimited option for US$ 50.00 is not for them and they want to try a cheaper alternative first to test the waters, then they may try convenient Easy Minutes Plus program, which is an automatic minutes-plan that starts at US$ 15.00 for 200 minutes.

Net 10 affordable and preferable services do not end with its convenient plans. Their long distance program is also sought by many consumers because it is available to over 75 countries, for about 15 cents per minute on calls that originated from the U.S. Doubters can check the validity of this claim in Twitter and Facebook.

For more details on the quality of service the network has to offer and the plans it is providing, check out What Rob has to say below:

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Most Filipinos will proudly claim that the country’s Christmas celebration is the longest and merriest in the world. The event begins formally on 16 December with attendance at the first of nine pre-dawn or early morning masses and continues on nonstop until the first Sunday of January, Feast of the Three Kings, the official end of the season.

The streets are well lit with displays of Christmas 'Parol' (pah-role), or star lantern which symbolizes the guiding light, the star of Bethlehem. It emits warmth unparalleled among holiday adornments and is unique to the Philippines.

Christmas is also the time when shopping malls are flooded with the items for Christmas gift giving. However, many Filipinos find the prices on these malls quiet high and shopping for simple giveaways might cost much more than what an ordinary consumer could have anticipated. Instead of squeezing their budget without accomplishing any of their major objectives, some are actually brave enough to explore these alternative shopping places in Metro Manila:

Divisoria Streets. Don't go to the malls yet, but try the unique offering of the Divisoria streets. The place turns into a shopping village at night, hence, the name "Divisoria Night Market". It is a haven that offers the best and cheapest bargain available in Metro Manila. Shopping here can be considered a crazy experience. It is like going through the Amazon Rain Forests with nothing but instincts while being chased by headhunters. It is that intense. Once you are finished with the test of endurance, stamina, awareness as well as senses, then rest those tired feet in the nearby 168 and Divisoria Shopping Malls. You deserved it.

Baclaran. If you are still thinking on how they're going to squeeze their budget for Christmas, but find Divisoria a bit too rowdy, then why not explore Baclaran. Most of the shop owners in Baclaran are direct importers of high quality merchandise. Hence, everyone can easily avail of their cheap collections of clothes and accessories, especially "tsinelas". Only one warning: don’t try to go there during Wednesday or you will have to squeeze your way in and out of the streets from morning until evening through a crowd of shop-hungry zombies.

Carriedo Street. Carriedo in Quiapo has always been a busy street where one has to literally inch their way through. However, during Christmas, Carriedo becomes doubly crowded with all sorts of vendors peddling their wares in sidewalks and beyond, and all sorts of shoppers buying the affordable items the place offers. Just don't go there during Fridays because that is Quiapo Day and that means shopping crowds will have to compete for every available walking space with church-going crowds.

So, if you ever want to get some good Christmas shopping for the best deals as well as find some uniquely crazy new items, then you definitely need to shop in these places. For safety, don't forget to leave your children and valuable bling-bling at home when you go there.

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This post brought to you by Untitled Jersey City Project. All opinions are 100% mine.

They say a collection of short burst of thriller stories is best suited for the demands of modern life than a novel. If this is true, then it may be worth to check out a new set of eight short-form episodes, playing with the key difference between people who interact intellectually and people who engage on an emotional and physical level.

The people behind the FX program called Untitled Jersey City Project are very good. They are always seems completely in control of their subject and the prose is assured and absorbing. Their story try to present an interesting wry look at the lives of four characters with full of energy, wit, charisma and attention to detail. They flips between so many scenes and settings with ease that their plot are both dense and mind-boggling.

The first episode of the program provides a lighter and more approachable point of contact. It presents a range of chastened characters living out compromised, overtly middle-class but fast-developing Jersey City waterfront, just across the river from Manhattan. The primary characters appear to be both contented and at the same hungry for escape. The first story is presented almost exclusively through an unclear exchange – classic dinner-party piffle that covers everything and nothing:

"I'm sorry, man. I really am"

"I wish I could turn back the clock"

This tone of clear details and intellectualized reality – which is fascinating and illustrative in its own way – is expected to give way to a deeper and more emotional reality in the succeeding episodes. The characters appear to operate outside of narrow linguistic constraints and reveal and communicate their thoughts and emotions much more fully. The main character, Frank George, is the most direct example of this –an architect with a blown ego and a Jersey kid’s street smarts who absorbs the world he experiences with great sensitivity and converts it into a different form of truth.

If you like to get a first-hand experience on this skillfully crafted and well-structured first episode, then check this video below and post your comments here.

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The community insurance industry may see a new breed of agents that can offer protection and tare expected to be tough and focused on their mission. Trained by Center for Agriculture and Rural Development (CARD), the microinsurance agents or MI-Agents are composed of mothers who are ready to make insurance available to every Filipino.

In the world of microinsurance, accessibility to fund means everything and could transform lives into something. To the majority of Filipinos, traditional insurance is deemed inaccessible – expensive, offered only in the urban areas, difficult to maintain because high interest rates. As part of its mission to empower the poor, CARD reinforces its microfinance programs by offering insurance products that are affordable. But, to make it known to more Filipinos that these products are within their reach, CARD leverages its network of members, fondly called "CARD nanays."

"Getting through to the grassroots was not possible utilizing the regular distribution channel of regular insurance products, much more with the conventional insurance agents," Alex M. Dimaculangan, CaMIA president, explains. "To be able to reach the marginalized sector, a different type of distribution network is needed, along with a different mindset in marketing and sales of insurance products and services."

Most CARD nanays have experienced first hand the benefits of microinsurance, and so are easily able to share its value with their peers. The power of their testimony has convinced many women to set aside money for coverage that protects their families and property. Dimaculangan adds, “Since the insurance business is based on trust, we needed a sales force that could be trusted not only by the insurance provider but by their peers in the countryside.”

MI-agents are the CARD nanays who have passed certain qualifications including sales training. As MI-Agents, they are authorized to sell the PAID Plan, coverage developed specifically for CARD members by CARD Mutual Benefit Association, Inc. (CARD MBA) and the Pioneer group of insurance companies. The PAID Plan is affordable and includes personal accident, property insurance and a funeral benefit. Sales training for MI-Agents began in December 2009. To date, almost 900 MI-Agents have attended these sessions; 635 are considered active. Their contribution is invaluable, the MI-Agents account for 60 to 70 percent of CaMIA’s total monthly production. They likewise are the link between CARD management and members, assisting in claims assessment and validation and helping to address the questions of policyholders through their presence in regular Center meetings.

For October 2011, CARD bolsters its support for the MI-Agents by introducing MI-Adjusters or the Microinsurance Claims Adjusters. The MI-Adjusters' role is to validate claims, helping to speed up the process by verifying the claimant's necessary information. When bulk losses come in due to natural disasters, the MI-Adjusters will provide much-needed manpower to make certain that the benefits reach policyholders as soon as possible. Like the MI-Agents, the MI-Adjusters are a "first" for the insurance industry.

"Working with an organization such as CARD has given us important lessons on microinsurance,” Geric Laude, VP for Microinsurance for Pioneer Life says. “Through their system of MI-Agents, we are harnessing the advantages of community to reach out to more Filipinos with the benefits of microinsurance."

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Even with the uncertainties facing the world economy, one businessman believes that franchising can still offer a viable opportunity for Filipino exporters without necessarily abandoning their existing exporting ventures.

Samie Lim, chairman of the World Franchise Council (WFC), said many franchisors are now setting their sights on Asia amidst the current global economic slowdown particularly in the United States and Europe.

"For the next five years, they are looking at Asia and fortunately, the Philippines has prepared itself; we are ready," Lim said in an interview with The Philippine Star on the sidelines of the Franchise Asia 2011.

The event brought together delegates from the member countries of the WFC and the Asia Pacific Franchise Confederation (APFC).

"The delegates, all of them were so impressed. The Philippines has the biggest malls in the world, people here are always smiling, everybody speaks English, they are young and they eat six times a day - that’s a good market for them," he said.

With this, Lim said franchising can be an alternative venture particularly for exporters, as long as they will adopt the franchising model of expansion.

"They must stop thinking now: I want a buyer who wants to buy 20 containers for next year. They must think of the other dimension that is creating shops. Franchises are stores, shops have brands and designs," he said.

Lim said many exporters are already knowledgeable about the original equipment manufacturing (OEM), original design manufacturing (ODM) and original brand manufacturing (OBM).

"We should be displaying original Philippine designs. Franchising brought the third dimension called original brand manufacturing," he noted.

Lim reiterated his projections for the country's franchising industry which was seen to generate P50 billion in additional investments in the next three years.

"New franchise stores or restaurants I believe will generate about P200 billion additional sales revenues, meaning the government can take taxes (from that). And it will generate 125,000 jobs at least in the next five years," he said.

Apart from crisis-hit exporters, franchising can be also a business option for returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) particularly those affected by political crisis in other countries.

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Introduction

1. Stress management is part of managers’ normal personnel management responsibilities for the welfare of staff. The aim of these guidelines is to assist you in preventing and reducing unacceptable pressure for yourself and your staff. Bear in mind that managers who feel stressed may in turn create a stressful environment for their staff.

Prevention is better than cure

2. Ensure that you:

• have, or quickly gain, the necessary skills to recruit, motivate and manage staff with appropriate competencies;
• exercise the appropriate management style, delegating clearly with proper direction in a supportive manner while at the same time allowing staff to plan their own work as far as is reasonably possible;
• are approachable, so that staff feel able to talk about everyday pressures and you are able recognize at an early stage physical or behavioral signs of pressure in your staff;
• use the appraisal system to discuss work with staff and provide access to any necessary training;
• produce clearly defined job descriptions which include role interaction with others; state at interviews any potential job pressures, and arrange, in advance of arrival of new staff, effective induction;
• while recognizing the constraints, take whatever steps you can to arrange for physical working conditions to be as comfortable as possible.

Monitor potential signs of stress

3. Signs include

• higher staff turnover;
• increase in sickness absence;
• reluctance to take leave;
• poor time-keeping;
• increase in customer complaints.

4. Where stress caused or made worse by work could lead to ill health, the Health and Safety Executive advises that under health and safety law, the risk must be assessed. Such a risk assessment includes:

• identifying work pressures that could cause high levels of stress for more than a short period of time;
• assessing who may be harmed by such stress;
• establishing how to prevent the pressures developing into excessive stress.

Action to reduce stress

5. You can help to prevent pressure developing into stress by:

• demonstrating a co-operative rather than adversarial manner, and engendering team spirit;
• taking action to tackle the causes of stress, including stopping any bullying, harassment or prejudiced behavior;
• adjusting workloads, if necessary;
• being aware of the pressures outside work;
• advising staff that they can be referred to a Medical Facility or can make their own appointment for a session of counseling;
• seeking advice from Human Resources on how to manage staff suffering from excessive or prolonged stress.

6. A change in office environment, work reorganization, or job description can be particularly stressful for staff. Pressure can be reduced by prompt and regular communication with staff.

Support for staff suffering from stress

7. Unless known otherwise, it should be assumed, that all staff members are all capable of withstanding reasonable pressure from work. However, action should be taken when a member of staff:

• shows signs that pressure has developed into stress;
• states that work has become excessively stressful;
• suffers from stress related ill health.

8. In the event of this happening, an informal discussion should be held to establish the cause of stress. Practical steps should then be agreed to reduce or alleviate stress involving the member of staff as much as possible. If necessary, seeking help from the GP should be encouraged. Stress management training should be considered, bearing in mind that it concentrates on the individual and may not tackle the cause of pressure at work.

9. Whether or not others are also experiencing pressure at work should be established, and there should also be an awareness that staff covering for colleagues who are absent because of stress related illness may have to work harder and may in turn suffer from stress.

Formal procedures

10. If a member of staff makes a formal complaint, e.g. about harassment or overloading, the Staff Handbook provides guidance on handling formal grievances.

11. Advice should be sought from Human Resources in handling grievances, under-performance, frequent short-term absence or harassment incidents.

Sickness absence

12. All absences should be noted, as regular absences may indicate stress. If a member of staff has been on prolonged sickness absence because of stress-related illness, it is strongly advised that the case should be discussed with Human Resources.

13. If a member of staff is due to return to work after a prolonged sickness absence which is stress-related their recovery can be helped by:

• considering whether work responsibilities can be adjusted or flexible working arrangements are possible;
• ensuring that the member of staff is fit to return to the same job by requesting that the GP confirms in writing that the person can deal effectively with the same job;
• trying to re-design the job, if the GP is not confident that the person can go back to the same job, and then closely monitoring behavior and performance.

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Calling all stock traders and aspiring investors! You may want to know that the 2nd edition of the Stock X Challenge will start on November. This follows the successful first edition last year that saw 108 teams competing for top honors.

First Metro Investment Corp. (FMIC), together with subsidiaries First Metro Securities Brokerage Corp. and First Metro Asset Management Inc. will once again oversee the ultimate competition of online stock trading among college students.

This year's Stock X Challenge promises to be bigger and more exciting as more participants, particularly from universities and colleges in the provinces, are expected to join.

Team UPD Gurus of the University of the Philippines, Diliman emerged as champion last year.

Organized in partnership with the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) and the Catholic Education Association of the Philippines (CEAP), Stock X Challenge uses the on-line trading facility for virtual trade on the PSE website where players will engage in real world trading using a virtual capital of PhP 10 million.

To prepare the participants, FMIC will conduct a portfolio management seminar series.

It incorporates a mixture of lectures and case study exercises designed to aid the students to develop skills and discipline in making investment and trading decisions.

Apart from Metro Manila, the seminar series will also be conducted in Baguio, Cebu, and Davao for the benefit of contestants from these areas joining this collegiate contest.

Players will likewise be given access to First Metro Securities’ online platform where various research and investment tools are available to further assist them when making their stock trades.

Stock X Challenge aims to promote stock market awareness and portfolio management knowledge and to develop future investors in the equity market among college and university students.

It was conceived in line with FMIC's advocacy on investment literacy and its mission to develop the Philippine capital markets.

The competition is open to teams composed of two to four college students from the same school who are enrolled in school year 2011-2012.

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