SMARTMATIC is not so smart

After the new President has been proclaimed and things have settled down, let us join our concerned countryman in Washington, Loida Nicolas Lewis in calling for an investigation of Smartmatic. This company has proven itself to have been caught unprepared to handle the Philippine elections and the trials that happened a few days ago is one of the simple proofs. In thebtrial, Smartmatic used papers that easily blot inks and caused the failure of many public tests. The public got very very scared and petitions to delay the polls were filed. Why such thing happened is beyond me.

Public trials are supposed to have been proceeded by successful laboratory trials. Let us take the case of Nokia and other firms. Do they release their latest gadgets without several successful tests? The failed test simply demonstrated Smartmatic's inadequacy to handle the elections. Before it bidded for the Comelec contract, it should have fully proven its devices matched with the appropriate types of paper. What they did (during the test) is that they used ballots that did was not accepted by the machines causing errors in the reading of votes.

I strongly believe that Smartmatic was technically not ready to handle the project and how they got the contract is worthy of public scrutiny. I call on the next government to have the company investigated by a huge panel composed of representatives from the government, business groups (Makati Business Group, PCCI, etc.), the NGO's and the techie community.

RELATED NEWS AND CLIPS:

- OBAMA asked to investigate Smartmatic

- OPEN LETTER FROM LOIDA NICOLAS LEWIS

I still have bosses

They are about one or two. They are nice people but...

The problem with them, I think, is that they are too soft on people. Being good is fine. But I know for a fact that there are a lot of people who sees kindness as a weakness. Bad creatures exploit kindness and it leads to the downfall of those who mean well.

As for me, I am strict but I am very very fair. I am also consistently generous. However, I do not tolerate laziness and incompetence. People who are inadequate in their present tasks should be moved to where they are good at. But the lazy ones should be retrenched. Give them a severance package and let them go their own lazy paths.

That way, only those who are capable of bringing the company into the path of survival and excellence will stay.

Do they think the company will grow if you have nothing but lazy employees?

Laziness is like an airborne virus. It is very contagious. It multiplies fast and before one realizes it, the company's culture had already been changed.

Fire those dead weights before they sink the ship.

Do it now!

Run for a Cause?

Running for causes had become such a big fad these days. We have fun runs, marathons and even triathlons everywhere and it is not uncommon for such events to be associated with noble causes. What I notice however, is what seems to be the organizers' and participants' lack of regard for the environment. Yes, even for events that trumpet the environment as its main cause.

I see hundreds if not thousands of discarded plastic cups littering the route of the events. The thirsty runners gulp the water being offered by the organizers and sponsors and very conveniently throw the containers in the road.

Even if the organizers follow the runners and pick up the litter after them, I do not think that they will be able to save the drainage from being filled with non biodegradable plastic. And why are they using plastic cups to begin with?

If you are wondering which specific run I am pointing at, check the events that happened during the past weekend and take your pick.

Free Franzia Pluggin

Have you ever tried Franzia, the red wine that comes in huge carton packs? It has a spout that makes dispensing easy and apparently, its inner plastic lining can be taken out together with the spout to create a more versatile package.

Checking its website, the manufacturer claims that it is the world's most popular red wine. I am not sure about that but I myself have seen it and tried it a few times and I like it. At buzzfeed, I encountered a funny post that gives tribute to the product and its various wonderful ways one can enjoy it.

Here's the link

Long Time...

Oh my, I was delinquent in blogging again. Anyway, I played golf with my buddies today. I hope to be able to to this more often in the coming months.

I also hope that you'd enjoy the coming week the way I enjoyed my game.

How are you in relation to your pay grade?

Do you aspire for a promotion? If yes, please evaluate thyself.

Whenever the boss asks you a question, do you answer correctly? Are you the type that says, “Ikaw sir!!?” Loosely translated, it means; “It’s up to you, sir!!!?” Or, “What do you think sir!?”

Or, are you the type that gives your straight thoughts and go further by offering suggestions?
Do you perform your job just like any other employee? Or, do you work harder than all others?

Here are my thoughts:

When bosses ask questions, their intention may be to truly seek for enlightenment, test their subordinates’ ability to solve problems or maybe, they are checking the quality of responses of their subordinates.

By answering; “Ikaw sir!?”, how did you think you performed? Were your responses, below, at par, or well above your pay grade?

-In your work as an ordinary employee, supervisor or executive, how do you perform?
-Are you the type who let things pass even without necessary clearances?
-Are you the type who stops the release of goods for the lack of clearances? Or,
-Are you the type who will block the release and report the failed attempt to your boss?
-Are you the type who simply look for problems or are you the type who help provide solutions?

My message, for now, is this:

Employees who shortchange their employers, work below their pay grade.
Employees who perform only in accordance with their job descriptions work according to their pay grades.

In the event of mass retrenchments, both employee types will undoubtedly be the first to be terminated. They are a dime a dozen if not, totally undesirable.

On the other hand, those who walk the extra mile, truthfully care about their company and serve more than what they are paid for are the real honest employees that deserve to be promoted and cared for. They are the ones that bosses will eventually recognize, be given responsibilities, promotions and that much valued raise.

Think not, below or in accordance with your pay grades. Always be above it!

These are the types that I look for whenever I look for people to promote.

In Addition

I can't believe that it's been a week since my last post.

A lot of things have transpired and most of it were positive developments.

In regard to my last post, I was told by several sources that the company is indeed suffering from temporary financial setbacks. It expanded very rapidly, to the point that their cash flow is heavily burdened. I've heard of suppliers withholding deliveries because of huge overdue collectibles.

I don't think that company is about to go under. It has plenty of good clients and it's probably a simple matter of huge uncollected receivables from its own clients. This setback is just temporary for them. What I just don't like is their way of dealing with us. The way they try to blame our paperwork for their failure to pay us on time. The way they try to make fools out of us.

I've been in this planet long enough to recognize an alibi and a serious cash flow problem when pass by one. I am very much insulted when people try to do this to me and think that they got away with it. But my breeding dictates that I should not slam this in their faces. But I've also been here long enough to know, that somewhere along the road, they will meet somebody who will.