Key to a Happy and Healthy Workforce

Happy staff at workplace is one of the most important elements of an organization. Happy employees benefit the company with creativity, increased productivity and cost effective.

The most important factors that keep the workforce happy and healthy are mentioned below:

Feedback

A consistent feedback boosts the productivity of the employees. An open communication channel between the employer and employee through monthly meetings allows more productive environment.

Communication

It is important that employees should be able to work efficiently. Encouraging the interaction between the management and the employee helps in boosting the employee performance.

Trust

Lack of trust leaves the employees in an unsecured state and it also affects their performance. The happy employees remain loyal and stay for long hence trust plays a very important role and remains a motivating factor.

Opportunities for growth

Career development is one of the most vital factors which influences the employee satisfaction. In order to keep the employees engaged it is necessary to provide opportunities to progress in their job roles.

Rewards and Appreciation

Rewards and awards makes the employees happy and remain loyal. It boosts their morale and increase productivity.

 Creating work life balance for employees

Work life balance keeps the employees happy in both the aspects of life. It boosts the morale and helps in increased productivity.

SUPPLIER PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT

As the saying goes, “you cannot manage what you don’t measure”. If the criteria for measuring the performance are not defined, then it would be difficult to understand whether it is being improved or not. By monitoring and measuring the supplier’s performance on a regular basis, company can realize significant benefits like cost controlling, nipping the problem in the initial stages and creating a corrective action before the problem expands.

The effective supplier’s performance management improves the collaboration between the suppliers that leads to a better coordination and enables the company to meet the company’s objectives. A wide range of areas of supplier performance can be measured. The focus can be on financial condition of the company, performance and overall cost.

Once the criteria is defined, how to evaluate the performance should be established. This performance evaluation should result in producing the required data for decision making.

Suppliers’ performance management reflects the company’s strategy and is a comprehensive approach to managing a company’s supply base. This data is sought to identify and mitigate risks in an attempt to boost company’s overall profitability.

Deleting Window.old folder

Windows 10 is an operating system which is receiving a good slew of bug fixes and feature enhancements free of charge, on a potentially free OS upgrade

After the update one might notice some icons and shortcuts that had probably been deleted, like the Windows Store or the Edge browser icon on the taskbar, have been added back. That's just old Microsoft keeping to old ways, but that's easily fixed.

Something that may not be as obvious is that the big update is treated almost like a Windows upgrade

To be on the safe side, Microsoft's install setup saves a full copy of current Windows installation (that's the Windows.old directory right there), and while this will come handy in case something goes wrong or need to revert back, it will also occupy several gigabytes of precious storage

                                                                                                                 

If one thinks that he might want to revert back changes, deleting this folder will take away that option.

But if you are strapped for storage space, you can use Windows' own tools to remove it.

If you try to delete the Windows.old directory using File Explorer, the OS will prevent you from doing so as they are considered system files. You could bypass these after meddling with permissions settings, but there's no need to do that. Here's how you do it:

Removal in 5 steps

Step 1. Go to Start and type, 'Disk Cleanup'

Step 2. Open Disk Cleanup and select your main system drive.
The tool will scan your drive for unnecessary files and old cached data. However the Windows.old version wont be accepted for

Step 3. Select the option "Clean up system files" near the bottom of the window. Select your main drive again and the scan process will be repeated

Step 4. The result of the scan will display different types of data, from Recycle Bin files to temporary internet cache. This time around, "Temporary Windows installation files" will be there accounting from as little as 9 GB to as much as 25GB or more

Step 5. Select all the files you want to remove, including the Windows installation files. Click OK. The confirm the subsequent prompts

Procurement Contract management

Procurement Contract Management is the integral part which consists of change, risk, project management, demand changes and category management. The contract management plan assists in managing the contracts and monitoring the performance of the contracts and also helps in fulfilling the requirements of both the parties.

If the contracts are not managed properly, none of the above mentioned process works as desired. Adequate knowledge of the operations and the performance of the contracts help in enhancing the contract outcomes.  

Importance of procurement contract management

It is important as the effective contract management bears dividends for both the suppliers and the purchasers and ensures a well-managed trading agreement practically. Therefore it is a necessary condition for a better performance from the procurement and the supplier’s perspective.

A good contract Management benefits in building right relationship with the suppliers and timely deliveries and also leads to long term efficient savings.

Food Taste

Food affects our life emotionally, mentally, physically and also through the 5 senses.

Food speaks to us through number of ways like the taste, smell and flavors. The taste buds have the ability to taste the 5 flavors i.e., sweet, salty, sour, bitterness and savory. 

There might be many reasons why the food might not taste better. Here are few steps to make the food taste better.

What should be done if the food seems tasteless?

-          Try new flavors, new textures by adding ingredients according to the taste which enhances the flavor of the food prepared.

-          Prepare food that tastes good according to you.

-          Try new tastes using spices which you might have not used before.

Ø  Try varieties of sauces which enhances the food flavors

Ø  Use fruits to create a fusion in the regular cooking

-          Try variations in food preparations, new tastes might be a welcome taste to your taste buds

-          Temperature of food is also important which affects the food perceptions and the enjoyment of a dish

-          Avoid foods with strong odors if the smell bothers 

How to calculate Gross Profit

Gross profit is a simple comparison of cost of goods the company sells to the income derived from those goods. The gross profit margin expresses the profits as a percentage of the total sales revenue generated. It can also be used to compare the company’s current status to its last performance, especially when there is significant price fluctuations of the goods produced.

Step 1

Subtract the total costs of your goods from the revenues the sales generate to find your gross profit. For example, if you purchase $10,000 of goods and sell them for $11,800, you would subtract $10,000 from $11,800 to get a profit of $1,800.

Step 2

Divide your gross profit by your total revenue generated. In this example, you would divide $1,800 by $11,800 to get 0.15.

Step 3

Multiply the result from Step 2 by 100 to find the gross profit margin percentage. Finishing the example, you would multiply 0.15 by 100 to find that your gross profit margin equals 15 percent

Good Motivation System

High motivation leads to self confidence and further improves in productivity. An employee who is motivated tries his level best to be committed to his work, perform better and brings laurels to himself and the company.

Here are a few features that can be included in a sound motivation system in an organization:  

-       The performance of the employee should be monitored on a regular basis and the not up to the mark performance should be dealt appropriately.

-       Performance should be measured, the best performance should be acknowledged and the performer should be rewarded. This initiative motivates the employee to perform better.

-       The grievances obstacles in the performance of the employee should be dealt fairly.

-       The employer should ensure the employee has flexible working arrangements.

-       The sound motivation system should be correlated the employee goals to the organizational goals

-       The best performer should be motivated by monetary and non-monetary benefits through award and reward system.  

-       Involve employee in decision making process to motivate

How to Organize a Filing Cabinet

It is very important to take time and effort to develop a systematic way of organizing
papers which helps in saving time and hassle free papers.

Here are few tips to help organize the files and keep them under control:

-          Create a filing system that’s simple and easy to use. Organize in such a way that it would be easy to find the files easily and conveniently.

-          Make a list of files that would go into the system.

-          Personalize the filing cabinets and files.

-          Avoid creating a miscellaneous folder. Miscellaneous folder does more harm than good, especially when it comes to retrieving data quickly. Instead, focus on the item in question and try to find a better filing solution.

-          Prepare folders and label them.

-          Clean the filing cabinet and drop all the pre-labeled files into the cabinet.

-          Place all the papers and files into the appropriate folders.

-          Dispose of all the unwanted papers and file papers which are essential.

-          It is better to file the documents on a daily basis rather than on a monthly basis

Back up Gmail Account

There are many flexible and convenient ways to backup gmail data.

Below are a few ways which can be considered while backing up the gmail account.

Standalone backup Program

 

Gmail backup is a simple and easy-to-setup free alternative. Upon installing the program, the credentials need to be typed and it will start downloading all the emails, backing them up securely and allows to restore them.

Third Party Web Service

Backupify is a handy tool that automatically performs scheduled backups for a number of online services. Only the login credentials of the sites that needs backup should be provided and backupify takes care of the rest.

Desktop Mail Client

This is the most common approach and takes just a few minutes to set up. It is a very easy process to set up. After signing into Gmail, click the “gear” in the upper-right corner, choose mail settings, then load the “Forwarding and POP/IMAP”tab. Enable POP for all mail and set Gmail and keep its copy.

TIPS TO PREPARE INCIDENT REPORTS

An incident report should give a thorough account of first hand information of the exact facts that has occurred at the scene of incident. It is crucial to follow the appropriate protocol describing the incident clearly in the submitted report.

Here are few tips to follow while preparing the incident report

-      Follow the instructions on the incident report form

-      Write a descriptive report of the incident

-    The report should made immediately on the day the incident occurred as one might forget the basic facts if the report is delayed for a day or two.

-     The report should contain the basic information like date, time, location and the details of the incident, name of the person who is reporting the incident etc.,

-      Names of the people who were present at the location when the incident occurred.

-   Describe what made you come to the scene of incident. The purpose of your visit to the scene of incident should be objective and factual.

-     The report should consist of the chronological narrative of the factual scene. Report should consist of WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE and Why happening at the incident scene.

-      Write the report in a descriptive manner, leaving no room for misinterpretation. Do not write anything which you are not sure that might have happened.

-       Confusing language should not be used while describing the incident. Write it clear and concise.

-        Make sure the information provided is as per the report.

-    Reread the report for grammatical errors and the information provided is appropriate and factual before submission.

Smartphone Security Tips

Today’s hyperactive smart phone users store a lot of information which is quite sensitive on their mobiles. It has also become vulnerable to virus attacks when used public unsecured WiFi networks. That’s why it has become all the more necessary to secure it.

Here are few tips to protect the smart phones

Use Passwords

Usually people use their important dates as password which can be decoded easily. It is better to use patterns or finger print options.  

Protect icloud and google account

In case someone gains access into the icloud or google account, they can get all the data that one might have created and edited using smart phone; therefore it is necessary to enable 2-step verification on both the accounts

Do not install unsecured apps

Most of the apps contain malware, viruses or software that steal the data or damage the phone. It is necessary to download and install apps which are secured to protect the smart phone.

Use an App instead of the browser

When sensitive information like banking transactions or stock trading is performed, it is advised to use the official app of that particular site, bank or company instead of using browser. As it is safe and will have extra security features.

Un-secured Wireless networks

Do not get connected to any available un-trusted wireless network which is open to hackers scanning for victims over the network. Disable the option getting connected to open wireless networks available. Connect to only secure wireless networks to save the smart phone from virus attacks and hackers’ attacks.

Tips for Efficient Kitchen Operations

Efficiency, productivity, timely delivery is required to run a catering kitchen effectively.

Effective use of manpower, material and equipment helps in completing the work efficiently and becomes a cost effective factor.

Here are few tips to run the kitchen effectively

Inventory tracking  

It is very much essential to keep track of the material movement in the kitchen to make sure the materials are managed efficiently.

The ingredients that are to be used should be consistent and convenient for the dishes to be prepared as per the consistency in taste for various dishes.

Essential Equipment and utensils

It is important to have right kind of equipment and right size utensils and color coded chopping boards in the kitchen to work efficiently. This helps in being organized and delivering the food efficiently within time.

Manpower

Hiring the right people with the right skills for the right job saves time and energy. They would be more efficient and productive.  If the specific responsibilities are assigned as per the designation, each employee will feel responsible to perform according to the responsibility and the productivity also increases.

Initiative for staff rotation and scheduling also helps in the smooth flow of operations. The employees will know the job role they are performing and also of the role of others this ensures proper work and life balance without being burdened.

Safety at Work

Kitchen is an accident prone area; it disrupts the work flow and lowers productivity. To ensure smooth kitchen operations required precautionary measures should be taken.

Essentials Elements in Procurement Management

The specific areas of concern that needs to be understood from procurement’s perspective while procuring goods for the company.

Product specification

Understanding the basic product specifications like origin of product, brand, unit of measure and the quantity before procuring the products is essential in getting the required quote from various suppliers for the product requirements.

Ordering to best Supplier

Quotations sought for the required products from various suppliers and based on the quote received from various suppliers, the best price regardless of how many suppliers have quote will be considered for ordering the required material.

Timelines

It is mandatory to meet the timelines for product deliveries. It has an operational implication if the timelines are not met and the very purpose of purchasing the required product is defeated.

Payment Terms

It is essential to mention the agreed payment terms when a Purchase Order is raised, as this document is an official confirmation order and also serves as a mutual acceptance for the terms and conditions stated.

Find Windows Product Key the Easy Way

To reinstall Windows on the same Computer or move it from the existing one to a new computer, it is necessary to know which version of Windows is installed on the computer. Depending on the version one may or may not need the product key.

If Windows 7 is used earlier in the computer, it can be activated by a single product key that is stored in the Windows registry. Using a simple script or third-party software the key can be extracted easily. This key can be used to install Windows again in the same computer or in another machine if the product key is deactivated from the computer where this product key is initially used.

Product Key for Windows 8.1 version it will not be available unless a retailed version of the operating system is purchased, it is stored in an encrypted format in the BIOS or UEFI firmware.  The advantage of encrypted format for reinstalling Windows 8.1 Version will be useful even if there is no product key and the disadvantage is it can be used only on the computer which has this encrypted format and it cannot be used in any other computer.

With the latest version Windows 10, there is something called digital entitlement. This is based on the computer’s hardware and is stored with Microsoft. This is true for any OEM Machines that upgraded to Windows 10 version from Windows 7 or 8.

How to store the product key in case there is a necessity to use it again in another computer:

By using third-party program from Nirsoft called ProduKey

This program instantly finds all the Microsoft application installed on the system and gives the Product ID and Product KEY.