Facing the wave

I took the picture above during my holiday in Terengganu a few months ago.  Actually this photograph is one of my favourite.

I was so spellbound with the beauty of the South China Sea. I was fascinated by the wave that rolled beating the shore.  At the west coast, the wave was not so strong.  Maybe because of the Sumatran archipelago across the Straits of Malacca blocking the winds.

After I uploaded the picture into my PC, I was impressed by the image.  It was a picture of two children (a picture of my son with his friend) facing the wave.  In my mind suddenly I figured something.  The children represents young age while the wave means a challenge or attempt that upcoming.  If we are strong we will stand firm even though we are hit by that wave.  If we fear the wave we would abscond.  And my son ran away when the wave approached him.

I wish he didn't do that when he grows up, escaping the challenge.

5S system's role in improving quality at workplaces

By Zairul Zaha bin Sallehuddin


An organization or company requires a motivational programme to make the organization becoming example for other organizations.


Every kind of quality programme such as 7 Habits, 5S Programme or other motivational programme is designed to improve quality and productivity at workplaces. With such programmes it can make the workers or staff of a company to become perfect.


Pretty popular motivation programme in manufacturing and private sectors was 5S Programme. This 5S's programme are brought and introduced by Japanese companies which operates in Malaysia. When Malaysia develop into becoming an industrial country and matched the 'Pandang ke Timur' policy by ex-Prime Minister, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad during late 80's and 90's make this programme catches on with encourages. How far this 5S's effectiveness and what its got to do with increasing quality at workplace we will see based on what 5S's have practiced for the programme itself.


5S was abbreviation to five Japan words namely Seiri, Seiton, Seiso, Seiketsu and Shitsuke. Seiri refers separate goods that are not required anymore or remove goods that unusable. Hereby space saving to keep goods are feasible and the goods which are not required will be remove.


Seiton meaning arranging goods with more ordered numbers according to particular kinds so that it will be easy to find when needed. We can see the chronological or association between five arrangement or the 5S's structure. After removing we will arranging or updating. Then we will clean the whole office area to prevent messy or scattered place. This activity is called Seiso.


After cleaning we will make coordination and inspection on work area from time to time so that cleanliness can be maintained and the practice continues. This activity is called Seiketsu. Lastly in this programme, the final principle is called Shitsuke. Shitsuke refers that cleanliness can be accepted by all staff members and train others to practise 5S principle nicely.


Obvoiusly that 5S principle is a systematic method that able to increase quality at workplaces. This is because one who was revealed and trained with 5S principle would be able to disciplining its own self unbidden by others.


Discipline is something we studied and followed for more ethical living. Discipline is civilization and life basis. Parents will train their children to be discipline and virtuous. At school teachers will train and guide pupil and student about discipline so that they can become a responsible citizen.


Likewise when these students are grown up and step into job environment, discipline still emphasized so that staff and workers of the company can do their work pegged. 5S, respectively, helped workers to be disciplined and discipline also made stand-alone system for workers.


5S system or principle also closely linked with cleanliness. The reason why 5S was accepted in Malaysia is because of Malaysia's official religion, Islam. In Islam, cleanliness is a fundamental of faith. Islamic devotees was taught and claimed to carry out cleanliness. When cleanliness a must at workplaces, it can create clean environment. With clean environment, automatically it raise up corporate image of the company.


Try to imagine, who wants to deal with a company which is low in corporate image and business etiquette. Who wants to step into scattered and haphazzard office space and does not guarantee its residents safety and visitors. Staff and workers also are not in well-dressed and disregard of work procedures. The matter can make customers or investors progress into other company.


With 5S principle, the matter can be avoidable. 5S will train us to be more responsible and dedicated to our work. A customer first perception about a company is the cleanliness and efficiency. Then would be vital for us to take care of cleanliness and positive image. Customer would give good insight if clean and comfortable workplace because it would be symbolized its disciplined and responsible employees.


5S also afford whistle a different tune and someone's style of thinking. Basic point would be trained by 5S was social intercourse. Positive and healthy social intercourse make a person likable by his other colleagues. This also could prevent someone from become anti social or in Malay proverb mentioned as 'odd man out'.


An excellent workplace need harmony among staff and workers. Regardless of rank or post, in a company or organization every member counted as important and able to contribute something for the company.


Everyone free to voice idea or opinion to increase capability of the company. If communication between employees are weak, then wrong information between one another will happened. Negative matters such as breach or trust, absent work etc will increase. So 5S becomes catalyst to create good relationship between employee no matter lower class or superior group.


In brief, a result of self discipline, spirit of working and high performance is nourished by 5S system somewhat had contributed to productivity improvement. That was a little bit about 5S role in improving quality in a workplace. Try to emulate diligent and cooperative ant as one group to form a colony although we have to face many resistance and obstacles.

Effective communication produced visionary members and excellent organisation

By Zairul Zaha bin Sallehuddin

Communication have been part of our living since the beginning of time.  Since the beginning of communication our life were essential to convey information between one another.  Starting with sign language then spoken language, writing, sound, wave and further via electronic, communication are increased according to current situation.

Communication according to Kamus Dewan was direct relationship or by using mediator device like letters, telephone, Internet, language  etc. (Kamus Dewan, 1984 : 598)

Gilbert Arthur Highet defines communication as an idea transmission from one person to another person.  Scientists also said in life, human only used 10% from his/her mind to think.  Communication represent part of this thinking.

Communication are actually a process which involves delivering and receiving between two party namely the sender and the recipient in form of conversation and act known as Verbal Communication and Non-Verbal Communication.

Verbal Communication was an oral communication.  This type of communication happened when two party talk whether by facing each other or not.  Usage of oral language are required in Verbal Communication.  Non-verbal Communication is in form of body movement, sound, face mimic or sign language.

For example one manager gave talk to his workers.  His speech was greeted with applause from the workers.  The applause was known as sign of support for the speech that was presented.  The manager had used Verbal Communication to convey messages while the workers replied with Non-verbal Communication.

Effective communication will be produced if the message delivered and understood clearly by the recipient.  If the message mistakenly understood by the recipient, then conflict between the recipient and the sender will happen.  As such, clear and effective communication is very important to ensure harmony and good relation between one another.

How to generate effective communication?  On the first place we should have positive attitude and trusted each other.  We should also behave friendly and manage good rapport so that good relationship will be able to formed.  When we converses with a person, we should respect on his opinion and view.

Use language that will be able to understood by both parties.  Give clear and accurate directive when delivering instructions.  Clear directive can avoid the job to be done twice and altogether increasing work productivity.  Do not object or against other opinion even if we disagree because the act could cause the person to be offended, on the other hand we could voices our opinion by politely say that we have our own point of view and ideas.

Strong communication produced if we known the person background, what is the person's habit, what is the person's ranking and what was the agenda or topic that are been discussed.  Be an active listener by constantly sensitive on what was delivered and always be prepared with reasonable answers if all of a sudden been ask with a question.  Show bright and sincere face while interacts.  Sweet and innocent face make people pleased with you.  Serious and fierce face cause people to scare and afraid to talk and approaching you.

In an organization when a meeting was held, a manager or chief must encourage the staff members to give opinions and ideas.  Say the person's name when interact with him/her to show the quality of being friendly.  Expose physical motion, face gesture and pleasantness when talking.

However there are several barriers that can affect communication.  Noisy environment at workplaces could cause disturbance in strong communication.  Public opinion on a person could also reduce interest to communicate such as the person is boring, lack of knowledge or arrogant.

With such negative assumptions we are not focusing enough attention when interact with the person.  We often want to finish the discussion immediately.  Closed thinking also the main reason why the communication failed.  Usually someone who relatively passive and cannot accept reprimand or advice would be rebelled.  Manager should also not labelling employee because workers who are labelled rather isolated him/herself and refuse to be involved in any activity or ceremony.  This would weaken the organization.

A person who is talkative and always cut other people's conversation also was a barrier in communication.  This act could affect two-way communication because usually it will be one-sided communication.  This type of communication is called Dictator Communication.

According to Henry Mintzberg there are three important roles for communication in organization namely interpersonal role, role of information and role to decide.

These three roles obviously show that effective communication should be born from oneself before making an excellent organization.  Member who can communicate well among other members will be able to make harmonious atmosphere at workplaces.  Usually such staff will often suggested or move forward to become spokesman.  After knowing those characteristics needed to generate effective communication, the member could form its personality and altogether make himself a visionary member.

According to motivation expert Abdullah Hassan and Ainon Mohd in their book 'Komunikasi di Tempat Kerja', there are four factors that affected success at workplaces.  First is the capacity to motivate oneself.  Second, capacity to motivate other individuals.  Third, communicative skill and fourth is the technical expertise.

Of those facts given, we can see that communicative skills indeed needed to increase personal performance as a capable member.  With our effective communication, we are able to influence other people to follow our footstep.  Through communication skill we can gain knowledge and expertise from others.

When all member can communicate effectively, corporate image also would grow.  One organization will be excellent when his members are able to communicate well and knowledgeable.  Skill to communicate and influence others are included in intelligence type known as emotional intelligence.

As a visionary member, train yourself to communicate effectively, convey messages or information by best means to glorify the organization because only effective communication can produce visionary members and excellent organization.