Issues and Scenarios between Management and Employees

[aticus]

Would any Working Filipinos have actual case studies of specific scenarios they went through in the workplace involving management and employees? I'm interested in discussing this topic with both managers and employees, to see if we all have the same issues, and to identify key differences, if possible.

Some initial questions you can help me answer, if applicable:

1) How have you dealt with new management in your company? What were the challenges/barriers you had to overcome, and how did you overcome them?

2) How have you dealt with a new department you were assigned to? What were the challenges/barriers you faced dealing with new subordinates and an existing work culture?

3) What were the most important elements you felt contributed to establishing a positive work environment in your company? What elements are currently lacking, which you would like improved upon?

4) On Implementing IT initiatives: What were the common problems with integrating an IT initiative on an old-fashioned department? What resistance, if any, did you encounter? How were you able to overcome it?

5) On dealing with bureaucracy in the workplace: What were the most difficult bureaucratic processes you faced or are facing in your current job? What has been done to streamline processes to make them more efficient / less bureaucratic? What would you like to improve?

Hope you don't mind a serious business thread. :) Just thought to take off from CaRaMBa's excellent "Market Research gone wrong" thread and invite broader discussion in the area of management. :D

[rains_delight]

1) How have you dealt with new management in your company? What were the challenges/barriers you had to overcome, and how did you overcome them?

It was my first time to have an expat boss. He is an old Aussie and had a two year contract as President of an Aussie Laboratory here. We had a communication barrier, Australian English is different from American's, that is why I had a difficulty in talking to him. Aside, he is already an old man and that was his first time to work in Asia. He did not trust Filipinos. For him, Filipinos are cheaters and we live in poverty.

How I overcame these? I talked to some of the Filipinos who had their training in Australia, they taught me Australian English. I started to call him Tatay, he really missed his family in Australia, gradually, his point of view towards Filipinos changed from cheaters to honest and hardworking.

2) How have you dealt with a new department you were assigned to? What were the challenges/barriers you faced dealing with new subordinates and an existing work culture?

Communication is the answer to my new subordinates. I told them the new department policies. Before I joined the new department, I asked the HRD manager to furnish me their 201 file so I will know what are their skills and knowledge towards work. I also asked for their duties and responsibilies and I checked their performance evaluation.

3) What were the most important elements you felt contributed to establishing a positive work environment in your company? What elements are currently lacking, which you would like improved upon?

My subordinates treat me as a friend. They immediately tell me their problems and asked for my opinion. Most of them are not equipped with the current accounting procedures. I send them to seminar to update their knowledge in accounting.

4) On Implementing IT initiatives: What were the common problems with integrating an IT initiative on an old-fashioned department? What resistance, if any, did you encounter? How were you able to overcome it?

Resitance to change. Most of our coop members do not want to change the old fashioned of banking. They still prefer the pass book type transactions. Some of them would prefer to see the thick General ledgers. We called for a general meeting of members and lay down all the advantages of automated transactions. Speed and accuracy were the strong words that we used during that meeting.

5) On dealing with bureaucracy in the workplace: What were the most difficult bureaucratic processes you faced or are facing in your current job? What has been done to streamline processes to make them more efficient / less bureaucratic? What would you like to improve?

I can say that we have a lean organization, we do have responsibility centers. But the problem we are facing right now is the absence of the General manager who should oversee the operations of the business. The department managers submit directly to the board of directors, which most of the time the reports do not have coherence.

[aticus]

Thank you, rains_delight! :) Those were excellent contributions. I take it you're an accountant, then?

One additional quick question: What specific acts / events led your Aussie boss to conclude that Filipinos are honest and hardworking? :) I'm curious to know what Australians would consider to be "good work."

Good luck with your company, and may your work prosper! :)

[rains_delight]

Originally posted by aticus
Thank you, rains_delight! :) Those were excellent contributions. I take it you're an accountant, then?

One additional quick question: What specific acts / events led your Aussie boss to conclude that Filipinos are honest and hardworking? :) I'm curious to know what Australians would consider to be "good work."

Good luck with your company, and may your work prosper! :)

It was a team work between me and the laboratory staff. We we became so open to him that even if we go to the comfort room, we tell him. We usually stay at the office until 7 pm and even go to work on Saturdays. These simple things are being appriciated by my aussie boss.

There was an instance wherein I caught his executive assistant tampering the documents that support the liquidation of her advances. Imagine she supported her gasoline expenses by giving me official receipts of P 1,000 per day for three consecutive days. I also discovered that her personal things are being charged to the office. I immediately reported that to the Presidend and I gave the board of directors a copy of my report.

If he asks me some reports, I ask his objective why he needs the report so I can tailor the results that suit his needs. Moreover, I also consider the possible questions the board of directors will ask him during the board meeting. I support this after I submitted the financial report and attach the question that they might raise and the answer to their problem.


Just an advice. Submit the report ahead of time, at least a day before so that if there will be some revisions, you still have enough time to prepare the final one. Discuss this with your boss face to face. Treat him/her as a friend or a father. I call my new australian boss Tatay. Also, dont forget to say Goodbye to your boss or goodnight everytime you about to go home.

[rains_delight]

Originally posted by aticus
Thank you, rains_delight! :) Those were excellent contributions. I take it you're an accountant, then?

One additional quick question: What specific acts / events led your Aussie boss to conclude that Filipinos are honest and hardworking? :) I'm curious to know what Australians would consider to be "good work."

Good luck with your company, and may your work prosper! :)

It was a team work between me and the laboratory staff. We we became so open to him that even if we go to the comfort room, we tell him. We usually stay at the office until 7 pm and even go to work on Saturdays. These simple things are being appriciated by my aussie boss.

There was an instance wherein I caught his executive assistant tampering the documents that support the liquidation of her advances. Imagine she supported her gasoline expenses by giving me official receipts of P 1,000 per day for three consecutive days. I also discovered that her personal things are being charged to the office. I immediately reported that to the Presidend and I gave the board of directors a copy of my report.

If he asks me some reports, I ask his objective why he needs the report so I can tailor the results that suit his needs. Moreover, I also consider the possible questions the board of directors will ask him during the board meeting. I support this after I submitted the financial report and attach the question that they might raise and the answer to their problem.


Just an advice. Submit the report ahead of time, at least a day before so that if there will be some revisions, you still have enough time to prepare the final one. Discuss this with your boss face to face. Treat him/her as a friend or a father. I call my new australian boss Tatay. Also, dont forget to say Goodbye to your boss or goodnight everytime you about to go home.