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Thursday, April 25, 2024

Of Strategy and Quality


Naturally, I am to ask a lot of questions as an Editor. The following two questions, while only applicable in very specific situations, are among my favourites. You will see why.

1    1) What is your strategy?

2    2) f I asked YOUR customers, what would they tell me why they buy from you?

Recently, someone answered (unedited responses):

1    1) Growth and profitability

      2) Quality

If I was a consultant for a company answering as above, I would have some work to do. Here is my take, as also discussed in my submission on strategy for my Msc in Project Management.

STRATEGY

Strategic vision is of utmost importance; it communicates directions (Amason, 2011, 46-53), defining core competencies (Collins and Porras, 2018). Sometimes visons fail to do so, as e.g. Google’s previous secrecy about its strategy (Rahman, n.d., 4) may make us blind men touching elephants (Schmaltz and Schmaltz, 2003). Strategy must be clearly communicated internally, so that everyone is aligned and pulls in the same direction.

As a company, one may chose different strategies: emergent strategy, contrary to designed approach (Ansoff, 1991). One may make decisions that are not based on a clear strategy and initially be lucky, however, one should seek to be deliberate (Fiore et al., 2019). Operating in VUCA environments (Stachowicz-Stanusch, 2019), we can see some companies using the notion of Napoleonic warfare: subsidiaries keep moving rather than compete (Kornberger and Engberg-Pedersen, 2021). Addressing trade-offs (Porter, 1996, 61–78), breaking the business into entrepreneurial units filled with experts (Johnson et al., 2017) allows agile implementation to fit emergent strategies (Anderson, 2013, 104-136), thus exploiting opportunities. Disadvantages include increased resource allocation for non-core activities (Nurton, 2013), risk of wrong decisions (Gilbert-Saad et al., 2021) and hiring of misfit staff (Wright and Snell, 1998).

Cost leadership, differentiation and focus are generally accepted strategies. Using these, communications, innovation strategy, hiring, procurement decisions etc can be derived.

When getting the above, the strategy right, Growth and Profitability will be the RESULT of it, not the strategy. I would posit that there isn’t a for-profit company that does not aim for growth and profitability. That however, is the goal, not the method to archiving success. Once quantified and qualified, growth and profitability could become part of KPIs or the companies’ vision, but what it is not is strategy.

QUALITY

“Quality”. EVERY product or service has quality. Some have qualities: non-slippery and easy to hold. Quality is defined as the grade of excellence. Hence, if you offer a product that will last half the time of that of your competition, you have delivered quality. Unless clearly defined, just “Quality” says nothing.

What “Quality” means to one person is and will be subjectively different to the next unless there are industry standards that can indicate the quality of the product to some extend. Think RON 95, non-virgin olive oil. If I was asked to say why I work with certain suppliers, I would answer that pro-active problem notification is one of the approaches is one that I value in the relationship. I am sure that everyone will have something that they value a supplier for. However, I wonder how many would simply say that it is the quality.

 

Sunday, April 14, 2024

Elusive Streetart


Taken from the camo pattern of WWII battleships, hiding in plain sight. Never new that infrastructure pieces had to be hidden. Now that it is harder to see, it will be harder to avoid. As we all know that such structures at intersections are usually the first to go when a speeding driver razes all over the green strip. 
 

Saturday, April 13, 2024

Trucking Magazine: Asian Trucker Issue 76

 


Hengst is celebrating their 10th anniversary in Singapore. Our March / April issue of Asian Trucker is now available as free PDF download from

hhttps://asiantrucker.com/images/all_magazines/AT_Malaysia_Issue_76.pdf?fbclid=IwAR0YvRsLFTfkRfkXkNtmqTDPpv_x_So46jDJvdPKp_1kB2GIuR7YUXMZX1g_aem_Af2MIjJCvK3oNLAjgdGE11pttTS4PFLuR67uJbK8RmZtz4g0KsbsRXbw7a_arMU2qdm5N8SSFSFBmteb6kx15OHS
If you wish to receive a hardcopy, please DM me.

Friday, April 12, 2024

Asian Buses - Q1 issue


An interesting cover for our Q1 issue of Asian Buses. Get your PDF copy here, FOC: https://asiantrucker.com/images/all_magazines/Asian_Buses_Issue_37.pdf?fbclid=IwAR10dZ9Pn5MFQCUQbQiZOyim9kFJKwv1LFc0uNDBXJFI1snixo9InLV7sq0_aem_Af1N0eyDIHOMzH9iu1Ox4qw0MvQkKr20lUDgBbwDADK9R5hw0P-hqLN8QAvDTWfC4PatzFc03fzVpW7fdtn_cBaq

If you would like a hardcopy, please DM me.

Thursday, April 11, 2024

An Excercise in Logistics


This was wild: Needed to deliver magazines to Bangkok. About 40Kg.

Checked with a transporter I have interviewed a few times. Got the cost to get the goods there. 
Decided to check a budget airline flight. Much cheaper. So, I 

Got up at 3am
Drove to the airport
Checked in a bag full of my magazines
Had breakfast
Flew to Bangkok. Landed 8:05 local time
Met with my colleague, 8:30
Dropped off the goods, 9:30 (Jam in BKK, you know)
Early lunch in Tok La Dee, where they recognise me from my many visits
12:00 back to airport, checked in, no bags, just a passport and cash
Have a beer
Arrive back in Kuala Lumpur Intern. Airport at 5pm local time
Dinner at home

Reduced transportation cost by 60 % with a story to tell. 

Tuesday, April 9, 2024

I WANT a BRT


 Photo taken at 6:35am, on the way to the office. This is 3 lanes, plus the emergency lane open for commuters. To avoid snailing along this road, one has to be through the toll at my place by 6:30 latest. Even then, it is slow progress. Sometimes, if one misses that window, say at 6:45, it can take almost an hour to go the 20 Km to my office.

This is where I really wish there was a BRT, Bus Rapid Transit System. Sometimes, I just go to the office and back. No need to have a car around. A BRT here, I believe, would calm a lot of people that would benefit from not having to drive. As a side effect, I am sure the CO2 emissions would be drastically reduced. 

I like driving. I like the car I am currently drive. However, I think there is a massive upside to being driven around and not having to worry about folks on small motorbikes thrashing into your vehicle as they blast through the rows of cars crawling towards town. 

Monday, April 8, 2024

Almost There!


It is the sixth time we are hosting Southeast Asia's largest commercial vehicle exhibition. This time, we are bringing back a lot of the fringe programme items, such as the Asian Trucker Networking Night. This time, that one is supported by Hengst. The German Filtration Expert will be taking the opportunity to celebrate their 10th anniversary of the Singapore office opening. 

Meanwhile, we have commissioned cookies again. The stickers for them have just arrived. Almost the size of a small saucer, these hand-made and customised cookies are somehow a highlight of the show. we will start handing them out at 14:00 every day. They usually don't last long, as they are limited in numbers. 


"The Premium Cookie for Southeast Asia's Commercial Vehicle Industry" - Come and get yours!

Friday, April 5, 2024

Let me just put that (Van) there

 


Was asked to do a review video of a van. The vehicle happened to be in Penang, one of our favourite islands. So we hopped over, grabbed the vehicle and drove around with purpose. First step was to find a good spot to shoot the snippets. Just past Batu Ferringi's main stretch are some spaces along the road where one can frame this against the backdrop of the sea. 

Bit hot inside the vehicle once the "ACTION" is on: engine and aircon are off so there is no noise. Backing in the sun, one has to really remember one's lines ;-) to get it done quickly and confidently. 

Thursday, April 4, 2024

Time Flies


My reaction when I realise that a quarter of the year is already gone...

Somehow, there hasn't been a moment of slow-down this year so far. With just 34 days till www.mcve.com.my, there is not a dull moment.

Oh ya: some family time coming up in a while. 

For those Needing Some Relaxation

 


Here is a short video for you if you need a lil relaxation. 

A Bit of a Pickle

India has stopped exporting onions to Malaysia. We notice that the onions we get now in the supermarket are from Myanmar. Would that mean we are buying conflict onions?

Monday, April 1, 2024

Special Event

MCVE got awesome news: we all know how much she respects her truckers. Recently, she gave each one if them a 100 000USD bonus. Through these drivers we reached out to her, and we will have TAYLOR SWIFT at the Asian Trucker Networking Night on 10th May.