HOW TO USE THIS COMPETENCY-BASED LEARNING

MATERIAL

Welcome to the module in “Practicing Entreprenership Skills in the

Workplace”. This module contains training materials and activities for you
to complete.
The unit of competency “Practice Entreprenership Skills in the
Workplace” covers the knowledge, skills, and attitudes on identifying and
measuring objects based on the required performance standards. It is one of
the specialized modules required to complete the qualification on Bookeeping
NC III.
You are required to go through a series of learning activities in order to
complete each of the learning outcomes of the module. Each of the learning
outcomes is provided with Information Sheets, Self-checks, Answer Keys,
Task Sheets, Job Sheets and Performance Criteria Checklist.
(Reference Materials for further reading to help you better understand the
required activities). Follow these activities on your own and answer the self-
check at the end of each learning outcome. Write your answers for the Self-
Check on the answer sheets provided by your trainer/facilitator. If you have
questions, don’t hesitate to ask your trainer/facilitator for assistance.
Remember to:
Read information sheets and complete the self-checks. Suggested
references are included to supplement the materials provided in this
module.
Perform the task sheets and job sheets until you are confident that
your outputs conform to the performance criteria checklist that follows the
sheets.
Submit outputs of the task sheets and job sheets to your facilitator for
evaluation and recording in the Achievement Chart. Outputs shall serve as
your portfolio during the institutional competency evaluation. When you
feel confident that you have had sufficient practice, ask your trainer to
evaluate you. The results of your assessment will be recorded in your
Progress Chart and Achievement Chart.
You must pass the institutional competency evaluation for this
competency before moving to another competency. A Certificate of
Achievement will be awarded to you after passing the evaluation.
Note:
Training is the sole purpose of this learning materials. Some pictures are taken
from google as references. .

LIST OF COMPETENCIES
No. Unit of Competency Module Title Code
Basic Competencies

Participate in
Participate in workplace
1 workplace 400311210
communication
communication
 Work in a team Working in a team
2 400311211
environment environment

Solve/address routine Solving/addressing routine

3 400311212
problems problems

Develop Career and life Developing Career and life

4 400311213
Decisions Decisions

Contribute to Contributing to workplace 400311214

5
workplace innovation innovation

Present Relevant Presenting Relevant 400311215

6
Information Information
Practice Occupational Practicing Occupational 400311216
7 Safety and Health Safety and Health Policies
Policies and Procedures and Procedures
Exercise efficient and 400311217
Exercising efficient and
effective Sustainable
8 effective Sustainable
practices in the
practices in the workplace
workplace
Practice 400311218
Practicing Entrepreneurial
9 Entrepreneurial skills
skills in the workplace
in the workplace

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page No.

Competency - Based Learning Materials 1

How To Use This Competency-Based Learning Material 2
List Of Competencies 3
Table Of Contents 4
Module Content 5
Learning Outcome Summary 6
Learning Experiences 7
Information Sheet 9.1-1 8
Self-Check 9.1-1 14
Answer Key 9.1-1 16
Information Sheet 9.1-2 17
Self-Check 9.1-2 21
Answer Key 9.1-2 23
Learning Outcome Summary 24
Learning Experiences 25
Information Sheet 9.2-1 26
Self-Check 9.2-1 32
Answer Key 9.2-1 33
Information Sheet 9.2-2 34
Self-Check 9.2-2 39
Answer Key 9.2-2 40
Learning Outcome Summary 41
Learning Experiences 42
Information Sheet 9.3-1 43
Self Check 9.3-1 46
Answer Key 9.3-1 47
Acknowledgment 48

MODULE CONTENT

Unit of Competency : Practice Entrepreneurial Skills in the Workplace

Module Title : Practicing Entrepreneurial Skills in the Workplace
Module Descriptor :
This module covers the outcomes required to apply entrepreneurial
workplace best practices and implement cost-effective operations. This
module covers materials to use such as Information Sheets, Self-Checks,
Task Sheets and Performance Criteria Checklists.
Learning Outcomes:
At the end of this module you MUST be able to:
1. Apply entrepreneurial workplace best practices
2. Communicate entrepreneurial workplace best practices
3. Implement cost-effective operations Assessment Criteria:
1. Observe and select good practices relating to workplace
operations following workplace policy.
2. Comply with quality procedure and practices according to
workplace requirements.
 3. Apply cost-conscious habits in resource utilization based on
industry standards.
4. Communicate observed good practices relating to workplace
operations to appropriate person.
5. Communicate observed quality procedures and practices to
appropriate person.
6. Communicate cost-conscious habits in resource utilization
based on industry standards.
7. Implement preservation and optimization of workplace resources
in accordance with enterprise policy.
8. Observe judicious use of workplace tools, equipment and
materials according to manual and work.
9. Make constructive contributions to office operations according to
enterprise requirements.
10. Sustain ability to work within one’s allotted time and finances.

DETAILS OF LEARNING OUTCOME

Apply Entrepreneurial Workplace best
LEARNING OUTCOME 1
practices
CONTENTS:
1. Entrepreneurial Mindset

2. Resource Utilization
ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
1. Observe and select good practices relating to workplace operations
following workplace policy.
2. Comply with quality procedure and practices according to workplace
requirements.
3. Apply cost-conscious habits in resource utilization based on industry
standards.
CONDITION:
Student/ trainee must be provided with the following:
Tools Equipment Materials/ Supplies
Projector CBLM
Laptop

METHODOLOGY:
● Case Study
● Lecture/Discussion
ASSESSMENT METHOD
● Case Study
● Written Test
● Interview

LEARNING EXPERIENCES
Learning Outcome 1: Apply Entrepreneurial Workplace best practices
Learning Activities Specific Instructions
1. Read INFORMATION SHEET Read and understand the information
9.1-1 in Entrepreneurial sheet. After reading, answer the
mindset selfcheck to determine your learning.

2. Answer SELF-CHECK 9.1-1 on Refer your answers to the answer key

Entrepreneurial mindset 9.1-1 for self-check. You are required
to get ALL answers correct. If not, read
the information sheet again to answer
all questions correctly.

3. Read INFORMATION SHEET Read and understand the information

9.1-2 on Resource utilization sheet. After reading, answer the
selfcheck to determine your learning.

4. Answer SELF-CHECK 9.1-2 on Refer your answers to the answer key

Resource utilization 9.1-2 for self-check. You are required
to get ALL answers correct. If not, read
the information sheet again to answer
all questions correctly.
 INFORMATION SHEET 9.1-1
Entrepreneurial Mindset

Learning Objective:
After reading this INFORMATION SHEET, YOU MUST be able to:
1. Discuss the characteristic of an entrepreneur;
2. Differentiate the entrepreneurial mindset; and
3. Value the essential chrematistic of the entrepreneurial mind.

Entrepreneur is a person who starts

a new business or organization taking
some personal financial risk to do so.
He or she may quit a secure job
to devote time to starting the new
business, use personal savings as
capital, or convince investors to finance
the business idea.
Entrepreneurship is the process of
discovering new ways of combining
resources. When the market value generated by this new combination of
resources is greater than the market value these resources can generate
elsewhere individually or in some other combination, the entrepreneur
makes a profit.

Entrepreneurial Mind Frame

Allows the entrepreneur to see things in
a very positive and optimistic light in the
midst of crisis or difficult situations. In
fact, in Chinese writing, the word “crisis”
is composed of two characters. The first
character means danger while the
second character means opportunity.

Pasion is the great desire to attain a vision or fulfill a mission. It is

about wanting something so much that a person would be willing to totally
devote oneself to the quest.
Entrepreneurial Heart Flame
The entrepreneurial heart flame is also about
emotional intelligence or EQ, which often manifested
in the entrepreneurs’ effort to nurture relationships
with customer, employees and suppliers.
 The entrepreneur also looks after the interest of his/her people by
motivating and encouraging them to the best that they can be.

This creates caring culture within the organization that brings about
synergy among the people working toward a common
vision.

Entrepreneurial Gut Game

The entrepreneurial gut game refers to

the ability of the entrepreneur to sense
without using the five senses. This is also
known as “intuition”.

The gut game also connotes courage or,

in the local dialect, “lakas ng loob” (strong
intestinal fortitude).

New Product Development

The first and

most important reason for
any new development is to
provide new value to the
customer. Without this,
there is no reason for them
to trade their money for
the new device.

Successful new products spring from the convergence of:

● Creative mind
● Technical mind
● Business mind
Creative Mind

The creative mind conceptualizes and designs a product

that consumers find some
use for it. It likewise
produces a product that is
pleasing to see, touch,
smell, hear and taste.

The Technical Mind

The technical mind is the

technology originator. The
entrepreneur may not necessarily
possess the technical mind but
this is what drives him or her to
convert new knowledge into
something highly functional and
operational.

Business Mind

The business mind harness the potentials of new products by creating

the market space for them. It also organizes sufficient forces and resources
to develop. Launch and commercialize the new product in order to maximize
its market value.

5 Essential Characteristics of Entrepreneur Mind

● Creativity
● Suspicion of predictors
 ● Comfort with Uncertainty
● Openness to Experimentation
● Functional Humility

Creativity

The seed of entrepreneurship is the

ability to see things differently. Whether it’s
with new products or new processes,
entrepreneurs are driven by the uncanny
knack to see holes in the marketplace and
devise innovation to fill them.

Suspicion of Predictors

Entrepreneurs tend to labor under the assumption that data is the

sole predictor of an outcome. Especially in new markets and with new
products where data is
largely interpretive or
extrapolated,
entrepreneurs are
undaunted by the typical
predictors that may put off
fainter hearts.

Comfort with Uncertainty

Similarly, a distrust of prediction and analysis creates an atmosphere with
uncertainty rules. Indeed, the uncertainty is the very essence of
entrepreneurship.
Openness to Experimentation

A comfort with experimentation goes beyond educated trial and error. The
ability to experiment with products, processes and outcomes, no matter
where the results may lead, is the key element of this quality.

Functional Humility

Egos can destroy the very best ideas. Entrepreneurs who are committed to
solving a business problem or reinventing a product or service display a
functional humility.
 SELF-CHECK 9.1-1

Entrepreneurial Mind

A. MULTIPLE CHOICES.
Direction: Read the questions carefully and answer intelligently. Write the
answer on your answer sheet.
1. It allows the entrepreneur to see things in a very positive and
optimistic light.
a. Entrepreneurial heart frame
b. Entrepreneurial mind frame
c. Entrepreneurial gut frame
d. Creative mind
2. It conceptualizes and designs a product that consumers find some
use for.
a. Entrepreneurial heart frame
b. Entrepreneurial mind frame
c. Entrepreneurial gut frame
d. Creative mind
3. It organizes sufficient forces and resources to develop, launch,
and commercialize the new product in order to maximize its
market value.
 a. Technical mind
b. Business mind
c. Creative mind
d. Intuition
4. It drives the entrepreneur to convert new knowledge into
something highly functional and operational. a. Technical mind
b. Business mind
c. Creative mind
d. Intuition
5. A person who starts a new business or organization taking some
personal financial risk to do so. a. Entrepreneurial heart frame
b. Entrepreneurial mind frame
c. Entrepreneur
d. Creative Mind
 ANSWER KEY 9.1-1
Entrepreneurial Mind

A. MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. b
2. d
3. b
4. a
5. c
 INFORMATION SHEET 9.1-2
Resource Utilization

Learning Objective:
After reading this INFORMATION SHEET, YOU MUST be able to:
1. Explain what is resource utilization;
2. Differentiate resource allocation from resource utilization; 3.
Value the benefits of resource utilization.

What is resource utilization?

Resource utilization defines the
procedure of making the “MOST” out of
the resources, which are accessible to you
in sort to achieve your purpose. This is
an efficient and effective procedure for an
organization.
By having the information about the
availability of resources and conclude
them at the right time for the project,
plays a vital role in managing the costs
and smooth execution on the project
activities.
So, in the last few years, the scenario of resource management has
been developed in order to manage the resource optimally for the business
which is an integral part of project management.
Why Business Owners need it?
No business owner would like to
waste their resources. Managing resources
is all about doing more with less as is the
part of project management. And it is
always centered on optimization and
efficiency. In order for making the project
successful, you can plan out the best
method to use your resources.

As Example:
For some industries, most constructive
effectiveness is so important for them that they
hire appropriate managers who would be
committed to just resource management and
are known as resource manager.
But the question arises, what does a
resource manager do even you already have a
project manager in the team?
Certainly, the project managers are
responsible for assigning and creating tasks to
get the project complete. And the resource managers are only accountable
for distributing the resources required to make the project success.
So, by considering your resources availability, and having the plan
how to use them, you can fix the problems before they arise.

What are the formulas and Benefits?

Well, there is no commonly
related formula for
resource management neither
there are any golden rules for it.
Still, we can follow some
checkpoints to make it happen.
The first step is estimating
the required number resources for
a project. Then estimate the date
of complete by dividing in hours
or weeks and include the employee hours needed on the
project.
The checklist can include:
● Understand which resources are critical and less in number
● Agree on a common approach to prioritizing work across shared
resources
● Embrace different ways of working across the organization and
resources
● Realize resource management is an ongoing process
● Divide work to resources using a blend of granularities
● Proper planning of the work
● Manage Resource assignments
● Report time
● Apply assignment types that align to your business needs
● Account for non-project time
● Avoid or limit multi-tasking
● Keep your most valuable assets and resources productive and
happy
Once you complete the allocating of tasks, your team members will
execute their activities conscientiously and complete them.
As a result, you’ll be able to:
● Centralize demand intake
and optimize project group
and resource ability to
deliver your organization’s
planned programs.
● Will get the right people for
working on the right
projects at the right time.
● Segregate your resources to changes in the market and
organization demands
● Keep your assignment process on track, on time, and on budget

All above are pointing to the process of resource utilization, how to

accommodate and expected key points. Now let’s see “how it could
help on business growth”.
 By Resource management protocol, you would be able to put your
complete control over the resources. It leads to significant benefits to any
kind of business or organization. Here I have given the forecast of future
benefits, which you get through Proper resource utilization.
● Conflict resolution – By having
the complete control over the
resources, their skills, experience,
and their knowledge, you can
quickly assign a qualified team
for the project. So, you do not
need to conflict the resources in
between the workflow.

● Reduce Project Deadline –

Same way, improving the project
delivery time could help to
minimize the cost and maximize
the margin. Research shows the
organizations who adopt the
Resource Utilization
methods have significantly
reduced the project cost.

● Resource Strength – Resource

management procedure could
give you the real live visibility to
the resource capabilities and the
capacity for future projects. And
it would enable a better customer
prospect for future
revenue opportunities.

● Reduce administration costs –

Having the full control over your
resources would
reduce the administrative
costs, which are linked for
project and maintenance.
 ● Increased revenue – The proper resource utilization could help
to assess and manage the whole pool in on hourly, daily, weekly
on by monthly basis. So, it may develop a process to ensure
your most precious resources are being used for a
maximum effect, and all the workload is balanced to avoid
waste.

Resource allocation vs. resource utilization

These processes might sound similar, but they have some slight and
important differences:
● Resource allocation sees a project
manager choosing suitable staff for
a project and then managing them
as the project is
completed, reassigning them or
altering their workload if necessary.

● Resource utilization, however, is

the process of strategically
measuring how effective resources
are. While allocation organizes your
project, it’s utilization that makes
your project successful.

Both processes are key to achieving project success, however resource

utilization is often undervalued. Creating a robust framework for assessing
the quality of existing resources might seem complicated, but with the right
tools it can be easy. Once you’ve decided on the budget and resources
available, and the metrics you want to use to measure efficiency, you can
implement resource management into your projects.
What are the benefits of resource utilization?
Resource utilization, ultimately, helps
you make the most of your available
resources:
 ● Proper utilization of resources is important for maintaining
productivity, because it prevents staff from underperforming or
being overburdened by workloads and burning out.
● Projects can be managed with better visibility, reducing the risk of
oversights.
● Using resources to their maximum potential gives you a better ROI
● It ensures that specific resources aren’t being over or
underutilized.
● It allows PMs to be agile and reschedule resources as quickly as
possible to avoid problems surfacing or becoming worse. SELF-
CHECK 9.1-2
Resources Allocation

A. Short Essay Questions

Direction: Read the questions carefully and answer intelligently. Write the
answer on your answer sheet.
1. Contrast resource allocation from resource utilization. Which is
more important?
2. Discuss the benefits of resource utilization.
 ANSWER KEY 9.1-2
Resources Allocation

A. Short Essay Questions

1. Resource allocation is how your company assigns or splits-up its
resources to meet tasks, deliverables and overall goals while
Resources utilization measures ‘how’ effectively your company is
making use of the available resources.

2. It is not enough to simply focus on allocating resources correctly. It

is also essential to be able to measure how well resources are being
utilized and to make meaningful adjustments. The ineffective
utilization of any resources, especially talent, can lead to
dissatisfied customers, unmotivated staff or burn-out, and possibly
catastrophic results like the partial or complete loss of business.
 DETAILS OF LEARNING OUTCOME
Communicate Entrepreneurial workplace best
LEARNING OUTCOME 2
practices
CONTENTS:
1. Office communication protocol

2. Ways to improve Quality in Business

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
1. Communicate observed good practices relating to workplace
operations to appropriate person

2. Communicate observed quality procedures and practices to

appropriate person
3. Communicate cost-conscious habits in resource utilization based
on industry standards.
CONDITION:
Student/ trainee must be provided with the following:
Tools Equipment Materials/ Supplies
Projector CBLM
Laptop
METHODOLOGY:
● Case Study
● Lecture/Discussion
ASSESSMENT METHOD
● Case Study
● Written Test
● Interview
 LEARNING EXPERIENCES

Learning Outcome 2: Communicate Entrepreneurial workplace best

practices
Learning Activities Specific Instructions
1. Read INFORMATION SHEET Read and understand the information
9.2-1 in Office sheet. After reading, answer the
Communication Protocol selfcheck to determine your learning.

2. Answer SELF-CHECK 9.2-1 Refer your answers to the answer key

on Office Communication 9.2-1 for self-check. You are required
Protocol to get ALL answers correct. If not, read
the information sheet again to answer
all questions correctly.

3. Read INFORMATION SHEET Read and understand the information

9.2-2 on Ways to improve sheet. After reading, answer the
Quality in Business selfcheck to determine your learning.

4. Answer SELF-CHECK 9.2-2 Refer your answers to the answer key

on Ways to improve quality 9.2-2 for self-check. You are required
in business to get ALL answers correct. If not, read
the information sheet again to answer
all questions correctly.
 INFORMATION SHEET 9.2-1
Office Communication Protocol

Learning Objectives:
After reading this INFORMATION SHEET, YOU should be able to:
1. Explain what is protocols;
2. Discuss office communication protocol;
3. Value the importance of communication protocol.

Protocols
Simply said, protocols are internal
rules that an organization's members are
required to follow and use. By making
sure targeted activities are handled
under protocols, the
organization ensures consistency and
conformity at every level. The downside,
however, is that too many
protocols lead to
redundancy, bureaucracy and, worse, unnecessary delays. This works
against an organization trying to be nimble and flexible. Strike a balance
between conformity and responsiveness.

Writing Rules
As part of the protocols,
organizations also benefit from making
sure that any communications follow
clear-use rules. This means making sure
staff understands how to communicate
properly in writing.
Quick, techy acronyms, such as
LOL, WTB, WU, LTR and so on, don’t
belong in professional writings. Staff should understand they
need to
communicate in proper language that places a premium on spelling and
grammar.

Communication
Communication means the
imparting or exchanging of information
or news.
Businesses and organizations
depend on communication lines staying
open and remaining dependable between
different parts and divisions.
Without the ability to communicate
effectively, company functions start to fall apart really quick. However,
everyone communicating their own way at the same time also leads to
chaos. This is where workplace protocols come into play.

Electronic Communication
To add to the challenge
of managing how people in the same
organization communicate, electronic and
computerized methods have complicated
the issue.
The speed of electronic
communication frequently results in
problems happen faster and spreading further when mistakes are made.
Smart phones, email, instant messaging and computer files only add to a
flurry of communications.

Written Communication
Written messages, the most
traditional of business communication
methods, are easily standardized by
organizations so they can be correctly
routed correctly and properly prioritized.
This is done by choosing different
methods for different levels of importance.
Emails, notes and basic messages can be used for daily
communication.
Memorandums and letters on company letterhead present communicated
issues in a more formal manner. Reserve issue papers and reports for policy
discussions and important decision-making efforts.

Electronic Messaging
Electronic Messaging means the
type of Electronic Record that is
transmitted via an electronic network to
the e-mail address of a person.
The problem with emails, instant
messaging and the Internet is that
organizations frequently lose control of
the message and its audience very
quickly.
Organizations are well-served by regularly training staff on the risks
and perils of electronic communication, reserving these tools for daily,
regular communication and training staff on understanding how to regularly
purge old communications and keep only important information.
Too often, people use these tools for silly or personal messaging. The
results can range from embarrassing to serious should these files later get
resurrected in lawsuits or legal matters.

Verbal Communications
Verbal communication is the use of
sounds and words to express yourself,
especially in contrast to using gestures or
mannerisms (non-verbal communication).
Protocols for verbal communication
can be implemented in similar fashion as
written documents. There should be
levels for verbal meetings, including
casual discussion, formal
meetings, hierarchy meetings, and
policymaking/decision-making interactions.
Each of these contact events should have an understood expectation
of how to communicate, for how long and how to process reactions and
decisions. Failure to do this in a business frequently results in ad hoc
interaction which, while comfortable in small groups, begins to cause
problems as organizations grow.

Virtual Communication
Virtual communication, is when
people communicate without being
faceto-face. Instructors can
communicate and provide lessons from
anywhere and anytime, as long as they
(and the audience) have the right tools.
Effective virtual communication is
a necessity in today’s business
environment. It’s common in many
organizations to have full-time or part-
time remote employees.
Partners and customers do business with organizations in various
countries. In order to ensure organization, meet their goals, employees need
to understand effective virtual communication practices and put them into
action.

Things to Consider for an Effective Virtual Communication

Use the Right Technology

There are a variety of technology
solutions available to help employees
communicate virtually. Aside
from telephone and email, businesses
can utilize instant messaging platforms
such as Skype to enable employees to
ask quick questions and keep each
other updated.
Collaborating with teams
on projects becomes easier with tools
such as Slack, which businesses can
use to better organize project-related communications. Video conferencing
with tools like Zoom and GoToMeeting are popular for having a virtual face-
toface conversation.
It’s important to choose the proper technology for the task at hand
when communicating virtually. For example, it may not be necessary to
have video conference to ask a quick question.
That might be better suited for an instant message. Similarly, project
management tools such as JIRA are the best place to record project updates
so they don’t get lost in your email inbox.
Be Fully Present in Virtual Communication
Multitasking at work helps
employees to be more productive.
However, in virtual communication,
it’s important to be focused on the
conversation. Avoid the impulse to
check emails while having a phone
meeting or text a friend while
updating teammates on Slack.
Virtual communication requires
employees to actively pay attention to the conversation. Since colleagues
are often not in the same physical location, it’s vital to ensure all
communication is accurate, focused and clear.

State Goals, Intentions and Results

Like in-person communication,
virtual communication can sometimes
go off track. In order to value
everyone’s time, it’s productive to
begin each communication by stating
goals and intentions and outlining
what kinds of results you want to
achieve.
Treat virtual meetings with the
same kind of preparedness as in-
person ones. Draft an agenda if you’re leading the meeting and send it out
to attendees beforehand. If you’re attending the meeting, review the agenda
and prepare your contribution.
For text-based communication, such as emails, messages and
updates, be sure to respond to show the sender that you have read the
communication. State your intentions to act on the information as
necessary. Sometimes, a simple “thanks for the update” is all that is
required and tells your colleagues that you have received the message.

Keep Teams Updated

Effective virtual communication
requires honesty and
responsiveness. Since body language
and tone of voice can get lost in
certain kinds of virtual
communication, it’s vital to be aware
of what the recipient can and cannot
ascertain from your message. For
example, if something in a Slack
message has upset you, the sender likely won’t know unless you tell them
because they cannot see your expression or hear your voice.
In addition to updating teams with honest communication, it’s
important to be available during business hours to respond to colleagues in
a timely manner. Many remote teams handle time-sensitive issues, and
colleagues cannot wait hours for an email response. As a result, be sure to
have the virtual communication channels open on your computer at all
times during working hours so you can receive notifications and reply as
needed.

Provide Guidelines and Training

If your business doesn’t have a
virtual communication policy, it’s wise
to establish some guidelines to help
employees understand how to
communicate effectively.
Providing introductory training on
how to get the most out of
the virtual communication tools
helps employees to utilize all the
features and realize productivity
benefits.
 SELF-CHECK 9.2-1
Office Communication Protocol

A. True or False
Direction: Read the questions carefully and answer intelligently.
Write the answer on your answer sheet.
1. Effective virtual communication requires honesty and
responsiveness.
2. Virtual communication requires employees to actively pay attention
to the conversation.
3. It’s important to choose any technology for the task at hand when
communicating virtually.
4. Protocols for verbal communication can be implemented in similar
fashion as written documents.
5. Too many protocols lead to redundancy, bureaucracy and, worse,
unnecessary delays.
 ANSWER KEY 9.2-1
Office Communication Protocol

A. True or False
1. True
2. True
3. False
4. True
5. True

INFORMATION SHEET 9.2-2

Ways to Improve Quality in Business

Learning Objectives:
After reading this INFORMATION SHEET, YOU should be able to: 1.
Enumerate the steps to improve quality of business
Quality
Quality is a distinctive attribute or
characteristic possessed by someone or
something.
Whether you sell a product or a
service, these five steps will help you
ensure that you are constantly improving
the way you do business--to the delight
of your customers.
Every business owner likes to think that he or she has a commitment
to quality. If that were truly the case, of course, no product would ever
disappoint, and no service would result in a complaint. So how can you
improve quality at your company?
Here are 5 steps you can take to put you on the right path.
1. Make a commitment.
W. Edwards Deming, the father of
the quality movement, argued that a
company's commitment to quality had
to come from the top, and it had to be
reinforced over and over again.
"Constancy of purpose means that
quality decisions are not
situational," writes the
operational expert Rebecca A. Morgan.
"End of month quality is the same as beginning of month.
So are you ready to commit? If you are, you should tell your staff—
and then think about how you will handle the first conflict between your
stated objective and a pressing deadline or an attractive short cut.

2. Track mistakes.
If you are going to commit to
quality, first you must define exactly
what quality is. For manufacturers, this
process involves statistical quality
control, the process of setting a product's
specifications and then sampling a small
number of units from the production line to see how closely they measure
up to those specs.
Standards are set and, if too much deviation occurs (or if quality
appears to be trending in the wrong direction), the manufacturing process is
altered.
Tracking quality is admittedly
more difficult in a service business, and
efforts by groups such as
the International Organization for
Standardization (known as ISO) to
create meaningful benchmarks beyond
manufacturing have had mixed results.
One way to gauge customer
satisfaction is by tracking what is called
a net promoter score. Devised by a Bain
consultant named Fred Reichheld, a net promoter score keeps tabs on the
number of customers who would recommend a business to their friends.
A customer who answers 9 or 10 is seen as a promoter; a customer
who answers 7 or 8 is seen as passive; and a customer who gives a company
a score of 6 or lower is seen as a detractor. By subtracting the number of
detractors from the number of promoters, a company arrives at its net
promoter score.

3. Invest in training.
An old saw of the quality
movement is that any business with a
quality control department is doomed to
poor performance, for it has
demonstrated to every other employee
that quality is not his or her chief
concern. Instead, quality
experts recommend that
businesses train workers at all levels to
look for ways to improve quality and to
ameliorate problems.
Training takes on several
dimensions. For starters, you should set
up a new-employee initiation program
that trains workers to focus on quality
issues from their first day on the job.
Different CEOs have different
perspectives on how best to do this.
Ralph Stayer, the quality-obsessed CEO of Johnsonville Sausage in
Sheboygan Falls, Wisconisn, believes your existing employees should be put
in charge of training new employees, because only they can provide a
firsthand perspective on how your company's operations work.
Ari Weinzweig, founder and CEO of the Zingerman's Family of
Companies in Ann Arbor, Michigan, takes a different approach: He
personally leads all new-employee orientation training sessions (which last
several days) because he believes an employer never has a better chance of
instilling values and a sense of purpose than right after he or she has hired
a new employee.
Whether you hand train duties to
your employees, take them on
personally, or some combination of the
two approaches, it's important that you
provide workers with a history of the
company through the lens of quality.
Let them know what problems
you have had in the past, how you
corrected these problems, and where your company stands with respect to
its quality goals today. You should also go over your definition of quality in
detail, and show them how you measure quality (see the previous section.)
Finally, train workers to see the connection between their actions and,
more broadly, their work ethic, and the company's overall performance. By
tying individual behavior to an overall system of work, and then showing
where that system can, on occasion break down, you will be giving workers
the information they need to be good stewards of your business.

4. Organize quality circles.

Your staff members may roll their
eyes at the introduction of such a dated
technique, but organizing employees into
quality circles can be an effective way to
identify and address problems. Simply
put, quality circles are groups of
employees who are encouraged to assess
processes and recommend improvements, all with the goal of promoting
quality, efficiency, and productivity.
The concept was developed by Deming in post-war Japan, and made
its way to the United States in the late 1970s. At one point, half of all large
corporations had adopted quality circles, but then interest in them faded.
That's a shame. Quality circles, by any other name, are teams of
workers who are given the authority and responsibility for making a
business better. To succeed, experts say that participation in a quality circle
should be voluntary; circles should draw members from all corners of a
company; and the circle should set its own agenda (rather than pursuing a
company owner's agenda.)
Once you have invited workers to
join a quality circle, provide them with
adequate resources to pursue their
analysis, and schedule a time in the
future at which they may present their
findings. It is important that you act on
their recommendations, even if the
group's conclusion is not necessarily
one you would have drawn yourself.
Remember, the purpose of the exercise
is less to solve a particular problem than it is to engage workers in the
process of finding and addressing concerns. Moreover, you should be
tracking customer complaints or product defects on a regular basis, so if the
circle's recommendations do not produce the desired result, you'll know it,
and be able to act.

5. Have the right attitude.

Too many people turn the quest to
improve quality into something
oppressive. No less an authority than
Deming rejected the idea that the quality
management had to be dreary and
involve a lot of negativity.
 "The prevailing system of management has crushed fun out of the
workplace," Deming moaned in an interview in the 1990s.
This attitude is not necessarily easy to adopt and runs afoul of some
of the basic management practices we take for granted. For example,
Deming was not a fan of performance reviews, as the writer John Case has
explained.
If your evaluations are fair, you will determine that half your workers
(by definition) are below average, and you will tell them so," Case writes.
"Result: half the work force is instantly discouraged and demoralized, and
any sense of common purpose is undermined."
Rather than pointing out
inadequacy wherever it might be found,
Deming believe that the job of managers
was to frame the pursuit of quality as an
interesting, noble, and worthwhile goal.
If you are to truly improve quality
at your business, whether you
manufacture products, distribute goods,
or perform a service for your clients,
your first step (and also the hardest) is
to resist the temptation to dwell on your company's flaws and instead rally
your team around the cause of rooting them out.

SELF-CHECK 9.2-2
Ways to Improve Quality in Business

A. Enumeration
Direction: Read the questions carefully and answer intelligently.
Write the answer on your answer sheet.
1. Enumerate ways to improve quality in business.
 ANSWER KEY 9.2-2
Ways to Improve Quality in Business

1. Make a commitment
2. Track mistakes
3. Invest in training
4. Organize quality circles
5. Have the right attitude
 DETAILS LEARNING OUTCOME
LEARNING OUTCOME 3 Implement Cost Effective Operations
CONTENTS:
1. Easy Tips to Cut Costs at Work
ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
1. Implement preservation and optimization of workplace resources in
accordance with enterprise policy.

2. Observe judicious use of workplace tools, equipment and materials

according to manual and work.

3. Make constructive contributions to office operations according to

enterprise requirements.

4. Sustain finances and allot time within one’s ability to work.

CONDITION:
Student/ trainee must be provided with the following:
Tools Equipment Materials/ Supplies
Projector CBLM
Laptop
METHODOLOGY:
● Case Study
● Lecture/Discussion
ASSESSMENT METHOD
● Case Study
● Written Test
● Interview
 LEARNING EXPERIENCES

Learning Outcome 3: Implement cost-effective operations

Learning Activities Specific Instructions
1. Read INFORMATION Read and understand the information
SHEET 9.3-1 in Easy steps sheet. After reading, answer the
to cut cost at work selfcheck to determine your learning.

2. Answer SELF-CHECK 9.3-1 Refer your answers to the answer key

on Easy steps to cut cost at 9.3-1 for self-check. You are required
work to get ALL answers correct. If not,
read the information sheet again to
answer all questions correctly.

INFORMATION SHEET 9.3-1

Easy Steps to Cut Cost at Work

Learning Objectives:
After reading this INFORMATION SHEET, YOU should be able to:
1. Enumerate steps to cut cost at work; 2.
Value the importance of cost cutting.
Saving your Company Money by Mark Swartz
All workplaces spend money. So
just about any employee can try to
think up cost cutting tactics. The
savings don’t have to be massive.
Every dollar not spent needlessly goes
toward the company’s bottom line.
Here are some simple ways you can
help reduce workplace expenses.

Saving Costs Is Equal to Making Money

Eliminating excess costs is equivalent to earning revenue. Employers
prize people who can add to net profits.
If you dream up an idea that saves P1,000, it’s similar to increasing
sales by P10,000 (assuming a 10% profit margin). If you find a way to cut
two hours a month on the production of a report, that’s 24 labor hours
saved every year.

How This Helps You?

These are the key reasons you should help your employer save money:
● It makes you look like a committed worker. Employers appreciate
the extra effort made to improve the bottom-line.
● You can add it to your resume. This is something that can help you
stand out during interviews, at performance reviews, and when
making a case for your raise or promotion.
● Sharpens your thinking. Although many of the ways to save money
can be modest, some really challenge you to be innovative.
● Less waste means less haste. When employers spend less money
pointlessly, there’s less chance they’ll have to shave costs by other
means, such a salary freezes and perk cutbacks.
There is also a possibility that you’ll share a portion of the savings.
Some employers offer an incentive plan that rewards its people for ideas and
actions that lead to cost reductions.
How to Reduce Expenses
The most direct route to cost
cutting is to minimize expenditures.
This can be accomplished by looking
for savings opportunities.
Are you always pestering the
boss to buy the latest release of
software or newest model of device?
Unless this can bring demonstrable
productivity increases, work with the
existing version longer. Or use your
personal device(s) for business as well.
Scheduled to go on a business trip? Maybe it would be cheaper – yet
still effective – to organize a video conference at a local facility that provides
those amenities. If not, think about staying at a less expensive hotel (or with
friends/family if available), and booking well in advance to get the best fare.
In terms of work routine, how about adding a day or two of
telecommuting? Desk-sharing too. They reduce the need for expensive office
space and they lower outlays for energy.
Whenever making purchases for work, ask to use the company credit
card. It can cut a few percentage points off the bill. Or it can add travel
points to be used for business trips.

Decrease Waste
Wasted resources squander an
employer’s funds. Recycle, reuse, and
repurpose whenever feasible. By going
greener, costs get leaner.
Striving for a paperless office is a
solid starting point. Don’t print out hard
copies where electronic documents will
do. Use two-sided copying.
Distribute hard copies only to those
who must have printed versions. These
three steps alone will lessen paper, toner and storage charges.
If you work in a manufacturing environment, waste increases costs.
Can you come up with any ways to use fewer (or less expensive) materials?
Are there duplicated procedures, or production-slowing processes, that can
be altered?
Cost Cutters Are Problem Solvers
Every time an employer
overspends it becomes an issue. No
organization has a shortage of these
challenges, especially in the face of
competitive and financial pressures.
You can be a dollar detective. It
can be as simple as making sure the
last person who leaves turns off lights
and powers down devices. Or it can
be more involved, like when reducing
overtime or cutting the number of units that fail to meet
specs.
Keep your eyes peeled for opportunities to be frugal. You’ll be helping
to save money, waste, and (when times are tough) maybe even your job.

SELF-CHECK 9.3-1
A. Short Essay
Direction: Read the questions carefully and answer intelligently. Write the
answer on your answer sheet.
1. Why is it importance to save company money?
2. How is it to reduce expenses?
 ANSWER KEY 9.3-1
A. Short Essays
1. Eliminating excess costs is equivalent to earning revenue.
Employers prize people who can add to net profits.
2. The most direct route to cost cutting is to minimize expenditures.
This can be accomplished by looking for savings opportunities.
 ACKNOWLEDGMENT
1. https://neilpatel.com/blog/perfect-entrepreneurial-attitude-
according-science/
2. https://blog.orangescrum.com/2018/12/how-does-resource-
utilization-help-to-improve-business-performance.html
3. https://www.monster.ca/career-advice/article/easy-tips-to-
saveyour-company-money
4. ttps://www.investopedia.com/terms/e/entrepreneur.asp
5. https://www.prosymmetry.com/blog/resource-utilization/
6. https://www.inc.com/guides/2010/09/5-ways-to-
improvequality.html