NU 12 - Jaypee Eugenio (5 New Products/Improvements) (3 Professionalism New Work, Methods, Practices)

Ateneo Innovation and Entrepreneurship "New ideas create more and better new products and services; create more wealth."

5. New products / product improvements

        Today, I would rather commute than drive my car because I find it more convenient and safe since I’m working at night and would not want to drive sleepy going home plus with my extra-curricular activities at hand, I’d rather sleep and relax while traveling than be stressed out driving along the always busy EDSA and nearby highways. 

        I do ride cabs, bus, light and metro rail transits, FX, and the most popular of all and tagged as the King of the Road the Jeepneys. However, I find it quite annoying at times when you are seated near the driver or at any “hotspot” as I call it, to be obligated by other passengers to reach for their payments and to give back their change if there’s any without even hearing a simple Thank You or acknowledging your noble gesture. It’s not of a big deal for me not to hear their Thank you, but there are times that some passengers act as if it is your responsibility to do such, since you are seated next to the driver and it really pisses me off. Good thing, I learn how to control my emotions and get over those “bossy” passengers.

        With this in mind, I am thinking of a mechanical hand or box-type machine that can go to and from the driver seat up to the last passenger at the end of the jeepney to receive their payments and give out their change if necessary. The mechanical hand or basket can be operated by the driver from the buttons located on his steering wheel. It will then be easier for him to receive their payments and safer since his eyes will still be fixed on the road.

        Moreover, we can have a box-type machine that can accept coins and automatically disperse change if needed. (just like vendo machine) The passengers can simply push the button of their location from the selection found on the control panel then drop the coins or insert paper bills and the machine will provide change. This also works just like the hand or basket that it is attached on the jeepneys roof and automatically controlled by the driver from his steering wheel. Though the box-type can be too costly to produce since you need to set up the program to correctly accept money or provide change, the first option is more feasible today. 

        Having this on our new jeepneys is a step towards a much easier way of paying your fare. Perhaps in the future, reloadable cards like in Hong Kong which they use to pay for their transportation will also be made available for Filipinos. 
             


3. Professionalism – new work, methods, practices

        In the office, we do not maintain log sheets, Bundy clocks, or attendance sheet to record the employees’ time in and time out. The company has complete trust with their employees to come to work on time. However, it is not happening across all business units. Perhaps those who caters North America processes have developed within themselves proper time management and the value of deadline to deliver results, but unfortunately, others handling other regions still practice the bad habit called “Filipino Time” and this is the practice that I would like to be changed forever.

        Filipino time is something that we should not be proud of. This is one of the not so good images we have shown our friends around the world that we do not value time and we should change this perception. However, it is very hard to change a habit especially if almost all people around you are doing the same thing. This will also not be just a change in habit but also a change in behavior and character. Everything has to start from within. 

        We need to understand the value of time especially in dealing with other members of the organization. We need to properly manage our activities in the office and set up meetings with allowance or buffer to ensure you will not be coming in late if something has to be extended. Moreover, we need to learn how and when to say no instead of giving them false hope and this is one way of managing our activities to ensure time is met.

        This is not relatively new in the office setting, but I believe there are pretty much new ways and practices on how to develop this behavior of coming to work on time all the time. Perhaps, give recognitions to those who come in ahead and on time to motivate everyone to follow that lead. Provide incentives for those who met the deadlines and coach those who did not so that everyone will be on the same page next time.

        In our team specifically, we started with an online timesheet just to practice ourselves to some on time and pretty much it worked out wonders in each members of our group. Now, we are able to accomplish our duties and tasks on time without rendering overtime work because everyone is coming in on their work schedule and every process is accomplished the right way.

        We cannot change a habit overnight, but with constant practice and motivation from other members of the organization, we can achieve to eliminate the bad perception of “Filipino Time”.