Effort driven tasks

Talking to a colleague the other day, the subject of staffing resources came up.

He wasn’t aware of the concept of effort driven tasks and non effort driven tasks.

So, for the benefit of others, here is an example.

Suppose you have a task, say moving a mound of earth from the bottom of the garden to the top. All other things being equal, the more resource allocated, the quicker it will get down.
(Resources being workers with wheel barrows, spades, protective clothing etc etc)

This is an effort driven task.

Now suppose that the task was installing a shower room in a pensioners “granny flat”. Space is likely to be cramped and there will come a limit when adding more resources is counter productive. (Mainly in this example because they will crash into each other…)

This is a non effort driven task

This principle is used extensively in project management but is worth knowing for the general manager.

Making the job easier or harder?

The HMRC lost discs

The report into last year lost discs has been published.

See the BBC report.

Most of our readers probably don’t work in organisations the size of HMRC but the lessons are there for everyone to learn.

• Poor relationship between management & staff
• Low morale
• No adequate procedures for data handling

(Incidentally - it was almost laughable to hear a junior minister on Radio 4’s "The world at 1" on Wednesday effectively say "Oh, yes, there are procedures, it’s just that no-one knew what they were")

To help with getting the message over - we have decided to make our course "The safe use of the web & email" available for just £12.99 per user until 31st July.

The course covers all aspects of using computers in the workplace including email, spyware & virus protection. It would be ideal as an induction or refresher course.

To take advantage of this offer - just contact us on 01909 772729 or email contact@(removethisforspam)sharp-end-training.co.uk

For more details of the course - visit the homepage

Display Screen Equipment Risk Assessments

Almost every office and workplace has PC’s and equipment covered under the DSE regulations.
However, most buildings were designed before the mass take up of IT. As a result, a regular risk assessment is not only a good idea but required under the regulations.

We have designed a course to walk managers and supervisors through the required steps to carry out a risk assessment.
However,final testing on this course has been delayed and we will issue further details in the next week or so.

Secure data procedures

There were a couple of lost data stories in the news this last week or so.

Firstly, the leisure clothing firm Cotton Traders were hacked - see BBC report

Later last week were the so-called “terror files” left on a train by an official. BBC report

At the risk of sounding like a stuck record, these high profile bungles should give a warning to all managers to put in place data handing procedures.

We are not technically minded (or rather not enough to give advice to Cotton Traders…) but amongst the things we have seen on our travels are the following;

Credit card numbers held unencrypted on servers

Customers actually asked to email credit card numbers unencrypted

Telephone order is taken and the telephone is in a public place. Orders are taken and numbers jotted down on a pad. The member of staff leaves the desk to walk about the store while a personal caller/visitor is sat at the same desk looking at the number.

Sound too far fetched to be true?
Sorry but it’s all true…

So, PLEASE put in place, safe robust, procedures for dealing with data and information - before it’s too late.

New Training Resources added to members area

To coincide with the launch of our latest course "Display screen equipment risk assessments" - We have added a risk assessment template to the members area.

This 6 page document takes the user through the steps needed to carry out a successful and efficient risk assessment.

Only subscribers can get this FREE document and it is very easy.

1. Subscribe to our weekly training update by going to the box on the left hand side of this page.

2. Enter your name & email.

3. You will be taken to the "almost" page and we will send you an email.

4. Click on the link in this email and you will be taken to the "success" page.

5. You will be sent your "welcome" email with your user name and password for our members lounge.

6. Log in to www.training-subscribers.info

7. Click "Downloads"

8 Click "Training Downloads"

9. Download it..

Did you miss your free training?

Last week, we gave you details of how to get your free training course.

Incredibly, some people still missed out because they signed up late. Sorry guys - mad panic emails won’t help - and it is not fair on those who did sign up as requested.

Remember - we only give serial numbers away to subscribers who are SIGNED on by the deadline we specify well in advance.

Why not sign up now - so you don’t miss out in future?

Go to the box in the middle column of this page and add your name & email

Free training for charities

Most charities struggle for cash and donations. Sometimes the most worthy causes are not the ones who get the most publicity.

That’s why Sharp End Training would like to help. If you are a charity, trust, or non-profit making organisation, please contact us. We would love to help.

We would suggest that our training works best if you have large numbers of staff who need the same message.

Obviously, we can’t help everyone, (and we do have bills to pay) so it would be helpful, if you could prepare a few lines about the nature of your charity and how you think online training & learning will help.

We can then have a chat and get you going.

Personal use of the internet at work costs over £10billion

The Confederation of British Industry announced that personal use of the internet at work costs UK PLC £10.6 billion.

We agree with CBI Chief John Cridland who says that allowing staff to use the internet in works time can boost productivity if it is managed correctly.

Allowing unlimited use will encourage staff to do very little work. Using forums and reading blogs can be almost an addiction.

A blanket ban, on the other hand, will encourage staff to find other ways to stay in touch and gossip with friends. These include sloping off to the toilet or using text messaging. Neither of these can be policed as easy or effectively as the internet.

Trust is essential and a good internet & email use policy will foster this.

Weekly update subscribers can access a free internet use policy from the members only site

The full story is here

New look for our blog

The Sharp End Training Blog has recently changed design and we hope you like the new look.

Fitting better with the rest of the site, we think it is a definate improvement.

Over at the Learn-on-Demand blog. we have done the same thing. (But you might notice a slightly different colour.)

Any feedback is welcome.

We have a number of new things planned for the next few weeks. We are just putting the finishing touches to a new course on “Display Screen Equipment Risk Assessments”

While not everyone’s cup of tea, this course will be of particular interest to health and safety inspectors, union officials and similar.

Learn on Demand

As you may have read in an earlier post, our learn on demand site has moved to a new server.

One unexpected side effect of this is that all discount serial numbers now no longer work.

If you are using a serial number, please contact us for a replacement.

Don’t forget that all weekly update subscribers will receive a free serial number with this weeks email update.