The Second Module - Technical skill (2nd week)

12 April, 2010
Topic: Five disciplines of innovation
Today, we are learning how to sell our ideas for innovation purposes. The lecturer teach us to produce product that really fit into currently market, the product either new or undergo modification process in term of development or marketing strategies should be related on what customer needs and wants. Do not ever produce product to express our creativity but no values for customers. It is because business need profit to expand and sell ideas especially among the investors like bankers or individually. We also practise our group presentation that will be held tomorrow morning, conducting by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Khairudin Damhoeri. We preparing our script presentation, we make some mock up for our product and we dealing with time which mean we try to follow the exactly duration for each presentation. Two minutes for customers’ benefits and another two minutes for investors benefits presentations. We need to persuade those people to really understand our product, so that they will buy it and invest in start up cost for the business.

13 April, 2010
Topic: Five disciplines of innovation
This is our final day for this subject. This is our moment to convince our customers and investors. Within four minutes presentation we are able to sell the ideas about the product in front of clients. There are 10 groups involved in this presentation and our group turn is at the fourth place. The chosen presenter delivered it well which they showed their skill in persuading people with high confident level. Before that, we are discussed about article that related on how people in Europe especially Netherlands create their innovative environment by applying 13 behaviours that change the attitudes and be creative in organizations.

14 April, 2010
Factory visit
Today was factory visited to Stellagen Company that situated in Batu Caves. As a group A, we arrived there at 10 o’clock by bus. We were most welcoming by the Stellagen staffs. We had some briefly explanation about the company background like the company started operation at 2007 and they collaborating with Universiti Pertanian Malaysia (UPM) in research and development in probiotic product. The probiotic was for chicken, they had farm that located at Johor that feed on this probiotic. The chicken showed positive performance in term of size growth. Most of the chickens were exported to Singapore because Singapore was one of the countries that ban the use of antibiotic, vitamins and other chemicals to chickens through foods and drink. In a month their productivity was performed in four cycles because before this the product was in a form of powder so it required more than four cycles but now in liquid form, it more time for research in product development. The factory plan was divided in four rooms like fermentation room where the Bioreactor was used to grunge the four different species to produce 11 strains as a stock. They had different sizes such as 100 litres, 75 litres and 1400 litres of Bioreactor machine which depend on materials demand. Then, centrifuge room that need 17 000 rpm pressure to separate the materials. They had room for freeze dryer that run for 48 hours to freeze the stock using steam process. The last room for utility support that had two boiler machines and chiller machine for cooling down the temperature of freeze dryer machine. The company will distribute their products in Malaysia on this coming Mei of the year. They also plan to produce their own chickens which known as ‘Stella Chicken’. The chickens have less cholesterol and fats as compare to other chickens. We arrived back to UniRazak at 1 o’clock in the afternoon and continued our topic at 2 p.m with Mr. Kal. The topic was how to find investors to fund our projects, like we had to have business model in order to creating value of products to make money. A few questions need to be asked like distribution, sales, production, raw materials, pricing, positioning, marketing, barrier to entry, and scalability. He taught us how to prepare elevator pitch for presentation which summarized, conclude and focus on a few key elements. It should be short, simple and memorable that follows 10 – 20 – 30 rule: 10 slides, the font nothing smaller than 20 and within 30 minutes. The presentation should cover the problems, solutions (prepare demo), market size, business model, Proprietary technology, competitions, marketing plan, team/hires and money/milestones.

15 April, 2010
Factory visit
Today was factory visited to Inno Biologics Company that situated in Nilai. The company was specialized in mammalian cells. Their services were in cell line engineering and antibody, and medium development. Besides that, they had protein science department that designing and synthesizing DNA, strain construction, Murine MAb development, antibody humanization and antibody expression in mammalian cell. They had small companies such as Inno Bio Diagnostics Sdn. Bhd. which cell-based Diagnostic and Regenerative Medicine. Another company was Bio Innovation Centre Sdn. Bhd. that for innovation, commercialisation and manufacturing centre. Their bioprocess development facilities were divided into three operations which were bioreactor work, protein separation work and purification work. We had opportunity to explore all processes room there, and know how the work done by the specialised worker. We arrived back to UniRazak at 3 o’ clock in the afternoon.

16 April, 2010
Today, we had presentation from department of Standards Malaysia by Mrs. Fariza Abdullah. The agenda was about accreditation, national recognition and major achievements by this department. They were governing by Standards Malaysia Act 1996 (Act 549). The functions were to develop and promote of Malaysia Standard (MS), and also to accreditation of conformity assessment bodies. The mission was ‘Accepted by Malaysians, Recognised by World’. The important of accreditation was reliability of results and the product or service able to perform tests that been provided by Standards Malaysia. For example, the LAB/TF goes through routine testing such as for medical test (15189) or non-medical test (17025). It can be used for research parts like for non-clinical, accreditation by OECD-GLP or for clinical, accreditation by ICH-GCP. Lastly, the LAB, also can get accreditation from EMEA (BA/BE)
• LAB or known as TF (test facility)
• OECD (Organization of Economic Corporation Development)-GLP (Good Laboratory Practise)
• ICH-GCP (Good Clinical Practise)

The Second Module - Technical skill (1st week)

Friday,April 02,2010

Topic - creativity thinking skill

Explaining on creative thinking such how to develop creative thinking and what aspect that need in order to create branches of mind. It is because sometimes there has some mismatching between what employers want and what employees have. How to manipulate our perception and judgement in thinking out of boundary. We can using the balanced thinking approach such as applying the seven thinking hats:

1. white hat - based on facts
2. red hat - intuition and feeling aspect
3. black hat - negative aspect
4. yellow hat - positive aspect
5. green hat - creative aspect
6. blue hat - controlling information
7. grey hat - religious perspective

Monday,April 05,2010
Topic – creativity thinking skill
I learn about how to generate our creativity thinking. The creativity comes from knowledge that most probably we get from our past experiences and relate it into what information ideas that we have, in order to introduce the new variety of inventions. The invention must be suitable to market either now or future.

The new idea is wrong at the first place but the new idea is great idea for the future goal and mission. Try to think outside the box and accept the new ideas so that we don’t reject it at the first place but bring new ideas to improve it.

Tuesday,April 06,2010

Topic - creativity thinking skill

Today, I learn the same topic of creativity thinking skill has been discussed by the Prof. Dr. Barjoyai Bardai. He add up some what method using in the inovation process like invent economic product design that has creating value analysis. It is because value analysis is a creative activity which based on four factors:

• aesthetic - relate to emotional relationship between person and product
• ergonomic - relate to non-emotional relationship between person and product
• technical - the product performance
• economic - total cost to the customer use of the product

Wednesday, April 07, 2010
Topic - five disciplines of innovation
We need to form a new group of five and think about products or services that can undergo innovative development that suit to customer needs and wants at the market right now. My group agrees to improvise existing product which are baby carrier, baby stand, umbrella as a shelter for a baby and baby stroller that combine different function into one which known as EZ-Bag pack. The target market is parent that range from bottom to upper class of economy.

Thursday, April 08, 2010
Topic - five disciplines of innovation
In a group, we need to come out with product or service that relate in the Biotechnology. We need to prepare presentation of proposal about business planning that contain what types of business are we doing, budgeting and marketing strategies. My group agrees to sell product that known as edible fruit coating that use Chitosan which name as Chito-coat. It is HALAL, non-toxic and certified by SIRIM. Our target market is for individual usage like fruit stall, hypermarket like GIANT, and TESCO, and larger scale industry like FAMA. Our capital is 1 million. After presentation, we need to re-write back because it not enough convincing and too long for presentation of 5 minutes.

Friday, April 09, 2010
Topic - five disciplines of innovation
We re-write again and this time we really focus on what special of our product to customers. We use formula of NABC
N: what customer needs?
A: How to approach them?
B: Benefit that they get from our product
We practice what we prepare and present within 1 minute. We choose our best presenter; two persons and they need to convince our valued customers and investors.

The First Module - Communication Skill

The second week in BeST Programme

This week was so exciting because I learned new inputs everyday and meet wonderful trainers that expert in their fields. All prospects related in communication skills were well trained by the trainers especially in delivering all informative knowledge through creative and simple presentation.

Monday morning we had session with Madam Iris and Madam Suzila. They were awesome combination as trainers that make the learning process in class so interesting. They touched on how to conduct meeting with our colleague in proper format such as make the meeting simple but well manage in term of agenda and time.

The next day, we did our business writing. We had to write our resume and cover letter in the acceptable format. The most important part was the preparation of documents. We had to provide informative facts on profile background and related experiences. Moreover, we learned on how to prepare thank you letter and follow up letter like what aspects did we need to put and which letter must delivered first and followed by what letter.

Besides that, we had opportunity to learn about public speaking techniques. There were many types of public speaking such as forum, debate, group presentation and conference. Certain candidates must presented all the tasks. Mr Farizal would measured our techniques on how well it delivers, and the contents were not much focusing. I felt so honoured to represent of my group and shared some facts with other presenter. The forum was good but then I had negative feedback Mr. Farizal. It was positive comment from him in term of enhancing confident level and voice projection. It is because the presentation should be cleared and the words must be easier to capture by the audience.

The last day session was with Dr. Greene. She gave fantastic information and speech on Entrepreneurial Leadership. The main idea of entrepreneurship was based on opportunity, resources, leadership and creates something of value. Entrepreneur was not totally on money but also the options on choosing organization and passion in creating new items that could be realized through achievement, happiness, significance and legacy.

The third week of BeST Programme

The topics that had been discussed were on negotiation skill and article writing. The negotiation was ongoing thing that might happen in working environment or at home. In working condition, it might happen when we make a deal with clients or at home, the child bagging from her or his parent to fulfill their need and want. Before negotiation occurred, we had to clarify our meeting goals. The best negotiation was when the both parties got their benefit from the meeting. The article writing was the best part to learn because we had been taught about how to deliver our article in a form that readers could understand. The articles should be precise and informative, so that it may increase the reader interest. Before the article undergo publishing process, we had to gather all information and facts about our article like from related journal or having some interview to search the real experiences from important person. The facts should be well delivered to what kind of readers such as for layman or person from specific fields. All this may influence creativity and skills of writing. The next day, we had been lecture from Mr. Faizal Kamal on Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP). We had been taught on how to use our subconscious mind to generate our positive side so that we could express good environment in our daily life. Besides that, the external factor might be switched from negative to positive result. The basic idea was control our mind to belief what we saw all in good response. It would reflect positive reaction in term of our behavior and the way we think. This technique can be used to motivate ourselves to become excellent person in life. The last day of the week was prepared the powerful presentation. We learned on how to give presentation that might persuade people to buy our product or accept our ideas. The presentation should be informative, simple and attractive to catch the attention of audience. We had given a task that need to be presented the last week of the month. Each of us might be presented our chosen topic in 11 minutes.

The fourth week of BeST Programme

Here was the structure of my presentation.

Introduction

Good morning to all of you. I’m Sahara Ismail. Are you organic consumer? If you go to any supermarket, have you noticed the section of organic there and what have you seen it that section? Well, of cause a paled color of apples and organic oat and soymilk without melamine. The next 6 minutes, my presentation will touch on understanding of organic produce, how it benefits our health and briefly explanation about the organic bottom line. Another 5 minutes for Q&A session towards the end of presentation.

Contents

1. Understanding of organic

a. Organic produce basically produce grown – no synthetic chemicals, no hormones and antibiotics for livestock, and no genetic modification. Back to the basic of farming that was used since human existence – traditional method of farming)

b. For instance, some farmers in CH, they plant chrysanthemum alongside with cauliflowers, the smell of chrysanthemum repel pests that prey on cauliflowers. Other than that, they also practice crop rotation and plant mixed crop to maintain nutrient level of the soil. (in Malaysia, we have certificate in order to call organic product – Skim Organik Malaysia ; SOM)

2. Benefits health

a. By eating organic product, you are avoiding your body from being harm by artificial nasty stuff. E.g. body has to work overtime in breaking down a lot of unnatural stuff that we consume every day, thus suffering a variety of side effects in the process.

b. Fruits and vegetables generally have a shorter shelf life than conventionally-grown, which means you eat fresher and therefore get more antioxidants, vitamins and nutrients. It’s good for your health.

3. The organic bottom line

a. Organic produce is generally more expensive because organic farming is labor-intensive where work is done manually.

b. More expensive natural alternative must be used like using their own compost, so these drives up production costs.

c. It is because the farmers depend on natural weather conditions.

d. For example, the more people buy organic food in Malaysia, the more organic farm come into existence and the more competitive the price become.


Conclusion

I’ve been cover all areas that support the importance of organic product for you and our environment. Going organic not only for your diet but more importance your lifestyle. So, what are you waiting for? Get started from now on for your health and wellbeing.

Thank you!

The First Module - Communication Skill

First week in BeST Programme

The first week was so good especially meeting new friends. I felt great to know my Chinese and Indian friends because they were all friendly and the best part when we were shared and changed our ideas and views towards this fantastic programme.

We went to Nur Lembah Pangsun, which all the activities were on how to cooperate in one group, as in simple words, as a team player. It was difficult to understand because were had to make one decision and we had to stick together so that we got marvelous results in expressing our thoughts and emotions.

There was one moment that still sticks in my mind, when we had to prepare flag and cheer about our group. The first time received this tasks, I personally thought it was difficult because performing one cheer need extra creativity because it represented our group spirits and attitudes. Finally, within 20 minutes, we had this lovely and wonderful cheer:

Burn baby burn,
Stay away from us,
Because we are the RED FIRE......

Red fire was our group name that explained our passion and spirit when facing challenges and we were ready to fight and compete our enemies.

We were there for two days and a lot of experinces and useful information that can be used to create future in working environment and life.Then, for the following day, we had our lecture on introduction of communication skill in class.

My FiRsT iMpReSSiOn of UniRaZak CiTy CamPuS

First time came to UniRazak, I felt so excited and happy. I never heard about this place before and I had difficulty finding this place. I had to stop at Dang Wangi station and walked about 15 minutes before reached here.

The first word came out from my mouth was "wow", how lucky I am to be here, it was small building but definitely they had great facilities and wonderful environment. Hmm suddenly I started to think that either I am ready to work or not after entered this placed.

Yeah..!!!! Nice place for nice people. I believed that capability and strength would coloured my future. I would absorbed all inputs in this programme by learning and practising the module. After that, I will become one of the trainee that has a potential to develop and generate ideas for the future companyand productivity. I wanted my future employer and family worth it to have me as a candidate and daugther in family.

Besides that, in front of this building, I finally found my new friends and we started sharing our laughter, love and sadness together…This moments keep me realized that friendship is more valuable than diamond in this world.