2012年10月27日星期六

Leadership Strategy - How to Change the Old Mindsets of Your People Effectively

The Executive Study Group seminar was organized by An Executive Study Group under the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) and the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corp (HKSTPC). The October topic named “Leadership Strategy – How to Change the Old Mindsets of Your People” was held on 26 Oct 2012.

Dr. Mark Lee's talk separated into four parts included “Challenges of Changing Mindsets”, “Four Strategic Step”, and “The Force of Persuasion”, as well as, “Group Discussion” at the end.


In the beginning, Dr. Lee said that more and more cross-functional team cooperation presented in business world and new generation employees showed little tolerance for unquestioned authority. People don't just ask "What should I do?" but "Why should I do it?". To answer this question is to "Persuade" your employee to do it. However, many business leader found it difficult and time-consuming. Dr. Lee quoted the statement from Mr. Lawrence Bossidy (CEO, AlliedSignal) to explain this phenomena.


A logical approach to change people's mindsets are discussed. Dr. Lee said the constitutes effective persuasion was a Learning and Negotiating Process. Then he explained "Dialgue" happened before and during the persuasion process and it was a form of learning. The Dr. Lee quoted Prof. Jay A. Conger (Marshall School of Business) statement "The best persuaders not only listen to other but also incorporate their perspectives into a shared solution."


The second part was "Four Strategic Steps". There were "Establish Credibility", "Frame for Common Ground", "Use Vivid Language and Compelling Evidence (Tell Story)" and "Connect Emotionally".


Step 1. Establish Credibility
Dr. Lee asked us don't overestimate our own credibility. There are two sources of Credibility included "Expertise" and "Relationship". The following items explained how to fill in the Gaps of Expertise and Relationship.

To achieve High Levels of "Expertise"
- Outside Sources of Information (e.g. Respected business or trade periodicals, lectures by experts, etc.
- Pilot Project (e.g. To demonstrate on a small scale your expertise and the value of your ideas)
- Learning by Education or Participation (e.g. Through formal or informal education, conversations with knowledgeable individuals)
- Leveraging of Professionals (e.g. Hire someone industry consultant to bolster your expertise)

To establish Strong People "Relationship"
- One-on-one meetings (e.g. To meet all key people you plan to persuade)
- Involving Like-Minded Coworkers



Step 2. Frame for Common Ground
Dr. Lee use McDonald Franchisee as an example to explain Win-Win situate to change the menu individual items to be package items. And he quoted Prof. Jay A. Conger statement that "In some situations, no shared advantages are readily apparent. In these cases, effective persuaders adjust their positions."


Step 3. Use Vivid Language and Compelling Evidence (Tell Story)
Dr. Lee said an effective persuaders used language in a particular way such as stories and picture. Then he quoted Prof. Jay A. Conger statement again where "Numbers do not make an emotional impact, but stories and vivid language do."


Step 4. Connect Emotionally
Good persuaders are aware of the primacy of emotions and are responsive to them in two important ways below:
- Showing Their Own Emotional Commitment
- A Sense of Audience Emotional State
Prof. Jay A. Conger said that "Without this demonstration of feeling, people may wonder if you actually believe in the position you're championing".


The third part was "The Force of Persuasion". Persuasion is not for convincing and sleeting but learning and negotiating. It is not only in logic side but also in Art. Using McDonald's bundled food pricing plan as an example again, they established credibility of expertise by research reports and pilot project, it demonstrated win-win situation among franchisees. Finally, they had emotional ending by using Founder's Old Letter.


After that, we had an exercise to cross two of the most difficult persuasion steps and pick one of the easiest persuasion step for discussion.


Reference:
The Centre for Logistics Technologies and Supply Chain Optimization, CUHK: http://www.logitsco.cuhk.edu.hk/
HKSTP - www.hkstp.org


2012年10月23日星期二

HKCTC Seminar on Testing for Toy Safety

The Seminar entitled "Testing for Toy Safety: EU's Latest Requirements" was joinly organized by the Hong Kong Council for Testing and Certification (HKCTC), the Hong Kong Accreditation Service (HKAS) and Hong Kong Toys Council (HKTC) on 22 October 2012.

In the beginning, Mr. Bernie Ting (Chairman of HKTC and Member of HKCTC) gave a welcoming remarks. Mr. Ting said "Made in Hong Kong" became "Made by Hong Kong" and HKTC aimed to enhance the awareness of toy safety in the industry.


Ms. Maureen Logghe (Policy Officer - SNE, DG Entreprise and Industry, European Commission) gave an opening remarks. She hoped that we could work together to enhance the safety aspects in Toys.


Group photo with speakers


The first speaker was Ms. Maureen Logghe (Policy Officer - SNE, DG Entreprise and Industry, European Commission) and her topic was "Toy Safety Directive: classification issues and new guidelines, technical documentation, Frequently Asked Questions". Ms. Logghe speech was separated into four parts included time schedule, classification, documents and future changes.


The time schedule of Directive 2009/48/EC was shown below. The directive for chemical requirement would be effective on 20 July 2013. (OJEU stands for the Official Journal of the European Union)


"Toys" is defined as "products designed or intended, whether or not exclusively, for use in play by children under 14 years of age". The following reference sites were described.
Toys - Guidance documents from the Expert Group on Toy Safety: http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/sectors/toys/documents/guidance/
Questions & Answers about Toy Safety: http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/sectors/toys/faq/index_en.htm
Chinese version of Directive 2009/48/EC: http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/sectors/toys/files/technical-documentation-guidance/20110405_technical_documentation_guidance_document_rev_1-0_chinese.pdf

The possible amendments and implementing measures were shown as follow diagram.


Preparing legislative proposals, the European Commission would rely on the opinion by the scientific expertise whose drafting legislation assessing and dealing with risk.
Scientific committee: http://ec.europa.eu/health/scientific_committees/index_en.htm

Some information about migration limits were shown below.
Cadmium - http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2012:064:0007:0008:EN:PDF
Lead - http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/sectors/toys/public-consultation-lead/index_en.htm
Barium - http://ec.europa.eu/health/scientific_committees/environmental_risks/docs/scher_o_161.pdf

CMR (Carcinogenic, Mutagenic, Reprotoxic) substances included Tris(2-chloroethyl)phosphate (TCEP), Tris (1-chloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TCPP), Tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl)phosphate (TDCP)
Opinion SCHER: http://ec.europa.eu/health/scientific_committees/environmental_risks/docs/scher_o_158.pdf

Competent Authorities for REACH and CLP (CARACAL)
REACH - Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals
CLP/GHS - Classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures
http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/sectors/chemicals/reach/caracal/index_en.htm

Future information - http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/sectors/toys/index_en.htm

The second speaker was Dr. Vincent Tam (Technical Chair, HKTC / Director of Systems and Compliance, Jetta Company Ltd.) and his presentation entitled "The Chemical and Documentation Challenges of Toy Industry". Dr. Vincent would briefed the challenges from chemical and documentation, as well as, HKTC-Chemical Management Database (CMD).


Dr. Tam introduced the history that the formal efforts to assure toy safety by TIA began in early 1930s. In late 1969, President Nixon signed into law the Toy Safety Act in USA. The following acts about chemical were showed.


Some chemical challenges were mentions.
- TSD 2009/48/EC - The revised Directive brings in more references on chemicals by limiting the amounts of certain chemicals (19 heavy metals) and CMR substances are no longer allowed in accessible parts of toys. It is required comprehensive chemical data in Bill of Substance (BOS) and Safety Data Sheet (SDS) to conduct chemical safety assessment.
- REACH EC1907/2006 currently 84 substances are concerned.
- Washington's Children's Safety Products Act
- Maine's Kid-Safe Products Act Amendment
- California's Green Chemistry Initiative - Safer Consumer Products Regulations (draft)

Chemicals of Concern (COC) lists around the globe were showed below.


EU TSD documentation requirements were briefed (it needed to keep for 10/5 years)


At the end, Dr. Tam introduced the Chemical Management Database (CMD) to industry. It aims one industry on system to achieve CASE - Cost minimization, Alignment in early stage, Standardization and EDI exchange.


Mrs. Shima Dobel (Head of Section, Chemical Division, Danish Environmental Protection Agency) was the third speaker and his presentation named "Chemical requirements: relationship with EU legislation (e.g. REACH) and chemical safety assessment".


Mrs. Dobel introduced different Toy Safety Directives. She said Toys should be designed and manufactured in such a way that there were no risks of adverse effects on human health due to exposure tot he chemical substances or mixtures of which the toys were composed or which they contained.


New requirements included:
- Migration limits for 19 elements (included aluminium, antimony, arsenic, barium, boron, cadmium, chromium(III) and (VI), cobalt, copper, lead manganese, mercury, nickel, selenium, strontium, tin, organic tin and zinc) in three different toy materials (I-Dry, power-like or pliable; II-Liquid and stricky; and III-Scraped-off.)
- Ban of CMR substance above the classification limit (see diagram below)
- Ban of 55 allergenic fragrances
- Duty to inform if content of 11 allergenic fragrences
- Migration limit for nitrosamines (0.05mg/kg) and nitrosatable substances (1mg/kg) in certain toys
- Chemical safety assessment


Guideline on the interpretation of the concept "which can be placed in the mouth" as laid down in the entry 52 of Annex XVII to REACH Regulation 1907/2006
http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/sectors/toys/files/gd008_en.pdf
According to Article 18, TSD (Toy Safety Directive), the safety assessment is divided into three parts:
- Mechanical, physical, flammability and electrical hazards
- Hygiene and radioactivity
- Chemical hazards

Q&A Session


Ms. Krista Bouma (Public Health Officer, The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority) was the fourth speaker and his topic entitled "Chemical requirement: draft standards EN71-3 migration of elements".


In the beginning, Ms. Bouma introduced Toy Safety Directive 88/378/EEC and 2009/48/EC. RIVM report entitled "A general methodology for assessment of chemical safety of toys with a focus on elements" was briefed - http://www.rivm.nl/bibliotheek/rapporten/320003001.pdf; as well as, an explanatory guidance document of TSD 2009/48/EC - http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/sectors/toys/files/tsd-guidance/tsd_rev_1-5_explanatory_guidance_document_en.pdf


Then Ms. Bouma introduced the new EN71-3. The sample preparation and migration which was similar to current standard. Migration solution was analysed directly by ICP-MS or ICP-OES in one run. Comparison to current EN71-3, the new one was analysed more elements and lower limits (especially category II toy type). The following example was used ICP-MS to distinguish Chromium (III) and (VI).


Finally, she briefed the time line and future development of new EN71-3.


The last speaker was Dr. Bertram Reindl (Head of Product Safety Division, Bavarian Health & Food Safety Authority) and his topic entitled "Chemical requirements: draft standards EN71-4 and 5, 7, 12 and 13".


Dr. Reindl said the tools for pharmacist in 1790 developed into two ways. One is now medical devices and the other way is Toys.



Then he explained Chemical Toy as "toy intended for the direct handling of chemical substances and mixtures and which is used in a manner appropriate to a given age-group and under the supervision of an adult". The classification of chemical toys in EN71-4 and EN71-5 were showed below.


EN71-7 is for finger paints included colourants and preservatives. 
EN71-12 is for N-Nitrosamines and N-Nitrosaatable substances.
EN71-13 is for olfactory board games, gustative board games, cosmetic kits and gustative kits.
The new versions would be issued in 2013.


Q&A Session

2012年10月20日星期六

CUBIC Life Science Group Tea Gathering


I was invited to join CityU Business & Industrial Club (CUBIC) Happy Hour Tea Gathering from Life Science Group on 19 Oct 2012. Three special talks of CityU's research from the Department of Biology and Chemistry (BCH) were shared.
Group photo before the talk


Dr. Hon Yeung Cheung (Associate Professor, BCH Department, CityU) was the first speaker and his topic entitled “Comprehensive Authentic System for the Quality Assurance of Edible Bird’s Nest Based on its Physical, Chemical and Biochemical Properties”. Edible Bird's Nest (EBN) also called "Yen Wo" (燕窩) and it was a prestigious and expensive food.


EBN has high contents of protein carbohydrate, bioactive mucoid & epidermal growth factor (EGF). EGF can stimulate the proliferation of various epidermal and epithelial tissues. Dr. Cheung advised that EBN was good for young but not too much for people after 40. It is because EGF enhanced the growth of both good cell and mutated cell. The following chart showed the classification of Yen Wo (In Chinese).


Dr. Cheung introduced his authentic system which could efficiently and comprehensively distinguish genuine and counterfeit EBN products and its analyses requirement showed below:
- The chemical analysis method for the monose assay by GC-MS
- The surface morphology observation by SEM
- The biological immunoblotting method for the determination of epidermal growth factor in edible bird's nest.


The following GC-MS analysis separated Imperial EBN (官燕), Feather EBN (毛燕) and Grass EBN (草燕) based on the peak of NANA.


The SEM photos also distinguished three EBNs and Fake EBN.



The level of EGF in raw and instant EBN samples was described.


Finally, Dr. Cheung concluded that real EBN should present five monoses (D-Mannose, D-Galatose, N-Acetyl-D-galactosamine, N-Acetyl-D-glucosamine, and N-Acetylneuraminic acid), protein network and the EGF. By combining the chemical, the physical as well as the biochemical data, genuine and high quality EBN could be accurately determined.
Dr. Michael HW Lam (Associate Professor, BCH Department, CityU) was the second speaker and his presentation was “Solid-state Biogenic Amine Sensing Tag”. Dr. Lam said that we smelled rotten food because of biogenic amines such as cadaverine, histamine, putrescine, trimethylamine and spermidine.


Therefore, Dr. Lam used indicator-displacement chemosensing of biogenic amines to develop his product.


The following diagram showed the mechanism.


Then he mentioned the prototype desk-top sensor for the screening of food products for biogenic amines. However, the customer feedback was not convenience because of using liquid type indicator.


After that Dr. Lam’s research team developed a thin-film with coating of chemosensing material which can detected the amine.


The last speaker was Dr. Shengchun Wu (Research Follow, State Key Laboratory in Marine Pollution, CityU) and his topic named “Introduction of State Key Laboratory in Marine Pollution (SKLMP)”.


SKLMP consolidated different researchers from six universities in Hong Kong.


Some ecotoxicology researches were introduced.


After that we visit the SKLMP.
Dr. Xue Ping explained the Transgenic Zebrafish (Medaka) produced green fluorescence light under Estrogen which in our environment or food.


The Medaka is very small.


Then we visited another laboratory for breeding horseshoe crabs.


The researcher demonstrated the different stage of growth for Horseshoe Crabs.


The baby crabs is very small.


The removed shells in the different stage of growth stage were demonstrated.


How to distinguish the male and female of Horseshoe Crabs? The first one is female and her shell head is round. The second one is male and his shell head has two concave points.


The application of the Horseshoe Crabs’ blood was for Limulus Amebocyte Lysate (LAL) Testing.

Reference:
CityU Business & Industrial Club (CUBIC) - http://www6.cityu.edu.hk/kto/CUBIC-Intro.html
Medical Devices and Limulus Amebocyte Lysate (LAL) Testing - http://qualityalchemist.blogspot.hk/2008/03/medical-devices-and-limulus-amebocyte.html