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www.ae.ae<br />
April 2012<br />
Volume 7 Issue 2<br />
INTERFACED INTERACTIVE INSPIRED<br />
<strong>AE</strong> <strong>AE</strong> FUN FUN RUN RUN 2012<br />
2012<br />
<strong>AE</strong> FUN RUN 2012
The Team<br />
Behind<br />
Robbinson Matthew<br />
Abigail Blazado<br />
Ali Keblawi<br />
Annie Dizon<br />
Boban Titus<br />
Geetika Chopra<br />
Ka<strong>ma</strong>l Toumeh<br />
Alia Azouqa<br />
James Cabal<br />
Vishal Sood<br />
Management Representative<br />
Iftikhar Abbasi<br />
Concept & Design<br />
We welcome new members<br />
who would like to add value<br />
to the publication wih their<br />
active participation.<br />
WHAT’S IN?<br />
MESSAGE FROM <strong>AE</strong> MD<br />
BU NEWS-<strong>AE</strong> AT ADWC CAREER FAIR 2012<br />
CITIZEN WATCHES ROAD SHOW AT DUBAI MALL<br />
ITQAN WINS STEVIE AWARDS FOR SALES & CUSTOMER SERVICE - 2012<br />
ITQAN PRESENTS AWARDS TO ITS TOP HEALTHCARE CLIENTS<br />
FURNICON FUN BOWL<br />
FURNICON COMPLETES QMS RE-CERTIFICATION<br />
MARCAP ATTENDS ENVIRONMENTAL COURSE<br />
EMDAD WHIPSTOCK WORKSHOP FOR ADCO DRILLING DIVISION<br />
GUESS & WIN<br />
INDRA<br />
2012 <strong>AE</strong> FUN FUN OLYMPICS<br />
ASP DARTS OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP<br />
<strong>AE</strong>-PR DEPARTMENT TEAM BUILDING ACTIVITY<br />
ERROR IN PREVIOUS ISSUE<br />
<strong>AE</strong>'S GOT TALENT / HOBBIES<br />
<strong>AE</strong> LEAP YEAR PHOTO CONTEST<br />
ENVIRONMENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM<br />
FIRST AID<br />
ME AND MY FAMILY<br />
NEW EMPLOYEES<br />
WINNER OF GUESS WIN<br />
ATTENTION DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER (ADHD)<br />
<strong>AE</strong> INTERACTIVEOLDEST ELECTRONIC GADGET YOU POSSESS<br />
BELIEVE IT OR NOT – IN PICTURES<br />
COMPETE TO BE UNIQUE, NOT THE BEST<br />
ENVIRONMENT CORNER<br />
SAFETY WHILE EATING OUT<br />
HOW TO MANAGE YOUR SALARY<br />
PR UPDATE<br />
DO YOU REMEMBER YOUR NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS?<br />
EVENTS APR 2012 - JUNE 2012<br />
HR UPDATES MANAGING NON-PERFORMERS<br />
QUIZ/BRAIN TEASERS<br />
SIGHTS OF U<strong>AE</strong> - SHAHAMA ZOO<br />
SMART ADS<br />
EXPLORING NATIONS<br />
TECHNOLOGY UPDATES GOOGLE SECRET COMMANDS<br />
WEDDING BELLS<br />
ENGAGEMENT.....<br />
NEWBABY ANNOUNCEMENT & CONGRATULATIONS<br />
BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS AT <strong>AE</strong><br />
BIRTHDAY CELEBRANTS<br />
EDITOR’S NOTE<br />
One of the proven secret to success is the ability<br />
to do more than one task simultaneously.<br />
Multitasking is a very important requirement<br />
in any work profile from secretarial to the<br />
<strong>ma</strong>nagement. .Multi-tasking is a talent where<br />
the brains have to be trained to take on<br />
multiple tasks at once without wasting time to<br />
refocus and adjust our attention to the newest<br />
assignment. If one is able to simultaneously<br />
<strong>ma</strong>nage more tasks, then he is able to increase his<br />
productivity. Yes, our brains cannot absolutely<br />
focus on multiple tasks at the same time but we<br />
can get more accomplished by following these<br />
tips to <strong>ma</strong>intain focus. By setting priorities,<br />
detaching ourselves (technologically) for<br />
sometime till we complete the assigned task,<br />
taking fixed breaks in between to cool down<br />
and also patting yourself on your bank once a<br />
task is accomplished are various ways in which<br />
we can be effective multi-taskers and continue<br />
with the same rigor and strength.<br />
-Robbinson Matthew, <strong>AE</strong>
3<br />
MESSAGE FROM <strong>AE</strong> MD -Mansour Al Alami<br />
We are in the last quarter of our Financial Year which is<br />
always challenging and gratifying if achievements of the last<br />
3 quarters have been as per the budget or have exceeded<br />
results . Like any last lap it requires, focus, renewed energy,<br />
enthusiasm, commitment and will to <strong>ma</strong>ke it happen. Team<br />
work, Leadership, Strategy and close scrutiny plays a vital role<br />
in meeting / exceeding targets. On the onset of my message I<br />
request all, to keep your momentum and stay focused and let<br />
us <strong>ma</strong>ke it happen.<br />
We are seeing rippling effects of U<strong>AE</strong> recession of 2009,<br />
taking some striding toll on our IT companies. Clients have<br />
restrained their spending and desire to extend the payable<br />
period; suppliers have tightened their belts effecting the<br />
<strong>ma</strong>rgins ; not forgetting banks have been very cautious with<br />
regards to extending facilities and having very low appetite for<br />
the IT sector. With a combination of such challenges, it is vital<br />
that we think out of box, stay focused and capitalize on each<br />
other’s strength; oversee all interconnected processes and be<br />
on the vigilant so as no slippage provides the reason for any<br />
party, for the non achievement.<br />
With soaring prices of oil in the International arena, oil & gas<br />
sector is destined to boom further. We see immense amount<br />
of development at the planning and execution stage. Emdad<br />
and its subsidiaries have benefitted from this overall positive<br />
development. Our existing projects are producing results and<br />
new ventures such as Valve Workshop, CP Construction and<br />
CP Monitoring are producing great opportunities for short<br />
and long term results. Emdad also went through BV audit<br />
last month and we saw it conforming well and there were<br />
no non conformities. With the assistance of Tatweer we are<br />
aiming at achieving ISO 29001 and API standards for our<br />
newly added activities. Marcap, Valentine Maritime, Emdad<br />
Prezosio, Emjel, Emdad Gulf Catering, China Petroleum and<br />
<strong>ma</strong>ny others in Emdad Group sails smoothly towards the right<br />
direction.<br />
Our subsidiaries from Corporate Sector have mixed results.<br />
Tatweer stay put on its yearly target and expects to close the<br />
year as committed to the board. This is eight year of Tatweer<br />
operations and every year we see positive results in form<br />
of revenues and net profits. Tatweer is aiming to achieve<br />
environmental consultancy license from Environment<br />
Agency Abu Dhabi (EAD) which will enhance its reach to<br />
Abu Dhabi based Zones Corp and Abu Dhabi Food Control<br />
Authority. GI has seen average progress in last quarters and<br />
expects to pick up its revenue with upcoming ISNR project.<br />
Furnicon is doing well by staring focused on its key clients<br />
and <strong>ma</strong>jor projects. With recent high profile awards and<br />
letters of intents, Furnicon faces challenge of on-time delivery<br />
while <strong>ma</strong>intaining the quality and environment standards, it<br />
is committed to. Furnicon also embarks on the self challenge<br />
of meeting regulatory and operational requirements of ISO<br />
14001 International Standard, in line with the green product<br />
certification of its international <strong>ma</strong>nufactures. Furnicon<br />
expects to be certified to ISO 14001 standard by next<br />
surveillance audit.<br />
Jan. 1st 2012 also saw rolling out of HR Bench<strong>ma</strong>rks<br />
throughout the <strong>AE</strong> Group. These bench<strong>ma</strong>rks are comparable<br />
to any multinational setup. HR teams have reached to a<br />
<strong>ma</strong>turity level where their value add can now be monitored,<br />
judged, and improved with known criteria. Analysis of data is<br />
important and this will help in improving ourselves further.<br />
Monthly updates on the HR data and bench<strong>ma</strong>rks will be<br />
provided to respective BUM by the HR teams.<br />
My message will not be complete if I missed out on the <strong>AE</strong><br />
PR department who have worked hard in meeting the extra<br />
work load which was channeled due to new partnership with<br />
China Petroleum and Emdad Gulf Catering. With more than<br />
2000 employment visas to be processed alongside the group<br />
nor<strong>ma</strong>l intake of new recruitments and renewal, it is definitely<br />
a job well done.<br />
Masadar, our new <strong>ma</strong>npower focused company has now<br />
started serving business units with <strong>ma</strong>npower recruitments.<br />
Seeds have been placed at the right places and we hope to reap<br />
the benefits in the days and months to come.<br />
I conclude my message with quote of Helen Keller<br />
“We can do anything we want to if we stick to it long enough”
BU NEWS-<strong>AE</strong><br />
<strong>AE</strong> AT ADWC CAREER FAIR 2012<br />
4<br />
Abu Dhabi Women’s College was established in 1988. It has<br />
two campuses, in the City and in Khalifa A. Students in both<br />
campuses enjoy an active campus life with numerous college<br />
activities planned throughout the year. And one of the most<br />
anticipating event every year is the ADWC Career Fair.<br />
Al Bawardi Enterprises was amongst the 41 government and<br />
private companies which have participated in the annual<br />
activity organized by the Career Development and Employee<br />
Relations Department of ADWC last 20 March 2012. “Abu<br />
Dhabi Women’s College Career Fair 2012” was held in<br />
Assembly Hall City Campus and was attended by hundreds of<br />
students and it’s alumni.<br />
The <strong>AE</strong> HR composed of Annie Dizon, Rekha Dayalal and<br />
Riaz Raheem were gladly assisted the visitors of the <strong>AE</strong> Group<br />
booth.<br />
It was a successful event in terms of uniting the leading and<br />
potential employers with the job seeking students of ADWC.<br />
But it helps to fulfill as well the U<strong>AE</strong>’s Emiratisation strategy<br />
of the participating Companies. As for <strong>AE</strong>, this was a good<br />
avenue to partner with the ADWC in recruiting U<strong>AE</strong> nationals<br />
who <strong>ma</strong>y be potential candidates to join the <strong>AE</strong> Group in the<br />
future.<br />
Annie Dizon, <strong>AE</strong>
5<br />
CITIZEN WATCHES ROAD SHOW AT DUBAI MALL<br />
Middle East Product Launch Event<br />
CITIZEN Watches Gulf (CWG) launched its latest limited<br />
edition «Eco-Drive SATELLITE WAVE» in the Middle East on<br />
the 23rd November 2011. The launch was held at the exclusive<br />
Fashion Catwalk of the Dubai Mall amidst a large number of<br />
Media representatives and guests from around the Middle East.<br />
Eco- Drive SATELLITE WAVE has a totally new time keeping<br />
system, the watch searches for the closest of the 24 navigation<br />
satellite that orbits the earth. It captures the day, date and time<br />
signals the satellite emits from space, 20,000 kilometers above<br />
the earth Since the satellite signals are controlled by atomic<br />
clocks, this watch›s timekeeping is ultra-precise. The watch is<br />
capable of receiving the signal from any open space, even in<br />
the boundless western pacific or atop the world›s highest peak.<br />
«Ultra-Precise Time, Anywhere on Earth»<br />
Project Scope<br />
Dubai Mall has one of the best and spectacular multimedia<br />
screens in the world including the biggest screen in world<br />
designed and deployed by Samsung near the ice rink skating<br />
arena. In total, there are about 8 variety of screens which<br />
includes the fashion walk screens, ring screens suspended from<br />
roof, link bridge screens, ice rink screens, wall mounted screens<br />
and lamp post mounted vertical screens on the boulevard. Two<br />
or three <strong>ma</strong>jor event companies have worked on these screens<br />
for live multi-media presentations and ani<strong>ma</strong>ted graphics.<br />
ASPGulf’s Role<br />
Based on the trust that Citizen Watches have over ASPGulf<br />
purely on past experiences, the Client entrusted ASPGulf<br />
with the challenge of designing multiple for<strong>ma</strong>t multi-media<br />
presentations for display throughout the Road Show week.<br />
It was quite a challenging commitment especially when the<br />
Dubai Mall multi-media team echoed that there are a few<br />
<strong>ma</strong>jor agencies who have ventured into these screen projects.<br />
In parallel, an online application was developed for the visitors<br />
to register in the KIOSK by answering a questionnaire which<br />
was also developed by ASPGulf development team. The winners<br />
were selected by Dubai Chamber of Commerce official's on a<br />
later date at Lamcy Plaza.<br />
We delivered the project on time and was running consistently<br />
for the next 7 days throughout during <strong>ma</strong>ll times i.e. 9.00am<br />
to 12pm including one weekend. Dubai Mall claims to have<br />
the <strong>ma</strong>ximum number of international visitors during the<br />
weekends. This project gave ASPGulf a <strong>ma</strong>jor exposure on<br />
various facets and nuances of multimedia projects and to show<br />
case the same in front of an international audience.<br />
Project success is attributed to the team’s sheer spirit of taking<br />
a challenge and accepting the cliché that there is always a first<br />
time.<br />
Harish Krishnan, ASP Gulf
ITQAN WINS STEVIE AWARDS FOR SALES &<br />
CUSTOMER SERVICE - 2012<br />
Abu Dhabi – 1 March 2012 – Leading systems integrator and<br />
IT Solutions provider ITQAN Al-Bawardi Computers was<br />
presented with a Bronze Stevie® Award in the Sales Department<br />
of the Year - Computer Services category in the sixth annual<br />
Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service this week.<br />
The Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service are the world’s<br />
top sales awards, contact center awards, and customer service<br />
awards. The Stevie Awards organizes several of the world’s<br />
leading business awards shows including the prestigious<br />
American Business AwardsSM and International Business<br />
AwardsSM.<br />
Nicknamed the Stevies for the Greek word for “crowned,” the<br />
trophies were presented to honorees during a gala banquet on<br />
Monday, February 27 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. More than<br />
350 nominated customer service and sales executives from the<br />
U.S.A. and several other countries attended. The presentations<br />
were broadcast live by the Business TalkRadio Network.<br />
More than 1,000 entries from organizations of all sizes and<br />
in virtually every industry were submitted to this year’s<br />
competition, an increase of almost 30% over 2011. Finalists were<br />
determined by the average scores of 93 professionals worldwide,<br />
acting as preliminary judges. Entries were considered in 27<br />
categories for customer service professionals, including Contact<br />
Center of the Year, Award for Innovation in Customer Service,<br />
and Customer Service Department of the Year; 38 categories<br />
for sales professionals, ranging from Senior Sales Executive of<br />
the Year to Sales Training or Coaching Program of the Year to<br />
Sales Department of the Year; and categories to recognize new<br />
products and services and solution providers.<br />
More than 100 members of seven specialized judging committees<br />
determined Stevie Award placements from among the Finalists<br />
during final judging this year.<br />
“It is certainly an honour to have been recognized by a prestigious<br />
international award such as the Stevie Awards,” stated Feras Al<br />
Jabi, General Manager of ITQAN, “I am particularly proud of<br />
our sales team for this great achievement in Sales and Customer<br />
Service, I appreciate their efforts in facing the daily challenges in<br />
such a constantly evolving <strong>ma</strong>rket such as IT”<br />
6<br />
“We’re delighted to kick off our celebration of the 10th year<br />
of the Stevie Awards<br />
movement with the 2012<br />
Stevie Awards for Sales &<br />
Customer, which is the<br />
first program in which<br />
we conferred Silver and<br />
Bronze Stevie Awards,”<br />
said Michael Gallagher,<br />
president and founder of<br />
the Stevie Awards. “It’s<br />
gratifying and inspiring<br />
to have received so <strong>ma</strong>ny<br />
re<strong>ma</strong>rkable entries for this<br />
year’s competition.”<br />
“ITQAN boasts a large<br />
number of local awards in<br />
addition to <strong>ma</strong>ny international awards, and it’s really interesting<br />
to see a company from the U<strong>AE</strong> <strong>ma</strong>ke a ripple in the international<br />
IT world, playing side by side with the industry giants. I would<br />
like to congratulate our Sales team who are spread in our offices<br />
all across U<strong>AE</strong> covering Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Al Ain and the<br />
Western region”, said Rola Al Satari, Accreditation, Quality &<br />
Communications Manager at ITQAN.<br />
Details about the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service<br />
and the list of Stevie winners in all categories are available at<br />
www.stevieawards.com/sales.<br />
About The Stevie Awards<br />
Stevie Awards are conferred in four programs: The American<br />
Business Awards, The International Business Awards, the Stevie<br />
Awards for Women in Business, and the Stevie Awards for<br />
Sales & Customer Service. Honoring organizations of all types<br />
and sizes and the people behind them, the Stevies recognize<br />
outstanding perfor<strong>ma</strong>nces in the workplace worldwide. Learn<br />
more about The Stevie Awards at www.stevieawards.com.<br />
Sponsors and supporters of the 6th annual Stevie Awards for<br />
Sales & Customer Service include American Support, the<br />
Business TalkRadio Network, Coloredge Los Angeles * New<br />
York, Competence Call Center, SDL and ValueSelling Associates.<br />
Rola Al-Satari
ITQAN PRESENTS AWARDS TO ITS TOP<br />
HEALTHCARE CLIENTS<br />
Dubai, 9 February 2012 – Leading systems integrator and IT<br />
Solutions provider ITQAN Al-Bawardi Computers participated<br />
in this year’s Middle East CIO 50 Awards as a Sponsor, following<br />
the conclusion of another prosperous year, working hand in<br />
hand with some of the U<strong>AE</strong>’s top CIOs and their respective<br />
organizations.<br />
The Middle East CIO 50 Awards celebrated the top 50<br />
organisations (and the people within them) that are using<br />
infor<strong>ma</strong>tion technology in innovative ways to deliver business<br />
value, whether by creating competitive advantage, optimising<br />
business processes, enabling growth or improving relationships<br />
with customers.<br />
7<br />
“We are looking forward to celebrating the successes of <strong>ma</strong>ny<br />
Dr. Richard Rhodes, Mafraq Hospital receiving the award<br />
of our partners and clients in the field of IT,” stated Feras Al-<br />
Jabi, ITQAN’s General Manager, “It has been indeed a year of<br />
achievements for both ITQAN and all the organizations with<br />
whom we have collaborated on various projects”.<br />
The award ceremony honoured the top level IT executives<br />
and CIO on taking risks on emerging technologies, or the<br />
deployment of the tried and true in a new way. Also being<br />
recognized are those who were focused on building better<br />
business processes, fostering closer collaboration, discovering<br />
new ways to get more from existing customers, pursuing new<br />
<strong>ma</strong>rkets, saving money, or <strong>ma</strong>king more of it.<br />
Amongst the winners were those who collaborated with<br />
ITQAN to implement key projects last year, including: Mr.<br />
Khaled Lootah of the Ministry of Health, for heading a data<br />
refurbishment project for the Ministry, Mr. Ali Al Ali of the<br />
Health Authority – Abu Dhabi for overseeing the auto<strong>ma</strong>tion of<br />
all business processes within the Authority, and Dr. Richard A.<br />
Rhodes of Mafraq Hospital for ensuring the swift networking<br />
implementation to improve communication in the hospital,<br />
through a newly developed IT platform.<br />
“ITQAN’s undeniable <strong>ma</strong>rk in the U<strong>AE</strong> IT industry over the past<br />
27 years has developed and <strong>ma</strong>intained relationships with key<br />
partners and clients, and our participation in this event shows<br />
our continued support and encouragement for individuals and<br />
group innovation in IT,” added Rola Al Satari, Accreditation,<br />
Quality & Communications Manager at ITQAN.<br />
Mr. Ali Al Ali, HAAD, receiving the award Mr. Khaled Lootah, Ministry of Health receiving the award
8<br />
FURNICON FUN BOWL<br />
Furnicon Royal Interiors organized a Fun Bowling for its<br />
Team Members last 14 March 2012. It was held at Khalifa<br />
International Bowling Center in Abu Dhabi.<br />
The event was not a typical bowling tournament but it was<br />
a friendly bowling among the Furnicon employees. Bringing<br />
people together closely into the field of sports. It’s also an<br />
opportunity to showcase their bowling expertise.<br />
Bowlers were divided into 3 teams (5 members per team) to<br />
compete 2 set of games. After 2 hours of playing, scores from<br />
the 2 games were tabulated and the announcement of the<br />
winners was followed.<br />
The TEAM 3 composed of Randy Francisco, Allan Berja,<br />
Samer Al Sanee, Romeo Salucop and Rizwi Mohyuddin<br />
declared as the Champion while the team of Mr. Ashraf Al<br />
Khateeb (TEAM 1) announced as the runner – up.<br />
At the end of the game, Boban Titus proclaimed as the Highest<br />
Scoring Player while E<strong>ma</strong>n Mohammed received the “Most<br />
Gutter Shot Player” in the Fun Bowl.<br />
Remember, bowling is a fun and a great sport, whether you are<br />
bowling just for fun or competitively in a league, people of all<br />
ages can enjoy it win or lose.<br />
Annie Dizon, <strong>AE</strong><br />
FURNICON COMPLETES QMS RE-CERTIFICATION<br />
FURNICON successfully completed its QMS recertification for<br />
ISO 9001-2008. In the audit conducted by Bureau VERITAS in<br />
January 2012, Furnicon was recertified for another 3 years. This<br />
shows our commitment to the QMS processes as well as our<br />
desire to improve them from time to time. We are proud of our<br />
Quality Managers M/s Tatweer, who continuously monitor us in<br />
our strive for higher standards.<br />
Furnicon has bagged two more orders to Design & build new<br />
offices for Ad<strong>ma</strong> Opco in their new premises in Capital Plaza.<br />
This enhances our commitment with the clients’ as we become a<br />
part of their development.<br />
Further, Furnicon has been selected for the Design & build of<br />
certain Executive level offices of the Government. We have had<br />
a great start this year and with God’s grace will continue to move<br />
forward with full energy.<br />
Boban Titus, Furnicon
9<br />
MARCAP ATTENDS ENVIRONMENTAL COURSE<br />
Marcap’s top <strong>ma</strong>nagement had attended an ISO 14001:2004<br />
Environmental Management System awareness training from<br />
Tatweer dated January 18-19, 2012. The 2 day course molded<br />
the 7 <strong>ma</strong>nagers to become more inclined and well verse to grasp<br />
the core concept of EMS along with the recent revised ISO<br />
190011:2011 Internal Auditing course.<br />
Another course was followed on 09 February 2012 which<br />
is the Occupational Health and Safety seminar based on<br />
OHSAS 18001:2007 covering the standard requirements and<br />
Interpretations. Both courses were done in private at MARCAP<br />
conference office facilitated by Ms. Marivic Barbasa.<br />
The team are then proud to become an attendees from Tatweer for<br />
the above courses to fully uncover the changes and requirements<br />
thus leading their <strong>ma</strong>nagement to implement the new internal<br />
auditing principles and guidelines for their organization.<br />
Ali Kayed K<br />
EMDAD WHIPSTOCK WORKSHOP FOR ADCO<br />
DRILLING DIVISION<br />
EMDAD is currently holding a three years contract with<br />
ADCO for Whipstock Services. Up to date more than 35 jobs<br />
have been successfully completed.<br />
A workshop was conducted by EMDAD Whipstock Team<br />
on Thursday the 15th of March 2012 to the concerned Team<br />
Members of ADCO in EMDAD M45 facility. The workshop<br />
was designed to be an infor<strong>ma</strong>tive and interactive session that<br />
covered all the aspects associated with Whipstock Services.<br />
A presentation that was delivered by Mr. Mustapha Younes<br />
– “Operations Manager- Drilling Services, EMDAD” that<br />
covered the following topics: History of service- Types Vs.<br />
Applications, EMDAD Whipstock system, Operation sequence<br />
GUESS & WIN<br />
overview, Problems and Troubleshooting and the Lessons<br />
Learned under ADCO contract. By the end of the day ADCO<br />
Team Members also had the opportunity to visit EMDAD<br />
whipstock facility and get their hands-on experience on the<br />
various tools available and the services associated under the<br />
operation scope.<br />
This workshop was very successful; ADCO team members<br />
were satisfied from the deliverables of it. EMDAD is planning<br />
to conduct such workshops more often for other clients.<br />
Guess the picture of this Abu Dhabi<br />
government document way back in 1973.<br />
E<strong>ma</strong>il your answers to r<strong>ma</strong>tthew@ae.ae<br />
Abir Mahmoud<br />
The first correct answer wins a cash prize of <strong>AE</strong>D 50/-<br />
Contributed by: Iftikhar Abbasi
Next time you fly, there is a<br />
good chance your airplane<br />
has been guided by a solution<br />
developed by the Madrid<br />
headquartered multinational<br />
Indra. You prefer sailing? Well<br />
if you do so into Hong Kong<br />
you’ll surely be spotted by<br />
Indra’s coastal surveillance.<br />
Would you rather venture on<br />
a road trip in Australia? That<br />
free flow tolling system you<br />
encounter <strong>ma</strong>y well be Indra’s. Ever been to London? Its <strong>ma</strong>yor<br />
was elected with this company’s systems. Drooling over Gray’s<br />
Anatomy’s McDreamy? His fictional 3D guided neurosurgeries<br />
are in real ORs supported by Indra’s software. Are you a Real<br />
Madrid fan? Then you probably visited its webpage –amongst<br />
the most searched worldwide– and developed by Indra. By<br />
now you can probably guess which is the only non-American<br />
company to be trusted with US Navy’s fighter pilot flight<br />
simulators; or who will implement the last generation railway<br />
<strong>ma</strong>nagement system in the future fast train network linking<br />
Meca and Medina.<br />
For those of you in the Al Bawardi community who were not<br />
aware, Indra and Al Bawardi Enterprises have been <strong>ma</strong>intaining<br />
a very close partnership for the past years, helping the Spanish<br />
company build relationships in the U<strong>AE</strong>. These have been<br />
growing steadily, for example having signed with Mubadala<br />
two strategic agreements in the verticals of Infor<strong>ma</strong>tion and<br />
Communication Technology as well as Aerospace. I am now<br />
delighted to share with you the news that Indra is about to<br />
launch its new branch office in Abu Dhabi. As U<strong>AE</strong> Country<br />
Manager, I will be heading the local operations from the office<br />
which will be co-located with ITQAN –ideal since we work<br />
together on a daily basis– when we both move to the new<br />
premises in Al Mamoura.<br />
10<br />
INDRA<br />
In a recent<br />
class I gave as<br />
part of the first<br />
MBA course<br />
in Higher<br />
Colleges of Technology, about 30 young Emirati <strong>ma</strong>nagers<br />
from broad sectors concluded with me that the presence of a<br />
company like Indra in U<strong>AE</strong> can address, from an industry<br />
perspective, gaps crucial to innovation perfor<strong>ma</strong>nce identified<br />
by a recent report for the Executive Council towards innovation<br />
policy in Abu Dhabi. Thus, not only does this <strong>ma</strong>rket represent<br />
an extraordinary opportunity to gain business for a partnership<br />
such as <strong>AE</strong>-ITQAN-Indra, but in the process our technologies<br />
can <strong>ma</strong>ke a key contribution to achieving a more sustainable<br />
society, and have economic, social and environmental<br />
significance in U<strong>AE</strong> and the region. I am very glad to be part<br />
of this exciting project and those of you whom I have met,<br />
have honoured the region’s custom and given me the warmest<br />
of welcomes; for those of you whom I am yet to meet, I look<br />
forward to work with you and enjoy <strong>AE</strong>’s truly thriving and<br />
international community.<br />
Indra is a global company of technology, innovation, and talent,<br />
and a leader in high value added solutions and services for the<br />
Transport & Traffic, Energy & Industry, Public Administration<br />
& Healthcare, Finance, & Insurance, Security & Defence, and<br />
Telecom & Media sectors. It is headquartered in Madrid, has annual<br />
sales of around 3 Billion USD, operates in over 100 countries and<br />
has close to 35,000 employees worldwide. A thorough knowledge<br />
of customer needs coupled with latest-generation technology<br />
–developed with the nearly €500M invested in R&D in the last<br />
three years, the second largest budget of European companies in<br />
our sector–allows Indra to create unique in-house solutions and<br />
services for each <strong>ma</strong>rket segment.<br />
- Alex Moya, Indra U<strong>AE</strong> Country Manager
The 2nd <strong>AE</strong> Fun Fun Olympics was held last 1st March<br />
2012 at the For<strong>ma</strong>l Park, Corniche, Abu Dhabi. The activity<br />
was initiated by the Social Committee with an objective to<br />
facilitate an <strong>AE</strong> –wide fun games for all Team Members. <strong>AE</strong><br />
Team Members and their families have participated together<br />
in various games such as the lemon race, fun run, longest line,<br />
tug-o-war and limbo rock. Kids also enjoyed the face painting<br />
while the ladies have lined up for the Henna Tattoo artist.<br />
11<br />
2012 <strong>AE</strong> FUN FUN OLYMPICS<br />
The activity was considered by <strong>ma</strong>ny Team Members as a<br />
good break from their nor<strong>ma</strong>l work schedule. They have also<br />
met with other Team Members from the other <strong>AE</strong> Business<br />
Units which they haven’t seen before. The 3-hour activity was<br />
tiresome for some employees who had a grueling fight at the<br />
Tug-O-War in the end. The shared cheers and laughs amongst<br />
team members <strong>ma</strong>de this a successful and memorable event.<br />
Abie Blazado, <strong>AE</strong>
ASP DARTS OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP<br />
All work and no play <strong>ma</strong>kes anyone dull and not just Jack. As the<br />
summer is setting in, people prefer to be indoors. On the 29th of<br />
March 2012, ASP Gulf employees participated in the ASP Gulf<br />
Darts Open Championship 2012 which was held at their office<br />
premises . All employees, including those from the DCO and HR<br />
were present.<br />
At first we had the singles competition, for which each<br />
Team Member had to shoot. Further to that there was a team<br />
competition; the teams were divided based on the divisions in<br />
the company such as Sales, Operations, Admin, DCO, Helpdesk<br />
etc and each Team consists of 3 Team Members.<br />
The Winners for the day were:<br />
12<br />
Singles :<br />
Rajnish Shar<strong>ma</strong> - Highest Scoring Player<br />
Ahmed Zubair – Runner Up<br />
Team Competition :<br />
Philip Jude, Edwin Fernandes, Sampson B – Service Desk Team.<br />
Champion Team (Highest Scoring Team)<br />
Following this, the prizes were distributed by the GM, Mr. Chris<br />
Jaguros to the winners and then the entire team sat down to have<br />
a nice hearty lunch. Overall the day was nice and everyone had<br />
a smile on their face, not just because it was a thursday, but also<br />
because it was a great day to begin the weekend.<br />
- Robbinson Matthew
<strong>AE</strong>-PR DEPARTMENT TEAM BUILDING<br />
ACTIVITY<br />
We have known the <strong>AE</strong>-PR Department as the one in-charge<br />
for the processing of legal for<strong>ma</strong>lities in our companies.<br />
Processing hundred of visas and government documents, per<br />
week <strong>ma</strong>y take a toll of stress amongst the team.<br />
A team building activity was initiated by the Al Bawardi<br />
Enterprises solely for the <strong>AE</strong>-PR Department Team Members<br />
composing of Hussein, Jehad, Ri<strong>ma</strong>n, Ah<strong>ma</strong>d, Zwawi,<br />
Ghaleya, Ali and Saeed. The PR Team went for a Al Ain Desert<br />
Safari last 3rd March 2012 as their activity. The team greatly<br />
enjoyed the dune bashing, camel rides, belly dancing and sand<br />
skiing together.<br />
13<br />
Abie Blazado, <strong>AE</strong><br />
ERROR IN PREVIOUS ISSUE<br />
We strive to publish accurate infor<strong>ma</strong>tion, however if there<br />
has been any error, we would acknowledge and correct the<br />
errors in the forthcoming issue. Under the 5 years / Long<br />
Service Awardees in Oct release of the CONNECT Magazine,<br />
the following employees/ photos were not published correctly<br />
and hence we would like to include them again.<br />
We apologize for any inconvenience this <strong>ma</strong>y have caused.<br />
Sohrab Syed Feroze,<br />
ASP Gulf<br />
Sharafudeen,<br />
Emdad LLC
14<br />
<strong>AE</strong>'S GOT TALENT / HOBBIES<br />
Randy Francisco<br />
Furnicon(The Artist)<br />
<strong>AE</strong> LEAP YEAR PHOTO CONTEST<br />
<strong>AE</strong> Social Committee and Team Members has welcomed the<br />
2012 leap year with an activity entitled as the Leap Year Photo<br />
Contest. The contest aims to gathered team members’ pictures<br />
that will best demonstrate – Leaping.<br />
<strong>AE</strong> Team Members has submitted their individual leaping<br />
photo last 1 March 2012 and the winning photo were judged<br />
based on Creativity, Originality and Overall Presentation by<br />
the <strong>AE</strong> Social Committee members.<br />
Among the submitted entries, Mr. Dennis Canlas’ photo has<br />
announced as the winner of the Leap Year Photo Contest.<br />
Abie Blazado, <strong>AE</strong><br />
Boban Titus,<br />
Furnicon (Playing Organ)<br />
Sheikh Fahad,<br />
<strong>AE</strong> (Archer)<br />
Randy Francisco<br />
Furnicon (The Photographer)<br />
Boban Titus,<br />
Furnicon (The Guitarist)<br />
Sheikh Fahad<br />
<strong>AE</strong> (Jetski)<br />
Robbinson,<br />
<strong>AE</strong> (Kayaking)<br />
Randy Francisco,<br />
Furnicon (The Guitarist)<br />
Boban Titus,<br />
Furnicon (The Photographer)
15<br />
ENVIRONMENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM<br />
Environment Management System based on ISO14001 is<br />
a collation of international standards for establishing and<br />
continually improving the environmental practices and<br />
perfor<strong>ma</strong>nce of organizations irrespective of what industries<br />
they are in to. This standard was first published on 1st October,<br />
1996, so it was a new trend on the global business scenario. Some<br />
countries and companies are quickly accepting it depends on the<br />
moral stand and corporate as well as environmental orientation.<br />
Some countries and organisations are resistant to implement<br />
the standard requirement of ISO 14001. Many companies<br />
already have Environmental practices based on a <strong>ma</strong>nagement<br />
program that <strong>ma</strong>y be different than ISO 14000 requirement, so<br />
their disinclination is understandable since they have invested in<br />
their existing systems. For those companies who have no system,<br />
their resistance is also understandable, because they have no<br />
experience with the benefits such a system can provide.<br />
The intension of the article is to demonstrate some of the benefits<br />
of an Environment Management System and ISO 14000. These<br />
are <strong>ma</strong>inly identified into five categories:<br />
Increased profits<br />
Operations convenience<br />
Corporate I<strong>ma</strong>ge for Marketing<br />
Regulatory compliance<br />
Social Commitment<br />
The first and foremost <strong>ma</strong>tter is the rise in profits, and <strong>ma</strong>y be the<br />
most startling for those who are prejudiced and resistant with the<br />
EMS. Offering customers with a lesser price by reducing the cost<br />
of production is one way those EMS donate to increasing profits.<br />
A company which implemented EMS in an efficient <strong>ma</strong>nner<br />
finding that it can help reduce the quantities of <strong>ma</strong>terials and<br />
energy used to <strong>ma</strong>ke products when the <strong>ma</strong>nagement system<br />
includes analyzing the raw <strong>ma</strong>terials, by products, and waste.<br />
There is another method in EMS in reviewing the existing<br />
product design process and refining, product formulation and<br />
<strong>ma</strong>nufacturing processes, and eco friendly cost effective packing<br />
etc. It can reduce the quantity of <strong>ma</strong>terial inputs, byproducts,<br />
wastes and, therefore, costs. For example, Emdad under Al<br />
Bawardi Enterprises used the EMS in recycling the solid waste<br />
paper of more than 791 Kg of Paper from their discarded files for<br />
recycling. All the confidential papers are shredded before delivery.<br />
The papers are collected by an authorised waste recycling agent<br />
and they have given a receipt. This receipt will be a proof of<br />
recycling and will serve as a record to help them to get discount<br />
on Waste Tax imposed by the Municipality at the time of Trade<br />
License Renewal.<br />
This is a typical example of how the ISO 14000 improves the costsaving<br />
function of existing EMS in <strong>ma</strong>ny ways while satisfying the<br />
legal requirement of the land. Every personnel in the company<br />
from top to bottom strata in the company should be conversant<br />
about pollution prevention and their individual contribution.<br />
This harnesses the efforts and creativity of everyone in the<br />
organization.<br />
EMS also helps in aligning the operations of the company<br />
through identifying the occurrences of redundancy in daily<br />
operational efforts for regulatory compliance. These can be<br />
reduced or even eliminated, thus helping the company for
achieving the operational efficiency. The common requirement<br />
of EMS which can reflect in improving the communication of<br />
goals, procedures, environmental impacts, and solutions through<br />
reducing the environmental impact. Improved communication<br />
channels can mean greater efficiency in <strong>ma</strong>nagerial decision<br />
<strong>ma</strong>king. For example, the severity of an environmental impact<br />
can increase with time, so a proactive warning and notification<br />
system can reduce the time it takes to respond and thus the<br />
impact, risk and liability to the organization. There is hundreds<br />
of examples of companies facing heavy financial lose through<br />
accidents compensation, facility rebuilding and reconstruction,<br />
customer dissatisfaction, brand value degrading, lose of<br />
reputation , penalties and fines etc due to the consequence of the<br />
absence of EMS..<br />
The EMS can facilitate an organisation to <strong>ma</strong>rket before their<br />
customers, governments, shareholders, creditors, suppliers and<br />
service providers, employees, and the general public. A 2009<br />
16<br />
FIRST AID<br />
DRs ABC<br />
A few years ago, I enrolled in a free first aid course<br />
with several class<strong>ma</strong>tes of mine. While I, thankfully, never<br />
had the misfortune of having to save someone from a serious<br />
accident, I do think my brief first aid training did help me<br />
prevent someone from choking (while a lot of other people<br />
looked on helplessly).<br />
So I <strong>ma</strong>ke it a point to share some of the things I've learnt, lest<br />
they be caught in a more unfortunate circumstances. Here's<br />
a handy little acronym to on what to do when you run into<br />
an unconscious person:<br />
Doctor's ABC - or just DRs ABC - are a set of steps taken<br />
before emergency help is delivered.<br />
Danger: Before running straight to the victim, check around<br />
you for the signs of danger that <strong>ma</strong>y have put them there (eg<br />
live wires, noxious gas, etc). Make sure the surrounding area<br />
is safe before approaching.<br />
Response: Call to the victim, and prod them to check<br />
for response, or if they're completely unconcious.<br />
Shout: Shout for help from any bystanders/passers by. Ask<br />
them to call an ambulance. Tell them the victim’s approxi<strong>ma</strong>te<br />
age and gender.<br />
<strong>ma</strong>rket survey found that 56% of those surveyed stopped buying<br />
products with a poor environmental i<strong>ma</strong>ge. Establishing a strong<br />
environmental i<strong>ma</strong>ge can help attract environmentally conscious<br />
customers and provide an advantage over competitors. Society in<br />
general benefits when companies reduce pollution with the help<br />
of ISO 14000 and contribute to the sustainable development. The<br />
efficient implementation of an EMS is the KPI of the companies<br />
in their corporate social responsibility as well.<br />
These are few highlights of the benefits to the organistions going<br />
for EMS based on ISO 14001:2004. Every organisation is diverse,<br />
with their unique set of products and services, customers, and<br />
<strong>ma</strong>rket segments. Thus the benefits will be different as well. One<br />
definite pathway to success with the implementation of ISO<br />
14000 requirements are to recognise and find as <strong>ma</strong>ny benefits<br />
as possible by following all those that relate to the unique<br />
characteristics of the organization.<br />
Sumesh Nair, Tatweer<br />
Airway: Look to see if the person's airway is blocked (have they<br />
choked on something? Even their own tongue) and remove<br />
it with a hooked index finger.<br />
Breathing:<br />
Note: This step comes before the next one, as it it proven<br />
that the brain cannot survive for more than 4 minutes<br />
without oxygen, whereas it can function a little longer with a<br />
shortage of blood supply.<br />
Circulation: Check the victim’s pulse by placing your index<br />
and middle fingers at the top of their neck, two inches to the<br />
left or right of the centre. Or, you can check the inside of their<br />
wrist, on the side closer to their thumb (just next to the two<br />
middle tendons).<br />
NB: Never use your thumb to check their pulse, as your thumb<br />
has its own palpable pulse which <strong>ma</strong>y confuse you.<br />
Now find the nearest First Aid course and enroll your family<br />
with you. Not only is it a potential life saver, but it’s actually<br />
quite fun, and very empowering to learn resuscitation on a<br />
hu<strong>ma</strong>n dummy. Remember that the course changes every few<br />
years, so if you’re about a decade rusty, <strong>ma</strong>ybe it’s time to learn<br />
the new rules!<br />
-Alia Azouqah, ITQAN
17<br />
ME AND MY FAMILY<br />
My wife is Sheetal Saljith and daughter Lakshmi Saljith. Lakshmi is 4 years old and she is studying in KG1 at<br />
Sunrise English Pvt School,Mussafah, Abu Dhabi and my wife is working as Instrument & Control Engineer with<br />
Drol International, Abu Dhabi.<br />
I watch movies, read books and like travelling while my wife is interested in listening to music and singing.<br />
My daughter Lakshmi is also interested in music and dancing.<br />
We all enjoy much when we do Barbeque at any place outside the house.<br />
Saljith Mohan – gi<br />
We are a big family, consisting of my Parents, 3 brothers and 4 sisters. My Father name is Nayef and my Mothers<br />
name is Najah. My brothers’ are Mohamed, Ahmed and Yazan and my sister’s names are Jule, Jum<strong>ma</strong>na, Ala<br />
and Razan.<br />
My father is a retiree and my mother is a housewife. My brother Mohamed is currently working as a Sales <strong>ma</strong>n<br />
in Abu Dhabi, while Ahmed is a university student (studying Commerce and Economics) and Yazan is a school<br />
student. My older sister Jum<strong>ma</strong>na is a School teacher and the rest of my sisters are housewife.<br />
In my family we enjoy common hobbies such us swimming, watching movies and reading.<br />
We spend our free time and the weekend in barbecue, camping and visiting our relatives.<br />
Jehad Nayef Abuzaid, <strong>AE</strong><br />
My wife name is Sajina and we are blessed with 2 kids. Afthab Sharon is ten years old and he is studying in 4th<br />
Grade while my newly born daughter named is Sana.<br />
Sajina is a housewife and loves watching movies and listening to music and Afthab likes playing football and<br />
Martial Arts.<br />
We love travelling, picnics, and watching movies together.<br />
Showkath Ali - Furnicon<br />
I have joined EMDAD in 2009 as Office Manager – Projects & Services and live with my family in U<strong>AE</strong> for<br />
the past 15 years. My wife VIDHYA GIRI and I are blessed with one son named Sharan GIRI 11 years old and<br />
daughter Shreya GIRI 2 years. My wife works as Commercial Administrator in SIEMENS Abu Dhabi. Our son<br />
studies in our own English High School, Abu Dhabi. He is very hard worker student and has been continuously<br />
receiving ACEDEMIC EXCELLENCE AWARD from KG 1 to GR.<br />
My daughter Shreya Giri enjoys music, dancing and imitating her brother in whatsoever he does. During<br />
weekend and holidays, we all enjoy going out together and having some activities such as travelling to other<br />
Emirates and visiting family and friends, going to public parks and shopping <strong>ma</strong>lls as well as going to theatre,<br />
watching movies and tasting various kinds of foods.<br />
We thank God for blessing our Home as “A Real Sweet Home”!!<br />
T.R. Giri, Emdad.<br />
I joined ITQAN in Nov-1998; and it has been a long 13 years journey. My career path began in the logistics<br />
department of ITQAN before getting promoted to ITQAN Finance. My wife Sunita is also a Finance<br />
Professional. I have two daughters, Priya, 21 yrs & Pooja 14 yrs. My elder daughter, Priya is in her final year<br />
of graduation and is working as an event coordinator in an event <strong>ma</strong>nagement company in Abu Dhabi. Her<br />
interest was to do Fashion designing which she will pursue in her career some day. My second daughter Pooja,<br />
is in 10th grade and has a flare for dancing and singing. Our home is a happy home where all feel comfortable<br />
& free to express themselves. That reminds me of a proverb which is worth mentioning in this context,”I don't<br />
care how poor a <strong>ma</strong>n is; if he has a family, he's rich”.<br />
Edassery Manohar, ITQAN.
Ateeq Ahmed, joined Furnicon Royal<br />
Interiors last 26th March 2012 as<br />
Account Project Manager. He is from<br />
India and <strong>ma</strong>rried to Namreen.<br />
Venkatesh Sethura<strong>ma</strong>n, joined<br />
ITQAN on 11 March 2012 as a<br />
Business Consultant. He is <strong>ma</strong>rried to<br />
Mythili and hails from India.<br />
18<br />
ME AND MY FAMILY<br />
NEW EMPLOYEES<br />
My wife is Doaa Reda Said and we are blessed with 2 lovely kids. My eldest son, Abdallah Ahmed is ten years<br />
old and he is currently in KG1 while my youngest son Abdelrah<strong>ma</strong>n is 10 month old.<br />
Dooa is an Arabic language teacher and she loves reading religious, political and scientific books. As a family,<br />
we enjoy playing football, electronics games and swimming.<br />
Ahmed E<strong>ma</strong>n - ASPGulf<br />
Hement Yadav, joined ITQAN on<br />
25th Dec 2012 as Support Engineer.<br />
He is single and hails from India.<br />
Surendra Prasad, joined Al Bawardi<br />
Enterprises as Office Assistant on 12<br />
February 2012. Surendra is happily<br />
<strong>ma</strong>rried and he is a Nepali National.<br />
GUESS<br />
WIN &<br />
Priyanka Jaikrishnan, joined<br />
ITQAN on 19 Feb 2012 as a Business<br />
Consultant. She hails from India and is<br />
<strong>ma</strong>rried to Rajiv Krishnan.<br />
Choice Nhe<strong>ma</strong>, joined Acciona<br />
Infraestructuras as Executive<br />
Secretary on 4th March 2012. She<br />
hails from Zimbabwe and <strong>ma</strong>rried<br />
to Musayemura Sigauke. She has 3<br />
children.<br />
Winner – Karren Fay Cachero, Al Bawardi Clearing & Forwarding (ACF)
ATTENTION DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER<br />
(ADHD)<br />
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders<br />
(DSM) has laid down certain guidelines to help identify a<br />
person with ADHD. According to the diagnostic <strong>ma</strong>nual,<br />
people with ADHD display a combination of inattention,<br />
hyperactivity and impulsivity. People who are inattentive find<br />
it difficult to focus on a particular task and get bored quickly.<br />
Read on.<br />
Ten-year-old Nita just can't seem to sit still. She talks a mile a<br />
minute and fidgets constantly. The teachers complain that she<br />
disrupts the class constantly and never follows instructions.<br />
Her homework and projects are always incomplete and full<br />
of careless errors and she is easily distracted. Nita has the<br />
classic signs of a person with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity<br />
Disorder or ADHD.<br />
19<br />
Symptoms<br />
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders<br />
(DSM) has laid down certain guidelines to help identify a<br />
person with ADHD. According to the diagnostic <strong>ma</strong>nual,<br />
people with ADHD display a combination of inattention,<br />
hyperactivity and impulsivity.<br />
According to the DSM, signs of inattention include:<br />
becoming easily distracted by irrelevant sights and sounds<br />
failing to pay attention to details and <strong>ma</strong>king careless<br />
mistakes<br />
rarely following instructions carefully and completely<br />
losing or forgetting things like toys, or pencils, books, and<br />
tools needed for a task<br />
Some signs of hyperactivity and impulsivity are:<br />
feeling restless, often fidgeting with hands or feet, or<br />
squirming<br />
running, climbing, or leaving a seat, in situations where<br />
sitting or quiet behavior is expected<br />
blurting out answers before hearing the whole question<br />
having difficulty waiting in line or for a turn<br />
People who are inattentive find it difficult to focus on a<br />
particular task and get bored quickly. While they <strong>ma</strong>y display<br />
effortless concentration doing things they enjoy, <strong>ma</strong>king a<br />
deliberate and conscious effort to organize and complete a<br />
task or to learn something new is difficult. Hyperactive people<br />
seem to bounce off the walls with energy and just cannot sit<br />
still. Impulsive people don't think before they act or speak.<br />
They have difficulty waiting for things to take their natural<br />
course. Everything must happen right away.<br />
There have been times in all our lives when we have been<br />
overly impulsive, inattentive or hyperactive. But that does not<br />
mean that we are afflicted with ADHD. These behaviours are<br />
sympto<strong>ma</strong>tic of ADHD if they appear early in life, before the<br />
age of 7. However, the age of onset can vary and symptoms<br />
<strong>ma</strong>y even appear in early adolescence. They must be excessive,<br />
long-term and pervasive. They must occur more often than<br />
in other people of the same age group. The behaviours must<br />
cause a real handicap in atleast two areas of the person's life<br />
such as school, home, work, or social interactions.<br />
Boys are at least three times as likely as girls to develop the<br />
disorder.<br />
Impact of ADHD<br />
As a result of the disorder, children with ADHD often engage<br />
in disruptive activities and antisocial behaviour that alienates<br />
their peers and other people around them. In addition,<br />
their academic perfor<strong>ma</strong>nce tends to suffer because of their<br />
inattention and easy distractibility. Parents of children with<br />
ADHD experience high stress levels that are linked to their<br />
extreme frustration in attempting to discipline their children.<br />
This can lead to problems in the <strong>ma</strong>rriage and in the worst<br />
case, even divorce. Unfortunately, ADHD is not a disorder<br />
that disappears with time. ADHD persists into adulthood.<br />
However, the good news is that there are ways in which one<br />
can alleviate the symptoms.<br />
Geetika Chopra, ASP Gulf
<strong>AE</strong> INTERACTIVE<br />
OLDEST ELECTRONIC GADGET YOU POSSESS<br />
20<br />
This audio set was bought in 1992, and still in use The alarm clock was a<br />
gift from Al Bawardi in 1993, still working even after my children played<br />
with it –once they put it in water! Shaji Varghese, <strong>AE</strong><br />
Collection of old models phones JVC Video Camera purchased in 1991.<br />
Mamdouh Arafa, Furnicon<br />
Gramophone -By Praveen Pinto<br />
Like the saying goes “Old is Gold and not to be Sold” which I<br />
still believe in; I would like to recall my memories for one of the<br />
oldest gadgets which I had with me during those memorable<br />
days of my childhood. The oldest electronic gadget I had with<br />
me was Gramophone. Most of you all would have heard about<br />
it. Gramophones are one of the music players which were<br />
available during 1950’s. I was one of the blessed I would say<br />
because we had a gramophone at home. However, it was one<br />
of my most favorite gadgets that I ever had.<br />
Entertainment has been a part of hu<strong>ma</strong>n life since ages in one<br />
form or the other. During my childhood days there were very<br />
few options available for music lovers. Radio stations were<br />
one among them. If I happen to look back to those lovely<br />
childhood days, I still recall the time that I had spent listening<br />
to music using gramophone. I enjoyed those days very well.<br />
Never forgetting those lists of songs that used to keep me<br />
occupied listening to them again and again. One of the famous<br />
songs were Limbo Rock by<br />
Elvis Presley, was my all<br />
time choice.<br />
I have this<br />
Mobile<br />
phone<br />
since 1996<br />
(Ericsson<br />
GA 628). It<br />
is as good<br />
as new<br />
and still<br />
working.<br />
Tarek Majzoub, Marine Capabilities<br />
(Marcap) LLC.<br />
Boban Titus-Vintage Radio<br />
The technology how<br />
Gramophone works is;<br />
there is a dumbbell shaped<br />
like thing which has a pin<br />
kind of supporting edge.<br />
In turn this is placed on<br />
the disc where it rotates with the clock type of mechanism and<br />
the song plays from the respective disc. The fun that I used<br />
to have changing the tracks of the disc <strong>ma</strong>nually using finger<br />
or a little pencil was most a<strong>ma</strong>zing. Not forgetting all those<br />
moments spend with siblings with hostility in playing discs of<br />
our favorite songs and later spoiling them; resulting in mere<br />
fights between us.<br />
Last but not the least; as the saying “Things end but sweet<br />
memories last forever”.
21<br />
BELIEVE IT OR NOT – IN PICTURES<br />
Dubai Metro sets Guinness World Record as the<br />
Longest Driverless Metro Line.<br />
The latest accolade for Abu<br />
Dhabi is for being the city<br />
with the world's furthest<br />
Leaning Man<strong>ma</strong>de Tower.<br />
COMPETE TO BE UNIQUE, NOT THE BEST<br />
Most companies want to be the best at what they do. But<br />
in the vast <strong>ma</strong>jority of business, there is no such thing as<br />
“the best.” Trying to imitate rivals will get you nowhere:<br />
It’s impossible to do exactly what your competitors are<br />
doing and end up with superior results. Customers choose<br />
different products and services for different reasons, and it’s<br />
unlikely you’ll win them all.<br />
Instead, focus on creating superior value for the customers<br />
that choose your company. Doing this profitably means<br />
accepting limits and <strong>ma</strong>king tradeoffs — you can't meet<br />
every need of every customer. Don’t set out to win a war.<br />
Instead find your audience and capture their attention and<br />
loyalty.
ENVIRONMENT CORNER<br />
22<br />
Practice Environmental Awareness!<br />
Despite all its best efforts at preserving the environment, the<br />
Emirates still has the world’s largest carbon footprint, largely<br />
due to the energy consumed in the desalinization of our<br />
water resources. With growing concerns regarding our energy<br />
consumption, we need to remember that every little bit we do<br />
<strong>ma</strong>kes a difference. Here are a few useful tips that you <strong>ma</strong>y or<br />
<strong>ma</strong>y not have heard of that can do around the house:<br />
The most basic: Turn off the lights when you’re not in a room!<br />
Better yet, invest in some longer lasting energy saving light<br />
bulbs. Both the environment and your wallet will thank you.<br />
Get an economic showerhead: They’re cheap and incredibly<br />
efficient. If you don’t like the decreased water pressure, you<br />
can install one that just times and lights up green, orange or<br />
red to let you know when you’re shower has gone on too long.<br />
Try and be reasonable with your ACs – we all know it’s hot in<br />
the summer, but you don’t need them on full blast 24/7 at 15<br />
degrees. Decrease your fan speed at least one notch, and try to<br />
pick a reasonably comfortable temperature in the 20s.<br />
Unplug the TV every once in a while – go out to the park or<br />
<strong>ma</strong>ll and enjoy being outdoors!<br />
Set your laptops in a low power mode; a dimmer screen or<br />
shorter display turn off time can <strong>ma</strong>ke a world of difference.<br />
Carry a canvas shopping bag – they’re more sturdy and reliable<br />
than plastic, and mother nature friendly. Keep forgetting it at<br />
home? Just leave a couple in the trunk of your car at all times.<br />
This one is a little strange: If your toilet comes with an economic<br />
flush button, use it! If not, you can craft one yourself at home<br />
by doing something as simple as placing a brick or even closed<br />
water bottle in the tank – this displaces the water and tricks the<br />
floating arm into thinking the tank is full: “The average model<br />
uses three to seven gallons per flush. A bottle in the tank will<br />
displace enough water to save half a gallon to a gallon each<br />
use, or up to about 10 gallons a day in a typical home.”<br />
Try and carpool – if you and your friends have dinner together,<br />
you don’t all need to arrive separately. You might also want to<br />
do this with a coworker to get to and from the office - you save<br />
on fuel consumption and cost, and can always take turns.<br />
Remember, what’s good for the environment in the long term<br />
is also good for you in the short term; all of your bills (electric,<br />
water & fuel) will be reduced by a comfortable amount.<br />
-Ali Azouqah, Itqan
SAFETY WHILE EATING OUT<br />
Taking a break from home cooking and choosing to eat out at<br />
a restaurant is something most of us like to do every now and<br />
then. When choosing a restaurant, we’re more likely to go for a<br />
place that we’re familiar, with pleasant staff and surroundings.<br />
And more importantly, most of us will be reassured if our<br />
favourite restaurant outlets observe fastidious hygiene practices.<br />
I<strong>ma</strong>gine for a moment the horror of catching bugs in your drink<br />
just after you have finished paying for your drinks, or finding a<br />
cockroach in your salad! Would you excuse yourself and leave the<br />
restaurant or stay on just to be polite?<br />
In recent years, appalling hygiene standards in some restaurants<br />
has taken the fun out of dining in local restaurants. Disgusted<br />
customers have witnessed very unpleasant habits. Turning a<br />
blind eye to situations where hygiene standards are flagrantly<br />
ignored, can put you at risk of ill health.<br />
Recent research has revealed that 70% of the time, the ice in fastfood<br />
restaurants contains more bacteria than toilet water. Most<br />
often, people suffering from gastric infections, blamed eating out<br />
as the cause of the illness. Also, most of us are unaware of the<br />
cleanliness levels at the food outlets we frequent.<br />
As guests at restaurants, we never get to see the environment<br />
where our food is prepared, however clues to look out for include<br />
the cleanliness of the staffs’ uniforms, dirty mop buckets left out,<br />
overflowing waste bins, greasy tables, and unattended toilets. The<br />
logic being: If the areas that can be seen by the public turns out to<br />
be filthy, then it goes without saying that the hidden areas where<br />
customers have no access, <strong>ma</strong>y be a lot worse.<br />
Eating out at s<strong>ma</strong>ll restaurants were food is displayed in the<br />
open is even more risky. Such food should be avoided at all costs<br />
because bacteria tend to multiply in moist food between 5 and<br />
63 degrees centigrade. A single bacterium on food left outside<br />
the fridge for at least an hour or more, is enough to <strong>ma</strong>ke you<br />
sick. It’s always best to have your food served piping hot and have<br />
all meat properly cooked. Food-borne infections are caused by<br />
bacteria in food. If bacteria become numerous and the food is<br />
eaten, bacteria <strong>ma</strong>y continue to grow in intestines, resulting in<br />
illnesses. Infections can also occur from the consumption of<br />
toxins (or poisons) produced in food by bacterial growth. In<br />
such cases, Toxins, not bacteria, cause the illness. Toxins <strong>ma</strong>y<br />
not alter the appearance, odor or flavor of food. Such infections,<br />
called Food intoxication, are a lot more severe than common<br />
23<br />
bacterial infections. Toxins pose a greater threat, as they do not<br />
get degenerated due to heat, therefore, will re<strong>ma</strong>in potent even<br />
after proper methods of cooking.<br />
Food hygiene certificates are often displayed in most food<br />
outlets. Because this is <strong>ma</strong>ndatory, ironically, even the restaurants<br />
which have staff with bad practices have them displayed at the<br />
front. Care should be taken to avoid all restaurants where you<br />
have witnessed bad hygiene practices, as these places have a<br />
higher chance of bacterial contamination of food.<br />
Insects crawling in restaurants, found in food are also other<br />
aspects to look out for; as these are also vectors causing illnesses,<br />
as they invariably contaminate food with bacteria or other<br />
pathogens that cause infections.<br />
At this point, I want to bring to your notice, an incident that<br />
occurred in our office recently. Juice ordered from a certain<br />
restaurant at lunch contained so <strong>ma</strong>ny tiny cockroaches floating<br />
on top of the container, which shocked all of us present. We were<br />
lucky that they could be seen, hence nobody consumed the juice.<br />
What if it had gone unnoticed and somebody consumed the<br />
food? Or how <strong>ma</strong>ny times have we fallen ill due to consumption<br />
of such contaminated food? So let us all be aware of such threats<br />
and in future, check the food that we eat.<br />
A snapshot of the bugs in the juice<br />
More importantly, let us take extra care to eat or order out only<br />
from hygienic restaurants. While eating out re<strong>ma</strong>ins a popular<br />
way to socialise with friends and family, going in search of a<br />
clean eating outlet is the best way to ensure we are relaxed about<br />
what we put in your mouth. Let us all be aware that HEALTH IS<br />
INDEED WEALTH.<br />
Avinash, QHSE Manager
With everyone getting in a panic about the credit crunch, the<br />
rising cost of living, and imminent global economic disaster, it<br />
seems ever more important to <strong>ma</strong>ke your salary stretch as far as<br />
possible. When nearly everyone will one day be earning a regular<br />
wage, it seems truly astonishing that schools do not teach useful<br />
skills such as budgeting, and that <strong>ma</strong>ny parents fail to teach a<br />
sense of economy to their children. But worry not, it’s never too<br />
late to learn a new skill, and here are some tips on how to <strong>ma</strong>nage<br />
your salary wisely.<br />
The first step – and yes, this <strong>ma</strong>y be boring, but it’s necessary –<br />
is to sit down and work out your income and outgoings. If the<br />
expenditure is greater than the income, you’re in trouble, and<br />
it’s time to take control before things get any worse. If you don’t<br />
spend more than you earn, it’s still worth taking a look at how you<br />
can <strong>ma</strong>ke better use of your money, as there are always ways of<br />
<strong>ma</strong>king cutbacks. Even if you have plenty of disposable income,<br />
why throw it away? It’s far better to save as much as you can, and<br />
use it for something worthwhile, or leave it earning you lots of<br />
lovely investment incomes (okay, <strong>ma</strong>ybe not that much income,<br />
but it’s better than nothing, or worse, spending everything).<br />
24<br />
HOW TO MANAGE YOUR SALARY<br />
Most people know how much their take home pay will be every<br />
PR UPDATE<br />
month, which <strong>ma</strong>kes it easier to budget. Having worked out how<br />
much your outgoings are, you can then look at where they can<br />
be reduced. Grit your teeth, and spend an evening looking at<br />
ways of reducing your expenses. Some things can’t be cut out,<br />
but they can be reduced. Look at how you can reduce your energy<br />
consumption, by keeping the switching off lights, for example,<br />
and research cheaper energy providers. Try car-sharing, or<br />
cycling to work, if possible.<br />
Now look at non-essentials. This is the easiest way to <strong>ma</strong>ke<br />
savings. Try going out less, cooking budget meals instead of eating<br />
in restaurants, waiting for a film to come out on DVD rather than<br />
going to the cine<strong>ma</strong>, and buying clothes in the sale. Set realistic<br />
budgets for everything, that means not denying yourself any<br />
fun, while acknowledging that you don’t have unlimited funds.<br />
Buy clothes in the sales and plan your wardrobe. Avoid impulse<br />
purchases, and think about whether you really need something.<br />
Change your mobile phone plan according to your need and<br />
use your land line for local calls. Keep your credit cards for<br />
emergencies. Follow this advice, and more of your income will<br />
stay in your bank account!<br />
Mohamed Shameer, ASP Gulf<br />
As part of new scheme presented at first in October 2011 issue, <strong>AE</strong> Connect Magazine met our PR Coordinator Ri<strong>ma</strong>n Jihoad Bou<br />
Hussein and got some beneficial guidelines for Emirates ID deadlines Vs. delay fees and other related PR updates:<br />
REGISTRATION DELAY FEES FOR ALL PEOPLE IN THE U<strong>AE</strong><br />
Delay in registration or issuance of the ID Card <strong>AE</strong>D 20 per day, Maximum <strong>AE</strong>D 1000<br />
Delay in renewing the ID Card (30 days after expiry date) <strong>AE</strong>D 20 per day, Maximum <strong>AE</strong>D 1000<br />
Delay in reporting any change in the details (30 days after the change date) <strong>AE</strong>D 20 per day, Maximum <strong>AE</strong>D 1000<br />
DATES OF APPLYING DELAY FEES<br />
November 1, 2011 U<strong>AE</strong> Nationals<br />
December 1, 2011 Government and semi-government employees<br />
(Federal and Local)<br />
December 1, 2011 Residents of the following Northern Emirates (Umm<br />
Al-Quaint, Al-Fujairah, Rasa Al-Kamiah and Aj<strong>ma</strong>n).<br />
February 1, 2012 Sharjah Residents<br />
April 1, 2012 Abu Dhabi Residents<br />
June 1, 2012 Dubai Residents<br />
On the other hand, our PR has shared with us some of new regulations related to mission visas, transit visas i.e. degree certificate<br />
scanned copy is required when submitting mission and transit visas. In case of applying without degree for mission visa, application<br />
will be processed with an “Archive Clerk” position.<br />
Ri<strong>ma</strong>n Jihoad Bou Hussein
DO YOU REMEMBER YOUR NEW YEAR’S RESO-<br />
LUTIONS?<br />
How are things going with those New Year’s resolutions? Are<br />
you well on your way to the new improved you? Or have all<br />
your good intentions been long forgotten?<br />
Studies show that most of us have given up on our resolutions<br />
well before the end of January. The question is, why? Each<br />
year, the most popular resolutions are more or less the same:<br />
save money, be healthier, lose weight, give up smoking, learn a<br />
new language ... All very sensible dreams. So, why is it so hard<br />
to <strong>ma</strong>ke them come true?<br />
The key to success is simple: approach your New Year’s<br />
resolution as you would a work target or goal. You wouldn’t<br />
set an unrealistic business goal which you know in advance<br />
will be impossible to achieve, would you? So take the same<br />
attitude to this challenge.<br />
1. Just choose one goal<br />
Very simple. Research shows that you’re much more likely<br />
to keep resolutions if you only <strong>ma</strong>ke one, so you can really<br />
concentrate on it.<br />
2. Be realistic<br />
You’ve got to be honest and ask yourself what you can change<br />
in your life that would <strong>ma</strong>ke you happier. Most people choose<br />
resolutions which are far too vague and therefore overwhelming<br />
– like “enjoying life more” or “being a nicer person”. What you<br />
should do is set yourself a task and then take s<strong>ma</strong>ll steps to<br />
achieve it, regularly reviewing your progress. If you want to<br />
learn another language, just take the first step and sign up for a<br />
regular language class, rather than expecting yourself to speak<br />
it fluently in six months. The less daunting the task sounds,<br />
the more likely you are to <strong>ma</strong>nage it.<br />
3. Why?<br />
Examine your reasons for wanting to achieve this one thing,<br />
because you’ve got to really want it if you’re going to stay<br />
committed when your self-discipline falters. One very helpful<br />
tip is to write a list of all the reasons why keeping this resolution<br />
will help you. For example, if you want to be more organised,<br />
consider how a more streamlined, less hectic attitude to life<br />
will not only reduce stress levels but will also boost your<br />
productivity at work, as well as improve the impression your<br />
25<br />
colleagues have of you. If you’re constantly late for meetings,<br />
and arrive unprepared and sweating, don’t you think this will<br />
have an impact on your standing in the company, in the long<br />
run?<br />
4. Why not?<br />
Next, write a list of the reasons why you think you might not<br />
be able to keep this resolution. And then have a good look at<br />
them: you’ll find that most of the reasons you’ve come up with<br />
are just an excuse for failure. The reason most people give is<br />
“lack of time”. Well, the hard truth is, if you want to achieve<br />
something, you’ll have to be prepared to <strong>ma</strong>ke time to do it –<br />
and write the time you need into your weekly schedule, so it’s<br />
there in black and white. Want to write a book? Set aside some<br />
regular blocks of time during the week, <strong>ma</strong>ybe two or three<br />
evenings, and don’t let anything interfere with your writing.<br />
If you want to do more exercise, you don’t need to do it every<br />
day – just once or twice a week is better than nothing at all.<br />
In short, if you can’t find a way to overcome your “Why not?”<br />
reasons, you’ll be doomed to failure before you even start.<br />
5. Go public<br />
Tell your family and friends about what you intend to achieve.<br />
Their support will help when you start reaching for the<br />
chocolate. And keep a written record of how you’re getting<br />
on, so you can monitor your progress. Make sure you reward<br />
yourself, too, regularly (but not with the things you’ve given<br />
up!).<br />
6. One day at a time<br />
Even if you have a bad day once in a while, it does not mean<br />
you’ve “broken” your resolution. See this as a longer-term<br />
project. If there’s one day where you spend too much money,<br />
smoke ten cigarettes or fail to go to the gym – don’t panic!<br />
It was just a temporary setback. One day really won’t <strong>ma</strong>ke a<br />
difference.<br />
In short: it’s never too late to “re-<strong>ma</strong>ke” your resolutions, and it<br />
doesn’t only have to be once a year! Deciding to <strong>ma</strong>ke positive<br />
changes to your life will not only improve your self-esteem,<br />
it can also change your professional i<strong>ma</strong>ge. What’s more, the<br />
end result outweighs the effort of breaking a bad habit or two.<br />
You’ll see.
EVENTS APR 2012 - JUNE 2012<br />
26<br />
Date<br />
April<br />
Event Location<br />
19 Mar – 15 Apr Gestures of Light Exhibition Emirates Palace & Ghaf Gallery<br />
28 Mar – 2 Apr Abu Dhabi International Book Fair ADNEC<br />
29th Mar – 7th Apr Spring Show ADNEC<br />
26 Mar – 30 Apr Olympians – Photographic exhibition of Emirati<br />
ahtletes<br />
ADNEC<br />
1 Apr – 3 Apr Motexha Exhibition Dubai International Convention<br />
& Exhibition Centre<br />
1 Apr – 3 Apr Siegfried - Wagners The Ring Cycle VOX Cine<strong>ma</strong>s, Marina Mall, Abu<br />
Dhabi<br />
2 Apr Beloved Friend - Royal Opera House Emirates Palace<br />
2 Apr – 4 Apr World Ports and Trade Summit 2012 ADNEC<br />
4 Apr Natalie Cole in Concert Emirates Palace<br />
6 Apr A Night of Legends - Fadel Shaker in Concert Emirates Palace<br />
6 Apr – 7 Apr Dragon Boat Festival Festival Marina, Dubai Festival<br />
City<br />
22 Apr – 25 Apr Arabian Build and Construction Expo CITYSCAPE Abu Dhabi<br />
Piscine Middle East ADNEC<br />
30 Apr – 3 May Beauty Secrets Show ADNEC<br />
May<br />
1 – 5 May International Jewellery and Watch Show ADNEC<br />
1 – 12 May Arab Market ADNEC<br />
14 – 16 May ICT World ADNEC<br />
15 – 16 May Cards and Payments Middle East ADNEC<br />
21 – 23 May Made in Korea ADNEC<br />
31 May – 9 Jun Shams Festival ADNEC<br />
June<br />
3 – 4 Jun Madonna in Concert Flash Forum, YAS Island<br />
8 Jun – 31 Aug Dubai Sports World Dubai International Convention<br />
& Exhibition Centre<br />
11 – 13 Jun Arab Industrial Cities Areas Exhibition Senaat ADNEC<br />
21 – 23 Jun Indian Property Show Dubai International Convention<br />
& Exhibition Centre<br />
-Alia Azouqah
HR UPDATES MANAGING NON-PERFORMERS<br />
27<br />
Introduction<br />
Organizations focus mostly on <strong>ma</strong>naging high performers, probably<br />
as a risk mitigation measure.<br />
After all the high-performers are considered as the drivers of business<br />
and their retention is a high priority for the organization.<br />
This article, however, examines how to <strong>ma</strong>nage non-performers<br />
which <strong>ma</strong>y sometimes be 10-20% of your employee strength.<br />
Who are non-performers ?<br />
Are non-performers those who<br />
Do not meet their targets?<br />
Do not contribute to the team effort?<br />
Do not have the required skills & competencies?<br />
Do not get along well their supervisors?<br />
Take no action on the tasks assigned to them?<br />
Spend no time on self development?<br />
Take no interest in the organizational activities?<br />
Have a poor attendance record?<br />
Are involved in disciplinary cases?<br />
Are not interested in training and mentoring others?<br />
Lodge <strong>ma</strong>ximum number of complaints and grievances?<br />
Have never received any rewards or recognitions?<br />
Have below average perfor<strong>ma</strong>nce rating over the years?<br />
Have been repeatedly counseled to improve perfor<strong>ma</strong>nce?<br />
Are trouble creators in the organization?<br />
Are generally disliked by peers & seniors?<br />
Avail of all types of leave & full slag times (lunch/ coffee breaks).<br />
Perhaps most of the above aspects need to be examined before<br />
labeling an employee as ‘non performer’. This is possible only if you<br />
have composite on-line HR systems.<br />
A few thoughts!<br />
You have always picked the right person for the right job.<br />
Your recruitment process was fair and you always searched for the<br />
best available talent.<br />
From your recruitment records you can verify the ratings of<br />
non-performers in the psychometric tests & their evaluation by<br />
interviewers & professionals.<br />
You kept the new entrants on probation for a sufficient time.<br />
You had a proper system for induction & on-boarding.<br />
You screened the probationers well before their confir<strong>ma</strong>tion.<br />
Your process speaks of no scope of the entry of low profile people<br />
in your organization.<br />
Correct?<br />
Then who created non-performers?<br />
If everything was right in our selection process and people in general<br />
want to do well in their place of work, the question that begs an<br />
answer is ‘Who created non-performers?’<br />
My interactions of over 40 years with <strong>ma</strong>ny organizations identify<br />
the following as some areas of responsibility:<br />
Supervisors (i.e. Reporting Manager of the employee)<br />
Lack of transparent and employee friendly HR policies
28<br />
Absence of processes to implement and audit these policies<br />
Absence of an holistic approach to label employees as ‘nonperformers’.<br />
Focus on recognition & development of high potential employees<br />
only.<br />
On <strong>ma</strong>naging non-performers<br />
With a <strong>ma</strong>jor employee population being branded in the nonperformer<br />
category, it is very important not only to identify why<br />
were they branded so (refer to the above section), but also to be<br />
aware how to <strong>ma</strong>nage them such that they perform better. Some<br />
ideas on this are:<br />
1. Treat them as spoiled children: Parents seldom discard their nonperforming<br />
children. They identify their strengths & provide the<br />
desired environment to nurture the same.<br />
2. Screen them through Assessment Centers: Behavioral experts<br />
should be engaged to identify the attitudinal attributes which<br />
<strong>ma</strong>de them as non-performers. After all we don’t want encourage<br />
the reasons for this.<br />
3. Collect 360 degree feed back: Have a for<strong>ma</strong>l survey and gather<br />
impressions about the acceptability in the environment of those<br />
labeled as non-performers. Inputs from peers and subordinates<br />
will provide a valuable picture. Design the feed back instruments<br />
carefully.<br />
4. Train your <strong>ma</strong>nagers: To develop subordinates is an important<br />
role of all <strong>ma</strong>nagers. May be your <strong>ma</strong>nagers are not equipped<br />
QUIZ/BRAIN TEASERS<br />
Brain teasers can and do help keep the mind stay sharp. Like the<br />
muscles in your body, your mind strengthens with daily stimulation<br />
and can atrophy if neglected and not used. This is why it is important<br />
to use the mind and continually challenge it. Being involved in leisure<br />
activities that help stimulate your brain can help you live a longer<br />
and happier life. Studies have shown that time spent stimulating the<br />
brain can help prevent dementia and Alzheimer's disease.<br />
1. What common, English word has the letters "WSP", in that order,<br />
without any letters between?<br />
2. What's the missing letter? J ? M A M J J A S O N D<br />
3. Which is greater - half of quarter or quarter of half?<br />
4. What is so fragile that when you say its name you break it?<br />
5. An old fashioned bike wheel has 21 spokes. How <strong>ma</strong>ny spaces are<br />
there between the spokes?<br />
6. What falls, but does not break, and what breaks but does not fall?<br />
adequately to perform this role. Train them continuously and<br />
frequently!<br />
5. Assign alternative roles: Transfer the non-performer to a new<br />
role, preferably in consultation with the employee. Let the new<br />
<strong>ma</strong>nager take him out of the dirty pool.<br />
6. Consider them as company assets:<br />
a) They provide a real challenge both to HR & the respective<br />
line/ functional <strong>ma</strong>nagers, keep them on their toes and <strong>ma</strong>ke<br />
them search for creative solutions.<br />
b) They provide continuity in their jobs.<br />
c) They are not over ambitious & thus do not compete with<br />
others.<br />
d) They provide stability to the organization & can be well<br />
utilized for routine jobs.<br />
e) Their experience & knowledge of the organization is valuable<br />
even if their perfor<strong>ma</strong>nce ranks lowest.<br />
f) During phases of recession & consequent downsizing of the<br />
organization, they are readily available as a solution.<br />
7. Part ways “if you have to” but Very Gracefully: If you have tried<br />
everything else, don’t hesitate in parting ways. All employees <strong>ma</strong>y<br />
not be right for your organization and hiring mistakes are <strong>ma</strong>de<br />
often. Make sure that the benefit of doubt no longer re<strong>ma</strong>ins and<br />
before you take this step, discuss this well and explore all options.<br />
You don’t want a costly lawsuit?<br />
Internet Excerpt<br />
7. What happened in 1961 and will not happen again until 6009?<br />
8. What is light as a feather, but even the strongest <strong>ma</strong>n cannot hold<br />
it more than a few minutes?<br />
Answers<br />
1. NeWSPaper<br />
2. F, Explanation: The letters are the first letter of each of the twelve<br />
months. The second month is February.<br />
3. Both are equal. A 1/2 multiplied by 1/4 is 1/8. Likewise 1/4<br />
multiplied by 1/2 is 1/8.<br />
4. Silence<br />
5. 21<br />
6. Night falls and day breaks<br />
7. The year reads same if upside down<br />
8. His breath
SIGHTS OF U<strong>AE</strong> - SHAHAMA ZOO<br />
The Family & Kids Park zoo, located in Shaha<strong>ma</strong> – Abu Dhabi,<br />
is the first private zoo in U<strong>AE</strong>. With a range of attractions from<br />
watching to petting and even feeding the ani<strong>ma</strong>ls, it is definitely a<br />
fun trip for adults and children alike.<br />
Wild ani<strong>ma</strong>ls, reptiles, birds and amphibians are all part of the<br />
attraction at this family friendly park. You can find Camels,<br />
Horses, Donkeys, Ostrich, Sheep, La<strong>ma</strong>, Goats, Ibex, Oryx, Deer,<br />
Tortoise, Guinea Fowl, Peacock, Kangaroo, and Rabbits. Guinea<br />
Pigs, Iguana Turkey, Squirrel, Pigeons, Civet Cat, Raccoon,<br />
Meerkat, Ferret, Bush Baby, Hamsters, Squirrels, 12 Aquariums<br />
of fresh water fish and a wide variety of exotic birds. Also recently<br />
opened are the ocean park, featuring a variety of fresh water fish<br />
and hatcheries, as well as a snakes, reptiles & amphibians park<br />
where the braver of us can get their photos taken with a boa!<br />
Be prepared to face everything from wild hyenas and lions to the<br />
tamer monkeys, peacocks, giraffes and a variety of farm ani<strong>ma</strong>ls<br />
at the petting zoo.<br />
At a very reasonable price of only 20 Dhs per adult or 60 Dhs for<br />
a family of 5, visitors can enjoy the park all day from 9:30 AM to<br />
8:00 PM (9 on weekends!).<br />
Ani<strong>ma</strong>l Fun Facts<br />
Did you know the fe<strong>ma</strong>le Leopard Tortoise can lay 5-30 eggs and<br />
will take between 60-120 days to hatch.<br />
Did you know the lizards are reptiles that shed their tails to escape<br />
predators?<br />
There are only three ani<strong>ma</strong>ls with blue tongues: the black bear,<br />
the Chow dog and the blue-tongued lizard.<br />
29<br />
Camels have three eyelids.<br />
Flying squirrels don’t really fly; they glide from branch to branch.<br />
A blanket-like furry skin stretches their front and hind legs and<br />
facts as a parachute, enabling the squirrel to soar like a kite.<br />
A goldfish has a memory span of three seconds.<br />
No two zebras have the same striped pattern.<br />
A beaver can hold its breath for 45 minutes.<br />
Toucans are found only in tropical areas of Central and South<br />
America. Some Toucan species have bills more thank half as long<br />
as their bodies.<br />
Hummingbirds are the only birds that can fly backwards.<br />
The longest recorded life span of a tapeworm was 35 years!<br />
Roadrunners are large (about two feet long) crested birds that<br />
prefer to run rather that fly, and they can sprint at 15 miles per<br />
hour.<br />
A <strong>ma</strong>le Anglerfish attaches itself to a fe<strong>ma</strong>le and never lets go.<br />
Alia Azouqah, ITQAN and Ali Kayed K, Marcap
30<br />
SMART ADS<br />
1st Prize, Vishal Senger, ITQAN 2nd Prize, Mohamed Shameer, ASP Gulf<br />
Henry's Bread, nice & soft<br />
3rd Prize, Vishal Sood, ITQAN<br />
Thank God the zoom was invented<br />
Dipen Uchil, <strong>AE</strong><br />
Fashion claims more victims than you think<br />
Geetika, ASP Gulf<br />
Dennis Canlas, Imdad<br />
T. R. Giri, Emdad<br />
Boban Titus, Furnicon<br />
Protect yourself<br />
Nadia Saleh, Itqan<br />
Panasonic Camera<br />
Saljith Mohan, gi<br />
Ovais Ali, Itqan
EXPLORING NATIONS<br />
31<br />
We have covered the below highlighted countries in our previous editions.<br />
However if any of our readers choose to add their home country/ any<br />
countries that they have visited, please feel free to get in touch with the<br />
Magazine Committee so we can include this in the coming editions.<br />
Spain<br />
July<br />
2011<br />
Ger<strong>ma</strong>ny<br />
April<br />
2011<br />
Egypt<br />
Oct 2010<br />
Istanbul<br />
Turkey<br />
Oct 2011<br />
Kerala<br />
India<br />
Jan 2011<br />
China<br />
Jan<br />
2012<br />
Sri Lanka<br />
April<br />
2010<br />
Philippines<br />
July<br />
2010<br />
TECHNOLOGY UPDATES GOOGLE SECRET COMMANDS<br />
Google is not just a search engine where you can type<br />
your search word and get the results. It offers some<br />
com<strong>ma</strong>nds that you can use to refine your search results<br />
and save lots of time.<br />
“ “ (com<strong>ma</strong>s)<br />
Anything you write into com<strong>ma</strong>s, Google will search<br />
exactly the same phrase rather than searching individual<br />
words.<br />
“I am Feeling Lucky”<br />
This button will auto<strong>ma</strong>tically take you to the website<br />
that appears first in the search result.<br />
- (the minus sign)<br />
Use this minus sign followed by any word and all website<br />
containing that word will be excluded from you search<br />
result.<br />
Site:<br />
Use this word exactly to search only within a specific site<br />
i.e. Site: nytimes.com<br />
filetype:<br />
Very useful if you are looking for a specific file like pdf,<br />
word, excel file. For example,<br />
filetype:pdf organization chart<br />
will only shows links of pdf files and nothing else.<br />
- Sheikh Fahad, <strong>AE</strong>
WEDDING BELLS! CONGRATULATIONS<br />
32<br />
Mr. Sheikh Muham<strong>ma</strong>d Fahad (<strong>AE</strong>) and<br />
his wife Maryam Hussain who exchanged<br />
their vows last 5 February 2012 in Karachi,<br />
Pakistan<br />
ENGAGEMENT.....<br />
Congratulations and Best Wishes to Ka<strong>ma</strong>l<br />
Toumeh (<strong>AE</strong>) and his bride Di<strong>ma</strong> Antuan<br />
Alasahan on their wedding last 7 January<br />
2012 at Latakia, Syria.<br />
Mr. Sumesh Nair (Tatweer) on his engagement with Ranjana Jalaja last 18<br />
January 2012.
NEW BABY ANNOUNCEMENT<br />
CONGRATULATIONS TO...<br />
Mr. Joby George, Itqan on<br />
the birth of his baby boy,<br />
Joshua on 23 January 2012.<br />
33<br />
Mr. Ali Abdallah Mahd, PR<br />
Officer (<strong>AE</strong>) on the birth of his<br />
baby boy, O<strong>ma</strong>r on 13 January<br />
2012.<br />
Mr. Mohammed Wajih<br />
Ayoub, Itqan on the birth<br />
of his baby Girl, Perla Ayoub<br />
on 25th December 2011.<br />
BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS AT <strong>AE</strong><br />
Mr. Showkath Ali, Logistics<br />
and Site Coordinator<br />
(Furnicon) on the birth of<br />
his baby girl, Sana on 24<br />
January 2012.<br />
Al Bawardi Enterprises held a back to<br />
back birthday celebrations in just one<br />
week last March 2012. Mr. Rajinder<br />
Bandaranayake, Group Finance Director<br />
celebrated his birthday last 04th March<br />
at <strong>AE</strong> Conference Room and a few days<br />
after, a triple celebrations for Jehad<br />
Abuzaid of PR Department, Sheikh Fahad<br />
of IT Department and Marivic Barbas of<br />
TATWEER on 08th March.<br />
As a tradition, Team Members of <strong>AE</strong><br />
and TATWEER were present to greet and<br />
witness the celebrants cut the cake and<br />
birthday cards were given to each of them.<br />
To the birthday celebrants, we wish them<br />
good health, happiness and success as they<br />
turn a year older.<br />
Annie Dizon, <strong>AE</strong>
CELEBRANTS OF THE MONTH<br />
APRIL<br />
MAY<br />
JUNE<br />
34<br />
Hamza Valiyavalappil 1-Apr gi<br />
Subair Thdttiyil 1-Apr Emdad<br />
Muhammed Faizal Paramba 1-Apr Emdad<br />
Skaria Sebastian 2-Apr gi<br />
Syed Musthafa Abdul Rah<strong>ma</strong>n 2-Apr Itqan<br />
Nellikathara Madhavan Sajeevan 2-Apr Emdad<br />
Chandrabose K. Subash 6-Apr Emdad<br />
Michael Varghese 7-Apr Emdad<br />
Nixon Lagat 8-Apr Emdad<br />
Samsul Alam 8-Apr Emdad<br />
Mujeeb Abdul Rah<strong>ma</strong>n 10-Apr <strong>AE</strong><br />
Syed Naseem Ah<strong>ma</strong>d 10-Apr Itqan<br />
Julaju T. P 10-Apr gi<br />
Allan Alarcon Berja 11-Apr Furnicon<br />
Ah<strong>ma</strong>d Moham<strong>ma</strong>d Ah<strong>ma</strong>d Alabbadi 12-Apr Itqan<br />
Mohammed Saithalavi 12-Apr Emdad<br />
Is<strong>ma</strong>il Thaniveppil 13-Apr Itqan<br />
Anil K. Varghese 13-Apr Emdad<br />
Zaibar Ali Azam Khan 14-Apr Emdad<br />
Qais Hani Bulte Haddad 1-May gi<br />
Hussein Yahiya Al Di<strong>ma</strong>si 2-May <strong>AE</strong><br />
Anilesh Govindan P. Veedu 2-May Emdad<br />
Vinodan Chettivalappil 3-May Emdad<br />
Devanada Chennayamoole 3-May Emdad<br />
Essam Abukshim 3-May Emdad<br />
Eduardo Silva 4-May EMDAD<br />
Taj Moh'd Ali Fawzi Alfar 4-May Itqan<br />
Mustafha M.P 5-May Itqan<br />
Biju Bhaskaran 5-May Emdad<br />
Fazal Khaliq 5-May Emdad<br />
Pavithran. P. V 7-May Emdad<br />
Moh'd Raed Muhyealdeen Damyasi 8-May Itqan<br />
Biji Balan NP 8-May Emdad<br />
Mohd Rafee .K.P. 10-May Itqan<br />
Jayantha K Lingoji 10-May Emdad<br />
Isthifan Puthalath 10-May Itqan<br />
Rajesh G 11-May Itqan<br />
Suvas Panayil Sreenivasan 11-May Emdad<br />
Suneesh Kodiyath 13-May Emdad<br />
Ejaz Munir 14-May Itqan<br />
Showkath Ali 15-May Furnicon<br />
Sajid Hussain Muham<strong>ma</strong>d Rashid 15-May Emdad<br />
Rajesh Ku<strong>ma</strong>r Ravindranath Kurup 15-May Emdad<br />
Maria Jyothi Lewis 17-May Itqan<br />
Ranjay Ku<strong>ma</strong>r Singh 17-May Emdad<br />
Jeeva Rajendran 17-May Emdad<br />
Baby Chakkungal Mathai 19-May Emdad<br />
Duraid Sami Abbas Al Anbagi 20-May Itqan<br />
Satheesan Pacha G. Padinhare 20-May Emdad<br />
Abdussalam K V 20-May Emdad<br />
Mohd Farooque Pv 1-Jun <strong>AE</strong><br />
Assaad Kaddoura 1-Jun Itqan<br />
Sarwar Hussain Pinjar 1-Jun Itqan<br />
Kuldip swarn Chand 1-Jun Emdad<br />
Mohamed Abdul Jaleel 1-Jun Emdad<br />
Edwin Sanno Fernandez 2-Jun ASP<br />
Abhay Ku<strong>ma</strong>r 2-Jun Itqan<br />
Ilyas Haider 3-Jun Emdad<br />
Mohammed Amraiz 4-Jun Emdad<br />
Bhupesh Mehta 4-Jun ASP<br />
Bashyam Sampson 5-Jun ASP<br />
Samer M Malek Al Sanee 6-Jun Furnicon<br />
Rola Al Satari 6-Jun Itqan<br />
Jahangir Hossain 6-Jun Emdad<br />
Ali Tahseen Mahmod 6-Jun Itqan<br />
Tharayil Hamza V. Kutty 8-Jun Emdad<br />
Irfan Khalid 8-Jun Emdad<br />
Iqbal Mohammed 10-Jun ASP<br />
Pabitra Ku<strong>ma</strong>r Panda 10-Jun Itqan<br />
Fady Abbas Saady Mohd Saleh 10-Jun Emdad<br />
Rishikesh Bhise 11-Jun Itqan<br />
Lorlito Cardinosa 15-Apr Furnicon<br />
Shoukathali Saytham<strong>ma</strong>dakath 16-Apr ACF<br />
Ram Bahadur Bhujel 17-Apr Emdad<br />
Kuthirum<strong>ma</strong>l Veedu Dineshan 17-Apr Emdad<br />
Ja<strong>ma</strong>l Ka<strong>ma</strong>l Bochor 17-Apr Emdad<br />
Lijino Shaji Abraham 17-Apr Itqan<br />
Shajeer M.T 18-Apr gi<br />
Rami S A Khader 18-Apr Itqan<br />
Jamshad Kanjeera 18-Apr Itqan<br />
Sudhakaran Selvaraj 20-Apr Emdad<br />
Anwar Ali Khurshid Ali 20-Apr Emdad<br />
Muzammil Saif 21-Apr Emdad<br />
Bhaskar Miryala 23-Apr Itqan<br />
Abdullah Adam Ponnen 23-Apr <strong>AE</strong><br />
Egbert Savio Anthony Correia 23-Apr Itqan<br />
Sunil Ku<strong>ma</strong>r Maniyani 25-Apr Itqan<br />
Nishad Plakuttahil Muhammed 25-Apr Emdad<br />
Wilson T K 29-Apr gi<br />
Viyjayan Kurup 30-Apr Emdad<br />
Raju Thazhath 20-May Emdad<br />
Senthil K.G 21-May Itqan<br />
Abdulkarim Abdulla Kizab 21-May Emdad<br />
Avinash Chandran Parakkal 21-May Emdad<br />
Abdurahim Vaza Valappil 22-May gi<br />
Suki<strong>ma</strong>r Venigalla 23-May Itqan<br />
Suresh Ra<strong>ma</strong>krishna Pillai 23-May Itqan<br />
Bachar Al Moukayad 24-May Emdad<br />
Shaji Varghese Vengacheril 25-May <strong>AE</strong><br />
Thilak Rao 25-May Emdad<br />
Sharafudeen 25-May Emdad<br />
Abdurahi<strong>ma</strong>n Kannanthodi Vakkel 25-May Emdad<br />
Anil Ku<strong>ma</strong>r 25-May Emdad<br />
Santhosh Ku<strong>ma</strong>r Rao 25-May Emdad<br />
Jibu Jacob 25-May Emdad<br />
Baha Allawa Radwan 26-May Itqan<br />
Dinesh Ku<strong>ma</strong>r Periye Vengayil 26-May Itqan<br />
Vishal Sood 26-May Itqan<br />
Hashim Valiyakandathil 27-May Emdad<br />
Hydrose Rahim 28-May Itqan<br />
Ranjith Pallen 28-May Emdad<br />
Dasan Mechery 28-May Emdad<br />
Chandresh Ellathuvalappil 29-May Emdad<br />
Jayantha Volthaje 29-May Emdad<br />
Benoi Thaliyachira Paul 30-May gi<br />
Harish Krishnan 30-May ASP<br />
Moham<strong>ma</strong>d Said Ateh Al Zagal 30-May Itqan<br />
Muham<strong>ma</strong>d Iqbal K.K. 30-May Emdad<br />
Murad Shalib Madathil 31-May <strong>AE</strong><br />
Shibu Koikkal George 31-May Itqan<br />
Mohammed Ali Cheeroth 31-May Emdad<br />
Virendra Pathak 11-Jun Emdad<br />
Murtuza Ghadiyali 11-Jun Itqan<br />
Rizwi Mohyuddin 12-Jun Furnicon<br />
Ahmed Zubair Muhammed Zubair 14-Jun ASP<br />
Vineeth Thiyyam Thuruthy 14-Jun Emdad<br />
Sheak Dawood Bagardeen 14-Jun Itqan<br />
Shakeel Ahmed 15-Jun Emdad<br />
Karen Fay Kachero 15-Jun ACF<br />
Satheesh .P 15-Jun Itqan<br />
Mustapha Ah<strong>ma</strong>d Younes 16-Jun Emdad<br />
Ri<strong>ma</strong>n Jihoad Bou Hussein 17-Jun <strong>AE</strong><br />
Abir Mahmoud 18-Jun Emdad<br />
Mohamed Shameer 19-Jun ASP<br />
Rohan Rajaram Dalvi 20-Jun Itqan<br />
Roy Kochuveetil Mathew 22-Jun gi<br />
Mamdouh Arafa El Raggal 24-Jun Furnicon<br />
Laith Azmi Mahmoud Mubarak 27-Jun Itqan<br />
Syed Sohrab Feroze 29-Jun ASP<br />
Mansour Al Alami 30-Jun Emdad<br />
Muha<strong>ma</strong>md Amjad Ashiq Hussain 30-Jun Emdad<br />
Naz<strong>ma</strong> Gulam Aga 30-Jun Itqan
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