Definition – Explain - Example
1. Blind Experiment
Blind Experiment is an experiment in which certain information that could introduce bias in the results is held back from the Subjects or Researchers or the committee monitoring the experiment or any combination of them.
The term blind is used figuratively of the literal idea of blindfolding someone and hence depriving him of certain information. The main purpose of Blind Experiment is to prevent bias whether intentional or unconscious. Similarly in Blind Experiment, the participants (Subjects or Researchers or monitoring committee) are kept ignorant of information that could introduce bias in the results. Bias can cause various errors to creep into the experiment leading to incorrect results. They are of three types: 1. Single-Blind Study: Information that could introduce bias is concealed from participants (subjects) only and experimenters are not withheld from the information. However this kind of experiment faces a risk of experimenter’s bias where researchers can influence behavior of the participants consciously or subconsciously. 2. Double-Blind Study: Neither the participants nor the researchers are in possession of information that could bring in bias in the results. Both the parties are unaware of participants belonging to control group and those belonging to the test group. 3. Triple-Blind Study: This is an extension of the double-blind study , where the committee monitoring the experiment is also unaware of the identity of groups (control or test)
For example: In a test for consumer’s preference towards a taste among various Brands, concealing the identities of the products (Single-Blind) prevents consumers to choose brands that they are familiar with. Further by concealing this information from the researcher (double-blinded), intentional or unintentional cues to the subjects can be avoided.
2. Rotational Training
Rotational Training is a type of Training and Development method where employees move from one task to another to broaden their experience in an Organization.
Through Rotational Training understanding, knowledge and skills of an employee is enhanced by rotating them between departments or company functions. Such an alternative helps employees to overcome overroutinization of their work. By periodic shifting from one task to another with similar skill requirements at same organizational level several benefits can be achieved such as reduction in boredom, increase in motivation and a better understanding of how an employee’s work contributes to the organization. An indirect advantage is that employees with wider range of skills help management to schedule work and fill vacancies more flexibly. However some of the disadvantages of Rotational Training are that the training costs increase, productivity is reduced when an employee is taken from one task to another just when he/she had reached greater efficiency in his/her previous task. Also disruptions can be caused during adjustments. However the bottom line remains that Rotational Training help employees to understand the various jobs in an organization and their interrelationships, thus improving productivity.
For example: A college graduate entering an organization goes through an entry level Rotational Training Program where he/she is given the opportunity to test his/her skills in a number of different roles such as sales, supply chain management, marketing etc. before settling with a fulltime management role in the organization. Another example is Singapore Airlines where extensive rotation is one of the reasons that it is rated one of the best Airlines in the world and a highly desirable place to work. A ticket agent can take on the duties of a baggage handler! 3. Total Remuneration
Total Remuneration is the sum of compensation package that an employee earns for a specific job. It includes salary, bonuses, commissions, health insurance etc.
The Total Remuneration is performance based and has various components. They basically comprise of fixed annual remuneration (not linked to performance) and variable remuneration elements i.e. performance related and consists of short term incentives and long term incentives as well as fringe benefits and pension compliments. The elements of remuneration is combined and applied varies according to various factors like type of business, needs and practices in different geographies , seniority of role in business etc. As the organization AstraZeneca (a pharmaceutical and biologics company) illustrates the classification:

The Short Term Bonus is based on a lump sum payment related to the target achievement of corporate, functional and individual goals measured over a period and contained within a specific plan. The long Term incentive plans are reserved for selected groups namely the top level executives and target at achievement of strategic objectives that closely support the interest of the shareholders.
Therefore Total Remuneration = Basic Salary + Employer Contributions (medical / retirement / group life) + Inconvenience pay (overtime / standby / shift) + Short Term Incentives (performance bonuses) + Long Term Incentives 4. Eye Gestures
Eye Gestures are form of Body Language in which the Eye Movements and the Pupil Dilation is studied to understand the non-verbal communication.
Taking note of eye gestures is a natural and important part of communication process. While evaluating body language close attention to eye gaze, eye movement, blinking and pupil size can help better understand messages. Just like other forms of gestures they allow individuals to communicate their feelings and thoughts non-verbally. They can be accompanied with other body language and words as well. As a result of studies and observations of people of various cultures and races from all over the world the eye movement patterns during various cognitive tasks are believed to be classified in the following ways (with respect to the person himself) : * Eyes Up and Left: Visual Remembered - i.e., remembered imagery (Vr). * Eyes Up and Right: Visual Constructed - i.e., constructed imagery and visual fantasy (Vc). * Eyes Lateral Left: Auditory Remembered - i.e., remembered sounds, words, and "tape loops" (Ar) and tonal discrimination. * Eyes Lateral Right: Auditory Constructed - i.e., constructed sounds and words (Ac). * Eyes Down and Left: Internal dialogue, or inner self-talk (Ad). * Eyes Down and Right: Feelings, both tactile and visceral (K). * Eyes Straight Ahead, but Defocused or Dilated: Quick access of almost any sensory information; but usually visual.
So upward eye movements means thinking, so while delivering a presentation looking upwards means remembering or constructing words or imagery. Whereas looking down means feeling and can indicate submission, respect, internal dialogue etc.
Studying eye gaze can help to understand if the person is interested or not. For e.g. direct eye contact while a conversation shows attention, while prolonged eye contact can feel threatening and frequent breaking of eye contact may indicate that the distraction , uncomforted, or trying to conceal real feelings. Blinking too much might indicate distress or uncomforted, whereas infrequent blinking might indicate that a person is intentionally trying to control his/her eye movements. Similarly pupil dilation can also be studied to understand a person’s emotions.
Image Courtesy: http://theinstituteofhumanunderstanding.com

5. Budgeting Budgeting for a business is a process of expressing a detailed quantification of resource requirements (capital, material or people) that are expected for given time period in future. Budgeting can be done for any person, business, government or anything that makes and spends money. Restricting in this definition to financial results for business firms we can explain budgeting as process of preparing a detailed statements of financial results that are expected in the future period of time. The future time period, as mentioned, can be for short, mid-range or longer time periods. In practice, the common sets of time periods used are a month or a quarter or a year. Through Budgeting employees can understand what their jobs are and how they should perform them. The various functions of Budget are: * Mapping- Steps to be followed to reach organizational objective * Controlling- planning control framework over the steps * Co-coordinating- coordinate activities by specifying links between parts of organization’s plan * Communicating- Inform staff and public about what company is doing * Instructing- managerial instruction to attain objectives * Authorizing- authorization to take action within the specified limits * Motivating- motivational tool to encourage to perform within targeted limits * Performance Measurement- provide benchmark against actual performance * Decision Making- evaluate consequences of proposed changes in actions Three types of Budgeting are mainly followed by business firms namely: 1. Capital Budgeting: Budgeting for the fixed assets that the firm needs to operate 2. Operating Budget: Based on sales forecast , budget of sales revenue minus expenses ending up with gross profit 3. Cash Flow Budget: Budget indicating expected cash inflows (receipts) and cash outflows (expenses) 6. F-test
F-test is a statistical test that is used to determine whether two populations having normal distribution have the same variances or standard deviation. This is an important part of Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). However in case the population is non normal, F test may not be used and alternate tests like Bartlett’s test may be used. Generally the comparison of variance is done by comparing the ratio of two variances and in case they are equal the ratio of variances are equal.
In order to carry out the F test we need to first determine the level of significance and then find out the degrees of freedom of numerator and denominator in order to determine the critical values. The null hypothesis in this case is , H0 : σ12=σ22 and an appropriate alternate hypothesis is to be used. The F value is calculated as F = σ12/σ22. Also the degrees of freedom are n-1 and m-1. This is then compared to the table value of F Statistic for the required confidence interval and degrees of freedom.
For example let us take two methods of measuring particulate matter in water and assume that we want to find out if one is more precise than the other. Precision is measured by the fact that a more precise method shall have a lower standard deviation and hence a lower variance. The data obtained for 10 tests each for the two methods are given below: Method | Mean (ppm) | Standard Dev | Variance | A | 10.3 | 0.6 | 0.36 | B | 11 | 0.7 | 0.49 |
The null hypotheis here is H0 : σ12=σ22, and the alternate hypothesis is H1 : σ12<σ22. Now let us calculate F = σ22/σ12 = 0.49/0.36 = 1.3611. For degrees of freedom of 9 and 95% confidence interval, the Ftab is 3.179. Therefore F< Ftab and hence the null hypothesis stands accepted and we can say that the standard deviations are not different and hence neither of the methods are precise than the other. 7. Kanban Squares
Kanban is method to achieve Just-In-Time manufacturing in which the production is controlled by taking effective care of the logistics. The main purpose of Kanban systems is to ensure better visibility of the production line between producers and suppliers and thus ensure a highly efficient and effective production system. Kanban Squares are used mostly in assembly operations where inventory is stored on the factory floor.
The Kanban Squares are marked on the workbench or floor between the operations and are used to keep stock of inventory. These spaces are designed in such a manner that they can hold only a specific number of pallets and they are usually color coded in order to identify when the Kanban was full in which case the operations in the upstream could switch to another activity or shut down depending on its flexibility. Also the squares give an indication when the replenishment level or safety stock level has been reached and again the upstream operations can resume. The squares can be without any safety stock level as well in which case the re-order process starts when the square becomes empty.
For example: In many car assembly floors Kanban Sqaures are used to control the inventory and implement JIT through greater visibility at the upstream of the downstream production processes. 8. Business process management (BPM)
Business Process Management is the systematic approach to continuously improve the company’s business processes increase business effectiveness and efficiency while striving for innovation, flexibility and integration by alignment with strategic goals, operations and end-to-end processes that companies perform to create value for customers.
Association of Business Process Management Professionals (ABPMP) defines BPM as "Business Process Management (BPM) is a disciplined approach to identify, design, execute, document, monitor, control, and measure both automated and non-automated business processes to achieve consistent, targeted results consistent with an organization's strategic goals. BPM involves the deliberate, collaborative and increasingly technology-aided definition, improvement, innovation, and management of end-to-end business processes that drive business results, create value, and enable an organization to meet its business objectives with more agility." BPM implies an ongoing organizational commitment to the organizational objectives and involves a continuous, feedback loop that ensures organization’s business processes are aligned to its strategy. While practicing BPM, Business Process Initiative (BPI) methods can be employed for specific improvement. Hence, just the use of BPI methodologies does not mean that the organization is practicing BPM. The main steps followed in a BPM are illustrated in the following diagram:
After the Business Processes and strategy is laid out, the analysis yields various improvements in the existing processes and design of new process for betterment of the organization.
For example: BPM helps Customer Relationship Management personals to solve problems more efficiently as they are provided with most up to date information. The BPM solution integrates marketing, sales and support systems of the company and organizes and automates activities like new customer acquisition, service call management , complaint resolution , fraud assessment , credit approvals etc.