No, this isn’t a post about George W. Bush. Instead, this is a blog about the letter W. I feel sorry for W; you see, it’s hard to pronounce. Consider the phrase, the “World Wide Web.” It is easy to say; it’s concise, with only three syllables, rolling off the tongue. Ironically, its abbreviation, “WWW” […]
By Peter DeHaan, PhD In retail, the term “shrinkage” euphemistically refers to stock which “disappears” before it can be sold. It is product that the retailer bought, but can’t sell because it is has been stolen or lost. In the call center, the inventory is labor and shrinkage is agents who are being paid but […]
By Peter Lyle DeHaan, Ph.D. “My labor percentage is down to twenty-eight percent,” boasts the owner of a mid-sized medical answering service, seeking affirmation. “Twenty-eight percent!” I exclaim with raised eyebrows. “So, it’s good?” he probes, seeking validation. I carefully consider my response. “No, no,” I say, slowly shaking my head. “It’s terrible.” “Terrible?” he […]
The trend in magazine publishing is to migrate to non-printed forms of distribution (such as email, PDF files, and online reading) in order to reduce costs. While I see this transformation as spanning many years or even decades for most publications, I also noted that the recession is accelerating this trend. The reason is that […]
Peter Lyle DeHaan, PhD We had some frustration taking delivery of a package today. It’s not the first time and, I’m quite sure, it won’t be the last. Sometimes our packages are delivered to the wrong address; other times — like today — the drivers don’t really attempt to make the delivery, they just leave […]
Peter Lyle DeHaan, PhD I like to order online. Unfortunately, several of my recent e-purchase experiences have fallen short of expectations—providing valuable lessons in the process. The first occurred when ordering a box of books. Upon receiving the email confirmation, I noticed that I had inadvertently ordered forty copies of a different book with an […]
By Peter Lyle DeHaan, PhD I love my work—at least 99 percent of it. There are two things that I don’t enjoy and top on that list is making collection calls. On those days when my bride asks, “How was your day?” I can only grunt in disgust. “Why are you in such a bad mood?” she […]
Peter Lyle DeHaan, PhD We, at Connections Magazine, wish you a safe, healthy, and prosperous 2009. Thank you for all your support, encouragement, and appreciation in 2008. We will work to keep that momentum going, continuing to serve you as we roll into 2009. Have a Happy New Year!
By Peter Lyle DeHaan, PhD In the most recent U.S. presidential election, both major party candidates were claiming to be the true agents for change. Whenever I hear a politician spouting change rhetoric, I am immediately cynical. My initial reaction is that they are disingenuously saying what they need to in order for people to […]
By Peter Lyle DeHaan, PhD Most of my Websites include ads from Google. If you’re not familiar with how Google ads work, here’s a brief overview. I put some special software code (html code) on my websites, which goes and gets ads from Google each time someone views that page. The content of the ad (generally) relates to […]