Typhoon

This week has been fairly busy at work. I have been redesigning the accounting system to meet the specific needs provided to me last week during our meeting. I have had some challenges implementing a managerial accounting type system into the financial accounting system to track the associated costs of designers and programmers to each project and client. The obvious method would be to have a cost driver of hours worked, since this directly implements the end cost. However, something we didn’t learn in class, is that sometimes the obvious tracking method is counter-productive to the management style currently in place within the company. It isn’t always the best choice to watch your employees progress so closely as this may discourage them, or make them feel constrained, and thus, less happy with their job. It has been my task to try to find a middle ground; one that effectively tracks the cost to measure profitability and productivity, while still giving employees space and freedom within their job.

The second challenge I faced, which I still have not found a solution for, is finding a way within excel, and my current setup, to keep track of what invoices have not yet been paid, or are coming due within the next thirty days. The second requirement should be fairly simple to implement, however the first is extremely difficult. I may change the layout, or attempt some programming. I will think it over this weekend.

Today, I am flying to Shanghai to do some sightseeing. Innoverz was kind enough to give me a long weekend to explore mainland China, and gave some suggestions of attractions to see. I will post more about my trip when I return next week. Throughout the week I have explored the city, mainly the Central and Tsim Sha Tsui areas. However it has been difficult to explore the city, as it has been raining all week. Earlier this week, we experienced a level 10 typhoon, which is the highest level possible. The last one that occurred in Hong Kong was over ten years ago, they are extremely rare. After the typhoon, I noticed that a lot of damage has been done to the city, especially in the New Territories. I noticed many trees snapped in half at the Hong Kong Science and Technology Park.