Inventions, Inc. -- Employee Handbook

Don't Be Afraid To Fail
You've failed many times, although you may not remember.
You fell down the first time you tried to walk.
You almost drowned the first time you tried to swim, didn't you?
Did you hit the ball the first time you swung a bat?
Heavy hitters, the ones who hit the most home runs, also strike out a lot.
Thomas Edison failed 997 times before he found the right filament to make the first light bulb.
R.H. Macy failed seven times before his store in New York caught on.
English novelist John Creasey got 753 rejection slips before he published 564 books.
Babe Ruth struck out 1,330 times, but he also hit 714 home runs.
Don't worry about failure.
Worry about the chances you miss when you don't even try.

Soup of the Soul from a Wall Street Journal message by United Technologies Corp.



Table of Contents

Introduction

Goals

Professional Expectations

Classroom Materials Requirements

Submittal Requirements

Presentation Standards

Salary

Performance Requirements

Homework/Class Exercises

Project Logbooks

Presentations

Appendices

Appendix A--Project Logbooks



Introduction

This handbook describes the on-the-job training program of Inventions, Inc. This program will provide a transition for the trainee to the new environment of TJHSST. The program will also expose the trainee to the importance of problem-solving and communication in his/her life and the extent to which he/she integrates with it.



Goals

The goals of this training program are consistent with the goals of TJHSST. Specifically, at the end of this training program, the trainee should be well on the way to becoming:

An independent, life-long learner.

A problem solver with skills in individual and group problem-solving.

A skillful communicator with ability to listen, write and speak clearly and effectively.

A risk-taker who faces the challenges of the unknown with confidence.

A creative contributor and critical consumer in society.

A citizen who is socially and ethically responsible, particularly with respect to the social implications of using scientific knowledge.



Professional Expectations

Trainees are expected to demonstrate the highest degree of professionalism at all times. This includes, but is not limited to being on time to class, being prepared for class each day, submitting all work when due, respecting the rights and value of Managers and other Trainees. Behavior that is disruptive and does not contribute to a positive learning environment will require action appropriate to maintain the proper work conditions.

There is no scientific evidence to support the fact that life is serious.

Though training will be rigorous and expectations are high, most activities allow for fun. Trainees are expected to lighten-up and enjoy it!



Classroom Materials Requirements

The trainee is responsible for having in class the necessary tools to meet requirements. That will include, but not be limited to:

All class materials in three-ring binder. One large binder may be used for all IBET materials. (NOTE: D-ring style will hold more material and will reduce damage to papers).

Dividers to separate courses and subjects within courses.

An adequate supply of notebook paper.

Quadrille project notebook.

Computer floppy disks TBD.

One pad of graph paper, ¼" spacing, maximum.

Textbooks, handouts, notes, etc. pertaining to the current lesson.

#2 pencils, or equivalent (might try Pentel Clicker .05 mm mechanical pencil).

Pens, blue or black ink.

Eraser (Magic Rub, Pink Pearl, etc.)

Other materials as required by the Manager.



Submittal Requirements

Written assignments, unless specified otherwise, shall be submitted typed on 8½×11 inch plain white paper. Page margins will be 1 inch on all sides. The type font should be either 12 point Times Roman, 10 pitch Courier or an equivalent. Dot matrix DRAFT mode is not acceptable.

The assignment should be titled, but not underlined, at the top of the first page of the submittal and every page will carry a header of: Name, Date and Period Number. Every page after the first will be numbered at the bottom, center of the page.

Multiple page submittals will be stapled together in the upper left corner. Stapling will be performed outside of class. Unless otherwise specified, submittals will be turned in before class begins on the date due. No class time will be allocated for preparation of assignment submittals.

Submittals shall be neat, clean, and not stained, torn or crumpled. (See Homework/Class Exercises section for more submittal requirements.)



Presentation Standards
Appearance

Presentation Methods

A. Talk to the audience. When working with visuals:

B. Voice C. DO NOT USE words such as "ah," "um," "like," "you know," "basically." D. Format Time

Presentations must fall within time requirements. (See Salary section for specific expectations)

Note: A more detailed presentation guide is found in the Handbook For Success.



Salary

Each Trainee earns a salary based on his/her performance, initiative and professionalism. Each level of attainment is designated by a defined milestone. Therefore, rounding up is not consistent with reaching goals and will not be used in determining quarterly salary payments.
 

Performance Requirements

For finished work

Do it right the first time!

is the goal. Every submittal, project, test or other assigned work, unless otherwise noted, will earn one or more letter grades or points. The value placed on the work will depend on the relative value of the endeavor.

1. Expectations will be established when assignments are made or are defined in this Handbook.

2. Objective requirements including, but not limited to, format, accurate proofreading, correct spelling, correct grammar, specific content, etc. are expected. Any submittal containing these and other similar types of errors will be returned to the trainee. The trainee will then correct all errors and resubmit. For each return, the earned grade will reduce ten (10) percent or one full letter (A-B-C-D-F). Note: grading will cease when the first error is found. There may be more unmarked errors in the submittal. If a submittal is returned, don't quit after correcting the marked error, there may be more which will cause the submittal to be returned again.

3. Subjective assignments will be assigned a letter or point value. Submittals will not be returned to be reworked for subjective expectations unless the submittal shows insufficient effort or significant lack of understanding of the assignment or material.

Note: For Work in Progress (i.e. preliminary designs and drafts) the above requirements may not be appropriate. Submittal requirements may be waived or modified by managers on specific assignments. Do not assume requirements are waived or modified. "I didn't know" is not an acceptable excuse. Ask if you are not sure. When in doubt, assume all submittal requirements are in effect.
 

Homework/Class Exercises

Homework and class exercises are due on the assigned day. If the Trainee is in school that day, but leaves early, arrives late or otherwise legally misses class, the Trainee is still responsible to submit the assignment by Close of Business (3:50 PM) on the assigned day. If the Trainee cannot find the Manager, the assignment should be put in the Manager's mail box in the main office.

If the Trainee is legally absent from school on the day that an assignment is due, the assignment is due on the first day of the Trainee's return to school, even if the Trainee is not in the manager's class on the day the Trainee returns to school.

If the Trainee is absent on the day an assignment is given to the class, the student has up to five (5) working days after the Trainee's return to school to submit the assignment. When the assignment is received, the Trainee will commit to submitting the assignment on a specif day within the time limit.

All assignments will have a designated value and be included in determination of the quarterly salary (see Performance Requirements above). Unless prior arrangements are made with the manager, the maximum attainable score on assignments drops by one full letter grade per each day late. Trainees will have up to five (5) working days to turn in late assignments. After five (5) days, the value of the assignment drops to an F.

Equipment failure is not sufficient cause for special consideration of changing assignment due date or submittal requirements. Unless 24 hour turnaround is required, the trainee should plan for unexpected occurrences and not leave assignments to the last minute. Assignments may be typed and saved to disk for printing at TJHSST or written on paper and typed and printed at TJHSST. Learn what and where computers are available and what format files must be supplied. "I didn't know" will not be an acceptable excuse. Note: As incentive for completing assignments early, the penalty for returned work will be reduced by ½ for any assignment submitted at least 24 hours before the assignment is due.

Depending on the nature of the classroom work, a class participation score may be initiated for any day during the quarter. Trainees should expect this to be part of the daily routine and may be informed of it any time during a class period. The aggregate of all class participation scores may not exceed ten (10) percent of any quarter final salary.
 

Project Logbooks

Trainees are expected to maintain Project Notebooks per the attached Appendix A and have the notebooks in class during the complete duration of a project. Project Notebooks are subject for collection and inspection at anytime. The value of the Project Notebook may not exceed ten (10) percent of any quarter final salary. Specific requirements for project logbooks are contained in Appendix A.
 

Presentations

Presentations are expected to meet all Presentation Requirements of this handbook and those discussed in class. Appearance and Time requirements are directly controllable by the Trainee. Therefore, not meeting Appearance or Time requirements will result in a loss of fifty (50) percent of the value of the presentation toward the quarter final salary.



Appendices

Appendix A-- Project Logbooks
 

Communicating the results of investigations requires strong skills of description. A Project Logbook is one of an investigator's most valuable communication tools. The Project Logbook contains the permanent record of the investigator's physical and mental activities for initial ideas through working and observations to final conclusions. The act of writing in the Project Logbook requires the investigator to stop and think about what he or she is doing. The Project Logbook is a legal record. For professionals, the Project Logbook documents ideas generated and the time of the ideas for possible support in patent infringement litigation.
 

The Project Logbook will contain, but not be limited to:

The Project Logbook will be a hard-cover, bound notebook. A hard-cover, bound notebook provides maximum security from damage and loss of information.
 

Upon securing a Project Logbook for the project, number each page (not sheet) in the top corner farthest from the book binding. On the first page, write a brief description of the project. This may include, but not be limited to, the problem definition, experimental hypothesis, the goals of the project, or the work to be accomplished.
 

Project Logbook entries must be specific and concise. There is no place in a Project Logbook for vague generalities. Vague terms (extremely, very, somewhat) have no meaning, at all. Use specific description. (twice, 100 times, etc.) Relative terms (large, small, fast, slow, etc.) have no meaning unless a standard is provided. (The reaction proceeded three times faster than the original experiment)
 

Entries are to be made in the Project Logbook on everyday that work is performed on the project. Entries will meet the following requirements.

The key to writing a useful Project Logbook is simple clarity: Clear layout, clear descriptions and good penmanship. Be factual, specific and detailed. A logbook that is a collection of scribbles and scrawls from cover to cover is a wasted effort and not acceptable as a technical work record.

The Project Logbook is a tool, not an end in itself. It provides an on-the-job textbook for investigating the physical world. Developing the ability and discipline of good notekeeping is a requirement for future success in academic and professional endeavors.
 



Adapted from Writing the Laboratory Notebook, by Howard M. Kanare, American Chemical Society, Washington, DC, 1985.
 
 

As stated in the Salary section of this handbook, The value of the Project Logbook may be ten (10) percent of any quarter final salary. Therefore, inspections may be made of Project Logbooks at anytime. The following items will be part of the evaluation process:
 

Format

Pages are numbered as required.

Guidelines are taped in place.

Entries are in black ink.

Handwriting is legible.

Each entry is dated and signed.

Diagonal lines indicate unused portion of page.

Entries are current.

Table of Contents is current.
 

Content

Content will be evaluated based on project specific requirements.
 

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