Productivity System- Single order

Running Example: 1000 Branded T-Shirts for Google India - Complete workflow from initial email to delivery

Input/Capture
Processing
Decision
Execution
Delegation
Critical

Phase 1: Initial Request CaptureDay 1 - Nov 5

Email Received
Sarah Chen, Google India Procurement
Initial Email - Nov 5, 9:30am:

From: sarah.chen@google.com

Subject: Branded T-Shirts for Team Event

Message: "Hi Roger, we need branded t-shirts for our Bangalore office team building event happening mid-December. Can you help? We're looking at around 1000 pieces. Please send quote ASAP."

Clarify Requirements
Clarification Call - Same day 10am:

After 15-minute call with Sarah:

Quantity: 1000 t-shirts

Sizes: S:100, M:300, L:400, XL:150, XXL:50

Color: Navy blue

Branding: White Google logo, front chest, screen print

Delivery Date: December 15, 2024

Location: Google Bangalore office

Budget: Max ₹450/unit (₹4.5L total)

Success Criteria: Quality fabric, accurate sizing, on-time delivery

Is this actionable?
YES - Clear requirements, budget, deadline
Single action or project?
Decision:

This is a PROJECT requiring multiple steps:

1. Get logo artwork → 2. Source supplier quotes → 3. Create client quote → 4. Get approval → 5. Order production → 6. Monitor quality → 7. Coordinate delivery

Immediate Action (< 2min)
Send acknowledgment
Email Sent - 10:15am:

"Hi Sarah, great to hear from you! Confirmed: 1000 navy t-shirts with white Google logo, delivery Dec 15. I'll send detailed quote with mockups by EOD today. Just sent you separate email to get high-res logo files."

Create Project Breakdown
Google T-Shirt Project Plan:

Timeline: Nov 5 - Dec 15 (40 days)

Subtasks:

  • Week 1 (Nov 5-12): Quote & approval
  • Week 2 (Nov 13-19): Supplier selection & sample
  • Week 3-5 (Nov 20-Dec 10): Bulk production
  • Week 6 (Dec 11-15): Quality check & delivery

Each subtask flows to Phase 2 for prioritization

Phase 2: Quote Creation & ExecutionDay 1-3 - Nov 5-7

Task: Create Quote for Google
Task Details:

Owner: Roger

Deadline: Nov 5, 5pm (EOD)

Estimated time: 2 hours

Dependencies: Need logo files from Sarah

Eisenhower Matrix
Urgency × Importance
Assessment:

Quadrant: Q1 (Urgent + Important)

Why Urgent: Promised quote by EOD, client waiting

Why Important: ₹4.5L order, strategic client (Google)

Decision: Schedule immediately in today's calendar

Time Block: 2-5pm Today
Execution Plan - Nov 5, 2pm:

Step 1 (30min): Call 3 Tirupur suppliers for quotes

Step 2 (15min): Compare quotes & select supplier

Step 3 (30min): Calculate margins & final pricing

Step 4 (45min): Create mockup with logo (wait for Sarah's files)

Step 5 (30min): Write quote document & send

Buffer: 30min for unexpected issues

Execute Task
Execution Log:

2:00pm: Called Supplier A (Tirupur) - ₹280/unit

2:15pm: Called Supplier B (Chennai) - ₹295/unit

2:30pm: Called Supplier C (Tirupur) - ₹275/unit ✓

2:45pm: Selected Supplier C (best price + quality)

3:00pm: Pricing: Cost ₹275 + 35% margin = ₹371/unit

3:15pm: BLOCKER - Waiting for logo files from Sarah

3:20pm: WhatsApp to Sarah: "Need logo files to complete mockup"

4:30pm: Logo files received, creating mockup

5:15pm: Quote completed, proofread, sent to Sarah

Task Complete
Deliverable - Quote Sent Nov 5, 5:15pm:

Quote Details:

• Product: Premium cotton t-shirts, 180 GSM

• Quantity: 1000 (size breakdown provided)

• Unit Price: ₹371

• Total: ₹3,71,000 (within ₹4.5L budget)

• Mockup: 3 design variations attached

• Timeline: 40 days (delivery by Dec 14)

• Payment: 50% advance, 50% on delivery

Actions:

✓ Email sent to Sarah

✓ Logged in Zoho CRM

✓ Follow-up reminder: Nov 7 (2 days)

✓ Supplier quote saved in Drive

Phase 3: Client Approval & ProductionDay 3-35 - Nov 7-Dec 10

Follow-up & Approval
Timeline:

Nov 7: Sarah approves quote, selects mockup design 2

Nov 8: Generate purchase order, send to Google for signature

Nov 11: PO signed, receive 50% advance (₹1,85,500)

Nov 12: Place order with Supplier C

Kickoff Meeting with Google
Meeting - Nov 18, Google Bangalore Office:

Attendees: Sarah Chen, Roger Fernando

Purpose: Finalize design, review sample, confirm sizes

Brought: 5 fabric samples, approved mockup, size chart

Agenda:

• 15min: Review physical t-shirt sample

• 20min: Confirm logo placement & size

• 15min: Review size distribution for 1000 employees

• 10min: Confirm delivery logistics & contact

Outcome: Sarah approves sample, production green light

Next: Bulk production starts Nov 20

Delegate Production Monitoring
Delegation to Priya (Operations Manager):

Task: Monitor Google t-shirt bulk production

Responsibilities:

• Weekly supplier check-ins (every Tuesday)

• Request production progress photos

• Flag any delays immediately

• Quality checkpoint at 50% completion (Nov 30)

Reporting: Email update every Friday

Escalation: Any delay > 2 days, quality concerns

CRISIS: Day 30 - Quality Issue Discovered
URGENT: Quality Defect
Crisis - Dec 5 (Day 30):

Issue Discovered: Priya reports 200 t-shirts have incorrect logo color (light blue instead of white)

Impact:

• Event in 10 days (Dec 15)

• 20% of order defective

• Client trust at risk

Financial Risk: ₹4.5L order + ₹50L annual contract

Priority: Q1 - Urgent + Important (CRITICAL)

Can delegate crisis?
Decision: Split Responsibilities

Delegate to Priya: Coordinate replacement production

Handle personally: Client communication & relationship

Delegation - Operations
Priya: Emergency Production
Brief to Priya - Dec 5, 11am:

"URGENT: 200 t-shirts wrong color. Event Dec 15.

Actions:

• Call Supplier C immediately, demand replacement

• Negotiate air freight if needed (approved ₹25,000)

• Get daily production photos

• Replacement must arrive by Dec 13

Budget: ₹90,000 approved (replacement + shipping)

Check-in: Every 2 hours until resolved"

Personal - Client Mgmt
Roger: Client Communication
Call to Sarah - Dec 5, 11:30am:

Situation: Sarah escalated to director, wants immediate call

Actions taken:

1. Called immediately, apologized

2. Explained root cause (supplier quality lapse)

3. Presented solution: 200 replacement + 800 good units delivered separately

4. Committed to Dec 13 replacement delivery (2 days before event)

5. Offered 10% discount (₹37,100) as service recovery

6. Scheduled Dec 16 in-person visit for feedback

Outcome: Director satisfied, relationship preserved

Phase 4: Delivery & ReviewDay 35-40 - Dec 11-16

Final Quality Check & Delivery
Final Week Timeline:

Dec 11: 800 good units arrive at warehouse

Dec 11: Quality check by Priya (2% defect rate, acceptable)

Dec 12: Pack 800 units, courier to Google

Dec 12: 200 replacement units arrive (air freight)

Dec 13: Quality check 200 units, courier to Google

Dec 14: All 1000 t-shirts delivered to Google Bangalore

Dec 15: Sarah confirms receipt, event successful

Dec 16: Roger visits Google, collects feedback

Weekly Review - Dec 20
Project Retrospective:

What went well:

• Quick initial response (quote same day)

• Crisis management effective (relationship saved)

• Delegation to Priya worked well

• On-time delivery despite crisis

What went wrong:

• Supplier quality control failure

• Should have done 100% quality check earlier

• Cost overrun: ₹90,000 for replacement

Lessons learned:

• Implement mandatory sample approval before bulk

• Quality checks at 25%, 50%, 100% completion

• Build 3-day buffer in all timelines

• Evaluate backup suppliers

Final outcome:

• Revenue: ₹3,33,900 (after 10% discount)

• Profit: ₹33,900 (lower than expected due to crisis)

• Client satisfaction: 8/10 (despite crisis)

• Relationship: Preserved, order pipeline intact

Update Standard Operating Procedure
SOP Update - Dec 23:

Document: "T-Shirt Order Process v2.0"

New Requirements:

1. Mandatory pre-production sample approval

2. Quality checkpoints: 25%, 50%, 100%

3. Photo documentation at each checkpoint

4. Minimum 3-day delivery buffer for all orders

5. Backup supplier identified for critical orders

6. Crisis communication protocol documented

Applied to: All future apparel orders > ₹2L

Project Archived
Project Closure:

✓ Final invoice sent to Google (Dec 17)

✓ Payment received (Dec 30)

✓ All documents archived in Drive > Clients > Google > 2024

✓ Supplier evaluation completed (C rating due to defect)

✓ CRM updated with lessons learned

✓ Thank you gift sent to Sarah (Jan 5)

Next: Google has requested quote for Q1 2025 order (500 hoodies)