Tuesday, November 14, 2017

Fixed Lenovo Yoga 2 Pro laptop screen flickering at random time problem in Windows

This problem had been troubling me for quite a long time. Ever since a certain day, the screen of my Lenovo Yoga 2 Pro laptop running on Windows 10 will flicker at random time while I'm using it.

It seems to be related to a bug in its Intel HD Graphics display driver, but even though I kept on updating to the latest driver, the annoying screen flickering problem remained, until I performed the following setting.

The solution: disable Intel HD Graphics panel self-refresh function.

Your Windows account needs to have Administrator rights in order to successfully perform the following steps.

Step 1: Login to Windows and right click anywhere on your Windows Desktop.

Step 2: Click on "Graphics Properties..." in the pop-up menu.


Step 3: Select "Power" in the Intel HD Graphics Control Panel.


Step 4: Select "On Battery" in the left menu bar.

Step 5: Make sure Panel Self-Refresh is set to Disable.


Step 6: Click on Apply, then answer "Yes" to confirm saving the setting.

Hopefully, the screen flickering problem will be gone after this.

If you are also being troubled with the same screen flickering problem in your laptop which uses the Intel processor graphics accelerator, perhaps you can try out this solution and inform me whether it works for you or not.

Wednesday, November 8, 2017

Samsung printer business is now under HP

If you visit to Samsung printer support webpage now, you will find yourself eventually landing in HP website!


This is the indication of the completion of HP acquisition of Samsung printer business.

The two companies have been in competing position in the worldwide printer business for years. HP has been well-known in producing reliable printers for household and business use, while Samsung had been producing many award-winning printers that are affordable with up-to-standard performance and features in the same target segments.

In 2016, HP is the largest player in the worldwide printer market, while Samsung was the 10th.

In September last year (2016), the two companies announced this acquisition plan valued at US$1.05 billion. HP had explained the reason of this acquisition, being able to expand its portfolio and help to disrupt the US$55 billion A3 copier market with multi-function printers that are simple to use but have the same high performance level as that of copiers.


For Samsung investors:
  • Samsung had made the decision to dispose their printer business as they opined that this business is gradually declining.
  • As part of the agreement, Samsung will make a US$100~300 million equity investment in HP through open market purchases. 

For HP investors:
  • HP will gain access to more than 6,500 print patents from Samsung and a workforce of nearly 1,300 researchers and engineers that are experts in laser technology, imaging electronics and supplies and accessories.

For Samsung printers customers:
  • Samsung printers' customer support service will continue under HP.
  • All of Samsung’s existing printer products will continue to be sold under Samsung brand until the second half of 2019.
  • Samsung will keep on providing toners, parts and supplies for existing printers for another 5 years.
  • All discounts and programmes previously agreed between Samsung and customers will now be honoured by HP, and these will remain in effect through to all previously agreed end dates.

Tuesday, November 7, 2017

RACI and ARMI responsibility assignment matrix for GRPI teamwork

In teamwork (work done by more than one person) with clear goals, roles, processes, and interpersonal relationship (GRPI), such as a DMAIC (define, measure, analyze, improve, and control) project or a DMADV (define, measure, analyse, design, verify) project, the responsibility assignment matrix (RAM) can be used to clearly define the role and responsibility of each of the members in such teamwork.



One of the commonly used responsibility assignment matrix is the RACI matrix, which breaks down the teamwork into tasks, and map out who is responsible, who is accountable, who should be consulted, and who must kept informed for each of the tasks.

R - Responsible
  • The person who is assigned to carry out that particular task (the doer).
  • Each task must have at least 1 responsible person.
  • A task can have many responsible persons.
A - Accountable
  • The person who holds ownership of the task, and is responsible for its success or failure.
  • That person is authorized to make final decision on the task.
  • That person has the power to accept the completion of the task.
  • Each task can only have 1 accountable person.
 C - Consulted
  • Person who can be asked to provide opinion or input about the task while it is being worked on.
  • Normally a subject matter expert (SME).
  • The consultation should occur before decision or action is taken.
  • Each task can have either none, one, or more than one consulted persons.
  • If there are more than one, they should not be too many.
I - Informed
  • Person who needs to be kept informed that a decision or action has been taken.
  • Each task can have either none, one, or more than one persons to be kept informed.
  • If there are more than one, they should not be too many.
The RACI model can be extended to RASCI or RASIC by including a support role.

S - Support
  • Person who is able to help Responsible person in getting the task done.
  • The person possesses resource that can be shared out, or taking part in a supporting role.
  • Each task can have either none, one, or more than one support persons.

Beside RACI, the ARMI is another model that serves the similar purpose to define the level of support assigned to each stakeholders.

A - Approver
  • The person who sign-off a milestone and approve to move on towards the next milestone.
R - Resource
  • Persons who have the expertise or skillsets that are required in the project.
M - Member
  • Persons who are the project team member.
I - Interested Party
  • Persons who need to be informed about up-to-date status along the project.

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