Dear Cecil,
Our business produces cables and wire harness.
Can this trade be classified as under metal element (for the copper wire in the cables) or still falls under "manufacturing" which is water element?
Noticed about "clothing" falls under "earth" element. what about making of equipment pouches / storage bags which are typical made of nylon, polyester materials (synthetic materials) able to cat. under "clothing" or still under manufacturing?
Can certain trades falls under "hybrid" elements?
what is the classification process?

1. Applying Strategic Management Principles:
1.1. The Industry one is in.
1.2. The job function.
2. You wrote and the key word that strikes out clear is PRODUCES.
3. Thus, in the text book form of Five Elements Concept; production can be summed up as the "FLUID" process of creating products. Thus overall, it is more INCLINED towards the term "Water" element.
4. If one takes up a general course such as "Master of Business Administration".
4.1. Many of such courses would have various topics such as:
4.2. The MBA graduate should after finishing the course be able to appreciate and understand the various functions such as:
4.2.1. Finance and Accounting
4.2.2. Marketing and Sales
4.2.3. Operations Management
4.2.4. Human Resource and Organisation Management
4.2.5. Strategic Management.
4.2.6. Econs and Statistics
4.2.7. Logistics Mgmt.
5. Given the above example; an MBA graduate is suppose to be able to hold a higher position. Such as a CEO or M.D. (Mad Dog = Managing Director).
6. You cannot say that because the CEO does a bit of Finance-Accounting supervision, Marketing drive, Manufacturing (Ops management) etc... He's job function is a Jack of All trades .... abit of Fire, Metal, Water, Wood and Earth element
7. BUT OVERALL WHAT IS HIS MAIN JOB FUNCTION? IS TO GROW THE COMPANY.
8. Thus, when we describe the CEO, we don't describe him as a Jack of All trades : Master of Metal-Water-Wood-Fire-Earth but rather his main responsibility to growth = WOOD ELEMENT.
9. Therefore, the above, highlight that a CEO, who is suppose to supervise the entire operations can if you want to call his job function a HYBRID. You are not wrong, here. But you may have forgotten the BIG PICTURE. What is he there for?
10. Many employees in a company end up doing many job functions. In Japan, some ladies also have to make tea for the boss etc... photo copy, etc... Tell me how many secretaries do only one job. Again there is no right or wrong answers.

Quote

On 2/25/2012 9:18:39 PM, Anonymous wrote:
Dear Cecil,Our business
produces cables and wire
harness.Can this trade be
classified as under metal
element (for the copper wire
in the cables) or still falls
under "manufacturing" which is
water element?Noticed about
"clothing" falls under "earth"
element. what about making of
equipment pouches / storage
bags which are typical made of
nylon, polyester materials
(synthetic materials) able to
cat. under "clothing" or still
under manufacturing?Can
certain trades falls under
"hybrid" elements?what is the
classification process?