Success and Failure
Ambition and opportunity
Who is to judge the style of your management?
A society geared by power and money
Is this the only criteria for a successful manager?
Just pick up the WSJ and imagine it for a second
Delegating the duties and having the corner office
Brooks Brothers and a Maserati
2 Hour corporate lunches
Or how about giving back to the community?
Charity and giving is better than receiving
Maybe a manager is more than the title itself
Everyone's a manager but may not know it
How about reversing that power of top level management?
Appreciate your workers and see the difference in output
Maybe you won't even need a bailout
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
What's the deal with blogging
Throughout this semester, we have used blogger to express our views of different management tools and exercises. It is not the first class for which I had to blog about my personal thoughts. Usually, professors just use the basic blackboard blogs, but setting up your own blog is definitely more entertaining. For one, you can customize your own blog with different layouts that help make one's blog distinguished from others.
I definitely feel as if the blogs helped to communicate better with our classmates. Every day that goes by it seems as though time is really becoming a commodity, especially at a commuter college like Baruch. The social life here is quite restricted, since students are either coming to/leaving class, going/coming from work, or going/coming from home. Everyone is really on their own schedule, so blogging allows us to read about our peers, who we may not otherwise ever get to know. Thus, it was definitely a benefit to learn about others, especially since the class has so many students.
Also, it is definitely a grade booster. Exams are definitely a huge part of the overall grade, but 20% being contributed to blogs is great. I honestly think we had enough time for each blog entry, as well as our comments to others.
In addition, having many classes throughout the week, we sometimes forget what exactly we did in class. The blog helps us to remember our in class activities and current topic of study.
I really think the blog portion of the grade should be kept the same. It will definitely benefit students who take time management seriously, which is something that is vital especially in the current day.
I definitely feel as if the blogs helped to communicate better with our classmates. Every day that goes by it seems as though time is really becoming a commodity, especially at a commuter college like Baruch. The social life here is quite restricted, since students are either coming to/leaving class, going/coming from work, or going/coming from home. Everyone is really on their own schedule, so blogging allows us to read about our peers, who we may not otherwise ever get to know. Thus, it was definitely a benefit to learn about others, especially since the class has so many students.
Also, it is definitely a grade booster. Exams are definitely a huge part of the overall grade, but 20% being contributed to blogs is great. I honestly think we had enough time for each blog entry, as well as our comments to others.
In addition, having many classes throughout the week, we sometimes forget what exactly we did in class. The blog helps us to remember our in class activities and current topic of study.
I really think the blog portion of the grade should be kept the same. It will definitely benefit students who take time management seriously, which is something that is vital especially in the current day.
DISC=CONSCIENTIOUS
So after our interesting experiment about our personality, I was diagnosed to fall under the C category of conscientious. I honestly believe, after reading the actual description of the word, the test nailed it.
I remembered that when I was in elementary school, we would receive in-depth report cards every quarter. Our teacher would write a good paragraph about their idea of our behavior and scholastic work ethic. I would always get the word of conscientious throughout elementary school. "Student possesses strong eagerness and high understanding of the course work, and is conscientious toward peers." (pretty much all my teacher k-5)
I do believe that it is crucial to learn the personalities of people around you. Whether it be your co-workers or fellow students, it is pretty much vital to know their management styles and where they are coming from. For instance, if I look at a previous employer and their style of management, I could definitely see what category they would fall under. Most tend to be dominant and usually want to have the control in their hands directly. I am perfectly fine with being the "C" type, but wouldn't mind D either. I think that some type of combination of both is highly desirable. You can be great to your peers/coworkers, while still handling the major duties that only a manager can do. Indeed, everyone has their own personality and style of management, and one should definitely get to see their personal diagnosis.
I remembered that when I was in elementary school, we would receive in-depth report cards every quarter. Our teacher would write a good paragraph about their idea of our behavior and scholastic work ethic. I would always get the word of conscientious throughout elementary school. "Student possesses strong eagerness and high understanding of the course work, and is conscientious toward peers." (pretty much all my teacher k-5)
I do believe that it is crucial to learn the personalities of people around you. Whether it be your co-workers or fellow students, it is pretty much vital to know their management styles and where they are coming from. For instance, if I look at a previous employer and their style of management, I could definitely see what category they would fall under. Most tend to be dominant and usually want to have the control in their hands directly. I am perfectly fine with being the "C" type, but wouldn't mind D either. I think that some type of combination of both is highly desirable. You can be great to your peers/coworkers, while still handling the major duties that only a manager can do. Indeed, everyone has their own personality and style of management, and one should definitely get to see their personal diagnosis.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
McDonald's Management
The McDonald’s Project definitely helped to implement the idea of a management process. From the way the cashier took the order to receiving the order, there were many people and actions involved. Let’s briefly look at some of these steps.
When I first approached the young cashier, she performed the usual meet and greet. “Hi, can I help you?” I proceeded to tell her my order and, immediately, she called over her manager for assistance. I first ordered the hamburger with 4 pickles, so she definitely needed help punching it in the computer. Her boss came over and read my order back to me. Next, the receipt printed out and I waited for my meal.
The next person to be involved in my order was from the grill area. They obviously needed to make the hamburger. Meanwhile, the individual on fries was preparing my order of well done with no salt. I also noticed that the same boss physically went over to the lady at the fry station to tell her my order orally. The sandwich workers in the grill area just read my order from their computer screen.
In total, the order took about 4 minutes to complete. I think it is an acceptable time frame for a fast food place. On the contrary, if it was Dunkin Donuts, I would want quicker service. The notion of donuts and coffee especially early in the morning makes me think of extreme punctuality. I went to McDonald’s around 2 pm so the wait was definitely bearable. I do think that the time of day and the type of fast food are two important factors about the waiting period.
Finally, the same cashier handed me my bag of food and said, “Have a great day.” Also, during my waiting period, she came over to me and said that the food will be coming up shortly. I thought that this was a good approach for workers to keep acknowledging that their customers are waiting.
Overall, I think that the manufacturing process was great. The wait was acceptable, and the service was polite and upbeat. Perhaps the cashier could have punched in the order herself without calling her boss for help. This would have saved at least half a minute of time. On the other hand, one might argue that this communication was necessary in order to process my order satisfactorily. It wouldn’t help if she quickly took the order and it came out incorrect. The asking may have, in this case, been more beneficial and efficient for both the store and the customer.
In terms of effectiveness and efficiency, I felt that the staff ranked high for both aspects. They fully utilized their resources, and their goals were achieved. I walked out a happy customer, and they received my business. Their labor was put to work, as the manager, cashier, fry person, and griller all contributed to my special meal. If I were brought in as a consultant, the only bit of advice I could give in regards to this situation was if the cashier could handle an order like this without the help of her boss. It would have definitely accelerated the process, albeit half a minute or so. Otherwise, this specific store was firing on all cylinders.
It is nice to see the different management processes at different places. McDonald’s is a great place to observe the process due to its high volume of customers and emphasis on customer satisfaction. I believe that the nature of the business has a tremendous impact on the style of management. In conclusion, McDonald’s did a fine job in preparing my order to the point where I might stop by again.
When I first approached the young cashier, she performed the usual meet and greet. “Hi, can I help you?” I proceeded to tell her my order and, immediately, she called over her manager for assistance. I first ordered the hamburger with 4 pickles, so she definitely needed help punching it in the computer. Her boss came over and read my order back to me. Next, the receipt printed out and I waited for my meal.
The next person to be involved in my order was from the grill area. They obviously needed to make the hamburger. Meanwhile, the individual on fries was preparing my order of well done with no salt. I also noticed that the same boss physically went over to the lady at the fry station to tell her my order orally. The sandwich workers in the grill area just read my order from their computer screen.
In total, the order took about 4 minutes to complete. I think it is an acceptable time frame for a fast food place. On the contrary, if it was Dunkin Donuts, I would want quicker service. The notion of donuts and coffee especially early in the morning makes me think of extreme punctuality. I went to McDonald’s around 2 pm so the wait was definitely bearable. I do think that the time of day and the type of fast food are two important factors about the waiting period.
Finally, the same cashier handed me my bag of food and said, “Have a great day.” Also, during my waiting period, she came over to me and said that the food will be coming up shortly. I thought that this was a good approach for workers to keep acknowledging that their customers are waiting.
Overall, I think that the manufacturing process was great. The wait was acceptable, and the service was polite and upbeat. Perhaps the cashier could have punched in the order herself without calling her boss for help. This would have saved at least half a minute of time. On the other hand, one might argue that this communication was necessary in order to process my order satisfactorily. It wouldn’t help if she quickly took the order and it came out incorrect. The asking may have, in this case, been more beneficial and efficient for both the store and the customer.
In terms of effectiveness and efficiency, I felt that the staff ranked high for both aspects. They fully utilized their resources, and their goals were achieved. I walked out a happy customer, and they received my business. Their labor was put to work, as the manager, cashier, fry person, and griller all contributed to my special meal. If I were brought in as a consultant, the only bit of advice I could give in regards to this situation was if the cashier could handle an order like this without the help of her boss. It would have definitely accelerated the process, albeit half a minute or so. Otherwise, this specific store was firing on all cylinders.
It is nice to see the different management processes at different places. McDonald’s is a great place to observe the process due to its high volume of customers and emphasis on customer satisfaction. I believe that the nature of the business has a tremendous impact on the style of management. In conclusion, McDonald’s did a fine job in preparing my order to the point where I might stop by again.
Saturday, April 17, 2010
What's your vision?
This is definitely one of the points in the field of management which should be highly emphasized. Having a vision for the future is absolutely essential. It definitely gives a purpose to life, as it serves to be a reason to move forward. This vision can be a mix of both personal and professional, as are most.
Four of my most essential visions for post-Baruch life are (obviously all are overlapping and related to one another):
1. To Land a respectable position with a reputable accounting firm upon receiving my CPA
2. To help pay off my parents' home and send them on a vacation
3. To start a family of my own
4. To experience corporate life in the Middle East, preferably Dubai
Now, I think that most ambitious people have an abundance of goals or visions. Some are definitely more important than others. For instance, without finding a concrete position it would be very difficult to achieve the rest of my goals. Number 1 must be essential in some way, shape or form in order to achieve the rest.
As far as my fourth goal, this is something that I have been wanting to do for quite some time. If anyone is familiar with the Emirate of Dubai, they know what an amazing story it is. I haven't yet had the chance to visit, but its architecture and design is magnificent. They just recently opened up the official tallest building in the world (Burj Khalifa). The palm islands and tax free salaries are just some of the perks that Dubai has to offer. It is also a financial capital for much of the Middle East. Real estate and finance are still very much the driving force behind the city. Thus, many corporate positions are still in need. Hopefully, all of my goals will translate into my master vision that will bring forth happiness and gratification.
Everyone should have their own vision. There is truly not a day that goes by where I don't think about some of my goals and my vision. It is absolutely necessary to serve as a driving force of going to the top. For some, this may be a corporate ladder which translates to money and power. For others, it may be having a solid job with an even better family life. Unfortunately, it is very difficult to find that balance between career and family. For me, both are highly important, but family definitely has more value. In conclusion, every individual has the right to their own vision. Setting the bar high will push you even further to reach for those stretch goals and make them very much attainable.
Four of my most essential visions for post-Baruch life are (obviously all are overlapping and related to one another):
1. To Land a respectable position with a reputable accounting firm upon receiving my CPA
2. To help pay off my parents' home and send them on a vacation
3. To start a family of my own
4. To experience corporate life in the Middle East, preferably Dubai
Now, I think that most ambitious people have an abundance of goals or visions. Some are definitely more important than others. For instance, without finding a concrete position it would be very difficult to achieve the rest of my goals. Number 1 must be essential in some way, shape or form in order to achieve the rest.
As far as my fourth goal, this is something that I have been wanting to do for quite some time. If anyone is familiar with the Emirate of Dubai, they know what an amazing story it is. I haven't yet had the chance to visit, but its architecture and design is magnificent. They just recently opened up the official tallest building in the world (Burj Khalifa). The palm islands and tax free salaries are just some of the perks that Dubai has to offer. It is also a financial capital for much of the Middle East. Real estate and finance are still very much the driving force behind the city. Thus, many corporate positions are still in need. Hopefully, all of my goals will translate into my master vision that will bring forth happiness and gratification.
Everyone should have their own vision. There is truly not a day that goes by where I don't think about some of my goals and my vision. It is absolutely necessary to serve as a driving force of going to the top. For some, this may be a corporate ladder which translates to money and power. For others, it may be having a solid job with an even better family life. Unfortunately, it is very difficult to find that balance between career and family. For me, both are highly important, but family definitely has more value. In conclusion, every individual has the right to their own vision. Setting the bar high will push you even further to reach for those stretch goals and make them very much attainable.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Decisions Decisions
Our class regarding the first exam score was surely one I will never forget. At first, I believe that there was a universal feeling of excitement and content. We all, for the most part, were happy that we can essentially choose our grades. It's what followed for the next hour or so that was, I guess, the real lesson of the day about decision making.
There are 5 different ways of looking at this type of decision: competing to win, avoidance, compromise, accommodation, and collaborating. Personally, I definitely felt the need to compete in order to get my views across.
The outcome of one's grade was definitely the driving force behind their approach to this ultimate decision. he hardest part of this whole process was that we needed 100% agreement. In the beginning of the class, I thought that we all could definitely reach a great and beneficial agreement. I was supporting the decision to drop the lowest grade and to have the next test be open book. Eventually, we all agreed on dropping the lowest grade so part of my decision was supported.
The approach I tried to use was competing to win, although you can't always win. If I were the one to get a 100 on the exam then I would definitely have used the accommodation approach. Since this wasn't the case, I had to make a note to have my views heard.
The moral of the story is that decision making isn't as easy as is perceived. Deadlines and overall agreement make decision making a tough, but enjoyable task.
There are 5 different ways of looking at this type of decision: competing to win, avoidance, compromise, accommodation, and collaborating. Personally, I definitely felt the need to compete in order to get my views across.
The outcome of one's grade was definitely the driving force behind their approach to this ultimate decision. he hardest part of this whole process was that we needed 100% agreement. In the beginning of the class, I thought that we all could definitely reach a great and beneficial agreement. I was supporting the decision to drop the lowest grade and to have the next test be open book. Eventually, we all agreed on dropping the lowest grade so part of my decision was supported.
The approach I tried to use was competing to win, although you can't always win. If I were the one to get a 100 on the exam then I would definitely have used the accommodation approach. Since this wasn't the case, I had to make a note to have my views heard.
The moral of the story is that decision making isn't as easy as is perceived. Deadlines and overall agreement make decision making a tough, but enjoyable task.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Planning Out The Egg
Planning is definitely an intricate part of the management process. Along with organizing, leading and controlling, planning helps set objectives in obtaining our ultimate goal.
Our group definitely had some great ideas about how to go about our proposed plan, but perhaps we weren't on the same page. The first step about the planning process involves defining goals and objectives. I think this is where we already started to slip as a group. Having numerous ideas is part of the plan, but of course there is a time limit. In a project like this, time is of the essence. Rushing through any part of it will almost certainly lead to some sort of disaster.
The resources that we could have used were, for the most part, sufficient. Perhaps the tape could have been more sticky, but I think that we missed the "thinking outside of the box" part of our project.
As for developing alternative strategies, we really didn't have enough time. I think this stage in the plannig process is surely essential, but only if you have the time. We definitely ended up with a tactical plan (step 4), but it wasn't the right one after step 5. This being the last step, having the egg crack was our signal for the wrong approach to the project.
In conclusion, the planning process is vital for all propositions. This was a prime example which called for necessary planning. Ultimately, our lack of creativity is what got the best of us. If this was one of our main objectives, then our outcome most definitely would have been different.
Our group definitely had some great ideas about how to go about our proposed plan, but perhaps we weren't on the same page. The first step about the planning process involves defining goals and objectives. I think this is where we already started to slip as a group. Having numerous ideas is part of the plan, but of course there is a time limit. In a project like this, time is of the essence. Rushing through any part of it will almost certainly lead to some sort of disaster.
The resources that we could have used were, for the most part, sufficient. Perhaps the tape could have been more sticky, but I think that we missed the "thinking outside of the box" part of our project.
As for developing alternative strategies, we really didn't have enough time. I think this stage in the plannig process is surely essential, but only if you have the time. We definitely ended up with a tactical plan (step 4), but it wasn't the right one after step 5. This being the last step, having the egg crack was our signal for the wrong approach to the project.
In conclusion, the planning process is vital for all propositions. This was a prime example which called for necessary planning. Ultimately, our lack of creativity is what got the best of us. If this was one of our main objectives, then our outcome most definitely would have been different.
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