MBA 715 – Reflections on Module 1 Concepts

This week marked the start of MBA 715, which is all about the creation stage of a business. Throughout the next six weeks I will be studying and understanding all the elements that go into the making of a business.

Three questions are on my list to answer in this weeks blog:

In what stage of the business lifecycle is your current or former organization?

There are six key stages in business development. They are Creation, Launch, Growth, Maturity, Renewal, and Closure. I would say that my current organization is in the renewal stage. Our business started out as a steel processor in 1955. That market has matured over the years and seen a lot of dynamic ups and downs. The reason I say we are in renewal is because we are constantly looking for acquisitions or redefining product lines in order to continue to meet the current needs of the marketplace. We do things to keep us out in the front while maintaining our core product line. This allows the business to be renewed on a regular basis.

Why is it important for a leader to identify environmental trends at his or her organization?

It’s critical to know the trends because a leader is expected to take his followers through each change and hurdle that comes down the path. The leader should always have a sense of what is happening around him in the workplace. By having a good team working with him, he is able to have a good understanding of the environment and how his team is fitting into that environment.

Would you consider yourself a manager or a leader at this stage in your MBA career? Explain your reasoning.

I consider myself stepping over the fence from managing to leading. Management is usually focused on getting the job done while maintaining the bottom line focus. Leaders are more visionary and look at ways to pull their team along with them in order to get the goal accomplished. I have some skills for leading well in my grasp, but one particular area I need to improve on is communicating my idea in a way that encourages buy-in. While I have no trouble speaking to people, I am sometimes challenged at making the communication efficient and effective.

March 30, 2007 | Filed Under MBA 715 | Leave a Comment 

GRAD 702 Completed!

I survived my “portal” classes.  These were geared to get everyone in the grad program into the school mode.  Paper writing, reading, presentation and team building skills were all worked on in 701 and 702.  Now the fun work really begins, as the different branches of the Master’s program kick in.  There are different focus formats of the MBA and also a MCM (Master’s of Communication and Marketing) routes that members of the grad program will now take.

For now, I’m happy!  I got an “A” for my grade so I’m not complaining.  Next comes MBA 715, Creating Business Solutions and Opportunities.

March 29, 2007 | Filed Under MBA Journey | Leave a Comment 

GRAD 702 - Reflections on Module 5 Concepts

What did you learn about yourself by completing the PDP?

As I wrote in my PDP, throughout my professional life, I have taken numerous profile assessments. The interesting thing of the PDP is that I have never taken so many at the same time and then summarized those results. I don’t know that there was any surprise to the results of my assessments. My creative side came through and my lack of organizational skills also showed. The PDP helped me to focus on a plan to improve these areas of my life.

What was most significant to you about the external environmental segment researched by your team?

First off, it was an area that I had no knowledge about going into this project. The regulatory environment is very confusing. It shouldn’t be surprising that companies spend large amount of money to hire teams specifically focused on understanding the government rules and regulations that are applied to the company. There is also a very powerful, often negative, effect on smaller businesses that have to maintain the same standards of larger corporations.

How could you use what you have learned about yourself by completing the PDP on your job?

The biggest area that I hope to use is to be utilized more in the creative process of product development and marketing. I do not get the opportunity to pursue my creative side much in my current setting, but I do have the ability to branch out, but I have to take the initiative to do so.

How do you define ‘wisdom’?

Wisdom is putting knowledge into practice. Many people have knowledge, but those who I consider wise are those who have taken their knowledge and used it to grow. A person can know what to do but would be considered unwise if they chose not to use that knowledge.

March 18, 2007 | Filed Under GRAD 702 | Leave a Comment 

Blog down

Not sure what exactly happened yet… I went in to do my weekly entry last night and noticed that my blog had gone kaput. I think all is remedied, but I’m still trying to get my posts recovered from the backups. Backups are a wunnerful thing!

March 12, 2007 | Filed Under Personal Ramblings | Leave a Comment 

GRAD 702 - Reflections on Module 4 Concepts

Would you consider yourself a manager or a leader at this stage in your career? Explain your reasoning.

That’s a tough call.  I would like to say leader, but I know I have a lot of skills that need to be better developed.  In my current work position, I do not have direct reports, so I can’t apply the question so much there.  In my personal life, I do lead a couple of groups.  I think the key area I need to address in all my leadership training is how to better delegate and use others’ time.  I do a poor job of asking others to help complete a project.  I end up taking on too many tasks and lose focus on getting the final project completed.

How did your meeting go with your coach? Summarize your coach meeting here.

Due to scheduling difficulties, I will not be meeting with my coach until next week.  I’m sure it will be a good meeting and I anticipate what he has to say.

What other information related to Week 4 assignments did you consider to be of value?

I think one of the fun parts about this weeks learning was doing the vision (or backfit) scenario.  It was very interesting to try and draw out a day in my life one year from now.  It will be beneficial as I complete my professional development plan, in order to know the areas where I need the most work.

March 11, 2007 | Filed Under GRAD 702 | Leave a Comment