MBA 715 – Reflections on Module 4 Concepts

Week four is coming to a close and it’s been a bit less hectic this week. Next week is going to be very busy as I prepare to finalize a business proposal with my two teammates. This week’s focus was about identifying resources necessary for business creation and evaluating those resource needs. Here’s the questions to address…

How does a leader obtain resources from within the organization?

Leaders can obtain resources in many ways. One of the simplest methods is just asking for them. Often it is just a matter of knowing the right person to ask to get the resources needed. Sometimes, it may involve pursuing supervisors if the necessary person can’t (or won’t) provide the needed resources. There may also be protocol in place for certain types of resource acquisition. If this is the case, then the leader needs to be educated in the proper protocol and follow it.

As a side, other resources that will be needed that come from outside the organization.  These most commonly are financial resources.  Often these may come from angel investors or venture capitalists.

What role does social capital play in obtaining these resources?

As can be seen in the previous question, social capital can be very important to acquiring resources. An age old saying goes “It’s not what you know but who you know” and it holds true in the business realm. One of the most important things I’ve learned in my years of business is to develop relationships with as many people as possible in your circle of influence. In the job realm, I’ve found it especially beneficial to develop these relationships with administrative assistants. These are the people who can get papers signed quickly, get dates into an apparently full calendar, and usually know a lot of people. By keeping them in your social capital, you can often get things pushed through the red tape much quicker.

Why is it important to look at resources through the 4-Lens Perspective when reviewing resource needs for a project?

Leaders are usually strong in one or maybe two areas. It is possible that critical points may be overlooked unless the leader takes time to view all four areas. This is why it’s important for a leader to know what areas he might be weak in, so that he can add the proper people to his team to have a solid review of projects.

April 22, 2007 | Filed Under MBA 715 

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