Archives for the Month of October 2006 on Asta Gerbec's MGMT 250 Journal
"Cheating is an Accepted Practice in Business"
According to a recent story on Yahoo! Finance, shown here, the graduate students that cheat the most are MBA students. The article claims that these students claim that "cheating is an accepted practice in business." I partially agree with this statement. Additionally, I believe that these students are used to being the best of the best. They are unable to reach this feat, so they resort to other means.
It is sad to know that America's executives are known for being dishonest.
Interesting Advertising
With the advent of TiVo and other television technology, people are able to fast-forward through commercials. Therefore, marketing and advertising executives had a dilemma. This led them to new advertising strategies. Your favorite television actors are now drinking a certain type of soda and baseball players are batting in front of a logo. This is an amazing advertising progression. It has also changed the television and movie landscape. People must stay guarded so these semi-hidden advertisements are recognized for what they really are.
Giant Eagle Business
Many patrons who buy groceries from Giant Eagle have a Giant Eagle card. This is a very interesting business strategy. It keeps track of a customer’s buying history. This gives the company a better idea of what to stock in a specific store, what products a customer buys, and what types of coupons to send a customer in the mail. This information will lead to better service, and therefore, bigger profits. I think this is a very good strategy to use in a large merchandising business.
Accounting
I am studying to be an accountant. This career is the right one for me because I enjoy it. Reading and understanding the financial statements of large corporations is very interesting. It is also very informative, especially when investing in the stock market. Being able to read a company’s financial statements will lead to more knowledgeable investing. Hopefully, this knowledge will help the investor make more money. With any luck, I will be that investor.
The Care and Management of a Team
Last week in class we discussed groups and teams. Lencioni believes that trust is the first step to having a great team. I agree with him. Trust is the basis for any relationship, and it is no different in business proceedings. Trust leads to respect for other team members and solidarity behind a team’s ambitions. Organizing employees in teams is an effective way to manage a business, and I will certainly consider the teambuilding exercises when I enter the workforce.
Mock Interview Reflection
I participated in the mock interview assignment. It was a valuable experience. After the actual interview the Nordson representative gave me feedback. She told me that I was confident and had good eye contact with her. Also, my closing statement was impressive. On the other hand, I should practice my answers to behavioral questions. At the end of the session, she commended me on my interviewing skills.