December 11, 2006
The End
One of the most creative aspects of Management 250 was the opportunity to begin a blog. Prior to this class, I had only read about blogs and did not truly understand their openness and creativity. Keeping an active blog allowed me to reflect on each Management class and what I learned. I also liked the idea of being able to read and comment on other people’s blogs. Reading the opinions of my classmates was very interesting and sometimes comical.
December 10, 2006
Final Class
Our last Management 250 class was on Thursday, where we discussed our thoughts about the past semester, and expectations for the Management 251 class. I enjoyed hearing the feedback of my classmates, and Professor Piderit’s responses to our comments. I feel that many students, including myself, underestimated Management 250, and had very simple expectations for the class. The different projects and assignments, such as the HR Simulation and Learning Plan, encouraged us to think critically while giving us freedom and creativity in our work. I also think the Career Fair and Mock Interviews were very helpful to those who are currently searching for summer internships. Overall, I was very satisfied with the course, and am looking forward to Management 251.
December 06, 2006
Firing
In Management class today, we discussed proper firing procedures. We discussed the different ways of firing an employee, and the consequences of this action. I think that it would be very difficult to lay off an employee, especially if they have been a friend or co-worker for many years. Lastly, we discussed the Tom Mendola case, where I was on the pro-firing team. We argued that his actions were enough reason to be fired, and thus the action was appropriate.
November 29, 2006
Amy Sindelar
This past Tuesday, Amy Sindelar came into our Management class to discuss internship opportunities, and the different methods of obtaining an internship. This lecture was very appropriate, as many students, including myself, are currently looking for summer internships. I also think that the advice Amy gave to the class was very valuable and useful to students who have little experience in job searching and career finding. Many students, including myself, were not aware of the different method and procedures in applying for an internship, and therefore this information will really help us in the future. When it comes to networking, I feel that it is important to make your own connections rather than relying on other people’s connections. Ultimately, the best connection will only get you so far, and you will have to prove yourself.
November 23, 2006
Performance Management
Our Management class had a special session the other day, where a manager from Key Bank talked about performance management. He had a few volunteers each do a short presentation on the same lesson, illustrating the difference in efficiency and appeal. The presentation was interesting, and allowed the audience to be involved. The discussion was very relevant to our classes on management in the workplace and dealing with co-workers. The audience was also asked to give feedback to the presenters, which was similar to the feedback exercise in class PowerPoint’s. While I was unable to stay for the entire presentation, I felt it was a good experience for everyone.
November 09, 2006
Feedback
In class today, we talked about feedback and its’ effect on humans. This was very interesting as we talked about the different forms of feedback, such as SAFE. Feedback is very relevant to our class and HR simulation, as we had to provide feedback to each of our members. We also broke into our groups to discuss certain vignettes, and to talk about the most appropriate form of feedback. This lesson was very important, as later in life, we will need to offer and receive feedback to our coworkers and friends.
November 07, 2006
Dreams and Goals
Today in class, we did a very interesting exercise regarding dreams and goals, and how they play out in our future. The exercise forced me to think about what I wanted to do with my life after college, and to reflect on my options. I enjoyed outlining my realistic and unrealistic goals, while hearing the dream careers of my fellow peers.
While the exercise was fun and playful, it also encouraged us to seriously consider our future careers. Our academic track record in college is very important for future success, especially in industries that are very competitive for undergraduates. I think this class motivated many students to being their career search, while remaining realistic in the process.