December 10, 2005
MGMT250
As it turns out, I liked this class. I didn't really know much about it going in, my advisor told me it would be best to take it sophomore year so I signed up for it. I read the course description, but it was a little vague, as course descriptions are, and I had not talked to anyone who had the class before me. I'm glad it was a discussion class. I learn a whole lot better in a more casual discussion type setting than a lecture class. I also liked how the career center guests came in periodically and established that connection because they are really beneficial in preparing for an internship or career. The HR simulation was a fun exercise where we got to learn about managerial decisions by trial and error.
I am looking forward to mgmt251.
Learning Plan
The learning plan was a difficult paper to write. At first I felt like it was pointless. It was hard because I never thought about my goals or career too extensively. I didn't know what I wanted to be or what I preferred. I think I didn't know because I never had to think about it before. However, after thinking about it and especially doing the career interviews I got a better sense about what I liked and what I didn't like. I think this is the best time in our lives to make these plans because we are still young and exploring, but a job is hopefully just a few years a way.
December 09, 2005
HR simulation
At the beginning of the year, I was skeptical about the HR simulation. It was not explained very clearly, and getting used to the forms and the team members took some time. However, after we got the hang of it, everything went smoothly. Our team worked together really well, and the meetings were more enjoyable than hindering. Our final results were a little suprising because the comments didn't match our decisions. Some reactions that the simulations gave seemed a bit unrealistic, but I really learned a lot from the incidents. They were all realistic situations with good and bad points to whatever decision was made. Some of them were really tough like the sexual harrassment one. Our group was split on that one for awhile. Termination is always a tricky situation.
All in all, the simulation was a good idea. Our beginning concerns that meeting would be too demanding and inconvenient ended up not being an issue. We got to learn management skills and make friends in the process.
Tom Mendola
I think the Tom Mendola discussion was good for us to expand our thoughts on termination. It shows that there is no clear blueprint on how to handle it. Every situation is unique. I was on the side that had to defend Tom, and I agreed with that arguement. However, I also saw exactly what the other side was saying. I guess the question boils down to should all employees be treated equally or should there be exceptions. After the discussion I decided that there should be exceptions, and Tom should be one of them for all the reasons we said in class.
November 10, 2005
Catch your dreams exercise
I really liked this exercise because it forced us to really think about what our dreams were. I read on part two of the learning plan that we would have to write about our goals. It made me nervous because I never really formally set serious goals before. However from the exercise I was able to find certain dreams that could be converted into goals for the paper. I still have to figure out subgoals and my plan to carry them through to completion. Nevertheless, it was a good way to get to know what I really want to do.
November 05, 2005
Career Interviews
I am glad that we had to do career interviews for the learning plan. I do not think I would go out and do them otherwise, but it was a really good experience. I had no idea what I wanted to do, so I just said I wanted to talk to someone in banking and finance. I got contact information for an alum that works for National City. I went downtown to interview him, and I'm really glad I did because he helped me decide that I definitely DO NOT want to go into banking and finance. He alluded to the idea that if I wasn't completely sure that I wanted to go into that field then I shouldn't go into it. Moreover, I went to the AKPsi finance panel, and those panelists all said the same thing. Usually if you start in that line of work, you don't stay in that line of work past age forty. I'm glad I got to know more about the finance business because it narrowed down my choices.
Ethics
I think the talk about ethics was good. I liked how we got to see situtations that were in the gray area of ethics. To some, one thing would be okay, and to others, it would be unacceptable. It showed us that there is not always a clear cut right and wrong. I thought the Wallstreet Journal quiz that we did on the overhead was interesting, expecially those percentages of people who play games and looking at porn during work! Some people actually thought that was okay! Those percentages make me wonder about some people. I bet that even more people do it than admitted to it in the survey too. Perhaps they know it's unethical, but yet they do it anyway.