Joanna Hutchinson's Management Journal http://blog.case.edu/joanna.hutchinson/ Management and Me en-us Tue, 12 Dec 2006 12:57:57 EST Tue, 12 Dec 2006 12:57:57 EST joanna.hutchinson@case.edu joanna.hutchinson@case.edu http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Movable Type v3.121 MGMT250 Retrospection http://blog.case.edu/joanna.hutchinson/2006/12/12/mgmt250_retrospection On the first day of Management 250, I described myself as a “transfer student from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania majoring in accounting.”... http://blog.case.edu/joanna.hutchinson/2006/12/12/mgmt250_retrospection MGMT250 case cwru Case Western Case Western Reserve University Tue, 12 Dec 2006 12:57:57 EST On the first day of Management 250, I described myself as a “transfer student from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania majoring in accounting.” I do not like having to sum up my identity in ice-breaker and getting-to-know-you exercises. These brief introductions to classmates seem very forced, shallow, and contrived to me. Although I enjoy hearing where everyone else is from or what their majors are, I would much rather have one-on-one conversations. Furthermore, in order to properly introduce myself to someone else, I would have to describe my long history of colleges from B.U. to Case, to show a picture of my kid sister, to explore my love of the arts, to play my eighties record collection, to introduce my loving boyfriend, to detail my career goals, and, of course, to share my fabulous homemade peanut-butter chocolate toffee cookies. I hope that in the course of this semester I have proven to my classmates that I am more interesting than the boring transfer student.

]]> MGMT250 Women in Business http://blog.case.edu/joanna.hutchinson/2006/12/11/mgmt250_women_in_business In A Framework for Human Resource Management Gary Dessler explains the challenges that women face in the workforce (203). He... http://blog.case.edu/joanna.hutchinson/2006/12/11/mgmt250_women_in_business MGMT250 case cwru Case Western Case Western Reserve University Mon, 11 Dec 2006 12:57:12 EST In A Framework for Human Resource Management Gary Dessler explains the challenges that women face in the workforce (203). He says that women face “Greater barriers (such as being excluded from informal networks) than do men, and great difficulty getting developmental assignments and geographic mobility opportunities.” (203). Reading this made me think about my own future. Will I be treated differently in the business world because I am a woman? Will I be passed over for that big promotion or international assignment? I only hope that in the future I can prove myself so that my superiors will see me for who I am.

Dessler, Gary. A Framework for Human Resource Management. Fourth Ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson. 2006.

]]> MGMT250 HR Simulation Gripes http://blog.case.edu/joanna.hutchinson/2006/12/10/mgmt250_hr_simulation_gripes A big problem that I had with the Human Resources Simulation was with the incident reports. The incident reports did... http://blog.case.edu/joanna.hutchinson/2006/12/10/mgmt250_hr_simulation_gripes MGMT250 case cwru Case Western Case Western Reserve University Sun, 10 Dec 2006 12:56:34 EST A big problem that I had with the Human Resources Simulation was with the incident reports. The incident reports did not pertain to the assigned incidents. For instance, for our third quarter, we were assigned Incident G: Compensation Planning. We decided to choose a Gain Sharing Plan in hopes of reducing turnover and raising morale. When we received the Quarter 3 results, we were baffled by the response. Instead of being about our Gain Sharing Plan, our incident decision results involved the hiring of fifty temporary employees, which angered the CEO, raised our costs and “caused much dissention in the workforce.” (Quarter 3, Human Resources Report). These were obviously results from Incident C: Recruiting for Temporary Position, which we did not indicate on our Decision Form. Throughout the HR Simulation, inaccurate incidents produced results unrelated to our decisions, causing negative consequences such as lowered morale. This proved frustrating and demoralizing for our team. Overall, the HR Simulation went well, but the incidents were consistently wrong.

Golden, Peggy A. & Jerald R. Smith. Human Resources Management Simulation: Player’s Manual. Second Ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson. 2005.

]]> MGMT250 Internships http://blog.case.edu/joanna.hutchinson/2006/12/09/mgmt250_internships In one of our Management 250 sessions, a guest speaker from Case’s Career Center spoke about internships. After hearing her... http://blog.case.edu/joanna.hutchinson/2006/12/09/mgmt250_internships MGMT250 case cwru Case Western Case Western Reserve University Sat, 09 Dec 2006 12:55:46 EST In one of our Management 250 sessions, a guest speaker from Case’s Career Center spoke about internships. After hearing her speak about internships, I began to think about my professional interests. In addition to holding management and accounting internship positions, I am also interested in trying out two other professions through internships. I am interested in public relations and large event planning. I have always wanted to learn what a job in public relations entails. I am also interested in the challenge of planning a large event. In particular, I would like to intern with a non-profit organization and help plan a charity event.

]]> MGMT250 Catch My Dreams http://blog.case.edu/joanna.hutchinson/2006/12/08/mgmt250_catch_my_dreams One exercise I completed in Management 250 was entitled “Catch Your Dreams.” This exercise involved writing down your top seventeen... http://blog.case.edu/joanna.hutchinson/2006/12/08/mgmt250_catch_my_dreams MGMT250 case cwru Case Western Case Western Reserve University Fri, 08 Dec 2006 12:54:36 EST One exercise I completed in Management 250 was entitled “Catch Your Dreams.” This exercise involved writing down your top seventeen goals in life. I found that many of my goals were work or school related, such as “Becoming a CPA” or “Graduating from a prestigious MBA program.” Additionally, I wanted to better myself through cooking, hobbies, and other activities. One of my most intense desires which I included in the exercise is to see the world. I think that travel is a great way to experience other cultures, learn about geography, taste different kinds of foods and, most of all, experience art by visiting it firsthand. I am thankful that Management 250 has helped me focus on my lifelong dream of traveling the world.

]]> MGMT250 Go To My Pc http://blog.case.edu/joanna.hutchinson/2006/11/10/mgmt250_go_to_my_pc In my last job, I noticed a way to make the company run more smoothly. The company I worked for... http://blog.case.edu/joanna.hutchinson/2006/11/10/mgmt250_go_to_my_pc MGMT250 case cwru Case Western Case Western Reserve University Fri, 10 Nov 2006 22:25:05 EST In my last job, I noticed a way to make the company run more smoothly. The company I worked for was a very small accounting firm run out of the owner's home. Most of our clients were schools in the Philadelphia area and most of the work was done on site. My boss was always running from one school to the next and had no way to access files at her home office while on the go. I installed the GoToMyPc program on her computer, which helped a great deal. For a monthly fee, the program made her home computer accessible from any other computer through the internet. My boss never had to run home between meetings for a forgotten file again. This also allowed work to be done off-site through the internet.

www.gotomypc.com

]]> MGMT250 Goals http://blog.case.edu/joanna.hutchinson/2006/11/09/mgmt250_goals A recent management class exercise involved writing down seventeen of my goals. I began writing about graduating college, going to... http://blog.case.edu/joanna.hutchinson/2006/11/09/mgmt250_goals MGMT250 case cwru Case Western Case Western Reserve University Thu, 09 Nov 2006 22:01:24 EST A recent management class exercise involved writing down seventeen of my goals. I began writing about graduating college, going to graduate school, and having a successful career for myself. I have a goal of earning enough money to be comfortable, paying off my student loans, and supporting my family. An additional goal is to be as happy in my thirties as I am in my twenties. After these goals, I found that most of my desires took the form of “hopes” for my friends and family members. I want my little sister to go to a good college. I want my mother to be able to retire within ten years. I want my father to get out of debt. I want my brother to establish a career that he really enjoys. It is important both to have desires and dreams and to work towards those aspirations. I feel that I am playing my part by studying for school, being responsible with money, and trying to support my family in any way that I can. As a student, I set goals for myself all of the time. For instance, this weekend I hope to get through chapter fourteen in calculus, as I have an exam approaching. This is a smaller, process goal which will help me with my long-term goal of graduating from college. This type of short-term goal setting is a very effective way to keep me motivated. I feel that if I can complete today’s goal, I can achieve my long-term goals as well.

]]> MGMT250 Feedback http://blog.case.edu/joanna.hutchinson/2006/11/08/mgmt250_feedback In management class today, we discussed giving and receiving feedback. Professor Johnson said that many people have fears and anxiety... http://blog.case.edu/joanna.hutchinson/2006/11/08/mgmt250_feedback MGMT250 case cwru Case Western Case Western Reserve University Wed, 08 Nov 2006 21:12:40 EST In management class today, we discussed giving and receiving feedback. Professor Johnson said that many people have fears and anxiety about giving feedback to others. I have never felt as if I was one of these people. I rather enjoy critiquing others, but might be nervous under certain circumstances. For instance, I do not like to give negative feedback to my supervisors or bosses. I always feel some uncertainty when approaching a superior with negative sentiments. A good approach, which we discussed in class, is to present the feedback in such a way that it is not a personal attack. Instead of Professor Johnson's example, "I hate it when you do that," I would say something more such as, "I feel like it would be a good idea for us to work on how our time is spent during meetings." By utilizing the latter method, I am not pointing out a certain person’s faults, but highlighting something we can work as a team to improve.

Johnson, Jennifer. Class lecture. Management 250. Case Western Reserve University. Peter B. Lewis Building, Cleveland. 8 Nov. 2006.

]]> MGMT250 Training http://blog.case.edu/joanna.hutchinson/2006/11/07/mgmt250_training Last week in management class we discussed training programs. I was reminded of a job that my brother, Tom, once... http://blog.case.edu/joanna.hutchinson/2006/11/07/mgmt250_training MGMT250 case cwru Case Western Case Western Reserve University Tue, 07 Nov 2006 20:47:43 EST Last week in management class we discussed training programs. I was reminded of a job that my brother, Tom, once held. Tom used to live in Anchorage, Alaska where he was hired by a phone, internet, and cable television company as a customer service representative. The majority of his training involved shadowing another employee for an entire day. Gary Dessler, in his book A Framework for Human Resource Management, calls this type of training “On-The-Job Training” or the “Understudy Method”(157). Tom said that he stood next to the employee’s workspace and watched the customer service representative work. The employee took calls from customers and used the computer while Tom merely observed. Tom describes this day as “The most excruciatingly boring day I’ve ever had at work.” Not only was he uncomfortable standing for such a long time, but he couldn’t hear the customer calls, which made it hard to follow what the employee was doing on the computer. A better learning experience would involve only an hour of this type of training, with other training methods in place for the rest of the day. Perhaps there could have been computer-based training in which customer calls are simulated so that Tom could interact and react to them. More variety for Tom’s training experience would have been a welcome break from standing over another employee’s work.

Dessler, Gary. A Framework for Human Resource Management. Fourth Ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson. 2006.

Hutchinson, Thomas. Personal interview. Approx. Dec. 2005.

]]> MGMT250 Socializing http://blog.case.edu/joanna.hutchinson/2006/10/24/mgmt250_socializing In much of the corporate world, the ability to entertain is a crucial part of one's career. Whether it is... http://blog.case.edu/joanna.hutchinson/2006/10/24/mgmt250_socializing MGMT250 case cwru Case Western Case Western Reserve University Tue, 24 Oct 2006 12:17:19 EST In much of the corporate world, the ability to entertain is a crucial part of one's career. Whether it is taking clients out to lunch or having the boss over for dinner, entertaining can be the key to getting promoted or to getting on a person's good side. It is known that networking skills are quite important and that these skills go hand-in-hand with entertaining skills. Hosting a large event is a daunting task; one must coordinate the food and beverages for the guests or hire a caterer. The host must make sure that everyone is comfortable and having a good time. It takes extensive social skills to be a good host.

I recently interviewed a person with whom I was previously employed, Donna Kyle, CPA. She said that when she was in public accounting she often had to "schmooze" clients over lunch or dinner. Now, in her own accounting firm, she specializes in the management of private schools. She mentioned that instead of the traditional business lunches, she often joins clients at various school functions. She goes to board meetings, school fairs and fundraisers, school plays and school recitals. At these events, she is representing her business, so she always has to be pleasant and sociable. She said that she often meets potential clients at these school functions, so it is a great way not only to network but also to keep up her public relations with the clients. Overall, good social and networking skills are very important in any career.

Kyle, Donna. Personal interview. 8 Oct. 2006.

]]> MGMT250 HR Simulation http://blog.case.edu/joanna.hutchinson/2006/10/13/mgmt250_hr_simulation I am finding the HR simulation to be a lot of fun. It is nice to meet other people in... http://blog.case.edu/joanna.hutchinson/2006/10/13/mgmt250_hr_simulation MGMT250 case cwru Case Western Case Western Reserve University Fri, 13 Oct 2006 22:21:08 EST I am finding the HR simulation to be a lot of fun. It is nice to meet other people in management 250 and work with them on assignments. As an accounting student, I especially enjoy helping to plan each quarterly budget. This week my team received the results of our decisions in the first quarter. We are doing very well! Our morale was the highest in the class and our productivity was high as well. I am excited to continue working on the simulation with my team.

The only problem that I have had with my team was regarding the first assignment entitled "Puma's Team Plan". We had a meeting in which we discussed our main goals for the simulation, set a weekly time for future meetings and were each assigned duties. Each team member typed an outline of their ideas for "Puma's Team Plan" for me to use to write the paper. I was supposed to write our plan and each team member would then proofread it and make changes as necessary. Out of four team members, only one person made suggestions for changes to our plan. I would have liked the other three team members to contribute to the final draft because it is supposed to be a combined effort.

]]> MGMT250 Interviews http://blog.case.edu/joanna.hutchinson/2006/10/13/mgmt250_interviews Interviews are always stressful. One thing I like to do before an interview is reread my resume for any updates... http://blog.case.edu/joanna.hutchinson/2006/10/13/mgmt250_interviews MGMT250 case cwru Case Western Case Western Reserve University Fri, 13 Oct 2006 20:53:25 EST Interviews are always stressful. One thing I like to do before an interview is reread my resume for any updates or typos. I also make sure to have a few copies of my resume printed out to bring to the interview with me. I dress nicely and wear light makeup. I leave my house with plenty of time to travel. It is never a good idea to be late for an interview. When I get there I make good eye contact, smile and sit up straight. I feel that good posture makes me appear confident. The day after the interview, I send "thank you" emails to every person that I met.

At my last job, my boss decided not to hire an interviewee because he did not send her a "thank you" note. Her other reason was regarding introductions. During the interview, another employee came into the office. The interviewee did not stand up or shake the hand of the employee when introduced. My employer thought that his manners were not up to par, and chose another applicant for the position.

]]> MGMT250 Discipline http://blog.case.edu/joanna.hutchinson/2006/10/12/mgmt250_discipline Recently, while working on the HR simulation, our team came to a predicament regarding the Team Plan. We wanted our... http://blog.case.edu/joanna.hutchinson/2006/10/12/mgmt250_discipline MGMT250 case cwru Case Western Case Western Reserve University Thu, 12 Oct 2006 21:42:54 EST Recently, while working on the HR simulation, our team came to a predicament regarding the Team Plan. We wanted our team to be as realistic as possible and to have guidelines and rules as if we were a real organization. My assignment was to formulate a plan for disciplinary action if team members are late or absent from meetings or do not hand in their assignments on time. Because we are not working in a normal business environment, I can not fire team members, demote them, or suspend them without pay. After much consideration, I proposed a disciplinary plan at our team meeting. Either one late or incomplete assignment or lateness to or absence from a team meeting without notice would call for a written warning. Any additional rules infractions would warrant a write up in our Final Report, graded by Dr. Poonamallee. Every team member agreed that this was a good way to keep the team in check and we voted to enact the rule.

]]> MGMT250 Benefits http://blog.case.edu/joanna.hutchinson/2006/10/11/mgmt250_benefits Benefits are costly for every organization; they are, however, needed by employees. Today in class we discussed fringe benefits -... http://blog.case.edu/joanna.hutchinson/2006/10/11/mgmt250_benefits MGMT250 case cwru Case Western Case Western Reserve University Wed, 11 Oct 2006 18:29:54 EST Benefits are costly for every organization; they are, however, needed by employees. Today in class we discussed fringe benefits - everything from cobra to tuition reimbursement. I have always considered health insurance to be the most important benefit when considering job opportunities. I once became ill during a time that I worked in a position that offered no health insurance. Doctor's visits are expensive! In the end, I left my job for another position which gave me free health insurance. That experience was a good lesson for me. If ever I am in a position where my input influences the availability of benefits, I will remember how much I needed health insurance and provide it for my employees.

]]> MGMT250 Hiring http://blog.case.edu/joanna.hutchinson/2006/10/10/mgmt250_hiring In A Framework for Human Resource Management, Gary Dessler explains the importance of carefully selecting potential employees (112). He explains... http://blog.case.edu/joanna.hutchinson/2006/10/10/mgmt250_hiring MGMT250 case cwru Case Western Case Western Reserve University Tue, 10 Oct 2006 21:10:04 EST In A Framework for Human Resource Management, Gary Dessler explains the importance of carefully selecting potential employees (112). He explains that selecting the wrong employees can prove costly in many ways (113). I have often wondered the degree to which I could choose the best potential employee out of a pool of interviewees. Are first impressions everything? Some people have great interview skills while others become nervous during interviews. Roger Fritz, of San Francisco Business Times, explains that managers should prepare interview questions ahead of time. Further, he suggests making hiring decisions based on the applicant's answers, and to avoid hiring based on first impressions (2). Fritz mentioned something else which I found quite interesting - checking an applicant's references. I thought that managers never checked references. I have never heard that one of the references on my resume had been contacted regarding any of my interviews. This may have to do with the level of jobs to which I have applied, as I have held mostly entry level jobs. Only time will tell if my friends and family will be called when I get a "real" job after graduation!

Dessler, Gary. A Framework for Human Resource Management. 4th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson. 2006.

Fritz, Roger. “Tips for sharpening your hiring skills.” San Francisco Business Times 01 Nov 1996. 09 Oct 2006
http://sanfrancisco.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/stories/1996/11/04/smallb2.html.

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