Hi All
Since we're studying communication in the workplace, I thought this BBC News article would be interesting. Jornalist Lucy Kellaway discusses her crusade to end the use of the the term 'going forward' and examines the problem of using "brainlessly upbeat" language in everyday business.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/7453584.stm
Also, here is a list the 50 most disliked office jargon phrases sent in from BBC readers:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/7457287.stm
Enjoy!
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Shifting Career
I was just wondering, has any of you in class planned on shifting gear in your career after you all graduate? For example, in my case, I got my undergrad in finance&accounting majors and I had been working in finance industry as an analyst before entering MBA. Recently, I have just been thinking about where I want to end up in a year or so (thanks to Prof. Macpherson' short assignment in class), whether I want to keep pursuing career in finance or doing something else. The idea of starting my own business has intrigued me ever since we had all these great lectures and seminars /visits on thinking as an entrepreneur. The problem is, I have been so comfortable in working in finance so I don't know if giving up career in finance and shifting gear into entrepreneurship will be worth the risk. As you all know, being an entrepreneur involves taking a lot of risks. We've seen the stats and the tour guide at Plug and Play also mentioned about the high rate of failed start-ups. How could you raise enough money to keep the business running? How can you find stable customers who will be willing to purchase your products/services? Those are just scary thoughts for me.
So are any of you in a similar situation like I am? I'm wondering how many of you plan on sticking with your previous kind of job because that's the area you feel most comfortable with (i.e staying in your comfort zone) or wanting to change to something else you 've never been in like going from finance to entrepreneurship in my case ?
After hearing the speaker at the UPS seminar couple weeks ago by Jim Beach, the professor from Georgia State U, I was intrigued hearing his story where he took a bet with his class that he would do importing business from any of the country his class chose. He ended up going to Pakistan trying to find interesting products to sell and he finally found kilim chairs as his choice. He won the bet basically but the thing that caught me was how did it seem so easy for him to just get going and make business in a short period amount of time? I decided to google him and true enough found a simple good article about him. In the article, he gave valuable advices in my opinion that says
"The solid advice to the would-be entrepreneur was to start a low-risk business. It was not about creativity, it was about stealing a good idea and doing it better. Of course it is also important to do something you enjoy. You should build the business with money on hand. Start small and slow as long as you own your own company"
I think those are pretty important lessons that we should start small, low-risk business and found a way to do it better than the rest of the pack. I hope my sharing can be useful to all of us and I look forward to hearing thoughts, advices, sharing from you guys who are as inspired as I am to run a business or willing to change career track.
Thank you.
So are any of you in a similar situation like I am? I'm wondering how many of you plan on sticking with your previous kind of job because that's the area you feel most comfortable with (i.e staying in your comfort zone) or wanting to change to something else you 've never been in like going from finance to entrepreneurship in my case ?
After hearing the speaker at the UPS seminar couple weeks ago by Jim Beach, the professor from Georgia State U, I was intrigued hearing his story where he took a bet with his class that he would do importing business from any of the country his class chose. He ended up going to Pakistan trying to find interesting products to sell and he finally found kilim chairs as his choice. He won the bet basically but the thing that caught me was how did it seem so easy for him to just get going and make business in a short period amount of time? I decided to google him and true enough found a simple good article about him. In the article, he gave valuable advices in my opinion that says
"The solid advice to the would-be entrepreneur was to start a low-risk business. It was not about creativity, it was about stealing a good idea and doing it better. Of course it is also important to do something you enjoy. You should build the business with money on hand. Start small and slow as long as you own your own company"
I think those are pretty important lessons that we should start small, low-risk business and found a way to do it better than the rest of the pack. I hope my sharing can be useful to all of us and I look forward to hearing thoughts, advices, sharing from you guys who are as inspired as I am to run a business or willing to change career track.
Thank you.
Monday, June 16, 2008
Our Generation
Hello Everyone,
Recently we have seen a lot of ways in which technology will impact communication and the business world in general. We saw PlugnPlay where ideas launch, we read books for Customer about Wikinomics and we have seen the newest from Google with online chatting, documents and wikis.
My question to you is where will technology be with when we are our parents age? Will we have Scotty beam us to the next office meeting across the globe like he did in Star Trek? Will we talk to people using holographic images like in Star Wars? Will we skate to work on hover-boards like in Back to Future?
I used to think this stuff was way off, but the more I think about it, I don't think these technologies are out of our league anymore. After all, consider what our parents have seen; a man on the moon, cell phones, and Nintendo to name a few.
What technologies will you be using to communicate when you are 45-50 years old....
T. J.
Recently we have seen a lot of ways in which technology will impact communication and the business world in general. We saw PlugnPlay where ideas launch, we read books for Customer about Wikinomics and we have seen the newest from Google with online chatting, documents and wikis.
My question to you is where will technology be with when we are our parents age? Will we have Scotty beam us to the next office meeting across the globe like he did in Star Trek? Will we talk to people using holographic images like in Star Wars? Will we skate to work on hover-boards like in Back to Future?
I used to think this stuff was way off, but the more I think about it, I don't think these technologies are out of our league anymore. After all, consider what our parents have seen; a man on the moon, cell phones, and Nintendo to name a few.
What technologies will you be using to communicate when you are 45-50 years old....
T. J.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Kinetic Sculptures
Hi Everyone,
Our trip to the exploratotium reminded my of these kinetic sculptures. One guy, Theo Jensen, is famous for making them, but now many engineering schools hold kinetic sculpture competitions and races. Can you believe there isn't a single motor on any of these?
Our trip to the exploratotium reminded my of these kinetic sculptures. One guy, Theo Jensen, is famous for making them, but now many engineering schools hold kinetic sculpture competitions and races. Can you believe there isn't a single motor on any of these?
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Something funny...
Hey guys,
My friend and I were just browsing and looking around youtube for funny commercials. I found this international commercial for dvd players from Thailand. Their known for their super funny commercials. Here is the link... Seriously you wont regret it...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=0utqE0o7PTQ
Valuation of MBA
Hi Everyone,
Just had a short discussion with T.J. in the library and we thought this is a very interesting topic to share with everyone here.
We are thinking about the investment in a MBA program in terms of money and time, comparing to investing in something else. For example, the real estate market. Given the opportunity cost of not going to school, what was the major factor in your decision to go for your MBA?
For example, with $80,000 investment in the Real estate market now, we may have a even more than 50% of return in future years. Or with some professional certificates, we may have even higher leverage for our future career path.
SO what do you think about your Opportunity Cost for this MBA program?
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Networking
Hi guys,
I just received an invitation from my undergrad school, Santa Clara, for their networking gathering. Like Mitchell said we need to develop our networking, so why not share it with you guys if you are interested.
July 12, 2008
Networking, Professional Development, and Fun!
offer learning and networking opportunities for you
provide informal BBQ lunch with Barry Posner and other faculty
For more details, visit the >>" href="http://www.scu.edu/business/alumni/reunion.cfm" target=_blank>Business School Alumni Reunion 2008 page >>>
REGISTRATION IS LIMITED so act now (RSVP here):
Early registration is just $40 (until June 20)
Regular registration ($50) runs June 21 - July 7
Invite your family and friends to the BBQ ($25 adults; $10 children under 12)
Free San Jose Earthquake tickets ($40 value; reserved in the Business School Alumni section) for the first 75 registrants
Make history and be a part of the first-ever, all-Business School alumni reunion! >>" href="http://www.register123.com/event/profile/form/index.cfm?PKformID=0x587386cd24" target=_blank>Visit the secure RSVP page here>>>
Schedule for July 12 Reunion
9:00 - 9:30 AM
Check-in and new Business School tour
9:30 - 10:45 AM
Welcome
9:45 - 10:45 AM
Speaker Presentations (choose one) * The New Entrepreneur with Graham Barnes * The New Boomer Marketplace with Mary Furlong
10:45 - 11:00 AM
Break
11:00 - 12:00 PM
Speaker Presentations (choose one) * New Age of Philanthropy with John Hopkins * Facilitated Networking
12:00 - 1:30 PM
BBQ Luncheon with Barry Posner and general networking
1:00 - 3:30 PM
San Jose Earthquakes Soccer Game -- reserved seating for Business School alumni
I just received an invitation from my undergrad school, Santa Clara, for their networking gathering. Like Mitchell said we need to develop our networking, so why not share it with you guys if you are interested.
July 12, 2008
Networking, Professional Development, and Fun!
offer learning and networking opportunities for you
provide informal BBQ lunch with Barry Posner and other faculty
For more details, visit the >>" href="http://www.scu.edu/business/alumni/reunion.cfm" target=_blank>Business School Alumni Reunion 2008 page >>>
REGISTRATION IS LIMITED so act now (RSVP here):
Early registration is just $40 (until June 20)
Regular registration ($50) runs June 21 - July 7
Invite your family and friends to the BBQ ($25 adults; $10 children under 12)
Free San Jose Earthquake tickets ($40 value; reserved in the Business School Alumni section) for the first 75 registrants
Make history and be a part of the first-ever, all-Business School alumni reunion! >>" href="http://www.register123.com/event/profile/form/index.cfm?PKformID=0x587386cd24" target=_blank>Visit the secure RSVP page here>>>
Schedule for July 12 Reunion
9:00 - 9:30 AM
Check-in and new Business School tour
9:30 - 10:45 AM
Welcome
9:45 - 10:45 AM
Speaker Presentations (choose one) * The New Entrepreneur with Graham Barnes * The New Boomer Marketplace with Mary Furlong
10:45 - 11:00 AM
Break
11:00 - 12:00 PM
Speaker Presentations (choose one) * New Age of Philanthropy with John Hopkins * Facilitated Networking
12:00 - 1:30 PM
BBQ Luncheon with Barry Posner and general networking
1:00 - 3:30 PM
San Jose Earthquakes Soccer Game -- reserved seating for Business School alumni
For those who want to improve their business vocabulary
Probably the best general list for mid-level management and executive vocabulary improvement is the one compiled for the GMAT exam. Here's a great site where you can see words and definitions in a handy format:
Click here for vocabulary builders from the GMAT list
Click here for vocabulary builders from the GMAT list
Monday, June 2, 2008
Criteria for Grading Assignment A
Monday, June 2 Hope you had a nice weekend--although I suspect MBAI has changed your weekend habits somewhat? Let me create a comfort zone regarding your first assignment:
1. Writing a first paper for a professor is always difficult. You don't have a good feel for what I'm looking for. In the following points, I'll try to clear up any apprehensions.
2. Your last handout contains eight writing points that we haven't yet discussed in class. Please look over these relatively straight-forward points and make an effort to abide by them in your paper--but I certainly will not make these guiding principles the basis of my grade on your paper, since we haven't yet gone over them in class.
3. You've read a couple chapters on the nature of good business writing. Try to incorporate these insights into your writing.
4. If you find that my prompt (on your last handout) doesn't give you enough to write about, feel free to extend as necessary to related topics.
5. Above all, write a document that could "pass" in actual business practice. Non-native speakers in class, as I have suggested to them privately, may want to make arrangements with a native speaker to take 10 minutes for a quick review (not an edit or re-write). This review should consist of simply pointing out writing errors (or non-English expressions, which aren't really errors) and perhaps giving the non-native speaker some suggestions on how the thought at hand might be stated in standard English. You can be sure throughout the class that I will not apply "crazy" criteria to the evaluation of papers--for example, "one typo gets a F" and such nonsense. But you also realize that allowing gross errors to slip by does you no favor as you prepare for an even more successful business future. Therefore, proofread carefully and perhaps get a friend in class to proofread your paper as well. This partnership isn't cheating. In fact, it's a practice that will often be useful to you in real business practice.
Remember that I am available to you pretty much throughout each day if you need specific writing help. Although I don't want to grade papers twice, I will certainly read over what you have and help you locate problem spots.
In short, I will look for clear expression, logical organization of ideas, natural language, and careful editing in coming up with a letter grade for this first assignment. I am deeply interested in what you have to say, not just how you say it.
Art (422-6170, bell@usfca.edu, MH 116)
1. Writing a first paper for a professor is always difficult. You don't have a good feel for what I'm looking for. In the following points, I'll try to clear up any apprehensions.
2. Your last handout contains eight writing points that we haven't yet discussed in class. Please look over these relatively straight-forward points and make an effort to abide by them in your paper--but I certainly will not make these guiding principles the basis of my grade on your paper, since we haven't yet gone over them in class.
3. You've read a couple chapters on the nature of good business writing. Try to incorporate these insights into your writing.
4. If you find that my prompt (on your last handout) doesn't give you enough to write about, feel free to extend as necessary to related topics.
5. Above all, write a document that could "pass" in actual business practice. Non-native speakers in class, as I have suggested to them privately, may want to make arrangements with a native speaker to take 10 minutes for a quick review (not an edit or re-write). This review should consist of simply pointing out writing errors (or non-English expressions, which aren't really errors) and perhaps giving the non-native speaker some suggestions on how the thought at hand might be stated in standard English. You can be sure throughout the class that I will not apply "crazy" criteria to the evaluation of papers--for example, "one typo gets a F" and such nonsense. But you also realize that allowing gross errors to slip by does you no favor as you prepare for an even more successful business future. Therefore, proofread carefully and perhaps get a friend in class to proofread your paper as well. This partnership isn't cheating. In fact, it's a practice that will often be useful to you in real business practice.
Remember that I am available to you pretty much throughout each day if you need specific writing help. Although I don't want to grade papers twice, I will certainly read over what you have and help you locate problem spots.
In short, I will look for clear expression, logical organization of ideas, natural language, and careful editing in coming up with a letter grade for this first assignment. I am deeply interested in what you have to say, not just how you say it.
Art (422-6170, bell@usfca.edu, MH 116)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)