Since I took MGT3120, we had blog assignments to lean and communicate with other classmates. This assignment is really new to me because I have never had my own blog since I create this blog and I rarely read someone's blog. Truthfully, blog assignment is annoying me because I don't have any special writing skill to make this blog interesting. I was always suffering how can I complete this assignment. However, I don't think this assignment is just a wast of time and no value to me because I can read other classmates' blog entries to understand how they feel to the topics.
I think I benefited from meeting others online because we can communicate outside of the classroom. I can read everyone's blog entry and I can know how other group worked. This is very interesting to me because if there is not blog assignment, I can only know what my team done.
Also, blog assignment effectively get me to think about and share my perception about what we did in class. When I write a blog entry, I recall my memory of class activity step by step and try to understand how it relates to topics. Usually, I don't remember much about what we did in the class. I just attend a class and listen a lecture, and study before the exam. However, Pro. Kurpis has totally different style from other class. There are many class or group activity which is very fun and impressive. Blog assignment is good for review what we did in the class and how it connects to the lecture part. I think this style is much more interesting than other class I have taken.
However, I think I don't continue to post any entry after this class has ended because it is very hard to me. It takes a lot of time, and I am not a good writer. But I think if other people continue to write the blog, I continue to read it because there are many interesting topics in there.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Topic #5 The ABCs of DISC
We had pretty interesting leadership/management diagnostic in our class. It classifies us into 4 categories which is "Dominance", "Influence", "Steadiness", and "Conscientiousness". I end up with "Cs" type of manager. C is a manager who emphasize the working conscientiously within existing circumstances to ansure quality and accuracy.
When I read the particular detail of "Conscientiousness", I did not feel this is the best description of myself. After I read descriptions for each 4 style, I thought the word "Conscientiousness" is the best word to describe me.
I think this represent my class participation directly. I'm always trying to listen other opinions first, then I start to consider in my mind because actually my English skill is not good so I just want to make things clear to me. However, even I understand about the topic, I do not start to talk because I think that I'm afraid of making a mistake or afraid "if other classmates did not understand what I'm saying because of my English skill. I think this is because of not only my personality, but also how I grew up when I was a child. I understand that professor or classmates would not blame me even I made a mistake. However, I try to check the accuracy again and again in my mind. Finally, the topic goes to next before I confident to speak.
This often happen to me and I know I should speak more. But the things is not so simple to me.
Therefore, I think the result of this psychological test is right and useful to determine people's management "type" to better understand where they are coming from and how to interact with them.
When I read the particular detail of "Conscientiousness", I did not feel this is the best description of myself. After I read descriptions for each 4 style, I thought the word "Conscientiousness" is the best word to describe me.
I think this represent my class participation directly. I'm always trying to listen other opinions first, then I start to consider in my mind because actually my English skill is not good so I just want to make things clear to me. However, even I understand about the topic, I do not start to talk because I think that I'm afraid of making a mistake or afraid "if other classmates did not understand what I'm saying because of my English skill. I think this is because of not only my personality, but also how I grew up when I was a child. I understand that professor or classmates would not blame me even I made a mistake. However, I try to check the accuracy again and again in my mind. Finally, the topic goes to next before I confident to speak.
This often happen to me and I know I should speak more. But the things is not so simple to me.
Therefore, I think the result of this psychological test is right and useful to determine people's management "type" to better understand where they are coming from and how to interact with them.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Topic #4 The Power of Vision
Vision without action is just a dream.
Action without vision merely waste time.
Vision coupled with action can make things happen.
Since I was young, I had dreams for my future, but all of them are unclear and so rough. I did not take any action to make them true. So now, I have an assignment to think about my future "in real".
I want to go back my home country (Japan) after I graduate the Baruch College because I want to work for the country that I was born. The reason why I am studying in the U.S. is speaking English is very important skill in the Japanese business. Many Japanese companies start to globalize their products or services. Some companies started to introduce English as their common language. Therefore, I feel to study in the U.S. is big advantage to make my dream in real.
I think this is still not specific vision, so let's talk about more real vision.
After I graduate the Baruch College, I want to get a job for consulting firm in Japan to help medium-sized and small companies. In Japan the economy has not recovered for a long time. I think to make medium-sized and small companies more profitable, it can stimulate the Japanese economy.
Today, to get a job is really tough in Japan. So I have to study hard in Baruch to get good grade because GPA is very important in the screening by resume.
Also, I can study for taking some qualifications, like TOEIC to show how I have English skills.
I think this is the most realistic action which I can take now for my future.
After few years I starts my job, I want to get a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in the U.S. to improve my career. But I think this is not real.
Therefore, I can say what I can do for my future is "Do my best for all things that I should do".
I think this is the shortest way to achieve my business goal.
Friday, October 22, 2010
Topic #3 Decision Making
I think my behavior was a "Compromise" at the first half of the discussion, and it changed to an "Avoidance".
First of all, my exam score is obviously not good at all, so I should behave as "Compete to Win". However, I just wanted to know what the other people thinking, so I carefully listened the argue.
When I had some questions about the extra credits and the test structure, I tried to question about it, but many other people talking at loud. Therefore, I tried to listen carefully to understand the issue instead of to question. However, the many people talked about many different topic at the same time. Some one said "No Essay", some others said "No T/F questions", some people asked about extra credit and curve, some other people tried to explain to another. I was so confused and did not get the issue. I just felt like "what are we talking about right now?"
Finally, I gave up to participate the discussion actively because I thought "even I did not participate well, people who are in the same range on the exam would participate to solve the problem. So I just need to follow them." I understand this behavior is absolutely not good, but to be honest, I was the person who did not participate actively.
I saw many people who behaved as "Compete to Win". I think the person who said "No T/F questions on the next exam!" is the one of the examples of the "Compete to Win". They strongly said about that issue even other person who are also "Compete to Win" said "No Essay, yes multiple-multiple" to push through their desired proposal.
I think people who said "Essay as a optional point on the next exam" are the "Collaborating" because they tried to frame a plan for both (No T/F side and No essay side). They explained the T/F question is same as multiple question. This group did not support only one side, but also think the benefit for both sides.
I think the leaders (2 men who stood in front of the classroom) were "Compromise" because they tried to listen and put together the opinion from all of the classmates. They performed very fairly, so I think they are "Compromise" person.
Actually, I could not find the differences between "Avoidance" and "Accommodation" from their behavior because both does not participate actively. The reason why they do not participate actively is in their mind, so I cannot understand it. They might behave as I did, or they just did not need to talk about the extra credit and the next exam because they got good grades.
I think we can make small group to talk about the issue first, and then each group talk to other group what they had in the discussion for the best solution for our issue. In the class, I was confused because many people talked about many different issue at the same time. There are about 40 students in the class and every single person has each opinion, so it was obvious many people talked at the same time. To avoid this, I think to make the group first is the best way to get much more better solution.
Or we can also give the more power to the leader except to make the decision. First, we make the rules such as "We have to follow the leader. We cannot talk without raising hands and until leader point him/her". I think it is easy way to ask every person's opinion and not to get mess up the issue. I think both of these are good to get the desirable result sooner and less conflict.
First of all, my exam score is obviously not good at all, so I should behave as "Compete to Win". However, I just wanted to know what the other people thinking, so I carefully listened the argue.
When I had some questions about the extra credits and the test structure, I tried to question about it, but many other people talking at loud. Therefore, I tried to listen carefully to understand the issue instead of to question. However, the many people talked about many different topic at the same time. Some one said "No Essay", some others said "No T/F questions", some people asked about extra credit and curve, some other people tried to explain to another. I was so confused and did not get the issue. I just felt like "what are we talking about right now?"
Finally, I gave up to participate the discussion actively because I thought "even I did not participate well, people who are in the same range on the exam would participate to solve the problem. So I just need to follow them." I understand this behavior is absolutely not good, but to be honest, I was the person who did not participate actively.
I saw many people who behaved as "Compete to Win". I think the person who said "No T/F questions on the next exam!" is the one of the examples of the "Compete to Win". They strongly said about that issue even other person who are also "Compete to Win" said "No Essay, yes multiple-multiple" to push through their desired proposal.
I think people who said "Essay as a optional point on the next exam" are the "Collaborating" because they tried to frame a plan for both (No T/F side and No essay side). They explained the T/F question is same as multiple question. This group did not support only one side, but also think the benefit for both sides.
I think the leaders (2 men who stood in front of the classroom) were "Compromise" because they tried to listen and put together the opinion from all of the classmates. They performed very fairly, so I think they are "Compromise" person.
Actually, I could not find the differences between "Avoidance" and "Accommodation" from their behavior because both does not participate actively. The reason why they do not participate actively is in their mind, so I cannot understand it. They might behave as I did, or they just did not need to talk about the extra credit and the next exam because they got good grades.
I think we can make small group to talk about the issue first, and then each group talk to other group what they had in the discussion for the best solution for our issue. In the class, I was confused because many people talked about many different issue at the same time. There are about 40 students in the class and every single person has each opinion, so it was obvious many people talked at the same time. To avoid this, I think to make the group first is the best way to get much more better solution.
Or we can also give the more power to the leader except to make the decision. First, we make the rules such as "We have to follow the leader. We cannot talk without raising hands and until leader point him/her". I think it is easy way to ask every person's opinion and not to get mess up the issue. I think both of these are good to get the desirable result sooner and less conflict.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Topic #2 An Eggs-cellent Way to Plan
The planning skill is very important skill for all managers to achieve companies' goals. This egg project tells us how should we plan and solve the problem we faced on.
At the very beginning of this project, many other team started to write down about the members' name, who is the leader etc. However, we did not do that at that time because we do not want to spend a lot of times to create the required sheet. We defined our goals and objectives as soon as possible. Therefore, I think our team went through Step 1.
In the Step 2, we proposed the idea of egg-protection as many as possible we can. We did not determine our current status, all of us just thought about how we protect the egg. We did not care much about the individual's favor and weaknesses because the group was just created 5 min before! Moreover, our team did not choose the leader to spend more time to think about the structure, so our argument sometimes messed up. However, we really wanted to make it because of the extra points, so we listened other opinion very carefully to determine which idea is the best. I think we went thorough some of Step 2, but acutually we did not really mention about it.
In the Step 3, we bypassed to develop alternative strategies. I think we had a lot of ideas form all of members' and we talked a lot about which is the best idea to protect the egg, and we believed it will be successful in the end of the class. To avoid the accidents, we spend more time to develop the structure and how we create the protection instead of to develop alternative strategies. Of course we talked about other idea a bit, but we mainly talked about the main idea. I think even we think about other idea, we do not have much time to develop both the main and alternative strategies at the same time because time was limited and very short. Therefore, we almost bypassed whole of Step 3.
In the Step 4. we talk a lot how we develop the main idea, so we do not need spend much time to choose the action alternative. However, we were absorbed in developing the structure, so we did not talk about the roles of when we create the protection. Also we did not think about the size of a egg and the straw, so we would go further without knowing about the very important information about the materials. This two mistakes lead us to wrong way in the Step 5.
In the Step 5, we just have 10 min to create the protection. However, our team did not decide the role of each member, so when we created the protection, we were really confused and had less communication. Our plan was totally crush and we finished to make the protection 10 sec before the time limit. It was totally different what we expected, and finally egg broke.
I think we can do much better if we set the role for each individuals to make the things clear. We only thought how to make it more strong, not mention about the personal ability or skills.
If we chose the leader and set the role for each person, we might make it and get extra points...
At the very beginning of this project, many other team started to write down about the members' name, who is the leader etc. However, we did not do that at that time because we do not want to spend a lot of times to create the required sheet. We defined our goals and objectives as soon as possible. Therefore, I think our team went through Step 1.
In the Step 2, we proposed the idea of egg-protection as many as possible we can. We did not determine our current status, all of us just thought about how we protect the egg. We did not care much about the individual's favor and weaknesses because the group was just created 5 min before! Moreover, our team did not choose the leader to spend more time to think about the structure, so our argument sometimes messed up. However, we really wanted to make it because of the extra points, so we listened other opinion very carefully to determine which idea is the best. I think we went thorough some of Step 2, but acutually we did not really mention about it.
In the Step 3, we bypassed to develop alternative strategies. I think we had a lot of ideas form all of members' and we talked a lot about which is the best idea to protect the egg, and we believed it will be successful in the end of the class. To avoid the accidents, we spend more time to develop the structure and how we create the protection instead of to develop alternative strategies. Of course we talked about other idea a bit, but we mainly talked about the main idea. I think even we think about other idea, we do not have much time to develop both the main and alternative strategies at the same time because time was limited and very short. Therefore, we almost bypassed whole of Step 3.
In the Step 4. we talk a lot how we develop the main idea, so we do not need spend much time to choose the action alternative. However, we were absorbed in developing the structure, so we did not talk about the roles of when we create the protection. Also we did not think about the size of a egg and the straw, so we would go further without knowing about the very important information about the materials. This two mistakes lead us to wrong way in the Step 5.
In the Step 5, we just have 10 min to create the protection. However, our team did not decide the role of each member, so when we created the protection, we were really confused and had less communication. Our plan was totally crush and we finished to make the protection 10 sec before the time limit. It was totally different what we expected, and finally egg broke.
I think we can do much better if we set the role for each individuals to make the things clear. We only thought how to make it more strong, not mention about the personal ability or skills.
If we chose the leader and set the role for each person, we might make it and get extra points...
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Topic #1: Culture Shock
I am an international student, and I have lived in the U.S. since 2007.
I was really worry about possession of "GUN" when I came U.S. because in my country, Japan, having gun is completely illegal. Polices and few people who allowed to have gun to hunt wild dangerous animals have gun lawful. Even they have rights, getting permission is very complicated and careful. I felt to have gun has many risks for many people. Even if it is for self-defense from any crimes, I think having gun exceeds the limit of "power".
First time, I wondered why Americans do not worry about gun because the person who walking next to you on the street might have a gun!!! In this case, I was so rude because I know nothing about the rule of the gun in the U.S. but I wa
I know many people feel my opinion does not get the point why U.S. government created this gun possession system. However, I have never touched (even seen) real gun since I came in to the U.S. I grew up in the society which does not allow the gun and we have a stereotype that the gun is kind of symbol of "Bad".
Now I'm feel much better for having gun because I'm getting used to seeing the gun than when I came is the U.S. first, but I'm still worrying about it little bit... It is very hard to change my own standards and stereotype.
This is the biggest issue about the Culture Shock in my life.
I was really worry about possession of "GUN" when I came U.S. because in my country, Japan, having gun is completely illegal. Polices and few people who allowed to have gun to hunt wild dangerous animals have gun lawful. Even they have rights, getting permission is very complicated and careful. I felt to have gun has many risks for many people. Even if it is for self-defense from any crimes, I think having gun exceeds the limit of "power".
First time, I wondered why Americans do not worry about gun because the person who walking next to you on the street might have a gun!!! In this case, I was so rude because I know nothing about the rule of the gun in the U.S. but I wa
I know many people feel my opinion does not get the point why U.S. government created this gun possession system. However, I have never touched (even seen) real gun since I came in to the U.S. I grew up in the society which does not allow the gun and we have a stereotype that the gun is kind of symbol of "Bad".
Now I'm feel much better for having gun because I'm getting used to seeing the gun than when I came is the U.S. first, but I'm still worrying about it little bit... It is very hard to change my own standards and stereotype.
This is the biggest issue about the Culture Shock in my life.
Monday, September 13, 2010
About Myself
My name is Naohiro Tokiwa
I am an International student. I'm from Japan.
I am a Transfer student, and this is my 2nd semester at Baruch College.
I'm glad to see you in the class
Nice to meet you!!!
and this is my photo to help you know who I am
I am an International student. I'm from Japan.
I am a Transfer student, and this is my 2nd semester at Baruch College.
I'm glad to see you in the class
Nice to meet you!!!
and this is my photo to help you know who I am
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