So what’s this blogging thing about?

In the beginning of the semester, when Professor Kurpis told us it’s mandatory for us to create our own blogs I thought to myself this is going to be a different kind of class for the next four months. Boy was I right! Mgt 3120 with Professor Kurpis was a lot of fun, interesting, unique, motivating, and subject matter talked about in class were very appealing to his students. I think what made Professor Kurpis class appealing was that he always referred to past experiences and give real-life examples. I also noticed he would constantly refer to his students as “future managers” and “leaders,” I think that’s very motivating. He sees us as not just students but as professionals as well. And yes, his exams were hard, but he didn’t include anything on the test that he didn’t cover in class, it was just a lot of material. So, let’s get to this blogging thing…

I really like the idea of blogging our thoughts, opinions and suggestions for our classmates to read and comment on. I think for a big class like ours, it’s the best chance we have of interacting with each other and sharing our thoughts. We all can’t share what we think each and every time in class, then there will be no time available for Professor Kurpis to teach. Another reason why I think blogging is effective is for students who are more “active listeners” it gives them a chance to voice what they think. Some students are very afraid of speaking in front of a group of people; this is another way to communicate what you feel without saying a word. I also noticed by expressing our opinions, thoughts and blogging about the activities we did in class help me in remembering material for the test. For example, we had to blog about our planning process in one of the activities and it helped me to remember the 5 steps of planning.

I feel like blogging also provided a way for us to get to know each, after blogging about our goals, many of us realized that most of us have similar goals. I also liked that Professor Kurpis encourage us to say something positive about someone else goal(s), positive reaction from your peers is very important I think. It motivates us, because we can now see or figure a way to have our dreams turn into actions. Somehow when we have thoughts of doing something and we never get around to it, we tend to say to ourselves, “it’s was just thought.” But when we express our thoughts and goals, and get positive feedback it pushes us to achieve our goals. Even in times of doubt we look back at what encourage us in the first place and we keep going until we achieve our goals. I’m not naive to think that we will achieve all of goals because of this exercise or because we express where we want to be in the future, life changes and things happen but it’s a step to taking a dream and putting it into action. I don’t think any other professors at Baruch have ever asked me to write about my goals in life both professionally and personally.

In summation, blogging was an effective way for students to communicate to each other and communicate what they think about the class activities. I must say I enjoyed blogging. I don’t know if I will continue with it, that depends on my work load (both school and work) and I’m not sure if anyone will read what I write since it will no longer be mandatory.

McDonalds… “Having it your way?”

Assignment:

To purchase 1 small hamburger with exactly 4 pickles and one small order of well done fries with no salt.

Assessment:

Upon arriving on a rainy day last Wednesday at the McDonald’s located on 6th Avenue b/w 47th and 48th St, I was surprise to find that there was a long line ahead of me waiting to order, not only one line but five lines. I purposely went at 2:30pm anticipating that I will miss the lunch rush hour and therefore the server will definitely place my order correctly. It was quite the opposite.
As I wait in line to place my order, I notice the commotion going on in the back, cashier’s shouting out orders, workers looked agitated as they give the cashier what was ask for, the person responsible for handling the drinks looked weary and fatigued going back and forth with two cups of soda for two different cashiers. The worker responsible for taken care of the fries had this perturbed look on his face, as if he’s in an amiss situation of some sort as he throw the finished fries out of the fryer into the finished pile and salt them. At the same time he jostled his way through the crowded staff to throw another set of fries in the hot oil. As for the workers in the back who puts the sandwiches together, I really couldn’t see their facial expressions. All I saw was the cashier’s in front screaming out the order to another worker who’s standing about 10 centimeters away from each other, and that worker apparently goes to the back, deliver the order and bring the former finished order to the cashier so she/he may give the customer his/her order. At that point I noticed it took 5 workers to process an order (1 cashier, 1 worker who cooks the fries, 1 worker who gets the drinks, 1 worker who makes the sandwich and the last worker who walks back and forth delivering orders to the back and bringing the finished product to the cashier).

As I stepped up to place my order, the very courteous and friendly cashier ask, “How can I help you,” I told her I wanted a small order of well done fries with no salt and a hamburger with 4 pickles. It took about no more than 20 seconds to place my order; I then stepped aside to wait for my order. The cashier then relay my order to the employee next to her who went to the back to tell the worker who puts my order together and that took about 1 min. In about 1 min later, my order was ready. I tasted the fries and they were according to my order, just perfect. I then unwrapped my hamburger to make sure I got what I wanted. As I did that, I think I may have gotten the attention of the cashier, the worker responsible for taken care of the fries, and the one employee who goes back and forth. I then took out my blackberry, and that’s when they all look intently at what I was doing. Indeed my order was incorrect; it seemed like the lady in the back decided to give me an extra pickle since I asked for 4.


I nicely asked the cashier’ to please remove one pickle, I didn’t ask for 5 pickles, I only asked for 4. The worker took my order to the back fixed it and brought me the correct order. It took about 4 mins for the staff at that McDonalds to get my order correct. The cashier was very friendly, and after I took the picture of the hamburger with five pickles, they moved even faster to make sure I got what I asked for.
In summation, I would give the staff at this particular McDonalds, a good rating not a great one. First and foremost, I did not receive what I asked for the first time. If I was a consultant asked to help them improve their efficiency, I would definitely tackle this issue. A happy customer is one who gets what he or she wants in a timely manner at McDonalds. I thought they all worked well together, their coordination was good, but ther communication was meager (mainly because I didn’t get what I ordered the first time). I think I would eliminate the worker who takes the role as their communicate tool all together. Customer service was good except for the fact that I didn’t get what I wanted. I would also advise them to have more of an assembly line in the back putting the sandwiches together, for example, one worker should be responsible for putting the lettice and tomatoes on the bun, while another put the hamburger or chicken on the bun, while another warp the sandwich. I think that this will intimately cut their lead time and this way a customer might get what they ordered because each person has his or her own task, no longer will there be one person responsible for putting the sandwiches together.

"The ABC's of DISC"

I don’t know what leadership style I would fall under (dominance, influence, consciousness, or steadiness) because I wasn’t in class when this activity was given. But I think it’s important to have a little of all four characteristics. I also think that when we are in different situations; we will need to adapt different personality roles to deal with that situation. I think being somewhere in between all 4 types makes the most sense. There are times when you need to take “the baton” and run with it, there will be times when you need to listen to what everyone is saying before making a decision, there will also be times where you need to get all the information or facts before you make a decision.

I suppose it would be helpful to understand people management type to better understand where they are coming from. I think respect is every important in life, at home (w/ family), at work or in the classroom. And once you have that respective barrier then I think it not so hard to work with anyone no matter what leadership style they may have. I think you can take on a dominant role and be respectable rather than arrogant. Let’s face it; the first thing we think of when we think of dominance in the work place is a chauvinist a-hole that no one can stand being around. It doesn’t have to be like that. And I feel more and more my generation doesn’t value respect at much as they should. Let me be clear, respect has to come from both parties not just one.

In the Stranded exercise, I think having a consciousness personality type would be best. Because when you’re stranded in a remote area, you ought to think carefully of what you’re going to do, you must listen to all options from all of those who are stranded as well.