Friday, November 4, 2011
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Jobs Obsolete?
Interestingly enough, I got this link from a friend.
She sent it out to several of our friends and got somewhat of a short flurry of emails.
The resounding push-back was that jobs are not obsolete.
However, I do think the point can be well taken that there are more opportunities to create your own venture...
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Marketing 390 Fun Facts
- The #1 thing that customers don't want from celebrity spokes people is to do drugs.
- It is estimated that Michael Phelp's bong hit cost him ~ $10M
- new vocab: Madison & Vine= Madison Avenue (in NYC- place where ad agencies are) + Hollywood &Vine (in LA- place where movies are made) signifies advertising plus entertainment
Friday, May 13, 2011
Wonderlust and Water Blog- Jaynie
http://wanderlustandwater.wordpress.com/
So I mentioned this book I'm reading "More Than Good Intentions" and wanted to share a couple of paragraphs with you...it builds on the idea that perhaps not everyone in a developing country is a budding entrepreneur...or are they?
So I mentioned this book I'm reading "More Than Good Intentions" and wanted to share a couple of paragraphs with you...it builds on the idea that perhaps not everyone in a developing country is a budding entrepreneur...or are they?
"The fact is that most microfinance clients are entrepreneurs not by design, but by necessity. Most developing countries lack social safety nets like unemployment checks or food stamps; if you want to eat you have to work. And since there simply are not enough salaried jobs to accommodate everyone who needs to make a living, people go into business for themselves.
This is a far cry from the American notion of entrepreneurship, which evokes images of people who break out form the crowd because of their energy, independence, creativity, and drive. I do not mean to say that entrepreneurs in developing countries lack these characteristics. Quite the opposite: Were it not for an abundance of determination and ingenuity, a great many of them wouldn't survive at all. But if you ask them, most would concede that building and running their own business wasn't their top career choice. Conversely, entrepreneurs anywhere, who exhibit that extraordinary dynamism and drive we so often imagine would surely attest that their line of work is not for everyone."
TED Talks- Cooperation & Learning from mistakes
Cooperation:
http://blog.ted.com/2009/04/27/the_future_of_c/
Learning from Failure:
http://www.youtube.com/
http://blog.ted.com/2009/04/27/the_future_of_c/
Learning from Failure:
http://www.youtube.com/
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Link from Jaynie- EWB Resources
http://aquadoc.typepad.com/
Presentation given to EWB (Engineers w/o Boarders) at Oregon State University:
Key synopsis:
http://aquadoc.typepad.com/files/campana_ewb-osu_3may2011.pdf
Presentation given to EWB (Engineers w/o Boarders) at Oregon State University:
Key synopsis:
- When doing international work must have right intentions.
- Admit failure and LEARN from it
- Work with local organizations as much as possible (network)
- Funding challenging because donors want to fund main event- not supporting acts
Good TED talk in slide deck:
http://aquadoc.typepad.com/files/campana_ewb-osu_3may2011.pdf
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Friday, April 29, 2011
Kit Kat in Japan
Marketing story: Kit Kat roughly means "you will surely win" in Japanese....through clever marketing...they essentially turned Kit Kat's into a national good-luck charm!
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Foreign direct investment
Net inflows of investment to acquire a lasting management interest in an enterprise operating in an economy other than that of the investor.
http://www.google.com/publicdata?ds=wb-wdi&ctype=l&strail=false&nselm=h&met_y=bx_klt_dinv_cd_wd&scale_y=lin&ind_y=false&rdim=country&idim=country:USA&tstart=0&tunit=Y&tlen=39&hl=en&dl=en
http://www.google.com/publicdata?ds=wb-wdi&ctype=l&strail=false&nselm=h&met_y=bx_klt_dinv_cd_wd&scale_y=lin&ind_y=false&rdim=country&idim=country:USA&tstart=0&tunit=Y&tlen=39&hl=en&dl=en
Growth Strategies
Market Penetration= existing product, existing market
Product Development= new product, existing market
Market Development= existing product, new market
Diversification = new product, new market
Product Development= new product, existing market
Market Development= existing product, new market
Diversification = new product, new market
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Down with the Heroes...What Now?
I really like the idea of social entrepreneurship and dream about ideas that can make a BIG, positive difference in the world at large. Three people/companies that I have been following are: Grameen Bank, the "Three Cups of Tea" charity, and Tom's shoes..........let's take a look at them now.
Grameen Bank:
I met Mohammad Yunis in 2003 and have looked at micro-lending and Grameen Bank as a real leader in reducing poverty. But essentially the micro-lending bubble- just burst.
http://www.smh.com.au/world/poor-can-no-longer-bank-on-microcredit-20110408-1d7ok.html
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/audio/2011/apr/01/focus-podcast-development-microfinance
The Three Cups of Tea:
Another inspirational character has been Greg Mortenson- the author of "Three Cups of Tea".....whom apparently has been using charity money to promote his book sales!
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/04/20/us-books-threecups-idUSTRE73J3T420110420
Perspective on Tom's Shoes/Charity in General:
I recently heard about Tom's Shoes and found it an interesting someone inspiring concept.
Here is a different view of it:
First Tragedy, Then as a Farce- Slavoj Zizek
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpAMbpQ8J7g
Little more about him:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavoj_%C5%BDi%C5%BEek
Soooooooooooooo after all this?
What now?
Grameen Bank:
I met Mohammad Yunis in 2003 and have looked at micro-lending and Grameen Bank as a real leader in reducing poverty. But essentially the micro-lending bubble- just burst.
http://www.smh.com.au/world/poor-can-no-longer-bank-on-microcredit-20110408-1d7ok.html
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/audio/2011/apr/01/focus-podcast-development-microfinance
The Three Cups of Tea:
Another inspirational character has been Greg Mortenson- the author of "Three Cups of Tea".....whom apparently has been using charity money to promote his book sales!
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/04/20/us-books-threecups-idUSTRE73J3T420110420
Perspective on Tom's Shoes/Charity in General:
I recently heard about Tom's Shoes and found it an interesting someone inspiring concept.
Here is a different view of it:
First Tragedy, Then as a Farce- Slavoj Zizek
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpAMbpQ8J7g
Little more about him:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavoj_%C5%BDi%C5%BEek
Soooooooooooooo after all this?
What now?
Women and Leadership
This 2000 HBR article "Why Should Anyone Be Led By You?" was part of my assigned reading in my organizational management course: full article: http://www.people.vcu.edu/~rsleeth/MGMT691/Supplement/Why_Should_Anyone_Follow_You.pdf
First of all, I must point out that it is ELEVEN years old. I pasted the excerpt below, but this is the basic outline:
excerpt from HBR, 2000 "Why Should Anyone Be Lead by You?"":
Can Female Leaders Be True to Themselves?
Gender differences can be used to either positive or negative effect. Women, in particular, are prone to being stereotyped according to differences—albeit usually not the ones that they would choose. Partly this is because there are fewer women than men in management positions. According to research in social psychology, if a group’s representation falls below 20% in a given society, then it’s going to be subjected to stereotyping whether it likes it or not. For women, this may mean being typecast as a “helper,” “nurturer,” or “seductress”—labels that may prevent them from defining their own differences. In earlier research, we discovered that many women—particularly women in their fifties—try to avoid this dynamic by disappearing. They try to make themselves invisible. They wear clothes that disguise their bodies; they try to blend
in with men by talking tough. That’s certainly one way to avoid negative stereotyping, but the problem is that it reduces a woman’s chances of being seen as a potential leader. She’s not promoting her real self and differences. Another response to negative stereotyping is to collectively resist it—for example, by mounting a campaign that promotes the rights, opportunities, and even the number of women in the workplace. But on a day-to-day basis, survival is often all women have time for, therefore making it impossible for them to organize themselves formally. A third response that emerged in our research was that women play into stereotyping to personal advantage. Some women, for example, knowingly play the role of “nurturer” at work, but they do it with such wit and skill that they are able to benefit from it. The cost of such a strategy?
It furthers harmful stereotypes and continues to limit opportunities for other women to communicate their genuine personal differences.
First of all, I must point out that it is ELEVEN years old. I pasted the excerpt below, but this is the basic outline:
- Pose Question: Can female leaders be true to themselves?
- make assertion: Gender difference can be used to positive or negative effect.
- state fact: Women WILL be stereotyped in leadership roles because small numbers.
- state 3 major stereotypes as: helper, nurturer, seductress
- state: women can avoid stereotypes by "disappearing" which is defined as "wearing cloths that disguise their bodies and trying to blend in with men by talking tough" --but don't recommend because...
- state: can try to collectively resist....but "survival is often all that women have time for"...making it "impossible" to collectively resist
- state: "play into stereotyping to personal advantage" that women "knowingly plan the role of "nurturer" at work, but do it with such wit and skill that they are able to benefit from it."
- Conclude: playing into stereotypes bad because "it furthers harmful stereotypes and continues to limit opportunities for other women to communicate their genuine personal difference."
Here are a few of my issues:
- Are they really posing this as a question? Moreover- as a question that isn't answered?
- Unless you count the nurturer example as "positive," I don't really see the positive example and I doubt that it will come from playing into the "seductress" or "helper" stereotype.
- fine.
- what about the most prevelent: bitch? more female leaders deal with this than all of the others combine!
- is this really true? is it because the women are 50? probably not. also it seems to condone "disappearing" as a solution! the reason why not to is weak
- The feeling here is really hopeless.
- being a nurturer is ok and many women ARE....this isn't "playing into a stereotype" by knowingly using your natural skills to the best of your ability at work.
- Which harmful stereotype are they talking about? Nurturer? It seems highly ironic that one of that one of the key principles they are promoting is "tough EMPATHY".....and empathy is a keystone of nurturing...
excerpt from HBR, 2000 "Why Should Anyone Be Lead by You?"":
Can Female Leaders Be True to Themselves?
Gender differences can be used to either positive or negative effect. Women, in particular, are prone to being stereotyped according to differences—albeit usually not the ones that they would choose. Partly this is because there are fewer women than men in management positions. According to research in social psychology, if a group’s representation falls below 20% in a given society, then it’s going to be subjected to stereotyping whether it likes it or not. For women, this may mean being typecast as a “helper,” “nurturer,” or “seductress”—labels that may prevent them from defining their own differences. In earlier research, we discovered that many women—particularly women in their fifties—try to avoid this dynamic by disappearing. They try to make themselves invisible. They wear clothes that disguise their bodies; they try to blend
in with men by talking tough. That’s certainly one way to avoid negative stereotyping, but the problem is that it reduces a woman’s chances of being seen as a potential leader. She’s not promoting her real self and differences. Another response to negative stereotyping is to collectively resist it—for example, by mounting a campaign that promotes the rights, opportunities, and even the number of women in the workplace. But on a day-to-day basis, survival is often all women have time for, therefore making it impossible for them to organize themselves formally. A third response that emerged in our research was that women play into stereotyping to personal advantage. Some women, for example, knowingly play the role of “nurturer” at work, but they do it with such wit and skill that they are able to benefit from it. The cost of such a strategy?
It furthers harmful stereotypes and continues to limit opportunities for other women to communicate their genuine personal differences.
Why isn't there....
My 90 year old great aunt needs a simple phone.
I have AT&T service and they do not have a simple enough phone.
What they offered me just doesn't meet her needs!
I have AT&T service and they do not have a simple enough phone.
What they offered me just doesn't meet her needs!
Organization Management Tid-bits
1. Use a stakeholder analysis. This is a very useful tool when you REALLY need to make a change. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stakeholder_analysis
2. When you take a management job, it is extremely important to do a Management Transition Meeting. Basically- you have to go through a Q & A to establish the rules.
2. When you take a management job, it is extremely important to do a Management Transition Meeting. Basically- you have to go through a Q & A to establish the rules.
5 Marketing Tid-bits
1. USA Census data- very useful for marketing- http://2010.census.gov/2010census/data/
2. To get "story" of people that live in particular place use: PRIZM NE: http://www.claritas.com/MyBestSegments/Default.jsp
3. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Transformers cartoons were created TO SELL THE ACTION FIGURES!
4. Mother's and Father's Day promotion....also....to sell....
5. Market Positioning statement: To (target segment and need) our (brand) is (concept) that (point of difference)
2. To get "story" of people that live in particular place use: PRIZM NE: http://www.claritas.com/MyBestSegments/Default.jsp
3. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Transformers cartoons were created TO SELL THE ACTION FIGURES!
4. Mother's and Father's Day promotion....also....to sell....
5. Market Positioning statement: To (target segment and need) our (brand) is (concept) that (point of difference)
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
definition of disparate
dis·pa·rate (d
s
p
r-t, d-sp
rt)
spr-t, d-sprt)adj.
1. Fundamentally distinct or different in kind; entirely dissimilar: "This mixture of apparently disparate materials
scandal and spiritualism, current events and eternal recurrencesis not promising on the face of it" (Gary Wills).
scandal and spiritualism, current events and eternal recurrencesis not promising on the face of it" (Gary Wills).2. Containing or composed of dissimilar or opposing elements: a disparate group of people who represented a cross section of the city.
TPS Reports
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XeoWIRn55eo&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHEohDnITdA&feature=related
Well I think I hit a new high today.
I have officially learned what TPS is!
TPS= Transaction Processing System.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHEohDnITdA&feature=related
Well I think I hit a new high today.
I have officially learned what TPS is!
TPS= Transaction Processing System.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Fun
I am really having fun.
Honestly.
It is amazing how almost magically after 3 months I become adjusted to my surroundings.
But I do.
And I am completely feeling on top of it.....in lots of places.
In my classes- I did well and learned a lot.
Teammates- I know who I like to work with and am slowly meeting all my cohort.
My company- we are making some real progress and I almost have a BUSINESS PLAN!! and I am going to do the elevator pitch competition! Which is exciting too!!
It is nice to have my feet under me again.
Honestly.
It is amazing how almost magically after 3 months I become adjusted to my surroundings.
But I do.
And I am completely feeling on top of it.....in lots of places.
In my classes- I did well and learned a lot.
Teammates- I know who I like to work with and am slowly meeting all my cohort.
My company- we are making some real progress and I almost have a BUSINESS PLAN!! and I am going to do the elevator pitch competition! Which is exciting too!!
It is nice to have my feet under me again.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Starting a New Quarter
Well....I officially made it through my first quarter.
I did quite well in my classes and learned a ton!
I have tried to capture what I was learning- real time.
This quarter I have: Advanced Information Systems, Organizational Management, Marketing, and Commercialization and Innovation......should be interesting.
Doing case studies which should be interesting!
Yesterday and today were soooo action packed!
I can barely believe it!
We are applying for 2 grants and doing a biz plan competition!
I just need to finish up that biz plan.......
I did quite well in my classes and learned a ton!
I have tried to capture what I was learning- real time.
This quarter I have: Advanced Information Systems, Organizational Management, Marketing, and Commercialization and Innovation......should be interesting.
Doing case studies which should be interesting!
Yesterday and today were soooo action packed!
I can barely believe it!
We are applying for 2 grants and doing a biz plan competition!
I just need to finish up that biz plan.......
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Big Problems in the world...
a local Oregon company tackling a big problem:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dx0z5OBq3Hg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dx0z5OBq3Hg
Professor Me.
I think it is funny the last time I wrote was CEO Me.
Today is definitely Professor Me.
I spoke as a guest speaker in a business ethics in engineering class. I am not sure if it is because I was doing public speaking or because I skipped lunch, but I feel a little out of it. Probably it is a combination of both.
I like the idea of being a professor and today was a little bit of my "dipping a toe" into it to see what it felt like to be in front of a class.....and now that I am not in front of the class I just feel tired. (Also could be low blood sugar from skipping lunch.)
I am such an interesting phase right now because I keep defining and redefining myself.
Imagining and re-imagining my future.
That is probably a little bit of my personality....I am definitely learning that that is a pattern with me.
I was rather excited about the idea of being CEO until I met one of the perspective CEO's....and he was really impressive......tons of experience and ideas.
But now I'm living the life of student/project manager and learning a ton along the way...
Trying to manage this software project is no simple feat. Many things make it challenging. Mostly I think I need to REALLY facilitate better communication on the tech team. That is the part where things slow. I do like how we are trying Scrum Management. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scrum_(development) The next sprint is going to be better.
Today is definitely Professor Me.
I spoke as a guest speaker in a business ethics in engineering class. I am not sure if it is because I was doing public speaking or because I skipped lunch, but I feel a little out of it. Probably it is a combination of both.
I like the idea of being a professor and today was a little bit of my "dipping a toe" into it to see what it felt like to be in front of a class.....and now that I am not in front of the class I just feel tired. (Also could be low blood sugar from skipping lunch.)
I am such an interesting phase right now because I keep defining and redefining myself.
Imagining and re-imagining my future.
That is probably a little bit of my personality....I am definitely learning that that is a pattern with me.
I was rather excited about the idea of being CEO until I met one of the perspective CEO's....and he was really impressive......tons of experience and ideas.
But now I'm living the life of student/project manager and learning a ton along the way...
Trying to manage this software project is no simple feat. Many things make it challenging. Mostly I think I need to REALLY facilitate better communication on the tech team. That is the part where things slow. I do like how we are trying Scrum Management. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scrum_(development) The next sprint is going to be better.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
CEO Me.
I've been leading this technology spin-out and it hasn't really been formal....but now we are looking at funding and I came upon the realization that if we have to choose right now...I will be the CEO. That is actually really exciting.
It is the first time I REALLY thought about that...
Need to look up the 12 slides for pitches....
http://www.inc.com/guides/2010/10/how-to-pitch-to-angel-investors_pagen_2.html
It is the first time I REALLY thought about that...
Need to look up the 12 slides for pitches....
http://www.inc.com/guides/2010/10/how-to-pitch-to-angel-investors_pagen_2.html
Contracts in a Nutshell
Contract= legally enforceable promise
4 elements to contracts:
4 elements to contracts:
- Agreement (offer and acceptance- don't confuse with invitation to bargain)
- Consideration (bargained for exchange of value that induced people to enter into agreement- gifts are not contracts neither are pre-existing duties)
- Legality (if is not legal called a void agreement)
- Capacity (minors and mentally impaired are not in capacity)
Types of Contracts:
- Bilateral (promise for promise)
- Unilateral (promise for action)
- Express (all terms stated)
- Implied
3 Types of implied:
- Implied In Fact- 3 requirements (1) goods or services provided with expectation of payment (2) party knows or should have know of this expectation (3) party had opportunity to reject
- Implied in Law- promise made but no contract exists but treat as if there is one to stop undue enrichment or injustice (promissory estoppel- made clear promise and relied on it to detriment of self)
- Quasi- Contracts- quantum meruit recovery- no promise but would be unjustly enriched if didn't
Sources of Contract Law:
- Common law- must have agreement, consideration, legality, capacity
- UCC- sale of goods: transfer of ownership for a price of movable tangible items- only need intent to have contract.
Agreement:
- Common Law= mirror image rule (must be mirror image to be valid)- must have defined terms
- UCC= no mirror image-- tip: "acceptance expressly limited to terms of this offer" will help stop battle of forms or changes.--can have open terms
Termination:
- Can take back any time before accepted
- expiration (can still revoke before accepted)
- rejection terminates- including counter offers
- option contract makes irrevocable
- if the subject of offer is destroyed
- reasonable amt of time
- reasonable geographic area
- reasonable scope
- conspicuous
- clearly written
- cannot exclude: intentional tort, gross negligence, public interest
Misrepresentation:
- Innocent misrep= can void- no damages
- fraudulent misrep= can void- can sue for fraud- can get damages- can keep contract and sue for damages
Is non-disclosure misrepresentation?
- yes if know.
- yes if the defect is hidden and don't disclose
Statue of Frauds: plaintiff cannot enforce unless in writing as signed if:
- interest in land
- longer than 1 year
- pay debt of another
- made by an executor of an estate
- consideration of marriage
- sale of goods worth $500 or more
Written Doc must contain:
- signature of defendant
- name of each party
- subject matter
- all essential terms and promises
UCC
- also must have written if more than $500
Saturday, February 12, 2011
GREAT Tutorials for Microsoft Project and Tips
http://faculty.bus.oregonstate.edu/Larson/New%20Faculty%20Page/project10/index.htm
These tutorials really are good!
Tips for MS Project:
These tutorials really are good!
Tips for MS Project:
- MS Project does not recognize Resource Dependencies
- Look for Gaps in critical path
- Manually change start dates of tasks with resource dependencies
Friday, February 11, 2011
couple of definitions from day:
eschew:
- shun: avoid and stay away from deliberately; stay clear of
a·droit (
-droit)Monday, January 31, 2011
30 years smart...
Today is my first Monday as a 30 year old and I seem to be full of ideas to blog.
Here are some of my thoughts:
In general water, waste management, and energy are going to be big markets in the future.
With all the portability of iphones and cloud computing there are also a lot of opportunities to mobilize things that didn't used to be mobile.
Two other thoughts are really around the push for math/science education and also some of the concepts in the "4 hour work week" namely making a distribution channel that is automated.......a math/science education game that is downloadable would be a great venture.......
Another link a talk about sustainability from a guy from IDEO:
http://www.ideo.com/
Here are some of my thoughts:
In general water, waste management, and energy are going to be big markets in the future.
With all the portability of iphones and cloud computing there are also a lot of opportunities to mobilize things that didn't used to be mobile.
Two other thoughts are really around the push for math/science education and also some of the concepts in the "4 hour work week" namely making a distribution channel that is automated.......a math/science education game that is downloadable would be a great venture.......
Another link a talk about sustainability from a guy from IDEO:
http://www.ideo.com/
Commercialization Class
Gordan Hoffman came to the commercialization class last week.
Here are a few tid-bits from him that I enjoyed:
What is Technology Entrepreneurship?
Building a viable and fund able new business through the application of technology.
10% of business has to do with the technology- rest is distribution, sales, ect...
Often it is the second mouse that gets the cheese....with a great graphic of a dead mouse....meaning first one there got caught by the trap...and second mouse could actually take the cheese.
Entrepreneurs often have personality disorders...they either think they are Nepolian (CEO) or are Technologists in love with the technology.
Lessons Gordan Learned:
Here are a few tid-bits from him that I enjoyed:
What is Technology Entrepreneurship?
Building a viable and fund able new business through the application of technology.
10% of business has to do with the technology- rest is distribution, sales, ect...
Often it is the second mouse that gets the cheese....with a great graphic of a dead mouse....meaning first one there got caught by the trap...and second mouse could actually take the cheese.
Entrepreneurs often have personality disorders...they either think they are Nepolian (CEO) or are Technologists in love with the technology.
Lessons Gordan Learned:
- No single formula
- can be too early or not early enough
- Flexibility in chaotic market is key- need a complementary team that works well under pressure with mutual respect
- Great ideas tend to have multiple parents- look for developing competitors and build a strong patent portfolio
- Don't get duped by pre-marketing customer enthusiasm
- Understand your customer's buying behavior
Selling is what it is all about.
Break Even Point
Just a review:
Break Even Point is such a simple and useful calculation:
Q= delta fixed costs/delta variable costs
Break Even Point is such a simple and useful calculation:
Q= delta fixed costs/delta variable costs
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Wednesday
I love technology.
It is amazing.
Ok soooo I can admit I am a late adopter.
However, I would like to say that iphones are AMAZING!
I am doing some basic research and downloaded visio...
technology is fun fun fun...
It is amazing.
Ok soooo I can admit I am a late adopter.
However, I would like to say that iphones are AMAZING!
I am doing some basic research and downloaded visio...
technology is fun fun fun...
Friday, January 14, 2011
Memo Formatting and Friday Suprises
Memo Formatting:
http://www.writing.engr.psu.edu/workbooks/memo_format.html
Well couple of interesting things:
1. Something that shouldn't have taken very long took.....4 hours! (oh well...done now)
2. I got a gentle kick in the butt....which is good for me. :) ok.
Now methods of forecasting:
Qualitative (Judgement)
http://www.writing.engr.psu.edu/workbooks/memo_format.html
Well couple of interesting things:
1. Something that shouldn't have taken very long took.....4 hours! (oh well...done now)
2. I got a gentle kick in the butt....which is good for me. :) ok.
Now methods of forecasting:
Qualitative (Judgement)
- Executive Opinion
- Delphi method (panel of experts, queried iteratively)
- Sales Force Composite
- Market Research
Quantitative (causal and time series)
- Linear Regression (casual)
rest are time series
- Naive approach
- Moving Averages
- Exponential Smoothing
- Trend projection
- Linear Regression
- Seasonal Variation
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Randoms:
Student Entrepreneur:
http://michigantoday.umich.
Rich Corone spoke in class today.
Talked about organic growth.
My business law class blows my mind.
http://michigantoday.umich.
Rich Corone spoke in class today.
Talked about organic growth.
My business law class blows my mind.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Monday's Biz Concepts
Monday Monday....
Break even Analysis and Point of Indifference
Break even= Fixed Cost / (price customer pays- cost)
This is how many units you will need to sell before you get your money back!
Point of Indifference:
Let's say your choosing between two things and want to know at what volume one is a better choice than the other....BAM! you want point of indifference.
Pt of Indifference (or units need to produce to get same number for both options)= delta Fixed/ delta cost for your two options.
I also did a little thinking about the commercialization project today.....and a TON of reading!
Oh! also fun legal fact:
Bystander Rule: The common-law bystander rule holds that, generally, no one has a duty to assist someone is peril unless the bystander himself created the danger.
Also....I can't tell if this blog is totally lame or will turn out to be something cool....
Break even Analysis and Point of Indifference
Break even= Fixed Cost / (price customer pays- cost)
This is how many units you will need to sell before you get your money back!
Point of Indifference:
Let's say your choosing between two things and want to know at what volume one is a better choice than the other....BAM! you want point of indifference.
Pt of Indifference (or units need to produce to get same number for both options)= delta Fixed/ delta cost for your two options.
I also did a little thinking about the commercialization project today.....and a TON of reading!
Oh! also fun legal fact:
Bystander Rule: The common-law bystander rule holds that, generally, no one has a duty to assist someone is peril unless the bystander himself created the danger.
Also....I can't tell if this blog is totally lame or will turn out to be something cool....
Friday, January 7, 2011
NPV and Breakeven
So I have officially learned about NPV and break even point.
Also, made it through my first week!!
Time to go dancing
Also, made it through my first week!!
Time to go dancing
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Seriously...Business Law messes you up!
I cannot quite describe this feeling...butttt....after my business law class today, all I wanted to do was threaten to sue people. 90% of cases don't go to court and I don't really want to go to court....just force people to pay money for being unjust.
As far as the projects with the university go...learned a lot more about the full gamut of what is happening. I am actually pretty excited about the one I am working on.
I also took my first quiz since 2003. Yikes! I need to warm up the memorization muscles.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
oh yah...one more thing
checking out a free project management software:
http://www.zoho.com/projects/
http://www.zoho.com/projects/
What did I learn today?
In a nutshell:
definition of Operations= producing goods or services.
Productivity= (output)/(input)
Total Cost= Fixed Cost +Variable Cost *Number of units
Break Even Quantity = Fixed Cost/ (revenue per unit sold- cost per unit sold)
def of "stare decisis" = "let the decision ride" (legal term)
def of "common law"= laws that judges have used judgement to uphold the INTENT of the law.
I really love being on-campus.
It is fun and I like having my office here.
I am definitely still not in the swing of things....but I am trying.
I am really going to try to do this like work.
Work 8-9ish to 5ish-6ish....hahaha I'm saying that as it is 8pm. :)
Tomorrow I'll meet with the other Commercialization people....so that should be good....we'll see what tomorrow brings!
definition of Operations= producing goods or services.
Productivity= (output)/(input)
Total Cost= Fixed Cost +Variable Cost *Number of units
Break Even Quantity = Fixed Cost/ (revenue per unit sold- cost per unit sold)
def of "stare decisis" = "let the decision ride" (legal term)
def of "common law"= laws that judges have used judgement to uphold the INTENT of the law.
I really love being on-campus.
It is fun and I like having my office here.
I am definitely still not in the swing of things....but I am trying.
I am really going to try to do this like work.
Work 8-9ish to 5ish-6ish....hahaha I'm saying that as it is 8pm. :)
Tomorrow I'll meet with the other Commercialization people....so that should be good....we'll see what tomorrow brings!
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Day 2 of MBA
Well today was Day 2 of my MBA education.
Last night I met with some of the people that will be working on a potential start-up that I will potentially be leading from the university. The issue I see that could be a problem is too many people and too little focus....but I am going to wait until my meeting Thursday for a little more definition of what I will be doing....I'll blog about how it unfolds.
I am taking a business law class that I think is going to be interesting and operations management.
I am feeling like I might read The 4 hour Work Week again....or at least review the notes I took.
The other book that I listened to recently was Drive by Dan Pink. I found it very interesting. Here is a link to a talk that he gave: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6XAPnuFiJc
In the book he talks about other types of companies rather than just non-profit and for-profit. For example: low-profit companies.....very interesting...needs to be investigated further.
Last night I met with some of the people that will be working on a potential start-up that I will potentially be leading from the university. The issue I see that could be a problem is too many people and too little focus....but I am going to wait until my meeting Thursday for a little more definition of what I will be doing....I'll blog about how it unfolds.
I am taking a business law class that I think is going to be interesting and operations management.
I am feeling like I might read The 4 hour Work Week again....or at least review the notes I took.
The other book that I listened to recently was Drive by Dan Pink. I found it very interesting. Here is a link to a talk that he gave: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6XAPnuFiJc
In the book he talks about other types of companies rather than just non-profit and for-profit. For example: low-profit companies.....very interesting...needs to be investigated further.
Monday, January 3, 2011
If at first you don't succeed....
O.k. I took a little break from blogging.
More or less September 20 was the date of the partner meeting that indicated that the business relationship was not healthy. Things were not positive and I didn't want to blog all the negative details. However, I am am going to get back to blogging and wanted to give a recap on the things I learned while being a part owner in a start-up business where I had gone full-time and the founders had not.
On Team Leadership:
Soooooooooooooo that start-up partnership did not work out very well for me.
The environment was not healthy so I cut my losses and began looking for other opportunities.
The experience also highlighted that it would be useful to have some finance and accounting background.
I was able to find an opportunity to work on Commercialization and Innovation projects at the local university while working on my MBA.....today was my first day!
Here is an interesting link on Web Development Start-ups: http://sixrevisions.com/project-management/web-developers-guide-to-getting-a-startup-up-and-running/
More or less September 20 was the date of the partner meeting that indicated that the business relationship was not healthy. Things were not positive and I didn't want to blog all the negative details. However, I am am going to get back to blogging and wanted to give a recap on the things I learned while being a part owner in a start-up business where I had gone full-time and the founders had not.
On Team Leadership:
- Create a shared purpose/effort. (What are we trying to do?)
- Agree on a general path. (How are we going to get there?)
- Communicate regularly. (What is stopping/slowing us TODAY?)
- Give tools that are needed. (Let me make us successful! I want to contribute! Just give me a little...)
- Allow progress to occur in whatever style. (I am me! I am free! I am happy!)
- Create metrics that provide you useful DATA and share it. (I know we are on the right track because I see the data!)
- Include everyone...reward everyone.
Partnership Musts:
- Risk and ability to influence tempo of growth need to be coupled.
- Keep communication regular. (reduces length of time of frustration)
- Seek understanding through questions. (diffuses anger)
- Couple efforts and compensation. (people want to be working towards success...)
Motivation Starters:
- Recognize other people's contributions.
- Help others contribute.
- Respect others.
- Care for other's well-being.
On Retail Interactions with customers:
- Have a united front!
- Don't threaten! Suppliers are your friends.
- Check your facts before you tell prices!
The environment was not healthy so I cut my losses and began looking for other opportunities.
The experience also highlighted that it would be useful to have some finance and accounting background.
I was able to find an opportunity to work on Commercialization and Innovation projects at the local university while working on my MBA.....today was my first day!
Here is an interesting link on Web Development Start-ups: http://sixrevisions.com/project-management/web-developers-guide-to-getting-a-startup-up-and-running/
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