O Management! O Management! wie krumm sind deine Astel.
01.26.09.rush...rush...rush...third! tenth! Basement? NO! 02.09.09. Veil of Ignorance. Zone of Compliance.Pizza.thirty seconds.crunch
crunch.How many? 02.11.09. Purple
Flowers.Quiz?Gift.Open?
culture.planning
strategic..
mgt.
zzz..
zzz.
zz.
seventy one! OH NO!
03.05.09.five.rush...rush...rush...plan. SPLAT! SPLAT!
jot,jot,jot...scribble, scribble.
"Vision." Future.
"Power of
Vision"
tear
zzz...
zzz..
zz.
decision making...scribble scribble. five steps.
...organizational design.
chapter sixteen.
zzz...
zzz..
zz.
seventy one!
again?
18.
individual
be-h-av-i-o-r. Page 2, Page 3
nineteen. Motivation. Maslow's Hierarchy. Idividual
needs. Existence. Growth. Page 4, Page 5...Flip, flip flip.
chapter twenty. motivational dynamics. performance rewards ---------->boxes
Continue!
CRAM! CRAM! CRAM! CRAMP!
Lights off.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Communication
Back in the day when blogs were just starting out, I started my own blog which I recall having the same address as my current management blog. I recall having one post in which I ranked my top ten set of favorite models. After four years of neglect my blog managed to disappear from the face of the internets. So here is my second attempt at blogging. I like to attribute the popularity of blogs to the belief that one has something important to say and everyone should hear it. From my limited experience (my first attempt at blogging) it doesn't seem to work in application. You may blog vigorously about your day, but who is the recipient? Does anyone actually read your entries. From the comments section of your posts the answer seems to be an overwhelming no.
The blogging assignment for this management class at least resolves this situation. My favorite part of the blogging assignment was the response to our classmates entries as well as reading of the comments to my entries. Finally, at least our thoughts had an audience and a sense of Communication formed. Because we wrote our entries and comments through the safety provided behind a computer screen, this engendered an honest and open dialogue that may not have been possible in a classroom. Since we each established our seats pretty early in the semester, we got the chance to participate with the same people in the class activities. It was therefore nice to get to know them through their blog entries, away from the formalities of the classroom assignments.
I was particularly struck by the informality and dialogue fostered in the classroom. Rarely is that seen at Baruch. There was active participation and everyone's comments were welcomed both by the professor and our classmates. I didn't know why this sense of community developed but now I realize that it can most probably be attributed to the Communication developed through the blogging assignments.
Would I recommend continuing this for the future? Yes, with a minor adjustment: Less emphasis on deadlines for entries and comments. A suggestion, which could of course be dismissed.
The blogging assignment for this management class at least resolves this situation. My favorite part of the blogging assignment was the response to our classmates entries as well as reading of the comments to my entries. Finally, at least our thoughts had an audience and a sense of Communication formed. Because we wrote our entries and comments through the safety provided behind a computer screen, this engendered an honest and open dialogue that may not have been possible in a classroom. Since we each established our seats pretty early in the semester, we got the chance to participate with the same people in the class activities. It was therefore nice to get to know them through their blog entries, away from the formalities of the classroom assignments.
I was particularly struck by the informality and dialogue fostered in the classroom. Rarely is that seen at Baruch. There was active participation and everyone's comments were welcomed both by the professor and our classmates. I didn't know why this sense of community developed but now I realize that it can most probably be attributed to the Communication developed through the blogging assignments.
Would I recommend continuing this for the future? Yes, with a minor adjustment: Less emphasis on deadlines for entries and comments. A suggestion, which could of course be dismissed.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Name: Gabriel...Grade: C....Test: Personality
I walked in to class that afternoon, unaware of what we would be doing. The relevant class lecture was on Personality and the professor mentioned a couple of examples of Personality tests which companies conducted on their potential hires. Professor Kurpis later mentioned that we would soon learn our own personality profile.
I can't recall taking personality tests before aside from those which occasionally appear on Facebook and provide generic options such as:
What do you think of the sun...
A) It hurts...
B) It's to bright
C) It makes me grow
D) I don't like it
E) Noting special
F) It makes me feel unplesant
An actual test taken from Facebook. Grammar left uncorrected to demonstrate full assumption of unreliability.
I never found any of these exams enlightening. Most require you empathize with a Disney cartoon character. I approached the class activity with an usual sense of skepticism. Professor Kurpis was also vague as to the whole purpose of the test, so I didn't feel the experience would somehow lead to a new-found revelation.
However, as soon as he started explaining how to go about the process of selecting the word which best described our attitude or belief I realized that this test was different. It required honesty on the part of the participant, and an honest person am I. I became engaged. It was like a puzzle, with only five sets of keys (Z,Q,X,W,Y). What did they mean? I couldn't wait for the answer to be revealed. The whole protocol required in counting the letters, placing the answer in boxes and finding the difference was amusing. Then we substituted those differences for four sets of letters (D,i,S,C) and lined them in a graph. The highest point on that grid for me was a C, followed by an S, the D and i may as well have been negligible considering they were negative.
Finally, the last page would reveal the enigmatic layering of symbols. The box for C read..."Emphasis is on working conscientiously within existing circumstances to ensure quality and accuracy"
Yes! An epiphany. I can't pinpoint when it happened for me, but the cliche of "finding yourself" is true. All I know is that it happened to me sometime late March or early April. This personality test was validation. Perhaps it even was the culmination of that period labeled "finding yourself"
The whole box about Conscientiousness was an affirmation of my personality and personal attitude. Something which I've accepted, don't want to change and am comfortable with. It was with a little trepidation that I filled in the box on the board with my name. I was the first person to place my name in the box labeled C, high S. Did that mean I was psychotic I thought to myself. The third to tenth name written on that same box assuaged my fears. I was not psychotic. The professor explained the significance of that personality type further. C high S's tend to be in Finance.
Yes! I had chosen the correct major. Further validation.
I can't recall taking personality tests before aside from those which occasionally appear on Facebook and provide generic options such as:
What do you think of the sun...
A) It hurts...
B) It's to bright
C) It makes me grow
D) I don't like it
E) Noting special
F) It makes me feel unplesant
An actual test taken from Facebook. Grammar left uncorrected to demonstrate full assumption of unreliability.
I never found any of these exams enlightening. Most require you empathize with a Disney cartoon character. I approached the class activity with an usual sense of skepticism. Professor Kurpis was also vague as to the whole purpose of the test, so I didn't feel the experience would somehow lead to a new-found revelation.
However, as soon as he started explaining how to go about the process of selecting the word which best described our attitude or belief I realized that this test was different. It required honesty on the part of the participant, and an honest person am I. I became engaged. It was like a puzzle, with only five sets of keys (Z,Q,X,W,Y). What did they mean? I couldn't wait for the answer to be revealed. The whole protocol required in counting the letters, placing the answer in boxes and finding the difference was amusing. Then we substituted those differences for four sets of letters (D,i,S,C) and lined them in a graph. The highest point on that grid for me was a C, followed by an S, the D and i may as well have been negligible considering they were negative.
Finally, the last page would reveal the enigmatic layering of symbols. The box for C read..."Emphasis is on working conscientiously within existing circumstances to ensure quality and accuracy"
Yes! An epiphany. I can't pinpoint when it happened for me, but the cliche of "finding yourself" is true. All I know is that it happened to me sometime late March or early April. This personality test was validation. Perhaps it even was the culmination of that period labeled "finding yourself"
The whole box about Conscientiousness was an affirmation of my personality and personal attitude. Something which I've accepted, don't want to change and am comfortable with. It was with a little trepidation that I filled in the box on the board with my name. I was the first person to place my name in the box labeled C, high S. Did that mean I was psychotic I thought to myself. The third to tenth name written on that same box assuaged my fears. I was not psychotic. The professor explained the significance of that personality type further. C high S's tend to be in Finance.
Yes! I had chosen the correct major. Further validation.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
My Vision...
This assignment is nearing it's deadline, and I've been putting it off until the last minute. Previous to writing this blog entry I was typing away on Excel, distracted from doing my Real Estate assignment and Management by amortization tables for properties in Ecuador. No, that wasn't part of my assignment, but it got me thinking about what I should do with the amount of equity I have lying around. As I changed loan values, and interest rates on the cells, financing Real Estate became more appealing.
What I want...
I want to purchase a sizable apartment in Ecuador. Either in the city of Quito (I love urban living) or in the suburbs. I don't want to settle down there, but it would be a nice comfort to have when visiting family there.
How I can do it...
A decent apartment in Ecuador can go for as low as 100,000 USD. For said price you get luxury amenities, 850 square feet and the opportunity to live in some of the best neighborhoods in the capital. To be able to finance the property I would require 30% money down. This is where my brother comes in. Although I don't have 30%, I'm sure I can round up enough money if I include my brother in the deal. And why not, if we fly to the country at separate times of the year, we get to have our own bachelor pad (for 3 weeks or so). Now, seeing that I have a partner in the deal, now our monthly payments are split between both of us so the $850 that we would have to pay for 10 years can be reduced to a more manageable $426 a month.
or...
My mother and father are speaking of leaving the country to settle back in their home country. My mother would like to settle down in the suburbs of Quito. If they were to sell their house in Connecticut, they would be able to put down about $200,000 in equity. With that amount of money one can purchase a 2,690 square foot apartment in Quito; or it would be possible to finance my mom's dream of living in Ecuador's equivalent to Greenwich for $80,000 more. This is where her children come in. Split four ways, a loan of that amount can be amortized in 10 years at 8% interest for only $255. My parents can settle down in Ecuador while their progeny pick up the tab. A nice reward for my parents' hard work considering they've just hit their mid-forties.
...I should be a financial advisor.
What I want...
I love Excel. I think Excel is Microsoft's gift to man. I would love a job where I can produce Financial Models on Excel all day. In fact I practice for that goal at my current job; I have no need for Excel at my current job. I have a passive character which seems to go against the stereotypical expectation of a Financier. But I've learned that I'm not fit for the fast-paced world of Sales & Trading, or maybe even Equities. Screw it, I'm conservative, when the upside is 13% I await the coming drop. That's why Fixed Income (Bonds) is more my style. Not sexy nor edgy, but hey that's not me. I know that and I've accepted it.
How I can do it...
I want to work in the UK. Today I started researching the ability to do so. I was quite encouraged by the whole process of entering said country. The whole visa process was straightforward, and the career opportunities available were broad. The whole conversion of degree process would probably be stressful but if someone was able to manage it, I'm sure I can as well. I'm definitely looking into a Commercial Bank. The UK has an array of options. Lloyds TSB, RBS, HSBC. I definitely want to work for a Commercial Bank. European Banks seem to have more regulations discouraging excessive risk-taking. I could see myself doing that. Calculating Daily Value at Risk for HSBC. I can already picture it. The only problem is that acquiring said job is highly competitive. Maybe I should hedge my bets and study in the country. The process seems more opportune and London has great Business Schools. But Business for my Masters Degree?
...I like Art more.
What I want...
Working for my B.B.A in Finance seemed like a great idea back in 2006. Everyone and their mother seemed to want to get into the field. Seriously, are like 80% of Baruch students Finance majors? When Accounting fails (or you fail Accounting) the choice seems to be to turn to Finance. Great time. Learned a lot, and it seemed sorta...easy. Now that I'll have that degree under my belt come May 27th, I feel I can turn to what I've had a passion for ever since I stepped into ART 1012 (Intro to Art History)...Which you may have already guessed; Art History. Finance was nice and manageable but now I hunger for the opportunity to actually argue about the artistic merits of Dada, or the timeless value of De Stijl. One can simply not do that when discussing the Internal Rate of Return. Therefore I would like to pursue my Masters in Fine Arts.
How I can do it...
I've been learning about the MFA degree conferred by NYU. I'm sure to expect lots of readings and a purchase of that thick Art History book whose name eludes me now. Oh, and they expect me to be able to read and understand both French and German. I had 1 of those down about 6 years ago, but lack of practice may as well have turned French into a dead language for me. I'm excited. It's 4 semesters and costs 42,000.
Now, I don't plan to plunge straight ahead. I need the funds to study and only have a fraction of the cost required. I may even need to borrow the remaining funds (gasp!) In any case, I'm sure I can save up to cover a significant portion of that cost. I hate interest, and don't want to give any bank the satisfaction of accruing considerable interest. In the meantime, I can dedicate myself to studying more about Art. I need to tackle the French and the German books necessary to actually be able to understand the numerous texts I'll be reading.
All great options I must say but if I pursue my MFA I'm forgoing my nice bachelor pad in Ecuador. But why shouldn't I get to do all three.
What I want...
I want to purchase a sizable apartment in Ecuador. Either in the city of Quito (I love urban living) or in the suburbs. I don't want to settle down there, but it would be a nice comfort to have when visiting family there.
How I can do it...
A decent apartment in Ecuador can go for as low as 100,000 USD. For said price you get luxury amenities, 850 square feet and the opportunity to live in some of the best neighborhoods in the capital. To be able to finance the property I would require 30% money down. This is where my brother comes in. Although I don't have 30%, I'm sure I can round up enough money if I include my brother in the deal. And why not, if we fly to the country at separate times of the year, we get to have our own bachelor pad (for 3 weeks or so). Now, seeing that I have a partner in the deal, now our monthly payments are split between both of us so the $850 that we would have to pay for 10 years can be reduced to a more manageable $426 a month.
or...
My mother and father are speaking of leaving the country to settle back in their home country. My mother would like to settle down in the suburbs of Quito. If they were to sell their house in Connecticut, they would be able to put down about $200,000 in equity. With that amount of money one can purchase a 2,690 square foot apartment in Quito; or it would be possible to finance my mom's dream of living in Ecuador's equivalent to Greenwich for $80,000 more. This is where her children come in. Split four ways, a loan of that amount can be amortized in 10 years at 8% interest for only $255. My parents can settle down in Ecuador while their progeny pick up the tab. A nice reward for my parents' hard work considering they've just hit their mid-forties.
...I should be a financial advisor.
What I want...
I love Excel. I think Excel is Microsoft's gift to man. I would love a job where I can produce Financial Models on Excel all day. In fact I practice for that goal at my current job; I have no need for Excel at my current job. I have a passive character which seems to go against the stereotypical expectation of a Financier. But I've learned that I'm not fit for the fast-paced world of Sales & Trading, or maybe even Equities. Screw it, I'm conservative, when the upside is 13% I await the coming drop. That's why Fixed Income (Bonds) is more my style. Not sexy nor edgy, but hey that's not me. I know that and I've accepted it.
How I can do it...
I want to work in the UK. Today I started researching the ability to do so. I was quite encouraged by the whole process of entering said country. The whole visa process was straightforward, and the career opportunities available were broad. The whole conversion of degree process would probably be stressful but if someone was able to manage it, I'm sure I can as well. I'm definitely looking into a Commercial Bank. The UK has an array of options. Lloyds TSB, RBS, HSBC. I definitely want to work for a Commercial Bank. European Banks seem to have more regulations discouraging excessive risk-taking. I could see myself doing that. Calculating Daily Value at Risk for HSBC. I can already picture it. The only problem is that acquiring said job is highly competitive. Maybe I should hedge my bets and study in the country. The process seems more opportune and London has great Business Schools. But Business for my Masters Degree?
...I like Art more.
What I want...
Working for my B.B.A in Finance seemed like a great idea back in 2006. Everyone and their mother seemed to want to get into the field. Seriously, are like 80% of Baruch students Finance majors? When Accounting fails (or you fail Accounting) the choice seems to be to turn to Finance. Great time. Learned a lot, and it seemed sorta...easy. Now that I'll have that degree under my belt come May 27th, I feel I can turn to what I've had a passion for ever since I stepped into ART 1012 (Intro to Art History)...Which you may have already guessed; Art History. Finance was nice and manageable but now I hunger for the opportunity to actually argue about the artistic merits of Dada, or the timeless value of De Stijl. One can simply not do that when discussing the Internal Rate of Return. Therefore I would like to pursue my Masters in Fine Arts.
How I can do it...
I've been learning about the MFA degree conferred by NYU. I'm sure to expect lots of readings and a purchase of that thick Art History book whose name eludes me now. Oh, and they expect me to be able to read and understand both French and German. I had 1 of those down about 6 years ago, but lack of practice may as well have turned French into a dead language for me. I'm excited. It's 4 semesters and costs 42,000.
Now, I don't plan to plunge straight ahead. I need the funds to study and only have a fraction of the cost required. I may even need to borrow the remaining funds (gasp!) In any case, I'm sure I can save up to cover a significant portion of that cost. I hate interest, and don't want to give any bank the satisfaction of accruing considerable interest. In the meantime, I can dedicate myself to studying more about Art. I need to tackle the French and the German books necessary to actually be able to understand the numerous texts I'll be reading.
All great options I must say but if I pursue my MFA I'm forgoing my nice bachelor pad in Ecuador. But why shouldn't I get to do all three.
Friday, March 20, 2009
Decision Making...
On the Monday after our Exam. We received word that what had been billed as an easy exam produced results that overall were less than mediocre for most. I was included in what seemed to be a sizable group; my grade was only one point above the average. What surprised was that the professor opened up the floor for discussion of our failures in the exam. The consensus seemed to be that it was difficult, confusing, and long.
I did not raise my hand to give an opinion like many others. I had accepted my grade, and was not about to form excuses as to why I had done so poorly. I felt the exam was fair and I with only 2 hours of study the night before, I had set myself up for defeat. When everyone who felt wronged got a chance to voice their opinions, the professor decided to allow us to propose a solution so as to improve our grade. A formidable task considering that everyone in the class had to agree to said proposal (at the professor's discretion). We were to have until 7:05 to form a proposal.
Once the time had commenced, everyone was stunned and decided to form little pockets of conversations discussing what just had happened. Two seconds into 20 little conversations around the room, a guy from the front quieted everyone down and opened up the floor for discussion. I got the task of writing the proposals down, ( a job I didn't expect considering I was now in the role of mediator). I now had to consider the concerns of all affected parties. I wrote down those proposals I felt had some weight and agreement by other students. Hands went up in every direction, with other students outbursting when I had given the floor to another student.
How did I handle the conflict that arose?
I saw my role as that of Accomodation. Like I had mentioned before I felt the exam was fair and I was unprepared. I received the average grade so I didn't feel that a considerable amount of students were more prepared or less prepared than me for the exam. I would have been content with taking my 70, and actually studying and improving my grade come the next exam. By the screams and arguments going across the room, I felt that the issue was more important for others so I annotated the proposals that won a considerable amount of praise ( NO Essay, ACTUAL multiple choice, considerable REVIEW, etc.). They all seemed good proposals and I'm sure if we won any deal above the 69 average the class originally received; I would have been perfectly content.
In this exercise, I felt a role of Compromise would have been much more effective. Many people wanted their own proposals to be included, at the expense of those that had considerable weight but would have provided no benefit to them. Given more time, it would have been great to have little committees that would lobby their proposals with each other, actually COMPROMISING to the benefit of everyone.
Considering the decision-making task was thrust unexpectadly before us, and our limited resources (one or two moderators, limited time). I think our reaching consensus on something was commendable. I think we received a GREAT deal once the Professor accepted our proposal and the class voted in absolute favor.
I did not raise my hand to give an opinion like many others. I had accepted my grade, and was not about to form excuses as to why I had done so poorly. I felt the exam was fair and I with only 2 hours of study the night before, I had set myself up for defeat. When everyone who felt wronged got a chance to voice their opinions, the professor decided to allow us to propose a solution so as to improve our grade. A formidable task considering that everyone in the class had to agree to said proposal (at the professor's discretion). We were to have until 7:05 to form a proposal.
Once the time had commenced, everyone was stunned and decided to form little pockets of conversations discussing what just had happened. Two seconds into 20 little conversations around the room, a guy from the front quieted everyone down and opened up the floor for discussion. I got the task of writing the proposals down, ( a job I didn't expect considering I was now in the role of mediator). I now had to consider the concerns of all affected parties. I wrote down those proposals I felt had some weight and agreement by other students. Hands went up in every direction, with other students outbursting when I had given the floor to another student.
How did I handle the conflict that arose?
I saw my role as that of Accomodation. Like I had mentioned before I felt the exam was fair and I was unprepared. I received the average grade so I didn't feel that a considerable amount of students were more prepared or less prepared than me for the exam. I would have been content with taking my 70, and actually studying and improving my grade come the next exam. By the screams and arguments going across the room, I felt that the issue was more important for others so I annotated the proposals that won a considerable amount of praise ( NO Essay, ACTUAL multiple choice, considerable REVIEW, etc.). They all seemed good proposals and I'm sure if we won any deal above the 69 average the class originally received; I would have been perfectly content.
In this exercise, I felt a role of Compromise would have been much more effective. Many people wanted their own proposals to be included, at the expense of those that had considerable weight but would have provided no benefit to them. Given more time, it would have been great to have little committees that would lobby their proposals with each other, actually COMPROMISING to the benefit of everyone.
Considering the decision-making task was thrust unexpectadly before us, and our limited resources (one or two moderators, limited time). I think our reaching consensus on something was commendable. I think we received a GREAT deal once the Professor accepted our proposal and the class voted in absolute favor.
Friday, March 6, 2009
The Egg named Shelldon
Shelldon was the name given to our egg in the "An Eggs-cellent Way to Plan" assignment. Although it appears that there isn't consensus as to the actual spelling of the egg. I side with those that want to make the pun obvious.
In any case, although the project we would undertake would be fun, it was necessary to follow a certain protocol in order to be able to "land" the egg without any harm. In reviewing the 5 Stages of planning, the process appears to be somewhat organic. Although we had been introduced to the planning process, we didn't feel constricted or aware of a set regimen. The presence of the deadline element definitely streamlined the process and before we knew it we were active participants in the planning process.
The 1st Step: Define your goals and objectives. This step was more implicit in the assignment. We all had access to the rules and the final product required of us. The group members which did not grasp all the requirements were made aware during the first 25 minutes of the planning process. It was evident that the most limiting restriction was the low level of materials to build the egg-preserving machine.
The 2nd Step: I think there were two camps in our group. Those which understood the limitations of the materials, and those which underestimated the limited use of materials. I was in the second camp. I didn't realize that 2 feet of tape was extremely restrictive in producing a complex machine. Yet, those group members who visualized the restrictive lenght and low number of straws made the others well aware that some of our ideas would simply not work. Our group had a considerable debate as to how big a straw was, and whether we could make a modified parachute out of it. One of my team members immediately got up, brought us a straw and by seeing the actual size scrapped some of the most resource-heavy proposals. Communication was also difficult. Some people had great ideas and their conviction of how it would work was contagious, but needed visual clarity. Committing the idea to paper proved discouraging. Other people listened carefully, visualized the suggestions and quickly sketched the idea, therefore allowing every team member to gasp audibly in approval and concord.
The 3rd Step: The first 25 minutes went by pretty smoothly; ideas were thrown around bouncing off one team member to another one. A practical idea was appropriated by another team member therefore improving the chance of success. What I admired about our group was that when a certain idea was mentioned (a modified parachute device) it wasn't quickly dismissed but rather we all went over the specifications, thought about its negative aspects and we all realized that we lacked the resources to execute such a device.
The 4th Step: One team member came up with a practical solution and another member promoted it vigorously. This idea would then become the one which we would implement in the 10 minutes required in producing it. I was skeptical of the idea but realized that given the circumstance this idea would probably work. I therefore yielded to these two team members and they were the ones which delegated the roles. (cut here, tape this, etc.)
The 5th Step: This step would prove to be the most difficult one, considering we were allowed only 10 minutes and had to run around the room chasing the one scissor available. I failed in retrieving the scissor to make the last needed splicing of the straw but someone my team managed to take the vision and make it a reality. Upon viewing the other devices, many of our team members were quit confident that our plan would work...and it did, with the exception of a small crack crawling on the side of the shell. Such a small crack that it took the professor 2 minutes to disqualify our invention.
In any case, although the project we would undertake would be fun, it was necessary to follow a certain protocol in order to be able to "land" the egg without any harm. In reviewing the 5 Stages of planning, the process appears to be somewhat organic. Although we had been introduced to the planning process, we didn't feel constricted or aware of a set regimen. The presence of the deadline element definitely streamlined the process and before we knew it we were active participants in the planning process.
The 1st Step: Define your goals and objectives. This step was more implicit in the assignment. We all had access to the rules and the final product required of us. The group members which did not grasp all the requirements were made aware during the first 25 minutes of the planning process. It was evident that the most limiting restriction was the low level of materials to build the egg-preserving machine.
The 2nd Step: I think there were two camps in our group. Those which understood the limitations of the materials, and those which underestimated the limited use of materials. I was in the second camp. I didn't realize that 2 feet of tape was extremely restrictive in producing a complex machine. Yet, those group members who visualized the restrictive lenght and low number of straws made the others well aware that some of our ideas would simply not work. Our group had a considerable debate as to how big a straw was, and whether we could make a modified parachute out of it. One of my team members immediately got up, brought us a straw and by seeing the actual size scrapped some of the most resource-heavy proposals. Communication was also difficult. Some people had great ideas and their conviction of how it would work was contagious, but needed visual clarity. Committing the idea to paper proved discouraging. Other people listened carefully, visualized the suggestions and quickly sketched the idea, therefore allowing every team member to gasp audibly in approval and concord.
The 3rd Step: The first 25 minutes went by pretty smoothly; ideas were thrown around bouncing off one team member to another one. A practical idea was appropriated by another team member therefore improving the chance of success. What I admired about our group was that when a certain idea was mentioned (a modified parachute device) it wasn't quickly dismissed but rather we all went over the specifications, thought about its negative aspects and we all realized that we lacked the resources to execute such a device.
The 4th Step: One team member came up with a practical solution and another member promoted it vigorously. This idea would then become the one which we would implement in the 10 minutes required in producing it. I was skeptical of the idea but realized that given the circumstance this idea would probably work. I therefore yielded to these two team members and they were the ones which delegated the roles. (cut here, tape this, etc.)
The 5th Step: This step would prove to be the most difficult one, considering we were allowed only 10 minutes and had to run around the room chasing the one scissor available. I failed in retrieving the scissor to make the last needed splicing of the straw but someone my team managed to take the vision and make it a reality. Upon viewing the other devices, many of our team members were quit confident that our plan would work...and it did, with the exception of a small crack crawling on the side of the shell. Such a small crack that it took the professor 2 minutes to disqualify our invention.
Monday, February 16, 2009
It's 1:30 PM; Do you know where your roommate is?
Yes, you read it correctly. It was 1:30 in the afternoon and I had concerns about my roommate. Not because she wasn't home (she was) and I actually could care less where my roommate is at any point of the day, but she was a discomforting sight to behold as I walked into the apartment.
There I was with three bags in tow, trying to unlock the door to the apartment. My keys proved useless as my roommate had bolted the door from the inside. My fruitless attempts at trying to enter proved to be audible however, as I heard footsteps approaching the door and a swift unbolting of the lock. Now I could return to my previous task; unlocking the door. I succeeded and entered the apartment, and I beheld my roommate still laying in bed, motionless. I greet her with a disinterested hello, and receive no response from her, as if she could have possibly drifted back to sleep in the ten seconds it took her to unbolt the door. Although my roommate's act may seem trivial, it is indicative of the difficulties in having roommates and it's repercussions once the lease is over.
To be honest, I care little about how much my roommate sleeps. I take it that her sleeping habits are a consequence of her lifestyle choice, mainly drinking heavily on days when she doesn't have to work. What I do find fault is in that I end up having to pick up her slack.
I left for Connecticut on Wednesday , taking advantage of the long weekend. Before leaving I cooked breakfast, cleaning up after myself afterwards. I considered that my roommate may need to cook breakfast as well. I do expect such consideration to be reciprocated by my roommate. However, it does not. I arrived Sunday night after spending some time with a friend, and find that my roommate is in bed yet again, this time watching TV. I walk into the kitchen and am greeted by a heap of dirty dishes in the sink. It is at this point that I resort to cursing her name under my breath.
It is incidents such as these that make me excited to know that my lease will soon be up and I will finally get my deposit back (otherwise I would have left her months ago). She never cleans the apartment and she leaves some areas so filthy that I wonder if her vision is impaired. I clean the apartment every two weeks; I've been trying to narrow it down to one week. I can recall only one occasion, with great delight, that my roommate suggested we get cleaning supplies and then proceeded to tidy up the bathroom (for my part I made the kitchen spotless; a two-day endeavor).
I love my independence and I would love to stay in the apartment rather than go back to Connecticut or look for another place. But my roommate! My cursed roommate! She's already gone through two other roommates in a period of 2 years, although I imagine it was for reasons other than cleanliness. If I were a tenant she would be the happiest landlord. I complain about nothing, but I do expect at least the courtesy of clean dishes. The lease ends in July and I must decide whether to swallow my tongue for another year and renew the lease, or tell my roommate the inevitable and let her know I'll need to look for another place because of the above mentioned reasons. The latter decision may complicate matters, as in this scenario the term roommate could also be substituted for close friend...
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
About Me
Hello.
My name is Gabriel. I am originally from Ecuador, via Connecticut. This semester is my last at Baruch and I must admit I will miss it. I like many others at Baruch, am a Finance major. The current economic condition has made me re-evaluate these last four years. Although Finance has been a "pragmatic" interest and something that I could potentially enjoy; it is difficult to consider it a passion.
I have an artistic side, which has for now been an extracurricular interest. Although I remember holding some artistic skill in the past, I never cared for it nor wanted to refine it. Rather my artistic interests lay in analyzing and promoting art. Now that I will leave the doors of Baruch in June, I plan to study something which an Art History course at Baruch opened for me. Many of my friends are looking into their MBA's and highly considering that detestable CFA trip, I hope to Master in Art History, where I'll have to plunge into cryptic texts in German and French.
It is something I anxiously await.
Gabriel Aldana
www.audiec87.blogspot.com
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)