The PDP assignment was not a typical assignment where you research and write a paper. But was an on going process that introduced to me the concept of project management. I was working pieces of the overall project and at the end come up with a completed project. It required great deal of planning and implementation in terms of actions.
The most significant external environmental segment researched by my team was the trade and currency and how it evolved during different periods of our history.
I will be using what I learned from completing my PDP. I will be more organized and will tackle one item at a time and knowing exactly how each item fits to the overall project and my work will be to complement the work of others in my unit.
I define wisdom as the means and the way to achieve your goal and target by using your knowledge and good judgment.
Sunday, March 18, 2007
GRAD 702 - Reflections on Module 4 Concepts
Coming up with a group metaphor was one of the hardest exercise we have had for this course. We have to juggle with concepts and terminologies. After a long discussions and agreed and compromised with a sketch.
I have learned to listen to other views, to compromise and to accept the group decisions.
I consider myself a leader rather than manager and here are some of my reasons:
Before I take a task or a project I study what is involved to accomplish it. Only when I am convinced and believe in it that I ask others to do their part. I try to give clear instructions of how to do the task and what the expectations are. I always lead by example and convince everyone around me to buy in and believe in what ever we are doing. I always acknowledge when someone does something good or come up with new way of doing things.
I had few meetings with my coach at Panera Bread on Westerville Road in Westerville, Ohio near his house. We discussed my plans for the next 17 months and how I could accomplish my goal to graduate. He was very open and frank with me. We agreed a set of rules that we have to meet at least once a month and he asked me to provide him in advance the month schedule at a time. He also told me that he prefers to have my papers in electronic format and that I give him enough time for him to review.
We agreed all the points raised by him and hopefully this relationship will last for long time to come.
I have learned to listen to other views, to compromise and to accept the group decisions.
I consider myself a leader rather than manager and here are some of my reasons:
Before I take a task or a project I study what is involved to accomplish it. Only when I am convinced and believe in it that I ask others to do their part. I try to give clear instructions of how to do the task and what the expectations are. I always lead by example and convince everyone around me to buy in and believe in what ever we are doing. I always acknowledge when someone does something good or come up with new way of doing things.
I had few meetings with my coach at Panera Bread on Westerville Road in Westerville, Ohio near his house. We discussed my plans for the next 17 months and how I could accomplish my goal to graduate. He was very open and frank with me. We agreed a set of rules that we have to meet at least once a month and he asked me to provide him in advance the month schedule at a time. He also told me that he prefers to have my papers in electronic format and that I give him enough time for him to review.
We agreed all the points raised by him and hopefully this relationship will last for long time to come.
Saturday, March 17, 2007
GRAD 702 - Reflections Module 3 Concepts
I feel most comfortable the Competitive Lens and I feel least comfortable the Collobarative Lens. I am the kind a person or leader who is busy to analyze the problem and find out a way to solve the issue or the work is done. Worrying and dealing people's problem is my least concern. The four-lens perspective thought that I need to adopt every situation in order to get a solution for every problem.
I learned from my personal competence sort cards that my strenght is adopting new situation and simplifyind complex situation and have the work or task done regardless. My weakness is that I need improve on my business language fkuency and that I have to adopt adaptive decision making process.
I was approached by an old freind who was working with a group of Somali intellctuals and former politcians to help him organize a Somali Diaspora Conference in Columbus, OH. Ohio has has the second largest Somalis in US. I took the task and organized a mailing list for 13 like minded individuals included the freind who originally contacted me. We had exchanged ideas of why we want the conference ? who is going to attend ? what the selection will (criteria) be ? When agreed all of the above, then set the date. I did rented the conference hall, negotiated with the hotel and got group rate, prepared the packets with local host commitee. We sent invitations to 160 delagated from all over US and Canada and 152 attended. The conference on March 10-11, 2007 and it was the most succeful conference for the Somali Diaspora.
At the registration booth of the conference a gentlemen who is not invited showed up to attend when I told him that it was an invitation only, he became agitated and verbal. I took him to a side and asked why he wants to attend this particular meeting and he did not had an answer other that he was humiliated infront of others for refusing him to attend a Somali diaspora conference. I told him that if pays the registration fee and signs the code of conduct of the conference he will be allowed but if he violates the code of the conduct that I will have no option but to ask the security guard to remove him from the coneference and that he will loose his regsitration fees. He paid the fee and signed the code of of conduct and we allowed him to participate the conference.
I learned from my personal competence sort cards that my strenght is adopting new situation and simplifyind complex situation and have the work or task done regardless. My weakness is that I need improve on my business language fkuency and that I have to adopt adaptive decision making process.
I was approached by an old freind who was working with a group of Somali intellctuals and former politcians to help him organize a Somali Diaspora Conference in Columbus, OH. Ohio has has the second largest Somalis in US. I took the task and organized a mailing list for 13 like minded individuals included the freind who originally contacted me. We had exchanged ideas of why we want the conference ? who is going to attend ? what the selection will (criteria) be ? When agreed all of the above, then set the date. I did rented the conference hall, negotiated with the hotel and got group rate, prepared the packets with local host commitee. We sent invitations to 160 delagated from all over US and Canada and 152 attended. The conference on March 10-11, 2007 and it was the most succeful conference for the Somali Diaspora.
At the registration booth of the conference a gentlemen who is not invited showed up to attend when I told him that it was an invitation only, he became agitated and verbal. I took him to a side and asked why he wants to attend this particular meeting and he did not had an answer other that he was humiliated infront of others for refusing him to attend a Somali diaspora conference. I told him that if pays the registration fee and signs the code of conduct of the conference he will be allowed but if he violates the code of the conduct that I will have no option but to ask the security guard to remove him from the coneference and that he will loose his regsitration fees. He paid the fee and signed the code of of conduct and we allowed him to participate the conference.
GRAD 702 - Reflections on Module 2 Concepts
There was surprise in my HBDI result; I always thought that I was a right brain thinker and that I was a strategic thinker. But my HBDI result shows the opposite and I am a left brain thinker. This answers a lot of questions for me. I always felt very uncomfortable when giving presentations or talking to a large group of people. I also don't like to be working with people who like to accommodate others. I was always concern that the work is done and is done on time.I want leave behind as a legacy for my family, country and humanity in general a functioning foundation that helps the needy children gets education.I normally deal with conflict to avoid it. It is always my desire a avoid conflicts and when I face one and I try to defuse it as calm as possible.I found the reading of chapter 29 of the whole brain book very intriguing, especially in the area of manager's value and the example he used to explain how individual influences manager's decision making.Covey's reading mainly focused in finding your own voice and creates an environment of trust to influence others. This is a tool that every leader should practice.
Monday, February 19, 2007
GRAD 702 - Reflections on Module 1 Concepts
I rate my level of professionalism as medium. Because I do not have, clear picture of my role in my organization and I am not sure what I will be doing in the next 3-5 years. I have not seen my HBDI and do not know what my preferred quadrant is. But consider my self in quadrant D, I believe that I am very artistic and always look for the big picture.
From now onwards, I will be looking carefully when have a problem working with a colleague or having problem understanding my teenage daughter and rule out the four quadrants effects before I will jump into conclusion.
From now onwards, I will be looking carefully when have a problem working with a colleague or having problem understanding my teenage daughter and rule out the four quadrants effects before I will jump into conclusion.
Wednesday, February 7, 2007
Learning Journal - Week 3
At the start of GRAD701, I was very intimidating and overwhelmed. But on the first day of my class I found out that the atmosphere was more positive and very encouraging.
My first assignment, I was very shaky and did not knew where to start, the amount of reading was overwhelming and I have to use the computer back and forth to complete one assignment at a time. I was late with my first assignments and completed in rush but I believe it was as good learning experience.
The second weeks assignments I was more prepared, but most importantly the topics of reading were exactly what I needed. The reading materials were in learning styles and multiple intelligences and spent a lot more time in understanding these concepts. When I started working on my assignments, I knew my learning style and where I fit in the multiple intelligences. For the first time in my life, I truly understood what my limitations were and how to overcome from it.
This course GRAD701 taught me more than anything else that I have to plan everything in life, and prioritize everything that I want do according to their importance and avoid creating unnecessary emergencies.
When I meet with my coach, I will discuss with him the following: How often we are going to meet ? Where are going to meet ? Time and place of meeting ? and whether he wants me to prepare official agenda or whether he prefers informal meeting.
During past two weeks, I have been introduced to a new concepts and ideas and have gained confidence in myself. The real learning for me was that I have meet with so many motivated students from different professional backgrounds.
My first assignment, I was very shaky and did not knew where to start, the amount of reading was overwhelming and I have to use the computer back and forth to complete one assignment at a time. I was late with my first assignments and completed in rush but I believe it was as good learning experience.
The second weeks assignments I was more prepared, but most importantly the topics of reading were exactly what I needed. The reading materials were in learning styles and multiple intelligences and spent a lot more time in understanding these concepts. When I started working on my assignments, I knew my learning style and where I fit in the multiple intelligences. For the first time in my life, I truly understood what my limitations were and how to overcome from it.
This course GRAD701 taught me more than anything else that I have to plan everything in life, and prioritize everything that I want do according to their importance and avoid creating unnecessary emergencies.
When I meet with my coach, I will discuss with him the following: How often we are going to meet ? Where are going to meet ? Time and place of meeting ? and whether he wants me to prepare official agenda or whether he prefers informal meeting.
During past two weeks, I have been introduced to a new concepts and ideas and have gained confidence in myself. The real learning for me was that I have meet with so many motivated students from different professional backgrounds.
Sunday, February 4, 2007
GRAD701 Assignment 1-3
a) First weeks assisgnments for GRAD701 course were very simple and at the sametime complicated for me atleast. It was an introduction of what we are getting into interms of committment. I think it will help me become more organized and more productive in my professional life.b) These assignement, will help me appreciate the important things in life and to be more careful when I see an urgent or larm signals and take deep breath to priotrize tasks according to their importance not necessary their urgency.c) I discuss with my coach : meeting methods (face to face or other means), how often we are going to meet and for how long, where are we going to meet. To communicate via e-mail most of the time.d) I will include my portofolio ...
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