Marketing's tentative budget that was presented on Tuesday was pretty large, so hopefully it gets approved! When you consider, however, that it includes both the Comm 250 and 455 classes, it should seem more reasonable. Especially since we're trying to get everyone a polo! That should look awesome.
The areas of expense were:
Polo Shirts (with company logo)
Business cards
Brochures
Company effectiveness surveys
My goal for class Thursday is to be able to create more of a final budget and present that to Capitol.
Thanks so much Capitol for your patience!!
Thursday, February 22, 2007
Saturday, January 27, 2007
Poster Creations
Well, we have analyzed this case study so much and there have been so many insights already that I’m not sure I have anything profound left to say!
Anyway, Thursday’s class was fun and a challenge. I was in the Marketing group and we had to think pretty creatively to create our poster. In essence, we decided that the NASA organization has not been aware of or concerned with their market: the American people. We drew a graph/timeline of how NASA is viewed in the eyes of Americans beginning in the 1960’s and extending into the present. Basically, America was amazed in the beginning with the moonwalk and even a space station, however, for many contributing factors, NASA has done a poor job of staying connected with it’s public and convincing them of their importance. Few Americans now are aware or interested in our space program’s activities. If they marketed themselves more effectively they might increase their funding which, in turn, would allow them to conduct more productive missions.
Anyway, Thursday’s class was fun and a challenge. I was in the Marketing group and we had to think pretty creatively to create our poster. In essence, we decided that the NASA organization has not been aware of or concerned with their market: the American people. We drew a graph/timeline of how NASA is viewed in the eyes of Americans beginning in the 1960’s and extending into the present. Basically, America was amazed in the beginning with the moonwalk and even a space station, however, for many contributing factors, NASA has done a poor job of staying connected with it’s public and convincing them of their importance. Few Americans now are aware or interested in our space program’s activities. If they marketed themselves more effectively they might increase their funding which, in turn, would allow them to conduct more productive missions.
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Case Study Questions/Insights
Questions:
1. Why didn't a team collaborate immediately to take advantage of the window of opportunity they had to save the Columbia shuttle? There are several options that could have been at least attempted.
2. Could the Challenger tradgedy been prevented had the review board's objectives been different?
3. Is it difficult for NASA to coordinate and work cohesively as a team with 3 different space stations spread so far apart?
4. Who do you feel is most responsible for the organizational disasters which have occured in these missions?
5. What have you, as an organization, concluded the main problem to be? Trust? Communication? Alignment of authority?
Insights:
1. When you don't try to forsee possible mishaps and have no plan of emergency or backup, you're pretty much walking a tightrope without thinking you might need a harness. I assume this was the case with the Columbia mission. They spent so much time deliberating over a plan that the precious time they had was wasted. Had the plan already been in place, there at least would have been a chance to save them.
2. It pays as a leader to consider the advice of your workers. No one would take the Challenger engineer seriously as he desperately tried to convince his leaders of what he knew. I found myself in a similar situation while working as a consultant for the 2005 Sumter, South Carolina mayoral elections. I was only 20 years old and still in the process of earning my college degree. My other colleges were twice my age with much more education. I diversified the group by having a younger generations perspective within the community and was current in my field of study, however, the problem resulting was that I wasn't taken seriously at times I felt were critical.
3. Much trust within the organization has been lost and I feel the only way to regain that trust is to include everyone, every worker, in establishing a new motto that the agents and employees are valued and will be taken care of.
4. In our class discussion many seemed to agree that the fault didn't lie with one person in the organization, but many. To an extent, I disagree. The leadership alignment is bottlenecked to one or two persons. Those persons should be aware and involved enough be able to be responsible for their organization.
5. It is extremely saddening to see that NASA has not learned its lesson over time because there are many similarities with each disaster.
1. Why didn't a team collaborate immediately to take advantage of the window of opportunity they had to save the Columbia shuttle? There are several options that could have been at least attempted.
2. Could the Challenger tradgedy been prevented had the review board's objectives been different?
3. Is it difficult for NASA to coordinate and work cohesively as a team with 3 different space stations spread so far apart?
4. Who do you feel is most responsible for the organizational disasters which have occured in these missions?
5. What have you, as an organization, concluded the main problem to be? Trust? Communication? Alignment of authority?
Insights:
1. When you don't try to forsee possible mishaps and have no plan of emergency or backup, you're pretty much walking a tightrope without thinking you might need a harness. I assume this was the case with the Columbia mission. They spent so much time deliberating over a plan that the precious time they had was wasted. Had the plan already been in place, there at least would have been a chance to save them.
2. It pays as a leader to consider the advice of your workers. No one would take the Challenger engineer seriously as he desperately tried to convince his leaders of what he knew. I found myself in a similar situation while working as a consultant for the 2005 Sumter, South Carolina mayoral elections. I was only 20 years old and still in the process of earning my college degree. My other colleges were twice my age with much more education. I diversified the group by having a younger generations perspective within the community and was current in my field of study, however, the problem resulting was that I wasn't taken seriously at times I felt were critical.
3. Much trust within the organization has been lost and I feel the only way to regain that trust is to include everyone, every worker, in establishing a new motto that the agents and employees are valued and will be taken care of.
4. In our class discussion many seemed to agree that the fault didn't lie with one person in the organization, but many. To an extent, I disagree. The leadership alignment is bottlenecked to one or two persons. Those persons should be aware and involved enough be able to be responsible for their organization.
5. It is extremely saddening to see that NASA has not learned its lesson over time because there are many similarities with each disaster.
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Challenger Comments
I believe that what made the tragic story of the Challenger such a horrific catastrophy is the fact that the accident should have been easily prevented had it not been for the egos of NASA officials.
For example, CAIB member, Roger Tetrault, had the philosophy of, "prove me that there's something wrong.." So in effect, the personal trustworthiness of NASA leaders was not where it should have been. There was an extreme lack of concern for the safety of agents involved, therefore, the other space agents couldn't trust the organization they worked for.
Also, engineer Roger Boisjoly, warned officials of the dangers he saw and consequences, but was ignored! How can employees trust their organization if not taken seriously? On the review panel, there should have been someone to represent the interests of the space agents.
For example, CAIB member, Roger Tetrault, had the philosophy of, "prove me that there's something wrong.." So in effect, the personal trustworthiness of NASA leaders was not where it should have been. There was an extreme lack of concern for the safety of agents involved, therefore, the other space agents couldn't trust the organization they worked for.
Also, engineer Roger Boisjoly, warned officials of the dangers he saw and consequences, but was ignored! How can employees trust their organization if not taken seriously? On the review panel, there should have been someone to represent the interests of the space agents.
Monday, January 8, 2007
Comm 250 Day One Assignment
1. My best lessons in leadership came from....
Observation in workgroups throughout previous comm classes.
My father is a wonderful leader in the US Air Force and preisthood leader in the home.
2. Best lessons in communicating.....
My marriage!
Living with different sets of roommates for three years.
3. Organizations experienced:
Youth choirs
ballet classes
swimming groups
Karate classes
mayoral campaign
high school
Advertising internship
high school clubs
byui food services
USAFE Saftey
USAFE Personnel
LDS wards/seminary
4. The traditional American hot dog is gross because it is so greasy and fatty!
5. All the places I've lived:
Utah (born)
Alabama
Virginia
Texas
California
Washington
South Carolina
Germany
England
Italy
6. Acheivement I'm most proud of....
Completing my BS degree this April!!! Yay!
7. Industries I'm interested in:
Peace Corps, Microsoft (becoming a research analyst), Church Public Relations
8. A goal in life....
To learn Portuguese so I can speak with my husband.
Observation in workgroups throughout previous comm classes.
My father is a wonderful leader in the US Air Force and preisthood leader in the home.
2. Best lessons in communicating.....
My marriage!
Living with different sets of roommates for three years.
3. Organizations experienced:
Youth choirs
ballet classes
swimming groups
Karate classes
mayoral campaign
high school
Advertising internship
high school clubs
byui food services
USAFE Saftey
USAFE Personnel
LDS wards/seminary
4. The traditional American hot dog is gross because it is so greasy and fatty!
5. All the places I've lived:
Utah (born)
Alabama
Virginia
Texas
California
Washington
South Carolina
Germany
England
Italy
6. Acheivement I'm most proud of....
Completing my BS degree this April!!! Yay!
7. Industries I'm interested in:
Peace Corps, Microsoft (becoming a research analyst), Church Public Relations
8. A goal in life....
To learn Portuguese so I can speak with my husband.
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