Welcome to Academic Strategies for the Business Professional Unit 8 Seminar Robert Sullivan

Welcome toWelcome to

Academic Strategies for the Business Professional

Unit 8 Seminar

Robert Sullivan

AgendaAgenda

• Unit 7 Summary• Unit 8 Prelude• Seminar Case History• Setting the Right Path• Problem Solving Skills• Is your degree worth $1 million?• Educational Census• Questions

Unit Seven SummaryUnit Seven Summary

• As a recap, Unit Seven you understood the importance of goal-setting and planning, setting goals for completing the interview portion of the Unit 8 project, and networking.

• There was a Discussion Board worth 50pts associated with this unit.

• IMPORTANT: The Interview with a Professional IS DUE in Unit 8. Again, you should be planning and making this one of your short-term goals in order to be successful. Note that there is no Project due the week of Unit Seven so that you will have the time to plan and complete the interview before Unit 8.

Unit Eight PreludeUnit Eight Prelude

• Unit Eight will take a look at Career Connections. You explore which career is right for you by utilizing O*net and Kaplan University Career Services, you learn more about yourself and explore your career options. You will also discover how your interests and skills can help you achieve your educational and career goals.

• There is a Discussion Board worth 50pts and an Assignment (Interview with a Professional) from Unit 7 worth 60pts associated with this unit.

Seminar Case HistorySeminar Case HistoryDid anyone have a chance to view/read the

Seminar Case History for Unit Eight?

Seminar Case HistorySeminar Case HistoryDid anyone have a chance to view/read the Seminar Case

History for Unit Eight?

Minh has been working as a retail clerk since high school. She knows the inventory well and likes her boss and the customers who come in regularly to purchase from her. Her income is above minimum wage and is almost enough to cover the cost of living, so she has been rather satisfied - until recently.

You see, Minh is planning to get married next year. She knows

that this life change means her responsibilities will increase, and so she has chosen to go to college and increase her job prospects as well. She has chosen Business as her major.

The first term has been going well, but in week 8, Minh's boss

asks her to work extra hours.

Seminar Case HistorySeminar Case History

How is Minh’s current job beneficial to her ultimate career goals?



How would setting more specific career goals help Minh make decisions?



How would setting more specific career goals help Minh make decisions?

What general advice would you give Minh to encourage her to complete the quarter and continue in school?

Setting the Right PathSetting the Right Path

There is great information online that help you choose a major.





Have any of you had a chance to visit O*Net OnLine?


Kaplan University has its own Career Services web site.

• Go to your KU Campus homepage.

• This page contains a number of useful links.

• Under the University Info Heading, Click the link for Career Resources.

• Once that page opens, look on the left-hand side of the page and explore.


Kaplan University has its own Career Services web site.

• Go to your KU Campus homepage.

• This page contains a number of useful links.

• Under the University Info Heading, Click the link for Career Resources.

• Once that page opens, look on the left-hand side of the page and explore.

Have any of you had a chance to visit Kaplan’s Career Services?


Some of the resources offered include:

• Helpful Articles

• Resume Tips

• Cover Letter Tips


A resume is a place where you typically list:

• Education• Job Experience• Skills

Optimal Resume is a resume creation tool that is provided to Kaplan students. It can be accessed directly from the Career Services main page.

Click on the "New Users Click Here" link and follow the instructions.

https://kaplanu.optimalresume.com

Problem Solving SkillsProblem Solving Skills

• These Problem Solving Skills will help you solve complicated business problems.

• These techniques help you conduct an analysis of the problems you face, by helping you look at them in a structured and methodical way.

• Plus, these skills give you a good starting point in business problem solving (and other problem solving situations), where other people would just feel helpless and intimidated by the situation.


General approaches to problem solving:

• Appreciation is a useful technique for extracting good information from dry facts.

• Cause & Effect Diagrams are useful for making sure that you have considered all factors relating to a problem.

• Affinity Diagrams help you organize disparate items into related groups.

• Risk Analysis provides a formal framework for identifying the risks you face, and helps you to work out a strategy for controlling them.


Business strategy techniques help you understand your business and its environment, so that you can identify the best way forward:

• SWOT Analysis helps you to work out a survival and success strategy in a competitive environment.

• PEST Analysis and Porter's Five Forces help you understand the business environment you operate in.

• The Boston Matrix, Core Competence Analysis and USP Analysis help you build a competitive edge.

• And the articles on Critical Success Factors, The McKinsey 7Ss and the Greiner Curve help you focus on the things that matter in complex business situations.


More Problem Solving Techniques:

• Appreciation - Extracting maximum information from facts.• 5 Whys - Getting quickly to the root of a problem.• Cause & Effect Diagrams - Identifying likely causes of problems.• Affinity Diagrams - Organizing ideas into common themes Appreciative Inquiry -

Solving problems by looking at what's going right.• Flow Charts - Understanding process flows Risk Analysis and Risk Management

SWOT - Analyzing your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.• PEST Analysis - Understanding "big picture" forces of change

The Marketing Mix and the 4 Ps - Understanding how to position your market offering.

• The Ansoff Matrix - Understanding the different risks of different options The Boston Matrix - Focusing effort to give the greatest returns.

• Porter's Five Forces - Understanding the balance of power in a situation. • Core Competence Analysis - Get ahead. Stay ahead. USP Analysis - Finding your

competitive edge.

http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newTMC_01.htm

http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newTMC_5W.htm








http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newSTR_94.htm


http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newTED_97.htm





More Problem Solving Techniques:

• Critical Success Factors - Identifying the things that really matter for success The Greiner Curve - Surviving the crises that come with growth The McKinsey 7S Framework - Ensuring all parts of your organization work in harmony.

• Using Aides Memoire - Feeding experience back into problem solving.• SIPOC Diagrams - Making sure your change process serves everyone.• Inductive Reasoning - Drawing good generalized conclusions.• Avoiding Logical Fallacies - What they are, and how to avoid them.• Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) - Understanding very complex issues.• Queuing Models - Optimizing service and resources.• Activity-Based Costing (ABC) - Understanding what really drives costs.• CATWOE - Understanding the different elements that contribute to a problem.• Swim Lane Diagrams - Mapping and improving processes in your

organization.• Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) - Spotting problems before a

solution is implemented.

http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newLDR_80.htm

http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newLDR_87.htm

http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newSTR_91.htm

Is your Degree Worth $1 Million?Is your Degree Worth $1 Million?

MSN Money had an article titled “Is your degree worth $1 million – or worthless? written by Liz Pulliam Weston, she states:

Associate's degrees are a slam dunk. These two-year degrees seem to result in a massive payback, compared to their relatively low cost, for a high school graduate.



Ditto, usually, a bachelor's degree. Any bachelor's degree you get at a public university is likely to pay off handsomely, as well. If you're attending a private college, though, you might want to steer clear of education degrees.



Some degrees are a step back. Thinking of a master's degree in a liberal arts or social sciences field? Let's hope you're in it for the love of learning, because on average there doesn't seem to be any financial payoff.



Professional degrees rule. There's a reason why people borrow tons of money to attend law and medical schools. The return for a professional degree is huge.

Educational CensusEducational Census

One Educational Census stated, the percentage of people in the U.S. that have a High School Diploma or higher: 79.86%

• That have Some College but no degree or higher: 50.04%• That have an Associate’s Degree, Occupational or higher: 31.83%• That have an Associate’s Degree, Academic or higher: 27.78%• That have a Bachelor’s Degree or higher: 24.04%• That have a Master’s Degree or higher: 8.03%• That has a Professional Degree: 2.38%• That has a Doctoral Degree: 1.07%



Education pays ... Education pays in higher earnings and lower unemployment rates

Note: Data are 2008 annual averages for persons age 25 and over.

Earnings are for full-time wage and salary workers.Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Population Survey.


Why Get a College Degree?Why Get a College Degree?

So the question is, Why Get a College Degree?

The answer is: Knowledge, Skills, and More Opportunities

If you go to college, you'll gain information and skills that you'll use for the rest of your life, no matter what career you chose.

College will enable you to:• Expand your knowledge and skills.• Express your thoughts clearly in speech and in writing.• Grasp abstract concepts and theories.

Why Get a College Degree?Why Get a College Degree?

These benefits may sound great on their own, but college also has some very practical benefits:

• More Job Opportunities: The world is changing rapidly. More and more jobs require education beyond high school. College graduates have more jobs to choose from than those who don't pursue education beyond high school.

• Earn More Money: A person who goes to college usually earns more than a person who doesn't. According to the US Census Bureau, on average, someone with a bachelor's degree annually earns almost double that of someone with only a high school diploma.

So Why Not Go to College?So Why Not Go to College?

Many students are unsure about going to college, for many reasons. Here are four we've heard before, and why they don't hold water.

1. I can't afford it.Most students get financial aid to help pay for college,

and most aid is based on need. This means that the less money you have, the more aid you might get.



2. Nobody in my family has ever gone.Being first can be hard. For instance, you may have to

explain to the family why college is important to you. On the other hand, being first is likely to be a source of pride, for you and for your family.



3. I don't know what I want to do with my life.Join the crowd. Thousands of college freshmen haven't

decided on a major or on a career. College gives you the opportunity to learn more about what's out there. You'll be exposed to a variety of academic subjects, people, and new perspectives.



4. College is too hard for me.Most students think college will be too hard for them.

Keep in mind, all colleges offer tutoring and student support, as does Kaplan. As confident as some students seem, no one goes to college knowing everything—if they did, why would they go?

Preview Unit 10 Writing AssignmentPreview Unit 10 Writing AssignmentAfter reflecting on what you have learned and how you have

benefited by taking CS113, write a minimum one-page response to the questions below. Make sure to address the critical elements so you will be successful in completing this assignment:

Please answer the following questions in your paper:

1. Reflect and describe which key concepts and topics in this course have made you a stronger candidate to enter the business world.

2. Discuss how this course has affected you in your professional development as a student and as a person as well as encouraging you on your academic path.

This assignment is due “NO LATER THAN SUNDAY”, Midnight of Unit 10Oct 3rd, 2010

Place assignment in Unit 10 drop box

This assignment is due “NO LATER THAN SUNDAY”, Midnight of Unit 10Oct 3rd, 2010

Place assignment in Unit 10 drop box

Some Writing rules Some Writing rules • Create a Title page to include:

• Name, Section, Title of Assignment, Date.• Center Vertically and Horizontally.

• Use Times New Roman font (12 pt).

• Double-space your paper.

• Check your spelling and grammar.

• Use abbreviations appropriately.

• Rename your document (Yourname-CS113-Unit10-Project)

Critical ElementsCritical Elements• Respond to the questions in a thorough manner.

• Providing specific examples of concepts, topics, from question 1.

• Provide specific examples of the impact on you from question 2.

• Ensure that your viewpoint and purpose are clearly stated.

• Demonstrate logical and appropriate transitions from one idea to another.

• Your paper should be highly organized, logical and focused.

Questions?Questions?Questions?Questions?

Thank you for attending!

Documents

Welcome to Academic Strategies for the Business Professional Unit 8 Seminar Robert Sullivan