Friends,
As you know from following the ffabt.org page and announcements on facebook we have made significant progress in Phase 1 of our organizations roll-out. Phase 2 we have been developing for sometime and will be called GreenHelp. The initiative centers around the expectations we put upon our social leaders to implement cost and eco-friendly solutions. Truth be told it was not easy to set up the relationships needed and to dig up the research among the marketing clutter that is out there for "green" products. Even more challenging is finding solutions that actually improve a bottom line, rather than devastate it for years to come. GreenHelp will serve as a singular resource for leaders to find cost effective solutions to help relieve public pressure stemmed by heavy carbon emissions and budgetary deficits. Our goal, and we hope you join in it is to become a provider of information and resources that can solve our countries current economic and ecologic dilemmas. Please visit ffabt.org and click the GreenHelp link to find out more. Thank you for your support.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Update: FFABT Exapanding
Friends,
Well the time has come where we can have an enormous impact on the well being of our communities, and our fellow residents. After 4 years of careful planning, initial program testing, feedback surveys, and making final adjustments, I am elated to report that we have just received our public charity status from the Internal Revenue Service. It is my hope that this will be a landmark in finally getting needed resources in the hands and minds of those that they are intended to reach. For the rest of the year, and all of spring 2009 we will be actively seeking and applying for major program support from the federal government, private corporations and foundations, and major donors. We are starting locally to try to show the citizens of our communities that there are organizations and individuals in Arizona who care about their well being. It is our hope that a content driven website will open a lot of doors to our cause, and as of yesterday, the new site is up and running at ffabt.org. Please check it out and let us know your thoughts and recommendations, as we are always looking to improve.
Well the time has come where we can have an enormous impact on the well being of our communities, and our fellow residents. After 4 years of careful planning, initial program testing, feedback surveys, and making final adjustments, I am elated to report that we have just received our public charity status from the Internal Revenue Service. It is my hope that this will be a landmark in finally getting needed resources in the hands and minds of those that they are intended to reach. For the rest of the year, and all of spring 2009 we will be actively seeking and applying for major program support from the federal government, private corporations and foundations, and major donors. We are starting locally to try to show the citizens of our communities that there are organizations and individuals in Arizona who care about their well being. It is our hope that a content driven website will open a lot of doors to our cause, and as of yesterday, the new site is up and running at ffabt.org. Please check it out and let us know your thoughts and recommendations, as we are always looking to improve.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Looking for your thoughts regarding Rochelle Riley's 8/14 sobering article about the Detroit Public Schools
Jamie Morgan
President at The JM Show--LION--MyLinkNetwork.com--jjmorgan13@gmail.com http://www.thejmshow.com/
Looking for your thoughts regarding Rochelle Riley's 8/14 sobering article about the Detroit Public Schools
Check it out at freep.com or on our blog at http://www.thejmshow.com/
Steve Durkee
Market Strategist/Analyst/Executive Coach
Negative Parental Viewpoint (lost hope) - “Of course. the best recruitment tool is to improve the schools, which won't happen. It will not happen. It will not happen.”
Non-Receptive to Outside Input - Counselor Statement – "We don't do that here." In reference with trying to setup a teacher conference.
Low Teacher Expectations - "She shows up every day,” In reference to student academic progress.
Lack of Parental Involvement - "I'm sorry, but I don't get questions very often from parents." In reference to parent and teacher conference.
Poor District Oversight (outsiders perspective) - “…included no discussion of academic progress, no updates on reading scores or math scores or class size...I heard the superintendent say that only 60% of the textbooks that the children need for the first day of school have been delivered. The other 40% are being held hostage by a vendor who says that Detroit's payment record is so bad, the district has to pay for two years worth of books to get this year's.”
Top Heavy/No Consensus – “I heard bickering and back and forth that will always be in the way of progress.”
Stray from Basic Principles –Every school will have physical education. Every school will have tutors. Every school will have social workers, because, God, are they needed in Detroit."
It is important to realize that these are outputs of a systemic process, and cannot be changed without accounting for all the variables that contribute to them. One of the things I found most interesting in reviewing DPS was they had an office for every concern that this parent brought up.
Sad, very sad - When you go onto the parental involvement calendar on the DPS district site you see a blank page, with just headings and a calendar from the 2004/2005 school year. Maybe they have just given up? When you dive deeper into their challenges you uncover the root of the frustration.
According to a study by the Brookings Institution, children “…make up a greater proportion of the population in Detroit (31 percent) than in any other Living City. Most of the city's children live in single-parent households; more than a fifth of the city's households are non-married families with children, but only one-eighth are married couples with children.”
However, complacency is not the answer, the public needs to ask where is the accountability at a district level? Maybe outsourcing accountability, and analysis like the one my firm offers could give more resources back. Is it really worth hiring someone who is late career, a PhD after their name, a lot of past accomplishments that look good in press releases; or is it better to hire someone who is passionate about change and has the skills and the energy to move us forward?
Until Americans understand the difference and stop settling for mediocrity, we will continue to feel the backlash of our complacency. This has resonated not only through our public schools but through the overall American economy. I think it is important to note that these are tough times across the country; we have seen a troubling trend of graduation rates falling to unheard of levels in recent times and crime continues to increase. We just continue to create more oversight and look for means of promoting small improvements, rather than give the resources to those that can make a difference.
My vision: give and keep a long-term focus, make resources readily accessible, assess specific needs and put in adaptable processes that can be easily modified to meet changing populations. As simple as it sounds, many of the consulting jobs I have had in the last 3 years ignore all three. There is a focus on small variables that contribute to short-term gains and long-term failure, resources that are planned and then strictly controlled (not reaching those that need them in time), and processes that are tightly held by those in control because they fail to adapt themselves.
President at The JM Show--LION--MyLinkNetwork.com--jjmorgan13@gmail.com http://www.thejmshow.com/
Looking for your thoughts regarding Rochelle Riley's 8/14 sobering article about the Detroit Public Schools
Check it out at freep.com or on our blog at http://www.thejmshow.com/
Steve Durkee
Market Strategist/Analyst/Executive Coach
Negative Parental Viewpoint (lost hope) - “Of course. the best recruitment tool is to improve the schools, which won't happen. It will not happen. It will not happen.”
Non-Receptive to Outside Input - Counselor Statement – "We don't do that here." In reference with trying to setup a teacher conference.
Low Teacher Expectations - "She shows up every day,” In reference to student academic progress.
Lack of Parental Involvement - "I'm sorry, but I don't get questions very often from parents." In reference to parent and teacher conference.
Poor District Oversight (outsiders perspective) - “…included no discussion of academic progress, no updates on reading scores or math scores or class size...I heard the superintendent say that only 60% of the textbooks that the children need for the first day of school have been delivered. The other 40% are being held hostage by a vendor who says that Detroit's payment record is so bad, the district has to pay for two years worth of books to get this year's.”
Top Heavy/No Consensus – “I heard bickering and back and forth that will always be in the way of progress.”
Stray from Basic Principles –Every school will have physical education. Every school will have tutors. Every school will have social workers, because, God, are they needed in Detroit."
It is important to realize that these are outputs of a systemic process, and cannot be changed without accounting for all the variables that contribute to them. One of the things I found most interesting in reviewing DPS was they had an office for every concern that this parent brought up.
Sad, very sad - When you go onto the parental involvement calendar on the DPS district site you see a blank page, with just headings and a calendar from the 2004/2005 school year. Maybe they have just given up? When you dive deeper into their challenges you uncover the root of the frustration.
According to a study by the Brookings Institution, children “…make up a greater proportion of the population in Detroit (31 percent) than in any other Living City. Most of the city's children live in single-parent households; more than a fifth of the city's households are non-married families with children, but only one-eighth are married couples with children.”
However, complacency is not the answer, the public needs to ask where is the accountability at a district level? Maybe outsourcing accountability, and analysis like the one my firm offers could give more resources back. Is it really worth hiring someone who is late career, a PhD after their name, a lot of past accomplishments that look good in press releases; or is it better to hire someone who is passionate about change and has the skills and the energy to move us forward?
Until Americans understand the difference and stop settling for mediocrity, we will continue to feel the backlash of our complacency. This has resonated not only through our public schools but through the overall American economy. I think it is important to note that these are tough times across the country; we have seen a troubling trend of graduation rates falling to unheard of levels in recent times and crime continues to increase. We just continue to create more oversight and look for means of promoting small improvements, rather than give the resources to those that can make a difference.
My vision: give and keep a long-term focus, make resources readily accessible, assess specific needs and put in adaptable processes that can be easily modified to meet changing populations. As simple as it sounds, many of the consulting jobs I have had in the last 3 years ignore all three. There is a focus on small variables that contribute to short-term gains and long-term failure, resources that are planned and then strictly controlled (not reaching those that need them in time), and processes that are tightly held by those in control because they fail to adapt themselves.
I have a score of 1130 in GRE. Please suggest some good universities in US for masters in finance.
Vinay Deshmukh
Software Engineer at Accenture
I have a score of 1130 in GRE. Please suggest some good universities in US for masters in finance. I have a work ex of 2+ years at Accenture in financial services and good academic record during my graduation. I'm looking for masters in finance (1 or 2 years) in some good universities, I know GRE score would be constraint for me. Please suggest some good universities which accept such a profile. PS: Universities providing funding are more important for me as I'm not so economically strong to pursue the education on myself. Thanks in advance.. Vinay Deshmukh
Steve Durkee
Market Strategist/Analyst/Executive Coach
Vinay, Well there are quite a few options. I am sure that you already know the advantages of getting an M.S. in Finance over an MBA with a finance specialization (primarily, most programs can be completed in as little as a year). If I were to put myself in your shoes, the main thing I would be looking for is a school with an established recruiting system (career services) that has partnerships with larger corporations. One other thing to consider is that many B-schools have transitioned to just accepting the GMAT as a standard entrance requirement. That being said, I am not recommending you take another exam, but it may open more doors for you if you do. If I were picking a MS program in Finance my top two choices would be Boston College and University of Illinois. Both have stellar reputations, and provide a relatively high ROI. The links are posted below. University of Illinois accepts both the GRE and GMAT. Another thing to consider is making your application the best it can be. There is a great tutorial on that you can find here http://www.mba.com/mba/ApplyEffectively, on how to create a quality application. Also, keep in mind you want to talk to someone in admissions at the college to address your concerns. Some schools have conditional acceptance policies that allow you entrance into the program with the assumption you will do well in your first set of courses. Never make the assumption that you won’t be able to get in without talking to someone first. That being said, you will want to have a plan going into the conversation to address specific issues that are concerns of yours so you get the most out of the conversation. I have also posted a couple of links to help you find more options, good luck to you in your future efforts. Steve
Links:
http://www.business.uiuc.edu/msf/default.aspx
http://www.bc.edu/schools/csom/msf/
http://www.gradschools.com/Subject/Finance/160.html
Software Engineer at Accenture
I have a score of 1130 in GRE. Please suggest some good universities in US for masters in finance. I have a work ex of 2+ years at Accenture in financial services and good academic record during my graduation. I'm looking for masters in finance (1 or 2 years) in some good universities, I know GRE score would be constraint for me. Please suggest some good universities which accept such a profile. PS: Universities providing funding are more important for me as I'm not so economically strong to pursue the education on myself. Thanks in advance.. Vinay Deshmukh
Steve Durkee
Market Strategist/Analyst/Executive Coach
Vinay, Well there are quite a few options. I am sure that you already know the advantages of getting an M.S. in Finance over an MBA with a finance specialization (primarily, most programs can be completed in as little as a year). If I were to put myself in your shoes, the main thing I would be looking for is a school with an established recruiting system (career services) that has partnerships with larger corporations. One other thing to consider is that many B-schools have transitioned to just accepting the GMAT as a standard entrance requirement. That being said, I am not recommending you take another exam, but it may open more doors for you if you do. If I were picking a MS program in Finance my top two choices would be Boston College and University of Illinois. Both have stellar reputations, and provide a relatively high ROI. The links are posted below. University of Illinois accepts both the GRE and GMAT. Another thing to consider is making your application the best it can be. There is a great tutorial on that you can find here http://www.mba.com/mba/ApplyEffectively, on how to create a quality application. Also, keep in mind you want to talk to someone in admissions at the college to address your concerns. Some schools have conditional acceptance policies that allow you entrance into the program with the assumption you will do well in your first set of courses. Never make the assumption that you won’t be able to get in without talking to someone first. That being said, you will want to have a plan going into the conversation to address specific issues that are concerns of yours so you get the most out of the conversation. I have also posted a couple of links to help you find more options, good luck to you in your future efforts. Steve
Links:
http://www.business.uiuc.edu/msf/default.aspx
http://www.bc.edu/schools/csom/msf/
http://www.gradschools.com/Subject/Finance/160.html
MBA Specializations: Do you recommend a general MBA or a particular specialization?
Gary Gremel
C-Level Business Executive ► Tenacious, Value Driven
MBA Specializations: Do you recommend a general MBA or a particular specialization?
I strongly believe you get want you put into your educational pursuits. Owning and operating a company for 14 years, my professional career has afforded a broad background in business. I have directed team efforts in sales, operations, IT, accounting, finance, marketing, and IT. I am personally interested in exploring specializations in technology management, organizational leadership, E-Business, or financial management. However, I would appreciate to discuss options to specialize on their own merit as they relate to realized benefits and demand in today's workplace.
Market Strategist/Analyst/Executive Coach
After reading the other comments I thought I would add this food for thought. Most MBA programs don't list a specialization on your actual diploma, however it will most likely be listed on your transcripts. Another thing to see is if it requires extra coursework to get your specialization. For my MBA the difference was that the general I could choose my electives and the specialization I had to take particular electives. It turned out I was able to hone in better on my niche by doing the general as one of the electives wasn't part of that particular specialization but it is required for almost all of the positions I have been looking into. From my perspective I would look at the jobs you want to pursue and then assess are there additional courses outside of the specialization that would help you better prepare for that role. Having the portfolio to show of areas that distinguish me from other candidates is key, I think it is always better to show than tell. Just thought I would add that on. Best wishes in your educational pursuit, Steve
What are the challenges that a non-profit school faces when contemplating adding online programs or starting distance learning?
Sanaz Pentz
Senior Sales Consultant - Interactive Markets, TARGUSinfo
What are the challenges that a non-profit school faces when contemplating adding online programs or starting distance learning?
Steve Durkee
Market Strategist/Analyst/Executive Coach
This is a question that could easily be turned into a book, but I figured I would chime in with a few things to consider. Attrition management is probably the primary factor to prepare for when rolling out a new program. Online programs typically have high student drops, and require multiple support vehicles to be set up prior to roll-out. Having a powerful web-self-service (WSS) solution, that is individualized to meet the needs of your market, is key to overall success. At MFactorial this is one of our largest investments in new ventures. It takes an extremely knowledgeable consultant to evaluate and custom tailor WSS solutions for clients. We have seen much of the industry fail because they take experience from top-down in their institutions and try to implement old processes from the last 20-30 years into current WSS. It is important to keep in mind that there are multiple variables that keep students from completing online curriculum, and today’s student arguably presents more challenges than any other previous generation. Today your average online student is often working full-time, may have a family, is likely taxed from the expense of going to school, and as such is hanging on by a very thin thread. It is important not to enter into the venture haphazardly as many do, consider all your variables, invest in the right expertise up front and it will pay huge dividends in the long run. Last but not least, when evaluating the right expertise, make sure you choose a firm that keeps in mind the entire student process, from sending in an initial inquiry to graduate and employed in their field of study. Best of luck at the conference, Steve
Senior Sales Consultant - Interactive Markets, TARGUSinfo
What are the challenges that a non-profit school faces when contemplating adding online programs or starting distance learning?
Steve Durkee
Market Strategist/Analyst/Executive Coach
This is a question that could easily be turned into a book, but I figured I would chime in with a few things to consider. Attrition management is probably the primary factor to prepare for when rolling out a new program. Online programs typically have high student drops, and require multiple support vehicles to be set up prior to roll-out. Having a powerful web-self-service (WSS) solution, that is individualized to meet the needs of your market, is key to overall success. At MFactorial this is one of our largest investments in new ventures. It takes an extremely knowledgeable consultant to evaluate and custom tailor WSS solutions for clients. We have seen much of the industry fail because they take experience from top-down in their institutions and try to implement old processes from the last 20-30 years into current WSS. It is important to keep in mind that there are multiple variables that keep students from completing online curriculum, and today’s student arguably presents more challenges than any other previous generation. Today your average online student is often working full-time, may have a family, is likely taxed from the expense of going to school, and as such is hanging on by a very thin thread. It is important not to enter into the venture haphazardly as many do, consider all your variables, invest in the right expertise up front and it will pay huge dividends in the long run. Last but not least, when evaluating the right expertise, make sure you choose a firm that keeps in mind the entire student process, from sending in an initial inquiry to graduate and employed in their field of study. Best of luck at the conference, Steve
I would like to hear people's experiences building a company profile on Wikipedia and its effects on SEO rankings and any potential lead generation.
Chris Emery
Senior Marketing Specialist at DLT Solutions, Inc.
I would like to hear people's experiences building a company profile on Wikipedia and its effects on SEO rankings and any potential lead generation.
Steve Durkee
Market Strategist/Analyst/Executive Coach, Occupational Training (2), Mentoring (1) see less
Chris,
In reading some of the other advice you have received I am shocked to say the least. I am surprised at the direction of the comments you have received. I can tell you that there are a lot of benefits to posting an entry on Wikipedia, and it can be part of a successful web strategy. The main thing to keep in mind is that positioning and client traffic is driven by several variables. Most of my MBA specialization is tied up in SEO, self-service, and web optimization; and I was shocked to read some of the comments from other consultants and a professor needless to say. No wonder so many people have a hard time with positioning strategies when there are those out there who pass themselves off as knowledgeable and who is to know the wiser. There were a couple of good comments that were given. Google positioning is based on an algorithm and crawlers browse sites to find external links and site linking to your companies page (just one of their functions). Wikipedia has a very strong page rank and crawlers browse that site for content (so how you set up the layout to make sure the crawler is finding the needed information your potential customers/clients are looking for is key). Moreover, anyone can create Wikipedia entries, and edit entries so check it often. As far as the “nofollow” comments, someone is way behind the times, you will notice almost every link on Wikipedia has a little box with an external link after it, this is a “nofollow free link,” meaning that crawlers can browse reputable links, while Google is still able to counter search engine spam. I would encourage you to set up a page and also to look into other positioning strategies. I use a core formula for positioning that has multiple variables and allows my client a fast positioning turnaround (usually within a week for mid-size companies, and less than a month for larger companies in diverse fields). Where I won’t disclose those publicly because they are the core of my studies and business, I will say that the top factors that will improve your rankings are site efficiency and site traffic. I have a pretty steep consulting rate, but I think I will respond from now on to questions on LinkedIn where I feel misinformation is furthering pocketbooks and holding back progress.
Senior Marketing Specialist at DLT Solutions, Inc.
I would like to hear people's experiences building a company profile on Wikipedia and its effects on SEO rankings and any potential lead generation.
Steve Durkee
Market Strategist/Analyst/Executive Coach, Occupational Training (2), Mentoring (1) see less
Chris,
In reading some of the other advice you have received I am shocked to say the least. I am surprised at the direction of the comments you have received. I can tell you that there are a lot of benefits to posting an entry on Wikipedia, and it can be part of a successful web strategy. The main thing to keep in mind is that positioning and client traffic is driven by several variables. Most of my MBA specialization is tied up in SEO, self-service, and web optimization; and I was shocked to read some of the comments from other consultants and a professor needless to say. No wonder so many people have a hard time with positioning strategies when there are those out there who pass themselves off as knowledgeable and who is to know the wiser. There were a couple of good comments that were given. Google positioning is based on an algorithm and crawlers browse sites to find external links and site linking to your companies page (just one of their functions). Wikipedia has a very strong page rank and crawlers browse that site for content (so how you set up the layout to make sure the crawler is finding the needed information your potential customers/clients are looking for is key). Moreover, anyone can create Wikipedia entries, and edit entries so check it often. As far as the “nofollow” comments, someone is way behind the times, you will notice almost every link on Wikipedia has a little box with an external link after it, this is a “nofollow free link,” meaning that crawlers can browse reputable links, while Google is still able to counter search engine spam. I would encourage you to set up a page and also to look into other positioning strategies. I use a core formula for positioning that has multiple variables and allows my client a fast positioning turnaround (usually within a week for mid-size companies, and less than a month for larger companies in diverse fields). Where I won’t disclose those publicly because they are the core of my studies and business, I will say that the top factors that will improve your rankings are site efficiency and site traffic. I have a pretty steep consulting rate, but I think I will respond from now on to questions on LinkedIn where I feel misinformation is furthering pocketbooks and holding back progress.
Regarding online MBA programs, do you have a preference for an AACSB accredited university?
Gary Gremel
C-Level Business Executive ► Tenacious, Value Driven
Regarding online MBA programs, do you have a preference for an AACSB accredited university?
Steve Durkee
Market Strategist/Analyst/Executive Coach
I don't know if you have checked this out or not, but BusinessWeek has pretty much taken over the BSchool rankings from Fortune and Forbes by creating enormous resource site devoted to BSchools. The other most common source for college rankings is US News and World Reports, and they have relinquished the ranking as well in recent times to focus on undergraduate rankings. Whereas, I always believe it is not good to trust too much in a secondary source, it does give you an easy tool to use to navigate the options. I will post the link for you below.
Top 30 MBA Programs (U.S.) 1 University of Chicago 2 University of Pennsylvania (Wharton) 3 Northwestern University (Kellogg) 4 Harvard University 5 University of Michigan (Ross) 6 Stanford University 7 MIT (Sloan) 8 UC Berkeley (Haas) 9 Duke University (Fuqua) 10 Columbia University 11 Dartmouth (Tuck) 12 UCLA (Anderson) 13 Cornell University (Johnson) 14 NYU (Stern) 15 University of Virginia (Darden) 16 Carnegie Mellon (Tepper) 17 UNC - Chapel Hill (Kenan-Flagler) 18 Indiana University (Kelley) 19 Yale University 20 University of Texas - Austin 21 University of Southern California (Marshall) 22 Georgetown University (McDonough) 23 Emory University (Goizueta) 24 Purdue University (Krannert) 25 University of Maryland (Smith) 26 University of Notre Dame (Mendoza) 27 Washington University (Olin) 28 Rochester (Simon) 29 Michigan State University (Broad) 30 Vanderbilt University (Owen)
Links:
http://www.businessweek.com/bschools/rankings/
C-Level Business Executive ► Tenacious, Value Driven
Regarding online MBA programs, do you have a preference for an AACSB accredited university?
Steve Durkee
Market Strategist/Analyst/Executive Coach
I don't know if you have checked this out or not, but BusinessWeek has pretty much taken over the BSchool rankings from Fortune and Forbes by creating enormous resource site devoted to BSchools. The other most common source for college rankings is US News and World Reports, and they have relinquished the ranking as well in recent times to focus on undergraduate rankings. Whereas, I always believe it is not good to trust too much in a secondary source, it does give you an easy tool to use to navigate the options. I will post the link for you below.
Top 30 MBA Programs (U.S.) 1 University of Chicago 2 University of Pennsylvania (Wharton) 3 Northwestern University (Kellogg) 4 Harvard University 5 University of Michigan (Ross) 6 Stanford University 7 MIT (Sloan) 8 UC Berkeley (Haas) 9 Duke University (Fuqua) 10 Columbia University 11 Dartmouth (Tuck) 12 UCLA (Anderson) 13 Cornell University (Johnson) 14 NYU (Stern) 15 University of Virginia (Darden) 16 Carnegie Mellon (Tepper) 17 UNC - Chapel Hill (Kenan-Flagler) 18 Indiana University (Kelley) 19 Yale University 20 University of Texas - Austin 21 University of Southern California (Marshall) 22 Georgetown University (McDonough) 23 Emory University (Goizueta) 24 Purdue University (Krannert) 25 University of Maryland (Smith) 26 University of Notre Dame (Mendoza) 27 Washington University (Olin) 28 Rochester (Simon) 29 Michigan State University (Broad) 30 Vanderbilt University (Owen)
Links:
http://www.businessweek.com/bschools/rankings/
Is there some way one can use the tools of viral marketing for this line of business....
Sanjay Negi
CIO at Technology for Business Solutions
My company deals in Software Applications like HR Systems for most industry verticals. Is there some way one can use the tools of viral marketing for this line of business....has it been done successfully by someone before? If not for the complete order acquisition cycle maybe just for generating qualified leads?
Steve Durkee
Market Strategist/Analyst/Executive Coach
Sanjay, I disagree with some of the comments that seem to pigeonhole the use of viral marketing. I am sure you know in its basic form it is "word-of-mouth" advertising. As such, it should be integrated into any product launch. Now more than ever potential clients look for secondary sources to affirm their buying decision. You can use it well by integrating it into a web marketing program that positions review sites with your site. Make sure your site follows review content and the firm you choose to do your SEO strategy really knows there stuff. If they do they should be able (using a diversified strategy), be able to position the content that will assist you in driving sales. I am a big believer (since Web 2.0) that we have now transitioned into viral, SEO, web-chain analytics, and web self-service making up critical elements in a now more complex than ever marketing mix.
If anyone can share their thoughts, comments or suggestions I would be most appreciative.
Jeremy Merrill, MBA
COO at Dimples of Cedarhurst, jeremyemerrill@gmail.com
I recently (2 weeks ago) launched an e-commerce website for our children's clothing, gift and accessories store. I am looking for creative ways to market the business online, other than paid search, which we plan to do as well. If anyone can share their thoughts, comments or suggestions I would be most appreciative.
Steve Durkee
Market Strategist/Analyst/Executive Coach
Sure, I can share, 1) Start by downloading a google toolbar and enable the pagerank function. 2) If you haven't already, submit your URL to google 3) List your clothing site on free directories with high page ranks 4) Next search google for review sites, and ask customers to post positive reviews on review sites with higher page ranks 5) Sign up for a gmail account and start google site analytics, use the AdWords function to assist in finding relevant keywords (it is cheap enough you will most likely want to purchase some as well). 6) Copy and paste all the suggested keywords suggested by AdWords to a word document 7) Create a Wikipedia page for your business and try to include as many relevant key words as possible to ensure channel consistency and maximize crawler functionality. 8) List your address in Google’s global address book. …Well that should get you started, there are tons of other things you can do as well. The great part about internet marketing is that it is much more efficient. The downside is many people get taken by someone who passes them self off to be an expert, and drastically impacts revenue. A good tip is read a few books on internet marketing (published in the last year or so, from a well known publisher) and so you have a baseline of knowledge to compare their comments against.
COO at Dimples of Cedarhurst, jeremyemerrill@gmail.com
I recently (2 weeks ago) launched an e-commerce website for our children's clothing, gift and accessories store. I am looking for creative ways to market the business online, other than paid search, which we plan to do as well. If anyone can share their thoughts, comments or suggestions I would be most appreciative.
Steve Durkee
Market Strategist/Analyst/Executive Coach
Sure, I can share, 1) Start by downloading a google toolbar and enable the pagerank function. 2) If you haven't already, submit your URL to google 3) List your clothing site on free directories with high page ranks 4) Next search google for review sites, and ask customers to post positive reviews on review sites with higher page ranks 5) Sign up for a gmail account and start google site analytics, use the AdWords function to assist in finding relevant keywords (it is cheap enough you will most likely want to purchase some as well). 6) Copy and paste all the suggested keywords suggested by AdWords to a word document 7) Create a Wikipedia page for your business and try to include as many relevant key words as possible to ensure channel consistency and maximize crawler functionality. 8) List your address in Google’s global address book. …Well that should get you started, there are tons of other things you can do as well. The great part about internet marketing is that it is much more efficient. The downside is many people get taken by someone who passes them self off to be an expert, and drastically impacts revenue. A good tip is read a few books on internet marketing (published in the last year or so, from a well known publisher) and so you have a baseline of knowledge to compare their comments against.
Which web-building program would you recommend?
John Zuyderduyn
Management Consultant
Which web-building program would you recommend? I am looking for a program that does not automatically links me to the services of one particular provider.
Steve Durkee
Market Strategist/Analyst/Executive Coach
John, I would second the vote for Joomla. It is a fantastic platform that is easy to use both in setup and managing content. Even better it is free, it was designed by a group of programmers with the intent of improving the web and it is setup to have cross-functionality with a solid easy to use content management system. It doesn't tie you into a service contract (although you can donate to the cause).
Links:
http://www.joomla.org
Why do Ph.D.'s seem to dislike for-profit universities and especially online doctoral programs?
Scott Traylor
Director of Admissions at Bryant & Stratton College
Why do Ph.D.'s seem to dislike for-profit universities and especially online doctoral programs?
Steve Durkee
Market Strategist/Analyst/Executive Coach
For-profit education has opened the flood gates on the world of Academia. I do foresee in the near future a push back from multiple arenas on online PhDs for a variety of reasons. At this point I think there has to be a concerted effort on the part of for-profit to increase curriculum awareness and start a heavier amount of participation in the research community. Without finding that balance soon, the value of the degree will continue to drop. It is interesting to note the perception, the stigma behind online, (both for-profit, and non-profit) is that it is an easy way to get a degree. What this has lead to especially among non-profit institutions who have entered online education is a "prove the validity" approach where they increase amount of curriculum delivered to try to offset the stigma, and validate the program, often at the cost of the student’s success. There are some obvious downsides to that approach, as well as, the open entry approach. One thing is certain, if a balance is not achieved soon, people will eventually push back as their needs are continue to not be met. On a personal note, I have worked with colleagues on both side, and there is a definite difference. I think the only reason is the selectivity. Often the texts are the same, but the student metrics are different in for-profit, and the population typically necessitates that.
Director of Admissions at Bryant & Stratton College
Why do Ph.D.'s seem to dislike for-profit universities and especially online doctoral programs?
Steve Durkee
Market Strategist/Analyst/Executive Coach
For-profit education has opened the flood gates on the world of Academia. I do foresee in the near future a push back from multiple arenas on online PhDs for a variety of reasons. At this point I think there has to be a concerted effort on the part of for-profit to increase curriculum awareness and start a heavier amount of participation in the research community. Without finding that balance soon, the value of the degree will continue to drop. It is interesting to note the perception, the stigma behind online, (both for-profit, and non-profit) is that it is an easy way to get a degree. What this has lead to especially among non-profit institutions who have entered online education is a "prove the validity" approach where they increase amount of curriculum delivered to try to offset the stigma, and validate the program, often at the cost of the student’s success. There are some obvious downsides to that approach, as well as, the open entry approach. One thing is certain, if a balance is not achieved soon, people will eventually push back as their needs are continue to not be met. On a personal note, I have worked with colleagues on both side, and there is a definite difference. I think the only reason is the selectivity. Often the texts are the same, but the student metrics are different in for-profit, and the population typically necessitates that.
In attending conferences, what are the best and most creative give-aways you've received, and continued to use upon your return home?
Laurie Kelly
Senior Manager, Brand Management and Marketing for Sodexo
In attending conferences, what are the best and most creative give-aways you've received, and continued to use upon your return home? On the flip side, what are some of the worst give-aways you've received?
Steve Durkee
Market Strategist/Analyst/Executive Coach
Best - Heavy/good quality pens, Mini leather notebook (that one was my favorite because it was handy for meetings). Worst - Mugs, Koozies, and once at a corporate conference in Hawaii I got a pair of 80's flip flops with the company logo on the bottom. I wish I had a picture, those, my friend were bad:)
Senior Manager, Brand Management and Marketing for Sodexo
In attending conferences, what are the best and most creative give-aways you've received, and continued to use upon your return home? On the flip side, what are some of the worst give-aways you've received?
Steve Durkee
Market Strategist/Analyst/Executive Coach
Best - Heavy/good quality pens, Mini leather notebook (that one was my favorite because it was handy for meetings). Worst - Mugs, Koozies, and once at a corporate conference in Hawaii I got a pair of 80's flip flops with the company logo on the bottom. I wish I had a picture, those, my friend were bad:)
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Responses to competition in Education?
Cristine Clarke, Ed. D.
Instructor Distance Learning at NC School Science and Mathematics
In thinking about business I can see 3 responses to competition 1. compete on price 2. add value to your service or product 3 develop new services or products I suppose you could also tear down your competitors. Are these the same options in education? Thoughts?
Steve Durkee
Market Strategist/Analyst/Executive Director
The competitive market in higher education is much like any other market. You have to set yourself apart with your competitive advantages. I think you did a good job at citing the broad aspect, but as you know from working in the industry it can be much more complex than price, value added service, developing new products. For example: Price is not just a sticker price - it is the actual COA (cost of attendance) minus various forms of financial assistance. That assistance can vary by institution. Even with federal loan funding, some schools use the Perkins loan program (which provides a significant cost advantage for students in subsidizing costs, grace period, and a very low interest rate) and some do not. Some states have programs where they will match institutional grants dollar for dollar. With the onset of the GI bill there, now vets that are eligible for funding can receive an amount equal to most expensive in-state tuition and fee costs at a public university in their state, plus a corresponding stipend for R&B. For value added service: One of the top two output measures for institutional effectiveness are the overall graduation rate (plus rate per program), as well as, how likely are the graduates from that program able to find jobs in their field within 6 months of graduation. Schools often distinguish themselves and the quality of education they provide by listing the companies that have hired their graduates. They also distinguish themselves by comparing graduation rates, and the services they add to your educational experience to ensure a higher graduation rates (entrance evals, tutoring programs, mentoring, industry internships, smaller classes, and the list goes on). Both are usually termed measures of institutional effectiveness. Developing new services - there are all kinds of new services that institutions are putting into place. Technology has really driven change in education, and you see change at every level of the market, especially with moving to forms of online applications. Even at the community college level they are adapting to meet the needs of a more dynamic, information driven student body. One of the community colleges I work with has transitioned to being almost 90% online, which is a great asset to today’s working single moms and dads. We are also seeing industry shifts to focus on the needs of the employment market, especially in healthcare and IT. With new programs, and their demand in the market place, has lead to a soar in business for private education startups. Despite their higher costs, many schools have established their competitive advantage by adapting with the market, which has drastically distinguished them when comparing output ratios. Overall, it is probably one of the most complex markets to work in, but that is why I love what I do. At the end of the day there is a certain level of satisfaction that goes along with improving the system so more people can continue to create better lives for themselves and their families. I hope I answered your question, if you have any other questions, please feel free to ask. Steve
Instructor Distance Learning at NC School Science and Mathematics
In thinking about business I can see 3 responses to competition 1. compete on price 2. add value to your service or product 3 develop new services or products I suppose you could also tear down your competitors. Are these the same options in education? Thoughts?
Steve Durkee
Market Strategist/Analyst/Executive Director
The competitive market in higher education is much like any other market. You have to set yourself apart with your competitive advantages. I think you did a good job at citing the broad aspect, but as you know from working in the industry it can be much more complex than price, value added service, developing new products. For example: Price is not just a sticker price - it is the actual COA (cost of attendance) minus various forms of financial assistance. That assistance can vary by institution. Even with federal loan funding, some schools use the Perkins loan program (which provides a significant cost advantage for students in subsidizing costs, grace period, and a very low interest rate) and some do not. Some states have programs where they will match institutional grants dollar for dollar. With the onset of the GI bill there, now vets that are eligible for funding can receive an amount equal to most expensive in-state tuition and fee costs at a public university in their state, plus a corresponding stipend for R&B. For value added service: One of the top two output measures for institutional effectiveness are the overall graduation rate (plus rate per program), as well as, how likely are the graduates from that program able to find jobs in their field within 6 months of graduation. Schools often distinguish themselves and the quality of education they provide by listing the companies that have hired their graduates. They also distinguish themselves by comparing graduation rates, and the services they add to your educational experience to ensure a higher graduation rates (entrance evals, tutoring programs, mentoring, industry internships, smaller classes, and the list goes on). Both are usually termed measures of institutional effectiveness. Developing new services - there are all kinds of new services that institutions are putting into place. Technology has really driven change in education, and you see change at every level of the market, especially with moving to forms of online applications. Even at the community college level they are adapting to meet the needs of a more dynamic, information driven student body. One of the community colleges I work with has transitioned to being almost 90% online, which is a great asset to today’s working single moms and dads. We are also seeing industry shifts to focus on the needs of the employment market, especially in healthcare and IT. With new programs, and their demand in the market place, has lead to a soar in business for private education startups. Despite their higher costs, many schools have established their competitive advantage by adapting with the market, which has drastically distinguished them when comparing output ratios. Overall, it is probably one of the most complex markets to work in, but that is why I love what I do. At the end of the day there is a certain level of satisfaction that goes along with improving the system so more people can continue to create better lives for themselves and their families. I hope I answered your question, if you have any other questions, please feel free to ask. Steve
What should School Managements do to Train and Mentor their Teachers?
Prof Bhushan Lal Handoo
Educationist,Teacher Educator, Mentor, Management Advisor,Owner, INDIRA EDUCATIONAL CONSULTANCY SERVICES
Teachers are poor in content, lack communication skills, have no commitment, their pre-service training has not equipped them with the requisite skills, their knowlege of Teaching-Learning is inadequate and the Managements think "God is in His Heaven, All is Right with the World."
Steve Durkee
Market Strategist/Analyst/Executive Director
Best Answers in: Education and Schools, Occupational Training
Good question. It begs the additional question, why do we have a teacher certification for K-12, but not for post secondary? I think that the shortfalls are common ones across industry. Often we train in a very short sided method, where we look at the task the person will be performing on a daily basis and structure training to give them insight into that task or tasks. However, what is ultimately going to make that person successful and become more career oriented is often overlooked. I think that communication skills are key, especially public speaking and interpersonal (and sometimes multicultural). Empathy would be another key trait, and sometimes it is inherent to a personality, other times it needs to be recognized and addressed so the person is aware that they need to work on it. Finally, there needs to be some assessment metrics to see where the person is lacking in their skill-set to adequately teach the course content. Then they need to be brought up to speed on those items and reassessed until they have the tools they need to teach. I think the lack of commitment stems from being put in a "go figure it out," role, when individuals feel better prepared for their daily tasks, and see the overall impact that they are a part of, they are almost always more committed. Thank you for your question, please keep me posted with what direction you are taking things in the future.
Educationist,Teacher Educator, Mentor, Management Advisor,Owner, INDIRA EDUCATIONAL CONSULTANCY SERVICES
Teachers are poor in content, lack communication skills, have no commitment, their pre-service training has not equipped them with the requisite skills, their knowlege of Teaching-Learning is inadequate and the Managements think "God is in His Heaven, All is Right with the World."
Steve Durkee
Market Strategist/Analyst/Executive Director
Best Answers in: Education and Schools, Occupational Training
Good question. It begs the additional question, why do we have a teacher certification for K-12, but not for post secondary? I think that the shortfalls are common ones across industry. Often we train in a very short sided method, where we look at the task the person will be performing on a daily basis and structure training to give them insight into that task or tasks. However, what is ultimately going to make that person successful and become more career oriented is often overlooked. I think that communication skills are key, especially public speaking and interpersonal (and sometimes multicultural). Empathy would be another key trait, and sometimes it is inherent to a personality, other times it needs to be recognized and addressed so the person is aware that they need to work on it. Finally, there needs to be some assessment metrics to see where the person is lacking in their skill-set to adequately teach the course content. Then they need to be brought up to speed on those items and reassessed until they have the tools they need to teach. I think the lack of commitment stems from being put in a "go figure it out," role, when individuals feel better prepared for their daily tasks, and see the overall impact that they are a part of, they are almost always more committed. Thank you for your question, please keep me posted with what direction you are taking things in the future.
I have a score of 1130 in GRE.Please suggest some good universities in US for masters in finance.
Vinay Deshmukh
Software Engineer at Accenture
I have a work ex of 2+ years at accenture in financial services and good academic record during my graduation. I'm looking for masters in finance (1 or 2 years) in some good universities, I know GRE score would be constraint for me. Please suggest some good universities which accept such a profile. PS: Universities providing funding are more important for me as I'm not so economically strong to pursue the education on myself. Thanks in advance.. Vinay Deshmukh
Steve Durkee
Market Strategist/Analyst/Executive Director
Vinay, Well there are quite a few options. I am sure that you already know the advantages of getting an M.S. in Finance over an MBA with a finance specialization (primarily, most programs can be completed in as little as a year). If I were to put myself in your shoes, the main thing I would be looking for is a school with an established recruiting system (career services) that has partnerships with larger corporations. One other thing to consider is that many B-schools have transitioned to just accepting the GMAT as a standard entrance requirement. That being said, I am not recommending you take another exam, but it may open more doors for you if you do. If I were picking a MS program in Finance my top two choices would be Boston College and University of Illinois. Both have stellar reputations, and provide a relatively high ROI. The links are posted below. University of Illinois accepts both the GRE and GMAT. Another thing to consider is making your application the best it can be. There is a great tutorial on that you can find here http://www.mba.com/mba/ApplyEffectively, on how to create a quality application. Also, keep in mind you want to talk to someone in admissions at the college to address your concerns. Some schools have conditional acceptance policies that allow you entrance into the program with the assumption you will do well in your first set of courses. Never make the assumption that you won’t be able to get in without talking to someone first. That being said, you will want to have a plan going into the conversation to address specific issues that are concerns of yours so you get the most out of the conversation. I have also posted a couple of links to help you find more options, good luck to you in your future efforts. Steve
Links:
http://www.business.uiuc.edu/msf/default.aspx
http://www.bc.edu/schools/csom/msf/
http://www.gradschools.com/Subject/Finance/160.html
Software Engineer at Accenture
I have a work ex of 2+ years at accenture in financial services and good academic record during my graduation. I'm looking for masters in finance (1 or 2 years) in some good universities, I know GRE score would be constraint for me. Please suggest some good universities which accept such a profile. PS: Universities providing funding are more important for me as I'm not so economically strong to pursue the education on myself. Thanks in advance.. Vinay Deshmukh
Steve Durkee
Market Strategist/Analyst/Executive Director
Vinay, Well there are quite a few options. I am sure that you already know the advantages of getting an M.S. in Finance over an MBA with a finance specialization (primarily, most programs can be completed in as little as a year). If I were to put myself in your shoes, the main thing I would be looking for is a school with an established recruiting system (career services) that has partnerships with larger corporations. One other thing to consider is that many B-schools have transitioned to just accepting the GMAT as a standard entrance requirement. That being said, I am not recommending you take another exam, but it may open more doors for you if you do. If I were picking a MS program in Finance my top two choices would be Boston College and University of Illinois. Both have stellar reputations, and provide a relatively high ROI. The links are posted below. University of Illinois accepts both the GRE and GMAT. Another thing to consider is making your application the best it can be. There is a great tutorial on that you can find here http://www.mba.com/mba/ApplyEffectively, on how to create a quality application. Also, keep in mind you want to talk to someone in admissions at the college to address your concerns. Some schools have conditional acceptance policies that allow you entrance into the program with the assumption you will do well in your first set of courses. Never make the assumption that you won’t be able to get in without talking to someone first. That being said, you will want to have a plan going into the conversation to address specific issues that are concerns of yours so you get the most out of the conversation. I have also posted a couple of links to help you find more options, good luck to you in your future efforts. Steve
Links:
http://www.business.uiuc.edu/msf/default.aspx
http://www.bc.edu/schools/csom/msf/
http://www.gradschools.com/Subject/Finance/160.html
Graduate programs in "Construction Management" in the US
Madhusudhanan A R
Assistant Vice President at GCI Solutions Private Limited
Please share your knowledge on universities offering graduate programs in "Construction Management" in the US. This is for a prospective student who has completed his Bachelors in Civil Engineering from India. Criteria can be ranking of department, quality of faculty, tuition fees, availability of financial aid - in terms of RAs, prospects post graduation and whatever you think is meaningful.
Steve Durkee
Market Strategist/Analyst/Executive Director
Yes I can. In the United States, ACCE (American Council for Construction Education) is the secondary accrediting body over construction management programs. I posted a link below for a geographic search for accredited college and university construction management programs. If location is not an issue, I would recommend Arizona State University's program. Not only do they have an outstanding reputation in the industry, they also have great international student services as well. I listed the program contact information below and a web link as well. Best of luck to you in your future studies. Del E. Webb School of Construction Ira A. Fulton School of Engineering Tempe, AZ 85287-0204 Dr. James Ernzen, Director
Links:
http://www.acce-hq.org/baccalaureateprograms.htm
http://construction.asu.edu/
Assistant Vice President at GCI Solutions Private Limited
Please share your knowledge on universities offering graduate programs in "Construction Management" in the US. This is for a prospective student who has completed his Bachelors in Civil Engineering from India. Criteria can be ranking of department, quality of faculty, tuition fees, availability of financial aid - in terms of RAs, prospects post graduation and whatever you think is meaningful.
Steve Durkee
Market Strategist/Analyst/Executive Director
Yes I can. In the United States, ACCE (American Council for Construction Education) is the secondary accrediting body over construction management programs. I posted a link below for a geographic search for accredited college and university construction management programs. If location is not an issue, I would recommend Arizona State University's program. Not only do they have an outstanding reputation in the industry, they also have great international student services as well. I listed the program contact information below and a web link as well. Best of luck to you in your future studies. Del E. Webb School of Construction Ira A. Fulton School of Engineering Tempe, AZ 85287-0204 Dr. James Ernzen, Director
Links:
http://www.acce-hq.org/baccalaureateprograms.htm
http://construction.asu.edu/
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
What does Happiness mean to you?
Sulabh Upadhyay
Head - Institutional Sales at PLANET Home Appliances (Associated Appliances Ltd.)
Steve Durkee
Market Strategist/Analyst/Executive Director
Best Answers in: Education and Schools, Occupational Training
A philisophical conumdrum for most. For myself, happiness=balance.
Head - Institutional Sales at PLANET Home Appliances (Associated Appliances Ltd.)
Steve Durkee
Market Strategist/Analyst/Executive Director
Best Answers in: Education and Schools, Occupational Training
A philisophical conumdrum for most. For myself, happiness=balance.
Business Process Reengineering - online training and job hunting for positions in BPR ?
Steve Cohn, MBA
Test Project Lead
Can anyone recommend online training sites to expand one's knowledge of BPR, and job hunting sites for BPR positions ? Thank you
Steve Durkee
Market Strategist/Analyst/Executive Director
Best Answers in: Education and Schools, Occupational Training
This was selected as Best Answer
Yes, there is a good course offered through DePaul University, I have posted the link under web resources. It is not an easy undertaking and most process analysts are hired as business analysts by consulting firms. Also, if you are just getting into process management "The Toyota Way" is always a good read or re-read. I found it helpful when I was first starting my M.B.A. studies in getting me into the proper mindset. "Lean" is quickly becoming the organizational buzz word for 2008. There are also many good reads on client management, and as a process engineer it is important to understand that as you are working on individual processes to keep in mind the overall goal of the organization (which ideally should be client satisfaction), and how that process affects the overall needs of serving that purpose. In all the companies I have done process redesigns for, it seems that the hardest part is peeling back layer after layer of administrative duties that have been perpetuated by the numbers focus that plagues direct sales today and now binds the process flow. The reward follows in seeing an adaptive process structures serve client needs integrated where companies can now modify processes as part of the greater system shifting them and allowing them to maintain competiveness within ever-changing markets.
Links:
http://www.linkedin.com/redirect?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Elearning%2Edepaul%2Eedu%2Fstandard%2Fcontent_areas%2Fcontinuity_pages%2Fcourselisting%2Easp%3Fmaster_id%3D575%26master_version%3D1%26course_area%3DMDC%26course_number%3D306%26course_subtitle%3D00&urlhash=_uxw
Test Project Lead
Can anyone recommend online training sites to expand one's knowledge of BPR, and job hunting sites for BPR positions ? Thank you
Steve Durkee
Market Strategist/Analyst/Executive Director
Best Answers in: Education and Schools, Occupational Training
This was selected as Best Answer
Yes, there is a good course offered through DePaul University, I have posted the link under web resources. It is not an easy undertaking and most process analysts are hired as business analysts by consulting firms. Also, if you are just getting into process management "The Toyota Way" is always a good read or re-read. I found it helpful when I was first starting my M.B.A. studies in getting me into the proper mindset. "Lean" is quickly becoming the organizational buzz word for 2008. There are also many good reads on client management, and as a process engineer it is important to understand that as you are working on individual processes to keep in mind the overall goal of the organization (which ideally should be client satisfaction), and how that process affects the overall needs of serving that purpose. In all the companies I have done process redesigns for, it seems that the hardest part is peeling back layer after layer of administrative duties that have been perpetuated by the numbers focus that plagues direct sales today and now binds the process flow. The reward follows in seeing an adaptive process structures serve client needs integrated where companies can now modify processes as part of the greater system shifting them and allowing them to maintain competiveness within ever-changing markets.
Links:
http://www.linkedin.com/redirect?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Elearning%2Edepaul%2Eedu%2Fstandard%2Fcontent_areas%2Fcontinuity_pages%2Fcourselisting%2Easp%3Fmaster_id%3D575%26master_version%3D1%26course_area%3DMDC%26course_number%3D306%26course_subtitle%3D00&urlhash=_uxw
How to launch a unique online marketing opportunity from scratch?
Tom Polanski
EVP, Sales & Marketing, eBrand Media, Inc.
My partners and I have discovered an online marketing opportunity that apparently hasn't been monetized. We've done some preliminary research and we're reasonably confident that there may be real opportunity in this discovery. However, we’re faced with a number of challenges which include but are not limited to: 1. We can’t really protect this idea until we develop a system for it. We can protect the system. 2. Our discovery is unique and there is no historical data. Although we feel certain there is tremendous value in this opportunity testing and intelligence gathering will have to be done to determine its actual market value. We have companies willing to participate in the tests. 3. We’re privately funded and don’t have the resources to finance the programming, testing and other work that will need to be done to bring this service to market. 4. We don’t have experience writing business plans as we all decided the best way to start our agency in 2005 was to simply jump in to the deep end. 5. We don’t know how to seek partners, investors and capital without giving away the idea and the work we’ve done to develop it thus far. My feeling is that NDA/Non-circumvents can easily be circumvented.
Steve Durkee
Market Strategist/Analyst/Executive Director
Best Answers in: Education and Schools, Occupational Training
This is a pretty common question, and the good news is that the government has a specific interest in trying to foster independent business ventures. I am sure that you and your friends are aware that, usually not for a lack of effort, most small businesses fail in a short amount of time after startup. That being said, it would be economic suicide if they provided grants to everyone who had a business idea; but there are a lot of no-cost resources that can assist in keeping the goal of a low-cost startup and minimized risk. First things first, get organized and find someone who can assist you with a strategic plan. I would recommend visiting a SBA office in your state (you can also take a free course in creating business plans on the SBA website). They can tie you in with S.C.O.R.E. which is a conglomerate of volunteer retired executives who can more than likely assist in answering most, if not all, of your questions. I would be cautious about seeking venture capital until you have a clearly written and documented business plan. As far as programming (this is becoming a common barrier in the information age), the only low-cost solution I can foresee being feasible is to seek out your local university's computer science department and post a notice for an internship opportunity for a talented programmer. I think it is still possible to start a successful business venture with little to no capital as long as you have the human investment covered, some creativity, and time invested in procurement of resources. Most of all push forward and set a timeline to accomplish every step. I come from a family of innovators and the message I always try to instill is “There are millions of good ideas out there, but millionaires are the ones that put them into action.” I have listed the SBA site to help you get started, best of luck to you and your team!
Links:
http://www.linkedin.com/redirect?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Esba%2Egov&urlhash=35B1
EVP, Sales & Marketing, eBrand Media, Inc.
My partners and I have discovered an online marketing opportunity that apparently hasn't been monetized. We've done some preliminary research and we're reasonably confident that there may be real opportunity in this discovery. However, we’re faced with a number of challenges which include but are not limited to: 1. We can’t really protect this idea until we develop a system for it. We can protect the system. 2. Our discovery is unique and there is no historical data. Although we feel certain there is tremendous value in this opportunity testing and intelligence gathering will have to be done to determine its actual market value. We have companies willing to participate in the tests. 3. We’re privately funded and don’t have the resources to finance the programming, testing and other work that will need to be done to bring this service to market. 4. We don’t have experience writing business plans as we all decided the best way to start our agency in 2005 was to simply jump in to the deep end. 5. We don’t know how to seek partners, investors and capital without giving away the idea and the work we’ve done to develop it thus far. My feeling is that NDA/Non-circumvents can easily be circumvented.
Steve Durkee
Market Strategist/Analyst/Executive Director
Best Answers in: Education and Schools, Occupational Training
This is a pretty common question, and the good news is that the government has a specific interest in trying to foster independent business ventures. I am sure that you and your friends are aware that, usually not for a lack of effort, most small businesses fail in a short amount of time after startup. That being said, it would be economic suicide if they provided grants to everyone who had a business idea; but there are a lot of no-cost resources that can assist in keeping the goal of a low-cost startup and minimized risk. First things first, get organized and find someone who can assist you with a strategic plan. I would recommend visiting a SBA office in your state (you can also take a free course in creating business plans on the SBA website). They can tie you in with S.C.O.R.E. which is a conglomerate of volunteer retired executives who can more than likely assist in answering most, if not all, of your questions. I would be cautious about seeking venture capital until you have a clearly written and documented business plan. As far as programming (this is becoming a common barrier in the information age), the only low-cost solution I can foresee being feasible is to seek out your local university's computer science department and post a notice for an internship opportunity for a talented programmer. I think it is still possible to start a successful business venture with little to no capital as long as you have the human investment covered, some creativity, and time invested in procurement of resources. Most of all push forward and set a timeline to accomplish every step. I come from a family of innovators and the message I always try to instill is “There are millions of good ideas out there, but millionaires are the ones that put them into action.” I have listed the SBA site to help you get started, best of luck to you and your team!
Links:
http://www.linkedin.com/redirect?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Esba%2Egov&urlhash=35B1
What questions do you ask on an Executive Coach performance review?
Tanja Stepanovic
Associate at Retensa
For example, let's say the executive coach would like to be reviewed. What are the kinds of questions you ask?
Clarification added 4 months ago:
This is for a consulting company to get a better understanding on how the client evaluates one of our coach's.
Steve Durkee
Market Strategist/Analyst/Executive Director
Best Answers in: Education and Schools, Occupational Training
Performance reviews serve the purpose of providing accountability and measured results. As such, it would depend specifically on your industry. I would suggest by starting with the core functions of the individual being coached. How successful has the executive coach been at identifying areas of improvement? Have they taken time to assess the individual's strengths and how to best capitalize on them in the context of their work relationship? Have they met the individual’s expectations in improving how he/she is able to excel in the particular executive role/function? You could also use some of the standard metrics as well, timeliness, creativity, overachievement of tasks, etc. In creating performance systems many companies/corporations use a yearly measurement; I have had greater results using a monthly measurement. It helps my employees in continuously moving forward. In creating performance systems many companies use a yearly measurement, I have had greater results using a monthly measurement. It helps my employees in continuously moving forward.
Associate at Retensa
For example, let's say the executive coach would like to be reviewed. What are the kinds of questions you ask?
Clarification added 4 months ago:
This is for a consulting company to get a better understanding on how the client evaluates one of our coach's.
Steve Durkee
Market Strategist/Analyst/Executive Director
Best Answers in: Education and Schools, Occupational Training
Performance reviews serve the purpose of providing accountability and measured results. As such, it would depend specifically on your industry. I would suggest by starting with the core functions of the individual being coached. How successful has the executive coach been at identifying areas of improvement? Have they taken time to assess the individual's strengths and how to best capitalize on them in the context of their work relationship? Have they met the individual’s expectations in improving how he/she is able to excel in the particular executive role/function? You could also use some of the standard metrics as well, timeliness, creativity, overachievement of tasks, etc. In creating performance systems many companies/corporations use a yearly measurement; I have had greater results using a monthly measurement. It helps my employees in continuously moving forward. In creating performance systems many companies use a yearly measurement, I have had greater results using a monthly measurement. It helps my employees in continuously moving forward.
Which industries have training high on their priority list?
Sander Koppelaar
Managing Director, KTMS
Many organizations have someone as a Director of Learning, Training Manager, HR Development Manager, or a similar title. I have worked in the hospitality industry for a number of years, where this person typically has a perdetermined set of courses, determined by the head office. This person than is responible to look after the needs in the hotel and offer the training program internally to the employees, based on their position. Would you say this is "the way to go"? Would it only work in certain industries and why? Which others work this way?
Steve Durkee
Market Strategist/Analyst/Executive Director
Best Answers in: Education and Schools, Occupational Training
I think that there is great value to this type of position in any industry that has 100+ employees. From my previous experience, the financial industry puts a strong focus on training, higher-ed does somewhat, but they typically use the resources of their faculty to provide employees with curriculum. It is interesting to note that more corporations do not utilize the same services you highlighted as it is critical to having adaptive and effective processes that meet the clients' ever-changing behavior.
Managing Director, KTMS
Many organizations have someone as a Director of Learning, Training Manager, HR Development Manager, or a similar title. I have worked in the hospitality industry for a number of years, where this person typically has a perdetermined set of courses, determined by the head office. This person than is responible to look after the needs in the hotel and offer the training program internally to the employees, based on their position. Would you say this is "the way to go"? Would it only work in certain industries and why? Which others work this way?
Steve Durkee
Market Strategist/Analyst/Executive Director
Best Answers in: Education and Schools, Occupational Training
I think that there is great value to this type of position in any industry that has 100+ employees. From my previous experience, the financial industry puts a strong focus on training, higher-ed does somewhat, but they typically use the resources of their faculty to provide employees with curriculum. It is interesting to note that more corporations do not utilize the same services you highlighted as it is critical to having adaptive and effective processes that meet the clients' ever-changing behavior.
what are the factors that you see limiting the number of US citizens graduating in science and technology?
Thomas Stockwell
Independent Information Technology and Services Professional
Bill Gates came before the US Congress last month to proclaim that the US needs to increase the number of H1-B visas to fill the needs of the tech industry. What are the factors that you are witnessing that keep undergraduates who are US citizens from specializing in these fields?
Steve Durkee
Market Strategist/Analyst/Executive Director
Best Answers in: Education and Schools, Occupational Training
There has been a shift away from even basic science in many states to focus just on meeting federal standards as not to jeopardize funding for public education. With the integration of no child left behind, schools are forced to concentrate heavily on English and math as their primary function. The costs for standardized testing have cut out funding for additional programs that foster interest in these fields as well. Moreover, due to the technical nature of both the fields of science and technology there seems to be a misunderstanding of the wealth of opportunities that are out there today among the youth in this country. In speaking with over 6,000 students a year I have noticed that the more technical the field the less apt the student is to pursue it beyond high school. The lack of understanding is also carried forward by a large segment of our ageing population, of which has yet to embrace technology. If students do not think that their teachers can comprehend such things, how can we expect them to?
Independent Information Technology and Services Professional
Bill Gates came before the US Congress last month to proclaim that the US needs to increase the number of H1-B visas to fill the needs of the tech industry. What are the factors that you are witnessing that keep undergraduates who are US citizens from specializing in these fields?
Steve Durkee
Market Strategist/Analyst/Executive Director
Best Answers in: Education and Schools, Occupational Training
There has been a shift away from even basic science in many states to focus just on meeting federal standards as not to jeopardize funding for public education. With the integration of no child left behind, schools are forced to concentrate heavily on English and math as their primary function. The costs for standardized testing have cut out funding for additional programs that foster interest in these fields as well. Moreover, due to the technical nature of both the fields of science and technology there seems to be a misunderstanding of the wealth of opportunities that are out there today among the youth in this country. In speaking with over 6,000 students a year I have noticed that the more technical the field the less apt the student is to pursue it beyond high school. The lack of understanding is also carried forward by a large segment of our ageing population, of which has yet to embrace technology. If students do not think that their teachers can comprehend such things, how can we expect them to?
Is there a relation between higher academic background and competence for business?
Tatiana Zanon
Purchasing Specialist at SAP Brasil
Is there a relation between higher academic background and competence for business?
What are the skills someone should have to get a successful career? To be as Director or CEO a higher academic background is essential or what bring up the person to that position is related to its native skills for doing business? Or both contributes?
Steve Durkee
Market Strategist/Analyst/Executive Director
Best Answers in: Education and Schools, Occupational Training
That would depend on the individual. I have seen both sides of this in my professional life. Just because an individual went to a highly-competitive/well-respected school does not guarantee a certain learning outcome for that individual. We have seen this in world leaders and CEOs. If an individual approaches a rigorous curriculum half committed, and received barely passing marks, would you hire them because of their alumni status from a particular institution over say someone who has operational knowledge of specific areas of improvement and measured success in previous like-situations? In the world of business I have seen this happen (the title syndrome) not only because of academic affiliations but also because of specific title. Once the ceiling is broken, many larger corporations lean towards anyone who has a like-title over someone below that barrier. As a business owner I refuse to accept mediocrity in my work, and as such, always put in metrics to measure results not only of my employees but of myself. I should also clarify that I am not stating that you would learn the same in any environment. I have noticed a recent flood of MBAs in our corporation from a less than reputable institution, and it does reflect in their quality of work. From this trend, I could foresee companies putting in place measurement tools to assess knowledge in the hiring process for executive positions.
Purchasing Specialist at SAP Brasil
Is there a relation between higher academic background and competence for business?
What are the skills someone should have to get a successful career? To be as Director or CEO a higher academic background is essential or what bring up the person to that position is related to its native skills for doing business? Or both contributes?
Steve Durkee
Market Strategist/Analyst/Executive Director
Best Answers in: Education and Schools, Occupational Training
That would depend on the individual. I have seen both sides of this in my professional life. Just because an individual went to a highly-competitive/well-respected school does not guarantee a certain learning outcome for that individual. We have seen this in world leaders and CEOs. If an individual approaches a rigorous curriculum half committed, and received barely passing marks, would you hire them because of their alumni status from a particular institution over say someone who has operational knowledge of specific areas of improvement and measured success in previous like-situations? In the world of business I have seen this happen (the title syndrome) not only because of academic affiliations but also because of specific title. Once the ceiling is broken, many larger corporations lean towards anyone who has a like-title over someone below that barrier. As a business owner I refuse to accept mediocrity in my work, and as such, always put in metrics to measure results not only of my employees but of myself. I should also clarify that I am not stating that you would learn the same in any environment. I have noticed a recent flood of MBAs in our corporation from a less than reputable institution, and it does reflect in their quality of work. From this trend, I could foresee companies putting in place measurement tools to assess knowledge in the hiring process for executive positions.
What are the best online programs in management or marketing from top universities/IVY league? (1-6 months curriculum)
Fadi Karam
Brand Manager at Nestle (fadi.linkedin@gmail.com)
I am looking for the best online programs for management or marketing offered by the top universities, preferably an IVY. Mainly looking for certificates or executive education with a 1-6 months curriculum (No MBAs)
Steve Durkee
Market Strategist/Analyst/Executive Director
Best Answers in: Education and Schools, Occupational Training
Fadi, You have quite a few options for online certificates. If you are looking for Ivy League schools I think the two options with the best e-learning environments are Cornell and Harvard. I posted the links for the executive leadership programs below, some are online some are in-person. If you are looking to get a certificate specifically for marketing you may have to take the series on campus. Both Cornell and Harvard have 6 day workshops (Cornell offers it twice a year, Harvard once a year) to attain a certificate in Strategic Marketing Management. Both also come with Ivy League tuition at $7,800 for Cornell and $9,200 for Harvard. Best of luck to you in your future endeavors, Steve
Links:
http://www.linkedin.com/redirect?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eecornell%2Ecom%2Fcatalog%2Fcertificates%2F&urlhash=yh9o
http://www.linkedin.com/redirect?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eexed%2Ehbs%2Eedu%2Fprograms%2Fsmm%2F&urlhash=Nmw6
http://www.linkedin.com/redirect?url=http%3A%2F%2Fscpd%2Estanford%2Eedu%2Fscpd%2Fprograms%2Fcerts%2F&urlhash=8H9T
Brand Manager at Nestle (fadi.linkedin@gmail.com)
I am looking for the best online programs for management or marketing offered by the top universities, preferably an IVY. Mainly looking for certificates or executive education with a 1-6 months curriculum (No MBAs)
Steve Durkee
Market Strategist/Analyst/Executive Director
Best Answers in: Education and Schools, Occupational Training
Fadi, You have quite a few options for online certificates. If you are looking for Ivy League schools I think the two options with the best e-learning environments are Cornell and Harvard. I posted the links for the executive leadership programs below, some are online some are in-person. If you are looking to get a certificate specifically for marketing you may have to take the series on campus. Both Cornell and Harvard have 6 day workshops (Cornell offers it twice a year, Harvard once a year) to attain a certificate in Strategic Marketing Management. Both also come with Ivy League tuition at $7,800 for Cornell and $9,200 for Harvard. Best of luck to you in your future endeavors, Steve
Links:
http://www.linkedin.com/redirect?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eecornell%2Ecom%2Fcatalog%2Fcertificates%2F&urlhash=yh9o
http://www.linkedin.com/redirect?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eexed%2Ehbs%2Eedu%2Fprograms%2Fsmm%2F&urlhash=Nmw6
http://www.linkedin.com/redirect?url=http%3A%2F%2Fscpd%2Estanford%2Eedu%2Fscpd%2Fprograms%2Fcerts%2F&urlhash=8H9T
What advice would you give someone who aspires to reach Board level?
Sarah Stoddart
OPEX Localisation Manager (Six Sigma) at Allianz
I'm 25 and working in financial services. As much as anyone can really know what they want at 25 I aspire to reach Board level - what advice would you give me?
Steve Durkee
Market Strategist/Analyst/Executive Director
Best Answers in: Education and Schools, Occupational Training
Put ethics first; Show...don't tell; Be a lifetime learner; Start putting yourself out there now; Ask your top-executive to map a plan for you on how to reach your goal; Finally, don't be afraid to change companies.
OPEX Localisation Manager (Six Sigma) at Allianz
I'm 25 and working in financial services. As much as anyone can really know what they want at 25 I aspire to reach Board level - what advice would you give me?
Steve Durkee
Market Strategist/Analyst/Executive Director
Best Answers in: Education and Schools, Occupational Training
Put ethics first; Show...don't tell; Be a lifetime learner; Start putting yourself out there now; Ask your top-executive to map a plan for you on how to reach your goal; Finally, don't be afraid to change companies.
I'm thinking of doing an EMBA starting january 2009. Can anyone recomend a good one?
Helen Adams
Strategy Manager, Group Strategy and Planning at Britannia Building Society
I'm thinking of doing an EMBA starting january 2009. Can anyone recomend a good one? Offer me any useful insights? How long did you spend boning up on the GMAT beforehand? Thanks, Helen
Steve Durkee
Market Strategist/Analyst/Executive Director
Best Answers in: Education and Schools, Occupational Training
Helen, The good news is that these days an EMBA is offered at pretty much every major business school in the US, and some might not require GMAT scores if you are an established professional. Currently the top program is offered through Northwestern's Kellogg School of Management. Also Cornell and Harvard have pretty good online platforms. If you are looking for a traditional ExecutiveMBA University of Chicago has an excellent program but it requires regular campus classroom time. Also, I noticed you are in the U.K. and so you may look into Thunderbird's Global MBA degree that is now offered online and on campus. They have a great track record for having graduates recruited to work in global management. I posted the links for NW and Thunderbird's programs below, hope that helps, Steve
Links:
http://www.linkedin.com/redirect?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ekellogg%2Enorthwestern%2Eedu%2Femba%2Findex%2Ehtm&urlhash=z4KA
http://www.linkedin.com/redirect?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ethunderbird%2Eedu%2F&urlhash=_ssO
Strategy Manager, Group Strategy and Planning at Britannia Building Society
I'm thinking of doing an EMBA starting january 2009. Can anyone recomend a good one? Offer me any useful insights? How long did you spend boning up on the GMAT beforehand? Thanks, Helen
Steve Durkee
Market Strategist/Analyst/Executive Director
Best Answers in: Education and Schools, Occupational Training
Helen, The good news is that these days an EMBA is offered at pretty much every major business school in the US, and some might not require GMAT scores if you are an established professional. Currently the top program is offered through Northwestern's Kellogg School of Management. Also Cornell and Harvard have pretty good online platforms. If you are looking for a traditional ExecutiveMBA University of Chicago has an excellent program but it requires regular campus classroom time. Also, I noticed you are in the U.K. and so you may look into Thunderbird's Global MBA degree that is now offered online and on campus. They have a great track record for having graduates recruited to work in global management. I posted the links for NW and Thunderbird's programs below, hope that helps, Steve
Links:
http://www.linkedin.com/redirect?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ekellogg%2Enorthwestern%2Eedu%2Femba%2Findex%2Ehtm&urlhash=z4KA
http://www.linkedin.com/redirect?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ethunderbird%2Eedu%2F&urlhash=_ssO
Good morning. Can anyone share how they have overcome "space" (classroom, meeting room) challenges?
John Osborne
Director of Student Development at The Art Institute of Philadelphia
Specifically, at our college, I have gotten recent support to implement a leadership certificate program (think unaccredited course). Our college is growing and classroom space is limited. Traditional 3-credit classes are scheduled first. We do have a student lounge, but it is not ideal. Thanks in advance for your responses.
Steve Durkee
Market Strategist/Analyst/Executive Director
Best Answers in: Education and Schools, Occupational Training
John, We have used Saturday classes as a solution in the past (with great success) for certificate programs. Although working on Saturday is not ideal for faculty, typically those seeking certificates are working adults who usually are grateful for the opportunity to attend a weekend class for a few months to update their skills and gain an edge in their industry. Outside of weekends we have also used Hybrid technologies that allow a mixed platform of both online and in classroom. Feel free to contact me if you have additional questions, Steve
Director of Student Development at The Art Institute of Philadelphia
Specifically, at our college, I have gotten recent support to implement a leadership certificate program (think unaccredited course). Our college is growing and classroom space is limited. Traditional 3-credit classes are scheduled first. We do have a student lounge, but it is not ideal. Thanks in advance for your responses.
Steve Durkee
Market Strategist/Analyst/Executive Director
Best Answers in: Education and Schools, Occupational Training
John, We have used Saturday classes as a solution in the past (with great success) for certificate programs. Although working on Saturday is not ideal for faculty, typically those seeking certificates are working adults who usually are grateful for the opportunity to attend a weekend class for a few months to update their skills and gain an edge in their industry. Outside of weekends we have also used Hybrid technologies that allow a mixed platform of both online and in classroom. Feel free to contact me if you have additional questions, Steve
Has anyone heard of Columbia Southern University?
Imad Hourani
Account Development Representative at T-Mobile USA
I am looking into taking a Online Program and want to find the best choice that will also be affordable. I have checked with CHEA and DETC and looks like they are good.
Steve Durkee
Market Strategist/Analyst/Executive Director
Best Answers in: Education and Schools, Occupational Training
Yes I have. They offer a more unique platform for distance education in having DVD lecture content so you can see actual lectures and replay them multiple times. I believe they are still a branch of University of Alabama, which has a pretty solid reputation, and they are regionally accredited, which provides a few more options when looking into graduate programs (however, quite a few institutions have moved away from that distinction and now treat national and regional the same). As far as affordability, they are very reasonable with tuition. I would say though that with any choice in higher education it is important to look at the career you are going to be going into, or the option within the company you work for that you are looking to pursue, and make sure that the program meets the standard of what you are seeking to do. Hope that is of some help, best of luck, Steve
Account Development Representative at T-Mobile USA
I am looking into taking a Online Program and want to find the best choice that will also be affordable. I have checked with CHEA and DETC and looks like they are good.
Steve Durkee
Market Strategist/Analyst/Executive Director
Best Answers in: Education and Schools, Occupational Training
Yes I have. They offer a more unique platform for distance education in having DVD lecture content so you can see actual lectures and replay them multiple times. I believe they are still a branch of University of Alabama, which has a pretty solid reputation, and they are regionally accredited, which provides a few more options when looking into graduate programs (however, quite a few institutions have moved away from that distinction and now treat national and regional the same). As far as affordability, they are very reasonable with tuition. I would say though that with any choice in higher education it is important to look at the career you are going to be going into, or the option within the company you work for that you are looking to pursue, and make sure that the program meets the standard of what you are seeking to do. Hope that is of some help, best of luck, Steve
Which Degree To Choose?
Jerry Yeung
Owner, Confidential
I'll skip the minute details so not to bore you.... (please excuse any typos, long day and its late) I'm in my early twenties I started working at age 14, started a business at 16 and have over 7 years of management experience. Long story short, I've been considering two possible degree options (they are online programs and the place isn't prestigious, its only route I have that does not require 4 years of full time study)*: 1) One will take only 1 year of time, but its only a general degree 2) The other requires 2.5 years of full time effort, but its a commerce degree I'm not a typical "fresh graduate" with no work experience, as I mentioned above. In your opinion, is a commerce degree (I've looked at the content, little I don't already know) be worth an extra 1.5 years of time? How would you evaluate the options? What would you suggest? Many thanks, *The details are rather dull, but if you are interested, I can let you know
I'll skip the minute details so not to bore you.... (please excuse any typos, long day and its late) I'm in my early twenties I started working at age 14, started a business at 16 and have over 7 years of management experience. Long story short, I've been considering two possible degree options (they are online programs and the place isn't prestigious, its only route I have that does not require 4 years of full time study)*: 1) One will take only 1 year of time, but its only a general degree 2) The other requires 2.5 years of full time effort, but its a commerce degree I'm not a typical "fresh graduate" with no work experience, as I mentioned above. In your opinion, is a commerce degree (I've looked at the content, little I don't already know) be worth an extra 1.5 years of time? How would you evaluate the options? What would you suggest? Many thanks, *The details are rather dull, but if you are interested, I can let you know
Steve Durkee
Market Strategist/Analyst/Executive Director
Best Answers in: Education and Schools, Occupational Training
Jerry, I would be happy to help you out, a couple of questions and things to consider. First, is the one year program a Bachelor degree program? That would be lightning speed for that kind of program, and I would question its validity. In business, the fields that you can go into require different levels of education. You have some things working for you and some things working against you. I would encourage you to check out Onet, I will post the link below. It covers industry trends and occupational information. Business in general is a hard field, both to get into what you want to be do and reach the level of success that many aspire to achieve, however if you position yourself well it provides limitless opportunity. I asked about the degree type because I would have to agree with Maria, if you are going to work at an executive level you will want to get your MBA. A general degree at any major corporation typically does not cut it. I would have to disagree with the comment saying that a degree is just a piece of paper. I have worked with people with degrees and without and there is a definite level of maturity that comes with going through that process. It is not easy, but in the end it should be worthwhile. For me, the choice would be easy. If I was just looking at what would provide the most opportunity, it would be whichever program you think you can get the most out of. What is the point of doing a degree program just to have a degree? If you don't value it, it is worth nothing, and you are just throwing money away. However, if you find something you can engross yourself in and really like to study, that level of interest will come through when you are looking for opportunities in the field. Good luck to you, Steve
Links:
http://www.linkedin.com/redirect?url=http%3A%2F%2Fonline%2Eonetcenter%2Eorg%2F&urlhash=cUKn
Owner, Confidential
I'll skip the minute details so not to bore you.... (please excuse any typos, long day and its late) I'm in my early twenties I started working at age 14, started a business at 16 and have over 7 years of management experience. Long story short, I've been considering two possible degree options (they are online programs and the place isn't prestigious, its only route I have that does not require 4 years of full time study)*: 1) One will take only 1 year of time, but its only a general degree 2) The other requires 2.5 years of full time effort, but its a commerce degree I'm not a typical "fresh graduate" with no work experience, as I mentioned above. In your opinion, is a commerce degree (I've looked at the content, little I don't already know) be worth an extra 1.5 years of time? How would you evaluate the options? What would you suggest? Many thanks, *The details are rather dull, but if you are interested, I can let you know
I'll skip the minute details so not to bore you.... (please excuse any typos, long day and its late) I'm in my early twenties I started working at age 14, started a business at 16 and have over 7 years of management experience. Long story short, I've been considering two possible degree options (they are online programs and the place isn't prestigious, its only route I have that does not require 4 years of full time study)*: 1) One will take only 1 year of time, but its only a general degree 2) The other requires 2.5 years of full time effort, but its a commerce degree I'm not a typical "fresh graduate" with no work experience, as I mentioned above. In your opinion, is a commerce degree (I've looked at the content, little I don't already know) be worth an extra 1.5 years of time? How would you evaluate the options? What would you suggest? Many thanks, *The details are rather dull, but if you are interested, I can let you know
Steve Durkee
Market Strategist/Analyst/Executive Director
Best Answers in: Education and Schools, Occupational Training
Jerry, I would be happy to help you out, a couple of questions and things to consider. First, is the one year program a Bachelor degree program? That would be lightning speed for that kind of program, and I would question its validity. In business, the fields that you can go into require different levels of education. You have some things working for you and some things working against you. I would encourage you to check out Onet, I will post the link below. It covers industry trends and occupational information. Business in general is a hard field, both to get into what you want to be do and reach the level of success that many aspire to achieve, however if you position yourself well it provides limitless opportunity. I asked about the degree type because I would have to agree with Maria, if you are going to work at an executive level you will want to get your MBA. A general degree at any major corporation typically does not cut it. I would have to disagree with the comment saying that a degree is just a piece of paper. I have worked with people with degrees and without and there is a definite level of maturity that comes with going through that process. It is not easy, but in the end it should be worthwhile. For me, the choice would be easy. If I was just looking at what would provide the most opportunity, it would be whichever program you think you can get the most out of. What is the point of doing a degree program just to have a degree? If you don't value it, it is worth nothing, and you are just throwing money away. However, if you find something you can engross yourself in and really like to study, that level of interest will come through when you are looking for opportunities in the field. Good luck to you, Steve
Links:
http://www.linkedin.com/redirect?url=http%3A%2F%2Fonline%2Eonetcenter%2Eorg%2F&urlhash=cUKn
Where would you go to find high quality interactive and engaging Microsoft Office 2007 eLearning courses in Spanish?
Antonio Barrios
eLearning Technical Consultant at Disney
Where would you go to find high quality interactive and engaging Microsoft Office 2007 eLearning courses in Spanish?
Steve Durkee
Market Strategist/Analyst/Executive Director
Best Answers in: Education and Schools, Occupational Training
Antonio, I know the Microsoft site is a little confusing, but the link for the spanish edition for office is http://office.microsoft.com/es-hn/, and you can find the resources you need there. If you are looking for other remedial explanations these are some that were written by k-12 teachers, but the quality would have to be adapted: For Excel: http://www.teachersfirst.com/getsource.cfm?id=7647 For PowerPoint: http://www.jegsworks.com/Lessons-sp/presentations/index.html For Word http://www.jegsworks.com/Lessons-sp/words/index.html For Links to other help (web apps/general computer)
Links:
http://www.linkedin.com/redirect?url=http%3A%2F%2Foffice%2Emicrosoft%2Ecom%2Fes-hn%2F&urlhash=xK0z
eLearning Technical Consultant at Disney
Where would you go to find high quality interactive and engaging Microsoft Office 2007 eLearning courses in Spanish?
Steve Durkee
Market Strategist/Analyst/Executive Director
Best Answers in: Education and Schools, Occupational Training
Antonio, I know the Microsoft site is a little confusing, but the link for the spanish edition for office is http://office.microsoft.com/es-hn/, and you can find the resources you need there. If you are looking for other remedial explanations these are some that were written by k-12 teachers, but the quality would have to be adapted: For Excel: http://www.teachersfirst.com/getsource.cfm?id=7647 For PowerPoint: http://www.jegsworks.com/Lessons-sp/presentations/index.html For Word http://www.jegsworks.com/Lessons-sp/words/index.html For Links to other help (web apps/general computer)
Links:
http://www.linkedin.com/redirect?url=http%3A%2F%2Foffice%2Emicrosoft%2Ecom%2Fes-hn%2F&urlhash=xK0z
What specific gaps do you believe exist in education, based upon the skill sets of young employees/applicants you see?
Brandon Ferris
Director of Advancement at Saint George's School
What specific gaps do you believe exist in education, based upon the skill sets of young employees/applicants you see? To prepare students for the economy of the 21st century, what are the top three skills/core competencies they will need to succeed?
My name is Brandon Ferris, and I am Director of School Advancement at Saint George’s School, an independent K-12 school located in Spokane, WA. We would like two minutes of your time. We are starting an exciting project in which we are evaluating our curriculum and its readiness to meet the realities of the 21st century. In other words, we are asking ourselves "How do we prepare our students for a world we can barely envision ourselves?" We know that to prepare the leaders of the 21st century, we have to think in radical new ways about our curriculum. We have to ask questions such as "Are technology-based communication skills more important than face-to-face communication skills in this new world?" We have been speaking with leaders and influencers from different sectors to learn what they believe are the key skills and competencies students need to be successful in the 21st century economy. We would very much like to hear from leaders in highly innovative, forward-thinking, agile, technology-oriented organizations like yours. I am writing to ask if you or another leader of your organization best suited to the topic would be so kind as to respond via e-mail to just two questions: • What, if any, specific gaps do you believe exist in education, based upon the skill sets of new young employees and applicants you see? • To prepare students for the economy of the 21st century, what do you think are the top three skills or core competencies they will need to succeed and thrive? All responses will be kept in strict confidence and will not be attributed to individual participants. At the completion of this research project, we will publish a report to share our findings with all interested participants. Thank you very much for your consideration.
Steve Durkee
Market Strategist/Analyst/Executive Director
Best Answers in: Education and Schools (2)... see more, Occupational Training (1) see less
The biggest gap I see is that we have focused so intently on standards we have lost sight of the original purpose: to encourage the development of young minds. 1) Critical thinking (the ability to see value/take away something in any situation) 2) Relational Skills (fair and ethical treatment of everyone, and treating others as you would like to be treated) 3) Honesty (high standard for ethical choices) If I could add a fourth, it would be to be a lifetime learner, who is always looking to improve.
Director of Advancement at Saint George's School
What specific gaps do you believe exist in education, based upon the skill sets of young employees/applicants you see? To prepare students for the economy of the 21st century, what are the top three skills/core competencies they will need to succeed?
My name is Brandon Ferris, and I am Director of School Advancement at Saint George’s School, an independent K-12 school located in Spokane, WA. We would like two minutes of your time. We are starting an exciting project in which we are evaluating our curriculum and its readiness to meet the realities of the 21st century. In other words, we are asking ourselves "How do we prepare our students for a world we can barely envision ourselves?" We know that to prepare the leaders of the 21st century, we have to think in radical new ways about our curriculum. We have to ask questions such as "Are technology-based communication skills more important than face-to-face communication skills in this new world?" We have been speaking with leaders and influencers from different sectors to learn what they believe are the key skills and competencies students need to be successful in the 21st century economy. We would very much like to hear from leaders in highly innovative, forward-thinking, agile, technology-oriented organizations like yours. I am writing to ask if you or another leader of your organization best suited to the topic would be so kind as to respond via e-mail to just two questions: • What, if any, specific gaps do you believe exist in education, based upon the skill sets of new young employees and applicants you see? • To prepare students for the economy of the 21st century, what do you think are the top three skills or core competencies they will need to succeed and thrive? All responses will be kept in strict confidence and will not be attributed to individual participants. At the completion of this research project, we will publish a report to share our findings with all interested participants. Thank you very much for your consideration.
Steve Durkee
Market Strategist/Analyst/Executive Director
Best Answers in: Education and Schools (2)... see more, Occupational Training (1) see less
The biggest gap I see is that we have focused so intently on standards we have lost sight of the original purpose: to encourage the development of young minds. 1) Critical thinking (the ability to see value/take away something in any situation) 2) Relational Skills (fair and ethical treatment of everyone, and treating others as you would like to be treated) 3) Honesty (high standard for ethical choices) If I could add a fourth, it would be to be a lifetime learner, who is always looking to improve.
What resources might you recommend to a brand new student employment advisor starting out at a small city-college?
Andrew Ferro
Student Employment Advisor at The New England Institute of Art
We are a small career centered college located in the Boston area. Our student body has doubled in the past 4 years and the student employment services is in serious need of a good kick in the pants.
Steve Durkee
Market Strategist/Analyst/Executive Director
see all my answers
Best Answers in: Education and Schools (2)... see more, Occupational Training (1) see less
Start collecting business cards from everyone you meet. Keep in mind that employment resources are everywhere. Make sure the have a good CRM or are at least using MS Outlook's contact manager. Check out the local business journal. Setup an alternative email to use for job updates and sign up as the type of candidate you are looking to help on jobsites and click update me on new postings. Finally, search, search, search. There are tons of industry specific sites out there now that can make a great start to building your network. Also it is highly encouraged that if they don't already have career-readiness training (resume building, interviewing skills, etc.) that you implement something immediately. Don't take for granted that just because someone has a degree, that doesn't mean they are not apprehensive about the process. If you prepare your graduates and current students well, you are bound to be more successful.
posted 7 days ago
Student Employment Advisor at The New England Institute of Art
We are a small career centered college located in the Boston area. Our student body has doubled in the past 4 years and the student employment services is in serious need of a good kick in the pants.
Steve Durkee
Market Strategist/Analyst/Executive Director
see all my answers
Best Answers in: Education and Schools (2)... see more, Occupational Training (1) see less
Start collecting business cards from everyone you meet. Keep in mind that employment resources are everywhere. Make sure the have a good CRM or are at least using MS Outlook's contact manager. Check out the local business journal. Setup an alternative email to use for job updates and sign up as the type of candidate you are looking to help on jobsites and click update me on new postings. Finally, search, search, search. There are tons of industry specific sites out there now that can make a great start to building your network. Also it is highly encouraged that if they don't already have career-readiness training (resume building, interviewing skills, etc.) that you implement something immediately. Don't take for granted that just because someone has a degree, that doesn't mean they are not apprehensive about the process. If you prepare your graduates and current students well, you are bound to be more successful.
posted 7 days ago
Is there a game that you played that tested your creativity? Share with me
Darrel Chong
Management Executive at Keppel T&T
Is there a game that you played that tested your creativity? Share with me
Steve Durkee
Market Strategist/Analyst/Executive Director
Best Answers in: Education and Schools (2)... see more, Occupational Training (1) see less
When I was in my undergraduate program I participated in "The World Game." It is a socio/economics problem solving scenario game that tests your ability to think critically and creatively about serious issues in different countries. It was developed originally by Buckminster Fuller and has been used over the years as a training tool for diplomats and future leaders. I will post the link below. Cheers, Steve
Links:
http://www.bfi.org/taxonomy/term/170/all
posted 7 days ago
Management Executive at Keppel T&T
Is there a game that you played that tested your creativity? Share with me
Steve Durkee
Market Strategist/Analyst/Executive Director
Best Answers in: Education and Schools (2)... see more, Occupational Training (1) see less
When I was in my undergraduate program I participated in "The World Game." It is a socio/economics problem solving scenario game that tests your ability to think critically and creatively about serious issues in different countries. It was developed originally by Buckminster Fuller and has been used over the years as a training tool for diplomats and future leaders. I will post the link below. Cheers, Steve
Links:
http://www.bfi.org/taxonomy/term/170/all
posted 7 days ago
What does it mean by a lateral and a vertical learning curve?
Sumita Patra
Analyst at Accenture
What does it mean by a lateral and a vertical learning curve?
Steve Durkee
Market Strategist/Analyst/Executive Director
see all my answers
Best Answers in: Education and Schools (2)... see more, Occupational Training (1) see less
Typically vertical learning is used to describe a methodologically based analytical approach. That is to say that the personal using a vertical learning approach is more exact in their ways of measuring. By contrast lateral learning is not variable specific and looks for can be learned overall in the experience. It proceeds to generate a direction, whereas vertical learning only proceeds if there is a direction. The curve for each is different. A lateral learning curve would measure the amount of approaches found to addressing a specific issue. In contrast, the vertical learning curve would measure the ability to define a particular concept.
Analyst at Accenture
What does it mean by a lateral and a vertical learning curve?
Steve Durkee
Market Strategist/Analyst/Executive Director
see all my answers
Best Answers in: Education and Schools (2)... see more, Occupational Training (1) see less
Typically vertical learning is used to describe a methodologically based analytical approach. That is to say that the personal using a vertical learning approach is more exact in their ways of measuring. By contrast lateral learning is not variable specific and looks for can be learned overall in the experience. It proceeds to generate a direction, whereas vertical learning only proceeds if there is a direction. The curve for each is different. A lateral learning curve would measure the amount of approaches found to addressing a specific issue. In contrast, the vertical learning curve would measure the ability to define a particular concept.
¿Cuáles son los principales elementos y procesos de un proyecto educativo?
Antonio Martínez Sánchez
Socio en HTC Consulting
La idea es conocer las nuevas tendencias de la actividad educativa y de desarrollo humano en un marco de mejora continua y formar un criterio en base a diferentes opiniones.
Steve Durkee
Market Strategist/Analyst/Executive Director
see all my answers
Best Answers in: Education and Schools (2)... see more, Occupational Training (1) see less
Antonio, Para un proyecto educativo hay 10 procesos básicos 1) Determina concentró (en el grupo o el individuo) 2) Realiza un análisis de necesidades 3) Define los objetivos que aprenden 4) Desarrolla el programa plan 5) Integra un método de la entrega 6) Emplea/Tren un instructor calificado en el contenido 7) Entrega el contenido para concentrar en el grupo o el individuo 8) Mide la absorción contenta 9) Valora el resultado que aprende 10) Mejora el programa basado en aprender el resultado
Socio en HTC Consulting
La idea es conocer las nuevas tendencias de la actividad educativa y de desarrollo humano en un marco de mejora continua y formar un criterio en base a diferentes opiniones.
Steve Durkee
Market Strategist/Analyst/Executive Director
see all my answers
Best Answers in: Education and Schools (2)... see more, Occupational Training (1) see less
Antonio, Para un proyecto educativo hay 10 procesos básicos 1) Determina concentró (en el grupo o el individuo) 2) Realiza un análisis de necesidades 3) Define los objetivos que aprenden 4) Desarrolla el programa plan 5) Integra un método de la entrega 6) Emplea/Tren un instructor calificado en el contenido 7) Entrega el contenido para concentrar en el grupo o el individuo 8) Mide la absorción contenta 9) Valora el resultado que aprende 10) Mejora el programa basado en aprender el resultado
If you could speak with a student who was considering dropping out, what would you tell them?
Jamie Morgan
President at The JM Show--LION--MyLinkNetwork.com--jjmorgan13@gmail.com www.thejmshow.com
see all my questions
We are engaged in "Operation Graduation"---helping high school students graduate and go to college. If you could speak with a student who was considering dropping out, what would you tell them?
www.thejmshow.com
Steve Durkee
Market Strategist/Analyst/Executive Director
see all my answers
Best Answers in: Education and Schools (2)... see more, Occupational Training (1) see less
Jamie, Good question and this is something that I deal with regularly in my role with the foundation. Of course we are all individuals so to motivate everyone with a similar message can be difficult. What I have found tends to work well is to educate students about the numbers, with the caveat that it doesn’t mean you will be a statistic, it just means your going to have to work that much harder not to be. From a motivational standpoint I would ask the student(s) to think about how much time you have invested in your education and how close you are. For some of them they have already put in 12 years and all they need are those last couple classes that seem insurmountable. Also, I try to make sure they know about their options after high school. There are fields that they can get into after high school that only require some quick technical training, but you have to have what to get into the program? A high school diploma or GED. From an educational standpoint, it is one statistic that no one should have to be part of, not only are your earnings dwarfed by the rest of societies, you work more to earn less pay, have less time for family or civic participation, and are much, much more apt to be incarcerated. In fact, less than 4% of the US prison population is made up of college graduates...guess what level of education the largest percentage has? If you need some help compiling information, I can probably help. One of the core aspects of the foundation is to look for means of improving areas that are plagued with poverty and typically, many times out of necessity, have high drop-out rates.
posted 5 days ago
President at The JM Show--LION--MyLinkNetwork.com--jjmorgan13@gmail.com www.thejmshow.com
see all my questions
We are engaged in "Operation Graduation"---helping high school students graduate and go to college. If you could speak with a student who was considering dropping out, what would you tell them?
www.thejmshow.com
Steve Durkee
Market Strategist/Analyst/Executive Director
see all my answers
Best Answers in: Education and Schools (2)... see more, Occupational Training (1) see less
Jamie, Good question and this is something that I deal with regularly in my role with the foundation. Of course we are all individuals so to motivate everyone with a similar message can be difficult. What I have found tends to work well is to educate students about the numbers, with the caveat that it doesn’t mean you will be a statistic, it just means your going to have to work that much harder not to be. From a motivational standpoint I would ask the student(s) to think about how much time you have invested in your education and how close you are. For some of them they have already put in 12 years and all they need are those last couple classes that seem insurmountable. Also, I try to make sure they know about their options after high school. There are fields that they can get into after high school that only require some quick technical training, but you have to have what to get into the program? A high school diploma or GED. From an educational standpoint, it is one statistic that no one should have to be part of, not only are your earnings dwarfed by the rest of societies, you work more to earn less pay, have less time for family or civic participation, and are much, much more apt to be incarcerated. In fact, less than 4% of the US prison population is made up of college graduates...guess what level of education the largest percentage has? If you need some help compiling information, I can probably help. One of the core aspects of the foundation is to look for means of improving areas that are plagued with poverty and typically, many times out of necessity, have high drop-out rates.
posted 5 days ago
Are you a good boss? What do you do to be a good or great boss?
This is an important question since most people spend more than 40 hours per week at the office, and the boss is a key factor in the quality of life of employees at work. No boss is good 100% of the time, just as no boss is bad 100% of the time. This question is meant to collect the best practices of ALL managers, so we can learn from one another's practices. Thanks! Peter Nguyen Editor in chief CareerKnowledge.net
Steve Durkee
Market Strategist/Analyst/Executive Director
see all my answers
Best Answers in: Education and Schools (2)... see more, Occupational Training (1) see less
1) Create buy-in by encouraging active participation 2) Play to employee’s strengths, minimize weaknesses 3) Listen and respond to all concerns 4) Hold ethics to the highest standard 5) State my objectives clearly 6) Never have a hidden agenda
posted 5 days ago Delete my answer Clarify my answer
Steve Durkee
Market Strategist/Analyst/Executive Director
see all my answers
Best Answers in: Education and Schools (2)... see more, Occupational Training (1) see less
1) Create buy-in by encouraging active participation 2) Play to employee’s strengths, minimize weaknesses 3) Listen and respond to all concerns 4) Hold ethics to the highest standard 5) State my objectives clearly 6) Never have a hidden agenda
posted 5 days ago Delete my answer Clarify my answer
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