Holidays!

Honestly... I enjoyed the last weeks having holidays at the beach of Porto de Galinhas without doing anything for my studies. As there is no fixed time table at OSM, it gives me the freedom to take such a break. :)

Back from holidays, I will go through the next modules highly motivated.

Expert discussions :)

I finished the modul Organizational Behavior and passed the assignment already. I am convinced that I can transfer a lot of the theory I learnt to my daily practice.

Last week I was at the wedding of my best friend.  Again, globalization was a contemporary issue. My best friend is Portuguese and married a French woman. :)

Pretty bride, cool party, great location & lots of new contacts. During the conversations with the other guests I have noticed that I feel much more confident because of the previous module studies – I even have been part of expert discussions. Great feeling!

Next plans: Go through modules Organizational Change & Organizational Micropolitics during holidays…..

Organizational Behavior

As Organizational Behavior isn't taught much at university, but personal skills are the most requested skills for managers, I decided to improve my skills within this area next.

I expect this modul will help me in:

1.      Improving quality and productivity

2.      Improving customer service

3.      Managing conflicts

4.      Responding to globalization

5.      Creating a positive & sustainable company culture

Since I have repeatedly conflicts with my father regarding the company's goals I'm particularly interested in Chapter 4. Hopefully it will show me how to analyze and handle conflicts in a better way.

 

Will start immediately…

Passed OD

With a little delay, I passed the assignment for Organizational Design.

After 4 days of waiting I received the results. I can only say that the learning was worth it.

What was a little bit annoying: For some tasks which I regarded as not too difficult I received only a few points, wheras for more difficult tasks I received full points. So for the next time: Don’t regard the easy tasks as easy. ;)

I'm very glad that I invested the time and I'm happy about my good score.

Organizational Design finished

So I completed the course book “Organizational Design” today. I am really proud of myself. Even though I had a crazy week at work, I sat down at my lunch breaks and at nights to study. But overall, once you’re finished with a chapter, and then the next chapter, and eventually the whole module, you feel great: Will do the assignment shortly…..

Organizational Design

So, since the beginning of last week, whenever I found a minute I always worked through the chapters of the module book “Organizational Design”. It`s my second book now and I can resume that the learning outcomes section at the beginning of each chapter and the exercises on the end of each chapter certainly help me a lot to focus and it is much better when I know what to expect. The exercises help a lot to get more self-assuredness for the next assignment. The included practical tips are precious and I even can integrate them in my everyday life. I'm reading the next chapter tonight.

First Milestone

I passed the first assignment (international management) – yeah! :)

The online assignment area is actually quite simple. Shortly after I send my answers in, I got their feedback via email with the result and some notes and recommendations for me to improve. 

The first milestone has to be celebrated. :)

Internationalization

The last week I've done it every day: 1.5h working through the module International Management.

The module is exciting and I was curious to know how Mauro Guillen and Estaban Garcia–Canal explain the basic questions about developing an internationalization plan and how to manage an international firm.

The reading is very appealing and the exercises very helpful but sometimes tricky.

On Monday I discussed via the OSM online campus within an online colloquium with Manuela, a tutor, my substantive questions. She could give me very valuable additional information for editing my first assignment. I will do the assignment this weekend.

Cross your fingers for me: :)

Starting

Hi – I`m Kamal and I came from Brasil. My father has a sewing company that I'm supposed to take over in 3 years. Since I have just little management knowledge my father asked me to improve my skills in this area before I go to take over this job. Therefore I have registered at Open School of Management and have already received all the materials.

First I was unsure how to start and asked the student office for recommendation. They told me to start with International Management to get the first basics knowledge, as my father's company acts internationally. Until today I didn't find the motivation to start working through the modules but next week I'll start – definitely! I do not want to disappoint my father. :)  I think this diary will help me to motivate myself to achieve my goals.

Maybe next time I can already report the first results. :)