Class Reflection

The past three classes we have had student presentations. I was not very excited to do mine, but it turned out alright. There were some interesting topics. One of my favorites looked at the current way of working. We now, according to him, bring home to work and work to home. He mentioned how technology has played an important role in this transition. Having the ability to communicate 24-7 make some people feel they can call whenever no matter where you are.

There were other interesting presentations. Most of all I think it was just a good experience for us to practice presenting and improve our public speaking skills. I actually gained a greater desire to improve my public speaking skills, so I can communicate more comfortably in public.

Class Reflection

We talked about the difficulties companies face when sending ex-patriots to foreign countries to train or work there for some period of time. This transition is very difficult both emotionally and culturally. Even for someone who knows the culture can have a difficult time with the transition. Therefore, companies should be sensitive to the needs of such employees who trans locate out of their native country.

Chapter 16

I am actually really excited about this chapter and learning how to manage a larger company well and maintain a high level of performance. This is a challenge many growing companies face. I believe those companies that are relatively new and have grown quickly are especially in need of these principles.
The challenge with a small company growing large is that the owners lose the close association with their employees that they once had and their constant oversight of operations. If a company does not put people in place to fill those needs as the company grows and the owners must pull out of the business farther then a disconnection will occur with the employees and they will not know where the company is headed nor what part they have in it.
Communication is always key in any organization; thus, for a large company, systems must be in place to allow employees to have their voice heard or else they may feel undervalued. Proper trainers and advisors must also be in place to insure that employees understand their responsibilities and how to accomplish them. Employees should also be notified of their compensation and benefits, so that they understand fully what they are getting from the company. If these things are done performance levels can be maintained throughout business growth.

Class Reflection

I liked the take professor had on the subject we discussed last class. We were talking about unions, and the time before the professor had defended unions in general. This last class he talked about how to avoid unionization if a business does not want unionized employees. He talked about how if an employer treats the employees well then there is no need for a union. A company cannot say that the employees will be penalized by unionizing, but the company can take away the need for a union by making the employees feel they are treated fairly.

Chapter 15

To be successful, a large business has to go where the best is, the best employees, the best resources, the best cost for running the business, etc. In today’s markets to stay competitive, large companies have to outsource to other countries. This is a crucial but difficult move, since so many different factors come into play when doing business in another country.
There are many things to consider when doing business in another country. The culture, local expectations, and ethics play a big role in the successful transaction of business globally. The Human Resources department must manage many of these cultural differences to insure the satisfaction of both the employer and employees. Because cultures can be so different, it is important to get someone who knows and understand the culture and language of the different countries in which the company is doing business so that misunderstanding and petty differences do not prove fatal.

Class Reflection

This class was really interesting. We ended class with an practical activity designed to give us "real life" experience with union vs. management negotiations. We did not negotiate any specific topic or item, but the activity was designed to help us understand how it is most beneficial when both groups works together. My group won; however, we would have received more points had we all worked together.

Chapter 14

This chapter discusses the basics of a union and how a union functions with a business’ management. Unions were first started and continue on the basis of protecting the employee from unfair treatment from his/her employer. I believe the concept and intentions of a union are good and noble. However, I do not believe that they are effective in caring out this purpose.
When I think of a union, I think of an employee who doesn’t work as hard and gets paid unfairly more because he/she is protected. There are too many problems with this system. Man’s nature is to take advantage of a given situation. If we provide employees with more power than their employer than they will treat their employer the way employees got treated when unions were created. I believe that a union also places employees on unfair grounds. When some of the employees are unionized while others are not, then there is unequal compensation and unfair treatment. I believe for a company to be most successful, all employees should be on the same “playing field” or have the same standards to which they must abide.