Skills Assessment

              In week one of the internship I assessed my skills in the various areas that I felt applied to my past experience, current experience, and what I thought would be the necessary skills as a consultant.  These skills are things that I felt would be important to the success of my future career endeavors.  My observation from week one to week two has changed coming into week five.  The original skills inventory included forty-five items in the skills and abilities areas.  Coming into week five and completing the skills assessment this list is shorter and only has twenty-three skills listed.  This list of skills represents the skills needed for my current position of a Team Lead and according to O*Net, will assist me with a goal of becoming a Director of Admissions. This list focuses more on the necessary skills needed to perform the jobs duties for both fields. 

            The skills that were unchanged from week two to week five were the following items.  Active listening, critical thinking, writing, management of personnel resources, speaking, judgement and decision making, coordination, time management, monitoring, active learning, instructing, complex problem solving, mathematics, management of material resources, oral comprehension, oral expression, problem sensitivity, speech clarity, written comprehension, written expression, and fluency of ideas. 

            The changes that have been experienced from week two to week five is that there is more reading comprehension, due to working in a virtual setting the primary source of communication is through emails from upper management, two teams of consultants, and for client updates on projects or revisions.  Information ordering is a skill that was not a necessity in week two.  During week five I was in a new position of

             Team Lead for two teams, and information ordering played a major role in requesting updates on client projects, being copied on emails going out to clients, weekly deliverables, and hour’s updates to ensure consultants meet the hour’s requirements.  In addition, selective attention is a new skill that I used during week five in order to meet client deadlines, time sensitive projects, and reviewing weekly accomplishments, billable hours, and weekly task sheets.  In a leadership or management position this skill is important when working with a group of people.  The skills accomplishment sheet was shorted that the skills inventory, But I believe that these are the skills that benefit me in my current role, and based on O*Net it will assist me in my future career goals.

           

Seminar Alternate Assignment

Seminar Alternate Assignment

-->

As the seminar began, you started off saying how unit 8 is about distribution.  You stated how we would be able to relate to it better once we figured out who we are as consumers.  We must read chapter 13 and 14 in our text books which is lengthy totaling 60 pages.  You discussed how we could use the books with audio, as some are better are being visual and audio learners such as yourself.  You stated that we should do the beat the clock games and asked if they were working for any of us.  I kind of felt bad because I do not really have time to ever do them but I see that some of the others don’t, as well.  You went over the discussion board and what we needed to do.  We are to choose two retailers to visit and choose which one whom we shall purchase from.  You gave us permission to look up to retailer stores online if we did not have the time to go out and visit one.  You went on to discuss our assignment and what should be completed on template 1 and 2.  You discussed our assignment and how we are to watch two videos.  We are to answer all questions and it could be a lot of work.  You prefer quality on this assignment and encourages us to give it so even if more time is needed.  You went on to discuss chapter 13.  You went over the different possible chain of events that could occur uses a cow scenario.  The manufacturers are basically at the top of the chain.  You went over the supply chain

and how to obtain a greater one.  You discussed that a lot of this interaction happens through technology and how necessary it is today.  You went over external, internal interrogation and customer interrogation.  Some of the students briefly discussed some of things that they could not live without.  You went back to discussing the reading material.  You went over customer relationships and retaining a customer.  You went over customer fulfillment and how it sometimes can be difficult.  You went over manufactures need to know their demand.  You discussed the supplier and how the relationship should be mutual beneficial.  You discussed how that relationship should always has a check on all aspects, every so often checking the price.  You discussed product development and commercialization.  You gave an example and discussed warranties and guarantees. 

                                                                        References

Lamb, C. W., Hair, J. F., & McDaniel, C. (2014). MKTG7. Mason, OH: Cengage.

 

How much time should my child spend in front of the screen?

Screen Time, Quality VS Quan􏰀ty 

Recently, "The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)", changed their recommenda tions on the amount of screen (e that it would suggest for a child under two (previously it was no screen (e at all based on recommenda tions).  According to this ar cle from parents.com, here are some of the AAP's sugges tions: 

 ♥ Treat media as you would any other environment in your child's life. The same parent ing rules apply in both real and virtual environments. Set limits; kids need and expect them. Know their friends, both online and off. Know what plaHorms they are using, where they are going and what they are doing.

Like Water for Chocolate Book Summary

Like Water for Chocolate Book Summary

The number-one bestseller in Mexico in 1990, like Water for chocolate is a romantic, poignant tale, touched with bittersweet moments of magic and sensuality. Evocative of How to make and American Quilt in structure, Tampopo in it’s celebration of food, and Heartburn in its irony and wit, it is a lively and funny tale of family life in turn-of-the-century Mexico.

The narrator’s great-aunt Tita is the youngest of three daughters born to Mama Elena, the Tyrannical owner of the De la Garza ranch. While still in her mother’s womb, she wept so violently-as her mother chopped onions-that she caused Mama Elena to begin early labor, and Tita slipped out in the middle of the kitchen table, amid the spices and fixings for noodle soup. This early encounter with food soon became a way of life, and Tita grew up to be a master chef. Each chapter of the novel begins with one of Tita’s recipes and her careful instructions for preparation.

In well-born Mexican families, tradition dicates that the youngest daughter not marry, but remain at home to care for her mother. Even though tita fallen in .love, Mama Elena chooses not to make an exception, and instead, arranges for Tita’s older sister to marry Tita’s young man.

In order to punish Tita for her willfulness, Mama Elena forces her to bake the wedding cake. The bitter tears Tita weeps while stirring the batter provoke a remarkable reaction among the guests who eat the cake. It is then that it first becomes apparent that her culinary talents are unique.

Laura Esquivel’s voice is direct, simple, and compelling. She has written a fresh and innovative novel, brining her own inimitable strengths to a classic love story.

Originally a screenwriter, Laura Esquivel’s screenplay Chido One was nominated for the Ariel Award for best screenplay by the Mexican Academy of Motion Pictures. This year, the film version of like water for Chocolate swept the awards, winning eleven in all, including one for Ms. Esquivel’s screenplay. She lives in Mexico with her husband and children.

Tim' Coffee Shop Management Decisions

Tim' Coffee Shop Management Decisions

Executive Summary

This section provides an overview of your findings. This section should be no more than half a page at the most, but a paragraph that is about 6-8 sentences is about the right length. This summarizes everything you wrote about in your report. This is also the conclusion for your report. If a business person did not have time to read an entire report or business plan, the Executive Summary should be the overview of the information.

This is an overview of the findings that I received from Tim’s Coffee Shoppe. There are pros and cons of Tim’s Coffee Shoppe as there is pros and cons in any business. However, with Tim’s Coffee Shoppe is that they need to use what’s around them to better improve their opportunity for finical growth. A look beyond the present towards the future of Tim’s Coffee Shoppe. What finical moves that need make improve in finical growth. Better improve in ways to marketing. Furthermore make sure they are bring in more customers to their business. Through this summary I will explain on ways they can bring in more customers.

Regulations and Management

 Summary

Provide a detailed summary of what you observed in regulations and management area of the business. What I observed in regulations and management are of the business is that the Tim needs to be more focus on the improvement on customer satisfaction. Manage how the environment is at the front room, staff room, and break room. Regulate more important laws and code of conduct that every staff and employee that work for Tim’s Coffee Shoppe. The strengths are that they have good customer services by the customers, having a live band at Tim’s Coffee Shoppe, and also them being located near them is a major strength. The weaknesses is that they need to rearrange the menu or add healthier choices to the menu for snacks or a light lunch. Then describe any strengths and weaknesses.

Action Items

Based on your analysis, tell Tim what you recommend. I will recommendations that  Tim needs follow these steps or even understand these directions. Then grow from the information at Tim’s Coffee Shoppe to improve this business. The vision statement in which Tim Coffee Shoppe should follow is that “Caring and loyal value towards our customers and continuously searching for new ways to improve in satisfying our customers. With excellence service and product continue on in improving towards our community”. That’s the vision statement that Tim should follow.  Some of the short term goals are “need to improve in the seating area, need to improve in menus selections, need to improve in service order accurate. The long term goals are firing some employees soon. Updating the technology in the place by at least having a update computer. Always have someone in the back of the office room. Also by improving the area being more organize. With less prices. Increase customer satisfaction by 30. This contain detailed directions of what needs to be done and by when. However, by starting at the short term goals first then grow to the next level and start the long term goals. The reference is that this obvious sit. Consider this vision statement, short term and long-term goals, and even another loan to take out for the interior area in the front lobby. He may or may not be following some of these however this will be a great opportunity to Tim’s Coffee Shoppe.

HR Analysis

 Summary

With the Human Resources needs to be available for and is key to the whole schedule setup and who’s working the most hours and who are getting paid more. I think with the same position that the other employees are working should get paid same wage. Plus, give the right employees the opportunity to work Tim’s Coffee Shoppe. Some of the strengths are that they have loyal employees that enjoy working at Tim’s Coffee Shoppe. The weakness is that they do not have any information about the human resources position. I feel they may need more training on the human resources position. Also with the few employees that do not want to work there. Should be an opportunity for the other employees that do work there a given to work more hours.

Action Items

Based on your analysis, detail for Tim what needs to be done and when to improve this area of the business. Also, you should defend your recommendations by providing references that support your ideas.  From research the human resources is defined as Human resources managers “plan, direct, and coordinate the administrative functions of an organization. They oversee the recruiting, interviewing, and hiring of new staff; consult with top executives on strategic planning; and serve as a link between an organization's management and its employees” (Human Resources Mangers).

                                                                        Marketing Analysis

Summary

Provide a detailed summary of what you observed in this particular area of the business. How did he advertise? I do not see a much advertisement that Tim was providing for the business. However, some of the new ideas that I have is to advertise their business with the community and most importantly with the university. Start advertising some of the university product and information in Tim’s Coffee Shoppe. Even seeing to be a sponsor to the university. So they may even go on campus to advertise the product. Then when they come to Tim’s Coffee Shoppe it will also have advertisement of the university. The customers is the community and some of them have some pros and cons comments. I think he can gain new customers by simply advertising the university product then this will bring in students and staff. 

Action Items

Provide a SWOT Analysis detailing the external threats and opportunities and the internal strengths and weaknesses.

Strengths: The strength is that they have good service that they provide to their customers.

Weaknesses: Is that they do not have better marketing opportunities.

Opportunities: Is that they have the opportunity to grow with new customers.

Threats: The threats are the competitors around Tim’s Coffee Shoppe.

Economic Environment/Finance and Accounting/Financial Statements

Summary

Provide a detailed summary of what you observed in this particular area of the business. Look in the drawer labeled “Business” and the information and draw some conclusions about the economic environment of Tim’s Coffee Shoppe. Tim’s Coffee Shoppe is in the right position because they have an overall growing opportunity that need to do grow in the customers input. With them needing to improve in the marketing area. To improve this situation at Tim’s Coffee Shoppe.

Action Items

With discussing the Economic environment and impact on Tim’s business is that they have a major opportunity around their area if they simply support more of the university. Use your accounting and finance knowledge to interpret the Balance Sheet and the Profit & Loss statement. Explain what Tim should do based on your understanding of the financial picture. Tim should do is find another place to get their supplies because this is a lot more expense in the loss statement.

Problem Solving/Recommendations

Summary

Give five recommendations on what Tim’s Coffee Shoppe can do to improve their business. As discuss in the action items for Tim’s Coffee Shoppe the short term and long term goals are the recommendations that can do to improve their business. To mention them again they are “needs to improve in the seating area, need to improve in menus selections, need to improve in service order accurate. The long term goals are firing some employees soon. Updating the technology in the place by at least having a update computer. Always have someone in the back of the office room. Also by improving the area being more organize. With less prices. Increase customer satisfaction by 30.  

References

Associates Capstone in Management. (2012). Retrieved from Tim's Coffee Shoppe simulation:   

                  http://extmedia.kaplan.edu/business/Media/AB299/Tims_Coffee_Shop/index.html

Human Resources Mangers. (17. December 2015 ). Retrieved from: www.bls.gov/ooh/management/human-resources-managers.htm

Capstone Project Template

                                           

AB299: Final Project

Section #

01/01/20XX

Joe Student

Executive Summary

This section provides an overview of your findings. This section should be no more than half a page at the most, but a paragraph that is about 6-8 sentences is about the right length. This summarizes everything you wrote about in your report. This is also the conclusion for your report. If a business person did not have time to read an entire report or business plan, the Executive Summary should be the overview of the information.

Regulations and Management

 Summary

Provide a detailed summary of what you observed in regulations and management area of the business. Then describe any strengths and weaknesses.

Action Items

Based on your analysis, tell Tim what you recommend. Your recommendations should contain detailed directions of what needs to be done and when. Also, you should defend your recommendations by providing references that support your ideas. Address: the vision statement, short term and long-term goals, federal and state compliance issues, and social responsibility considerations.  He may or may not be following some of these.

HR Analysis

 Summary

Provide a detailed summary of what you observed in this particular area of the business. Describe any strengths and weaknesses. Look in the files in the back office at all of the employees. Are they valuable? Does he need more training? What other issues did you notice in the employee files?

Action Items

Based on your analysis, detail for Tim what needs to be done and when to improve this area of the business. Also, you should defend your recommendations by providing references that support your ideas. 

                                                                        Marketing Analysis

Summary

Provide a detailed summary of what you observed in this particular area of the business. How did he advertise? What new ideas can you think of for ways Tim’s Coffee Shoppe might want to advertise? Who are the customers and what is their feedback? How can he gain new customers?

Action Items

Provide a SWOT Analysis detailing the external threats and opportunities and the internal strengths and weaknesses.

Strengths:

Weaknesses:

Opportunities:

Threats:

Economic Environment/Finance and Accounting/Financial Statements

Summary

Provide a detailed summary of what you observed in this particular area of the business. Look in the drawer labeled “Business” and the information and draw some conclusions about the economic environment of Tim’s Coffee Shoppe.

Action Items

Discuss the Economic environment and impact on Tim’s business. Use your accounting and finance knowledge to interpret the Balance Sheet and the Profit & Loss statement. Explain what Tim should do based on your understanding of the financial picture.

Problem Solving/Recommendations

Summary

Give five recommendations on what Tim’s Coffee Shoppe can do to improve their business.

References

Associates Capstone in Management. (2012). Retrieved from Tim's Coffee Shoppe simulation:   

SYNOPSIS OF INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCE

SYNOPSIS OF INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCE

Introduction

Happy Health Hub is dedicated to inform the public of health related information. Happy Health Hub’s mission is to foster a culture of health, wellness, happiness through verifiable information and resources to Kaplan’s student body, faculty and alumni. Happy Health Hub wants to encourage a happy state of mind for the entire Kaplan family.

The Marketing manager of Happy Health Hub is responsible to establish and execute the marketing strategies of Kap Consulting’s Happy Health Hub while developing the Happy Health Hub brand in the form of logos, blogs, newsletters and social media. 

Marketing Manager

The Marketing department is where that information is prepared for the public. Creating information through social media, newsletters and Kaplan Radio. Marketing managers plan programs to generate interest in products or services. They work with art directors, sales agents, and financial staff members.

The marketing manager is responsible to analyze how the market is progressing. Analyzing how to improve Happy Health Hub’s productivity with the resources available to success. Preparing possible suggestions during meetings on how to improve the ways to inform the public of the products available to them. The marketing manager has the responsibility to support, encourage and manage those in the marketing team.

CHAPTER II: MEETING THE COURSE OUTCOMES

Information Management, Planning, & Controls

To avoid getting overwhelmed with the work needing to be fulfill with the responsibilities would be working ahead of time is the best course of action. Time management is a core skill that needs to be emphasized to those under the marketing manager’s supervision so as to fulfill assigned projects on a timely manner and avoid procrastinating so as not to get overwhelmed with work.

            Planning ahead for any problems is imperative to avoid delays of submissions of articles to the newsletter. If a situation arises in which a submissions is delayed the marketing manager has to find a way to finish the work on time. The marketing manager should be ethical when approaching the intern slacking on the work that needs to be placed by the deadline. With communication and a fair tactic the situation can be analyzed so that a solution can be found to address the intern as to work out a plan to avoid from the mistake from happening again.

            Doing more research on the ability to work on the best slides that would appeal the audience is very important. Making sure that these slides are filled with the information that is needed to bring the audience to understand the importance of health and nutrition in their lives.

After inters are promoted or when new interns join Happy Health Hub, the documents saved in Google Drive needs to be assigned to the new incoming intern based on the position assigned. The marketing manager would have to give the information the new incoming marketing manager in order for he or she progress in the company. This could be a problem because even though the incoming intern is given the files from the Google Drive anyone who has access to the files can make changes to it deliberately or by mistake and the process can be damaged. 

The only problem with high turnover rate is that the knowledge that was gained during the internship is lost while finding the intern to fill the position. This problem can be fixed when the adequate training is given to the new incoming intern and with the adequate amount of time.

Ethics in Decision Making

Currently the Marketing Manager is working to update the slides that I am in charge of presenting on the upcoming Happy Health Hub weekly meeting. The Marketing Manager is also currently working in projects to be assigned to Marketing Consultant, Advertising Consultants and Research Analysts.

To meet the expectations for this position the Marketing Manager has been currently working on strategies to overcome the ban in some social media sites by doing some research on how to remove this ban so that the message of health can be sent to the general public.

 One of the reasons for a marketing plan is to provide a careful avenue that pressures the marketing manager to scrutinize every important aspect while planning which might be passed unnoticed if a hurried avenue is embraced. (Gibson, 2015)

Global Perspectives

The global perspective of marketing management is to look for new ideas and the solutions to any issues that comes into place and being impartial to new ideas. The marketing manager can be open to learn from the new ideas that comes to mind and make the changes necessary to make the new ideas work. In Happy Health Hub the marketing manager is able to learn from others in the same team and this can open opportunities to new ideas that can lead to the success of the company.

The world of marketing is an ever changing world and that is no different in Happy Health Hub marketing and advertising division. That is where planning, directing and coordinating marketing programs comes to light. The marketing manager needs to keep in touch with the changes that comes along in nutrition and health and advertising important aspects of this field is where KapConsulting Happy Health Hub comes along, so as to ensure that the community is well advised with what matters most. The marketing manager can also view global perspective as a way to learn from the ever changing world of health and nutrition as opportunities to build the company by being receptive to other cultures and views.

The marketing manager at Happy Health Hub needs to make the attempt keep the promotion of Happy Health Hub’s newsletter, radio segments and social media status afloat and competitive. The marketing manager needs to focus on research to establish the status of Happy Health Hub in social media. After research has been gathered then the information is given to content manager to make the final decision or any editing that needs to be arranged.

 If any mistakes are made during the implementation of certain advertising materials then the appropriate arrangements are made to discontinue certain brands that are not advertised with good results. According to Rex Briggs and Greg Stuart the best way to succeed in marketing is to learn from the mistakes made and not try to mask it as if it never happened. It happened and that’s how a company learns and that can lead to success. (Plummer, 2006)

CHAPTER III: CONCLUSION

In conclusion, the work of the marketing manager can be overwhelming but with the skills needed to succeed during the internship success can be obtained. Also the need for a team to collaborate with the research needed to give out the information needed for the Happy Health Hub newsletter it will be almost impossible to finalize within the deadline time. 

Dr. Cajun has been very pleased with the outcome of Happy Health Hub marketing goals. The marketing department can be of great benefits to the success of Kap Consulting.

With some communication, the certainty that success will be obtained in the near future is something that can be grasped. Believing that a team will indeed come into place is something to look forward to.

Individual Testimonies

Michelle Pamias

I started working for Happy Health Hub as a marketing manager. At the beginning of the internship I felt I was not accomplishing the role with the duties assigned to perform as a marketing manager. The training was a vague and I felt I needed to go back and forth emailing the person that was training me for the position since I still was not sure, as a manager, my duties actually were other than just arranging slides for the meetings. I took the initiative to do research on the position and the duties that it entitled as a marketing manager and finally understood my position and my role in the company.

After a couple of weeks working as a marketing manager for Happy Health Hub I finally got the full sense of my duties. I familiarized myself with the policies and attended meetings. I met with those in my team and was able to assign different projects for them to do research on. Working in Happy Health Hub was very educational and it gave me a sense of fulfillment. The duties performed as a marketing manager will be very useful for any work I am assigned to do at my present job, it has helped me become a leader at work, even if I am not a manager at my current position but I can still engage in situations in a better way.

References

Farnsworth Curry, T. (2013, July 09). The Importance of Keeping a Global Perspective. Retrieved from http://smallbiztrends.com/2013/07/importance-of-global-perspective.html

Gibson, J. (2015, January). The role of the marketing manager. Retrieved from http://marketing-made-simple.com/articles/marketing-manager-role.htm

Gibson, J. (2015, January). How to write a marketing plan. Retrieved from http://marketing-made-simple.com/articles/marketing-plan.htm#axzz1neRwAzIR

Henderson, K. J. (n.d.). Duties of a Marketing Manager. Retrieved from http://smallbusiness.chron.com/duties-marketing-manager-801.html

Martin-Young, N. (1996, April). Communication Skills in the Workplace. Retrieved from   http://www.sandhills.edu/academic-departments/english/teaching/comskills.html

Plummer, J. T. (2006, December 1). What Sticks: Why Most Advertising Fails and How to Guarantee Yours Succeeds. Retrieved from http://www.journalofadvertisingresearch.com/content/46/4/469