Project Spectrum

Marketing:
Today we talked about a spectrum analysis. You find a market and you make spectrum comparisons. In the picture we looked over cars. Big to small, Expensive to cheap. Nothing like automatic to manual, there aren't many choices there. But you can easily compare functional to fancy.We then did our own in our teams. Teams 1-4 did Clothing Stores (which turned quickly into clothing companies) 5-7 did breakfast cereals, and 8-10 did Carbonated Drinks.With all the clapping on projects we almost clapped with Brother Eagar got done with his lecture.
OB:
We Finished the Powerpoint from yesterday on the line of authority. The next presentation we went over is this one about mission statements and how we should work on them.

We then talked about the Johnson & Johnson Credo. You would not have guessed by the terms used in it that it is 70 years old. The rest of class was devoted to more questions on Badger Creek. No more class until Badger Creek. Monday is a Holiday, Tuesday and Wednesday are empty because the morning IBC is going to be up and Badger Creek. We are going shopping on Wednesday. I might be able to post from up there, if I can get a signal. They not to bring electronic devices, but how am I going to record all of this goodness for you all?

Money Money Money

Ok, I volunteered for the Company D money. $280.00. For your thoughts, please I hope for all thirty, go to the moderation page and make your suggestion. We're talking about all the fun stuff you want. Don't hold back! I will make the list from the most popular suggestions for Dinner & Breakfast.
Organizational structure: John & Mark From up front) did a roll play about taking over for a company and a toilet breaking down and John telling Mark he had to fix it. It was very funny. company C seems to be "Fire happy". They (two groups) also wanted to Fire Jenn-ay.
We then heard from a Panel of two: (Karl couldn't make it) These are some things they mentioned.
Scott Baird - Aspen Digital: talked about his planning process. How they had their idea authorized and then pulled, so they had to go to plan (what was it?) G. And did fairly well.
John Peerson - Teton Trails: talked about his preparation on business plan.
Have numbers ready? back up plan? organizational structure?: don't select due to skills rather personal skills. CEO pick the board. Inventory?: Don't be afraid to keep going, feel free to shut down cold turkey. Do more research. Add value to the campus. (I think we should add value to the community.
Badger Creek:
Here's the Weather forecast for that week that was found on yahoo and weather.com:

We then went over the equipment needed. That can be found in a previous post.

Powerpoints and Videos

OB:
I was told that we went over this on Tuesday slides 1-22. Some of which we went over today.
We watched a clip from a BYU devotional. How there was a difference in what people do and the meaning behind it to the other person's perception of what is being done. Then compared to a couple getting married ("Abilene Paradox") and how they may both want the same thing or don't want the same thing and do it anyway. We then discussed the Nick and Bridget case: John Reid & Colette Brown roleplayed and then Stacey Hatch & Doug Guptill. Both groups tried to resolve the issue between the two in the case, but couldn't seem to get there. We found that neither one was trying to understand the others view point. By doing so they could't see how they were hindering things from getting done. We keep referencing the Leadership & Self-Deception book. Another plea, get started now on that. You'll feel like part of the group when you do. You'll now understand the inside jokes (allusions). We then watched another video (wish I had some of my theater's popcorn for today) about a guy bequeathing strange objects to people because they were mementos (mmm minty) of his turning points or when he found out a better way of living. So our Homework for tonight: Find a Turning Point in our life and how to become a turning point in others' lives. (Pay it Forward anyone?)
Marketing:
"Segmenting, Positioning is the core of all marketing" -Brother Eager. We went over the case as usual. Group #1, the one I used to be in, presented and did a descent job. I don't think I could have liked it any more than I did. I just hate the Prius. It's not against the tree-hugging ignoramuses that drive or the so-called claim on lower carbon emissions, it the fact that they took a market that should have been Honda's if Honda were smarter about design and market. The Honda Insight may look sillier than the Prius (not by much) but it was more efficient. Boasting at 67 MPG in City. Wow! I digress. Next we went over the SWOT analysis for Toyota at the time of the Prium release Strengths-known brand, quality, reliable, potentially Environmentally Friendly, Gas mileage, smaller, kaizen, efficient, big company, innovative. Weaknesses-only 2 plants in USA, limited forecasting, stogy/boring, unfocused market, copycats, weaker/less power. Opportunities-Gas prices, be the first, expand audience, Environmentally Friendly. Threats-Mechanical failure, Honda, Too expensive, Lack of interest, foreign exchange, obsolete, gas prices. We should always Leverage strengths, let them work for you, don't leverage weaknesses. Minimize weaknesses so it not hindering you. Like Denny's would never say, "Denny's: The Healthy Choice!" even is they had a healthier menu or a menu with healthier items.
Our group met up a a little while longer after class to finish up on the case paper due. Where is everyone else on the company concepts? We've talked about the past groups of food (which I've overheard others saying, "NO WAY!"), Cookbooks, Scrubs, etc. We've had some original thoughts, but we get hung up on a web presence. I can't wait to hear your thoughts.

Unlucky 13 Tuesday 1-13

So I had to miss class due to a personal home issue. To be blatantly blunt about it, my wife was told that the baby inside of her had died at 11 weeks and was not going to go full term. this was going to be our 4th and we were starting to get close to it. So I commissioned myself to handle the other three while my wife took it easy and tried to overcome the overpowering feelings of depression. For those that are single, I could only hope you follow in these footsteps and drop everything to be by her side. Or for the girls, I just hope you don't have to live through this ever.
As for class, I haven't heard a thing from my group as to what we discussed. If I remember correctly we were going to get some IBC Alumni to come talk to us about the whole experience. Most likely they said, "The most important thing in your company is open communication." "Be open to new ideas." "Listen to your teachers." "Read the books." "Prioritize your time." etc. there might have been a few stupid questions asked like, "What would you have differently?" To which they reply with the same advice they gave previously... "Open communication." In actuality, you probably could have written out the full script before even going into class.
Most likely I'm am dead wrong and the hours of British Comedy has made quite cynical and negative. Even as I type I have a British accent. Bugger!
This is where I need the help from my company. I missed class and to benefit all, please comment on what you felt were the highlights of class. Thank you.

Submarines and Battleships Monday Jan-12

Marketing:
Again today we started with Marketing and Brother Eager lead the discussion after my group presented our take on the case. We had some amazing graphics. We talked about what could have been the problem for The Coop chicken restaurant. Focus groups were going to bring out qualitative results. Though they are quality, they are not in a large quantity.
We then went over the first project and how we are supposed to do that and when it's due.
We did a Mock Focus Group: (In order Left to Right)Gabrielle Ross, Rachel Huey, Jonathan Sario, Brooke Larsen, Tyler Harper, Brandon Smith
How many of you have been out to dinner in the last week... month?
Where did you go? (Ask each individually)
With who? (Ask each individually)
How many in the last 12 months have been to a fast food place for dinner?
What was the situation? (Ask each individually)
Is there a difference between a sit-down vs fast? What is it? (Ask each individually)
Why do you want to go to a full-service restaurant? (Ask each individually)
OB:
Class seemed to go too quick and I only got a few things from it. Most I got from the book, 7 Habits but we did get some good things. We had a quiz. You can find the quiz and correct answers here. That was pretty easy. We talked a bit about the problem solving skills needed and the steps involved. Those can be found in the last slide of the presentation in the last post. Start studying these. These steps are going to be useful in everything we come up against. Plus don't forget to get started on reading the Leadership book. It's a quick read, so you should be done with it over the weekend. But for people like me, it takes me longer. I read exceptionally slow and prefer to listen to my books. If you're interested in listening to them I have the Leadership and Good to Great in MP3 format and can convert to M4A for iPod. Though don't get me started on those nasty contraptions.
Anybody have any requests of outside of class content they would like to have featured on this blog that would make the class more fun or better ourselves, feel free to comment and add ideas.