A Lesson Learned from a Poor Proposal

            The primary purpose of a proposal is to persuade.  When we address an audience with our proposal we are attempting the audience “to take some form of action” (Lannon, 2008, p. 495).  The actions that we need the audience to take will vary by the subject of the proposal but we need to approach each proposal the same; with the purpose to try to encourage our audience to do something or make some sort of change.

             I feel that I have to do a lot of “informal” proposals at work.  I have to convince my employees to adapt to change or to do certain tasks certain ways.  Most of the time it is to make their job easier but it can sometimes be hard for them to see that, so it is my job to convince them that it is.  A couple of years back I had to give a proposal to a group of my peers on the way my boss would like all of us to do a certain task.  I do not believe that I persuaded everyone to do the task the way that he asked it to be done; it was a tough crowd and they are not always willing to change.

               This was my first real proposal in front of a crowd and I did not have a lot of time to prepare.  Looking back I can see what I should have done differently.  The first thing is that I would have had a more convincing language.  The problem was that I was not completely convinced myself when I had to make the proposal.  I myself had not tried out the new way to do the task.  The next thing that would have done differently is that I would have had visual aids in the form of hand outs.  This was not an all around bad experience though; I did learn from my mistakes. 

References

Lannon, J. (2008). Techincal Communication. New York: Pearson.

 

Delivering Bad News Tactfully and Effectively

In this case of delivering bad news to the employee, the first thing that I would do is prepare.  I would have all my facts in order; facts of the discussions and disciples that we have had in the past and the facts of the current substandard performance and the complaints I have received about the employee.

I would then anticipate the employee’s response.  I know that the employee will most likely become defensive, have excuses, be blaming others, and ultimately will not take any responsibility for their actions. 

I will bring the employee into the meeting in a private room so that we openly discuss the issues without any interruptions. I will open the conversation by explaining to them that we are here to discuss some substandard work performances.  I would be straight forward in stating the current issues.  “The manager should specifically describe the employee’s disruptive behaviors and attempt to get the employee to agree that a problem exists” ("Managing Difficult Employees and Disruptive Behaviors", 2011). 

I will then give the employee a chance to respond, being prepared for some sort of negative response.  When the employee starts to gets defensive and to blame others, I will focus on the specific facts of these situations.  I will try to get the employee to take responsibility for their actions by asking them open ended questions about the problems and by redirecting them when they get off course.

I will listen and give the employee every chance to respond.  I will close the conversation by telling the employee that I hold all of my employees to the same standards and at this time they are not meeting them.  I will make sure that the employee understands the seriousness of this issues and that we must now develop a plan for improvement.  I will then let the employee know that if these substandard performances do not improve, and since we have addressed these issues before, the next step will be termination.

The conflict resolution technique that I would use in this case is that of collaborating. 

You can focus on working together. Use this approach when the goal is to meet as many current needs as possible by using mutual resources. This approach sometimes raises new mutual needs. Collaboration can also be used when the goal is to cultivate ownership and commitment (How to Deal With Conflict, 2011).

By using this approach, hopefully the employee will take the opportunity to come up with ideas on how they can achieve higher performance levels, which must include some behavioral changes.  With us working together to come up with this plan, the employee will not only know exactly what is expected of them but also how they can achieve it.  This approach gives the employee the chance to take control of their situation and to make the changes needed in order to avoid communication.

References

"Managing Difficult Employees and Disruptive Behaviors". (2011). Retrieved July 30, 2011, from http://www.shrmindia.org: http://www.shrmindia.org/managing-difficult-employees-and-disruptive-behaviors

How to Deal With Conflict. (2011). Retrieved July 30, 2011, from http://managementhelp.org: http://managementhelp.org/interpersonal/conflict.htm

The Technology of Education

            It has not always been easy for working adults to earn a degree while working full-time but with today’s technology it is getting much easier.  Today, adults of all ages can sit in their living rooms and earn a degree from a university across the country.  They can learn from an instructor who is not on campus and with students in other states or even other countries.   

            A report sponsored by the New Media Consortium entitled “The future of higher education: how technology will shape learning” found the following:

·         Technology has had—and will continue to have—a significant impact on higher education.

·         Online learning is gaining a firm foothold in universities around the world.

·         University respondents view technology as having a largely positive impact on their campuses.

·         Higher education is responding to globalization.

(Glenn, 2008).

            On-line education is giving all adults the opportunity to work an education into their busy schedules, instead of the other way around.  Students can go to class at five in the morning or ten at night, whatever is easiest for them.  Adults armed with little more than a computer, a little effort, and some time can finally achieve their dreams of a higher education. 

The specialization, customization and convenience that distance education affords has found an eager audience among students, working professionals and employers. Many academic institutions, and especially those with a public-service mandate, consider online learning key to advancing their mission, placing post-graduate education within reach of people who might otherwise not be able to access it.  (Glenn, 2008).

The use of technology in education has made great strides. Where we were once learning to use computers, we are now using computers to learn.

References

Glenn, M. (2008, October). The future of higher education: how technology will shape learning.

Retrieved July 19, 2011, from http://www.nmc.org: http://www.nmc.org/pdf/Future-of-

Higher-Ed-(NMC).pdf

Smartphones Make Sense in Healthcare

            The technology of the Smartphone is allowing doctors to reach their patients in new ways and allowing patients to manage their healthcare in a more efficient manner.  Patients can receive messages on their smart phones to remind them to take their meds, check their blood sugar, etc.  One study found that the most positive finding where in the areas of weight loss, smoking cessation, and blood glucose monitoring (Michael S. Wolf, 2010).

            There are also many applications available for Smartphones to help patients with their health.  One is the seizure diary app.  This app allows patients to keep track of their seizures and their medication and allows them to easily transfer that data to their medical professional ("Seizure First Aid: Theres an App for That!", 2011).  There are general apps that remind patients to take their meds.  There are specialized apps that help patients with Asthma, HIV/AIDS, multiple sclerosis, etc.  These apps allow patients to save prudent information to help physicians monitor their condition (Jane Sarasohn-Kahn, 2010). 

            Hospitals are also using this new technology to help patients better manage their health.  One example is that of St. John’s Mercy in Missouri.  The hospital is making health care more convenient for the patient by giving the patient access to information from their Smartphone or computer.  Patients can view test results, view and schedule appointments, get automated health care reminders, send and receive messages from providers, and request refills  (St. John’s Mercy Introduces MyMercy to Washington‐area Patients, 2010).

            This technology is moving the patient and the healthcare provider closer and closer together.  It is helping patients stay in compliance with the medications and health regimens and helping them to give accurate health information to providers.  

References

"Seizure First Aid: Theres an App for That!". (2011, July 7). Retrieved July 20, 2011, from

http://nationalseizuredisordersfoundation.org:

http://nationalseizuredisordersfoundation.org/seizure-first-aid-app/

Jane Sarasohn-Kahn, M. M. (2010, April). How Smartphones Are Changing Health Care for

Consumers and Providers. Retrieved July 20, 2011, from http://www.chcf.org:

http://www.chcf.org/~/media/Files/PDF/H/PDF%20HowSmartphonesChangingHealthCa

re.pdf

Michael S. Wolf, P. M. (2010). Use of Technology to Educate and Activate Patients and

Families. Retrieved July 17, 2011, from http://www.iom.edu:

http://www.iom.edu/~/media/Files/Activity%20Files/Disease/Epilepsy/Panel%205%20W

olf.pdf

St. John’s Mercy Introduces MyMercy to Washington‐area Patients. (2010, July 30). Retrieved

July 2011, 2010, from http://www.stjohnsmercy.org:

http://www.stjohnsmercy.org/sjmh/0730_Mercy_Launches_MyMercy.pdf

A Library at Your Fingertips

Electronic books, also known as eBooks, are becoming more and more popular as a media technology.    These eBooks are changing the way that we read books.  We no longer have to go to the book store or the library to get a book; we can simply download it.     

Along with eBooks are eBook readers.  Of the most popular are Amazon’s Kindle and Barnes and Noble’s Nook.  With these products you choose your book, purchase it, and then download it to the reader.  These devices are popular for readers of all ages.  “Originally thought to have more appeal to younger readers, the Kindle is also popular with readers over 40, partially because of its adjustable type size” ("Strategies for Media Companies", 2011).

Students can also use this technology to download textbooks.  By downloading books, students can get their books quickly, at a fraction of the cost without the shipping fees and the wait.  These digital textbooks allow students to have access to the most updated information. 

New information is being added to human knowledge so rapidly that a textbook may be out of date by the time it appears in print where digital online textbooks--downloaded from the Internet-- can be regularly revised and updated. Clearly, traditional printed textbooks alone will not be adequate to meet the world's education needs.  ("Future of Online `Textbooks' and Modules", 2008)   

            The technology of electronic books gives all readers the freedom to choose the books they want instantly, to have a library at their fingertips, to save money, and to save themselves from carrying around a load of heavy books.

References

"Future of Online `Textbooks' and Modules". (2008, September 24). Retrieved July 20, 2011,

from http://ecolecon.missouri.edu:

http://ecolecon.missouri.edu/globalresearch/chapters/3-07.html

"Strategies for Media Companies". (2011, June 26). Retrieved July 17, 2011, from

http://thinkup.waldenu.edu/:

http://thinkup.waldenu.edu/management/innovation/item/11616-strategies-media-

companies?pop=1&tmpl=component