In this blog we will be discussing business concepts covered in class.
Here is how it will work in our class. I will be post a question based on a concept we have worked with in class. You will respond to the question by adding new information or giving your opinion. Then comment thoughtfully on a classmates response.
Here we go;
During the semester, the class has learned a lot from each other through the presentation of lesson openers and the discussions they fueled in class. What lesson opener or class discussion do you think was memorable? Why? What lesson opener or class discussion taught you something interesting or new about business? Why?
Stuebing
ReplyDeleteA discussion I liked was about the increasing amount of technology in our lives, and how humans are turning into cyborgs. I liked this because it linked the business of technology with social issues surrounding it.
A lesson opener that taught me something interesting was the lesson opener about Dangerous Dan's Diner. I found this interesting because I might be going to Ryerson University next year and I like the close proximity to delicious, massive hamburgers.
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ReplyDeleteMatt Jeffery
ReplyDeleteI think the most interesting dicussions are when we listen to the podcasts and break it down. I like these discussions because i think the podcasts always say alot of information on the company and I get a lot of information from it.
A lesson opener that taught me something interesting was the lesson opener on the new NHL Allstar rules because I love to watch hockey and I am also very interested into the All Star break.
Matt, I enjoy that as well. I select podcasts I think the class will enjoy (not just myself), so I am glad to get that feedback.
ReplyDeleteStevie, great enthusiasm but could you be more specific. I'm glad you enjoy the class dynamic.
Mark, I enjoyed that discussion as well. I always enjoy hearing about a business filling a niche market.
Okay.. specification. The discussion I found most memorable was probably our discussion about Apple vs RIM after listening to the podcast. I loved talking about how people have this need for instant gratification and how Apple fills those needs with its Apps.
ReplyDeleteI also like the Smooth Talking game. I thought there would be a lot more students in the class who would volunteer but they didn't and that kind of relates to what you were saying about people being modest when it comes to strengths and being able to talk your way into or out of things could be considered a stregnth.
But like I said... the days I find most interesting may not be the most memorable days. They are just the small days when everyone contributes to the conversations and has fun with where the conversation goes because that is when we get the best input. For instance Friday was like that; a lot of people contributed and although I can't remember everything that was said it was definitely a more interesting day.
I enjoyed Dobson's lesson opener on the reindeer sales in Germany I believe it was during christmas. It kept the attention of the whole class because it was a funny and entertaining presentation. I do not believe anybody would of thought people would want to be eating Santa's reindeer during christmas. Good job Dobson
ReplyDeleteI would have to agree with the general synopsis that everybody seems to share; the most productive and indeed the most memorable of lessons are the ones in which we all participate, like what we have been doing with our SWOT analysis and Amazon Prime podcast discussion, which might I add was very enjoyable. Discussions and pod-casts seem to bring out the more intuitive and communal aspects of the class, despite their modesty. I reckon it’d be bloody brilliant if we could do that more often.
ReplyDeleteAlex - Andrew's lesson open was entertaining and somewhat timely. Remember we cannot always look at things critically without understanding our cultural biases.
ReplyDeleteStevie - I enjoyed Friday's class as well. Great discussion
Robb - Like I said to Matt, I'm glad that it seems the class enjoyed that activity. As you might be able to tell, I like to try different things to help teach you. I'm happy when the experiment works such as on Friday.
I Think the most memorable classes are the one off classes. For example i doubt anyone will forget dobson's reindeer lesson opener or the day 'Sir" made this blog. And at risk of sounding like a complete dork...I think the majority of the classes are enjoyable and interesting in contrast to my other classes. I probably learned the most when we listened to podcasts not because they were more interseting than the normal discussions in class but because they are always two bonafide "smart" business people who know what they are talking about and a lot can be learned from that.
ReplyDeleteI know that this seems to be the trend, but I think that the most memorable classes are definitely the ones that we have lengthy discussions about current business topics/trends and such. I mean, I can respect a good note,don't get me wrong. But discussion is where all the actual learning takes place, for me at least.
ReplyDeleteEvan & Omar - I also like the podcasts and discussions. I also agree that this is where a tremendous amount of learning takes place. Unfortunately I have to teach certain "stuff."
ReplyDeleteGuys, as I asked Stevie could you boil your comments down to a specific discussion and remember to answer the question why?
The most interesting discussions to me are when we listen to the podcasts and when we talk about technology. I like the podcasts because they always have a lot of information and I learn something that I probably wouldn't have. Also, from this we hear what business people say about what ever it is they're talking about.
ReplyDeleteI like talking about technology like: phones, computers, etc, because I love technology and sometimes I learn something new and interesting. I can't remember an example right now.
i agree with nazish that technology talks are good. As per requested i will be more specific. The podcast based on saocial netwoking sites peaked my interest and taught me about the ways that massive websites can generate profit and set standards for the rest of the industry. For example Facebook chat has cause other social networking sites to include chatting software when developing their product.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion the most interesting discussions in class are when we duscuss specific businesses. The podcasts are definately interesting and allow for businesses like Amazon or Facebook to be looked at in detail. I also enjoy any discussion about Macbooks because I own one and am interested in people's opinions on them.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Robb, doing the POD casts gets everybody involved, and they seem to be most peoples favorite part of the class. Everybody shares opinions on the POD casts, and like we discussed, it gets the people involved that don't speak often, so they can participate.
ReplyDeleteThe class discussion or lesson I enjoyed the most was probably the class discussion we had about RIM and Apple like stevie had said, as well as the recent lesson on our comapnies market strategies. I learned and found new information that I did not previously know about Coca - Cola which has actually made more health conscious.
ReplyDeleteThank you,
Dobson ;)
Ah well, specifically, One of the most important notes/discussions we had,in my mind, was about the planning process, importance of planning, etc. Because no matter what you do with your career or your life you need to know about how to plan, for the unexpected and every possible outcome.
ReplyDeleteTo robb: I reckon it would be bloody brilliant aswell. I thoroughly enjoyed your choice of words. 10/10!
To reflect on what Stevie said - I totally agree with you. Apps serve as an instant prize for pressing the download button, and apple defineately adheres to that. The Apple vs RIM discussion was definately one of the better ones we've had as a class.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, i believe that the lesson openers are not only beneficial to our business class but it also keeps us posted with the daily news that is going on around us. If we encorporated more lesson openers, or perhaps just read a few recent articles that the class would enjoy (talk about technology, new discoveries, fashion) at the beginning of every class, i believe that this will benefit us and keep the class interested in many different ways.
ReplyDeletemuchos gracious
I am a huge fan of discussing current events and skipping lengthy powerpoints. I have the attention span of a gold fish in this class so when we talk about something presently occuring in society, its clear that it sparks interest in the entire class and it is entertaining to listen to. Oh and, as always, I love to debate my point of view, so of course I enjoy that.
ReplyDeleteI would have to say, despite my lackluster management theory essay, I did learn quite a bit from that lesson about the scientifical, classical and human relations theories.
My favourite lesson opener by far was Dobson's about eating Rudolph. It was disgusting yet at the same time, very interesting. I had some idea about the customs across the pond, but that gave us a little more insight on how different we all are.
TO VANESSA DRINKATRON:
I agree with your comment about mission statements, even though I will probably post this before you. I too liked decoding them.
*Alex Walker's Comment*
ReplyDeleteI agree with Alex. Dobson's reindeer meat lesson opener was one of the most memorable lesson openers done, in my opinion. He kept it light and funny like what he did with the reindeer picture on the dinner plate. And I enjoy the idea of how cultures can be so different and still be able to do business with eachother. So even though we find it odd to be eating Rudolph on Christmas other people may not. But yeah, Andrew did a great job on the lesson opener and I enjoyed watching it.
I always learn something new in Schroeder's class because he is so intelligent and notorious and reputable. I enjoy listening to Podcasts because I get a break from writing notes and Schroeder's extremely long powerpoints. I enjoyed the podcast we listened to today especially because it proved how stupid our society really is when it comes to online shopping.
ReplyDeleteStevie should get 100% in the class because she always has the perfect answers.. she is my threat in my personal SWOT analysis.
The most interesting discussion I think so far in this class has been about the mission statements, learning how to "decode" them. Like what type of consumer they are targeting, what they are trying to sell, and how they contribute to the market. I liked it because our whole class got in on the discussion not just a few people, and it was a very interesting way to look at how business function. I thought it was memerable because it was a good discussion and everyone had a different view on each mission statement.
ReplyDeleteAlso the lesson openers are always interesting, this is because most of them were different and I learned about the companies talked about, I specifically like Stevie's lesson opener about the taking things on a trip, it brought a fun way to win a contest by making a fool of yourself.
haha
TO OPTIMUSSIMS (taylor)
I with her that current events are always fun to talk about, because it is something that everyone is interested in and takes a liking in. Which makes a good discussion for the class
:)
The most interesting discussion in the class was the article about Blackberry's Fail To Communicate.It talked about the latest in blackberry news and talked about how its competition is beating it in certain categories. Also,podasts are a plus and they really get the class involved
ReplyDeleteThe lesson opener I liked was the one about the Stoney Creek Dairy. I liked it because it is in the area and the food is really good.
The class discussion that i enjoyed the most was when we read the articles about RIM and Apple and discussed their strengths and weaknesses. i liked this because I like to know what big companies like these two are up to every now and then. I thought that one of the most memorable lesson openers was the one about old spice and the direction they are going with their business.
ReplyDeleteNazish - I also enjoy and feel the podcasts are great tools for information because we learn so much new information about business as well as hearing this information from business experts, this is a huge benefit.
ReplyDeleteAlex & Evan - Thank you for the love on the lesson opener, if i could go back and do it again I would probably pick an article more related to business rather than humerous.
To what adam said - I think that it would also be a great idea to read an article before every class because then everyone would be able to keep up with the recent news and also we will be able to make more discussions in class which I like.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Adam. Lesson openers are fun because they are always relevant to current business.
ReplyDeleteAdam and others -
ReplyDeleteI agree that lesson openers are fun and interesting but they take an enormous amount of time away from class(I suspect you know this). Some create great class discussions and are awesome learning opportunities.
Podcasts fall into the same trap. Interesting but "time eaters."
Technology is interesting, so I agree with many of you who enjoyed our discussions of Tech companies.
Alisa - Your sarcasm, is it pointed at my intelligence, my "notoriousness" or your love of my long PowerPoint notes?
I thought the lesson opener about apple were interesting because it talks about the companies growth. I like apple's product and I learned something new each time.
ReplyDeletePodcasts are also interesting and the get the class involved.
I agree with Omar. The note on planning is important because you will more organised.
the discussions i found the most interesting were the ones about companies going international and trying to have their products sold in Asian countries. these discussions were mostly about electronic companies, like dell, selling their products in these countries because these people are just starting to have more money, which will be beneficial to any company that moves to these countries. i find this interesting because from these discussions, you learn how people will differentiate their spending, once they have more money to spend. instead of continuing to only buy food and other necessities, people move on to spending their money on things they want rather than what they need. there were also some other good conversations that occurred during class
ReplyDeleteand i agree with Venessa that the "decoding" of the mission statements was an interesting topic.
Shope - I also liked that discussion. Canada and the US are "old news" as far as the business world is concerned. The BRIC countries where business wants to be because that where BIG money is to be made!!!
ReplyDeleteMitesh - The planning note is very relevant because it applies to so many things...business or otherwise.
The most memorable lesson opener for me was Stevie’s smooth talk to Vegas because she not only made good links between the article and how it relates to business but she also involved the class and had a bit of fun with it, making her stand out from the other lesson openers.
ReplyDeleteDoing my lesson opener on the new innovations with Apple’s iPods taught me a lot. I am interested in this topic because I would like to purchase a new iPod soon, so the information I researched helped me look at the pros and cons to each type of iPod and ultimately helped me decide which one I want. I'm not very good with technology so learning background information before purchasing a new product helps me make an informed decision and ensures the product is capable of doing what I want.
I agree with Nazish’s comment. I also like talking about technology such as: phones and computers because I’m not the most educated when it comes to technology, so I feel there is a lot to be learned there. The world is becoming so technology based so I believe it's important to be tech savvy in order to survive in future generations.
mike chmielewski
ReplyDeletei enjoyed learning the S.W.O.T analysis because it helped me further understand how all organizations work in my day to day life. It helps you get in depth information about the company.
I remember this podcast we did about Facebook and I thought that was interesting because I feel that the creator of Facebook thought this out really well because the sign up is free and to use Facebook is also free but then they have created these games like Farmville that bring in the money. I think that using Facebook to advertise your product is a good and cheaper idea because as soon as you put out an ad someone will see it look it up and like it on their Facebook page and then some of their friends will see it and there’s a chance that they’ll like it as well and then their friends will see it, I feel it’s a big opportunity for a company to advertise their product/service on Facebook because they have 600 million users and also that it’s free to advertise as well. I think that advertising on Facebook is a long chain because it keeps going and one day eventually most people will know about an ad. I like how Facebook markets to all age groups and they know how to. Because some companies market to different people but never make it work and end up failing.
ReplyDeleteKaitlin - Your lesson opener on the new I-Pods was excellent. The timeliness of it and the depth of your information made it a great presentation to watch. I love my I-Pod but I would love a new one MORE, so I like the tips you shared about the new batch.
ReplyDeleteMike - Could you be more specific about how SWOT can help you understand organizations in your day to day life?
Maria - Facebook and social networking are fascinating phenomena of your generation. It is staggering how much money they are making, their growth rate and how people are SO trusting when sharing personal information.
In fear of boosting someones ego, i will say this;The best lesson openers are done by students who have extensive knowledge of their article, answer questions with confidence and involve the class in their presentation(asking questions ect.)all lesson openers have good and bad qualities, as Schroeder blatantly points out. I found the class discussion about specialty companies (the online baby store...don't remember the exact name) to be one of the most interesting. We also talked about different shipping techniques in different countries and other subjects of similar nature. This topic also ties into importing/exporting (international business) and the growth from a small business expanding into a leading business in North America.
ReplyDeletemike
ReplyDeleteWhen looking at a company I never would have thought about strengths/weaknesses/opportunities/threats etc, now that I have a new perspective of looking at a company, it lets me understand why they might actually be dominant in their market.
Lexi - I also really enjoyed the podcast about the online baby company and I also can't remember its name. What does that say about the company, when you can't recall its name.
ReplyDeleteBeing knowledgeable and speaking with confidence are hallmarks of a GREAT presentation whether it is in school or work.
Mike - Can you think of a company? Discuss 1 strength and 1 weakness?
I believe that the project we started today is going to be enjoyable.
ReplyDeleteNot only will the competition motivate us to work harder and to come up with a better project, but it will also show our teams and individuals strengths and weaknesses throughout.
it says its not a very reputably notorious company
ReplyDeleteThe company - Diapers.com is definitely notorious but I think they sound pretty reputable.
ReplyDeletethroughout this semester, i found that the podcasts were very helpful. they provided a wide range of useful information when talking aboutthe facebook creation, apple or the "diapers". also lesson openers were a great idea to have in this class because so many of us provided interesting articles, facts and information about the business world around us. i think we should read articles on a daily basis and listen to more podcasts so that we can keep up to date with the business world. i found that this class helped me become mroe aware of companies, businesses, facebook, technology, etc.
ReplyDeleteLike many others, I liked listening to the podcasts. They were very eye-opening stat wise. They have given me some cool information that I would not have known otherwise, about some everyday companys that everyone has heard of. I also enjoyed talking about the may different lesson plans about technology. It is very interesting to follow how quickly things change in technology and how they affect business. Going into this I didnt expect to learn all the things that we have, but I am glad that I did. They will be super beneficial in the future.
ReplyDeleteWhat I really like about this class is the discussions we have about different topics. For Example: After a lesson opener is presented we all discuss it and get a better understand of what it was about. I also enjoy hearing every one's opinions and different points of view. I agree with most people on the most memorable lesson opener being Dobson's. I found it very interesting as well as entertaining.
ReplyDeleteWhenever we listen to a Podcast during class it really initiates all of the students. I believe this is so because we each formulate our own opinion on the matter. After were done listening our class is comfortable enough with each other to share our ideas. Once the ideas are on the table, we each can expand on each others ideas and go deeper into what we began to speak about. My most memorable lesson opener was when I talked about teired pricing, I wasnt sure what it was at the time when I began writing my opener, but I soon gained information about what it was all about.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to agree with Adam Kryston's post, I liked how the competitive aspect of the last SWOT analysis project really made people think about how they could differ from one another, and who could be creative enough to impress Schroeder the most.
So far this semister I have enjoyed the various lesson openers that the class has presented. but one person's lesson opener has stood out the most... Stevie's. Her lesson opener on Expedia's 'smooth talk your way to Vegas' was very appealing. She involved the class by doing a mockery of the competition. I found this a great idea to get the class involved and paying attention to the presentation. I will consider having class involvement in my future presentations to make them that much better.
ReplyDelete