For any department team building and training is extremely important. Our department was recently on a four day Diversity Management Training course.
It was very interesting. It gives everyone an opportunity to see your work colleagues in a different light and to get to know them better. It also creates a platform for issues to be addressed and discussed in a fair and appropriate manner.
If facilitated correctly people should feel comfortable enough to say how they will and address certain issues with other colleagues. These forums should occur regularly. As we all know over time things change and people grow and develop and therefore it will allow the department to adjust their goals and commitments.
Businesses should really invest in these forums as it will ensure a cohesive, productive and committed department.
Monday, September 7, 2009
Monday, August 31, 2009
Personal Autonomy - How far does it extend?
How far does personal autonomy extend? Well that will depend on the person.
Using myself as an example...in my work environment my personal autonomy is limited. The reason for this is that I am a junior employee and therefore I am independent on my manager. Sure there a certain tasks that I am able to decide on my own but in most cases I must get confirmation from my manager even if I know what the correct decision would be to make.
In my personal environment however it is different. My personal autonomy is more independent. Its my life so I can make my own decisions. When you are younger though your parents will make those decisions for you until you are old enough to understand and make decisions for yourself.
Personal autonomy really depends on the individual and the way they life their life.
Using myself as an example...in my work environment my personal autonomy is limited. The reason for this is that I am a junior employee and therefore I am independent on my manager. Sure there a certain tasks that I am able to decide on my own but in most cases I must get confirmation from my manager even if I know what the correct decision would be to make.
In my personal environment however it is different. My personal autonomy is more independent. Its my life so I can make my own decisions. When you are younger though your parents will make those decisions for you until you are old enough to understand and make decisions for yourself.
Personal autonomy really depends on the individual and the way they life their life.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Losing a pet-someone who is part of the family
Within this week one of our dogs passed away. Even though he was old and lived a really long and good life it is still something that you can't prepare yourself for.
We all knew that his time would come sooner or later to leave this world and go to 'doggy heaven' but even though you try to prepare yourself for it, it still hits you hard. My sister found our 17 year old daushound in our pool. He spent most of his time in his kennel and we think that he was on his way to find a place to pass away. Unfortunately along the way he passed on and then fell into the pool.
The fortunate thing is that he passed before hand and didn't fall into the pool and drown. All of our animals are part of the family especially for my mother and sister.
Once he had passed we decided it was better for us to take him to the vet and ask them to bury him for us.
It is hard to realise that he is gone and I think about him quite often but am glad that he has gone to a better place. Losing a pet in our family is like losing a family member. We will always remember him!
We all knew that his time would come sooner or later to leave this world and go to 'doggy heaven' but even though you try to prepare yourself for it, it still hits you hard. My sister found our 17 year old daushound in our pool. He spent most of his time in his kennel and we think that he was on his way to find a place to pass away. Unfortunately along the way he passed on and then fell into the pool.
The fortunate thing is that he passed before hand and didn't fall into the pool and drown. All of our animals are part of the family especially for my mother and sister.
Once he had passed we decided it was better for us to take him to the vet and ask them to bury him for us.
It is hard to realise that he is gone and I think about him quite often but am glad that he has gone to a better place. Losing a pet in our family is like losing a family member. We will always remember him!
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Internship students
Things have changed since I was an intern in 2007. I have found recently that some interns walk into a company and think they are going to take over the entire department.
This is not the case in with all interns don't get me wrong, just some of them have very different ideas of what an internship entails.
I remember when I was an intern, I did what I was told and worked hard in the year that I was at the particular company. It is about being grateful for the job that you have and taking the opportunity to learn all you can.
Knowing that at the end of the internship you will be able to qualify with your National Diploma. Although I have found that nowadays some interns think very differently. Some even question jobs given to them and ask: "Is this really what I am supposed to be doing?"
I think that this problem goes back to the university or college that the students come from. Are the lecturers preparing students sufficiently for internship by outlining their role in the department that they are going to work?
I also think that a main reason is the attitude of some of the students, that they have spent the last 2 years learning all the theory and now feel that they know everything!!! How is that possible??? That is my question. I have a permanent job in a company and have been working for over 2 years and know that I still have lots to learn. People who have been in companies for 25 years are still learning.
I think that at the end of the day interns need to know their place within a company that can benefit both them and their employer.
This is not the case in with all interns don't get me wrong, just some of them have very different ideas of what an internship entails.
I remember when I was an intern, I did what I was told and worked hard in the year that I was at the particular company. It is about being grateful for the job that you have and taking the opportunity to learn all you can.
Knowing that at the end of the internship you will be able to qualify with your National Diploma. Although I have found that nowadays some interns think very differently. Some even question jobs given to them and ask: "Is this really what I am supposed to be doing?"
I think that this problem goes back to the university or college that the students come from. Are the lecturers preparing students sufficiently for internship by outlining their role in the department that they are going to work?
I also think that a main reason is the attitude of some of the students, that they have spent the last 2 years learning all the theory and now feel that they know everything!!! How is that possible??? That is my question. I have a permanent job in a company and have been working for over 2 years and know that I still have lots to learn. People who have been in companies for 25 years are still learning.
I think that at the end of the day interns need to know their place within a company that can benefit both them and their employer.
My comment on the CPUT August Strike
There has been a huge increase in the registration fees over a short period of time for all CPUT students. It is understandable that students and parents are not very impressed with this decision.
As a CPUT part time student I don't have any problem with students wanting management to know that they are unhappy with the decision and wish to exercise their right to strike. There is however a correct and incorrect way of doing that.
Gather on campus, talk through the issues at hand and make yourself heard, but don't vandalise CPUT's property. At the end of the day CPUT will require more money to fix all the damage done on campus. Students mustn't intimidate other students who do not take part in the strike and wish to attend class.
The fact that the protesting students are mugging fellow students and vandalising the property is not at all going to solve the problem at hand which is the increase in registration fees.
I feel that there is a right and wrong way of doing this and what these students are doing is definitely the wrong way!!! Their actions have caused management to cancel classes to ensure the safety of staff and students. This is definitely not the way to go about getting what you want.
As a CPUT part time student I don't have any problem with students wanting management to know that they are unhappy with the decision and wish to exercise their right to strike. There is however a correct and incorrect way of doing that.
Gather on campus, talk through the issues at hand and make yourself heard, but don't vandalise CPUT's property. At the end of the day CPUT will require more money to fix all the damage done on campus. Students mustn't intimidate other students who do not take part in the strike and wish to attend class.
The fact that the protesting students are mugging fellow students and vandalising the property is not at all going to solve the problem at hand which is the increase in registration fees.
I feel that there is a right and wrong way of doing this and what these students are doing is definitely the wrong way!!! Their actions have caused management to cancel classes to ensure the safety of staff and students. This is definitely not the way to go about getting what you want.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
10 most unexpected consequences about being online
1. Waiting for the websites you want to visit to download.
2. Remembering the many passwords you have to get into these websites.
3. Friends knowing when you have logged in on your Facebook page and want to chat, even when you are not in the mood.
4. People wanting to follow you on twitter and you can't tell anything about them from their short profile. "Accept"??? or "Decline"???
5. Trying to fully understand the social networking sites that you are using and their full potential.
6. Understanding that although these sites are about communicating, to much communication can also be a bad thing.
7. Trying to take these social networking sites and apply them to strategic business plans.
8. The total length of time it takes to post a blog, status update or tweet online.
9. How something you write can be understood in many different ways depending on the reader.
10. Reading into someone else's blog, status update or tweets and making your own conclusions.
2. Remembering the many passwords you have to get into these websites.
3. Friends knowing when you have logged in on your Facebook page and want to chat, even when you are not in the mood.
4. People wanting to follow you on twitter and you can't tell anything about them from their short profile. "Accept"??? or "Decline"???
5. Trying to fully understand the social networking sites that you are using and their full potential.
6. Understanding that although these sites are about communicating, to much communication can also be a bad thing.
7. Trying to take these social networking sites and apply them to strategic business plans.
8. The total length of time it takes to post a blog, status update or tweet online.
9. How something you write can be understood in many different ways depending on the reader.
10. Reading into someone else's blog, status update or tweets and making your own conclusions.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Every day is a good day
Every day can be a good day depending on how you look at it. If you take each day and just look at what happens on that particular day then it could be seen as a good day.
It is when you start comparing one day to the next that you start to realise some days are better than others. Some people can just focus on one day at a time and have a very positive attitude and see every day as a good day.
I unfortunately can't do that. I compare one day to the next. Some days traffic is really bad, I drop my cellphone and the screen no longer works or we have a fire in our building so for me those are not good day days at all.
When interesting things happen like accompaning a cameraman around Cape Town Station for a tv programme to see the upgrades for 2010 or go into studio to watch the tv programme come together those are things that make good days.
So in my opinion not every day is a good day, but for some people it is it just depends on the person and how positive your attitude is.
It is when you start comparing one day to the next that you start to realise some days are better than others. Some people can just focus on one day at a time and have a very positive attitude and see every day as a good day.
I unfortunately can't do that. I compare one day to the next. Some days traffic is really bad, I drop my cellphone and the screen no longer works or we have a fire in our building so for me those are not good day days at all.
When interesting things happen like accompaning a cameraman around Cape Town Station for a tv programme to see the upgrades for 2010 or go into studio to watch the tv programme come together those are things that make good days.
So in my opinion not every day is a good day, but for some people it is it just depends on the person and how positive your attitude is.
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