An Information-Gathering Interview to Learn about a Career - Assignment Example

1.Imagine that you will be conducting an information-gathering interview to learn about a career you’re interested in pursuing. Identify the career. List two topics you’d like to explore. For each topic, write three open-ended primary questions you’d like to ask your interviewee? Career: Assistant manager Topic1: Procurement activities Topic 2: Human Resource management Topic 1: Question 1: What exactly do you know about procurement management? Question 2: How can you make the procurement activities cost effective? Question 3: What environmental factors would you take into consideration while undertaking procurement activities? Topic 2: Question 1: How important is the H-R department within an organization? Question 2: How would you ensure successful H-R-M operations? Question 3: what modern tools do you think should be used towards successful H-R-M functions? 2.Imagine you are preparing for a job interview. Identify the type of job you are applying for.  Describe what attire you would select, and explain how you would prepare to answer questions you might be asked? The type of job is a mid career manager who specializes in Human Resource and marketing strategies. The attire would thoroughly formally comprise of suited dress. I would prepare the answers in a way that are relevant to my work experience, my degree and qualifications along with the updated tools and techniques that are used in business enterprises. 3.Assume you are in the middle of an employment interview for an administrative assistants job. Youve been a stay-at-home dad (or mom) for the past 10 years, but during the last 2 years you completed an online training program with high grades. During the interview, the interviewer states, “I see youve been at home for 10 years with no real organizational experience.” Write an answer in the first person that demonstrates your ability to turn this negative perception into a positive one? Sir I believe we all come across situations in mid way career where we often get restricted by family commitments or other various reasons. The same happened to me, yet I did not totally stay aloof of the business world and my field related activities. I capitalized on this time by constantly staying in touch with the online world. During this phase I also completed a two years degree program that has added a lot of substance to my credentials. Similarly I kept myself updated with all the developments that were taking place in this particular discipline. 4.Identify at least three ethical considerations the interviewer should bear in mind, and at least three ethical considerations the interviewee should bear in mind. Next, explain why these considerations are important. Do you believe these ethical considerations are frequently violated? If so, why? If not, why not?  ALSO NOT CLEAR Interviewers ethical viewpoints consideration: 1. They should not address the Interviewee anything that is derogatory in tone. 2. They should try comforting them by staying totally professional and not getting personal on any matter. 3. They should respect the views of interviewee by the end of the day (Gill). Interviewee considerations: 1. They should not discard the views of interviewer straight away 2. They should not show disrespect to the interviewer even if they try testing the Interviewee nerves 3. They should not get reactionary or negative in tone. Yes these issues are often seen from both ends. They occur so largely because of the lack of Information and professionalism regarding interview on either side. These are largely violated based on the little consideration given to the ethics of interview at either end. Lack of ethical values is another reason towards growing of such trends. These considerations are important because often people at either end express such actions that lead to non professional display and results in an uneasy environment creation during the interview process. 5.Identify five conditions that indicate it is best to assign a task to a team rather than to individuals.  Illustrate each condition with an example? When the task is of multi dimensional aspects. Example can be in the form of H-R and marketing domains. When the task requires field knowledge of more than one field. Example can be that of needing the education background from not just business discipline but other associated disciplines as well. When the task requires expertise in different domains. Example can be that of fieldwork experience in When the tasks require off shore activities undertaking( for example, the modern companies comprise of the global enterprises and global human resource operations). NO EXAMPLE When the tasks require critical decision making pertinent to the future of company and its stakes, for example when the decisions are to be made between the critical few versus the routine activities such as daily activities undertaken.( NO EXAMPLE 6.What is virtual teamwork? Discuss advantages and disadvantages of virtual teamwork? Virtual teamwork involves working in a non-physical and remote location. It involves usage of technology and other modern techniques. The advantages include being able to work even someone is not available physically. The disadvantages include non-coherence and dependency on technology. Disruption in the technology sources lead to stopping of the activity.   7.Compare and contrast: group norms, group cohesion, and groupthink?  Group norms pertain to the dos and donts of the group activities. Group cohesion involves the bonding element and gelling capability within a group. Groupthink pertains to the collective thought process and working together. Each of these is essential towards group activity, however they different in task with reference to the nature of operation. 8.Imagine you are a member of a group that exhibits very little cohesiveness and disagrees on most issues. Identify three actions you would recommend to promote greater cohesion? Explain why you would recommend these actions? Accepting each others ideas, finding out the areas of disagreement, and coming up with alternatives and other solutions that may be acceptable to the entire group will make up for three suggestions through which the problems can be solved. These three are recommended based on the sequential operation and finding the faults, correcting and then applying alternative. I would recommend these steps because such actions would lead to bringing about more positive output in the organizational activities. They will further remove obstacles from the group tasks. 9. Deborah Tannen writes: “Why should meetings be so frustrating? A large source of dissatisfaction is the conviction that your time is being taken up without obvious results; another is the feeling that you are not being heard. In that sense, meetings are a pressure-cooker microcosm of the workplace: A diverse group of people, with their own ideas, comes together to get a job done.” Discuss Tannen’s comments. Suggest guidelines from your text that could help alleviate the two sources of frustration she writes about? Tannen views come in circumstances that contain disorganized meeting and views shared within. This can be overcome through implementing the standard methods of meeting which involve pre meeting homework, setting the agenda of meeting clear and defining roles, objectives and results that are to be achieved by the end of the meeting. Two steps of alleviating the frustration would include discussing the agenda before the meeting and also the assigning of roles during the presentation will help overcoming the obstacles. 10. Compose three vague agenda items.  Next, revise the wording of each item so it focuses on specific outcomes and prepares participants for their roles? Pre project activity In project activity Post project overview The three agendas define actions relevant to the different phases of a project lifeline. The roles are defined based on each of the step in the project. For example the pre project phase will involve the think tank participation, the second phase will involve the participation of the project members, while the third phase mentioned will involve the experts on audit, budget and other associated functions. 11.What is the purpose of brainstorming? Identify three cardinal rules and three tips for healthy brainstorming. Explain why each is important? The purpose of brainstorming is to prepare the mind and body for the work ahead. It creates a vivid idea of the tasks to be undertaken. The basic rules of brainstorming include knowing the subject, discussing it in the preparatory phase and finally correlating each of the tasks to the objectives at hand. Healthy tips for brainstorming would include understanding the subject, defining the roles, assigning the tasks in terms of the objectives to be achieved and further bringing coherence in the tasks through good communication skills development. 12.Choose five key aspects of audience assessment. For each, explain what to look for and why this knowledge is important? ALSO NOT CLEAR The audience assessment aspects should take into account factors such as their level of knowledge, their participation, their interactive exchange, the medium and availability of communication and their skills and comprehension with regard to the question, survey or scenario at hand. Other aspects of audience assessment include the details provided to them and their level of familiarity. Effective communication enables clear conveying of message. Medium availability also plays a role towards coherence buildup between the two sides. Knowledge is important because it enables one talking and discussing things with relevance. Further, knowledge enables convincing the readers. 13.Your text identifies four organizational problems that many presentations suffer from. Describe these problems, and explain why they detract from a presentation. For each, provide a suggestion you could use to prevent that problem from occurring in your speech? NOT CLEAR Non comprehensive presentation material, lack of ideas behind the presentation prepared, inability to express a point clearly, and the choice of font size and background that does not support the presentation and the theme makes up for the problems faced in presentation. The possible solutions will include gaining a clear comprehension over the topic, getting a familiarity with the topic, and being in a position to clearly define the objectives, the tasks at hand related to the project and presentation. The detract is often seen due to the fact that people get nervous, or add content that is off the target or go deep into the details which lead to waywardness within. 14.Describe the four-step method for citing sources without interrupting the flow of your presentation. Illustrate this method, using an imaginary quotation and source? NOT CLEAR PLEASE REPFRASE Various methods of citing sources to the speaker may include politely raising the hand, or simply waiting for the presentation to get over, or waiting for the section to get over or the pause they take or the question answer session. The imaginary quotation would be, thank you for detailed information filled presentation, but it would be further better if you could address or add this point (Oliver). 15.Explain three benefits of using visual aids to accompany an oral presentation? The visual aids in any presentation add many benefits to the presentation. They bring about interactive aspect to the presentation. They make understanding easier. They enable gathering readers attention and concentration. 16.Name and describe four styles of delivery. What are the advantages and disadvantages of each of these styles?  The impromptu style of delivery Advantage: it is unique and based on creativity Disadvantage: lack of preparation Notes assisted style of delivery: Advantage: one can look at the notes if some point is forgotten Disadvantage: often people term it notes assisted and not natural Memorized style of delivery Advantage: flow of presentation persists Disadvantage: one can forget an idea or point in between. Manuscript assisted style of delivery Advantage: Assistance in form of notes, reading material and side notes Disadvantage: again, same issue as notes assisted, people consider it assisted. 17.What are the top three strategies you’d recommend for conducting a question-and-answer period at the close of a presentation? Explain your answer?   The first strategy would include the idea of leaving an idea or two unanswered or for the question answer part. The second strategy would be to keep the options open with reference to the questions that may be asked. The third strategy would include keeping an open mind towards any kind of question being asked and answering in an impromptu manner. Each of these ideas relate to good ending of the presentation or bringing about a good connection between the readers and the presenter and eliminating any vagueness or ambiguity that is there in the entire presentation. 18.Discuss some of the common beliefs about delivering a presentation that contributes to speaker anxiety. What do you believe are the best strategies for dealing with speech anxiety? Why?  The common believes related to anxiety in presentation include the fear of what the people will imagine. The second common anxiety is about going on the stage and talking in front of large crowd. The third is regarding how to maintain flow in presentation and be able to speak in a loud voice. All these can be overcome through self believe, knowledge, confidence and sufficient preparation of the topic. The best strategy towards handling anxiety include bringing in self confidence, believing in one self, practicing excessively before the presentation and coordinating with the individuals and be fully equipped in terms of knowledge and material needed towards the presentation delivery. 19.Identify three main types of informative presentations typically found in contemporary business or professional settings. What is the purpose of each? Descriptive speech, explanatory speech and definition speech are the common types of informative presentation speeches. Definition speech relates to the brief definitions provided to each of the topic and material in the presentation. Descriptive and explanatory speeches may sound general but are relatively different in nature when it comes to their technicalities. Each of these two differs from the definition speech in terms of the details embedded in them. The purpose of each of these is to present ideas and explain the content and material that is to be delivered to the individual. 20.Identify four types of persuasive presentations delivered in modern organizations. What is the purpose of each?  What are the key considerations of each type?  Presentations related to the policy, presentations related to the facts of a given account or event, or presentation related to the value of a given product, service or idea constitute the types of persuasive presentations. Persuasive speeches related to historical account or a case previously studied based on which the future answers and solutions and sought makes up for the fourth type of persuasive presentation. Each of these takes into account the detailed information with regard to the nature of content to be shared and delivered during the presentational flow. The considerations behind each of the type of presentation include the type of audience that is present, further considerations should include the type of information presented and finally the content against each type of presentation being used and presented on the given occasion. 21.Imagine that a friend has asked you for advice about asking her boss for a raise. What would you tell her? In your advice, include suggestions about when to present her request, what to ask for, and what to avoid? The request should have number of elements to it. The first and foremost should have the element of respect, recognition and value towards the company. The tone should be polite, professional and not non thankful. Secondly, the tone and content should address the reasons why you want raise in the money. The items and elements, which are to be avoided, include harsh tone, non-thankfulness and bossy attitude. You can stress over your case by simply narrating the contributions, the motivation you will get from the raise. Read More