Work to Be Done...

Now that state EOCs are complete and there are only a few AP exams to take care of this week, you can resume working for the business.  Since we didn't do a great job completing our assignments the week of 4/24 - 4/28, I'm going to re-post these assignments for completion this week.

Additionally, on Friday I'm going to need you to write an email to me directly about the good and the bad (let's call them "Areas of Strength" for the good and "Areas in Need of Refinement" for the bad) about this year's coursework, pace, and overall level of enjoyment.  I'd assume most of you enjoyed the class for the most part since all of my Juniors are returning next year and all of my Seniors have recommended the course to others; however, I do want to know what we can do next year to make this class even  better.  Please feel free to just make 2 lists in the email and give me 3 to 5 bullet points for each category if you don't feel like writing a long message.  I look forward to reading these and this will help you prepare for peer reviews next week.

Business tasks to be completed are listed below:

1. Finance, Sales, and IT need to update our products - there's no way we can sell inventory that we've had for the past 10 weeks.  Food spoils, and we addressed this in our business plan.  Please make the appropriate adjustments.
2. Sales - bring in some revenue.  You have 4 or 5 different avenues for bringing in business, so use what you believe to be most effective.  Feel free to collaborate with IT to enhance or focus on certain items/packages on our site
3. HR/Admin - Make me a comprehensive 7 to 10 page newsletter.  You know what goes in the newsletter, so no further guidance is necessary other than the suggestion to focus on an article and course standard that enhances productivity during a time in which most people have their minds elsewhere.  There are numerous articles online that can help you with this.  Just make sure to cite your sources appropriately.

I'll be sure to visit at least once or twice this week if things don't get too hectic.  See you soon!

Business As Usual

OK everyone, I did not like the hiatus from blogging our weekly assignments.  Maybe I'm just a creature of habit, or maybe I just feel more organized when I publish our assignments; either way, I did not like verbally ordering you guys around to do your work these past few weeks.  With that said, I've returned to publish your assignments online and guide as needed during class.  I believe we all feel a little more comfortable with this process.  The only difference moving forward is that I will allow you more autonomy on how to accomplish the tasks, as I will be more vague with my list of things to do:

1. Finance, Sales, and IT need to update our products - there's no way we can sell inventory that we've had for the past 10 weeks.  Food spoils, and we addressed this in our business plan.  Please make the appropriate adjustments.
2. Sales - bring in some revenue.  You have 4 or 5 different avenues for bringing in business, so use what you believe to be most effective.  Feel free to collaborate with IT to enhance or focus on certain items/packages on our site
3. HR/Admin - Make me a comprehensive 7 to 10 page newsletter.  You know what goes in the newsletter, so no further guidance is necessary other than the suggestion to focus on an article and course standard that enhances productivity during a time in which most people have their minds elsewhere.  There are numerous articles online that can help you with this.  Just make sure to cite your sources appropriately.

I know you're going to do an excellent job this week.  Even with your EOC tests being the primary focus of your attention, I feel that immersing yourselves in your VE tasks will help keep your minds sharp and allow you time away from the stress of this week.  See you all very soon!

Sales Focus

This week, we're going to focus on bringing in as much revenue as possible.  Your weekly tasks are identical to those you completed the week prior to Mock Interview Competition:

1. Company Newsletter (Admin & HR)
1. Employee Spotlight - select and interview one employee this week
2. NWHS Sports at a Glance - CEO and Crawford to highlight Spring Sports Opening Days
3. Business-Related Article - Corporate Philanthropy - Read and summarize this article. Then, outline how the article suggests we increase our sales
4. Package of the Month AND Item of the Week - Get with IT and highlight an item of the week on our website AND in our newsletter
1. TO BE COMPLETED BY SALES (SEE BELOW)
2. Website Update (IT & Sales) 
1. Highlight Item of the Week 
1. Come to consensus on item (preferrably a package)
2. Report information to Newsletter Team
3. Make Item prominent on website
2. Make site more navigable
3. Ensure meals and party packages are easily accessible
3. Item of the Week Flyer & Other Sales Duties (Sales)
1. This is to be completed FOR Admin & HR in our newsletter
2. Designate at least two employees to collaborate with IT and then create the flyer (use Publisher, Word, or PowerPoint)
3. Compose formal promotional email (ONE Sales employee) to be sent with our Item of the Week flyer to all VE firms
4. Call at least one VE firm to conduct business with (better than that NY firm did with us)
4. Display Board Update (Normal Display Board Team)
1. Change background color
2. Determine new theme (Spring is here!)
3. Decorate board
5. Finance/Accounting Tasks (Finance Department)
1. Payroll
2. Check company email for orders and process these
3. Update inventory in Wholesale Marketplace
4. Email and follow-up with outstanding orders
5. Assist with other departments as needed

Let's make lots of money this week!

Mock Interview Competition Week!

OK everyone.  I've always been one to post extremely buttoned-up blog, but there's so much intricacy to what we have to do in class this week.  Please see below for my simple outline:

Monday – students send me anything they want printed in color via Drop Box AND put everything in their portfolio

Tuesday – students fill out their own appointment cards and turn them in for a grade, students finalize their portfolio by putting in all other stuff (letters of recommendation, report cards, assignments from other classes, awards, certificates, etc.) and submit for a grade, students practice interview questions in front of the class for a grade

Wednesday – students put their appointment cards in plastic badge holder and go over everything for Thursday, students practice interview questions in front of the class for a grade

Thursday – interview day – if they’ve finished their interview before they get to class, they’ll complete a reflection assignment.  If not, they’ll write about how they think they’ll do.

Friday – interview any students who failed to interview on Thursday, review the good, the bad, and the ugly of the interview (students share out how it went)

Of course, we'll have to discuss the particulars, but each day will be extremely busy from bell to bell.  Please make use of every minute and be as prepared as you can for your interviews on Thursday.  Each of you will be interviewing with a very important person in this community, whether it's our superintendent, County Mayor, or President of the County's Economic Development Council.  That said, it is imperative that you shine, so we'll be practicing answering these questions a whole lot.

See you all in class!

Back to Business Operations

After our hiatus from normal business operations, it's time for us to re-focus on maximizing profits for Make-A-Meal.  Although I'll be out of the classroom on Monday, I'll still be in the building (acting in an administrative capacity).  You can always email me if you have any questions or need any assistance.  This week, we'll have to complete the following tasks, with the majority of the Make-A-Meal tasks to be completed in my absence on Monday.  You WILL be able to do this as long as you get right to work as soon as class begins and work through the bell.  See below for your tasks:

1. Company Newsletter (Admin & HR)
1. Employee Spotlight - select and interview one employee this week
2. NWHS Sports at a Glance - CEO and Crawford to highlight Spring Sports Opening Days
3. Business-Related Article - Corporate Philanthropy - Read and summarize this article.  Then, relay the benefits of our decision to donate 2% of our sales to underprivileged families.
4. Item of the Week - Get with IT and highlight an item of the week on our website AND in our newsletter
1. TO BE COMPLETED BY SALES (SEE BELOW)
2. Website Update (IT & Sales) 
1. Highlight Item of the Week 
1. Come to consensus on item (preferrably a package)
2. Report information to Newsletter Team
3. Make Item prominent on website
2. Make site more navigable
3. Ensure meals and party packages are easily accessible
3. Item of the Week Flyer & Other Sales Duties (Sales)
1. This is to be completed FOR Admin & HR in our newsletter
2. Designate at least two employees to collaborate with IT and then create the flyer (use Publisher, Word, or PowerPoint)
3. Compose formal promotional email (ONE Sales employee) to be sent with our Item of the Week flyer to all VE firms
4. Call at least one VE firm to conduct business with (better than that NY firm did with us)
4. Display Board Update (Normal Display Board Team)
1. Change background color
2. Determine new theme (Spring is right around the corner)
3. Decorate board
5. Finance/Accounting Tasks (Finance Department)
1. Payroll
2. Check company email for orders and process these
3. Update inventory in Wholesale Marketplace
4. Email and follow-up with outstanding orders
5. Assist with other departments as needed
6. Mock Interview Preparation
1. Analyze job posting
2. Review work you have personally completed throughout this course
3. Identify relevant portfolio artifacts
4. Prepare for interview questions 

Well that's it for this week.  You have your tasks/duties.  I look forward to hearing about your progress when I return to the classroom on Tuesday.  See you all tomorrow!

Let's Try That Again

Aside from BAM Tech, we never got to view and critique our other presentations.  Discussions of the jump in the stock market, other business ventures, and finalization of presentations consumed our time in class.  That said, we're going to complete our business plans and begin working on getting reference letters this week.  Below is the order in which you will present:

1. DARPAL
2. Burger McKing
3. Agua Sensations
4. Jeezy's 
5. Posture
6. ChromaKey

Once finished (hopefully end of class on Wednesday), we'll work on requesting references for Mock Interview Competition.  I'll go over formatting and content of business letters and how to approach potential references.  By the end of the week, we'll be back on track.  See you all soon!

Presentation Week!

OK everyone, we have arrived at the time everyone has been waiting for - Business Plan Presentation Week!  In case you were wondering, here’s the order for this week:

1. BAM Tech
2. DARPAL
3. Burger McKing
4. Agua Sensations
5. Jeezy's
6. ***Next week, Posture and ChromaKey will be presenting***

That's right, we're only doing one presentation team per day, which means we'll have a lot of time for questions and critiques.  In fact, I'm going to have each business present TWICE so that the higher of the two scores carries over to the grade book.  I expect that everyone is prepared and will demonstrate Viking Excellence!

For each business, fill out a critique form and use your feedback for your investor questions.  Please look at this form and be mindful that it asks specific questions about the business (What need in the market does it fill? How well do you think the business will serve its target market? etc.).  Once finished, we can provide feedback and proceed with a new business plan.

I’m looking forward to all your presentations.  See you all on Monday!