$$$ - Lauren Bagley

While watching the movie Inside Job, i cant help but realize that the world relies so much on money. From gambling to banking derivatives money is the main factor.  The business people who were filmed are those who let money take over their lives, and therefore it resulted in thousands of people loosing their houses and going into debt. It was also quite humorous to watch when those people being interviewed were to talk about a topic they did not feel to comfortable with or knew they were in the wrong. Usually these men would answer politely others would shutter and get angry at the interviewer.  Not to mention those men who had so much money, millions to be exact, and did not want to be confronted of it in front of the camera refused to be interview. What these men didnt realize is not only where their salaries staying at this incredible rate, but those who thought they had some sense of security with these men and their businesses, lost everything.
Lauren Bagley

Let's Not Be Too Hasty in Our Criticism

Like many of you I found my emotions being manipulated by the movie Inside Job. After all--that is the purpose of the movie and the people involved in the production are experts. However, I have lived long enough to know that things are not always quite as black-and-white as ideologues would like us to believe. For me, the financial collapse is a study in arrogance--but not necessarily a lapse of ethics. While I do believe that there are evil and conspiring men (and women) in the world, I do not think that there are very many people who are as evil as the Joker in Dark Knight. Yet that is the impression I was left with as I left class today. When I get that feeling, I always try to stop and reflect on my personal experience with people. My experience is that most people are generally trying to do their best within the limitations of their experience and their physical capacity. Let's be honest, we all have our own set of weaknesses and, yes, even moral lapses. If every decision we made and every action we took was subject to the intense scrutiny of an investigative reporter who was strategically cutting and pasting together his/her version of our life story we could all be made to look stupid, arrogant, lazy, immoral, etc. I am not suggesting that there wasn't some form of ethical lapse by many people who were involved in the collapse of the financial system. I do believe that many people are greedy--and that greed is a by-product of arrogance and self-righteousness. I do not believe greed is specifically restricted to people who work in the financial sector, or who participate in market exchange systems. Greed is not a function of the political sytem or the systems used to make and distribute goods and services--but rather is a manifestation of a deep human "flaw" that is manifest in small and large ways in every society and in every person. I really wish that I was not subject to these moral lapses in my own life--but alas I catch myself in the clutch of human weakness way too often to be too critical of others. For me the take away from the movie is that I need to increase my personal commitment to apply the timeless, universal and self-evident principles embedded in the Private Victory to my own choices and actions. After all, society is just a collection of individuals. Shouldn't our tendency to be critical of others be informed by a healthy skepticism of those who want to point out the weakness of others without ever turning the lens of inquiry on themselves? Who do you think paid for the movie Inside Job to be produced? What do you think the motive was for making the movie? Was it really produced as a public service to help us better understand the complexity of this issue--or were there more devious motives involved? I don't know the answers to any of these questions--but I do know that the world is very complex and when I feel my emotions so effectively manipulated I try to stop for a moment and engage the more critical thinking dimensions of my brain. This approach has never failed me in the past.

INSIDE JOB-ANDREW HOSTETLER

After watching the movie once again I was reminded that it's all about the money. From sports to business money can be the controlling factor in if we do something or now. People in the film inside job let there greed take over. When many people were confronted in interviews and asked why they did not say something they were usually blank, stuttered, or lost of words. It is because their pockets were getting deeper too. I remember the scene from the movie Dark Knight. Harvey just locked up many of the cities mobsters and the Mayor asks him if he is up for the challenge cause not only are the mobsters angry but those who were involved with them; cops, politicians, journalist, anyone whose wallet is about to get lighter.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3AiU3JIRBw

Andrew Hostetler

The Law of Success Vol I Part 1- Napoleon Hill - The Principles of Self-...

-Napoleon Hill's principles on self mastery

I've been listening to the book Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill. It is a great book on self mastery in personal and business life. I made a connection between this concept of self mastery and the first three habits in Steven Covey's book (Seven Habits). Steven mentions that you have to be personally in control before you are capable of moving on to the bigger goals leading to interdependence. This book provides many timeless principles (they must be timeless, he wrote it about a century ago) that can be used to make ourselves better people and make better businesses.

I think that the art of self mastery is one of the most important things that we can do as humans. It is all encompassing, and if we are not trying to get better then we are getting worse.

What are you working on now?

Brandon Major
A00908392

Winners Never Cheat

As we've been watching the movie in class, I can't help but wonder, "Why are so many people involved in causing this recession? How was this allowed to progress so far and ruin so many people's lives, and how are the businesses OK with doing it?" I've been reading "Winners Never Cheat" and really thinking about what Huntsman has been saying. How can these corporations be fine with what they're doing and not caring what happens to the rest of the world? Sure, they're making millions, sometimes billions of dollars, but is it really worth it morally? How much would it take to buy your morals? In that situation, would you or I do the same things that they did to make so much money?

Dylan Lewis

Nice old guy? eh... not so much.

After watching the video in class i hopped on youtube and watched a bunch of videos about guys like Alan Greenspan. In this video he seems like an innocent old guy who was only trying to help. But after watching the video in class, i'm pretty skeptical. I almost feel like everyone in the world is a cheating backstabber these days. But it is what it is, and we just move on. But, it gives me hope that by being honesty and having integrity that i can still make it in the world out there. That nice guys don't actually finish last!

Unfortunately to many, Alan Greenspan walked on water, but in reality he can't actually do it. but he CAN do the "Triple Lindy"

movie and winners

While watching the movie in class it made me think of the book "Winners Never Cheat". Interesting to have read the book all about how if you can be a good person and still be successful. Actually he said that is the only way to stay successful. Then sad to see the other side of things in the video. John Huntsman is right though about how when you cut corners to win you succeed quickly but at some point you will fall and when you do fall it will be hard and lasting! Nice to see some of those weasels get caught for fraud and put in jail. What hit me and disturbs me the most while watching the film is how creepy the dishonest men look. You can see and almost feel even through the screen a darkness about them. There is no way that they are genuinely happy which was really evident to me when a lot of them had tons of outrageous possessions. Seems like they are never satisfied but always wanting more to fill in the void in their hearts. I love how Huntsman said that honesty and playing by the rules is the only way to fun real purpose and happiness in this life. Those evil men are missing out on so much joy! Makes me want to give more to others and never waver in my values. What does it make you want to do?

Nice Guys Finish Last

In winners never cheat there was a chapter that talked about nice guys finishishing last and how that statement is false, I can definatley see were he is coming from and that in some ways thats true. But I do not completley agree, There are many areas that a nice guy might finish last, that even though they kept there ethical conduct if they wouldnt have they could have got ahead. Im not saying that its right to do so but in this world today, there are no prizes for being nice, that doesnt bring home a salary to feed your kids, you dont get a good job, in the real world today its extremeley unlikley to be NICE and ethical and finish first, True Hunstmen claims to have done so, And he is successesful this will admit but im sure there has been at least one time in his profession that he wasnt the NICE guy, There was probabley at least one time were he wasnt that peson and did what had to be done. This is all opionion mind you, I agree that you can be nice and be successfull but there are times when we cannot be NICE 100% of the time due to human desire and greed, Im sure that if he would have been border line bank rupt and needed to use his friend that was going through a tough time, he would have done it, im not saying its right to do so, I dont think one bit of it is, but that section really made me wonder how NICE he really was and if he was 100% of the time...

Back in to the Box...

While I have been reading "Winners Never Cheat," I can't help but wonder what goes through a certain person's brain when they give someone a bum deal. I am always honest in everything that I do. Sometimes I am brutally honest. But these last few class periods have all kind of hit home for me. While I have been thinking about finding a career, I haven't been looking for something I actually love doing. I have thought about what is going to make me the most money. My aim was completely off. All of that stuff that you work for all of your life just goes "back in to the box" at the end of the day. Is that really important? I have made it a goal to myself to look for any opportunity I can to improve my leadership skills no matter what. It has caused me to have a paradigm shift. What is your focus? What is important to you?

Remember the Titans

Im going through the workbook to get it done for friday and I was reviewing the Win-Win principle. These two clips show very well the principles of the Win-Win perspective and also Seek to understand before seeking to be understood.



Both Julius and Gary seem to have two different paradigms. Julius shows a Win type mentality but ends up helping Gary to achieve a Win-Win mentality. As Gary is the captain, he failed to understand his teammates and thus failed to achieve good leadership. After this "evaluation," we can see the results in the second clip which really leads the team into their success for the rest of the movie.

The benefits of the application of these principles will help our careers and lifestyles just as it did their team. However as the movie shows, it doesnt come without hard work and perseverance.

-Jeff Bailey

ETHICS

After class on Mon, ethics in business has been on my mind a lot. I couldn't believe some of the things in the movie we are watching. It makes me sick to think of the kind of people that are out there that will screw other people to make a lot of extra money. I feel bad for the people that lost a lot of money due to the bad practice of other people. I read an article recently of a man in North Logan who was a financial planner and basically stole $40 million from his clients. He was caught which is a good thing, but to know we have unethical people so close to home is bother some. In the end I know if you are ethical and honest you will win out. It is hard to see these people do such nasty things. Note to all, running your business the ethical way is the best way.

Jared Spackman

Passion

In Winners Never Cheat, Huntsman brings up the Core Elements of a Leader. He say that they are: Talent, Integrity, Courage, Vision, Commitment, Empathy, Humility and Confidence. I do agree that these values are key to a good leader, but I think he left out a very important concept. One critical part of being a good leader is having passion about what you are doing. If you don’t have that drive inside you to get it done, you wont be as affective. Seth Godin said, "Leadership is about creating change you believe in." You cant just commit or know where you are going, you need enthusiasm to get you there. True passion is contagious. If you are enthusiastically pushing for your goal, others in your group will be more apt to grasp your vision.

Defining Success

When I saw this strip today it immediately reminded me of what we've been talking about in class. John Hunstman's book is all about sticking to your morals and acting with integrity. Several of the other books that were presented also spent a good amount of time on the same subject. There are many ways in which one can define success. However, I think the great guru puts it best here. "Success is obtaining happiness without sacrificing personal morals."

Blair Jensen

FINAL GROUP PRESENTATION

Business by Design Spring 2011

Learning Group Project Outline

“The Restroom Rethink”

15% of Final Grade

Project Brief:

Design thinking begins with a question that needs an answer, a problem that needs a solution. Design thinking matches necessity to utility, constraint to possibility and need to demand. How often do we come across an object, method, organization or facility that is “broken”? What are possible solutions to these poorly designed systems and products and how can we make these solutions more human-centered?

Over the course of the semester you have read and learned about various methods and models of design thinking. You, along with your group, will apply all that you have learned over the past few months to come up with an innovate solution using a “design thinking” process.

Project: The Restroom Rethink

Public restrooms are something we all use. Whether at school, a restaurant, or a park, at one time or another, we all use these facilities. It’s fair to say that most users of these facilities would agree that public restrooms are not “human centered”. Your final project assignment is to redesign a public restroom that is “human centered”. Use the IDEO model of design thinking (on the following page) and any other outside resources you find helpful.

Grading:

This assignment will focus a great deal on process. Documenting the design process is just as important as the end result. While engaging in innovative thinking, be sure to trace your journey. This documentation of idea accumulation, group meetings/brainstorming, user interviews, and product prototyping can come in many forms such as a group video, report etc… How you document this process is up to each group but be creative in your presentation. You must be able to sell us on the functionality and relevance of your restroom. Substance is key.

Each group will present their design process and redesign concept in class. Presentations will be 15 minutes long with 5-minute period of peer question and answer.

IDEO’s “Design Thinking” Process

Define

· Decide what issue you are trying to resolve.

· Agree on who the audience is.

· Prioritize this project in terms of urgency.

· Determine what will make this project successful.

· Establish a glossary of terms.

Research

· Review the history of the issue; remember any existing obstacles.

· Collect examples of other attempts to solve the same issue.

· Note the project supporters, investors, and critics.

· Talk to your end-users, that brings you the most fruitful ideas for later design, use empathy to better understand your demographic.

· Take into account thought leaders' opinions.

**Ideation

· Identify the needs and motivations of your end-users.

· Generate as many ideas as possible to serve these identified needs.

· Log your brainstorming session.

· Do not judge or debate ideas.

· During brainstorming, have one conversation at a time.

Prototype

· Combine, expand, and refine ideas.

· Create multiple drafts.

· Seek feedback from a diverse group of people, include your end users.

· Present a selection of ideas to the client.

· Reserve judgment and maintain neutrality.

Objectives

· Review the objective.

· Set aside emotion and ownership of ideas.

· Avoid consensus thinking.

· Remember: the most practical solution isn't always the best.

· Select the powerful ideas.

Implement

· Make task descriptions.

· Plan tasks.

· Determine resources.

· Assign tasks.

· Execute.

· Deliver to client.

Learn

· Gather feedback from the consumer.

· Determine if the solution met its goals.

· Discuss what could be improved.

· Measure success; collect data.

· Document.

**IDEO’s Rules for Brainstorming

1. Sharpen the Focus: Start the brainstorming process by clearly articulating a customer need.
2. Write playful rules: IDEO’s primary brainstorming rules are simple: “Defer judgment” and “One conversation at a time.”
3. Number your ideas: Totally okay to say things like, “Let’s go for 100 ideas.”
4. Build and jump: Brainstorming has a rhythm. It gathers momentum and then plateaus. Good facilitators know how to launch it, get out of the way, and then step back in when it slows.
5. Make the space remember: Use post-it notes, flip charts, white-boards and butcher paper. Advantage goes to movable and re-arrangeable.
6. Stretch your mental muscles: Start with warm-up exercises. Road-trips, videos, experiences all prime the pump to fire the imagination.
7. Get physical: Show-and-tell, build prototypes, cross-pollinate from other industries.

Helpful Resources:

Change by Design by Tim Brown

A Whole New Mind by Daniel H. Pink, pgs. 89-99

IDEO website:

IDEO Design Thinking Took Kit:

The Highest Success

I gave a lesson in a family get together that we had today (FHE). I gave the lesson on John Huntsman's book Winners Never Cheat. Something in that book really changed me. I had a realization that through shear determination and gratitude for what I have I will be successful monetarily in this life. Not that "I'm just that good", I just think that I am happy with what success I do have and I will work to be successful. Then after I have worked hard, What I produce I will be happy with the monetary rewards that consequently come.

I realized that in the current industry that I'm in (cleaning) there is no need for situational ethics. Some people have a gray area but I don't think that I do. So to tie this back to what I mentioned at the top, and having a successful life, I think that the only way to have "the most successful feeling ever", is to have a great company, but to run it with the highest standard of moral conduct, and to raise humanity one business at a time.

This doesn't really change my day to day activities, BUT it does make me aware of my duty to be the best I can be. I appreciate that.

Aspire to Something Higher

The group presentation on Good to Great was a great motivator for me to become better and improve on myself. Something they said in their presentation was that they "get stuck in being good and forget to work on progressing and constantly improving". I definitely have difficulty doing this also and after listening about their book I have written down some goals to improve things that I'm already "good" at but can improve on. I felt like this presentation was also a great recap of "Sharpening the Saw". Never forget to look back on yourself and see where you can improve on. I also thought that their discussion about "Level 5 Leaders" was great. One particular point that stuck out to me was that a "Level 4" leader wants the company to be "great" while they're there, but a "Level 5" wants the company to succeed long after they leave it. That was something that truly hit me and now has become a goal of mine, along with always trying to aspire to something higher and greater.

Like a Virus

I was recently reading an article while working on a paper for my english class and this article had a lot of useful insights into how to make workplaces more effective. I figured I would share with you the name, author, also a quote I found to be very helpful to me. The article is only 2 pages and is well worth your time it is called "Overcoming Workplace Negativity" by Betty MacLaughlin Frandsen. I loved this part of the article: "Like a Virus Negativity is a pattern of pessemistic thinking that spreads like a virus, causing morale problems and ultimately impacting our organiztion's success. Symptoms include loss of employee motivation, loyalty, creativity, and innovation. Outcomes of negativity include increased errors, decreased quality, increased interpersonal conflicts, increased tardiness or absence, and increased turnover." To me it sounds like we need to root negativity out of our lives now so we know how when we are working in our future careers so we can be successful and those we work with can too. McCallan Chadwick