“Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is a progress. Working together is a success.” - Henry Ford

            If someone asks you to come up with a plan to prevent an egg from breaking when it falls from ten feet above the ground, by only using few straws and tape- (not to mention that we had to do this assignment in a certain amount of time) What would you say?

Maybe you will say, “coming up with a plan to protect an egg? Piece of cake” or maybe you will say “uh-oh that is not going to be easy.” I was the one who said this is not going to be easy if I do it on my own. That is why when the professor told the class to work as in a group, I was relieved and thought, as long as we follow the “steps in the planning process” and work with the team members, we will be able to come up with a solid plan. However, after the first set of time we have given to brainstorm for our egg, “EGG DROP” (yes. That is our egg’s name,) I realized we made several mistakes as a group. 

           My group stated off very well by clearly understanding the task and following the first step: Defining our goals and objectives. Then we moved onto the second step: Evaluating the resources compared to objectives. We thought the resources as the given objects, the straws and tape. Therefore we never discussed about the skills or talents of each individuals which we could have used to make everything much easier. Everyone was only focused on the facts in front of us; we ignored the Human recourses, which we could have used so effectively during this assignment. Starting from here, we started to fall apart as one group. By the time we reached to the third step: Developing premises and several alternative strategies, everyone was not communicating effectively. We were not listening to each other, but rather all busy putting their own ideas out on the plate. We spent almost all of our time on the step 3 which was the horrible mistake on our part.  Step 4: Analyzing Alternatives and making a tactical plan did not happen, due to our poorly managed team work. When we had to go up in front of the classroom to implement our plan, we have FAILED miserably. 

           We were not even done with the protection around the egg, because we were just all talking at the same time and never really acted together as ONE for our ‘Egg Drop’. 

         The result of lack of communication, team work, and poorly managed time was brutal. 

But, at least I have learned to pay more attention to the time and each individual members  in my group for next time!  

“It can be culture shock in reverse” by Susan Fitzgerald

“Culture Shock” is a term we use to describe the confusing and nervous feelings a person may have after leaving his/her own culture to live in a new and different culture.

      When I moved to Ireland, I faced a lot of changes which were exciting and interesting, but also overwhelming. I had no choice but to adjust myself to a new culture, no matter how hard it may be. At first everything was surreal to me, because of their looks and behaviors. I realized the culture has huge influence on how you look, act, and communicate. Therefore it is normal for us to experience “culture shock” when we go to a new place.  

      “Culture shock” is considered to be a temporary thing but sometimes, I think I still go through mild culture shock.

     Since I was very young, I have learned to show RESPECT. That is the most important aspect in Korean Culture. We show respect to everyone-especially to those who are older than you or who hold higher authority over you. When I greet my professors or my parents, I should bow. Just saying ‘hello’ or waving your hand is not enough. It is considered to be rude. We even have formal and informal ways of speaking Korean and we must use formal language to them.

       I’m sure you can imagine how shocked I was when I came here and saw people calling each other in first name basis!

     To me, Americans and many others are very ‘friendly’ in their own ways and being ‘friendly’ must be perfectly normal- but it was unusual to me. I’m so used to saying good-byes by waving my hands- so some people misunderstand me and say I don’t hug or kiss them on the cheek BECAUSE I don’t like them.

*Please note* Koreans may not hug you or Kiss you on the cheek to say good-byes. BUT that doesn’t mean we don’t like you! We are just not used to that ;)

“The beginning is the most important part of the work.”-Plato

Hello! Before I start blogging about Management and related topics, I will first introduce myself. 
      My name is HeeEun Jeon- you can also call me Leah. I'm currently a sophomore and is pursuing a major in Human Resource Management and a minor in Theatre. 

In my spare time, I like to eat and play Kayakum, a traditional Korean instrument, which I have been playing for eleven years thus far. 

I love traveling, which is probably due to my ever-changing location. I was born and raised in South Korea until I was eleven, then moved to Dublin, Ireland for three years untill I settled in New York City. 

Thank you for stopping by! Please feel free to make some comments or anything in the future!and know that I will always return the favors, comments, and visits. :)