The term is almost ending. One more meeting to go and we are done! I am thankful for the learnings and experiences I had this term. This is my 4th term of my MBA course, and about 6-7 more terms to go. Slowly but surely I will get there. I know I can do this and finish this course. I have stopped for 5 terms and I was able to convince myself to come back. With time management and setting my priorities right, I know I can do this. Of course with the help and support of my family which is the most important of all.
I enjoyed Quantitative Methodology and LBL, Ethics, and CSR, the 2 subjects I took-up this term. I had numerous learnings that I was able to apply immediately in my work and life. Next term, I will embark new challenges and learnings in taking-up Management Accounting and Management Action Research. I thank God for the strength, the time and the ability to be able to balance my family, work and studies. This term has been truly challenging, filled with self growth, development, character building and learnings. Fun and memorable experiences that I learned from and made me a better person.
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Service Learning (During) Last Thursday, November 19, we had our Service Learning activity at the Parish of Our Lady of the Abandoned (POLA) in Mandaluyong City. I would like to share with you what had transpired before, during and after the activity. I would also like to share my personal feelings and take-away in this memorable Service Learning activity. Our group together with POLA decided to engage in vertical gardening, particularly the principle of hydroponics as a way to help beautify the community and furthermore as a respond to Pope Francis' Laudato Si, which is the Encyclical on the Environment -- On the care of our common home. Gardening, particularly vertical gardening has many benefits, a few of them are: http://themicrogardener.com/
My feelings, emotions and outlook before engaging in the activity: “I was excited to do this activity for POLA. I imagine it as a fun and learning activity for POLA and for ourselves. We may even do this in our own homes! When we were planning this activity, we intended that the materials be easily acquired and the maintenance will also be easy. We wanted the parish/community to be able to quickly harvest what they have planted and this may be possible through the principle of hydroponics. We initially considered veggies to be planted as an additional source of food and income. At the same time, I also felt scared that the plants we will sow will not bloom/grow to what is expected of them. Hoping that the participants have a green thumb, will learn a lot, enjoy from the activity and will be able to impart their learnings to others." Preparation of venue and some of the materials: During the lecture, demonstration and workshop: Finished products: What I felt during and after engaging in the activity: "During the activity, I felt overwhelmed because the participants had so many questions. They were more knowledgeable than us! They were so excited to work on their hydroponic plant. I also felt happy because I felt and saw how enthusiastic they are in learning new ways to plant. They were taking down notes on the hand-outs that we distributed. They were asking various questions. They were eagerly working on their hydroponic plant. They even made more than 2 hydroponic plants. The participants planted ornamentals, leafy vegetables like pechay, arugula and basil, some even planted siling labuyo and cherry tomatoes. After the activity, I felt tired but very much fulfilled. It was a very good experience and feeling seeing how others appreciate what you do for them. The group did the research, interview, providing of raw materials and simple lecture and workshop on how to go about hydroponics -- these simple things were very much appreciated by the participants. They will even share their learnings with other people in the community and the kids. Through this activity, we clearly saw and learned that it does not take big things or activities to be able to help others, simple learning and simple gestures will be appreciated a long way. Hopefully, the future LBL, Ethics and CSR class will be able to continue Service Learning Activities that were started. Aside from the activities being sustainable itself, a constant review, reminder and support will help the communities go a long way." Words are not enough to let me express how grateful I am in being able to engage in such activity. We were able to help other people/community. It was also a fulfilling experience as you see the participants from teens to the elderly, both men and women take time to plant and learn new planting techniques. Moving forward, I would like to encourage our company to start and engage in simple activities for the community or for those organizations that will be needing our help and support. It gives a nice and happy feeling when you are able to give back in your own simple ways.
I am very much thankful that DLSU MBA's course incorporates the value of becoming an ethical Lasallian leader. It also emphasizes engaging on CSR and Service Learning activities that will be helpful and sustainable to the chosen community. I hope that this program develops and even improve its continuity. There may even be an SL activity part 2 possibly incorporated with HRM with OrgBev, this time focusing on the part 2 of the initially started SL activity or probably how will the CSR programs of the company help continue started activities from the LBL, Ethics and CSR class. “What makes people yearn for more and what makes it difficult to stop? How can we better manage ourselves in order to benefit others? Why should we think about our actions and how this affect others?" These are just some of the questions that came to me while watching “Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room”. And so many more concerns about how can these people think only of benefiting themselves, becoming more rich and powerful without considering others. I am amazed on how their story never ended with just earning millions of dollars but billions! The bible speaks for itself and is very much true in this story, “For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” The story centered on intelligence, arrogance, greed, manipulation, and power. A perfect example on how money and power became the god that controlled the people involved. How they wanted to have more without even taking into consideration the effects of their actions and decisions to their stakeholders. They took actions that will merely benefit them, not the company, nor the clients. Their intelligence were used to fool those who believe that they will earn from what was presented favorable to them. The executives manipulated the data and showed what is attractive to investors/clients. It was all selfishness geared towards their richness and becoming more rich and powerful. Too much arrogance made them feel and think that they will not be caught with what they are doing; it even seemed like they are not guilty of what has transpired. Lay, Skilling, Fastow and all other executives got involved into a so-called groupthink, “a phenomenon developed in groups and marked by the consensus of opinion without critical reasoning or evaluation of consequences or alternatives. Groupthink evolves around a common desire to not upset the balance of a group of people by creating conflict, with creativity and individuality considered potentially harmful traits that should be avoided.” Groupthink fails to see potential problems because it focuses on satisfying the group and the present situation. It does not give the opportunity for actions to be scrutinized and thought of thoroughly mainly because individual critical thinking is not encouraged. There is the lack of taking and owning responsibility for one's actions and decisions. Sadly, most traditional business schools solely focus on profit and fails to look into the responsibility to all stakeholders. It is more on profit maximization, and quicker ROI type of thinking --- all goals and purpose directed towards making money. It seems to me that money-making thinking is even emphasized, wherein fact this is something that someone does not need training. I think all individual establishing business, working and making money will definitely immediately focus on money-making and profit! It is very seldom that ethical development and considerations are taught and molded to the individual. This is where we too should remind executives or soon to be executives that they should look into the good of both internal and external stakeholders. In our LBL class, I appreciate how Ms. Pia constantly remind us that we will be leading others and we will embark our beliefs, practices and traits to others. Being ethical starts within us and we do have the capability and power to influence others to do so. It is good to be reminded that we have to do business the right, ethical and the lawful way. At the onset that you are planning to hide and manipulate data, keep in mind that there is something wrong with what you intend to do. As an individual we should be able to carefully assess our decisions and actions. Is it right? Is it beneficial to others? How will others be affected with my actions and decisions? Will I hurt someone in doing so? As a follower we should consider what we are following and not just listen to what is being presented to us. We must take the time to study, research and analyze the facts that is presented to us. Is it the truth? Is it lawful? Is this the right thing to follow, to do? As a leader we should keep in mind that others are looking-up on us. We are role models and that we are being followed. Our actions and decisions does not only affect others but we also influence others. I have thought of the following ethical considerations based on the video/story presented: Data manipulation. They played with figures and the truth. They did not show what were the real values and what was really happening with the company. Data and values were sugarcoated to depict favorable performance. They even had complex financial statements that were confusing to shareholders and analysts. Insider trading. Information and data should be given to all shareholders and clients/investors. If you have access to nonpublic information or there is something that you are keeping to yourselves and will benefit only those who know it, then this is illegal and unethical. Justice, fairness and truth. The fact that they are manipulating data depicts that there is something wrong and unethical with what they are doing. But this did not stop them from so. They continue to hide company debts; they continued to show that they are performing well. They did not give their clients/investors what they should know. They mislead these people for their own welfare. Moving forward, let us learn from what happened in the story. 1] Let us be vigilant people and understand that if there is something “too good to be true” that is happening, this is not the case. The favorable performance may be manipulated or sugarcoated. 2] It is better to have products and services that you actually see and feel rather than good figures without any basis at all. 3] If we see that we want to hide something or manipulate processes and data, then we should not continue doing it. We must remain transparent and true to our clients/consumers. 4] Profit is not everything, be lawful and ethical first, then profit will follow. If you focus on profit, karma will take its toll on you, like what happened to the executives of Enron. God gives justice to everyone at His own right time. And 5] we should be ethical individuals, followers and leaders who weighs our actions and decisions, who considers the effects of our deeds and who always considers the welfare of others. References (2000). Bible Hub. 1 Timothy 6:10. Retrieved from http://biblehub.com/1_timothy/6-10.htm on November 1, 2015. (2015). Investopedia. Groupthink. Retrieved from http://www.investopedia.com/terms/g/groupthink.asp on November 1, 2015. Bratton, William W. (May 2002). "Does Corporate Law Protect the Interests of Shareholders and Other Stakeholders?: Enron and the Dark Side of Shareholder Value" (PDF). Tulane Law Review (New Orleans: Tulane University Law School) (1275): 6. Retrieved 2010-10-12. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enron_scandal#cite_note-DarkSide6-12 on November 1, 2015. "We only have one earth to live in and we should take care of it. Like a mother takes care of her sick child." - RLM It is very sad to see people misuse and abuse the planet, especially those that litter around and cannot seem to put their trash it its proper place. Simple things we can contribute will help a lot in making our planet a liveable place for us and the future generations.
We have to consider others and the future generations in how we treat our environment and our planet. We should not only think of ourselves and what we have now. I believe that our ancestors made our planet a liveable place for us, and we should do the same for our family and others. Apparently, due to technological advancement, the misuse and abuse of our natural resources and improper care of pollutants, we failed to protect our only home. The good news is, it is never to late for us to correct our wrongdoings. We may still correctly act and protect our environment from getting destroyed. As a mother, I want my daughter to see, feel and experience the earth as we experienced it. Be able to swim in beaches, play with the animals and breathe a clean air. Unfortunately, my daughter started to have asthma at the age of 8 months. She's already 2 years and 5 months and has not outgrown it. I hope and pray that she will eventually outgrow it. Seeing your daughter not able to breathe properly is very heart breaking. And the simple cause of her asthma are the cigarette smoke and emission from vehicles. These things we could have avoided if other people will be sensitive enough. Government should be strict and limit smoking areas which should not be allowed in public places. Sin taxes should be tripled or even quadrupled to discourage consumers from purchasing them. Furthermore, emission testing should be strictly done. I have been to a couple of emission testing sites that really does not conduct the testing but takes a picture, pretending they did it. When we questioned why they are doing that, they said that the machine is broken and that our car seems to be in shape. This is very disappointing that you pay for a premium amount but you do not get the service you need. If this happened to us, what more with the jeepneys, trucks and buses who are willing to bribe just to get renewed and avoid the maintenance or changing car parts to have a cleaner emission. Let us all please be sensitive to the needs of our family, of our loved ones, and of the future generations. This earth is not our own. However, we should show compassion and treat is as our own. Love and respect mother earth, it's the only one we have. Our family had a recent trip to Osaka, Japan and I would like to share how socially responsible the citizens of Japan are. This is our first family trip after I gave birth last May 2013. Osaka (including Kyoto, Kobe and Nara) is a very clean and organized city. I noticed that the people strictly adhere to policies set by the government on how to make their place clean, organized and more sustainable for others and for future generations. I have been to Japan twice before, sponsored by my former company. I would definitely go back, again and again, mainly because of the good food, safe and secured environment, friendly and helpful citizens and the clean and relaxing environment. Everything is also accessible and easy for tourists, although there is a language barrier, they make sure they get to help you. Here are a few observations I had:
These are very simple things yet the Japanese government and people make sure they are implemented and followed. I hope in our country, that we will be able to start, implement and strictly follow policies and activities that will make our country a better place to live in -- more clean, more green and more sustainable. |
AuthorRLM, daughter, wife, mother, employee and student will blog about her reflections on her BUS560M Class. She hopes to continue this blog after taking-up the course. Enjoy reading! =) Archives
January 2016
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