Two alternate learning days announced last Wednesday; class will not meet in person on those days due to instructor travel.
If bank holidays or campus closures occur, that may change; otherwise, students should post discussion board entries for those days.
Friday through Monday have back-to-back golf courses for the instructor, so no in-class sessions on those days.
Announcement pages provide exact dates; students can attend discussion posts if they want.
Week context and writing focus
Week 4 begins; finishing the three-by-three writing process and learning to carry it forward beyond the course.
The three-by-three writing process is portrayed as a durable, transferable method that helps all writers and is especially helpful for learners with ADHD to stay on task.
Future chapters will cover CVs/resumes and related examples; today includes discussion of CVs/resumes and bad examples, with potential writing activity if time allows on Wednesday.
Emphasis on timely task completion: deadlines and end-of-day tasks may be assigned; the three-by-three process helps produce work quickly and with quality.
The goal is to finish work with a sense of accomplishment (a "pat on the back"), not to be told the work was merely acceptable.
Reflection on learning outcomes and attitude toward the material
The speaker acknowledges the material can be dull and frames it as a “regression equation” to memorize and apply; the English version of math today.
The process is described as a way to avoid writer’s block and to improve efficiency when starting with a blank document.
The three-by-three writing process: overview and components
Phase two of the writing process is the actual drafting of material.
Core goal: avoid writer’s block and make progress when faced with a blank page or looming deadline.
Prewriting is essential: use whatever works best (e.g., drawing on paper) to organize thoughts before drafting.
Personal anecdote: the dissertation planning used notebook paper to map out depression-related variables (approximately 400 factors mentioned).
Students are prompted to share their typical first steps when faced with a writing task (e.g., write a catchy first sentence, plan by assignment requirements, respond to the prompt, etc.).
A common risk: paragraphs trying to cover too many topics within one section, which can be confusing; recommended approach is to break topics into clear, sequential sections (e.g., History of turnover; seminal pieces; industry-specific turnover).
A practical strategy for ADHD or tangential writers: keep a "bin" notebook for paragraphs or ideas that don’t fit the current paragraph but may be reused later.
Draft planning can involve outlining sections and sub-sections; e.g., Section 1: History of turnover; Section 2: Seminal pieces (e.g., Theory of Planned Behavior by Ajzen, 1991); Section 3: Industry-specific turnover.
The drafting goal includes active voice, coherent paragraphs, and alignment with the assignment requirements.
Drafting, organization, and revision specifics
Expected results of a draft: clear, active-voice writing with logical flow and coherence.
The 80/20 rule anecdote: sometimes one can get 80% of the result in a relatively short time, but anticipate needing to revise for better quality.
Drafting times and efficiency: with the three-by-three process, longer tasks (e.g., a dissertation) can be drafted more quickly; revising after drafting improves overall quality.
Research phases: informal research (within the workplace) often precedes formal research and HR processes; informal research includes talking to relevant people, collecting details, and preparing to present findings.
Informal vs. formal research in workplace contexts
Informal research examples:
Discussing issues with a boss.
Interviewing target audiences and stakeholders.
Gathering firsthand information to inform a writing task or a decision.
Formal research examples:
Formal HR investigations (e.g., sexual harassment claims) require a rigorous investigative process, including collecting statements, reviewing evidence, and avoiding premature conclusions.
HR decisions (e.g., termination) must be based on evidence to minimize legal risk.
Illustrative HR case discussion: a chef faced multiple harassment complaints; the proper process involved a formal investigation, documenting evidence, and eventual termination when warranted.
The takeaway: use formal research processes to support high-stakes decisions; skip the rush to judgment.
The value of research in business decision-making
The contrast between relying on high-quality research vs. thrown-together conclusions: quality research leads to better business outcomes.
Practical stakes: turnover costs are high; decisions should be grounded in research findings rather than tradition or gut feeling.
Quoted perspective: managers may be trained to respond to short-term symptoms rather than long-term data-driven strategies.
Turnover data and industry examples
Turnover concept: what percent of staff leave and need replacement over a period (per year).
Reported industry turnover examples discussed:
Restaurant location (Rancho Cucamonga): turnover about 0.34$ (34%).
Disney: turnover around 1.40(140<li>Hotels:turnoveraround0.80(80<li>Accounting:turnoveraround0.70(70<li>IT:turnoveraround0.60(60<li>Generalstatsaboutreplacements:</li><li>Of100quitters,onlyabout0.06 imes 100 = 6 get hired elsewhere (6%).
This translates to significant replacement costs and downtime across organizations.
Cost implications (example for restaurant workers):
Weekly cost of workers at 50 hours/week at $10/hour: 50 imes 10 = 500dollarsperweek.</li><li>Managerratecomparison:500 o 2500 dollars per week (illustrating the higher cost of turnover and management overhead).
Broader implications: high turnover leads to productivity losses, training costs, and lower customer experience; COVID-19 accelerated workforce shifts (the Great Resignation).
Crowdsourcing and crowdsourcing in business strategy
Crowdsourcing concept: obtaining ideas, feedback, or development input from a large group, often customers or shareholders.
Example reference: James Watt (founder of BrewDog) leveraged a large number of shareholders (about 45,000) to drive R&D and product development across locations.
Crowdsourcing advantages: broad participation, emotional investment, cost savings on R&D.
Crowdsourcing risks: quality control, misinformation, trolls, lack of reliability.
Crowdfunding notes (vs. crowdsourcing): funds are not guaranteed until they land in the bank; projects can fail to complete or deliver; ethical responsibilities to backers exist.
Notable cautionary example: a Kickstarter project raised $4–5 million but later failed; backers may not receive promised outcomes.
Grouping ideas and strategic thinking in writing
Idea grouping to show relationships: e.g., increasing sales via multiple, interrelated tactics.
Example groupings:
Use billboards to raise sales (one tactic).
Introduce a new service to attract new customers.
Encourage repatronage from existing customers.
Real-world demonstration: advertising campaigns (e.g., Super Bowl ads) often target multiple audience segments rather than a single demographic.
Outlines: purpose, tips, and ties to resumes
Outlining tips: start by outlining what you want to accomplish, who you’re targeting, and the main points.
For assignments (e.g., six true/false questions with explanations): outline first, then draft explanations.
Prewriting and outlines feed into resumes/CVs: treat resume creation like outlining your best self; drafting builds a strong base; revising refines details.
Graduation consideration: as you approach graduation, invest heavily in revision to ensure resume readiness and alignment with job requirements.
Practical approach: use an outline to identify gaps, such as missing certifications (e.g., food safety and ServSafe manager certificate) that could be required for specific roles.
Resume and CV development: formats, pitfalls, and guidance
Resume types discussed:
Overly designed resumes: visually flashy but often ineffective.
Task-driven resumes: bullets focusing on achievements and how they map to job duties; tailored to the specific role.
Bad font choices: avoid difficult-to-read fonts; do not misrepresent skills.
LinkedIn resume builders: generally discouraged; LinkedIn should be used as a platform to support a professional presence, not as the sole resume tool.
Online presence: maintain a professional presence; if personal social media searches reveal inappropriate content, consider adjusting or omitting those accounts from a professional search.
Photo on resume: generally advised not to include a photo on resumes.
“Online presence” guidance:
A professional online presence is important; search results for your name should ideally surface legitimate professional profiles or publications.
Avoid public social media that could harm professional prospects; guard privacy or rename accounts if necessary.
Common resume defects to avoid:
Excessive buzzwords; avoid overloading with jargon.
Poor formatting; maintain readability and a clean, professional layout.
Poor alignment with the job: tailor to the function and responsibilities of the target role.
Practical workflow for students:
Start with an outline of the resume and fill in sections progressively.
Gather required certifications and experience; fill gaps before graduating to improve job prospects.
Email and formal writing structure: opening, body, and closing
Core structure for a professional email/letter:
Opening salutations: acknowledge the recipient and the purpose of the message.
Body: present the main points, provide context, and include any specific requests or questions.
Closing: summarize, propose next steps, and indicate availability.
Example scenario discussed: responding to a professor or instructor about a grade.
Example improved email frame (opening, body, closing):
Opening: "Thank you for taking the time to provide valuable feedback on my assignments."
Body: "I have concerns about the grade and would like to understand better or discuss it further."
Closing: propose a time to talk or ask for a follow-up.
Common email mistakes highlighted:
Lack of specificity about which assignment or concern.
Open-ended phrasing that makes the intent unclear.
Negative tone and aggressive language.
Grammar errors and unclear subject references.
Poor email format: correct opener, body, and closing; ensure the email is concise and purposeful.
Sentence-level improvements: converting a negative or vague sentence into a clear, constructive request;
Example transformation:
Original: "I got the grade you assigned me for this assignment, and I have some major concerns. Can we schedule time to talk about it?"
Improved: "I received the grade for [assignment], and I have a few specific questions. Could we schedule a time this week to discuss it?"
Tone considerations: ensure a positive, collaborative tone rather than accusatory or confrontational.
Practical takeaways and mindset for exam readiness
The overarching message: invest time in prewriting, outlining, drafting, and revising; do not skip steps.
The writing process is worth practicing because it translates to improved performance across coursework and professional work.
Writing is described as a foundational skill akin to a mathematical process; mastery comes from repetition and discipline.
The instructor’s personal anecdote about a father who designed space shovels reinforces the idea that disciplined, well-done writing and planning can lead to significant professional outcomes.
Key formulas and numerical references (LaTeX format)
Manager-level weekly cost example: from 500 USD to 2500 USD per week (illustrative).
Turnover cost implications: high turnover leads to significant replacement costs, training costs, and potential loss of customer experience; COVID-19 exacerbated these issues.
Special notes and examples referenced
Ajzen (1991) – The Theory of Planned Behavior (as part of seminal literature mentioned).
Emphasis on the ethics and reliability of crowdsourcing/crowdfunding mechanisms.
Final reminder from the lecture
Writing success depends on consistent practice of prewriting, drafting, and revising.
Time management and deliberate practice are critical to achieving high-quality results.
The instructor emphasizes the value of research-backed decision making in management roles and highlights gaps in training among entry-level managers.
The content ends with a note of pride in the ongoing application of these skills in real-world contexts (e.g., the instructor’s personal anecdote about space-shovels).