Students: I had someone ask me: What earnings can I expect in my career if it goes well? My narrow window of expertise requires me to answer this q
From a colleague (this is gold): “Ideas for Using AI in Class Planning As educators, we’re constantly thinking about how we can keep our students engaged with interesting and relevant assignments. But crafting really engaging ones that also mimic the complex, real-world problems students will face as professionals can be laborious. In this article, Harvard Publishing shares how generative AI can help you create assignments that are more relevant and powerful for your students—and more efficient to produce.
From a colleague (this is gold): "Ideas for Using AI in Class Planning As educators, we’re constantly thinking about how we can keep our students en
Students (see the crazy import data below, AI might be coming soon in a very big way): Supply chain management (SCM) presents unique challenges largely due to the lack of real-time visibility and the unpredictable nature of lead times. In an ideal world, companies would have full visibility into every stage of the supply chain—from sourcing raw materials to delivering the final product. If we knew exactly where every component was at any given moment, and if lead times were always consistent and predictable, the supply chain would be much easier to manage. In other words, SCM would be a piece of cake if we knew where everything was all the time from beginning to end. You can make a trillion dollars if you invent a technology that does that.
Supply chain management (SCM) presents unique challenges largely due to the lack of real-time visibility and the unpredictable nature of lead times.
Do you know what your brand is? Become the Nike swoosh of your life! Most students put little effort into developing and promoting their brand (and networking in general). Do a SWOT analysis for yourself by identifying 5-10 traits for each category.
Subject: Do you know what your brand is? Become the Nike swoosh of your life! Most students put little effort into developing and promoting thei
How should companies use competitive bidding (think long-term)?
Subject: Read: How should companies use competitive bidding (think long-term)? Students (my lecture notes from class below, we are now divi
People that read a lot make way more money (2.3 times more?!!!!). Here is an astounding fact – readers make more money – a lot more! It’s true. According to a number of studies*, business people who read at least 7 business books a year earn over 2.3 times more than people who read only 1 book per year. Why exactly do readers earn so much more money? Answer: Because they become better problem-solvers.
Subject: Read: People that read a lot make way more money (2.3 times more?!!!!) Students:
Here is an astounding fact - readers make more
Let’s say you just started working for this company and you are a problem-solver that is obsessed with finding ways to do every part of your job better, faster, and cheaper. Over a six-month period, you work very aggressively to reduce your organization’s direct material purchases/costs by 5%.
See the attached one-page financial statement on ROI (same one from a previous email and handed out in class).
That email had the followi
I keep telling my students if they can widen margins and/or increase ATR, then ROI will go up. So, if you can reduce your total assets without changing sales and/or increasing sales, then ATR goes up. For example, reduce your inventory and your ATR will go up and ROI will go up. If you can do more with less, then your ATR will go up. No other major/function (SCM) has a greater impact on what goes into the ROI calculation. That is why SCM graduates will likely be immediately bonus eligible and their highest ranking functional area (SCM) leader will have a VP in front of their name (VP of SCM). Note, that also likely applies to all of your majors since you are majoring in a business discipline.
The handout for this 3-part video is attached and here are the video links (start from the beginning)...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Gt71HxWvl
Rounding up GPAs, post script on your phones for email replies, resume keywords, & email signatures. How about replying to this email with your version of an email signature? Students (how about creating a professional email signature to impress employers?):
Subject: Read (more mentor advice): Rounding up GPAs, post script on your phones for email replies, resume keywords, & email signatures.&nbs
Note: my students go into “buyer” roles very early on in their careers. However, the supplier sales rep on the other side of the table is not early in their career (they often have > 10-20 years, if not more, work experience). So, LEARN to negotiate!
Subject: Read: An interview I did w/ students from the University of South Florida - does it snow in Tampa? (also, info on WES classes)Sidenote
What does a Supply Chain Manager do? The U.S. supply chain accounts for 37% of all domestic jobs and many people in those jobs do not even realize it.
Subject: Read: What does a Supply Chain Manager do? The U.S. supply chain accounts for 37% of all domestic jobs and many people in th
I met with several managers at a career fair and I made the following observations. Note, the most common question now that I get from managers regarding feedback on students is: “How is their attention to detail?”. I think the reason for that is because many business professionals are working online/remote/hybrid and they are getting buried with data and communication (i.e., emails). So, how well do they manage all that detail? Personally, I think a lot of mistakes are being made that is creating supply chain chaos because people are not staying on top of all the details.
I met with several managers at a career fair and I made the following observations. Note, the most common question now that I get from managers
Business Analytics Minor and AI (I think this minor keeps you from ever being a victim of technology). This is just my hard and fast sell on these skills sets. Please know that I do this simply to help you and it is never about judgement. Making sense out of large amounts of data is very important in problem-solving.
Subject: Read: Business Analytics Minor and AI (I think this minor keeps you from ever being a victim of technology). This is just my hard
We make our students learn A3 through a project w/ a local company…Several of our students also complete their internships with an A3 presentation & report. Also, problem-solving is the #1 sought after skill set by employers…Hopefully, we are training our supply chain students to become consultants…to their own organization. We try to develop strategic skill sets (rather than tactical) combined w/ softer skills (i.e., problem solving, leadership, negotiation, project mgmt, etc.).
We make our students learn A3 through a project w/ a local company...Several of our students also complete their internships with an A3 presentation
Our new promo video (not bad at all). Yes, the WMU Haworth College of Business is one of the best in the world. AACSB accredited (that means top 6% globally) & most programs are nationally/globally ranked. Why? My answer: faculty are obsessed w/ student success.
Our new promo video (not bad at all). Yes, the WMU Haworth College of Business is one of the best in the world. AACSB accredited (that means top 6% g
Students with exploding job offers…The most recent is $85K base, 7% bonus eligible,15 days paid vacation, 12 US holidays, & a $7K signing bonus for being a previous intern (1 month to decide). Based on my observations: Employers that interview very selectively for internships & pay market value, tend to convert exceptional talent into full-time employees. In fact, they pay their interns a salary that is very close to what their full-time offers are. For example, from a student:
Students with exploding job offers...The most recent is $85K base, 7% bonus eligible,15 days paid vacation, 12 US holidays, & a $7K signing bonus
Combined with a MFG recession (maybe flat best case), it might be time for price risk sharing in these buyer-supplier relationships. Also, get ready for another supply chain disruptor: no succession planning…Do not forget where most of the supply chain is: Small Businesses.
Combined with a MFG recession (maybe flat best case), it might be time for price risk sharing in these buyer-supplier relationships: https://lnkd.in/
I would say this is the #1 reason my students change jobs (it’s their boss). Money becomes a factor when they can make > 20-40% elsewhere (which has been happening since covid). Assessing whether a potential future boss is a good fit for you is a crucial step during the interview process. It might be a little aggressive, but I encourage my students to ask: “How would you describe your leadership style?” The answer might help you gain insights into their leadership style, expectations, and compatibility with your own work preferences and career goals.
I would say this is the #1 reason my students change jobs (it's their boss). Money becomes a factor when they can make > 20-40% elsewhere (which has
Demonstrating self-awareness during an interview is huge. I tell my students to always answer the “what is your weakness” question in the context of having a strategy to fix it (explain what you have done about it, actual RESULTS). For example, from the article:
Demonstrating self-awareness during an interview is huge. I tell my students to always answer the “what is your weakness” question in the context of
One example: Managing inflationary price risks in supplier-buyer contracts through indexing: Operational challenges and solutions…Work smart and be effective. How? Some Practices that Can Make Your Commodity Related Supply Chain Job More Fun and Rewarding ($$$ – think automation):
Very consistent with feedback from former students (they spend a lot of time manually updating spreadsheets): “Even as more organizations recognize t