As you well know, as the final project for Change and Innovation, the class was divided into several groups and were sent out into the real world in search of interviews centering around a chosen theme demonstrating change and innovation. As we come to the conclusion of this semester, I am anxious and interested to see what other groups have come up with for their video vignettes, but our group in particular focused on the use of social media and social networking in different small business settings. I posted the link to the videos we are going to present later, but after hearing what other business professionals have to say about their use of new technology, it is astounding to think about the possibilities of this new frontier. Five years ago, social media didn't even exist! Facebook was in its infant stages, blogs were awkward and unfamiliar territory, and nobody even knew what a "tweet" was. A company we interviewed named ThinkGeek, we met with a social media expert, and that's when I realized if this was three years earlier, her job would be obsolete. It is this idea of change that continues to get me to think what is next? In my personal opinion, I think we should look at social media as not only an effective networking and communication tool, but the bridge that connects communication studies with marketing. Inter grated Marketing Communications or IMC for the late person, is an area in the corporate world that is one of the most difficult but essential areas to manage. By using social networking sites and new technologies, I think we can see the fusing of public relations, branding, marketing, and advertising strategies into one evolving branch of communication tactics more than we ever thought about a year or two ago. Not only is it exciting to learn and think about all the possibilities this brings about, but I think the social and organizational world is in store for profound change within the IMC concentration.

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=25804907#!/pages/Blue-Ridge-High-Performance-Consulting/114424015246965

Creating Cognitive Maps-what direction are you headed?

As the semester is nearing to a close, it is interesting to revisit the cognitive maps we started earlier in the year. The symbol and color-cluttered map the link at the bottom of this page takes you to is by no means an exhaustive view of all that happens to be floating around in my noggin. But after reading and discussing several of the books during our class meetings as well as pulling in information from other classes, it seems that I constantly have more to add to my so-called map. As we actually apply what we have been learning for, ohhh the last twenty years of our lives, it is crucial that we are able to use our knowledge to guide us through not only our studies but our interactions with others. Who would have ever thought theory would be an integral part of our daily lives? But as I and those who are finishing up our Comps and master's degrees can vouch, it seems that we can't go through any discussion without cognitive dissonance or ELM popping up in our brain activity. Aside from the knowledge we take away from books, papers, and the likely fare of college classes, it's the discussions and intriguing conversations with my peers that have helped me figure out, or at the least gain an awareness of where I stand and what I think about things in this social world of ours. If you are interested, I invite you to check out my cognitive map and see if you can navigate your way through my thoughts. If not, and you haven't already completed one of your own, I urge you to take the time to do so....


https://cacoo.com/diagrams/aakGQGRR1hHCQzDM

What Is Brown Doing For You, Mr. Super-package deliverytruckdriver man?

The other day I came across an interesting article in the wall street journal regarding the unique approach the United Parcel Service, or UPS, takes to training their driving recruits. In such a market where timing and dependability is what sets Brown apart from their competitors like FedEx and DHL, only to name a few, UPS is using new technology and out of the box training techniques to prepare their drivers. The article highlights the new "integrad" training facility located in Atlanta where recruits go through a six week training course that integrates hand on learning with video games and second life driving courses that simulate potential driving conditions. This is crucial in today's job market where UPS employs over 99,000 people and will probably look to hire 25,000 new drivers in the coming years. These new recruits will participate in virtual reality games that train them to look for kids playing ball, parking cones, and other treacherous conditions that happen on the job. The coolest training device the article mentions is the "slip and fall" machine that trains drivers how to walk in icy or slippery conditions as efficiently as possible without falling. They actually wear harnesses but are walking on icy surfaces with shoes with little to no tread. In a job where timing is everything, newer and better training programs offer a way for employees to become as best prepared for the real situation as possible.

UPS isn't the only company to include innovative training techniques. Companies like Cisco Systems, FedEx, and the Sodexo food groups are also exploring the ways second life and other virtual training programs can be incorporated to ensure better drivers are on the road. Check out the link below if you have a chance, see what ya think....

http://finance.yahoo.com/career-work/article/109258/usps-thinks-out-of-the-box?mod=career-leadership