Career Advancement Strategies: Serendipity, Planning, and Interview Success
Understanding Serendipity in Career Growth
Serendipity, as defined in The Startup of You, is the concept that unexpected opportunities arise when you are actively engaged, visible, and open to new people, ideas, and environments. This is not mere passive luck; it is strategic serendipity. You can enhance your prospects for fortunate breaks by actively networking, attending events, and exploring new interests.
Example: Attending a startup event out of curiosity led to meeting someone who provided a
Read MoreStrategic Financial Decisions: Capital Budgeting & Working Capital
Strategic Financial Decisions
Investment decisions relate to the determination of the total amount of assets to be held in a firm, the composition of these assets, and the business risk complexion of the firm as perceived by its investors. It is the most important financial decision a firm makes in pursuit of maximizing shareholder wealth.
Types of Investment Decisions
- Long-term Investment Decisions: Also known as Capital Budgeting.
- Short-term Investment Decisions: Also known as Working Capital Management.
Organizational Structure & Manufacturing Evolution: Thompson’s Theory to AMT
James D. Thompson’s Interdependence Theory
James D. Thompson proposed that organizations must adapt their structure based on the type of interdependence between activities. He identified three types, from simplest to most complex:
Pooled Interdependence
- Definition: Units work independently, but their outcomes contribute to a collective result.
- Example: Bank branches or retail chains.
- Coordination: Low. Standard rules and policies are sufficient.
Sequential Interdependence
- Definition: One unit’s output
Strategic Employee Rewards and Compensation Management
Understanding Employee Reward Systems
Reward systems are a set of material and non-material counterparts that employees receive for the quality of their performance, their long-term contribution to business development, and their identification with the company’s values and operational principles:
- Non-monetary Rewards (Intrinsic)
- Monetary Rewards or Compensation (Extrinsic)
Compensation Management Principles
Compensation management involves determining appropriate compensation levels based on the complexity
Read MoreEU Social Rights: Child Protection, Education, and Migration
One of the most important principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights is dedicated to minors. Specifically, it is the principle of Child Care and Support. It states that: “Children have the right to quality and affordable early childhood education and care. Children have the right to be protected from poverty. Children from disadvantaged backgrounds have the right to special measures to promote equal opportunities”.
Youth Policy and EU Strategy
Youth is a national policy, and harmonization
Read MoreMastering Service Quality & Customer Experience
Characteristics of Services
- Intangibility: Services cannot be seen, touched, or stored before they are delivered. Customers cannot evaluate a service in advance, making trust, brand reputation, and testimonials very important. Example: You cannot “see” legal advice before receiving it.
- Inseparability: Services are produced and consumed simultaneously. The provider is often part of the service, meaning employee behavior and customer interaction are critical. Example: A haircut requires the customer