Kuwait Times Op Ed Articles

Here are links to three Op Ed pieces than appeared recently in the Kuwait Times.

Keeping Kuwait Safe and Secure
Don't Be Deprived of a Biological Need
Eliminate Administrative Corruption

Reading a variety of Op Ed articles will help you develop your own Op Ed piece.

Persuasive Assignment: Grades Posted

I won't always post a message after posting grades, but I am doing so this time with some thoughts about the grading.

If I were asked, "What did the MBAs do best in this assignment?" I would say, "Use persuasive words, as they were requested."

Overall, it appears that everyone (there are a couple of exceptions) can identify and use persuasive words. In many cases the letters needed more persuasive words, but all and all, students did a pretty good job with this part of the assignment.

If I were asked, "What did the MBAs not do so well with this assignment?" I would say, "Use English properly."

Most of you should enroll in programs offered by GUST's Student Success Center (SSC). Basic English counts throughout this course, and I urge you to consult the Basic English & Clarity Rubric so that you will know what to expect. Errors in English usage result in lost points -- please keep that in mind. In many cases with this first assignment, had a student simply proofread the material before sending it to me he or she could have saved at least several precious points.

In an MBA course, students must demonstrate that they can come up with ideas, think strategically, organize their thoughts, and then express their thoughts professionally in English. English usage is only part of the process, but if you can't use the language, how are you going to communicate? Even if you can think and organize well, if you can't express your ideas correctly -- then what? Please give that some thought . . . and if I told you to seek help with English, please do! 

MBAs: You Can Change The World

Persuasive words will be found in this presentation.

The assignment is due on Wednesday 22 February no later than 7 pm in Kuwait . . . to my email. Do not forget to highlight persuasive words!

Writing And Presenting Your Op Ed Article

Details: Op Ed Article/Presentation Evaluation . . . this document tells you how to write and present your Op Ed article. Your Midterm Assessment represents 30% of your final grade; please pay attention to the  details in this document and ask for clarifications if necessary. Here's the link to the Op Ed Grading Rubric. 

My Op Ed Powerpoint Presentation

Here's the link to my PowerPoint presentation about writing Op Ed articles.

Anthologies Online has some thoughts about how you can write a successful Op Ed article. You may find it helpful.

Your Midterm Assessment: Op Ed Article

For the MGMT 502 Midterm Assessment, you (independently, not part of a team) will research and write an Opinion Editorial (Op Ed article) suitable for publication in one of Kuwait's English language newspapers (or in an international newspaper, i.e. the International Herald Tribune).

You will:

• select a timely topic (which must be approved)
• research the topic
• write the article
• deliver an oral presentation to the class to explain the significance of your Op Ed article 

Your classroom presentation (on March 20 or 27) must include a series of PowerPoint slides to demonstrate the relevance of your topic, demonstrate the research you conducted, and explain your conclusions as presented in the article. At the time of the presentation, you will provide a printed copy of the article for each student.  (Details about your presentation will be discussed during class on 14 February). 

This project counts for 30% of your grade.

Click here, here and here for samples of Op Ed articles. You should also do your own search for samples of Op Ed articles that may be of interest to you, or similar to the topic you select to research and write about.

Select Your Topic Now

You may select one of the following topics for your Op Ed article:

1. What Kuwaitis Don’t Learn In Business School and Should! 
2. How Businesses Can Use Kuwait’s Census Data To Generate More Revenue 
3. The Cost Of Education In Kuwait: Where’s The Payoff? 
4. Why Aren’t Kuwaitis Launching More New Business Enterprises? 
5. What Will Be The First International Food Franchise To Come Out Of Kuwait? 
6. Kuwait’s Parliament: Helping Or Hurting Business In Kuwait?
7. Why Kuwait Should (Increase or Limit) Its Number of Expatriate Workers
8. How Kuwait Can Stop Deaths On Its Highways
9. A topic of your choice . . . approved by the Professor

Multiple students may select the same topic (but collaboration is not permitted). All topics must be approved in advance by the professor. Submit your top three topic choices via email no later than noon Sunday 19 February 2012.

Use Your Personality To Succeed In Business & Life

Do you know your personality type?

What is your personality? And do you think it's working for you or against you?

Have you even asked yourself those questions?

Personality is like DNA
You've got a personality . . . it's like your DNA. It's invisible (at least to you, but not to others), and you can't escape it. Some people -- including very intelligent people -- are doomed by their personality. Others -- including very dumb people -- succeed because of their personality.

And what does personality have to do with Business Communications?

Well, do you think you can communicate without involving your personality?

Your personality -- like it or not -- sets the tone for your communication. How well you succeed as a communicator is due, in part, to your personality and how you use it. Consequently, you better know something about your personality and especially how to use it.

Read my DISC series
To help you understand the importance of personality (and what you can do with your personality traits), I've written a series of articles that you can read now:

Personality clash: It hurts business and relationships
Use your personality to succeed in business & life
D: The personality we love to hate!
I: The personality everyone loves!
S: The loyal (and jealous) personality
C: The black and white personality
How to survive the personality pigeonhole

More files to access
Early in our course I will ask you to complete a DISC profile, which you can access here. I'm also providing slides that accompany my explanations of DISC and you can access them here.  Please be prepared to discuss your personality profile in class.