WPC_301 Strategy and Research Design.pdf

of War - 450 BC)

◊Involves research

◊Making intention to get somewhere

Design: applying successful solutions from one problem to help solve a new problem

◊Drunk driving

◊Self-driving cars

◊What problems can you solve in competition

Systems Theory:

◊My current state: student

◊My future state: occupation / industry

◊This change of state must take effect on: graduation

Components

◊Practical: start somewhere but be practical (income, position)

Starting from the bottom to up

◊Personal: align with your values

Work/ life balance

◊Simple: simple is better

Be intentional but be simple

Don’t overload things

◊Future Focused: looking at the future with your goal

◊Aligned:

Doing things in sequence of events

◊Emerging:

Jobs you want is emerging

Don't do things that are not relevant

Scenario: creative alternative stories about the future based on research

◊Have scenario -> if doesn’t work -> go to scenario 2 -> so on

◊Each scenario is what you value

◊Having a bunch of scenarios

Don’t run out of scenarios and have nothing to goal for

◊Types of scenario

Worse: no job living with parents

More of the same but better: graduate school

Different but better: getting that job

Applied strategic thinking

◊Personal research

Level 1: Google

Follow your interests

Keep detailed path notes

Level 2: Industry/Occupation Insider Info

Subscribe to trade publications

Strategy and Research Design

Doing Things on Purpose: “Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat” - Sun Tzu (Art

Join professional and industry organization

Engage in industry conferences and trade fairs

Level 3: Internships/Mentors

The best place to develop mentors and contact for future job opportunities

Allows you to make the one thing that all research is built to do to make a data

driven decision

◊Informational interview

How to get an appointment

Be referred

Cold call based on research

What to say to get an appointment

Introduce yourself (30 second pitch)

Express interest in industry

Express what you have been doing to become knowledgeable about industry and

gain skills (internships, jobs, research, other informative interviews)

Ask about their career path (people love talking about themselves)

Would like to ask for advice (people love to give advice)

Refrain from asking if they have any opportunities

Pros:

Learn more about the industry, company, and occupation

Build relationships and trust with relevant contacts

Comfort with speaking in industry professionals

Advice on next steps

Insight into potential career paths

Opportunity for potential mentor

Show initiative

Cons: they may say no

Thank you: post informational interview - MANDATORY

Business Ecosystem Analysis

◊Ecosystem: a place on earth where living things and environment interact, following the

basic laws of ecology

Sharks: intel apple heavy hitters

Strive and survive

Blockbusters not in ecosystem

◊SWOT analysis: What set you different from everyone?

Strengths (internal, positive)

Weaknesses (internal, negative)

Opportunities (external, positive)

Threats (external, negative)

◊Finding your ecosystem: Where can you go to thrive doing what you want to do?

How are they going to thrive and get move with the ecosystem?

◊Porter’s Five Forces

The threat of entry - is it easy or hard to be your competitor

The power of buyers - is your offering rare or a commodity

The power of suppliers - are you offering what is needed

The threat of substitutes - what else could buyer's use instead

Competitive rivalry - how hard is it to reach buyers

Product attribute design

◊Who does product attribute design: Every Fortune 500 company

◊What is product attribute design: Distinctive, tangible and intangible features of a product

that give it its value to a user

Up to 40 Hours of Battery Life

Award-Winning Sound

5 Minute Charge = 3 Hours of Playback

◊Product attribute design: By identifying what an employer needs, you can design yourself

to meet those needs

Employer needs are stated in “pure black and white” in job descriptions

Leader

Excel skill

Push forward your skills

Career cycle:

◊Awareness -> Self-evaluation -> alternative -> smart choice -> educational alignment ->

internship experience -> job -> manage career - >repeat process

Constant process

◊What am I looking for: choosing a major is one of the first milestones on the career

education path?

◊You are more than your major

You make your major, you make you

Complement your education with:

career-related work experiences

extracurricular activities

◊Components of self-assessment: Self-assessment is marked by introspection, the ability to

uncover some of what makes you unique

What do you do best that makes you unique?

Interests: reflect on things you like to do and how you like to spend your time

Culture: is the physical manifestation of a belief system within an organization (fit

for the company)

Fitting in with the culture can be important in career success

Skills: are your ability to do things well

Values: determine what you consider important and what you hope to gain or

accomplish in a job

◊NACE list

Focus on GPA so much we forget the other things

◊Career decision process

Career decision-making IS NOT:

A linear process

A once-in-your-life process

Simple

Easy

Career decision-making IS:

A lifelong process

A time consuming process

A ROI process

A process of proactive management

This is not your “parent’s’ job market “

Employers rarely take care of your long term career development. You need to take

charge of the career development process

Continue to question/evaluate

Where am I trying to get to?

Is this what I want? If so, why or why not?

What can I learn from this experience?

Look at both sides of every experience

Get what you want

Decide

Do

Change

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