How would you describe your experience in participating in this
course? How has your experience shaped your intention of how to
participate in future MBA courses?
My experience participating in this course was slightly challenging
while working odd hours and starting a new job part way through the
course. I started my MBA program last term (July-October), but I had
to drop this course as I had too many commitments already on my
plate. This term, I decided to take two courses, which was
challenging in itself. I did make it through both courses relatively well
so that is an accomplishment in itself! Going forward, my experience
in this class has taught me to make sure I set aside specific time to
work on my classes. By ensuring I have enough time to complete all
of my assignments, I will be able to participate fully in my courses. I
will say that I did enjoy this class as I was able to learn how I can
assess my own leadership skills and behaviors as well as create a plan
on how to improve any that are lacking. The skills I learned in this
class will be useful in whichever career path I choose after finishing
my MBA.
What were some of the challenges you faced in this course, and how
did these challenges help prepare you for challenges in today’s
VUCA world of work? How do you think future courses will deepen
your ability to work in the VUCA world?
One of the biggest challenges I faced in this course was time
management. It was a challenge with my first term as well. I did learn
that if I set aside time to work on my assignments and readings, I
would be able to make sure I completed them in a timely manner. I
started keeping a calendar with all of my assignment due dates as
well as when I completed an assignment. This challenge has helped
me prepare for work in today’s VUCA world because time
management is one skill everyone needs. Developing my grasp of
time management will allow me to make sure all tasks at my job are
done in a timely manner and to make sure the tasks are finished by
the deadline (or before if I am able to do so!). My future courses will
deepen my ability to work in the VUCA world as I will be using real
world applications in my courses, and I will be able to develop my
skills to manage time further, especially as my life changes
throughout the courses. I will also be learning other valuable skills
that can be applied in my future endeavors.
The fourth industrial revolution has introduced early advances on
the internet of things; artificial intelligence (AI); and the production
of smart equipment that can analyze, diagnose, and fix issues
without the need for human intervention. How do these complex
technological developments challenge leaders to adapt their
leadership style and behavior?
Technological developments, like the fourth industrial revolution,
challenge leaders to adapt their leadership style and behavior
because certain styles and behaviors are not going to work with the
new advancements. For example, a leader cannot guide artificial
intelligence (AI) the same way they could guide a person. AIs are not
people, so they do not require the same guidance. However, they do
require code to run the specific programs. When leaders are not
working with people, there is no need for a leadership style that fits
the needs of the company, forcing the leader to adopt different skills.
One skill that is necessary for the fourth industrial revolution is
intuition (Marr, 2019). Marr (2019) stated that people need to be
more human during the fourth industrial revolution because of the
influx of machines in the workplace. Intuition is a uniquely human
skill, which requires a person to read what is not exactly being said at
that time (Marr, 2019).
Considering those challenges, what do you want to learn to help
prepare you to lead more effectively? How will your future work in
this program benefit you and the people you lead?
Considering the challenges mentioned above, I want to learn skills
that will prepare me for working in a world that is mostly machines.
The skills I would love to learn would be ones that are human-
focused so I can build strong, trusting relationships with the people I
lead. I believe that my future work in this program will guide me
toward how to develop those skills as well as how to overcome
challenges I may face in the future. I am grateful that this MBA
program utilizes real world applications, especially in our projects and
certifications, because learning those skills are important to success
in the VUCA world. I wish everyone good luck with their future
courses and endeavors!
