| I just need the question answereed but I included the whole post for background: QUESTION: Do you agree with my analogy of education being a set of tools? Share one key take-away that you have gained from our study of decision-making techniques. How might the concepts and practices conveyed in this course contribute to your development as a strategic leader? Prior to this course, I was under the impression that most business operations were handled with good knowledge of business practices and procedures. I had very little knowledge or understanding of what a forecaster meant to this industry. Now I do! Quoting Bernstein, Hanke & Wichern write: ” The successful business executive is a forecaster first; purchasing, producing, marketing, pricing, and organizing all follow.” (Bernstein, 1996, pp. 21-22), (Hanke, J.E. & Wichern, D.W., 2009, p. 2) Hanke & Wichern go on to write, “This book discusses various ways of generating forecasts that rely on logical methods of manipulating data that have been generated by historical events. But ii is our belief that the most effective forecaster is able to formulate a skillful mix of quantitative forecasting and good judgement and to avoid the extremes of total reliance on either.” (Hanke & Wichern, 2009, p. 2) Of course, good business practices and sound judgement that comes from experience, are invaluable to any organization or company. However, I have come to understand that the very skill to take data and use it to “see” into the future, is also of incredible value. It adds another dimension to making sound business decisions. I will probable never be a “master” of many of these techniques, but having a sound grasp on their importance and use will be invaluable to me as a leader in the future. Being able to have a greater footing on which to make sound business decisions give me more tools to use as a leader. I tend to view my education as acquiring the tools necessary to be able to do the job, and from which to learn in real life. Probably most of what we learn, will be after we graduate, as we take these “tools” we have acquired, and put them to use, in the world. That is where the real “education” takes place. I want to relate a personal experience that has been a great inspiration to me. As a young man, when I surrendered to preach the Gospel, an elderly pastor said something to me that changed my life and caused me to persevere in my education, even at an older age. He took me aside and asked me: Jesse, if you had a stand of trees to cut down, only an ax to use, and a limited time to complete the task, would you feel the time spent sharpening your ax was a waste of time? I responded that I believed sharpening my ax would be very helpful as it would not only make the task much easier, but save time in the long run. He said, That’s right! Get your education and keep your ax sharp, it will make everything easier. God bless you, Dr. Arthur Rocket! I’m keeping it sharp! Do you agree with my analogy of education being a set of tools? Maxwell, J.C. & Elmore, T. (2014). The Maxwell Leadership Bible (NIV). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers. ISBN: 9780718011680. |
