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V. Demonstrate the ability to build and develop continuous learning opportunities in the key areas of business administration.
My artifacts demonstrating mastery of this outcome:
Artifact #1: 2003 – 2013 Textron Training Transcript
Artifact #2: C.P.M. Certification Letter
Artifact #3: C.P.M. Recertification Letter
Artifact #4: CPIM Recertification Certificate
Artifact #5: CPIM Recertification Letter
Artifact #6: Textron Six Sigma Green Belt Certification
Artifact #7: MSU Strategic Supply Chain Certificate
Artifact #8: Textron Tactical Procurement Completion Certificate
My Reflection on meeting this outcome:
As a daughter of an elementary school teacher with 25+ year’s experience, it goes without saying the need for continuing education was embedded into my upbringing from a very early age. I was taught education is of the utmost importance for personal and professional growth.
In my younger years, I witnessed my mother return to college to get her undergraduate, and eventually her masters, degree after years of staying home to raise five children. Pair this with an ophthalmologist for a father and it is not difficult to imagine a family that stressed the importance of education.
The artifacts I have selected for this outcome demonstrate my sustained commitment to higher learning. Artifact #1 is my Textron training
transcript for the past 10 years. This is only representative of my quest for knowledge since I graduated with my bachelor’s degree. As can
be seen with this transcript, in the past 10 years, I have completed a little over 950 hours. This averages out to 95 hours annually, more than twice the company goal of 40 hours per year. The next two artifacts, Artifact #2 and Artifact #3, are letters of confirmation of my Certified Purchasing Manager (C.P.M.) certification. Artifact #2 is for my initial certification and Artifact #3 is confirmation of my recertification in 2007. While this expired in 2011, I did recertify again with my current certification extending through 2016. It is my intention at that time to apply for my lifetime certification, as I will have enough professional and educational experience to fulfill those requirements.
Once I received my C.P.M. certification, I began another leg of my education journey with the pursuit of my Certified in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM) certification. I gained this certification in 2008. Artifact #4 is the official document representing my recertification just this year. Artifact #5 is the letter that accompanied that document. This CPIM extends through February 2018. My plan would be to recertify again for another 5 years. The requirements for this recertification, much like the C.P.M., include documented continuing
education hours which I will have fulfilled by that time.
As indicated earlier, while working on my CPIM certification, I was also working on obtaining my Textron Six Sigma Green Belt certification.
Working these two simultaneously was challenging, but rewarding at the same time. Artifact #6 is a copy of my Green Belt Certification that I received in 2008. The tools learned during this training have become a part of my day-to-day activities as I look for ways to improve the processes necessary to complete my work. Additionally, it is extremely helpful in discussions with suppliers on how to reduce costs via lean manufacturing.
Finally, Artifact #7 and Artifact #8 were selected to demonstrate Textron’s dedication to employee improvement and growth through various training offerings. Artifact #7 is my certificate of achievement of the Michigan State University’s Eli Broad Graduate School of Management training in Textron Strategic Supply Chain Management Program. This week-long training was the motivation behind my decision to pursue my MBA. Artifact #8 is certification of completion for another Textron sponsored training session. This was a week-long training class as well where the instruction was centered on tactical procurement. It serves as another example of the belief by Textron of the importance of employee development
My Future Learning Goals related to this outcome:
For some reason, this last part of my outcome seems reminiscent of the standard employment interview question“Where do you expect to be five years from now?” I believe for most individuals, this is a difficult question to answer, unless you have prepared for it. If I were to change this
question just a little to incorporate it with the future learning goals, the question might read something like “What continuing education steps do you intend to take in the next five years? And where do you plan on them taking you?”
While learning is an important part of my life, I am not going to lie. With the past two years of my life encompassed with nothing but my MBA journey, I do not plan to do anything right away toward future steps to new objectives. I plan on taking a break and reconnecting with my family and friends for a while before committing to any further educational growth. And there is no doubt in my mind that once I do, it will not be something that requires as much time away from those closest to me as was required during this MBA excursion. So, for those that thought a doctorial degree is anywhere in my immediate future, they will be disappointed.
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t intend to stop all continued learning altogether. There is no doubt I will be presented with training opportunities through Textron that I will be able to take advantage. My name has already been added to a list of participants in a program management training course, which is where I intend to direct my next educational adventure. This ties in nicely with my future professional goal of becoming a certified program manager. As indicated in my professional introduction, I believe this is a good fit for me as I feel I have many of the traits of successful program managers.
Successful program managers are often confident and extroverted, interacting comfortably with people and groups every day.
Program managers must be assertive enough to set clear goals but remain approachable enough for workers to alert
them to problems that may occur (DiVincenzo, 2006, p. 20).
I believe much of my cross-functional interaction experience has provided many of the proven characteristics outlined above.
Where do I see myself 5 years from now? After connecting again with loved ones, I plan on moving forward with steps toward another journey – obtaining my certification in program management. How aggressively I pursue this is difficult to judge at this time in my life. But there is no doubt it will be the next steps taken. My crystal ball does not see any time in my future where I am not learning. Abigail Adams mirrors my belief in
continued learning the best when she said “Learning is not attained by chance, it must be sought for with ardor and attend to with diligence.”
References
DiVincenzo, T. (2006). Program managers stay in charge and out front. Occupational Outlook Quarterly, 50(2), 19-25.
My artifacts demonstrating mastery of this outcome:
Artifact #1: 2003 – 2013 Textron Training Transcript
Artifact #2: C.P.M. Certification Letter
Artifact #3: C.P.M. Recertification Letter
Artifact #4: CPIM Recertification Certificate
Artifact #5: CPIM Recertification Letter
Artifact #6: Textron Six Sigma Green Belt Certification
Artifact #7: MSU Strategic Supply Chain Certificate
Artifact #8: Textron Tactical Procurement Completion Certificate
My Reflection on meeting this outcome:
As a daughter of an elementary school teacher with 25+ year’s experience, it goes without saying the need for continuing education was embedded into my upbringing from a very early age. I was taught education is of the utmost importance for personal and professional growth.
In my younger years, I witnessed my mother return to college to get her undergraduate, and eventually her masters, degree after years of staying home to raise five children. Pair this with an ophthalmologist for a father and it is not difficult to imagine a family that stressed the importance of education.
The artifacts I have selected for this outcome demonstrate my sustained commitment to higher learning. Artifact #1 is my Textron training
transcript for the past 10 years. This is only representative of my quest for knowledge since I graduated with my bachelor’s degree. As can
be seen with this transcript, in the past 10 years, I have completed a little over 950 hours. This averages out to 95 hours annually, more than twice the company goal of 40 hours per year. The next two artifacts, Artifact #2 and Artifact #3, are letters of confirmation of my Certified Purchasing Manager (C.P.M.) certification. Artifact #2 is for my initial certification and Artifact #3 is confirmation of my recertification in 2007. While this expired in 2011, I did recertify again with my current certification extending through 2016. It is my intention at that time to apply for my lifetime certification, as I will have enough professional and educational experience to fulfill those requirements.
Once I received my C.P.M. certification, I began another leg of my education journey with the pursuit of my Certified in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM) certification. I gained this certification in 2008. Artifact #4 is the official document representing my recertification just this year. Artifact #5 is the letter that accompanied that document. This CPIM extends through February 2018. My plan would be to recertify again for another 5 years. The requirements for this recertification, much like the C.P.M., include documented continuing
education hours which I will have fulfilled by that time.
As indicated earlier, while working on my CPIM certification, I was also working on obtaining my Textron Six Sigma Green Belt certification.
Working these two simultaneously was challenging, but rewarding at the same time. Artifact #6 is a copy of my Green Belt Certification that I received in 2008. The tools learned during this training have become a part of my day-to-day activities as I look for ways to improve the processes necessary to complete my work. Additionally, it is extremely helpful in discussions with suppliers on how to reduce costs via lean manufacturing.
Finally, Artifact #7 and Artifact #8 were selected to demonstrate Textron’s dedication to employee improvement and growth through various training offerings. Artifact #7 is my certificate of achievement of the Michigan State University’s Eli Broad Graduate School of Management training in Textron Strategic Supply Chain Management Program. This week-long training was the motivation behind my decision to pursue my MBA. Artifact #8 is certification of completion for another Textron sponsored training session. This was a week-long training class as well where the instruction was centered on tactical procurement. It serves as another example of the belief by Textron of the importance of employee development
My Future Learning Goals related to this outcome:
For some reason, this last part of my outcome seems reminiscent of the standard employment interview question“Where do you expect to be five years from now?” I believe for most individuals, this is a difficult question to answer, unless you have prepared for it. If I were to change this
question just a little to incorporate it with the future learning goals, the question might read something like “What continuing education steps do you intend to take in the next five years? And where do you plan on them taking you?”
While learning is an important part of my life, I am not going to lie. With the past two years of my life encompassed with nothing but my MBA journey, I do not plan to do anything right away toward future steps to new objectives. I plan on taking a break and reconnecting with my family and friends for a while before committing to any further educational growth. And there is no doubt in my mind that once I do, it will not be something that requires as much time away from those closest to me as was required during this MBA excursion. So, for those that thought a doctorial degree is anywhere in my immediate future, they will be disappointed.
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t intend to stop all continued learning altogether. There is no doubt I will be presented with training opportunities through Textron that I will be able to take advantage. My name has already been added to a list of participants in a program management training course, which is where I intend to direct my next educational adventure. This ties in nicely with my future professional goal of becoming a certified program manager. As indicated in my professional introduction, I believe this is a good fit for me as I feel I have many of the traits of successful program managers.
Successful program managers are often confident and extroverted, interacting comfortably with people and groups every day.
Program managers must be assertive enough to set clear goals but remain approachable enough for workers to alert
them to problems that may occur (DiVincenzo, 2006, p. 20).
I believe much of my cross-functional interaction experience has provided many of the proven characteristics outlined above.
Where do I see myself 5 years from now? After connecting again with loved ones, I plan on moving forward with steps toward another journey – obtaining my certification in program management. How aggressively I pursue this is difficult to judge at this time in my life. But there is no doubt it will be the next steps taken. My crystal ball does not see any time in my future where I am not learning. Abigail Adams mirrors my belief in
continued learning the best when she said “Learning is not attained by chance, it must be sought for with ardor and attend to with diligence.”
References
DiVincenzo, T. (2006). Program managers stay in charge and out front. Occupational Outlook Quarterly, 50(2), 19-25.