Research & Working EQ

1. What is your working EQ?

My working EQ at the moment is — what qualities make for a successful operations manager?

2. What is a possible answer to your working EQ? Please write answer in thesis format. 

Any successful manager must have self-motivation and maintain honesty in their team. Yes, a leader can be well-spoken, have an authoritative presence, and lead their team in whichever direction they please. However, they are virtually nothing without motivation and honesty.

• Self-motivation is important for anything you plan to accomplish in life. You can’t wake up one day expecting something to happen without effort on your part. In the words of my mentor, an operations manager, “If you’re not self-motivated, the rest of the team will follow suit and lack the energy and enthusiasm to successfully complete the project or job.”
• Honesty. Scott Berkun’s article “The Art of Project Management: How to Make Things Happen” emphasized honesty among a number of other tasks a manager be on top of. If an employee is doing something wrong or they are mistaken, call them on it. How will they be able to learn from it otherwise, or better yet, how could the employee better improve work flow? Honesty is a huge factor in management, especially in a warehouse where you see a number of faces coming in each day; there must be that level of trust between the manager and employee that things will get done and done correctly.

3. What is the most important source you have used that has helped you come up with an answer to your working EQ? 

I would say that the most helpful piece of research I’ve encountered “The Art of Project Management: How to Make Things Happen” by Scott Berkun. Operations management and project management may differ in principle, but both require that the manager be on top of things. Berkun emphasizes honesty, as I mentioned earlier, and how it’s important for a manager to sort the priorities for the team in order of importance. It has helped me answer my EQ in part because I know how important honesty is in a team; for example, if the employee fails to follow protocol, it’s the manager’s job to pull them aside and tell them. As such, this article is one of the few pieces of research that really captured my attention.

4. Who is your mentor, or where are you volunteering, and how does what you are doing relate to your working EQ?

My mentor is Brice Cocjin and I am continuing to volunteer at Unical Aviation, Inc. My mentor is in charge of four departments, his “main” department being in charge of EISP (Expendable Inventory Surplus Program). I have yet to see him reprimand an employee — I go in on Saturdays, the only day I can make it — but I’ve heard say how difficult it is to not only tell someone “Hey, what the heck are you doing?” but also how a manager can never know if the employees are actually working. Executive decisions would be impossible to make without motivation on the manager’s part and fulfilling the part of operations manager would be impossible without honesty.

Independent Component 1 Approval

The manager and his employees.

1. Describe in detail what you plan to do for your 30 hours.

For the required 30 hours, I intend to continue shadowing my father at Unical Aviation and will do data entry in the EISP Department, Expendable Inventory Surplus Program. I also plan to take the Predictive Index test, which is a survey given to new hires or for performance reevaluation; the report would reveal my management and influence style in the workplace.

2. Discuss how or what you will do to meet the expectations of showing 30 hours of evidence.

To show evidence of my 30 hours, I’ll take pictures of various areas around the warehouse (provided nothing prohibits me to from this point onward) and take screenshots of the work I do on the computer. Also, I’ll keep my mentorship log up to date.

3. Explain how what you will be doing will help you explore your topic in more depth.

By continuing to shadow my mentor and see the diversity of each department in the warehouse, I’ll be able to see what a manager’s responsibilities include, see how a warehouse management system keeps the warehouse in circulation, and how to properly manage employees.

Intro to Warehouse Operations Management

One of the customary things an employee receives is a walkthrough of the entire warehouse, which is what I had to go through during summer mentorship (unfortunately for me, that additional post should have been made last month.) To start things off, I'd like to just show you what Unical Aviation is and what it looks like. Considering I've never been to an actual warehouse other than a Costco, Unical was definitely different than what one would expect at a distribution warehouse.

Unical Aviation Inc., offers a number of amenities to it’s employees, ranging from a wall of microwaves in the lunchroom or even a yoga studio on the front side of the . It’s important to consider that the environment plays a role in promoting morale of the workplace. Personally, my favorite part of these above amenities is the eating area. Aside from the owner being a Marvel fan, the figures also serve as symbolic motivators for the endurability of the company. 

Unical is a surplus aircraft distributor. What does that mean? A surplus aircraft distributor is a facility that buys or sells aircraft parts domestically and internationally; airlines represented range from American Airlines (US), Cathay Pacific Airlines (Asia), and Lufthansa Airlines (Europe). As such, Unical is also responsible for keeping expendable parts and major components of airplanes in it’s inventory. 

You would read the above shelving as:

2 - warehouse 2; warehouse 1 is Unical’s previous location

AB - refers to the aisles; aisles go as far back as ZE

10 - refers to the bay or section

D - level on the shelf, i.e. level A, B…

4 - 5 - basket number

F - refers to front of the warehouse; R refers to rear of the

     warehouse

The warehouse of Unical is arranged in rows upon rows of shelves, each containing baskets filled with bags of similar parts, which could be nuts, bolts, washers, and other expendable products. The rest of the warehouse includes bigger parts, “major components”, which range from engines, main frames, and landing gear.

This is a very general overview of Unical; the warehouse itself is made up of many different components and departments, which all circulate around the warehouse. One of the first things you have to learn in the warehouse is how to organize and read the labels. Sure, it sounds like an easy task, however, as you can imagine, that's a good number of things to understand. Knowing how to read a consignment code, let's say for example, JAL-MI137, is just as important as knowing how to read a basket label. This is another story for another day, so stay tuned!

Blog 6: Second Interview Questions

1.) Who is your mentor and where do they work?

My mentor is Brice Cocjin and he works at Unical Aviation, Inc., located in the City of Industry.

2.) What five questions (or more) will you ask them about their background?

• What types of skill are required to reach the position of operations management?
• What was your first management experience? At Costco Wholese? At Unical?
• Whom would you consider influence(s) in your managerial career? Rather, who has created an impact in how you conduct your work?
• How did you become employed at Unical?
• How had prior managing experience and Costco and leading teams prepare you for your current position at Unical? Were there any new skills you needed to pick up on the way?
• Were these qualities you had to learn over time or ones you’ve always had?
• How has Unical Aviation Inc., become the commercial business it is today? Did it have humble beginnings?
• What do you believe has made Unical a successful organization?
• Has warehouse management and the role of a leader created a lasting effect on yourself and your character?
• Have you ever had to overcome a weakness in leadership positions? How did you overcome these shortcomings?
• What strengths do you possess that have made you successful in your career? 

I plan on using all of these questions, unless I decide to replace or eliminate any. 

Blog 5: Project Reflection and Working EQ

The Pentagon:

1.) Positive Statement: What positive thing happen as a result of what you have completed so far?

One of the positive things that I learned during mentorship and conducting research is that management of any kind cannot be simply broken into just working a computer or holding a title. With anything, there are many components to what makes it whole. I found that in warehouse distribution management, there are quite a few things involved than just keeping cycle counts of inventory. I consider the leadership required for the job one of the most difficult but fundamental aspects of this job.

2.) EQ Content: Pick a piece of research or your interview.  How has it helped you improve your understanding of your topic?

The most influential piece of research I’ve gathered thus far has been the book The Five Dysfunctions of a Team. Despite having been in so many groups during my time at iPoly, I can’t admit that any them were as successful as they could have been; points were made on a consensus basis and things were done because they had to. This book is written in a fictional setting where there is a dysfunctional team led by one, single influential character. In this book, I learned that reaching a consensus isn’t necessarily a good thing and conflict amongst the group is healthy for a successful team.

3.) What has worked for you so far in the senior project?

As of late, I feel that what has worked out the most for me is going with my dad for mentorship on Saturdays. I’ve been to the building enough times, but walking through the warehouse offers breadth on how much happens in a single day. This way, I get a lot of perspective on what a operations manager deals with, i.e. when there is a missing part (which has happened twice already) or when a bin needs to be located.

4.) What hasn’t worked so far?

What hasn’t worked so far is how and what other research I can find. The first articles and books I picked up helped wonders, but there is only so much reliable information I can find online. Many of the articles on warehouse management has do with the technology involved and little else on the actual managerial part involved. A few books I’ve been reading are more self-help oriented and less about application into a warehouse.

5.) What is a potential question you would like to study this year? (Working EQ)

“What qualities make for a successful operations manager?” / “What factor determines successful warehouse operations management?

What do you plan to do for mentorship? If you haven’t found a mentor yet, then discuss where you are currently looking and who you are talking to to find it.

I plan to continue my mentorship at Unical Aviation with my dad and possibly  with a few other managers working in the same department.

Blog 4: Interview Preparation

1. Who do you plan to interview? Why?

For my first interview, I will be interviewing Brice Cocjin, my father and the Warehouse Operations Manager at Unical Aviation, Inc. My father's management career began at the Costco Wholesale in Azusa, where he was a manager for 12 years. Now at Unical, it's safe to say that he has a pretty good idea of what management is, what it requires, and the many types of personalities one comes to face in a leadership position. An Operations Manager not only has to deal with customers, procurement, and quality assurance, but also the heartbeat of the warehouse: receiving, inventory control, shipping, and general warehouse logistics.

2. You have to ask 5 questions. What additional questions (aside from the required) do you plan to ask?

• What do you believe is one important factor in being an effective manager?
• As a distribution warehouse, why is having a functioning team fundamental for productivity?
• What are difficult scenarios you had to deal with as a manager?
• How does technology (chiefly software such as the Quantum system or the IBM system) help to run the warehouse?
• What do you look for in employees when conducting reviews?
• How important is "attention to detail" for cataloging parts?
• Every manager has a method or way of organizing their "team"; what qualities do you have that sets you apart from the average joe?
• Every once in a while you get that one employee (group member) that shows lack of precision in their work; how do you properly deal with such an individual?

Blog 3: Topic Choice and Semester 1 ESLR Goals

1.  List your topic here: Warehouse Distribution Management
2.  What do you plan to do this year to show growth in each of the ESLRs?  Be specific and use an example.  Examples can come from senior project, model assembly, core, and/or participation in senior class ASB or other organizations on campus (clubs etc).

• iPoly Citizen
• The ideal "iPoly Citizen" is someone who demonstrates and takes responsibility upon themselves, involved with both the community and their peers, and adheres to interdependence. Personally, all of these have been implemented from the very beginning of my experience at iPoly, a well as outside of it. What I've learned from then and now will leave with me. The challenging aspects of the senior project are both daunting and a bit exciting, feelings that have been with me at this school. Even so, I know the end result will be the pay off from four years of torment learning. I will make an impact this year, as it is my final at iPoly, and take an active role in class activities / committees. This isn't merely because participating is an integral part of the grade ― it is also a display that the journey here should end well for not only myself, but everyone else as well. 
• Effective Learner
• Being an effective learner means to assess ourselves, information, problems, and toss in a little of our creative selves into the mix. I have always enjoyed the freedom (albeit 'structured' freedom) that this school has allowed me to express myself, whether it be through a simple Keynote or making a poster without Photoshop. Where there is a problem, there is an outlet for solution. Where there is knowledge, there is inspiration. What I learn and fail to learn is on me and this year, there is no room to fail. I will make it a goal to study efficiently at home and take time to check the details. It's important for me to ask for help when I need it and set the bar for myself ― do I really want to be that person who doesn't ask why or how? As a personal obligation, setting this 'bar' means being a good example for my peers and improving myself. 
• Effective User of Technology
• My 2008 MacBook has been a close companion as well as adversary (as far as school goes anyway). Outside of my computer, I like learning how things work and function. Implementing technology injects a certain life that pen and paper fail to do. When you create something yourself, there should be a sense of fulfillment when you sit back and see what you've done. One of the best feelings is when you're given a topic to work with and an idea just hits you ― you want to put it into play right away. I'm one of those people who looks at something and ideas start firing away. When I'm successfully able to show it to others on display, it's that sense of fulfillment. There is still much to learn in effectively using technology, as there is everyday. I want to diverge from solely using just Keynote presentations or simply printing a picture on paper. There is much more to that and even greater room for creativity.
• Effective Communicator
• Group projects alone has opened up a door I didn't see myself entering at another high school; yes, they exist elsewhere but not to the extent of which iPoly presses. Cooperating with others, reaching compromises (even if we don't want to), and dealing with undesirable group members are things of "the real world". Taking on the role of a leader (rather reluctantly in the past) has become something I'm no longer afraid of doing. In addition to being a leader, communication between individuals is a must. There must be a foundation before reaching an agreement, a common goal before getting to the end. I feel that the senior project will truly push me beyond what I'm used to. I will need to make phone calls, I will need to conduct interviews, and I will need to present confidently in front of a classroom full of strangers by the end of the year. So yes, I would say this is a definite area of growth for me and wouldn't disagree that it is a preliminary test before entering that "real world". This year, I would like to enhance my communication skills and effectively get my ideas across.

Summer Mentorship Component

1. Mentorship Log

2. I spent my summer mentorship at Unical Aviation Inc., where I shadowed my father, Brice Cocjin, who is the Operations Manager of Distribution. The number to reach him is (626) 224 - 4711. 

3. While I gathered all the information that I did, on warehouse management and the different areas it applied to, a few questions I had included:

• What is the most effective way to lead a successful team in the workplace?
• How can management techniques be applied in real life?
• Should every aspect of the gathered research be apart of the project?
• What information should I be looking for during research?
• With my choice of topic, what can I do for the independent component portion of the project?

4. The most important thing I got out of this experience was that it requires patience to learn a lot of information you might otherwise ignore (because realistically speaking, anyone could care less about what quality assurance and procurement is). Learning about the different types of operations at Unical (shipping, receiving, inventory control, and general warehousing), is actually pretty interesting because distribution management is just as important as marketing and sales. In a sense, it is the heartbeat of the company.

5. Doing my hours at Unical Aviation did not help me choose a topic per say, rather it solidified my initial idea on doing my project on some type of management. My topic had been related to management and I had initially been leaning on Pain Management, however plans hadn’t followed through. Luckily, there was a plan B. Now all it takes is making sense of it all.

2013 2-Hour Presentation Reflections

1.) The presentations my fellow classmates and I viewed are as followed:
Theater Acting - Dean
Tai-Kwon Do - Indra
Teaching Elementary Science - Joseph
Non-Profit Organization - Audrianna
Forensic Photography - Nicole
Water Treatment - Ryan
Structural Engineering - Andy
Art in Education - Catherine
Floral Shop Administration - Aldo
Preschool - Emani
Yoga - Jordan
The Art of DJing - Edwin
Physical Therapy - Olivia
Music Education - Amanda

2.) One question that I've had throughout all of the senior presentations (couldn't really think of the right way to say it then) is how to make the activities engaging and specific to the topic you're teaching?

3.) I feel that the most important part of the senior project is making sure your that all three of your answers related back to your EQ; it isn't only what your EQ is, but also how you answer it. I've seen one or two presentations that completely veered off from what their essential question was.

4.) I am interested in doing my senior project on pain management with emphasis on anesthesiology. I've always planned on working somewhere with medicine and anesthesiology has been one area that's particularly interesting. My mother's doctor is an anesthesiologist who runs his own private practice, where pain management is his specialty. It's possible for me to mentor the doctor as I've helped volunteer at the previous facility he worked at and where my mom was a nurse.