Challenges

OBJECTIVE:
Design contextually appropriate plans to overcome leadership challenges and achieve ‘what ought to be.’

RESPONSE:

Throughout the program, we had many discussions in the discussion boards, like the one in LDRS 306 - Leadership and Team Dynamics, where we discussed designing teams and setting norms of behavior to build the team you need. In this discussion, I share a story of developing a solution to overcome management challenges and another story about paring down ITIL to make it more applicable to specific scenarios. See DB – postings for more detail.

In the course LRDS 300 - Introduction to Leadership Concepts, I shared more stories of real-world observations. In a “courageous follower” story, I talk about a time when I challenged our financial leadership about the method being used for cost estimation. Our company was selling packaged services with unit-based pricing, which obfuscates staffing detail. The financial manager was insistent upon us exposing the staffing headcount. The situation required escalation and we submitted pricing to the client without the staffing detail. See my Discussion_Questions for this story and more.

In one of my Integrative Journals for LDRS 450 - Advanced Leadership Behaviors, I tell the story of my effort to implement a Big Horn Leadership Training "scholarship program" for our Scout troop. I managed to fund the program through a collaborative effort with the Cub Scout Pack by helping with a charitable donation collection. When I returned to the troop with the money, it was redirected by the committee for other purposes. Had I understood how to properly use Robert's Rules of Order, I would have made a motion with the purpose to refer to a special committee, thus avoiding the high-jacking of the training funds.

From LDRS 650 - Principles of Organizational Leadership, I focus my Organizational Assessment Report on an organization with a long history of change and overcoming diversity. This organization executed one of the most significant turnarounds in the information technology industry. While the organization is progressive and innovative, it has room for improvement. Discussed are the organization’s purpose and a description of the assessment process.

We read Randy Pausch’s book “The Last Lecture” as part of our coursework in LDRS 670 - Leadership and Personal Development. Through his stories and personal philosophy, Randy Pausch shared that with the right mindset and a positive attitude, we will be happy with whatever life presents. Read my full reflection here: Last Lecture Reflection

1. DB - postings - 2019 Spring - LDRS 306 VC - Leadership and Team Dynamics.docx

2. Bicknell_Discussion_Questions__Case_Studies__Activities_Ch_09_13.doc

3. Bicknell - Integrative Journal 4 - LDRS450VA.docx

4. Bicknell OAR (modified).docx

5. The Last Lecture Reflection.docx