Gen-Y Mindset: What a 'Waste'

Teaching the Gen-Y allows me to observe their behavior and understand how they think. I personally find that it is important to study their attitude towards assignments or work. This could explain why many companies have been questioning about the quality of work from Gen-Y.

I gave an assignment to my students this semester where they have to form a group of 5 and identify a company of their choice for examining the marketing strategies. After a week, they came back to me with a company they have chosen.

Everything looks fine but not until I asked them how many companies they have selected as alternatives before they make their decision to choose one of it. The answer given by almost all the groups.... one. Basically, they don't have any alternatives but decided on a company that they know and thought it is the only company that is the best for the assignment.

So, what is the reason and why don't they look for more alternatives before making a choice? I want to know why. The answer I got from them are:

"We thought this company we "know" is the best.
No time.
We want to focus on one company"

From their feedback, I learned that they do not like choices when it comes to a task or assignments. They find that it is a waste of their time and effort if the companies that they investigated were not chosen. Meaning to say that if given a choice, the students do not see it as an advantage but more work is needed to identify the alternatives. They are lack inquiry skills and do not see the benefits of the exploratory approach in the learning process.

In life, we need to make a lot of decisions to solve our everyday problems; and we always have many choices/alternatives to solve a problem. While we explore alternatives, we learn and improve our skills in making a decision. Nothing is a waste if we keep exploring the alternatives/choices; even if it is not the best choice for solving the current problem it can be used for the future.

Learning is a process. If one only focuses on the goals and ignores the process of achieving the goals, then it is really "WASTED"!

5 Things You Shouldn't Do in Office!

Sometime, you may done something in office that may cause others to feel uncomfortable. You yourself may not realise it (for some morale reasons), but please...have some social responsibility and think about other colleagues feeling!

#1: Having hot food at your workstation

Hot Food!!!!

Hot food can be hot and tasty but it is only for you. Please be reminded that there are many other people around you whom might be very busy at work and yet to have time to eat. Don't you think it is annoying when you are eating happily in the office where other colleagues tries to concentrate at work?

#2: Slurping when you are enjoying your delicious meal (especially in the office)
Again, if your food is so tasty, you don't have to show it and make everyone hear how you are enjoying your meal. Don't give yourself excuses that you are imitating the Japanese, trying to show respect to the chef that you enjoy the noodles by slurping...(when you are not a Japanese, and not having ramen).

#3: Do not burp out loud as if you are so satisfy with what you had for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
It is disgusting when suddenly you hear your colleague burping in the office. Won't you?!

#4: Talk on the phone with other language/dialects (not official language in your workplace) - and speaking out loud like you are at home (maybe)
Please note that you are not a director or manager who has your own room in the office. So, if you are working in an open office and there are other colleagues around you, please talk with a low voice or walk out from the office to talk to your family, supplier, friends, or whoever you wish (that are not related to your work). Have some RESPECT to others please!!!

5#: Don't laugh and chat so loud in the office (like how you talk on the phone) - in other language/dialects that are not the official language at work.
Annoying!!!!