Is it Time the United States Support Online Learning Institutions?

Denmark's minister for higher education Sofie Carsten Nielsen met with Korean officials in an effort to develop new online learning technology (1). She believes that Korean technology matched with Denmark's education excellence will lead to new platforms and media for online education. Such development at the state level is likely to spur innovation in the online educational field making it more relevant for knowledge hungry youth.

American officials should consider the merits of online education and seek to find ways to foster development in that sector to stay ahead of the curve and ensure their place as educational leaders. Failure to develop and innovate the field for relevance could mean loosing our competitive place in the educational fields as other nations put forward the time and effort to grow.

The U.S. has its own field of online education that has spawned from the for-profit industry. Even though such universities are still in the process of development and growth the traditional sector has come to accept online educational models as a method of lowering their cost and possibly improving their educational reach. What was once disdained in the United States as "Cracker Jack" education is now leading the pack.

This doesn't mean we are doing enough to develop and create stronger platforms. Those nations that are able to develop strong online educational systems are also able to influence world education and thought. In other words, as universities globalize through the use of technology they will naturally impact the collection, analysis, and distribution of new thoughts and ideas. They will become leading sources of international knowledge and logic.

This level of information management is only possible if online education becomes a major focus for U.S. educational development. Innovating the system requires the development of technology and supporting online research that is converted to practical ideas. Instead of finding ways to limit online education it is better to encourage the creation of greater technology, more research, and higher levels of functioning that will someday reach across the globe.

There are many universities out there in the for-profit and non-profit sectors that are trying to develop the industry and raise its educational quality. They are putting forward time, effort, and doctors that are researching astounding concepts such as classroom management, information transference, student retention, online research methods, university operations, intercultural groups, and many other important topics.

Even though online education is relatively new and has been on the scene since somewhere around the 1980s it is now the leading growth factor in the field. Institutions that were shunned just as little as a few years ago may find themselves in the near future the point man for global education. Supporting these institutions through intellectual, social and governmental pathways helps in ensure the U.S. doesn't slip behind other nations less opposed to new educational models.

Designing Your Team for Effectiveness

Teams are a popular method of organizational problem solving. The very design of the team is often ignored in an effort to hastily put together a team of people who can achieve goals in the least amount of time and effort. However, the formation of the team, personalities contained within, and the background of members will have an unyielding influence on whether or not that team will succeed in its endeavors.

Let us consider a problem a department is having in terms of making themselves more efficient and customer focused. The standard approach is to gather together the leadership team of the department and demand that they come up with new solutions. They will certain put their minds together and come up with a laundry list of solutions of which they have already said before.

The problem is that we are not necessarily sure that this will lead to the "right" solution. The right solution is that which is comprehensive and streamlines processes while raising customer satisfaction. Including all of the same people that allowed the department to become less efficient and customer friendly in the first place really isn't that wise.

This doesn't mean all is lost. By swapping out a few of the old guard for some new blood will be helpful. However, if your going to move that far you might as well be a little more strategic. Consider some of the following tips:

Include Different Stakeholders:

Finding new and unique solutions requires including people on the team that have new and unique perspectives. This isn't possible if you continue to include the same members over and over. Try keeping managers who don't dominate the group but do have knowledge of the operations of the department while adding a few managers from other departments.

No department works in isolation and processes & procedures run together and mesh in many ways. When solving problems be sure to include a representative from the departments that will be impacted by the change. They will provide insight into how well, or poor, things worked before and whether or not they can be improved. Good solutions will have a wider group of supporters.

Include Different Personalities:

Personality has an impact not only on the group dynamics but also the way in which people perceive information. Having serious personalities mixed with more artistic personalities may create some friction in the group but ultimately does lead to higher levels of development. Experienced personalities may help steer creative ideas into something more practical while creative personalities will ultimately push innovation.

Each group comes with its own dynamics. Switching around personalities helps to ensure that the dynamics don't become solidified unless it is beneficial. For example, an extremely dominant person may attempt to force their will o  each group but this doesn't necessarily mean that the group dynamics are beneficial for solution creation.

Include Knowledge Based on Goals:

In our example of improving customer service and improving efficiency it is necessary to include those people who have the actual knowledge to contribute meaningfully to the discussion. Operational questions will need someone that can understand operations while customer service will need someone who understands customer service.  Without this knowledge it is likely that results will be off.

Depending on the type of business you are running it is beneficial to include a marketing person in the group. Ideas must have market utility and raise the value of the company. Marketing people have the ability to understand the utility of ideas and whether or not they will achieve certain external expectations. A goal of improving customer service should have the knowledge support from marketing, customer service, or other qualified representatives.

Provide Skills for the Team:

Any serious ideas should be vetted through finance, legal, and others to determine if they are feasible. Even though all of these skills need not be on the team the support to analyze this information should be available to the team. Having someone who can understand and manage the process of analysis is important.

This means someone on the team that will have a basic level of statistical understanding, data metrics, finance, and human relations abilities to understand the feasibility of proposed ideas. Before coming to a final recommendation numbers will need to be run and a SWOT conducted. Without the ability to analyze options the team will not know which are likely to be approved.

Persuasion and Manipulation Among Managers

Persuasion and manipulation are two workplace activities that follow many of the same paths yet have different means of achieving their ends. Some managers will engage in persuasion while others will lean towards manipulation. Those who are engaged in persuasion are more likely to gain the respect of their employees while those who are more manipulative often receive immediate gratification but loose out on long-term effectiveness. Companies should recognize and remove manipulators to ensure a positive work environment.

Persuasion is an attempt to show certain facts in a positive light without hiding or leaving out crucial information. It is generally a positive experience. Ultimately the listener can make a free choice on the issue as all the important information is presented to them. The influencer seeks to create a prevailing logic that both parties can agree with that leads from agreement to performance. Manipulation attempts to leave out particular facts and distort their meaning in an effort to change the perception of events.

When trust and persuasion are high the managers words are highly palatable to the listener. The managers experience and knowledge of the situation can help the employee make a better decisions as to their next course of action. When trust is low, and manipulation is high, the immediate gain takes precedence over long-term solutions. Employees could become resistant to the managers wishes and find ways of thwarting their influence.

The risk manipulators face is that someday they may become discovered. A simple discovery of manipulated facts leads to resentment, destruction of trust, and an active attempt to undermine the manager. Employees often respond to manipulators by avoidance and attempting to hold the perpetrator accountable (Bryand & Sias, 2011). The violation of a persons integrity leads to further conflict.

Workplace do not function well off of manipulative tactics as organizational culture will come to reflect that inherent lack of trust and respect. Organizations that do not seek to gain employee trust through open and honest dialogue will ultimately find themselves lacking in performance, embroiled in workplace conflict, involved in legal suits, and suffering from chronic staff turnover. 

Discerning between those who are persuasive and those who are manipulators can be difficult. According to Robin Dreeke, the head of behavioral analysis at the FBI, trust becomes a central issue in developing positive relationships and manipulators have a hard time creating long-term trust (Nahai, 2013). Manipulators are focused on their own needs and often leave others with buyers remorse through unfulfilled promises and self-seeking behavior. 

Manipulators have an inherent disrespect for the integrity of other people and don't see much point in telling the truth. Manipulators exhibit higher levels of Machiavellianism and lower levels of agreeableness that correspond to personality disorders (Wischniewski & Dipl-Psycho, 2013). They will use whatever means work and seek to punish those who do not agree with their methods leading to a retaliatory environment.

All employment sectors are open to the power of manipulators. Whether you are in business, non-profit work, law enforcement, political positions or any other type of employment manipulators can and do exist. Organizations would do well to screen those who manipulate for self-seeking gain in order to reduce potential risks and raise the trust factor among employees and stakeholders.

The higher the position and the more authority the position has the greater the destructive power of manipulation. People unwittingly give unconditional support to certain societal members based upon positional or institutional status. Those less likely to be manipulated are the ones who can question the decision-making processes regardless of the position of the manipulator. Questioning creates critical thinking beyond simple assumptions.

Manipulators are not only dangerous in their personal relationships but also the organizations where they work. In the business world we have idealized people in movies and popular media who will stop at nothing to achieve their goals without regard to the impact on others. Calm,cool, and collect is immortalized. The ends do not justify the means as manipulators eventually ruin previously positive work environments and do incalculable damage to the organizations where they are employed. Creating cultures where manipulation is thwarted and persuasion is appreciated not only shows a level of respect for employees and co-workers but also leads to stronger corporate cultures.

Bryand, E. & Sias, P. (2011). Sensemaking and relational consequences of peer co-worker deception. Communication Monographs, 78 (1).

Nahai, N. (Sept 21, 2013). Trust, Persuasion, and Manipulation. Psychology Today. Retrieve from http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/webs-influence/201309/trust-persuasion-and-manipulation 

Wischniewski, J. & Dipl-Psych, B. (2013). Personality disorder respond to norm violations? Impact of personality factors on economic decision-making. Journal of Personality Disorders, 27 (4).

Can Social Media Marketing Raise Firm Value?

Do social networks have value? Relationship management tools have found to raise the value of 10 luxury hotels through the use of social network marketing (Jung, et. al., 2013). The study focused relationship marketing through social media networks but does help define the advantages that relationship marketing can offer for businesses. Marketing will also have the benefit of influencing behaviors and thoughts in an online world.

Consider how most people view a product or service through the lens of social evaluation. If their friends like a particular product they will likely be open to making a purchase themselves. If the product is extremely popular the value of such products rise and market demand increases. Social marketing is one method of encouraging greater interest in products and services.

In many ways, much of economic behavior is based in social perception of products and services. Most items we purchase on any particular day are not necessities but have social value that raise their economic value. For example, there is value in the trendiness of a particular car beyond simply driving to and from the grocery store.

Social marketing helps create that value. The purpose of social network marketing is to 1.) maintain contact with customers; and, 2.) influence the social perception of products and services. It is typically conducted through the use of social media sites, company websites, forums, and just about any other place where people gather.

Customers who are frequent users of certain products and services naturally want to stay in touch with those companies that help them create their identity. For example, an outdoor enthusiast who is engaged in multiple online outdoor forums may want to stay in touch with a company that produces new outdoor products. Such a person would be interested in the latest and greatest editions.

New products have natural interest among key social circles of heavy users. Providing information that offers a positive perception of products and services can raise their overall status in the minds of consumers. Press releases and focused discussions can help create that perception if the company leads the conversation.

Social marketing is a relatively inexpensive process at its most basic level. For small business it only requires someone to join and engage online communities where such topics are being discussed. Corporations may need to develop their own social circles and provide solutions to existing circles that may be interested in their products and services. Future development and refinement of relationship management tools has the potential to increase sales and raise firm value.

Jung, T., et. al. (2013). Online social networking: relationship marketing in UK hotels. Journal of Marketing Management, 29 (¾).

Multitasking in an Academic Environment

Multitasking entails the ability to complete two types of tasks at once in an effort to complete both by certain time frames. Conventional multitasking at the same time is different than multitasking larger projects where each has its own schedule and time. Professors that engage in multiple large projects at once, teaching students, and completing administrative duties often become skilled at multitasking offering an important lesson for industry managers.

The brain only has so much ability to process information at the same time. Eventually the quality of the work completed slows down and mistakes are made. However, this only applies to tasks that are being conducted at the same time and not necessarily projects that have smaller tasks that can be completed individually.

The same overload occurs among professors who are attempting to complete academic projects but are distracted by phones, music, interruptions etc.. A study of over a thousand professors found that when they attempted to do too many tasks with too much environmental stimuli the quality of work declined (Baran, 2013).

Larger projects are a little different as they project might be completed over the period of months or even a year. Life cannot go on hold when these large projects are in process and professors will need to find ways of handling other daily work responsibilities. Whether they are teaching and researching or writing a book and developing a course they will need to find a way to manage both simultaneously.

Large projects are typically broken down into smaller steps. Each day you may have some piece to complete to reach the larger goal. Understanding the steps in the larger process will make multitasking easier as each step can be completed in a single sitting of an an hour or more. Narrowing focus on this task will improve the quality and time taken for accomplishment.

Let us take the task of writing a journal article. Such work occurs over many days, if not months, and contains hundreds of small tasks that include research, analysis, writing, proof reading, and submission. Spending a few hours everyday reading the literature and taking notes is especially helpful in working toward the final product.

Each day will bring a new task that leads to the fulfillment of a larger goal. While engaged in these minitasks it is important to reduce other distractions that are present. This may include turning off your radio, closing your office door, or turning off your cell phone. While completing this minitask there should be no other concerns for this brief period.

Multitasking can include completing multiple larger projects at one time but focusing on specific tasks in isolation to ensure that your quality is strong and projects move forward at a brisk pace. By breaking down large projects into individual tasks and reducing distractions on these individual tasks the quality of workmanship can rise. Learning to multitask will save you time and frustration throughout your career.


Bahran, B. (2013). The effect of multitasking to faculty members' academic works. Educational Sciences: Theory and Practice, 13 (4).

Effective Negotiation-Turning a "No" into a "Yes"

Effective negotiations skills have a significant place in business as contracts, labor agreements, positions, raises, and even work conditions are often negotiated. As people move up the ranks in position and skill they will likely become involved in negotiations as their positions are no longer bound by clear definitions that define entry level positions. Whether you are negotiating on the behalf of a company or with a company consider a few tips that can turn a "no" into a "yes".

All negotiations come with an end game that includes a place where both parties agree to a particular contract or understanding. Getting to that place where both parties accept a specific outcome is the more difficult task. There will be banter, game playing, and information sharing that brings both parties from A to Z.

At its heart, negotiation is about sharing perspective. When both parties are open to understanding each other and coming to a conclusion the process may take less time and effort than when two parties have mental barriers. The closer the perspectives and basic fundamental understandings of both parties the more likely a fast resolution will result.

When work is needed parties share information and seek to use leverage. Sharing information and leverage are really the only two levels of negotiation. Leverage isn't necessarily coercive but it can be depending on the circumstances and perspective of the parties. For example, a union can threaten to walk out of negotiation if the company is not willing to budge on a particular point.

A complex web of leverage upon leverage can develop where one party offers something of value or is willing to take it away an item of value depending on the action and reaction of the other party. After subsequent rounds of offering different solutions the parties will naturally begin to share some levels of perspective where each party knows what the other wants and finding the fastest way to get there is the best bet.

Both sides come with some level of enthusiasm but with incorrect assumptions of what they can get out of the negotiation. After sharing information and using leverage both parties come to a better understanding of the likely outcomes. The less adversarial the parties the more likely they are able to come to this understanding without the bruised egos.

Turning a "no" into "yes" requires using information and leverage to its maximum potential. Providing that information which strengthens ones position is necessary. Yet one should neglect their opponent least they entrench them into a position where they are not likely to budge thereby costing more money and effort than is necessary.

Understand your position and your opponents positions to define the limits. Seek to find a way in which both parties can get what they want creating a win-win situation. If this is not possible then it is necessary to discussing other options that may be acceptable to both parties. It may not be the best scenario but it could result in something that is acceptable.

Make sure you are prepared with the facts and figures needed to judge and weigh each option as it will save considerable time. Know what your opponent wants and their end point where the figures can no longer add up for them. Ensure you know your own companies positions and what lines it cannot cross. Create benchmarks for entry, acceptable, and best case scenarios.

Converting "no" to "yes" is a process of creating an understanding in your opponent and your own team. It is often necessary to give information, facts, and figures in a way that leads one to a conclusion. Don't underestimate your opponent as they also have a strategy and methodology to get your agreement. Make sure that you maintain control of the negotiation process by being proactive and influencing the nature of the conversation when possible. This is more likely if you are armed with information.

The Nature of Genius in Today's Society

High Cognitive Ability (HCA) is something we idealize in society but don't often understand its nature. Those with HCA are known to have developed new and unique contributions to society that range from business to art. For example, Steve Jobs grew Apple into a successful business and Picasso produced master works in Art. Each of them had a unique skill that was channeled into some constructive activity. It is important to understand genius in society so they can be tasked for the greatest benefit.

I read a book entitled Genius Gift or Curse? by Dr. James MacLean that delves into the biological and key modifiers of genius behavior. He studies multiple geniuses throughout history and uses his own practice to understand how HCA influences life and behavior. The work further provides an understanding of the mixed blessing and curse high intelligence bring with it and the benefit of channeling this intelligence into some useful activity.

Genius can either be a positive force or a negative force. When genius is channeled into a useful activity it often creates new and profound additions to intellectual or artistic knowledge. However, when genius is not channeled it can become a destructive force. The genius and their ability to channel appropriately is based in their childhood experiences and the influences of others.

Geniuses also have higher levels of internal angst that cause tension to create and develop new things. This so called frustration encourages to fully lose themselves into some activity.  They have it is an internal desire to work on a new painting, write a new book, study the laws of motion, or any other topic/activity they find interesting.

The neuro-biological template of the genius is very different from other people. Their brains work at a faster pace and create a higher level of neural activity that leads to inspiration. Less loss of current occurs being the neurons because of a higher fatty brain material.

People with HCA often experience emotions on a higher state than others. Those biological skills that allow them to compose music, act, dance, and feel the hum of pleases sounds also offers higher emotional awareness. How this is experienced depends on the person and their ability to deal with these intense emotions.

Moral and ethical values are heightened in this population as they think deeper about the very nature of life and society. That philosophical side that were present in the moral sentiments of Plato and Homer are applied to daily questions of right and wrong. Genius become easily frustrated by lack of fairness or honesty in the system.

Genius are products of their biological nature and the environment in which they were raised. Each will naturally have an impact what types of activities the genius engages in. When properly channeled and groomed geniuses do a great many things but when their creative power is not channeled they often turn in on themselves and become destructive. Grooming those with HCA can pay dividends in the long run as society is advanced through their activities.