Entrepreneurship

In starting my career out of college I feel that I most fit with being a businessperson. As much as I like the ideas of an entrepreneur, I want to be able to demonstrate my skill sets first in safe environment. I also think at the moment not having family and being young I am able to put a lot of time into a job and gain recognition for my hard work. In my field of Environmental Science the whole field itself is a new idea compared to many fields, so any company that I get involved it is going to be something different then most companies. In this way I see myself as a businessman in an entrepreneur world. My employer is going to be the entrepreneur taking the majority of the risks and it will be me that makes sure it works. Working in this environment almost gives me the reality of both worlds and in the long run will help me decide it which way I would like to take my career. Either stay a businessman or spread my wings and take what I have learned and become an entrepreneur. I hope it is the entrepreneur direction that I choose. I mention in my Personal Development Plan that I want to start my own GIS Company this is the real point in my life when I need to decide between remaining a businessman or become an entrepreneur, this all depends on what advancements are made prior to this point. There may already be businesses like mine that I would have to compete with which would mean I would stay a businessman, but if I able to make my company different in its own way it will allow me to be an entrepreneur.

Lean Process

While implementing the 5S process to my bedroom one thing that was noticed that a lot of the clothes on my floor where clean. But because of the foot traffic in my room they became dirty and had to be washed again. Sometimes these clothes may have been washed three times before I wore them again which is very wasteful. There are often times too when I will wear something once and then wash it were the shirt or pants might not even need to be washed.

To stop this waste a lean system can be used. First identifying the waste, which is washing clothes that don't need to be washed. Now developing a plan, by keeping clothes in their correct spot dirty and clean clothes can distinguished from each other. While changing clothes check to see if pants or shirts really do need to be washed. If they do take to the laundry room and if they don't place in their correct spot. Over time this will become a simple task and become even more efficient. As I become more efficient with the process more time will be saved that will allow for further improvements in keeping my room waste free.

Criteria

Criteria to evaluate group members

1. Attendance- participation--- thoughtful ideas, and discussion
2. Ambition/Initiative-- getting done what you say your going to do done.
3. Cooperation/Communication - Good communication, answered emails, came to meetings, works well will other teamates.
4. Research Quality - Overall quality of assigned sections (amount of material, legitimacy)
5. Deadlines met - Was the students information posted in google docs in a timely manner
6. Ideas/Contribution - Were his/her ideas useful to the project, did the person contribute to the overall design of the project
7. Reliability

5S Process

After a few years in college I lost my room back home. Now that I live back at home my room now is the guest room/baby room/ironing room. As I slowly took over the room I never really organized or used the whole room very well, especially the dresser or closet.  I thought this would be a perfect reason to finally make order of my room using the 5S process.

1. Sorting (Seiri)
      To start it of I sorted through all my clothes scattered throughout the room and tossed dirty clothes in the laundry and clean clothes I decides whether to put in dresser or hang in the closet. My nicer shirts and sweatshirts I put in the closet and the rest in the dresser.

2.Straightening or setting in order (Seiton)
       While I was putting clean clothes away in the dresser I placed like things in the same drawer like play shirts in one and good shirt in another.

3. Sweeping or Shinning or Cleanliness (Seiso)
        I did something then my mom never knew I could do, I vacuumed and made my bed. Vacuuming really made the room seem a lot cleaner since there was serial from my niece all around the crib.\

4. Standardizing (Seiketsu)
         This step is going to be the hard part, I am going to have to make every day the same or deal with laundry and cleanliness the same way. When laundry is being put away put it in the correct drawer or in the closet not on the bed or the floor. I know what I have to do to maintain my room.

5. Sustaining the discipline or self-discipline (Shitsuke)
         Much like above I am going to have to be discipline so that I don't slip and let my room turn back into what it was. Also if I find a way to make my room better I use the previous 4 steps to apply it.

6. Safety
         My putting the iron and ironing board away I made my room much safer for my nieces and nephews. The iron sat on the board with the cord hanging down where one of them could have grabbed it and pulled the iron down on top of them.

7. Security
         Not noticeable in the picture but when I change my clothes I empty my pockets and pile coins and small bills on the table by my TV. When I cleaned there was about ten dollars laying there, I picked that up and a got safer more secure place to save my change.

8. Satisfaction
          After completing the 5S process I was very satisfied with my room and most importantly my mom was satisfied.

                                                                           BEFORE

AFTER 

          

Quality Management

In the environmental field especially in my interest, restoration, "adaptive management plan" is used. The adaptive management plan is a continuous cycle that will involves planing, monitoring, analyzing, adapting, and sharing.
The process begins with assessing the problem and creating objectives and goals. Next is planning and designing, what strategies are going to be taken to solve problem. Then implement these these strategies to the problem. Now it is monitoring, observing that your strategies are being used. Next it is time evaluate and analyze, did the strategies used achieve the objectives and goals. Finally adapting the plan to achieve any of the objectives and goals that weren't met.

Bass Pro Shop in Green Bay

Some of you have probably heard about the Bass Pro Shop that was nearly put up in Green Bay. The land that was to be developed was financed by local business men and the project was ready to take off. It was looking great for the city, jobs were going to be made and many of the laid off construction workers were finally going to get to work. There was a problem however. The land that was to be developed was wetland. As soon as Bass Pro Shop found out about the wetland issue the immediately decided against building in Green Bay (1). Governor Walker pushed the development and to fill the wetland to get Bass Pro Shops in Green Bay. Mitigation area was planned to deal with the wetland issuer (2).

So this development was going to increase employment and restore wetlands in other areas. That sounds very good to must people, but that wetland was the home to many species including the leopard frog and the wetland is located near the main highway. The wetland is filter to the run off from the highway, cleaning and preventing any flooding.

Is it ethical to fill the wetland to create jobs or is it unethical to fill the wetland and destroy it natural habitat? I feel that Bass Pro Shops did the right thing by backing out of the development. Wetlands are the earths natural water purifier. Wetlands are  the product of 100 of years of natural development.

1. Johnson, Wes. "Bass Pro Shops rejects wetlands site near Lambeau Field". Springfield, MO Newsletter. greenbaypressgazette.com. http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20110128/GPG0101/101280534/Bass-Pro-Shops-rejects-wetlands-site-near-Lambeau-Field

2. "Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker wants Bass Pro Shops to build on wetlands" Associated Press. greenbaypressgazette.

http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20110128/GPG0101/110128077/Wisconsin-Gov-Scott-Walker-wants-Bass-Pro-Shops-build-wetlands

Wood Project

Our group is working on the wood project. Are issue is using a phenol based wood treatment.  We have been in contact with the inventor of this phenol based treatment, Joe Starks. We want to decide if this new treatment is actually better than what there is on the market today. Is the price going to be to expensive so people will not use it, what the shelf life of the product might be, and if the treatment is safe.

We have split up the work within the group and everyone knows their role. I am going to get in contact with Menards to ask a few questions on their products trying to finds some prices, shelf-life, and how much they sell.