Monday, August 8, 2016

Week 5 EOC: Penetrating Freedom

Episode 5

This is a follows up on why it might not have been a good idea to make Erlich a board member. He already had an ego but now he has an ego with leverage. This is shown by his unapproved venture to create a barely guided logo, costing five percent of the investment in company that doesn't have a working product. *TBD Quote*.

Richard for me has now broken the fourth wall, how someone with this level of opportunity can just be so apathetic. Though the arch of the episode shows him finally embracing a corporate culture, he just seems to be moping around. The most interesting result in all of this is the fact with a simple public board the two coders stay working at a level not seen prior in the series. *TBD Quote*

*Lao Tzo quote "best leader = not being known"*, Jared perfectly embodies this in this episode. His efforts to create a functioning work environment are contested at every turn, but showing great passion and drive he fights for it. Like a good leader he shows his ideas, takes the views of others and alters his methods until he finds something that works. The best part was the fact that the two coders are fully aware of what was happening at the base, but the simple pettiness of who is best trumped all making them both stay locked on their computers all thanks to Jared.

Limited wifi sorry for not having book quotes in right now will be up in the am.

Work Cited
Kelly, Marcella. BUSN, 9th Edition. Cengage Learning, 2017. VitalSource Bookshelf Online.

Friday, August 5, 2016

Week 4 EOC: Business and Personal

Episode 4

This episode is the start of it was understandable before but now it's just sad. How Richard can go to the meeting with the lawyer and yet still not know what he needs to do. I mean why nobody around him has sat him down and go ok this is what you need to know and what you need to answer. A lawyer is the last person to be sitting in front of and trying to figure things out, every moment of their time will be charged to you. Which on a quick note brings up an unnecessary comment about his secretary in the beginning, Richard should truly start to think who he is associated with.

This brings up the secondary issue of whether Erlich should be a board member or not. There are different implications as to why he should and shouldn't be on the board. Though in a purely business sense he shouldn't put him on the board to ensure he can't be voted out. However I believe he has made the right call to put him on the board, due to the fact that every once in a while you have to take a leap of faith. It is questionable whether or not he is the right man to have faith in, the fact is he himself will show more loyalty to a point due to this move.

The need for an elevator pitch is critical, coming from the film side I was taught to actually have the pitch before you write the script. Which is why still it is unbelievable that he hasn't locked this in yet, it has to have been longer than a week in this universe more than enough time to get the bullet points of a business education.

Work Cited
Kelly, Marcella. BUSN, 9th Edition. Cengage Learning, 2017. VitalSource Bookshelf Online.

Week 3 EOC: Get it in writing!!!

Episode 3

First thing right off the bat, once he thought of the name he should have confirmed it was available. The main reason besides the actual need to know if you can legally use the name, is the fact that he has done so much work living with the name it is almost impossible to give up your baby. It is so hard in fact he had to resort to having Erlich go off on a vision quest. Which on a side note is hands down the most "no no" moment of the episode, don't mix drugs with professional business.

The highlighted mistake that Richard made this episode besides not know whether he could use the name, was not getting it in writing. Which was highlighted by the sub-problem that showed throughout the episode, having standards for how your company members talk about your company to others. Today anybody with the right follower can blow up even the smallest little comment. This created the issue of getting it in writing, as the other party saw that he was "worth" billions, those making him want more.

The thing that I like so far about the show is the network that Richard is building without really understanding what he is doing. Though he lacks traditional business skills like negotiating, he has made up for it by simply being to "weak" in the eyes of the people around him. This has really been his saving grace so far, besides Peter Gregory everyone seems to give him a pass and help based on their perception of him.

Work Cited
Kelly, Marcella. BUSN, 9th Edition. Cengage Learning, 2017. VitalSource Bookshelf Online.

Week 2 EOC: Silicon Valley - The good, bad and big head

Episode 2

This episode highlights the major problem that Richard has and is going to be trying to concur. The problem being he has not been able to define really anything besides the code he has created. You can see that he has the desire to create something big, but has shown that he doesn't have an true appreciation for what goes into the business. The best part for me that highlights the over all problem with Richard, that was the bit about when it was due. 

Though he is being pushed away from the mindset, his greatest struggle is thinking there is a set way of handling these types of business. Though obviously there are but how you answer them has more flexibility and truly showcases the level of the company. The habit of following the system with in education has clearly given him the mindset of having someone setting the due dates and guideline for what needs to be done can not be the mindset of an entrepreneur.

This handicap has two route of dealing with it, and are both shown within in the episode. The first is breaking out on your own, though it might hurt Richard but he started taking the right baby steps with interview and figuring out why people should be part of the company. The other route is highlighted by Big Head when he decided to take the safe route and stick with a pre-established corporation. In this case he made the right call, he understood that he didn't have enough to be valuable to Pied Pipper. Either way though each has their own hurdles to tackle as they move forward and will be interesting to see where they go.     

Work Cited
Kelly, Marcella. BUSN, 9th Edition. Cengage Learning, 2017. VitalSource Bookshelf Online.