Blog entries about iClass - a Learning Management System

Picture of Oladipupo Adebanjo
by Oladipupo Adebanjo - Wednesday, 28 April 2021, 3:41 PM
Anyone in the world

The recent times and events in my country, Nigeria, especially with the level of insecurity and economic downturn, calls begging for that popular classic song "Which Way Nigeria" written and sang by a Nigerian Legend, Sonny Okosun in 1984.

The same thing, he sang about then, keeps playing out till date. There are multiple factors affecting the current state of the nation, and at a time where the country yearns for a response from its leadership, it does not appear forthcoming.

Inflation, corruption, unemployment, just too many to mention. I do hope and pray that my country will come out of this situation. I recommend we all listen to that classic song of Sonny Okosun, and reflect accordingly . Please permit me, to leave you with a few extract from the song.

"which way Nigeria is heading to; many years after independence
we still find it hard to start, how long shall we be patient still we reach the promise land, let us save Nigeria.

From me, it is love and light always.

Mr.Lads

#EMBA26

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[ Modified: Thursday, 29 April 2021, 3:37 AM ]
 
Picture of Moyosore Olusola
by Moyosore Olusola - Wednesday, 28 April 2021, 1:25 PM
Anyone in the world
When most people are asked about why they make a particular choice or prefer a particular thing, most reply "they don't know". Once the word bias is mentioned to them it becomes an argument with the supposedly accused trying to defend themselves. Bias is when an option is given disproportionate unjustified weight in a manner that is closed minded, unfair and at most times as a result of improper processing of information. Cognitive bias is making a decision based on the information we either have, think we have or lack in general. Some examples of cognitive bias are reading or paying attention to news that you had already made up your mind about or only focusing on the bad aspects of a train of thought or idea instead of being open to other possibilities. The thing about bias is it prevents our minds from assimilating other pieces of information because our brain tries to solve things quickly thereby missing out of rejecting some information. Therefore cognitive bias is not something that a person can claim not to have without working and noticing the signs. The result of such efforts will allow the individual to have a wider view of situations and to "think outside the box" to come up with solutions to a problem.
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Picture of Ikenna Nwafor
by Ikenna Nwafor - Wednesday, 28 April 2021, 12:50 PM
Anyone in the world

Listening to the news on any given day in Nigeria of 2021 leaves you feeling so many different emotions at the same time; consternation, anger and frustration are some of the emotions fighting for expression. How can a country so blessed with abundant natural and Human Resources be dancing naked in the global market square? 

On a daily basis, never before have I heard so many stories of carnage and loss of life in every part of the country. I guess this is what happens when a people lack a common vision and identity which are critical ingredients for nationhood. When leadership fails to paint the right vision and create the required cohesion to bring about positive and lasting development. Yes! Everything rises and falls on leadership without which things fall apart and the centre can not hold.

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Picture of jaiyeola awokoya
by jaiyeola awokoya - Wednesday, 28 April 2021, 12:42 PM
Anyone in the world

To say data analytics is stressing me out is saying the least. Right in the middle of exam preparations there comes an even more gruelling assignment due on exam day. Its not just a paper due, its a whole bunch of research and regression analysis for companies within Kenya and Nigeria and to crown it a report of the data generated. 

The above would have been fair if i didn't have to curate my own topic. Which makes it a bit ambiguous and at the same time limiting within the world of financial ratios. Actually available financial ratios. 

This reminds me of my days as a research analyst, coming up with the perfect title for either the daily reports, quarterly or annual reports. A title that summarizes the body of work. Only that this is the reverse, we are generating the body of work from the title... AGAIN limiting. 

Oh! lest i forget, we still have the ABP exam due. 

 

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Picture of Kehinde Dahunsi
by Kehinde Dahunsi - Wednesday, 28 April 2021, 12:33 PM
Anyone in the world

One of the topics discussed during Management Communication sessions of LBS EMBA class was Crisis communication.

Crisis communication is the dialog between the organization and its public(s) prior to, during, and after a negative occurrence.

Few things to note:

1. Time of crisis is a time of agitations

2. People look up to the leadership for solution

3. Right, Appropriate and Timely communication is critical

4. Crisis does not just blow away.

5. Silence does not resolve Crisis.

6. Crisis, if not properly handled, can generate into Chaos


-KD

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Picture of Orji Anyianuka
by Orji Anyianuka - Wednesday, 28 April 2021, 8:12 AM
Anyone in the world

I am not writing about writing as an expert but as a learner. And one of the things I am happy to learn about recently is the need to plan my communication.


Writing requires a lot of thinking - clarifying your objective for communicating, and asking questions about what you want your communication to achieve. So we need to take time to analyse the audience and situation and tailor our message to deliver the results we want to see. 


One of the first things to do in communication planning is to analyse the situation. In a communication, the sender needs to know the purpose of her message, and because she needs the recipients to carry out the purpose she needs to learn about the recipients. 


Three questions to guide a situation analysis are:


  • Why are you communicating - what you want to accomplish: Are you trying to inform your audience about something or are you trying to persuade them to change their opinion about something or to take an action? In informative communication, you are trying to describe or explain to fill an information gap, but in persuasive communication, you are trying to get your audience to think, feel or act in a certain way.


  • Who are you communicating with - Who is my audience? What do my audience members know about the topic? What is their attitude toward the topic? Do they have any biases related to the topic? What is their attitude toward me? What is my attitude toward the audience?


  • Your message - The message to be communicated to your audience: business communication relies a lot on reasoning. Reasoning is used to select the information that is of greatest value to the audience and to arrange them logically.

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[ Modified: Saturday, 12 June 2021, 3:22 PM ]
 
Picture of Franca Anyim
by Franca Anyim - Wednesday, 28 April 2021, 4:15 AM
Anyone in the world

The management of an organization decides what to do with the profit a company makes. There are two options to which it could be managed; Payout the profits to shareholders in the form of a dividend, or keep the profits within the organization's coffer in the form of retained earnings. 

Dividend Policy is therefore the policy an organization adopts in deciding the method, frequency, and amount it will pay out to shareholders in the form of dividends. The two major objectives of dividend policy are; maximization of shareholders' wealth and financing decisions.

  • 1. Maximization of Shareholders' Wealth - This should form an organization's critical concern when developing a dividend policy. A school of thought has it that the dividend policy has a significant impact on the value of the organization. An organization should therefore ensure payment of current dividends since it positively impacts its share price. This is in aid of share-price maximization. 
  • 2Financing Decisions - The dividend policy needs to be structured such that prospective profitable projects may be financed through sufficient retained earnings without which the organization has to depend on external funds.

Dividend Payment vs Retained Earnings: There is an inverse relationship between both. While the payment of dividends leads to an increase in its share price, an organization's reserved funds thrive when profit is withheld and not paid as dividends. Inversely, distributing profits as dividends reduces retained earnings, leading to a crunch in liquid resources for the financing of prospective projects. 

Determinants of Dividend Policy: This includes; industry type, age of the corporation, business cycle, the extent of share distribution, profit trend e.t.c. 

A dividend policy that requires regular payments of dividends sets management on a prudential use of cash.


        There is no shame in not knowing: the shame lies in not finding out.   {Russian Proverb}


[ Modified: Wednesday, 28 April 2021, 5:14 AM ]
 
Picture of Evi Ivovi
by Evi Ivovi - Wednesday, 28 April 2021, 12:36 AM
Anyone in the world

On my way to work the other day, a white Peugeot 504 salon car was driving beside me and memories of how I used to admire the car came flooding. I recall vividly that sunny Sunday back in the eighties when my mum allowed me to go out and play. I had barely opened the door to go out when my uncle drove into our compound playing loudly from the car’s speakers one of his favourite Bob Marley songs. It was a grey brand new Peugeot 504 salon car! the most beautiful car I had seen at the time and the very first of its kind to be seen in my neighbourhood

Fast forward to this day, with various brands of exquisite and sublime cars, one cannot but imagine what the future of automobile holds, and what our kids and grandkids will enjoy when all the things we struggle to acquire become old and outdated.


 
Picture of Norbert Biose
by Norbert Biose - Tuesday, 27 April 2021, 11:06 PM
Anyone in the world

A report is a document that presents information in an organized format for a specific audience and purpose. Although summaries of reports may be delivered orally, complete reports are almost always in the form of written documents.

Report writing consists of the history and facts of any kind of event. It is useful for recording a past history and an overall summary of decisions.

The following are Key guides to report writing:

  • Use of familiar words.
  • Opting for short, simple words.
  • Using concrete words.
  • Preferring active to passive verbs.
  • Arranging sentences for emphasis and clarity.
  • Keeping sentences short.
  • Ensuring modifying words and phrases are related to nouns and pronouns.
  • Using words economically

Reports make up a big part of “on the job communication” and it helps as a path to solving problems.


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Picture of Olubunmi Abejirin
by Olubunmi Abejirin - Tuesday, 27 April 2021, 10:51 PM
Anyone in the world

Our first semester exams started last week with the Management Communications and Corporate Financial Accounting, this week we have two courses Data Analytics and Analysis of Business problems. If there is one thing I have learned since I started the EMBA, it is that I should not be scared. Prior to now, I literarily shut down mentally when I see statistical numbers, demonstrating selective amnesia to avoid tackling them.

All that has changed as I am now more conscious of the biases that shade my decisions while taking time engage system two thinking at every opportunity. As per Data analytics the first time I spoke in class, I actually  declared "if I perish, I perish" however Dr. Bongo did not allow me wallow in that frame of reference by asking me to declare the exact opposite which in turn boosted my confidence and I went ahead to make my presentation. To this effect I look forward to the challenge of the two to go.

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