The final paper is a leadership self-assessment. The central objective of this paper is for you to examine your understanding of leadership, conduct a leadership self-assessment and to reflect upon yo
The internship went sincerely smooth for me at Harbin Five Stars Construction Material Company from the first day of work which is June 4, 2018. I feel comfortable to work as an assistant manager for the Sales department at FSCMC for past three weeks. The main focus for the first three weeks is that get familiar with company itself, company’s business sales module, and colleagues. Also, the 29th Harbin International Economic and Trade Fair was held from June 15, 2018, to June 19, 2018, at Harbin (China-Russia Expo). The details will be explained in the following report.
Brief Introduction of FSCMC
After three weeks’ internship, here is the brief introduction for FSCMC as one of my learning objective for first three weeks. I put this ahead because it is easier for you to understand from the introduction of this company. FSCMC develops, produces, and sales the construction material like mortar, waterproof liquid, and coating material from the year of 2001. It is amazed me at the very first beginning, how come a company still looks really tiny since its already found for 17 years. Afterward, I realized that FSCMC is a sub-company for Beijing Long-Yang Technology Co., LTD. FSCMC have 19 employees for now, and the headquarter have approximately 100 employees. Furthermore, FSCMC Harbin is the one and only one sub-company which share patents with the headquarter since FSCMC is the precursor of the Beijing Long-Yang Technology. After the CEO of the headquarter passed away in 2015, FSCMC start to produce the construction material form their own factory instead of purchasing merchandise from the headquarter somehow. It is not hard for me to understand that under Chinese Commercial law if company A holds ahead of its headquarter, the company A will automatic share patents and accomplishment with its headquarter whatever headquarter achieve later on. There is a lot of opening position for FSCMC right now for the transition from a small but large profit company to a middle scale with classic standards organization. FSCMC also have multiple technical qualifications include being written as a national standard of the People’s Republic of China, and People’s Republic of China yearbook 2014.
(B) Personal Leaning Objective
(a) Personal Leaning Objective for past three weeks
From my perspective, it is the best time for me to familiar with the company frame, and sales department’s colleagues as long as build my own self-reputation within and between the different departments for first three weeks. Since the FSCMC’s main target clients are long-term franchisers or the government (Chinese Construction department) within the industry instead of any regular citizens in China; so, there are only 5 of us including sales manager and myself. For most of the time, we are waiting for clients to call us for orders instead of marketing. I was trying to be as positive as I can from the first day. But, since most of my colleagues are much older than myself and they have more experience on sales, it is extremely hard for them to follow my instruction instead of “here is the instruction from our boss (sales manager, or CEO)”. My three colleagues carried completely different personality, and I try to treat them differently, as well. For example, Tiangang is the type of person who will follow my instruction orally, but the process was never followed my instruction, and the result is positive somehow. Once, I asked him to get in contact with one of our long-term franchiser located in Dalian to observe if they have any demand recently. He promised that he will do by the phone call this afternoon (in this way I can immediately know the approximately supply for Dalian recently, and prepare for that with my sales manager), however, he contacted with franchiser by WeChat at evening (after work time) without any notification to me. I talked with him on the second day along with giving some toys his son really like, “I believe you can have your own way to get a thing done for those many years, however, as a management level, I do have right to know how you achieve our goal other than follow exact my instruction”. After that talk, the situation like above did decrease, however, it is still happening if I am not the one to follow him and ask him "have you done, and how".
The sales manager and CEO told me, the company is in the middle of the transition from a small but large profit company to a middle scale with classic standards organization. The colleagues might appear anxious feeling which reflects on their arrogant to brand new person like me. However, since they are so kind so that CEO has worked with most of them for more than 10 years, they suggest me the best way to let them follow you is to get closer to them. I start eating with them at the noontime (the management level have a special room for lunch), and I know how old of their children for three of them, where they live, how they commute to work each day (most of Chinese don’t have a car), and what’s is the plan after they retired. The more I know, I feel closer to them. In Chinese culture, there barely any way to get really close to someone except time, because most Chinese are really shy to present their feelings to others directly.
(b) Personal Learning Objective for next three weeks
Like I mentioned above, the first objective for me is to get as close as possible to my 3 colleagues for next three weeks. The success achievement will be Tiangang could able to follow my words efficiently, or at least he can communicate with me about his way voluntary. I will continue to communicate with him primarily and get to know him and his family better in order to achieve my personal goal for him. Secondly, familiar the company operation rules, rewards and punishment system, reimbursement process for lunch for example, and company mission statement and goal is another learning objective for me as an assistant manager of the Sales department. Finally, since the FSCMC don’t have marketing department because of the special market identified, so that sales department also carry the marketing responsibility. I am thinking there might be a chance for FSCMC distribute their product to the regular citizens around China to increase their sales and profit. People can use the coating material and waterproof liquid for their kitchen and restroom at home. The question is there is no correct volume for their use. The unitive volume for the products is 22 Ibs, which is giant for home use. I talked with CEO and my boss for this idea during the weekly meeting, and they answered me they have already had this idea in mind for few months. I will present some specific draft plan for this idea for next few weeks see if they could able accept my suggestion, and what will be the next steps for FSCMC.
(C) Analysis of a Significant Event
The 29th Harbin International Economic and Trade Fair was being held from June 15, 2018, to June 19, 2018, at Harbin (China-Russia Expo). Since this fair established in 1990, it has been held for 28 times, thus becoming an important platform of economic and trade cooperation connecting Northeast Asia. Therefore, there are more than 3000 different businesses join this fair including food industry, real estate industry, and building material industry etc. As an exhibitor, FSCMC was the honor to be invited to the Expo for that period. As an assistant manager, it is also my honor to attend this Expo as an exhibitor staff for active learning for my internship period. For these 5 days’ flow from this fair, first 3 days there was 28 business come to our booth and talk about how to become the franchiser for FSCMC. Apparently, they knew FSCMC well before they come to the fair, again, it back to the primary sales target for FSCMC will come to us due to the reputation, and quality of the products around the industry. As a result, from the fair, there are 5 of them will visit our factory, and communicate with us recently for them to make a final decision. Our department is so busy with preparing the material, PPT, and detailed schedule for these guests’ arrival recently from 19th which is the day fair closed. The old citizens were the main people who come to the fair for the last 2 days since it was work days, and they are here to buy anything they want which are left from first three days as the cheapest price like organic import can sugar and mahogany chairs. It has been so busy for these 5 days from the arrangement of the booth design, the way to talk with people who don’t know anything about waterproof liquid at all, and the rotation for greeting and communicate with potential franchisers who come to our booth. The primary learning from this event for me is the TIME issue in Chinese culture. The Chinese sense of time is not sensitive as western countries do due to the Chinese traditional culture – forgiveness. For people who are late will use a simple, ordinary small to you solve the late issue, and the host will forgive them easily. This really drives me crazy during the meeting, therefore I am trying to get used to this “special” situation since I leave China when I was 17 which is barely known of this kind of culture in real work occasion.
(D) Profession Work Responsibilities and Performance
(a) Goal and Tasks: Other than follow the standards operation processes, and rules for employees, here are more specific tasks for me for following weeks: continue to schedule the work rotations form (at least one person has to be in FSCMC during weekend); maintain the clients’ relationship all over China; be focus on the detailed schedule for the upcoming potential franchiser visits from the fairs; develop a specific marketing draft plan among the department for small volume packaging include market research, distribution channels, and forecast sales situation; be on time for work and get along with other colleagues.
(b) (b) Specific accomplishments: Well know of the FSCMC’s background, business module, mission statement, and goal; getting familiar the company operation rules, rewards and punishment system, reimbursement process, be on time for work every day; success help FSCMC hold the booth at annual Harbin International Economic and Trade Fair; follow and transfer CEO’s idea to the sales department and make sure they will follow the route. For my goal of the make sure all my departments’ employees to follow my exact word cannot be meet within last three weeks due to the specific situation as I mentioned above.
(c) Evaluate my progress performance: 4.5, I never late for work for last three weeks, and follow and make sure my department follow the words CEO said successfully. However, I believe I need to improve the way of make my colleagues follow my decisions and exact words. Also, I meet a lot of issues that I never think of before, especially how to communicate with Chinese since I am a Chinese. I really hope I am capable and familiar with dealing with Chinese in any occasion other than work and make some friends.
(d) Specific problem: None
(e) Rate my overall satisfaction from this internship: Very Good. I believe every single issue I meet for now will become a precious experience for me in the future.
(f) Questions, comments, and remarks: If the professor would able to hive some hints, or suggestions to let my older colleagues maintain my exact decisions and words, I will be really appreciated!
