How our egg survived...

Our group unknowingly followed almost every step of the planning process. We started off by identifying that our problem was to have the egg fall from the height of ten feet and not crack. We reviewed the task given and figured out that we have two available paths to take. We can either somehow cushion the impact or we could somehow decrease the drop distance. After much discussion, our group decided on combining both ideas.
We realized that we had limited resources, eight straws and two feet of masking tape. Our plan required us to attach a ten foot rope like structure to the egg. But we had too little resources to achieve that. Our group realized that the straws could be cut in half vertically to turn eight straws into sixteen. Also, instead of taping the straws together, we knotted them instead to save tape. This way, our group was able to save on a lot of tape and use it as an additional segment of the rope. Whatever was left over was to be taped to the egg as cushion for the fall.
We divided the group up based on ability. Two members cut and knotted the straws, two members planned out the proposal, and one member drew the diagram. But the members that were working on the administrative aspects were able to finish ahead of time and were able to aid in the straw knotting process. Everything went smoothly and we actually ended up with extra resources that was taped to the egg as a cushion. I volunteered to bring the egg up for the test/presentation. Because our rope structure was about ten feet long, the egg didn't really dropped. In fact it started about an inch off the ground. I let go of the rope and all was well. Success.
Our group should have come up with a back-up plan just in case our rope project failed. We all agreed on the design, and without any tests or in depth planning, jumped right at it. But this was mostly due to the lack of time and limited amount of resources available to our group. If we decided to use one design, we would not have sufficient resources to implement another plan.
Overall, our group succeeded because of teamwork, discussion, and luck.

My biggest management problem

Within the volunteer organization I work at, there is a lot of tension between departments. These tensions develop because the job description of each department is not stated clearly. Many times we would have conflicts over the allocation of work. Many times, communication problems occur because volunteers only work on weekends, while the organization is open seven days a week. Many times, decisions are made and the volunteers are not notified in time, resulting in a pile of unexpected work thrown at them. Also, certain individuals feel that my department is favored over the others and therefore receives more funding.

My main concern is how to end these conflicts over job allocation and how to show my coworkers that the funding my department receives is well deserved.

About me

My name is Tai Yuen Lee and I am currently a Junior, majoring in accounting and double minoring in IDC NYC Studies and Chinese. I work as a Police Cadet for the NYPD and I hope to join the ranks of the NYPD after I graduate from Baruch College in June 2009.

In regards to experience with management, I volunteer as a coordinator in a non-profit organization and supervise over two hundred volunteers every weekend. I have been in this position for over three years. I hope what I learn in this class will aid in my current jobs and my future career in law enforcement.