Hello,

This is a two part questions. First I will need the discussion question answer which will be below in bold, 250 words APA format. After that is completed I will extend the time and will need the discussion responses answered. For those response I will need three responses of at least 150 words each.

In the process of selecting previous coursework for revision (in support of this week’s Assignment), please expound on at least three lessons learned from the process. For example, describe transportation and logistics management or business concepts you now understand better or could apply better.

Student one:

This week’s forum brings us to what in my book, is one of the most important product of course works: lessons learned. Just as many events in our lives, whether is professional, personal, sentimental, or educational; lessons learned after the fact, is especially important. I have come across four remarkably interesting topics for which I have learned and applied lessons in real life; they are also business- related topics. (1) Mortgage Processes and Computation; (2) Building and keeping an Investment Portfolio; (3) Sparked Interest in teaching (online)

First, Mortgage Payment, refinance. Recently I was approached by a lender claiming that they specialize in Veteran Finance, VA-loans Refi. It picked my curiosity because they were offering a 2.50% with little or no closing costs. I called the 1-800 toll free line. A very friendly intake person asked me some basic questions about my current loan. Current: APR 3.25%, remaining loan amount: $306K, with 26 years left and monthly pmt (Principal and Interest)= $1436.. He ran the new numbers and stressed to me that I will be saving $150 with new monthly of: $1286. Both my wife and I got extremely excited about the prospect of monthly savings. She said this could be used to buy a nice camper or a used boat. I quickly remember some lessons learned from my FINC 610, Financial Institutions. I went back to my notes and realized that this deal was not good as it looked, in the long run. Yes, the APR and monthly were very attractive, and the fact that I was to recover the little bit of closing costs within 36 months, made sense. But what did not make sense was the duration of the new loan vs current. Because my current loan only has 26 years left and the new one would’ve reset back to 30 years.. the true numbers looks as follows:

Current: $1436 X 12 X 26=$448,032

Proposed: $1286 X 12 X 30=$462,960

I would’ve end up paying more over the life of the new mortgage, almost $15,000 more.

Second, Portfolio Management. Another course in which I have learned a great deal about investments, stock valuation, bond’s pricing, mutual funds, Exchange traded Funds, etc. FINC 615, Investment Management I always found the stock market intimidating. Always opted to participate in the safest way possible and only used the Thrift Savings Program (TSP). Lessons Learned here, is that I missed out in many years of full out investing in the stock market. After this course, I have set up a Robin Hood trading account and commenced investing a low amount of $200 monthly. So far so good.

My third lesson learned has made me a more conscientious and more aware of social responsibility and with it, an increased desired to help others. Through participating in these course works, and through social exposure, I have learned that our planet is a precious thing that needs safekeeping and guarding. Throughout weekly forums, and other student exchanges, I have acquired an increased awareness about how sensitive this planet of ours really is…Preserving our way of life and in particular taking care of Mother Earth, now has a higher priority than before I started my graduate studies.

Lastly and throughout most these courses, I have interacted with many professors who have inspired me to pursue a second career (or at least a supplementary career in teaching)..

Reference:

Rowe, S. F. (2008). Applying lessons learned. Paper presented at PMI® Global Congress 2008—EMEA, St. Julian’s, Malta. Newtown Square, PA: Project Management Institute. Retrieved on 27 May 2020, from https://www.pmi.org/learning/library/applying-lessons-learned-implement-project-8344

Student two:

Good afternoon class! This week’s forum asks us to reflect on lessons learned throughout our academic journey. Furthermore, it asks us to describe how we now, or better, understand them and have applied or will apply them. What a perfect topic to discuss as we are all now on the home stretch of our programs.

As I began to look back through papers, projects, and presentations I have completed in other classes to use in my portfolio, I realized just how much I have grown and become more of professional. I will be the first to admit that I have not read or looked at any past assignments until now. I chose to enroll in a both a bachelors and masters level program that I could leverage with what I already knew and had learned throughout my military career.

Looking back at my “artifacts”, I read papers that I had written as a legitimate reader, not as the author, for the first time. I have a terrible habit of checking spelling, grammar, format and references, uploading them and clicking submit and never looking at the paper or project again. It almost makes me feel like I wasted all that time researching and compiling solid evidence for nothing. What I did come to realize is that I have used quite a bit of what I have learned here at AMU in my everyday life.

I have written papers on implementing technology with my current company regarding the implementation of RFID to track and control inventory, for both the DC I ran, as well as the raw materials warehouses I currently manage. That not only opened my eyes to process improvements that are attainable, but also gave me a better understanding of the company as a whole.

Throughout my academic progression relating to Transportation and Logistics Management, I have researched automation at great length. This is perhaps the most exciting time I have had since being hired on at Husqvarna as we are starting to utilize the wonderful world of automation. Back in December of 2016, the plant started using magnetized track AGV’s (automatic guided vehicles) to deliver finished goods from final assembly to the main distribution center. Over the past year, we have purchased and started mapping routes for fully autonomous AGV’s to deliver parts to the assembly lines. What I didn’t understand, until we stated the project, was that it takes time and justification to acquire funds to purchase such expensive equipment and software. I also learned that the implementation of technology takes time and a great deal of patience. In the end, it will have been well worth it. You don’t have to worry about a robot calling in sick!

Student three:

This week we are asked to share three lessons learned from our prior coursework review. As basic as it is, I have learned to have a second set of eyes edit material for grammatical errors. I understand that at the graduate level, one should be proficient in the English language. However, I am also a believer in no one is perfect, and mistakes can still be made. I tend to find this most critical for lengthy papers, where editing can become taxing. Taking that into account, I like to have someone edit that does not have any knowledge in the subject. Having no prior experience takes out the potential for bias input and allows for a purely grammatical review.

As for business and finance concepts that I can apply better is my understanding of investments and the equity markets. During my review of previous course material, I found myself critiquing documents that discussed investing and the stock and bond market. Portfolio diversification, beta, trailing stop loss, and growth/value stocks are all basic investment terms learned in the program. However, each can be expanded on in great length. Each of these terms I apply to my investing strategy. Ultimately, the lesson I learned is my root investing strategy at its core still uses the basics learned from the program.

Another lesson that I learned, although embarrassing, is to keep current with excel tools and capabilities if you want to be effective at using them. Last week’s assignment involved a linear programing excel worksheet from BUSN 603. I have not done formal linear programming for a long time! I had to go back through the textbook to brush up on the process. It reminded me of what a valuable tool linear programming can be and how powerful Excel is! I am curious if anyone in the class has used or applied linear programming in their workplace?