Ricardo Semler’s TED Talk, How to Run a Company with (almost) no Rules, is based on his book, the Seven Day Weekend. He discusses how to share power with employees and use similar principles to reform schools. There is a question-and-answer session with a moderator following the presentation.
Type of Material:
Presentation
Recommended Uses:
The learning material could be used in class as part of a lecture comparing different leadership and organizational styles. It could be assigned as homework with an instructor-provided assignment. It could be used as background information for a discussion prompt in which students could discuss the pros and cons of using the business and educational practices presented in the learning material.
Technical Requirements:
YouTube; Internet Browser such as Safari or Fire Fox
Identify Major Learning Goals:
After viewing this learning material, learners will be able to:
·List ways companies can empower workers.
·Identify ways to promote a democratic work environment.
·Describe the Brazilian Luminar School Model.
Target Student Population:
Professionals, College Upper Division and Graduate Students enrolled in Business Management, International Business, Human Resources, Organizational Behavior and Development, and Education Leadership and Administration programs.
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:
Knowledge of Radical Democracy, Brazilian School Models such as the one presented in the Pedagogy of the Oppressed by Paulo Freire, Brazilian work culture, and common business organization models.
Content Quality
Rating:
Strengths:
The learning material is relevant to contemporary discussion of how remote and virtual workplaces are impacting business management practices and organizational structures.
The material is flexible and can be used across different leadership and administration programs as part of an in-class lecture, homework, or discussion.
The speaker presents a different approach on how people should be managed and provides examples.
Near the end of the presentation the speaker proposes that we should ask ourselves three ‘whys” about what we are doing; he suggests that by the time we get to the third “why”, we will figure out that what we are doing may not make sense.
Concerns:
The idea behind his presentation is somewhat nebulous, and it could be difficult for some to grasp because it is primarily conceptual.
Clarification at the summation would be beneficial to define what it means to run a company with almost no rules (specifics).
Although no research is cited within the lecture supporting its recommendations, the presentation is based on the book The Seven-Day Weekend, which is a case study of the management changes at Semler’s business, Semco. There were no tangible outcomes such as decreased employee attrition, increased profit margins or higher testing scores discussed after the changes were implemented in the business or school examples.
Instructors would also need to provide assignments and additional context about Brazilian culture and work norms in order to integrate the learning material into a course.
Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool
Rating:
Strengths:
It is an interesting concept that that can provide an interesting discussion and feedback. Some of the ideas he presents could be very useful.
The learning material identifies its major takeaways in the description.
It also demonstrates the relationships between concepts. For example, one of the purposes of schools is to prepare students to live in work in society therefore a discussion of how changes within the workplace influences changes in school practices was included.
Concerns:
The learning material does not identify prerequisite knowledge.
It also cannot be used to measure student learning outcomes.
This presentation was to a group of professionals with work experience, so it’s not clear how effective this could be with undergraduates even though the topic presents new approaches.
He runs a Brazilian company, and national cultures must be taken into consideration to determine what might be effective in certain cultures and may not be effective in others
Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty
Rating:
Strengths:
Viewing the video is very easy, and there are numerous examples of where efforts have been made (in his presentation) on how to change how systems work.
He discusses changing education, in addition to changes in business.
He encourages people to look at what they are doing and focus on gaining wisdom instead of just working.
The learning material was easy to access on YouTube, had a transcript, and closed captioning available.
Real life stories were used to demonstrate the concepts which made the presentation engaging.
Concerns:
The speaker changes topics within this presentation, he moves from business, to education, to other examples that may be difficult for some to follow.
The Ted Talk was not interactive with the viewer.
Creative Commons:
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