Resolve conflicts - a painful yet important leadership task

A recent letter that I decide to include in my blog

Dear all,

I am sorry that AAA is disappointed in me because there are difficulties with some members of the team. I believe we don’t have a problem in the team per se, we just have to communicate in the way that encourage everyone to share the same vision. When I ran a company, anyone who is not on board in time will be left on the side of the road, but this is a university. If we simply shed any faculty who has different opinion, not only we will soon have no one left in the team, even worse, student learning will suffer in an intangible yet significant way.

ITCD operates collectively. Over the year, we build a strong culture and practice, base on mutual trust, that are both effective and inclusive. I will work very hard to preserve it.

For the TTT project, I would encourage

- Set a clear ground rule of communication. Keep it open and constructive.

- The process and meetings should be open to anyone interested.

- Any faculty that does not share the vision does not have to be in the “team” but should not be excluded from meetings or training opportunities.

- TTT will focus on course redesign in order to make CCC more efficient for the university and more effective for students. However, teaching load, assignments, entitlement and academic freedom will not be affected as a result of the project.

I will consult both of you, M and K on my role in the project, since I am not the PI, I am enthusiastic in providing support and input, however, I don’t think I can make personnel decision.

With your talents and efforts, I have no doubt the project will deliver considerable outcomes, but if the project can further strengthen the collaborative culture and effective practice on campus, it will be a resounding success we all expect.

Eric

Music that speaks to me

Once in a while, such as this sunny breezy afternoon, music speaks to me. I listened to Ashokan Farewell by Unger and May it be by Enya. They brought both longing and encouragement to my heart.

It is telling that both of them are used as theme songs for heroic sad epics: one for the PBS series on American Civil war and the other for the movie Lord of the Ring. They filled my eyes with tears and my heart with drive to pursue the long and improbable journal of looking for my real self and in the mean time, conquer the world.

I sit at the piano and played both of them, even the tone is still not familiar to my fingers yet the music touched me again. Beautiful in an emotional way, quite different from Bach's cello solo that is beautiful in a exquisite, structured way.

Music speaks to me, I feel lucky to understand the many languages in it.

Spring Break - a glorious day at Carmel home

A week-long Spring Break. First two days I decided to go to work to finish two major projects: overhaul of the ITCD website, we decided to use a sophisticated content management system: Joomla. It is part of the Open System Lab’s mission to promote open system software. Moodle and Joomla are two major systems that are on our list. The other project is the fundraising for the new ITCD building. The state promised 36 millions dollars with 2.5 already received by CSUMB. We plan to raise anther 10 million or so to make the building a great place for learning, teaching, research, development and services. Several dedicated faculty members showed up on campus also. I am very impressed by the group of young professors that joined the team in the last couple of years. They are intelligent, dedicated. Each one has a distinct charisma. CSUMB and I are lucky to have them. When they came in to my office and chat, they were surprised that as a tenured, full professor, I am working so hard. Especially no faculty gets paid in spring break. I joked about that often times when someone is abused for so long, he just got used to it and felt uncomfortable not receive the ill treatment.

Today is the first day I enjoyed the spring break. I got my car to the garage for maintenance, came home and played a full hour of cello. I am preparing for a recital June 1 in which I will play Dvorak’s Humoresque, a piece that attracted to cello in the first place. I will also play a cello quartet with Wendy Geiger, the cello teacher, and one other student. It is both exciting and frustrating: this will be my first solo recital but the piece is rather difficult. After the practice session, I walked to Carmel downtown to have lunch, Katy’s place is always pleasant. I had the blackened chicken sandwich with country fries. It is pretty good, the price, $14.95, however, is a bit steep for a no-frill lunch in a casual restaurant. I enjoyed the walk and the meal a lot, even the seasonal allergy bothers me more than last years.

I stayed in my study in the afternoon without anyone bothering me. It is a peaceful and beautiful Camel afternoon. I always believe the California coast is probably the best place in the world. And Carmel is probably one of the best coastal towns. Toward the end of the afternoon, as I prepare to go to my cello class, I start to worry again about all the tasks that yet to be finished, the stock market, the election, the global warming, the clashes of civilizations… Need to work hard.

I am glad I got at least one day for my Spring Break, 2008

95-year-old's Advises

95-year-old advises, according to Marshall Goldsmith, is the best advise any one can get. Imaging that a 95-year-old YOU, come back to give the younger some hard, warm, make-me-proud type of advise. What would it be?

Have more discipline! You have the talent, the opportunity, you even have the motivation. But when actions need to be taken, do it and do not procrastinate!

Aim high! Take calculated, meaningfully risks!

Keep yourself healthy! Watch the eating habits!

Critical thinking skills and capstone (Why all these presentation, discussion and feedbacks?)

One major goal of any higher-ed programs, especially graduate programs, is to cultivate student's critical thinking skills. The MBA program in Harvard business school, for example, dedicate the entire second year for this purpose, in the format of case studies. The case methods have become the mainstay of many business graduate program even till today. It is inefficient, bewildering and difficult. However, it is still perhaps the best pedagogy in teaching critical thinking and decision making.

In capstone classes, many times the faculty ask students to present their capstone idea and progress. We ask students to ask questions and provide feedbacks to one another both in class and online. What we are trying to achieve using students' capstones as case and conduct case studies. It is sometimes inefficient, bewildering and difficult. However, it is still, as least to me, the best way to enhance the critical thinking skills.

Learning Effectiveness

Participating the WASC Retreat on learning assessment in Irvine. Often the worry about things like this is that people spend enormous amount of time for fad that disappear in a couple of years. I believe the outcome/assessment/improvement process is here to stay. The fact that this process, if explained well, it is obvious and self evident. The OAI process is similar to many well-accepted and proven rule in business management. The teacher (or manager) should make the instructional process and goals clearly documented and communicated.

The challenge is how to A. convince all faculty to do it. B. do it effectively and efficiently. The major concern I have is that lack of quantitative research of the result. Or even more importantly, lack of culture in hard evidence.

I had a peculiar feeling coming back to Irvine, which I lived and enjoyed for many years. The weather is still perfect, the sky green. However, because of the stark difference between Carmel and Orange, I see all these well-manicured lawns, spotless high-rises, I feel out of place.

Late night in my study

Just finished the monumental landscaping of the back yard of the Carmel house. Part of the effort is to install slate flooring in my study room and give its walls a new coast of paint. It is almost done also. Now I can walk to the study from the terrace stairs instead of exiting the front door and walking around the house via the long and dark pathway.

It is rather indulgent to have such a space, four French windows open to the backyard, high-end stereo system, real stone floor imported from afar, large desk with great computer screens. I do enjoy the time spent here by myself. Many times I stay till the wee hours of the night without knowing it. Listening to cello music by yo-yo Ma and Dvorak, reading news and articles, a glass of red wine to my right, it is such a treat. However, many times I also question the productivity of myself while in this room. And often I felt somewhat guilty; there are millions of families in the world that don’t even have the size of space for the entire family. Many of them work harder, longer hours and perhaps more talented than I am. That said, I am glad that I am lucky enough to enjoy this peace, quiet corner of the world. I just hope my contribution back to the world worth the generosity I have received.

Content to be mediocre

Been practicing cello for 4 months now. For a 44-year-old, I am impressed by how fast I learn and also surprised by how much I enjoy playing. I play for about 20 minutes in the morning in the top floor bedroom with the big bright window open my eye to the spectacular Carmel scenes and Santa Lucia Mountains. I go through all the assignments by Wendy Geiger, the instructor in Carmel Valley, playing each piece twice and then focus on the measures that I do not do well a couple of more times. In the evening, I play about 30 minutes in the back of the smaller bedroom upstairs, I usually can play a couple of tunes that I like but not assigned.

I viewed those cello playing clips on YouTube by Yo-yo Ma and was mesmerized by the music and his charismatic performance. When I started practicing tonight, I felt so inferior. However, I am not frustrated. In fact, I am still contented in a peculiar way, like a tiny weed sitting next a big tree, small yet enjoy the same splendid sun.

I got this cheap cello with brand name Cicilieo, for it price, it is well build but the set up is not done correctly so I have to adjust the bridge and finger board by myself. It is nerve racking but I have no choice, it does not want to play B flat on the A string!!!

Chaotic time in a chaotic taipei city

Spending time with folks in Taipei. It is a city on the move but going no where. I do enjoy the chaotic yet somehow rhythmic pace of the city. It is, after all, the place I was born, raised and shaped.

Within the next couple of years, a confusing milestone will be reached for me. I will have spend more of my life in the U.S., a place I like and work for many years, than in Taiwan, a place I felt passionate about.

Upon reflection, I can see how the surroundings affect my schedule. Since there is no structure of my time any more, there is no specific place for me to work anymore, I am just floating with the events that are not under my control and have no intension to make my work easier. In a way, living in my parents house as a guest, I have to accommodate their schedule. Not a problem when I am really vacationing but challenging when I am working.

The weather does not help, it is hot and humid, not as bad as a few years ago but still annoying enough to distract me from being as productive as I have wished.

Moving forward by stepping back

The end of the semester is close. Today marks the last day of Senate meeting, I organized a certificate for Dan Fernandez. I enjoyed showing appreciation to other people that have genuine contribution. I decided not participate senate activities much from now on, it is interesting and worthwhile, but the efforts I put in and the achievement I get from it is disproportional to my time spent.

I will be in few committee next year, not in the CEHI, Foundation board, not in postgraduate and research committee, not in resource and budget. I should dedicate my time to advance research, career and entrepreneurship. I have noticed that most of my time are dealing with urgent but trivial issues. At the end of a day, when I ask myself when have I accomplished, the answer is usually pitiful.

Dance like no one is watching. Sing like no one is listening. Love like you've never been hurt and live like it's heaven on Earth. ~ Mark Twain

Options and Burdens

Glad that I can accompany Fang to go to his boy scout activity and hike in Point Lobo State Reserve. Even we have been there a few times, it is still a enjoy enable experience for us. Especially the side trip we took to the whaler’s cove. A place rich with history, including a short chapter of early Chinese settlement. Jung Choy. Don’t know hundreds of years from now, will there be any records of we staying in Monterey and Carmel.

It is leisure and enjoyable Sunday. From most perspective, a fulfilling day. However, I woke up from my afternoon nap and felt anxious that a full day gone by without much achievements.

I reflect on my work and felt most of it are meaningless. I guess it is part of the middle age. Suddenly I start to negotiate with life on the nickel and dime level because I start to feel so little is left. I enjoy my work, my family and my daily life. It is peaceful and enjoyable, but there are parts of my heart that are not fully content. Need a break through.