Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs): Results Driven

1. Results Driven: This core qualification involves the ability to achieve organizational goals and customer expectations. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to make decisions that produce high-quality results by applying technical knowledge, analyzing problems, and calculating risks. Competencies: Accountability, Customer Service, Decisiveness, Entrepreneurship, Problem Solving, Technical Credibility.

August 12th, 2012
For anyone that who might be interested, here was my answer(s).  I wrote this at the end of last May.

Accountability – While extenuating circumstances might often be apparent, one needs to set goals and strive for the attainment of such.  Should errors in judgment arise, all should recognize their mistakes and do their best to remedy any unwanted results.  Errors can often allow for learning opportunities but not if the parties are unaware of the mistakes.  Workplace efforts should be properly delegated and competently completed.  Mistakes should be acknowledged and remedied as part of furthering the knowledge base, if not merely to make things right.  Furthermore, accepted processes and rules require compliance and cavalier and unilateral actions can prove detrimental to proper workplace functions.  Failure to acknowledge mistakes and improper behavior allows for the proliferation of such unwanted behavior.  I am a believer of the ‘buck stops here’ mentality, though I am aware such an attitude may not always be the predominant attitude in the government workplace.  Nevertheless, mistakes inevitably happen. Blame should be irrelevant as should fear of accountability.

Customer Service – Meeting the needs of customers is absolutely necessary to display the value potential of an organization.  The continued inability of an entity to meet customer’s needs displays an entity that is no longer required.  Customer’s needs should be clearly determined through proper communication and negotiations.  Again, mistakes can happen, but output must be continually improved to meet the general norm of value required by the customer.  Every effort undertaken during my career has been customer oriented.  From my ____ Department experience to my entrepreneurial efforts, all my efforts are geared to help the customer better their situation.

Decisiveness – Impact and consequences of decisions must be reviewed to ensure goals are met.  Decisions should be made in accordance with the mission and vision of the organization.  Again, mistakes can occur but such also allows for learning opportunities to do better in the future.  Nevertheless, I do not fear making decisions.  I always strive to make well-informed decisions. 

Entrepreneurship – To maintain the ability to capitalize on new opportunities allows for the legacy and continuation of a worthwhile organization.  Without the ability to properly ascertain risks and benefits while acting in a profitable and timely manner reduces an organization to a relic of by-gone days.  I enjoy making workplace-related decisions particularly when such decisions are in pursuit of new opportunities.

Problem Solving – Efficient problem solving is a talent as well as a practiced art.  Technical competency to properly identify and analyze problems is crucial to the success of an organization in the modern era.  The ability to properly arrive at perceived solutions in light of the predominate variables and with regard to any given situation should be required of all managers in the modern workplace.  I pride myself upon developing processes to yield proper solutions and recommended courses of actions.  I view the problem-solving process as I would any collegiate engineering physical problem:  determine which are the crucial variables and which of these variables is unknown and needs to be determined or controlled. 

Technical Credibility – Technical credibility is a major link in the problem-solving chain.  Obviously, if one has no specialized experience or qualifications relevant to the subject matter, that individual should not be making uninformed decisions on the subject. I believe I have the required technical credibility on a wide range of subjects.  From engineering to economics to dealing with others, I prefer to deal from a position of knowledge and never from a position of ignorance.  

Adam Trotter

Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs): Leading People

1. Leading People: This core qualification involves the ability to lead people toward achieving the organization's vision, mission, and goals. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to provide an inclusive workplace that fosters the development of others, facilitates cooperation and teamwork, and supports constructive resolution of conflicts. Competencies: Conflict Management, Leveraging Diversity, Developing Others, Team Building.

August 12th, 2012
For anyone that who might be interested, here was my answer(s).  I wrote this at the end of last May.

Conflict Management – Conflict can often provide for opportunities to learn, to express differences of opinions, and can foster communication between personnel as well.  Moreover, confrontation can often lead to new opportunities which may have been previously unavailable.  However, any instances of mean-spirited confrontation are surely to be avoided, especially in the workplace.  Actually, I tend to thrive on confrontations because such often allow for opportunities for worthwhile change.  Though, I rarely think of any exchanges of opinions as confrontations.  Because, I encourage everyone to say whatever they believe is necessary to be said.  In fact, when aware of any looming confrontations on the horizon, I prefer to initiate the confrontation so that the matter is resolved on my own terms and at a time and place of my choosing. 

Leveraging Diversity – For any successful entity, diversity of team members is a valuable resource.  Having others of different backgrounds allows for greater diversity of thought when resolving difficulties.  Inclusion of differing viewpoints adds to problem-solving endeavors and also allows for a more well-rounded approach to issues.  Nearly every day I encounter someone who may be succumbing to their insecurities which are often a result of being perceived as different by intolerant others.  However, I typically tell those suffering from such self-doubt that their difference should not be a source of shame or ridicule. Any individual’s differences should be viewed as their strength.

Developing Others – I always encourage all to do their best and to concurrently invest in themselves.  In general, education (in the classroom and in the field) and amassing knowledge are among the best investments one can make in oneself.  While careful to not seem condescending or callus, I often provide matter-of-fact feedback and suggestions to whomever such communications might be necessary.  Furthermore, I personally seek to learn something new and worthwhile everyday and I try to instill the same quest for knowledge in others as well.  I believe a positive attitude is contagious and it might as well start with me and be spread to as many others as possible. 

Team Building – Proper team dynamics can often be an elusive goal.  However, leading by example and invoking the strengths of fellow team members inspires others to do the same.  Team spirit helps to foster commitment to the team by its members.  Displaying a ‘win-win’ approach to issues also allows the team to have faith in one another and fosters loyalty and trust among team members which will likely provide for a better outcome of undertakings.  Given the diversity of attitudes and individuals with whom I have worked in the past, I am confident that I can build a productive team. 

Adam Trotter

Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs): Leading Change

 

1. Leading Change: This core qualification involves the ability to bring about strategic change, both within and outside the organization, to achieve organizational goals. Inherent in this ECQ is the ability to establish an organizational vision and to implement it in a continuously changing environment. Competencies: Creativity and Innovation, External Awareness, Flexibility, Resilience, Strategic Thinking, Vision.

August 12th, 2012
For anyone that who might be interested, here was my answer(s).  I wrote this at the end of last May.

Creativity and Innovation – While not always outwardly apparent to others, I challenge every undertaking pursued by every stakeholder in any given business endeavor.  My review of business processes and endeavors are always relevant to the organization’s mission and vision.  I always look to tweak processes to allow for greater returns.  However, I do not meddle in affairs merely for the sake of meddling; any interjections are to ensure that all efforts are moving the organization towards its goals.  Efficiency, improvement, and the interests of the Administration and the taxpayers are paramount. I am always interested in suggestions from others – for even if a proposed alternative is not preferred, such challenged efforts help to illuminate the best course to achieve goals in light of the risks – apparent, mitigated, or otherwise.  Moreover, I am not afraid to undertake new approaches and programs so long as efforts are monitored and reviewed for constant reassessment to illuminate the worthwhile business process improvements.  During my efforts at ____, I was often given the non-standard assignments as it seemed that my fellow engineers were often unable to ‘think outside the box’ to develop innovative approaches to problems.  While at ____ and during graduate studies, I have typically been the one to whom others turn to ask for innovative approaches to difficult issues. 

External Awareness – I pride myself upon my ability to maintain a keen awareness of what is occurring in the organization’s internal and external environments.  The strategic approach to developing any feasible solution to difficulties is often revealed through the value chain.  However, if one has no external awareness, they have no idea where value is being added.  Additionally, I believe that I possess a talent to ascertain the baseline truth of any circumstance, regardless of what is being claimed by others.  I am adept at identifying the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats to any business plan.  I stay abreast of local and national issues and always attempt to translate how such happenings affect the workplace effort at hand.  For instance, during the BRAC cost-cutting efforts of the Dept. of ____ in the 1990s, many of my ____ coworkers would often become agitated with the constant state of flux that was the reality of being a government DoD employee at that time.  But such cost-cutting rhetoric never bothered me in the slightest as I knew ____-Philadelphia was safe, as the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard had already been closed and it was very unlikely that another such base closure would be levied against the local economy.    

Flexibility – While it is somewhat natural to be resistant to change, I tend to thrive on opportunities presented by altered circumstances.  So I consider myself excessively flexible on any given front.  While it typically may not be necessary to fix what is not broken, less than satisfactory circumstance nearly always demand change.  So, to be overly resistant to change makes one like a modern dinosaur – doomed to extinction.  Also, unexpected circumstances and demands can make for interesting challenges, but unexpected and adverse conditions can be mitigated with proper planning and adaptability.  Reassessment seems the apropos word, when confronted with unexpected results.  I believe I can productively adapt to any change.  Moreover, I often seek changed environments so that I can reassess my ability to adapt to changes.  To this end and for example, I continually seek to reinvent myself by continuing academic studies in new and challenging disciplines. 

Resilience – When a goal is being pursued, perseverance is the preferred method of choice for this applicant.  I never give up on anything without overwhelming reasons to do so.  While no prima donna, I can identify a losing effort and subsequently implement alternative or contingency plans.  In general I don’t give up or quit anything.  Moreover, I view adversity as merely allowing for new learning opportunities.   To this end, when faced with the challenging economic times during much of the last decade, I sought to increase my knowledge, skills, and abilities by earning an M.B.A and then to enroll in law school.

Strategic Thinking – I formulate plans which are aligned to the vision, mission, and goals of the organization.  Even statements pertaining to vision, mission, and goals themselves are often scrutinized to determine if the proper meaning is being relayed and to see if such is clearly understood or appropriate.  While attempting to best leverage circumstances to provide for beneficial results, one must always beware of any inherent risks.  I believe risks can always be mitigated if properly qualified or quantified.  However while displaying proper restraint, one should always be ready to capitalize on opportunities as well.  I view most efforts undertaken as a variation of a game of chess.  Every initiated move is taken to allow for the envisioned reward to subsequently follow.  But to achieve such a reward, one must typically anticipate countering forces which are ultimately beyond one’s control.  

Vision – A team or organization would find it difficult to meet its goals if the team members did not know or understand the sought-after ends.  Furthermore, an agreed-upon organizational goal can become motivating to others also in pursuit of such ends, assuming the others also subscribe to the same vision.  Ultimately, anything worth having is worth working to obtain.  As such, any actions taken by the members of the organization should be in support of the organization’s vision.  For myself, I typically set goals throughout any given day while also looking at the bigger picture of how my efforts will contribute to the mission and vision of the organization as well as the personal image I seek to put forth.  While this may sound somewhat silly or obvious, if one does not set goals, goals cannot be achieved.

Adam Trotter

The 500,000 Mile Computer Change / The “Crank – No Start” Solution

June 10^th, 2012

Some time ago, when my full-size mid-90s GMC vehicle was approaching the 470,000+ mile mark, my vehicle again began to exhibit minor symptoms of the infamous “Crank – No Start” condition.  Basically, sometimes in the mornings, the vehicle would not start on the first attempt but then immediately fire-up on the second attempt.  In the past, I was always merely able to replace the fuel filter and the condition ceased.  However, this latest time R&R-ing the fuel filter didn’t seem to solve the problem as the crank – no start condition soon after began to recur (but only in the morning, really).   Otherwise, the vehicle ran great and never exhibited any signs of power loss under any driving conditions. Regardless, this intermittent condition began to weigh on me, especially as I was preparing for another coast-to-coast jaunt. 

What do we need to start a vehicle’s gasoline engine?  Spark, fuel, and compression, right?  So after changing the fuel filter which didn’t remedy the situation, the first thing I did was to check the compression (see: http://theultimateroadtripamericac2c.blogspot.com/2012/05/500000-mile-compression-test.html) as I did a complete tune-up:  spark plugs, cap, rotor, then spark plug wires.  I then replaced the ignition coil and even the ignition module followed by a new ground strap from the block to the frame.  I replaced everything that had anything to do with spark creation that could have been the source of the issue except the distributor itself.  (And, no, neither the battery nor the starter was absolutely not the problem.  Duh!) The vehicle ran fantastic!  But, then soon after, the crank –no start condition started to return, sure enough. 

Most said, ‘who cares?  It runs great and always starts, why worry about it?’  On the other hand, the possibility of being in the middle of nowhere with the vehicle not starting and leaving the whole thing to chance did not thrill me.  Yet another suggestion was to merely keep a bottle of starter-fluid on hand in case of any significant starting problem – they reasoned: ‘it’s only 3000 miles across, right?’  And I was considering taking the possibly feeble advice too, mind you. 

I started to become somewhat frustrated (and maybe even obsessed) by the seemingly perplexing situation and wanted it to go away.  I began to ponder how I could get to my solution without needlessly replacing armfuls of parts that never needed to be replaced in the first place – merely to chase this ghost from the machine.  Nevertheless, I began to look to the reality of replacing the fuel system components such as the injectors, the fuel pump, fuel pressure regulator, and even the fuel lines,

I also began to do considerable research on the internet.  I found the problem to be extremely widespread throughout several makes of cars made from the mid-80s to Y2k+.  The internet websites suggested everything from a clogged catalytic converter (mine was new) to a faulty timing chain (mine is reported to last forever and never to break).  A couple of on-line experts hinted at a faulty computer (PCM/ECM) but most of those afflicted with the problem scoffed in response at such a suggestion due to the excessive cost and the intermittent nature of the problem and in light of the fact that their vehicle was otherwise running fine.  The PCM/ECM suggestion was often qualified by stating that the issue may not be the computer but merely a temperature sensor. 

And then it occurred to me.  Where else do we typically see ‘ghosts in machines,’ I wondered?  Computers, of course!!  But before I was to take any action towards replacing the computer, I decided to see if there were any engine error codes - even though no error codes had been displayed as the check engine light never being illuminated.  Sure enough, there was one error code in the system and the Haynes book hinted that the PCM could be at fault – among other several other possible sources of the error. 

Anyway, I took a slight gamble and paid approx. $200 for a rebuilt PCM/ECM and EProm and easily replaced it myself.  Three thousand miles and three weeks later, I have hadn’t had any ‘crank – no start’ scenarios/conditions as yet.  It doesn’t appear as any will be materializing anytime soon either.  The vehicle now runs and starts fantastically every time!    

AVT

PS.  I purchased the PCM/ECM from http://www.goecm.com/

  

The Beelzebul Theory: a Rule, an Act, or Merely an Oxymoron?

See:

The Beelzebul Theory: a Rule, an Act, or Merely an Oxymoron? 

http://poetrybyadamvernontrotter.blogspot.com/2012/06/beelzebul-theory-rule-act-or-merely.html

The 500,000 Mile Compression Test

See:

http://theultimateroadtripamericac2c.blogspot.com/2012/05/500000-mile-compression-test.html

Multiple Water Main Breaks in L.A. Today

April 3rd, 2012


It is being reported that there has been as many as eight (8) water main breaks throughout the City of Los Angeles this morning thus far. (Blog entry at 0930 local time.) Good Day LA (Fox television channel 11), reported that there has been five water main breaks and that L.A. Dept. of Water and Power (DWP) – according to the Fox 11 reporter – suggests that the multiple breaks are likely a result of work done while taking a local water reservoir off-line and then placing it back on-line to the water main system. Of course, as yet, no one appears to know the actual reason for all the water main breaks this morning.

Again, the level of deterioration of Our Nation’s infrastructure is nearly disgusting, at least to this blogger. Again I blog: Rebuild the Nation’s Infrastructure or Repeal the Eleventh Amendment to the Federal Constitution!!

AVT, P.E.


See:
Map: Water main breaks flood Fairfax streets


See also:
Massive Water Main Breaks and Gas Main Explosions Continue. REBUILD OUR CRUMBLING INFRASTRUCTURE! (PLEASE?!?)



Rebuild the Nation’s Water Mains and Sewer Systems and City Streets!




11-11-11 Day, Repeal the Eleventh Amendment, I say!