Technology As Innovator

High school of Foreign Languages, a member of National University Hanoi introduced a new class structure for students.

Read the story here

Summary: classes are groups into Houses which resemble Hogwarts Houses from the novel series “Harry Potter”. The name of the Houses are oriental holy creatures which protect the country: Thanh Long (Oriental Green Dragon), Bạch Hổ (White Tiger), Chu Tước (Oriental Phoenix), Huyền Vũ (Tortoise).

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This model is an interesting when we look into details.

Originally, there are a number of classes.

Because they major in different languages, students doing the same major naturally share closer bond between one another to those doing different major.

For instance, students from English class 1, English class 2, English class 3 and English class 4 are usually closer to one another than an English student is to a Russian student.

This forms Career Orientation in these students.

Students from different major might want to prepare themselves for their careers in different ways. A rough scenario might be: German major students may want to acquire domain knowledge on heavy industries, telecommunications while Chinese major students might way to know much about trading and consumer goods industry.

What the school is doing is: group different classes into Houses, each House consists of classes doing all different majors.

For instance, the Green Dragon House could consist of English 1, French 1, Russian 1, Chinese 1, German 1, Japanese 1; the Phoenix Dragon could consist of English 2, French 2, Russian 2, Chinese 2, German 2, Japanese 2… and so on.

The benefit of this model is that it resembles real life organizational structure.

In an organization, people with same expertise form a Group of Expertise. However, different individuals are usually put together to form a Team to achieve certain goals.

For example: In a Software company, there should be Project Managers, Product Managers, Software Architects, Business Analysts, System Analysts, Consultants, Software Designers, Implementers, Graphical Designers, Testers… This forms Career Paths.

Different individuals then assigned to form a Project Team which consists of different people playing roles. This establishes Organizational Divisions.

Theoretically, Project Managers should gather in either both formal or informal meetings to share their experience in managing projects. Similarly, Consultants should also share their lessons in consultancy skills with one another. The same for Testers with testing skills. While a Project Manager can provide certain on-the-job guidance for beginning Testers, it is usually better if knowledge sharing and mentoring is done from Tester to Tester.

Career Path is vertical. Organizational Division is horizontal. Organizational Division makes sure the organization achieves its objectives by combining the skills of different resources. Career Path ensures the growth of individuals within a company, knowledge management and organizational expertise.

Let’s get back to High school of Foreign Languages Hanoi. The new organization structure should equip the students with knowledge of organizational behavior, team work and collaboration and thus prepare them to work for organizations later on.

Corporate Level

An opportunity for thinkers to take a step back and strategize for the next steps. Haven’t they we been too absorbed in the fast-moving everyday tasks before?

Companies can spend the time to actually sit down uninterruptedly with their Consultants.

A good excuse to hold on to the core business.

Innovate. Pull ideas from the pool, try some.

Individual Level

Self-teach new skills or pursue formal higher education.

Renew.