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Joanna Manzi-Crean
Mother, teacher and marketer.
Location Cape Town
Activity
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I completely agree to all elements needing to be considered. I also think we could look at consumer education and pricing to guide consumers to better choices?
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Thanks Matthieu, makes sense.
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Joanna Manzi-Crean made a comment
Just a clarification if possible; are we looking uniquely at dairy cows, and if so why? Thanks, Jo
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I agree about education, but also a love of food, not always rushing to get the easiest, but knowing what's in our food. I hear you about the avocado too; however, I can't seem to find a good one in the UK having moved back from South Africa!
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Joanna Manzi-Crean made a comment
If we work on mitigating GHG, and get this right, we can thereafter adapt our practices and sustainably increase productivity, once we have got this right. We will stop increasing the affect of agricultural production for the current production levels, whilst preparing for the future increased production levels.
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Joanna Manzi-Crean made a comment
I would love to think we could go back to old ways, appreciate food and where it comes from. Be more mindful of what we eat, how it is made, where it comes from. I am a complete lay person where this is involved, so am concerned with population explosion, that this will not be able to be the case, that intensive farming, genetic engineering and all those...
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Good points Derek and Jessica. As a mother, food lover, and going through the times we are, there is always a trade off with the financial side too. I would love to buy organic, free range produce, as locally as possible, but this is always more expensive. We are all going to be under the cosh financially so we do have to take this into consideration.
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Joanna Manzi-Crean made a comment
When Renate at the end talks about choices being implicit, as to how much data on ourselves we want to retain for ourselves or share. I'm not sure I've understood correctly as I would personally believe that this not be implied, but expressly and directly stated leaving no room for uncertainty. Maybe I've misunderstood what she's saying?
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I have two young boys who absolutely love lego and spend all their pocket, ask for birthday presents, on/of Lego. The Lego Dimensions game which incorporates all their partner brands, Harry Potter, Batman, etc. etc., with actual building is fantastic. As parents we are happy they still like to build stuff, as kids they love being able to play a video game. ...
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There' a wonderful BBC drama though:)
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It's really quite amazing what's going. A friend of mine told me about War and Peace being translated from Russian to English in 2 1/2 seconds! http://business.financialpost.com/technology/cio/translating-war-and-peace-in-2-6-seconds-microsoft-enters-the-ai-realm
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Joanna Manzi-Crean made a comment
We had to make a decision over 8 years ago which CRM platform to chose, Salesforce being one of the options. I was working with a BI company, a MS partner, so in the end we went for MS CRM. Sales would capture information, manually, but in real time, and this was integrated with the finance system and then with a marketing segmentation exercise. This was a...
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I was in the tech software market, working with hardware partners (stakeholders) delivering our products to schools and school children (other stakeholders). Being in the tech market, products are mostly customer driving. However it was interesting that one well respected company, that had been set up by non-tech people, conducted focus groups with children...
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I think it is worthwhile mentioning that complaints can be a really useful way to improve products and services. Whilst customers do not have the right to be rude, it is amazing how a well trained, and naturally talented I must say, customer services representatives can turn a conversation round. On the other hand, a person not so well trained or not so able...
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I'm interested in Amazon and whether after so many years of being in operation, there is now a place for niche local independent booksellers. I take this example of butchers. The supermarkets quashed their business many years ago. But farms, organic providers and local butchers are appearing using value and other aspirational factors as their USP.
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This is really interesting. I'm no expert but cost benefit analysis becomes of utmost importance. As you say there are cycles which continually change and evolve.
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Joanna Manzi-Crean replied to Kay Miller
I think Maslow's hierarchy of needs is probably important here. However, my experience in South Africa puts into question the social hierarchy and the idea that one has to fulfill one set of needs before you can move onto another. For example, people who live in shacks spend a large percentage of their income on fancy clothes and mobile phones. It is a way...
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I hear you about this comment being rather cryptic, but I do think a little cynicism is useful. It all does come down to the economics behind the application. E.g. the video mentions Open Source in education and Future Learn is, I believe, an example of the Open Source data variety. The economics behind this is that the Open University uses the platform to...
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Joanna Manzi-Crean made a comment
Of course, Amazon, the traditional retailers and Facebook are the atypical examples. There are however also great examples in government, using the Cloud to connecting services making delivery of official documents easier. I recently changed the address on my driver's licence, and seeing that it needed to be renewed, they asked me if I wished to renew it at...
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I think Headspace is the one I can think of. You're probably aware but it' a meditation app. So something with great tradition, that's been around for many years. Andy Puddicomb's aim was to bring the benefits of meditation to the masses. The app tries to bring about a community of like minded people and grow the customer base in this way. He is a thought...
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Joanna Manzi-Crean made a comment
In terms of transport and logistics, personally I've had use of airline bookings for many years. The change I've seen is that new sites keep appearing, sweeping data from many sources to get he most up to date prices from all sorts of different sources. This is ever changing and new offerings continue to be brought forward. However I must say, I often...
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Joanna Manzi-Crean replied to Ker Metanoia Oliva
Hi, I'm Jo. I've a 1:1 in European Marketing, but got it 20 years ago. Whilst I have 14 years experience in sales and marketing, I have taken a break to bring up my two lovely boys. I now need to get back on the saddle and am doing this course to update my skills, rebuild my confidence, improve my chances of getting a job, and also I'm investigating doing...
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Joanna Manzi-Crean replied to simon jackson
Hhm, isn't life insurance usually for a set term? So if you take it out for 25 years, it expires thereafter? Does the fact that women live longer than men, statistically, mean that they are in better health, thus less likely to claim on the life insurance?
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Joanna Manzi-Crean made a comment
Travel Insurance: this seems a no brainer. However, when I go home to the UK, from South Africa, I rarely get travel insurance as it's so expensive in South Africa, and I feel secure in the health care that I and my family would receive in the UK. Personal possessions are not important really as they are not of significant monetary value in my case>
Home... -
Joanna Manzi-Crean replied to Geoff Clarke
I live in South Africa as well and nearly everyone, in the middle class, has armed response. Being British myself, I completely understand the alarm bells that this cause but it is a necessity here where it is normal to know someone in your close circle to have been submitted to a violent crime. My case being that my husband's grandmother died after being...
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Joanna Manzi-Crean made a comment
I get so anxious when completing a budget. I live in South Africa with my husband and 2 children and there seems just no way to have a realistic budget. We overspend significantly every month and the only way to change the situation would be for me to find a job. However, with the education system, my skills set, plus the economic environment here, it would...
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Ah so refreshing to see someone else with a marketing background being so anti creating and enlarging our needs rather than fulfilling them, selling the right product to the right person, who actually needs the product.
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The off shore comment is interesting. Surely the wealthy are more likely to move their money offshore so as to pay less tax. Also, they are more likely to go on more holidays and business trips abroad, so spend a larger proportion of their money abroad. Added to this, their ability to employ clever accountants to benefit from reducing their tax bill. So as...
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Joanna Manzi-Crean replied to Joanna Manzi-Crean
Thanks Stephen
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Joanna Manzi-Crean made a comment
"... The personal allowance has an income limit of £100,000. Above this limit the allowance tapers away." I don't really understand this statement. Could anyone clarify? Thanks,
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Joanna Manzi-Crean made a comment
Hi, I always find these sorts of calculations incredibly complicated. It'd be really good to have a few more practice questions and examples to really understand it and be able to apply to one's own situation. Thanks though as at least this is a start.
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I'm interested in exchange rates as living in South Africa and wanting to move back to the UK this has a huge affect on what we are able to achieve. When we moved here 8 years ago the Rand to the Pound was at about 10, then about 6 months ago it was 25. Our wealth, or lack thereof, had over halved. Now that the Rand is hovering at 17 at least there is some...
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Joanna Manzi-Crean made a comment
Changing UK pension to QUEROPS.
Assess: we were approached by many companies all outlining the benefits of moving our pensions offshore. They were all happy to advise us on a free basis. We got 2 reports from different brokers. We then read up on the internet and spoke to a financial adviser.
Decide: armed with this information we decided not to go ahead... -
Joanna Manzi-Crean made a comment
I've always thought I'd risk as much as I was willing to loose. However, earlier in my life when I was financially successful, I spent a lot of money on travelling and trying to 'find myself'. Here I am 20 years later, still with the same amount of indecision, having learnt there is no silver bullet to being happy, and having spent an awful lot of money on...
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That was so interesting and well put. I completely agree with what he says and am as we talk thinking about where my personality puts me. I think I am split, I relate money to freedom but also security. Wonder what that says about me?
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Retraining after an 8 year gap from work to raise a family.
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Joanna Manzi-Crean made a comment
My goals are:
1. Move back to the UK from South Africa.
2. Buy a nice 3 bed home in the South of England near good schools and decend road/rail links.
3. Buy a car. -
Joanna Manzi-Crean replied to Debbie Wilson
Good luck Debbie, it must be so hard, and you are so positive! A real breath of fresh air.
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Joanna Manzi-Crean replied to Geoff Clarke
Zuma, wise indeed, hahahaha! Predictions are hard even for those in the know. No one predicted the 2008 crash and even Brexit was a surprise. How are we to do it when the professionals are not. I suppose by being very cautious... And following thi
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Joanna Manzi-Crean made a comment
The future for my family is unsure as we are moving back to the UK and my husband needs to find a job. Hopefully within the next year it will be easier to predict and work towards a secure future for the family, a personal goal of mine.
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Joanna Manzi-Crean made a comment
Mrs Penny becomes permanently disabled: need more info, is the husband main breadwinner, is here family support to help, is the disability so bad that Mrs P is unable to work, needs full time care in a home or facility. There is some money put aside for emergencies but has this been invested? There is no pension or insurance providing a risk too.
Mr Penny... -
Joanna Manzi-Crean replied to Shireen Motara
Interesting! I'm in South Africa too but am planning to move home to the UK this June. I have always found finance hugely worrying and now coming back to the UK, where we will need to buy a home in the South, expensive, and setup our life with our two young boys, I'm hoping this course will take some of the anxiety out of Finance for me.
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I liked the part about never turn down the boring things as you never know when they'll come in handy. Also a Lessons Learn Log is a great idea, to be started at the beginning of the project and added to at the end highlighting some problems/issues not identified at the beginning of the project.
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I completely agree to the interaction making the difference between learning something and just studying for studying sake. Thanks!
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Joanna Manzi-Crean made a comment
Seems good and complete. Whether it's out of 5 or 10, it's not really important, although the latter allows for more granularity. Also, I found it a bit confusing with 1 before good rather than either 5 or 10, but I suppose you can do it either way, as long as it's consistent.
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Joanna Manzi-Crean made a comment
When running lead generation campaign a telemarketing team were responsible for qualifying leads generated by the communications activities such as trade shows and adverts. I communicated regularly with the team reporting back on the progress of the 'funnel' and incentivised members on a performance basis. This seemed to work well, however it didn't really...
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I love the point about 80% actually sometimes being enough. I'm a natural perfectionist which sometimes hinders getting anything completed on time. It's a really difficult thing to learn, especially when one's tendency leans one way or the other, and the ability to listen is key. And absolutely the ability to listen to each individual's motivations, needs...
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I suppose the only thing I would change here is getting team members to do things I would attempt myself. There will be many things in a project that other people have the expertise to do that I don't, those whole point of the team. Maybe it's more important to understand team members' confidence in their ability to perform the task they're doing.
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Joanna Manzi-Crean made a comment
Stakeholder management and knowing the team members helps. You will probably know if team members are generally quiet or overbearing and will be able to foresee problems. If unforeseeable reactions occur, say for example a member is not participating, I'd try to have a break to see why they are quiet, make sure they're bought into the project. I'd try to...
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Like Debbie's point. If there is no output from a meeting, it probably was probably not worthwhile, and all those attending will be less willing to participate with enthusiasm and as a team. The clear objective enables the measurement of success of the meeting!
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Joanna Manzi-Crean replied to Katharine Jewitt
Was this a nice place to work? Did people work as a motivated team? I'm interested as this seems a draconian way of stopping people wasting time.
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Joanna Manzi-Crean made a comment
In terms of the walk should be done, whilst formal meetings have their place, it is great to actually just see the work being done, become part of the team for a short period. That way you can get invaluable information that no other person would share with you in a more formal environment.
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Joanna Manzi-Crean made a comment
By walking the project you'd be able to ascertain the morale of the team and commitment to the core mission. You'd also be able to conduct minor remedial action and pick up on challenges early on.
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Joanna Manzi-Crean made a comment
As everyone has already said, being able to move from the top level to the nitty gritty, working deep within the team then being able to communicate with the stakeholders is the challenge. One is always needing to find new solutions and keep the extended team on board, whilst keeping the core mission in mind.
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Thanks, I definitely need more practice in this area. Do you have any suggestions. Cheers, Jo
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Joanna Manzi-Crean made a comment
For my simple chart, preparing for Christmas, I found it perplexing theoretically, as one can't move Xmas Day, it is completely uncontrollable, as many things are. So the way I tackled is was to work backwards from Christmas Day for the Early Start and End Dates, and do the forward pass thereafter. Does that make sense?
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Joanna Manzi-Crean made a comment
So, is the Late Finish date equal to the smallest of its predecessors' Late Start dates? THIS WAS MY INITIAL COMMENT BUT HAVING DONE THE QUIZ... The Late Finish is equal to the smallest of its subsequent Late Starts. ... I think.
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Joanna Manzi-Crean made a comment
Ah man, the backwards pass has just blown my mind away! I'll have to look at this again tomorrow as have got to the point where it really means nothing to me, other than the concept. Is there any other really really simple way that you could explain the backward pass to me? At the minute, I can not understand why the Early and Late Finishes are the same?
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Joanna Manzi-Crean made a comment
I love the comment about never assume.... How assumption can go wrong is such a hard thing to learn that if at all possible, try to avoid it. Ways to mitigate, deal with wisk other than not to assume anything, are evaluation, testing, market intelligence, communicating with stakeholders.
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Joanna Manzi-Crean replied to Katharine Jewitt
I believe there are always grey areas: people may be inclined to one, two or more roles, and as Michael states, their motivation plays a large part in the role they play within the team. But of course, this can change over time, as with everything. I'm interested in the concept of the Agile Project Management and how the concept of constant changes relates...
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Interesting, and I'm not surprised, I'm Innovator, Explorer and Driver. Is it really as simple as this? Get everyone to fill this out then bang, we have a team. Oh I wish:)
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Joanna Manzi-Crean replied to David Rice
I find this column particularly useful as we all try to hide our weaknesses but actually we all have them, so this helps us to accept them as what they are, another side to an otherwise great person!
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Joanna Manzi-Crean made a comment
Link between WBS Task Name, deliverables, milestones, activities, and then budget. There is a lot of lingo here, and not sure it's clear to me how one trickles down from the other. Appreciate any comments or help here?
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Joanna Manzi-Crean made a comment
Just a quick one, when I view the videos with the Excel spreadsheets like this one, the text becomes fuzzy. Not sure if it's related to internet speed (am in South Africa so always comparatively poor) but thought the feedback might be welcome.
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What would the companies' privacy policies be? I would assume that it would be extremely strict and have technologies embedded to achieve this. But you know what they they say about assumption, ..., if anyone knows would be great as I'm really not very good at reading the small print. Cheers, Jo
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Joanna Manzi-Crean made a comment
Hi, a question for this and the previous WBS, Deliverables, Milestones, how granular does one go. Obviously there are lots of activities that need to be achieved to do one thing, but I get bogged down in the detail, meaning that these sorts of activities can take inordinate amounts of time. Any tips or tricks would be highly appreciated. Thanks!
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Joanna Manzi-Crean made a comment
Hi, i found this really useful. I had previously created a plan but it became so unwieldy, difficult to read and use that it was nearly useless. This is much simpler. I will be interested to see how timelines are added, revisions are made and tasks either added/or not. Thanks for great and simple template!
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They are all dealing with both internal and external stakeholders and communicate to them according to what they are trying to get out of the project.
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Joanna Manzi-Crean made a comment
How affects budget, timeliness and resources required. How affects other objectives. Also what would happen if you didn't make the change.
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Joanna Manzi-Crean made a comment
Goal - move back to the UK from South Africa.
objectives:
1) Seek job in UK starting Aug 2017 for Andrew and secondly for myself. Move to noni's in Reading by latest mid July 2017.
2) Provide a sound financial grounding for the family in particular focusing on home, cars, pensions to be completed by the end of 2017.
3) Provide a stable and loving... -
Joanna Manzi-Crean made a comment
My project is to move home to the UK from South Africa with my 2 young boys and husband. The scope of the project is to close our life as it stands in South Africa and recommence in the UK with the least upset and disruption to the family, particularly our young boys. This is a risky project as I can not foresee jobs being previously secured in the UK before...
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Joanna Manzi-Crean made a comment
This project is high risk. For uncertainty, this mainly revolves around the many unpredictable elements of a scientific nature, but also the people around the world working together. Thisis an incredibly complex project not just with the technical nature therein, but also the legal and operational differences in all the countries involved. Lastly, I would...
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I personally believe people are the key challenge. We all vary so much, culture, language, as discussed, personalities, what makes us tick, etc etc. If the team works together and cohesively, supporting each other, both internal and external resources, well put in one interview, then the rest can follow.
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Joanna Manzi-Crean made a comment
Successful projects I ran achieved their SMART objective within budget, as ascertained by the stakeholders. Unsuccessful projects mainly didn't start well defined.
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Joanna Manzi-Crean made a comment
Including detail using all the senses really brings a situation and character alive. Michele's point about slowing down is interesting and something I strive for. My mind generally flits from one idea to another in light speed. Meditation, clearing one's mind of all details, not forcing it out but just letting them pass, often brings me clarity.
Another...
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Joanna Manzi-Crean made a comment
My best, I kind of covered in the last activity:
My iTunes on Classical Shuffle. A large wooden desk with a window to stare out of, preferable where I can see the sky and trees, with the window open. A storm brewing is even better. Oh and smoking copious amounts of ecigarettes.My worst: home, kids running around, fighting, noise, tension, unhappiness...
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Joanna Manzi-Crean made a comment
My iTunes on Classical Shuffle works for me. A desk with a window to stare out of, preferable where I can see the sky and trees, with the window open. A storm brewing is even better. Oh and smoking copious amounts of ecigarettes.
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I like minded fellow:)
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Joanna Manzi-Crean made a comment
I'd love to write early in the morning or late at night. I have a romantic picture in my head, inspiration flowing from my dreams as the sun rises. Now comes the reality, I need my sleep. I am bi-polar (2 I'll have you know) and a lack of sleep really aggravates any of the lows and infrequent highs I go through. I also have 2 young boys who I adore but...
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Joanna Manzi-Crean made a comment
My first foray into a writer's blog. https://jomanzicreanblog.wordpress.com/ You gotta start somewhere hey!
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Joanna Manzi-Crean made a comment
Changing to the 3rd person
I had noticed Syd sitting shiftily at the bus stop that morning, Guardian in hand, seemingly minding his own business. He hadn’t really seemed like the sort of person who would read the ‘Guardian’ as really, who would with the namby pamby leftish rubbish being shoved down your throat. I had met Syd the other night at my new...
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Hi John, I don't speak Spanish I'm afraid so had to use the crude google translate. You're right if I understand correctly, every day life can be stranger than fiction:)
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Joanna Manzi-Crean made a comment
Orwell:
- Beautifully descriptive simple language that one can really visualise.
- The simple use of carefully selected adjectives really gives you a picture of the disfigurement.
- The repeated use of the word hideous just emphasises.
- Can really visualise the movement and his uncomfortable feeling.
Heller:
- Right from the beginning gives you an idea... -
Joanna Manzi-Crean replied to Kelvin Furze
Again, a great word to describe Heller's narrator, patronizing!
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Joanna Manzi-Crean replied to Kelvin Furze
That's a really good point about the narrator being condescending. I hadn't even thought of exploring his character. Great learning for me! Thanks,
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Joanna Manzi-Crean replied to Shannon Field
I know all about family emergencies. Hope you're on your way out of it. And do keep writing. I loved your comment in the module "Familiar words in unfamiliar places"!
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Absolutely and thanks. I've had 45 years to get over it so maybe by 90, I might get there:). Tee hee!
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Hi Kelvin, I really enjoyed your text, felt I got a good understanding of what makes Bella tick. I like the sadness but also the lighter side where she empowers herself in a little way to express herself as a female. Love it!
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Joanna Manzi-Crean made a comment
Syd sat shilftily at the bus stop, Guardian in hand, seemingly minding his own business. He had always reckoned himself as a bit of a ‘Guardian’ reader, but recently had become increasingly disgruntled by the namby pamby leftish rubbish he was forced to read. But luckily now was not the time for that. He was on a job. Syd had always known that God had...
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Joanna Manzi-Crean made a comment
I'm almost embarrassed to say that my motivations are mostly practical. Is that really a bad thing? I've been out of the workplace for a long time having moved to South Africa and having children. I have time, and motivation, to earn a living, but also a need to express myself, put my disparate experiences to some use and pull myself out of the daily grind...
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Blooming teachers!!!!
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Joanna Manzi-Crean made a comment
Maybe I could add about the guy reading the newspaper that I smelt something musty, a bit off. This combined with the pollution I could imagine, him seemingly being in a city or large town.
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Joanna Manzi-Crean replied to Greg Thompson
Quick question for Kelvin, would OneNote enable you to search text in a picture, if you had taken a photo of your written notes?
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Joanna Manzi-Crean made a comment
My initial thoughts, from a very lacking memory.
- Man reading the newspaper, disheveled, almost down and out.
- Businessmen reading spreadsheets and project plans, boring, uninspiring.
- Lady at university jotting down notes in a little red book between appointments to which she rushes off. -
I agree. I also like using pictures, writing in a non linear fashion, brain mapesque.
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Joanna Manzi-Crean replied to Shannon Field
What can I say, this brings tears to my eyes, firstly and most importantly that you and your family had he experience, and second that you did not receive the support and empathy you deserved. Well done for picking up the courage to start again!
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Joanna Manzi-Crean replied to Falconer Cruz
Like, I feel the tension in the first, and the humour in the second is refreshing.
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Joanna Manzi-Crean made a comment
3 Fictions/1 Fact
Driving to my sons’ school, full of hope and anxiety, sun beaming down from the crystal clear African sky, a forlorn child approached the car. The look of shear terror stopped us in our tracks. Frightened, the boys immediately wanted to help, to pull the boy with fearsome eyes into the car. Before we could do anything he ran off, weaving... -
Joanna Manzi-Crean made a comment
Financial circumstances in 5 years - difficult to say. If I am able to find work, we may be in a better situation. We want to move home from South Africa to the UK which will be incredibly expensive. However the interest rates being low, free education and health and less long distended travel, will help.
Five years ago life was more. I was not working, so...
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