Hello from a Training Manager

Submitted by Stefan Demarmels MCMI on Wed, 16/02/2011 - 00:51

Hello all! My name is Stefan Demarmels. I am a Training Manager at an MOD College in Dorset and line manage 18 instructional staff. Among the duties of line and training management, I also manage the development and design of courses or components thereof, schedule training and coordinate the running of courses. Maintaining a good relationship with our customers is essential for the tailoring of the courses to meet customer requirements.

I have been studying management at the Open University since November 2005. I took the route to the MBA via the certificate and diploma program. Although I like my job very much, I am attempting to find a suitable position in Switzerland from where I came to the UK in summer 2004.

I have lots more to share with everyone and am looking forward to meeting lots of motivated managers online and face-to-face.

Best wishes to all,

Stefan Demarmels

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Submitted by on Wed, 16/02/2011 - 06:11

Hey Stefan, good to have you here bud :) So you're still doing the MBA now?

Submitted by Adrian Gaskell MCMI on Wed, 16/02/2011 - 10:17 Profile image

Hi Stefan, welcome to the community. How is the training world looking in 2011?

Submitted by Mike Davies on Wed, 16/02/2011 - 10:34

Howdy Stefan :-)

Submitted by Stefan Demarmels MCMI on Wed, 16/02/2011 - 12:04

Hi Wayne, I completed the MBA last October and am now looking forward to apply and deepen my knowledge in partnership with the CMI. I chose to take HR strategy and financial strategy as my electives, which I very much enjoyed.

Adi, the training world is looking rather interesting to say the least, especially if working for the government. As you probably are aware, the MOD has to reduce its civilian workforce significantly, which will most certainly have an impact on my functional environment. There is a lot of talk about privatising training (again), brining in contractors, and reviewing the need for training. Of course all of this is purely speculation, but it shows how much the workforce is thinking about the future and to some extent how worried they are. However, I believe strongly that this poses fantastic opportunities in the nearer future.

Best wishes

Stefan

Submitted by Adrian Gaskell MCMI on Wed, 16/02/2011 - 16:02 Profile image

Sounds like a period of significant transition. Do you think the MBA has equipped you to ride the tide?

Submitted by Stefan Demarmels MCMI on Wed, 16/02/2011 - 22:11

Adi, the MBA has given me a set of tools to analyse, act on and forecast situations that come in many shapes and forms. The successful riding of the tide although depends very much on how these tools are tailored and applied. As a recently qualified MBA it is my skill of application that counts, rather than the MBA in isolation. Am I cunning enough to achieve this? I think so. I like challenges, complexity and ambiguity. So, let’s see what future brings, let’s have some fun and play the game.

Submitted by Peter Elliott CMgr MCMI on Sat, 05/03/2011 - 07:44 Profile image

Hi Stephan - welcome on board.

I did the same MBA & Diploma route with the OU and also found it very enjoyable and challenging.

Would you recommend this route to others?

Submitted by Stefan Demarmels MCMI on Sat, 05/03/2011 - 23:31

Hi Peter

Thank you. I am looking forward to some interesting and rewarding development and networking through the CMI.

I most certainly recommend the OU’s Certificate – Diploma – MBA route to anyone wanting to expand their management knowledge. The beauty of starting at Certificate level allows students to learn, explore and experience management from the very basic functional level and develop as they work through the Diploma to the MBA. I cannot imagine a more effective and rewarding method of learning about management than this, especially the OU’s approach of practical application.

What are your views on the OU’s MBA or management programme?

Submitted by Peter Elliott CMgr MCMI on Sat, 26/03/2011 - 22:05 Profile image

I, too, found it a very useful process. The big bonus for me was actually doing thecourse part-time which meant that I was frequently able to put some theory into practice; often starting with some fairly basic stuff but seeing benefits at work immediately.

The other thing was the many varied and multi-cultural classmates from whom I could learn. People from many different sectors with significantly different levels of experience and job description frequently enabled totally different perspectives of the same problem.

All in all, I'd thoroughly recommend it to anyone!

Submitted by Robert Roden MCMI on Wed, 30/03/2011 - 18:26 Profile image

Peter, when you said you did the same MBA & Diploma route with the OU and also found it very enjoyable and challenging. Exactly what route did you take. Was it Hon Degree and then the post certificate and diploma then the final part of the MBA as i am quite interested in doing an MBA.

Submitted by Peter Elliott CMgr MCMI on Thu, 31/03/2011 - 19:36 Profile image

Rob

I did the Certificate in Management followed by the Diploma and then the MBA after that. In total it was 5-years graft but an excellent learning experience meeting many varied people along the way.

Although people do get by without them, I found the tutorials really useful and through these I made acquaintences who have subsequently become friends. I also hosted a weekly study group at my house which gave everyone attending added motivation to be 'on their game' each week.

I really would recommend it to anyone - of course flexibility is also a great benefit with the OU; you can stop and start again as life's unexpected problems jump out at you.

Kind regards

Peter