Learning Objectives of Assignment:
– To develop student’s understanding of the activities and roles performed by business professionals in the field.
– To expose students to the current role models and expand their network of contacts.
– To help students understand the current issues in a variety of real estate areas.
– To put concepts and theory from class discussions into clearer focus by applying them to a specific situation.
– To develop the student’s ability to express ideas clearly.
– To gain practices in assessing and evaluation of current issues and to demonstrate good critical thinking skills.
Instructions:
Step 1: Select an individual who is currently working in a real estate related position – agent or broker – and ask if you can interview them for a class project. (Be sure to explain that all identifying information will be kept confidential, if requested, and that no names will be used in your paper.
Step 2: Arrange an appropriate time and location where you both feel comfortable and relaxed and where privacy can be assured.
Step 3: Conduct the interview and be sure to gather enough information to complete the following sections:
A. Describe the organization where the individual works and include history, type of facility, and types of services provided, source of payments, ownership, and size. (number of employees, etc., as appropriate).
B. Describe the individual’s position in the organization and include: Staffing structure, reporting relationships with other professionals and staff, number of people supervised (if any), relationship of the unit the person manages to others in the organization.
C. Describe the person’s activities, functions, and roles, including: What priority do different activities have in the day-to-day operations? How much time is spent on each? Which priorities are most critical?
D. Describe the personal educational background and career history, including how they achieved the position they hold.
E. What are the current issues facing the person’s organization and the factors most influencing the organization’s future prospects (at least three specific ones).
Step 4: Prepare a written summary. A written summary is NOT an outline or short answer paper. A written summary should have an introduction, body, and conclusion. The written summary is to be typed and double-spaced. The length should not exceed two pages.
