Odyssey Optical Laboratory is a new company that started in August 2021. They create prescription lenses for spectacles. Optometrists, Opticians, and Ophthalmologists collaborate with them. Optometrists and opticians send their patient’s prescriptions to the laboratory to fit their specifications. They manufacture the prescribed lenses using computer software and automated instruments before sending them to the optometrist.

Jannie van Wyk: Production director: Jannie has 20 years of experience in this field. He was working at Opti-speed laboratory as a Production manager. He opened a new company with one of his colleagues. He is responsible for overseeing effective operating procedures across the company. His duties include reviewing company papers to draw conclusions regarding aspects such as communication and productivity, collaborating with the HR department to establish hiring procedures, to improve company operations are just a few of his responsibilities.

During my Work observation at Odyssey Laboratory, I experience firsthand and learned, many different tasks that a manager needs to be able to complete. This work observation gave me a lot of insight into how to communicate with customers and your employees. This also gave me a useful understanding of what a workplace environment would feel like. As a manager, you need to project hope and positivity, while keeping the organization focused on the goals you want to achieve. The most enjoyable time I had was driving with the manager to go see their clients. The manager also went to see a new potential client where he explain how they work and what they could expect from the company. The least enjoyable part for me was that the manager had important meetings at the end of the day which I wasn’t allowed to attend. This gave me time to reflect on the day and write down my main point but I would have liked to join and hear what they talk about when having a meeting and how they address things. As an international business student, I would not be able to do the manager’s job. You have to have a lot of knowledge about the machines and all the different types of lenses you can get. It takes years to study and learn all the different types of things that go into optometry. International business management learning outcomes that were important in my manager’s job were Customer orientation and relation management. The manager is acted in a service-oriented way, he focuses on developing a network and building long-term relations with different customers. Another important learning outcome is management and strategic goals. The managers have a goal they want to achieve in the long term and they work towards that goal. They also need to manage their employees and make sure the work gets done and that the customers are satisfied. Job competencies I have gained are accountability, communication, flexibility, and teamwork. Accountability is also known as trustworthiness or dependability. It implies that I finish assignments, complete all project requirements, and act with honesty and integrity. I have to ability to communicate effectively with people from different cultures and people. I can fully explain myself and I am a good listener. When a project evolves, I can be adaptive, which means I am willing to shift my work or priorities. Sharing information, meeting deadlines that affect others' work, reporting milestones, and finished tasks, and sharing credit for professional accomplishments are all examples of teamwork. Action points I can do to increase my employability include learning new skills, reading and doing research, drafting our career paths and how to get there, learning a new hobby, working on my CV, and working on interview techniques. I think the International business management program will prepare me for a function such as the one I observed. The IBM teaches us how to manage a company and everything that involves running a company. They give us an insight into what to expect when we get a job in the future. The curriculum also allows us to learn new abilities that will help us in the future and as a manager.