My 14- Week Journey in Public Sector Class by

Week 1- Introduction

k_tabangcura — 2025-04-14 20:20:45 UTC

Week 1 was mostly about settling in, but so far I like how Professor Anderson still found a way to get everyone interacting with each other to make the first week a little less awkward. This week we had an introduction post on the FanshaweOnline Discussion Board, which of course is expected to be a little awkward, but after reading some of the other posts it seemed like it was going to be a good semester with a good group of students. I shared that I’m originally from the Philippines and that this is my second year living in Canada, and also I had bought the most worth it heating pad. This discussion post activity was short, but it made the class feel a little more personal and I could tell that my classmates will be a good group to work with for the rest of the semester!

Week 2- Public Agency Presentation

k_tabangcura — 2025-04-14 20:21:40 UTC

Week 2 we were able to meet, face to face, our professor, Ms. Kim Anderson, and I was feeling a little more settled into the class, after this week it was clear what to expect from the semester. After going over the course modules it was time for our first group task, a presentation on public agencies in Canada. My group chose to focus on the Art Gallery of Ontario, which (at least for me) turned out to be a very interesting topic! It was very interesting to see and understand how public agencies operate, how they are funded, and who their suppliers are. Before this project, I never really understood the depth and role that they play in a society. As for the actual presentation portion of this project, I have to admit, I was a little nervous to be presenting for the first time in front of classmates I did not yet know very well. Having said that, the presentation was smooth, and the group collaboration went well, it seemed like everyone worked together quite well. Week 2 was good, and I am excited to see what the rest of the semester will bring.

Week 3- SILEX

k_tabangcura — 2025-04-14 20:22:09 UTC

This week we had our online zoom class where we were introduced to Nicola Raycraft from HealthPro Canada, which was very cool! It was great to be able to see a real world perspective on a public agency from someone who is actually involved with the whole process right now. It was especially helpful to have a public agency perspective from a company that plays such a vital role in supporting healthcare teams across canada. We learned that HealthPro Canada’s work is essential in making sure healthcare professionals have the supplies and resources that they need to be able to operate at the highest levels to give patients the best quality of care. This whole experience was really eye opening to see the behind the scenes work that goes into keeping the Canadian healthcare system running as smoothly as possible.

This week we were also introduced to the Signature Innovation Learning Experience project. It is both exciting and a little intimidating to think that we will be working with a real world agency instead of just learning through textbooks or case studies. This project feels way more hands on which is exciting, but nerve wracking too. It's hard to believe that we are already done with 3 weeks of course content, but I am still looking forward to week 4.

Week 4- Risk Management

k_tabangcura — 2025-04-14 20:22:31 UTC

This week we took a deep dive into risk management, and I found the lesson to be very interesting. The case study title "But it was only $1000 job" was an excellent way to show the importance of managing risk properly. The case study really highlighted how not being fully aware of all of the risks involved can lead to huge (costly) surprises later down the line. Bob Smith’s lack of insurance in this case study showed just how important it is to follow all safety protocols, even if they seem redundant or pointless at the time, there is a reason for them to be there. One thing that this week’s case study reminded me of is all the renovation shows I used to watch as a kid with my family. The renovation jobs start with a budget and a timeline and in almost every show, they go over one or both. It's a perfect example of why it's so important to plan ahead and be prepared for the risks that might come up. I think maybe we should send the recording of this lesson to those shows.

Week 5- Public Procurement

k_tabangcura — 2025-04-14 20:22:49 UTC

I can't believe we are on week 5 already. This week we went into the importance of contract law, especially in the context of Canadian competitive procurement. We learned about a dual contract system which seems like a very effective way to keep the process fair and transparent, it is easy to see the importance of these different contract strategies when it comes to ensuring the integrity and efficiency of public procurement. One case we discussed this week was Ron Engineering Construction vs Ontario. This case outlined the significance of being diligent in the bidding process. Ron Engineering had a financial loss and suffered damages to their credibility, luckily for the class we can learn through other’s mistakes how critical it is to thoroughly review submissions before entering a contract. Being meticulous and prepared before a bid can significantly reduce the risks, improve chances of success, and overall still maintain a positive relationship with the clients. It is essential to know and understand everything in a contract before signing.

Week 6- Group Core Analysis

k_tabangcura — 2025-04-14 20:23:05 UTC

We are quickly approaching the halfway mark. This week’s class was very productive, even though sometimes it was difficult coordinating schedules with Apple, Van, and Aika. That being said, the group work was very helpful in finalizing our Executive Summary and it was great to work together and be able to brainstorm and use everyone's contributions to create a final submission. The in class working session was particularly helpful. In the midst of studying, exam prep, and projects, it is nice to have a class dedicated to a project where we can ask for help where its needed and have immediate feedback and access to Professor Kim. I feel confident with this week’s progress and think we are moving closer to a finalized case study analysis.

Week 7- “break time”

k_tabangcura — 2025-04-14 20:23:24 UTC

It's reading week! You know what that means, we have an entire week to catch up on studies, catch up on readings, prep for tests, exams, and projects… Or, we attempt to do all of that while working double the hours at Lindt and stress about my PTE Core exam in April… All in all, I was still able to make sure I got lots of studying in, caught up on my projects, and was able to work as well. The break (although it didn't much feel like a break) was needed and very, very helpful. I am ready for another one already though. Well, we need some COFFEE!!!

Week 8- Competitive Bidding

k_tabangcura — 2025-04-14 20:23:40 UTC

Reading week went by far too quickly… but this week’s lesson was a good one to come back to. This week was all about competitive bidding in procurement. I really liked learning about the importance of transparency in the process overall. It was very interesting to see how competitive bidding can create fairness and encourage a little healthy competition which ultimately makes it possible for companies to get the best value for their money. I also learned a lot about the different types of procurement documents that are needed for this process like RFI, RFP, RFQ, and RFT. This lesson was very helpful for me to really understand all the documents and acronyms and what they do. This lesson made me feel more confident entering the field, I felt like I had an insight into how things are actually run in the industry. It's reassuring to have a clearer understanding of how the bidding process works and how things should be managed. I am looking forward to seeing how else the competitive bidding has been used in real life companies and situations.

Week 9- SOW and Specifications

k_tabangcura — 2025-04-14 20:23:56 UTC

It feels like just yesterday I wrote about how I was nervous because I didn't know my classmates because it's the first week of class, and here we are, nearing the end of the term in week 9. This week we focused on Scope of Work, Specifications, and Evaluation. From this week’s topic I was able to get a deeper understanding of how important clarity and precision are when requesting products or services. One of the highlights of the class was the group activity where we had to create a list of specifications for a specific product, and then the other groups had to guess what it was. I thought this was an interesting exercise because it got us practicing our abilities to be as descriptive, specific, and accurate as possible. It was really interesting to see how such common objects and items that we have all had experience with could be described and identified based purely on description alone.

Week 10 - Ethics

k_tabangcura — 2025-04-14 20:24:11 UTC

So many of my friends have always loved the show The Office, so it was a special treat to see that the characters from The Office would make a guest appearance in this week’s lesson. Ethics, social responsibility, and sustainability in public procurement, of course each topic is essential and important, and this week, we learned just how important they really are. Ethical practices are extremely important to make sure a company is transparent, fair, and free of corruption. Social responsibility focuses on fair labour practices, diversity, and community support. Where sustainability focuses on the importance of selecting eco-friendly suppliers and reducing waste. I found it particularly interesting how in my studies I learned about how of course sustainability is important for the planet, but also for reputation. There were many articles that I found talking about how consumers want to buy from businesses who source ethically and sustainably. This week’s lesson hit home with me because I was able to compare the high integrity and ethics in cansada with the less than ideal working conditions and less ethical practices in procurement from back home in the Philippines.

Week 11 - SILEX Work Period

k_tabangcura — 2025-04-14 20:24:25 UTC

The in class work periods are always a nice way to catch up and get specific questions answered right away. This week we were able to have a dedicated time to collaborate with our groups and it made a huge difference, we didn't have to deal with each other’s busy schedules outside of class time and we were able to move our ideas forward efficiently. Professor Kim was on standby and was able to give us answers to questions regarding our draft to move things in the right direction. I feel good about the work that we did for next week’s HealthPro Canada presentation.

Week 12 - Presentation Week

k_tabangcura — 2025-04-14 20:24:42 UTC

The news that we were to present for the live client was bitter sweet. Of course, what an amazing opportunity to be able to present in front of a live client! But also, wow, that means we really have to be on our A-game. The stakes are much higher and none of us wanted to mess this up. My group was ready to present our procurement strategy recommendation for HealthPro Canada during the SILEX session. We were able to stay concise and stay within our allotted 8 minute time for our presentation. We were the first to present, which means that we both had no idea what to expect from the other presenters, but also means that we were able to set the tone for the rest too. My team worked together to make sure the presentation was clear, everyone was able to have their thoughts heard, and I felt confident in how we were able to communicate our ideas. This experience was a real life opportunity to recognize the importance of preparation, time management, and having confidence in a professional setting. After all the groups finished their presentations we took a commemorative photo with Professor Kim. Overall, this opportunity is one that I won't soon forget (even if I was nervous beforehand).

Week 13 - Contract and Supplier Management

k_tabangcura — 2025-04-14 20:56:47 UTC

Contracts are always scary, all the legal terms that are hard to understand, and the long winded ways of saying things just to make it only understandable by a lawyer. This week we were able to take a deep dive into how well-defined contracts and a strong supplier relationship are key to a successful procurement. We went back and took a look at the fundamental elements of a contract, we talked about things like offer, acceptance, and consideration, all of which helped me deepen my understanding of how these components all come together to protect both parties from any misunderstandings. Professor Kim focused on Supplier Development which was fascinating because it was an excellent example of how the need to ensure suppliers consistently meet quality and delivery expectations is so important in any contract. We also learned of the importance of reviewing supplier performance, I was once told that anything left to its own devices will get closer and closer to disorder and chaos, so being able to measure consistently the performance of any supplier is extremely important, and one of the most important ways to secure a long-term, ongoing relationship that is built on trust and success.

Week 14 - Finale

k_tabangcura — 2025-04-14 20:58:35 UTC

I know that I have said this before, but it really does feel like just last week I posted my first discussion introducing myself, and now, 14 weeks later, I am here writing about our final PRCH 3020 class. We started this lesson with an in-depth discussion on BPS (Broader Public Sector) agencies. Professor Kim explained how these organizations still receive government funding, even though they are not directly part of the government. The funding helps them provide essential public services to people like us. I was really able to understand the difference between government bodies and BPS organizations and was able to see how public resources are managed and distributed. Professor Kim wanted to leave us with best wishes in our futures and especially in finding meaningful and fulfilling careers. As an international student, her wishes were very well received, I could relate directly to the challenges she mentioned. Its amazing to think back on where I was in my first discussion post 14 weeks ago, to see how much I have learned and grown since then. At the end of class we took a group photo which was a nice way to commemorate the semester we had together. I am excited to see where we will all end up and how far we will go, what we will accomplish in another 14 weeks from now.