Week 4: Acquisition & Analysis of Information for Management, Global Environment of Business and lots of reading (Module 2 con't)

Another week as blown by. In a word I would summarize it as "intense".

This week we only had MBA860 Acquisitions & Analysis of Information for Management (a.k.a. statistics). A few days were morning and afternoon sessions, which made for some really long days. However, if you are going to cover an entire undergraduate statistics course in 3 weeks you need the time to move through the material. I'm kind of feeling like "Neo" in the first "Matrix" movie when they plug him in and "upload" Kung Fu to his brain only for me it is statistics and microeconomics.

We also wrote our first midterm test in MBA860. A 90 minute, 3 question, open book test that was constructed in such a way that it covered all the topics covered so far. We were allowed to bring books, notes, and laptops into the exam. After the test we had a 20 minute break and then we were back in class continuing to push through new material.

In addition we had a team assignment due in both MBA860 and MBA800.

With the jump in workload compounded by our first test, the team structure was definitely tested. Although things didn't necessarily happen in the most efficient way, I don't think there is anyway we could have completed the work required individually. I'm beginning to wonder if they purposely shovel so much work at the students so they must use the team to complete everything. Between completing assignments, studying for the test, completing pre-reading and reviewing course material all your time is gone. I don't know how we're supposed to find time to participate in the clubs and extra curricular activities let alone find time to exercise.

Last night's point four was great. We went to the "Queen's Pub"(a.k.a. "QP"), which is the pub here on campus. To make things even better a lot of people from last years class were there since they had returned to Kingston for their official convocation today. After a rather trying week, I think everyone appreciated the opportunity to cut loose and it provided a great opportunity to talk to the previous class about their experience and where some of them have found employment. The down side was more than a few tired eyes in this mornings statistics lecture. The fatigue of the week coupled with a late night definitely is having an affect most of us. I can't wait to sleep in tomorrow.

Today I had my first appointment with the Business Career Center (BCC). It was a good session and I definitely think the guidance they are going to give me will result in a great covering letter and resume. It was good to revisit the skill set I'm bringing with me and to review where I might see myself going after completing the program.

In addition I had my first call from my strengths coach, which is associated with the Gallup Strengths finder test we completed as part of the pre-study material. Although it was nice to review my strengths again, I don't think the call really helped all that much. Need to wait and see how the next session goes to see if these one-on-one calls will be of use. Kind of hard for a person you have never met to just call you and have a meaningful impact on you through a telephone.

This weekend will be filled with more studying since the statistics and microeconomics finals are next week. I also need to complete my part of the team statistics assignment and work on my talking points for the team presentation in microeconomics next week. Then there is the additional work on my resume the BCC needs me to complete. To top that off I still need to find some time for "me", spend time with my wife (who is probably wondering if I'm still alive), exercise, do laundry, watch the Stanley Cup finals and go grocery shopping. Oh ya, I need to update my blog...wait I'm doing that now!

Week 3: Acquisition & Analysis of Information for Management, Global Environment of Business and lots of reading (Module 2)

As week three comes to a close I am becoming aware of just how unaware I am of the time passing. I find myself so busy most of the time I don't even know what day of the week it is.

This week saw us start Module 2 which is two courses: MBA 860 Acquisition & Analysis of Information for Management (a.k.a. statistics) and MBA 800 Global Environment of Business (a.k.a. microeconomics). Below in brief are some of the topics covered and items of interest:

MBA 860 Acquisition & Analysis of Information for Management:

• Professor Jeff McGill is excellent. He knows how to move through the material at a pace that is "just right". Fast enough to be interesting, but slow enough to get the important points across. He also seems to have an excellent handle on making the material mean something, by using real examples, so it is easier to understand.
• Intro to stats, binomial distributions and normal distributions
• Where information can be found, what do do with it, how it is collected
• A little bit of reading, but not too bad if you have taken a statistics course before, which I have

MBA 800 Global Environment of Business:

• Professor John McHale is quite entertaining. He is excellent at his topic and definitely able to go much deeper than what we are currently covering.
• Intro to microeconomics
• supply & demand curves (aside: the most useful 4 lines you will ever use)
• market forces (a.k.a. "the invisible hand")
• effects of tariffs, subsidies, world prices, etc.
• how "dead weight loss" comes into play regarding inefficient markets
• Several team based presentations on a variety of topics (e.g. Price of oil, carbon emissions, wikinomics, the "next" industrial revolution)
• Lots of reading from a well written text book, but I should have done more reading on the previous weekend

Although we are continuing to work in teams for some assignments and presentations there is an individual component for the final exams.

Other stuff:

• The "point 4" club is now going strong
• Fit-to-lead is continuing to assess student fitness and start running groups
• Student elections are this week to elect the student exec. Some position were award by default, but most have a few people running so there will be speeches and voting
• Various student clubs are getting set-up (e.g. finance, consulting, etc.)

This weekend promises to be busy since I need to complete my duties as "lead" on my teams statistics assignment, hit the gym, spend time with my wife who has just arrived back in Kingston, prep for next week and hopefully catch the game opener for the Stanley Cup finals!

Week 2: The Role of the General Management, Leadership and Guest Speaker (Module 1)

Week 2 is nearly complete and I can barely believe I'm surviving. We have been working in our teams to complete some group assignments. Most of us barely got the last one in before the midnight deadline.

This will complete module 1 on The Role of The General Manager and Leadership. Lots of interesting case studies and in class debate. I would post more, but the real value comes from being in the class and participating in the discussions.

The Role of The General Manager course has seen us not just gain an understanding of general management, but we have also been introduced to strategic planning. On Saturday each team will present their strategy for the latest case study.

The Leadership course has definitely challenged everyone. Although it didn't have the same requirement that we present, the content definitely ties in strongly with The Role of The General Manager course. We have been challenged on our definition of leadership, what it does, and how to apply it. There has also been a strong ethical component. I have definitely learned a lot from my classmates since they all come from such a diverse background.

We also had our first guest speaker. The individual was a CEO of one of the companies in the case studies we had investigated over the week. Very cool to meet the man behind the actual case. His presentation was on General Management and Leadership, but we barely got past the first couple of slides before the class eagerly starting questioning him on multiple topics.

I originally wanted to update this blog once a week on Friday's, but this week's entry needs to move to Thursday so I can put in another intensive evening of teamwork tomorrow evening. Not expecting to get home until at least 12:30 AM if tomorrow is the same as yesterday. (Note: this actually turned out to be 3 AM)

This evening we are kicking off "the point four club". The myth goes that a professor at Queen's once calculated that if you take one evening off to socialize it will only affect your GPA by 0.4%.

Well, off to cook some dinner while continuing to read. The shear volume of reading has kept me completely occupied when combined with class and group work. At the moment I have almost no free time and what little I have had I have used to call my parents to let them know I still exist or to go to the gym.

Overall I'd say we are off to a good start.

Week 1: Introduction, Teambuilding, Transition and Fun.

The first week is finished.

Wow.

It feels like it went by so fast and yet, because of the intensity, it feels like we have all been here for a month and known eachother for most of our lives.

I am very tired from this demanding week and looking forward to sleeping in tomorrow. That way I will be well rested for the "transition" activities that are planned for tomorrow as members from the MBA class that just graduated hand over the reigns to the clubs and student executive as well as other learnings and rituals. It promises to be a night everyone will remember.

A few of the the things we did this week:

• Were introduced to the program, the faculty, and the staff
• Assigned to our teams
• Given extensive teambuilding training
• Given extensive self evaluation and strength building material
• Introduced to the Career Centre
• Introduced to the IT staff and assisted with setting up and using the tools provided

Everything so far has been incredibly well organized. All the material required has just "magically" appeared on my desk or at my seat in the lecture theatre.

Finally, I am really impressed with how strong all of the members of the class are. I am looking forward to learning from all of them and sharing my knowledge with them. I can definitely say at this point, the end of week one, I made the right decision returning to school to get an MBA and choosing Queen's as the school to do it at.

Day 1

In summary the first day was awesome.

Everyone showed up in formal business attire (i.e. suit and tie) for 9 AM.

We were all greeted by the staff for the MBA program and a complimentary continental breakfast was served. After hanging my coat and stowing my laptop in the room provided I joined the others who were already mingling. Everyone was just l standing around enjoying breakfast in the beautiful atrium of Goodes Hall and introducing themselves to their fellow classmates. Various staff members were mingling with the students and they all knew us by name.

Once the class was called to order and we all sat in chairs set-up in the atrium where Dr.Scott Blake delivered an introduction speech. Bill Blake and Lori Granier addressed the class and discussed the program and the journey all the students are about to embark on. Also, introduction to the various different staff members for different aspects of the program (i.e. “fit to lead” fitness instructor, career centre people, various administration staff, etc.). We were also given the breakdown of the class for 2009. 77 students that were picked from 1,500 applicants. The average age is 28 years old, the average GMAT score is 674, and the average years of work experience it 4.5 years. Approximately half the class is comprised of international students. Academic backgrounds are as follows:

• Engineering& technology = 52%
• Science = 27%
• Arts = 12%
• Other = 9%

The students were then ushered into the lecture theatre where we were made aware of the many opportunities to participate in various organizations on campus and in international exchanges are available. However, to take full advantage of these opportunities depends on how much effort we are willing to invest as is the case with so many other things in life. “You will get out of the program what you put in to it.”

There was a brief mid-morning break for more mingling and coffee in the atrium at approximately 11 AM for 15 minutes.

Following the break we were introduced to a few members from the class that had just graduated. They discussed their experience and the upcoming “hand-off” of various clubs and student executive functions that would happen later in the week. They also discussed etiquette rules that would help us all get along (i.e. not coming in late, no eating meals in class, no cell phones turned on in the lecture theatre, etc.) . I won’t list them all here, but they all made sense and I definitely think that they will help such a diverse group of people function well together.
A buffet lunch was served from 12:15 PM to 1:30 PM and we were all given the task of completing a trivia sheet on our fellow students. The exercised definitely helped us all get to know each other better.

Following lunch we were introduction to the IT department. After a powerpoint presentation on the various computer and printer facilities and support available the class brought out their laptops to install Lotus Notes with assistance from the IT staff. We were given a student copy of Microsoft Office 2007 as well as access to the server and instructed to download and install various software programs on our own.

At 3:30 PM there was an optional tour of campus that took approximately 45 minutes.
After the tour there was time to make a quick trip home to change before heading off to a casual meet and greet scheduled for 5:30 PM at “The University Club” where the families of the candidates were invited. 2 drinks and a buffet were provided. Lots of good conversations and fun were had by all.

After the meet and greet I wandered on over to the Kingston Yacht Club with a couple of my new friends with a shared interest in sailing to see what could possibly happen to make arrangements for willing participants from the MBA Class of 2009 to take advantage of sailing either in larger “sharks” or in smaller “420” dinghies.

Back home to continue unpacking and to get ready for tomorrow. Tomorrow is “dress casual” (i.e. dress shirt, pants, and shoes, but no jacket and tie) and goes from 8:30 AM to 10 PM. The rest of the week will see us heavily involved in team building, personal strength building, “fit to lead”, IT, and registration. Almost every evening promises to run later therefore Queen’s is supplying lunch and dinner this week. This will not be the case next week.

Although the rest of the first week promises to be very intense, but next week looks like we will settle into an 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM routine with a break for lunch and the evenings to do group work or homework.

Travelling: Arrived and settling in.

So, we have made it to Kingston and we are settling in. Kingston is a very beautiful city. All the stuff we shipped by Grey Hound seems to have made it in one piece. Tonight is the "Mixer" that fellow students have arranged via Facebook. Should be fun.

Our old house is well...old. Not as super new as we are used to, but that goes with the territory. It does have charm though and it is only for 12 months. We are both finding the humidity makes it seem much colder here in the evenings and early mornings. There is bell tower that chimes off the hours. Nice switch from the constant traffic and sirens of downtown Calgary. We are on a street with families so we are definitely not in the middle of the "undergrad" "student ghetto".

Managed to get some dress pants from "Dover's" on Princess St. So, I am all set for "business formal" attire on Monday. Got the cell phones re-zoned to Kingston. Getting a landline and Internet next week from "Cogeco". They could have come earlier, but the school has me booked from 8:30 AM to 10 PM almost every evening of the first week. So, it will have to wait till the following week when the schedule backs off to 9 AM to 4:30 PM.

For now there are tonnes of WiFi locations in coffee shops. Right now I'm in "the sleepless goat". Quite nice. Reasonably priced and good food to boot! If you come to Kingston come check it out.