Project Management continued with the class covering PERT and critical path. Everyone in the course seems to be enjoying it and the team teaching style seems to be working well. Students cannot miss even a single class or they will not complete the required 35 hours of classroom instruction required by the PMI to earn the PMP designation.
Marketing of New Ventures had a few guest lecturers. Topics covered were public relations, advertising and market entry strategies. People also seem to be enjoying this course.
Sales Management is still ongoing. I don't have an update on the class material covered as I'm not in this elective and I haven't had a chance to talk with anyone taking it. This is typical of the situation the class finds itself at the moment. We are all in different classes, some people are not even taking classes, and as a result we are rarely all in the same place at the same time.
Corporate Financing and Capital Budgeting Decisions has been interesting. The professor, Alex Faseruk, is here from Memorial University in St. John's Newfoundland for the 2 weeks required to teach the course. Material covered has been Real Estate project selection, Economic Value Added, Biotech/technology company valuation along with a review of pretty much all the finance material we have covered (i.e. different kinds of debt and equity, WACC, NPV, etc.). The professor is quite entertaining and realizes that we are all pretty tired after what we have been through. Students have assembled themselves into groups to complete a case analysis and 2 abstracts on other cases. The case a group analyzes is also the case they present to the class. Overall this is a very useful course as it really brings all the different pieces of the finance puzzle together.
This week we had a final class session with the BCC. They will be offering some basic consultation until mid-May when the next class starts. After that they will try to assist us, but their priority will be focused on the new class.
Also, there is a series of items we have been given to complete to graduate:
- Update mailing address on Alumni site
- Update mailing address on QCARD
- Meet with BCC for 5 minutes one-on-one
- Return keys & swipe cards
- Complete MBA exit survey
- Pay outstanding debts to the University and return all books to Library
All of these need to be signed-off by various people to ensure we can graduate
This week was the final point four. It was held at the Toucan and a lot of people came out. I'm sure there will still be gathers occurring, but the official "point four" has been put to rest.
Tomorrow we have our graduation dinner. This is a formal dinner being held in Ban Righ Hall and the results of the various awards the class had to vote on will be revealed. Should be a good evening and a great way to cap off the year.
This weekend will be filled with packing and some homework. Perhaps I will find some time to hangout with my peers. Only one week to go.
Second angle from just above the main entrance:
The landing this staircase arrives at also leads to the hallway with the majority of the team rooms:
Now lets take a look at a typical team room. Each door is locked, but it is up to you and your teammates to keep it closed to ensure nothing gets stolen. Everyone has a key and the admin staff and security guard have an extra should lock yourself out. It is up to you and your team to decide what sort of stuff to "decorate" your team room with. This team here has decided on a nice plaque mounted team photo and seems to use the pin-up board to post interesting and insightful news clippings on current events.
Opening the door reveals 6 work stations inside and a window on the far wall. Not all team rooms have window, but most do.
A look from the far side of the team room looking back. Note the team room on the other side of the hall:
Here is a look at a typical desk or work area. This is near the end of the program, so there are a lot of different binders and textbooks. Each course has a binder of material. During the core of the program these materials seem to just "appear" as the staff puts them together and delivers them as they are needed. There is room for all this stuff and lots of "pin-up" room as well. Naturally, there is also a LAN connection and plug-in for your laptop. Is that a case interview prep book I see there on the desk?
Each team room is equipped with a black and white bubble jet printer, mini-fridge, coffee maker, recycling bins and various stationary items. It is up to your team to make sure this area is kept neat and tidy. Otherwise you could find your fridge filled with mould...
Lets not forget the coat rack. Handy for storing suits or blazers for those unexpected networking opportunities. Also a good place for those bulky winter jackets needed to survive a Canadian winter. And, as you can see, each team gets a white board to use during team work sessions. Nice city skyline on the wall!
In addition to the team room there is the resource lounge, which most students refer to as the "E-bar" (a.k.a. Energy Bar). The E-bar is stocked by the student government and charges a small premium on the goods sold to fund various MBA activities. The main activity it was used to fund this year was MBA Games. The resource lounge has a couple of fridges, 3 microwaves, fax, phone, scanner, photocopier and laser colour printer. The sports equipment the program provides is also stored here (i.e. frisbees, soccer balls, cricket stuff, tennis stuff, squash stuff, etc.). This is also where the daily papers, other periodicals and magazines are displayed/stored for students to access.
Look from the other end of the room back:
Here is a look at the classroom. Every student has a name plate that has their name on the front and back. This makes it easy for your classmates to refer to you by name even if they are sitting behind you. After a couple of months you know every ones name, but the name plates still help professors who are coming in to start a new course. There are two projectors that show the slides on each side of the room so every student has a good view.
Of course the progam would not be what it was if it wasn't for the tireless support of the staff. Here are the real stars of the program: .jpg)
From left-to-right we have:
