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Hubble Telescope Image

The first week of the second term is over already. Without getting too philosophical, time marches on a pace and the MBA journey continues.  Much as the life of the Hubble Telescope, where time is really just another concept, will soon be at an end, so will the course.  For some I am sure that will be a great relief and for others a sad time.

My fellow students from places such as the USA or Europe are feeling much richer this term, do to the exchange rates, so are doing their best to prop up English retail and service industrys’ – clothes shopping and bar hopping!

It is great to see and nice that the bonds formed last term, socially, have been maintained and enhanced into this new term.

The new term has brought another great chance to get inspired to be awesome by Nick Bates.  The key to sucess in these times is to remain positive and Nick is superb at developing your self-awareness and confidence.  Developing a clear vision but also ensuring one remains rounded and well read.

As ever, there are the cynics in the group who either don’t attend his lectuers or simply don’t buy into what he says.  Whether that is through pride or for other reasons I am not sure but I guess different things suite different people.  His sessions certainly are not filled with wordy lauguage so that can’t be the reason.

Our ‘home work’ for this week is quite funny though, develop your Flirting101 !!

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Yesterday were the first lecture on Strategic advantage (great title!) and MAM (odd title!) There was some disquiet that the module leader for the Strategic Advantage module was not present. Not normally a major issue except that next week there are group presentations (yes already!) and it is not clear what needs to be done – clearly not very strategic!

MAM is a maths based module looking at modelling and simulation. Given my previous work experience, this should be ok in terms of picking up concepts but for many there was a look of horror on their faces – regression models, LG programming, first order this, re-arrange equation that, sigma, standard deviation (you get the picture) … At least the lecturers were organised and I enjoyed the fun delivery style.

The weather continues to be cold here (-12deg C) and the war in Gaza ensures one maintains perspective. My Dad sent me a book on “Arabic for Dummies” together with a (heavy going!) book on arab history. Really looking forward to getting into those and learning more about such a historically troubled, yet interlectually advanced, region of the world.

Today term 2 started and the studying is back with a bang. Everyone seems to have had a good break such that some looked a little shell shocked to be sitting in the lecture theatre again. We had a couple of engagements over the festive period so big congratuations to those guys!

Marketing Strategy had the pleasure (!?) of being the first lecture on the Monday morning but it was very interesting and looks like being a good follow on from last terms session; lots of new ideas and the focus well and truly on the strategy and value proposition rather than the “Marcoms” – word for the day already.

Management of Change is the other module for Monday and it is also looking very interesting. The Ice Cubes being an indication of the theory (from 1940′s) that suggests the connection with unfreezing, changing and then refreezing as basis theory for managing change – I could certainly have done with some unfreezing this morning at 7am !

Welcome to 2009!

Couple of site updates to check out, try reading the posts in your native language (click on your flag on the right column) and also check out some new additions to the MBA Resources page.

The pre-reading has begun for next week and there seems to be a fair amount; that is no surprise really.  Still, a good break was important after the intensity of the last few months and I am refreshed and ready for the push through to Sept (when we finish!)

No exam or module marks back yet but I understand these things take time. Keep those comments coming …

Happy New Year to you all.

Samir