MBA – Marketing Class #1

The first class was missed. Actually, I didn’t intend to take up this module this semester, only planned for Strategic Management. But I think I will like Marketing and thinking to attend class without exam. But once entered, I was so into it that I even found a group and marked my attendance. Erm, still thinking whether I should take up, since I am not too satisfied with the group members (most of them are non working). I know to work with non working group members will create a lot of schedule conflicts, just like what happened in Innovation Management last time.

Note that this time I didn’t stick to SCH because I want to be more independent. I didn’t even bother to be in the same group as him. Well, just go our own way. I am thinking to meet more new friends. After all, I paid so much to meet more people and share new experiences.
The professor Dr.Nelson, from Nigeria, I believe. Written many books before. And he is quite funny. Not too much, not too bored. Just nice. The debate of McDonald and McCurry was interesting.

Looking at him gets me reminded me of Danger, my Innovation Management group mate. Wonder how is he doing now. Doesn’t know why, I think this name, “Danger” is really cool.

After about 5 months since the last semester, I was kinda excited to attend classes again. Worrying the lecturer might be those Whites whom I can’t catch up with their English accent, thank god this round is better, at least I can understand Prof. Nelson’s English, although sometimes pronounce ‘Characteristics’ as ‘Karakteristiks’.

Students are a lot, I think should be around 150. The classroom was full. Many new faces although some old boring faces like Tom, Nicholas, Lili were also there. There were quite a number of proactive students but some were just lame asking stupid question. Really lame. (How does financial ability contribute to Marketing strategy?) Duh! No money how to advertise on TV???

Again, although I am much prepared and experienced this semester, I am still lacking confidence, does not dare to speak out loud. I have to keep reminding myself, “hey Ongki, you can do better than them! You did it! Go and do more and better”. I met Ali, the guy who played a great role in my last semester modules. He said I can do Marketing. Injected some confidence in me too. Well, I surely can do better. Want to maintain my straight A’s record.

First MBA result

Woohoo….I’ve got A in both modules!!!
Innovation Management and Advanced Strategic Management…

Mind you, it’s ADVANCED Strategic M. ADVANCED eh. Not easy. Especially for beginner like me.
I didn’t expect to get A anyway. Just hoping I won’t fail.
Well, I officially resolved one of the most important item in my to-do list.

Recalling back the whole journey since I first sit in the class, then getting a group, then struggling whether to drop this module, and then the group meetings, writing email to Reliance chairman, the pitching with group members, the final group presentation and finally the tears-blood-vomit effort in writing the individual paper.
I think I do deserve an A.
This subject is one of the basic knowledge, that a business owner should acquire. Learning the powerfulness of building networks, having institutional constrains and etc.
Nintendo was my case study. I wrote how did Nintendo managed to take over the sales figure from a Resource Based view and Network perspectives.

Woo, hoo…its the same firm that I did in Innovation Management.
In fact, I didn’t have enough time and resources to write on Reliance, so I decided to write on Nintendo.
Writing the same firm for both modules, giving people the impression as if both will have the same content but it’s not. Totally not. Looking from two whole different aspects. Innovation Management is so much easier.
It took me one week to complete. Submitted the paper on time, although I spend sleepless nights for that.
Not to mention, those nights I’ve gotta go over his house to complete due to Streamyx down at my place.
Lucky he’s there to guide me, especially the troublesome references formatting. Too troublesome.

But not to be too proud of myself, this was just the FIRST semester of this 3 years courses. Many more modules to come. But with this result, at least I know I am working out the right thing.
Can’t wait to attend classes like Marketing, Managing People etc. I am just too weak at dealing with people.

First MBA group presentation…not too satisfactory

It was 80% well prepared.
It was 100% well delivered.
It was 20% well questioned and answered.
It was 0% of my performance…

Quite dissapointed. I think it can be better, if like what I thought of, emphasis on example of cases, but I have failed to convince my group member and worst is, I didn’t trust myself, and didn’t even try to fight for it. Blame no one but myself.

The most critical failure was when the professor dedicated a question to me, and I failed to answer, although with the help of my group member but it was a disaster because I eventually realized that he’s doing that because he wanted to test my understanding on the subject.
I feel terribly bad but still manage to persuade myself that it’s a good beginning, good point to start the real life learning. Never ever forget my rationale to join a MBA course, not because of the certificate but to learn.
Learn on the business, learn to communicate, learn to gain confidence!
I believe, with hard work, I can get the understanding, but without the business knowledge and the skill to present it are two major factors that will hinder me.
I can’t believe that, it’s difficult for me to listen to what most of the people say in the class…could it be that I am already partially deft?
Anyway, my mind couldn’t stop thinking of the appropriate way to answer the professor.
I just sent him an email, giving the answer that I can think is the best. At least I can sleep better after this.

I would have to say, I am sitting in a very tough class, but the good thing is I have a very positive and dedicated team. We have spend a lot of efforts and sleepless night to prepare for this presentation.
Although result are not that expected, because i really expect high, but as everyone said, ‘it’s a learning process’.
I must say, this Malay guy we have in the team is amazing. He’s such a real strategist. He turned his idea into execution. Basically the whole presentation arrangement and contents are based on his idea.
Although there are parts that I don’t agree but I think he’s a very nice person.
He knows himself bossy, but he also said that he welcomed debate, positive one, and pitching ideas through each other. I can’t help but to admire his fast thinking, persuasive skill, strategic thinking but most of all, his willingness to guide, at least to me. I can also learn how does he gain the confidence. Well, he has been a business consultant for so many years, and how am I? But I believe, with efforts and a lot of hard works, its not a problem. Ganbatte!!!!!
And I must also compliment this superb uncle for his steady presentation skill. Put in some humor although no one laugh, hahaha….a real marketing guy…
As for SCH, I think he’s been working really hard too, which he said, almost collapsed.

After all, little failure is the mother of all success. I enjoyed so much of all this experience.
No worry, we have second chance to prove again, where we determined to do better.
It should be even better, i am sure of that!

And after this, i gotta get back to focus on my job. For the past 2 weeks, my life has been upside down, I was basically a vampire when I was in the office. And my task is progressing sooooooo slow….that my manager finally came to ask for updates. I feel guilty but I promise to focus once my presentation is over.
Oh yes, not to forget, the group work for Innovation Management. I have a feeling that my group members must be cursing me for not contributing. Oh well…I am worn out, exhausted…boh lat!!!!!

Networking….

I like this quote, taken from kennysia.com,

In life, nobody ever goes through success alone.

You’ll get what that truly means when you are doing a MBA…..

MBA Day 2 – Advanced Strategic Management – what is that????

Last Thursday, I attended the MBA lectures for the second time.
After got my first shocked on the day before, I hope this time would be less tense but it ended up to be superb tense instead. Entering the class slightly late, I entered the room, with my eyes looking for SCH.
And he was there. Sign of relief since this guy always help me a lot.

But not long after one whole lots of introduction of the module assignment from the Indian professor, he asked us to form groups. SCH told me to join his group which consist of a Malay guy and another quite old uncle. They were all so proactive, they were so experienced. They started to talk about who can contribute on what and so on. When I was asked about what can i contribute, I said, ‘nothing, i just joined, i don’t know what can i contribute’. In fact, I didn’t even know what the heck the module is talking about! I didn’t understand almost all the Q and A between the professor and the other students. I was damn BLUR!
But SCH came to my rescue, help a bit by saying I do a lot of readings.

I know their concern is that, they don’t want group member who don’t contribute to the team and just getting marks by others effort. But I really want to let them know that they can rest assured that I will put 110% of efforts! (provided I have idea of what I need and should do)
It could be that I didn’t speak anything when they discussed about which firms to select as target study (since I was still blur), the Malay guy looked at me and warned me about not contributing. I frankly told him that I didnt know anything. And they are quite surprise that I didn’t take the Strategic Management before coming in for the ADVANCED SM. Hey! I told them, I just joined!!!
I was thinking in my heart, ‘F**k loh!! why the heck am i here????!!!!! can i withdraw the MBA???’
But these team members keeps telling me that it is something can be done. To take Advanced before taking the basic SM. Well, since they say so, I just let it be. I don’t want to displease them by withdrawing myself from the group just because I am not confidence on what I am doing! I know, I can’t give up!!! I know!!!
So i didn’t. The pressure haunted me all night long.

After the lecture, we even went for a movie, “The Wedding Game”. I think Fann Wong and Chris Lee are just cute together.
But during some point of the movie, my mind was so worry about the group assignment, that I couldn’t concentrate 100% on the movie.
Just as soon as I reached home, I started to search online for the information.
That was what I were doing on Friday and Saturday night as well.
Only today, managed to escape and went the lunch gathering with UMS coursemates.
Visited Loke Foong’s house and we had an interesting Poker game.

Basically, it was a very tough and challenging week for me. Tiring as well.
It has been so long since I am in such tension mode.
Serving client at work, reporting to manager, working together with colleagues….and now attending classes, and have to do a lot, a lot, really a lot of readings!!!!! On subjects that I never read for the past 2x years of my life!
Tough life just got started…………May god bless me!!!!

First Day at MBA – can I do it?

Today is my first class. Although I was just sitting in the ‘trial’ class as I haven’t decide on the final subjects to take, but I already feel the tense around. Attending Thomas’s Management of Change….

Well, I would honestly say, I am only able to grab 40% of what he delivered. His speech is too speedy.  Can’t get some of his jokes sometimes. Only when he seriously and clearly delivering the keynote of his slides that I can understand in full. But overall, I am very dissapointed with my own standard! Guess what, all other students are so so so damn fluent in English. With slang somemore! Confident, outspoken, proactive ….. and me? erm….

He was saying we can’t avoid change and unless we are ‘constants’, otherwise change occurs all the times, because we are human, and we need to know how to manage it. I like this idea and now I am experiencing a big change in my life.  He taught us that language can twist on how you respond to change.  When you can’t do something, add 3 letters behind your sentence, and it brings a totally new meaning to your sentence.

“I can’t do it”  ……….change to………. “I can’t do it YET“

This subject does not have exam but there will be a group assignment or presentation and an individual report. And at the end of the class, we already have to select our group members. There were 7 of us, including a lawyer, a HR manager, some foreigners, some IT experts and another IT moron (me loh). And we are suppose to split into two groups but we were all standing there, not knowing what’s the best method to split as we are all new to each other, doesn’t know how to choose.  In the end, someone suggested to flip coins and guess what, we have a draw. Some sort of ‘cabutan bertuah’.

I am in this group with the lawyer, who looks nice and friendly, although not handsome but who cares as long as he can work ., and another full timer young pretty lady, Chrisandra., whom i got to know from Scott that she comes from a rich family and it might be a bad choice to be in the same group as her since she will not be as dedicated as other part timers will do. 

After the class, I had dinner with Scott and he told me many stories of who is rich guy, who is good and who is bad. Never know going to school is this complicated! I’d really underestimated how much commitment do I need to put in to complete this MBA, and the question is, can I really get a pass???

I begin to have doubts. Can i do it YET? Is this the right time for me to do it YET? Will I pass those exames? Never come across my mind, doing an MBA is so much more tougher than a degree!

But no regret, I already started it, and i will try all my best to complete it, maybe not Distinction but at least a PASS!