2013/01/29

Reborn!

"Reborn with new management after 5 years stop of operation"

Sounds like a news headline in the business press...

Well, it is... if you are
1) Well verse in Japanese (pre-requisite)
2) Interested to pursue an MBA degree in MBS
3) Interested to recruit Japanese speaking MBA students from MBS
4) Interested to networking with Japanese speaking MBA students from MBS
5) Simply interested on life in Manchester or any football teams in Manchester

OK, what is the big deal?

The website of MBS MBA for Japanese speaking students revived!!!
Eventually after 5 years!!!

So, if you fall into one of the categories above, access it now!

http://mbs-mba.jimdo.com/

Thanks to the initiative of students in Class of 2013! We Class of 2014 will sure take good care of your baby after you saying bye bye in April!
 

2013/01/18

Sem 2 Started!

Snow continue falling from the sky since last night, when I was walking home together with my EBPY (more detail below) teammate. Feeling the first time that Manchester can also be so romantic, when the first slice of snow unexpectedly fall on my coat the moment I step out from MBS entrance.

This was the second time it snow in Manchester, but the first time it fell long enough to cover the part of the ground. Ahhh... this is the winter that I was looking forward! Hate the winter without snow but only uncomfortable cold. That's why I love Hokkaido so much, with a temperature of just below the frozen level, you can enjoy a scenary of whole-white neverland. And of course the quality of the snow is so good, so soft that you can lie on it comfortably.

2 weeks passed since the 2nd Semester started. Quite few things happened but a relatively relax pace compare to last semester. To some extent, we already used to the demanding MBA life. To some extent, we know better how to deal with each other in the group works and hence more efficient. And also to some extent, we know what to prioritize and therefore can just ignore what we think is low priority.

Grumbling among us on the slow feedback on our last semester academic performance. 7 weeks passed since the final exam but still the scores and the feedbacks on some of the courseworks are still pending with the academics. Wondering why they pushed us so hard for studying and completing the courseworks within dateline, while slacking on returning the feedback. Though taught in one of the class, prompt feedback is the key in learning process...

So far, only grades on 2 subjects were released. Got a distinction for Accounting and a merit for SfSM Module, which 80% of the module is the NfP Project. Not quite surprise for the grade on Accounting (Module of both Financial Accounting and Management Accounting) as the assessment is purely paper exam. For SfSM Module, for which I have been worrying about failing, as our team scored really bad in initial stage, luckily survived the passing mark, and being pulled up further to pass the merit line by the individual reflective report and final exam. Still waiting for Marketing, Finance, Economics...

So, Sem2 started. What we have for this sem?

Core Subjects
1) Strategy
2) Operation Management
3) People Management and Organization (PMO)
4) International Business and Innovation Management (IBIM)

Curriculum was changed from last year. For our senior in Class of 2013, they had Strategy, Operation Management, and a subject called Designing International Competitive Enterprise (DICE) which combined both PMO and IBIM. Due to their feedback that combining 4 subjects (HR Management, Organization Behavior, International Business and Innovation Management) into the single subject of DICE made the subject complicated and hard to digest, the school changed the curriculum this year by dividing it into 2 subjects - PMO and IBIM. 

Continue from last semester
1) Weekly Speaker Series
2) Career Management
   
2 alumni came so far. One talked on B to B Marketing and the other talked on leadership consulting. As before, it opened our horizon for an industry or a field that we may otherwise never come across.

CMS (Career Management Service) organized a career week that invited several companies to visit the campus for recruiting, both fulltime position and internship. Companies came included Hilti, Google, AT Kearney, Essar Oil, Admiral, Amazon, and BCG. All sessions were filled up with well business-dress students as this semester is the critical timing for both fulltime position and internship hunting.

Competition
1) EBPY (European Business Plan Competition)

An Europe level entrepreneurship competition, which we need to submit a business plan, give an elevator pitch and present the business idea in front of real VCs. MBS is so kind to design a series of lecture and workshop to prepare the participants for the competition. We had talks from the Academics as well as outside speakers like the Entrepreneurs, VC, Taxation Accountants and so on.

Have a business idea in my mind, not sure whether it can win the competition. But to my surprise, I'm so passion about it when I tell it to other people. Kind of uncover the entrepreneurship spirit that long 'hidden' in me! Still looking for my team members, hope fully can gather a bunch of bright minds who can share my passion!

Preparation lectures for nest semester projects
1) UK Consultancy Project
2) M&A Project

The classes will start in next few week. Mainly cover the topics on Quantitative Analysis and Financial Analysis, to enable a smooth kick-off for those 2 projects in next semester.

That's all?

Of course not!

Internship search, preparation for MBAT (MBA Sport Tournament), preparation for Asian Night, mentoring program, stock trading competition, house parties, networking sessions...lots more to go in this semester.

So, refill the fuel and keep moving!

2013/01/01

Happy New Year!

Exactly 1 year passed since I wrote my first blog. Intended to write the blog at least once a week, and started with full engine, but the engine seemed to be running out of lubricant half way and the momentum was getting smaller and smaller... Nevertheless, thanks to the initial passion, 50 blogs written so far in last year, an average of almost one blog per week. Certainly it can be done better, not in quantity-wise, but in the content-wise especially more focus on the learnings in each MBA subjects and their applications in business.

Anyway, leave the reflection on blogging aside. How about a reflection on my 2012? How I grade my 2012?

Well, 2012 was really a year of CHANGE for me, whether functionally, geographically, or intellectually. A good start in January by working on a new project in the leading position, got promoted in June, decided to resign in July, left Japan and flied to UK in August, returned to student life again in September, completed the MBA first semester in December, and continuing on the quest for a dream future in the uncertainties...

Did I satisfy on all these "achievements"? Can I declare my 2012 a good one?

Well, the answer can be "Yes!" or "I don't know!"

"Yes!" because those are all I wanted to do. I planned it, I worked on it and I achieved it

"I don't know!" because I still don't know the outcome. The future is full of ambiguity. Does a MBA degree means that I will change my profession in future? Does a farewell of Japan means that I will leave Japan permanently? How my future looks like? Where will I be in 10 years from now?

Asked by my wife that if there was a Doeramon Door, that can get me to the future to see where am I and what am I doing in 10 years from now, would I dare to open the door? Of course, I dare. But the question is your life will be less interesting after you know what it will be in future! The ambiguities and the uncertainties are actually the spice of the life that make you anxious, make you excited to explore any unknown opportunities!

So, why worry so much about the far future? I should be grateful that I am now doing what I wanted to do. And this will certainly improve myself for a better career and better future!

If my 2012 is all about CHANGE, I hope the theme for my 2013 will be EXPLORE. So, here is the list of my goals in 2013.

1) Secure a good internship, which may decide my post MBA career.
2) Better time management to digest as much as possible the MBA knowledges and skills.
3) Take part in more MBA events especially the MBA competitions.
4) If possible, an exchange to other university in other country.
5) Visit as many countries as possible to open my horizon.
6) And of course try to enjoy UK life!

Wishing 2013 a good one for everyone! Happy New Year!