Workload

I complained about the workload a while ago. It's bad, but it's mainly my own fault. I'm taking a course more than I really need this period, in order to be able to have focus on job hunting during P4/P5.

You can really tell that we're now in classes of our own choosing rather than because we have to.

There are still the mandatory 2.5 or so core courses, and the feedback on those are mixed.

I've exempted the IT course, and judging from the feedback that was a very, very, good thing to do.

Macroeconomics is OK so far, although people with previous Macro experience are finding it
fairly slow going.

International Political Analysis starts tomorrow. From what I've heard, it will be an interesting course as we will cover some fairly controversial topics...

My take on my electives, so far:

Negotiations
Very entertaining and very useful. We're doing simulated negotiations every week. For instance, next week we have a videotaped negotiation, which we'll get feedback on later in the course. So, fairly heavy workload in the course. For each negotiation we have to write up feedback both on our own performance, as well as the counterparty.

In addition there are "projects" which will have to be completed, with reports handed in. The projects are different from the simulated negotiations. We have to decide ourselves what we want to bargain for, and then go for it. There are two versions of the projects. In one we have to get 10 "no" answers, in the other we have to negotiate an un-negotiable.

Venture Opportunities and Business Models
Loads of fun, and very interesting with real-life examples. In our first class we were randomly split into groups of three. We were then given the names of three companies that had recently received venture capital funding. In about an hour we had to research them, compare them, and make a recommendation for which to back.

So, it's very hands-on with loads of random groups being created.

In addition to the class work, we also have two projects. One is to come up with a business idea, the other is to do a written analysis of a case.

Strategy, Ownership and Governance
I'm really enjoying the discussions in the class. Basically we have pre-readings on a different topic for each class, and the professor then guides us through the discussion. The pre-reading and cases is of varying interest to me, but I think the professor is doing a very good job of facilitating the discussions, which is probably why I'm appreciating the course as much as I do.

Once again, we will also have a project in yet another group.

Market Driving Strategies
This is basically a simulation of running a marketing department, with decisions to be made on products, product development, advertising, sales force allocation, etc. We've not started the simulation part of the course yet, but it will be fun, as we do it in groups, against other group. It's very similar to the l'Oreal e-strategy challenge.

Unfortunately the course involves two full-day Saturday sessions, so travelling the next couple of weeks is out of the question. The good news is that it will be over by early February...

I'm also taking a so called "mini" on Mergers, Acquisitions, Alliances and Corporate Strategy which seems very interesting. It'll only start in early February though, so it dove-tails quite well with MDS ending early February...