Life has been hectic over the last month and a half and its like I've not had time to sit down at the keyboard. I've not got time now but I have a little time before I have to get some sleep.I started on the Executive MBA Program here in Edinburgh on the 10th of July and its been none stop ever since. The first year last three weeks with one day off in the middle. Its a fairly pacy and its not for those who think its going to be an easy ride. The first thing you notice is how smart all the others are. The first three days of strategic management was hard going, and I felt the other guys in my group pulled me through. Based on my own assessment I was a borderline pass/fail on that part. Since then I have been through Accounting for wooden tops, Negotiation and we complete managing across cultures tomorrow then it's the only day off!!! That being said not so sure it will be much of a day off as I should go visit with my brother and get ready for Marketing on Saturday.Without a doubt its been the most challenging course I have undertaken to date. I've boot camped on things like MCSE, PRINCE II before but this is another world. Its not so much the material is difficult it's the pace that it comes there is no time for slow down. Every day has a number of case studies for assessment and the odd exam dropped in. Then there is the tiredness. Morning start at 9 in the morning with class teaching ending about 6. Then the fun starts with group assignments best case has been finish around 11 with some going on until 3am in the morning. One of the things I have noticed is the programmatic thinking that is exhibited. Its more about applying models than creative thinking. I guess that's because the whole thing is supposed to be a science. The funniest situation so far has been one of the negotiation case studies when one side was a building contractor who had to meet with a group of angry residents called Chestnut Village. After having been on the other side of similar meetings and working with an excellent group of guys we nailed the contractors. They were treating it like another management game which was their mistake. We came in well prepared with our game plan fully organized. As the dentist I launched into attacking them about their pedophilic builders, from then on it got worse as we rained anger on them. The game plan was not to settle down for 15 minutes, by then their agenda was in tatters and we had them arguing amongst themselves. Then our lawyer smoothed in as the voice of reason focusing on our long term goals. If we did not secure a commitment for a permanent access road in this meeting we knew we would loose our advantage. They caved in and then the short term stuff fell into place. The debrief was real interesting as the learning experience was very real.
Oh well its time to hit the sack it will not be so long till my next confession.
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