Uni

The second semester saw me finish two more subjects of my MBA. The first was Managerial Skills Workshop. This was very much a personal look at myself and relecting on me as a manager and leader. I really enjoyed it. My other subject was Strategy and Management of Change. This was not so good... But in the end I passed both with DISTINCTIONS so was sure happy!  Now I am just left with one subject to go. How I wish it was all over with already...

Uni: HRM & Operations Management

Well Uni is done and dusted for another semester. I am now only 3 subjects away from completing my MBA. This semester saw me finish Human Resource Management and Operations Management. I thought the first would be easy but it happened to be the harder of the two. I could grasp concepts easily enough but the lecturer was a REALLY hard marker so you never really knew if you were putting in what you were meant to... Operations Management on the other hand took me way out of my comfort zone. It was all about manufacturing and included maths and formulas (yuck!). However I did learn a lot by studying hard and blitzing the exam (I think!). Am still waiting the results of exams which are due in about 10 days or so but am pretty sure I passed. Also am waiting for next year's timetable to be released. Not sure if I can finish next year or the one after. There is a summer subject starting late January but I just don't know...

Uni: Business Economics & Competitive Analysis

So the first half of 2010 has been busy. I did two subjects at uni and received Distinctions in both (so happy as Business Economics was horrible!) That now leaves me with 7 down and 5 to go before finishing my MBA. It may take a few years though but am sure I will get there in the end!

Uni: Organisational Behaviour

The 2nd semester of 2009 also saw me back at Uni doing my MBA. Just one subject though. Organisational behaviour. And I passed with flying colours. A Distinction. Yeah for me! 5 subjects down, 7 to go...

Uni

Ok, so back in February I told you all about how I was going back to Uni to do my MBA. The first semester of 2008 was great. I thought Accounting and Finance would be really hard and scary but I had the best lecturer I have ever had in my life. Brian West - just an amazing lecturer, truly outstanding (and that is saying something). I learnt so much and am so thankful. I put the work in and it really paid off. I am still so amazed at what I got out of one subject. Never in my previous undergrad or masters in LIS have I learnt so much. I was rewarded for my efforts too by getting a Distinction (a hard fought one I tell you!).

The other subject however was crap! Marketing is very interesting but basically it was read the textbook and understand the concepts and remember the jargon for the exam. The lecturer knew a lot but it just wasn't as good as Accounting. I also got a Distinction for Marketing though so was very pleased with myself!

I definitely know that the MBA was the right course for me to pursue. It is a little MIA right now though! You see I started Business Economics in semester 2 but was really sick due to my pregnancy that I hadn't done any reading and was falling chapters and chapters behind. So I deferred for a year and had a great 6 months off at home letting bubs grow (plus working on NLS4). I have enrolled for semester 2 later in the year but I will just wait and see how I go at home with bubs and see what I feel like doing. So you may hear more about "Organisations, Behaviour, Structure and Processes" later in the year. If not, I am sure I will one day complete this course but it just may take me 10 years!

Graduation

I also headed up to Wagga for graduation from my Masters on April 10th. Mum and I had a lovely time meandering up the back way and stopping at wineries, cheese factories, chocolate mills, mustards shops, bookshops etc. A taste sensation which I am still enjoying!

Uni

Yes – I am going back! Next week I start studying for my MBA through the University of Ballarat (I am definitely a gluten for punishment). I do however feel that an MBA will really help me learn more about the management of organisations and thus will give me a better grounding for my future work in libraries and in a variety of other areas. I am attempting three subjects this year:

Accounting and finance (definitely the scariest – but this should help me at work and for NLS4)
Marketing (should be great for work)
Business economics (2nd semester)

Anyway – wish me luck – I think I will need it!!

Finished Uni

Yeah for me! Big claps! I have just submitted my last assignment for Uni and I feel fantastic. I can just about say that now I have my Masters! (OK – I need to wait for my results but close enough!). Now I have to decide what I am going to spoil myself with. Last night when I finished I opened a good bottle of wine to celebrate (By good I mean $16 compared to my usual $8!) I am definitely thinking of buying a whole TV series on DVD but also I think a facial or some sort of pampering is in order! Now that I have finished Uni though I can get back to all the ALIA and Library stuff that I have been shoving aside for far too long! So yeah for me and lets hope this blog can stay a little more updated now!

Next assignment down

I have just finished my next assignment for INF513: Research Methods in Information Studies. Because I had a big weekend - BBQ Friday night, Melbourne all day Saturday and Saturday night - and cause I was still hungover on Sunday, I had to stay up until 1am this morning trying to finish it. Anyway, it's done! All I have to do now is read through it and make changes. You know when you get to that point where you don't really care if it's any good you just want it to be over and done with? Well I am at that point. I am contemplating whether to bother reading it or just submit it (it is due today btw). Anyway, at least I can have a bit of a breather now. Only 2 more assignments left until I finish my Masters (fingers crossed) and the first one isn't due until late October. Yippee!!

ETL525: First assignment down

I have just handed in my first assignment for ETL525 - Knowledge Management. It wasn't too hard actually but it was worth 40% so hopefully it gets the "Pass" it deserves!! You had to find three definitions of KM (harder than you thought - plus you couldn't use the examples the lecturer gave you), then analyze the strengths and weaknesses of each and state why you chose that definition. Then you had to compare the three definitions. For the second half of the assignment you had to discuss tacit knowledge (the knowledge inside peoples heads) and if it can be managed within organisations, and your own view on tacit knowledge. Anyway, that one is done and dusted now - two weeks early!! The other one was due the same time so I picked the KM one as it was shorter and easier!! Now I just have to do a million other things!! Ahhh, life never stops.

INF513 - First assignment down!!

Well - what a relief. The first assignment is down for the semester. Only 4 more to go!! I mean I can't really complain or anything because it was only 500 words, (of which mine was considerably less), but never the less it is finished. I am studying two subjects this semester. ETL525 Knowledge Management and INF513 Research Methods in Information Studies.

ETL525 has two assignments where you have to define KM and tacit knowledge and then discuss KM in your own workplace. Should be interesting. I have got through one reading so far so am trying to get my head around all the new jargon.

INF513 has three assignments. The first one (today's) in which I had to pick a area to research in LIM using "qualitative" methodologies. The second assignment then extends on these. So I picked the use of PDA's in medical libraries and hypothetically used mine as an example. We don't actually have to carry out the research or anything yet so that's ok. Not sure what the third assignment in on. Case studies or Action research or something.

Anyway, I really enjoy studying at CSU as it gives me the flexibility I need living in the country. However I can't wait for the semester to be over and it hasn't even really begun yet!!