Tuesday, 28 August 2007
@ 9.36 pm
Things I learned this week
One. That strategy competitions are somewhat weird, and, discovered after some semi-sloshed investigative work at the after drinks, that some people take them far more seriously than I do. On Monday, myself and three other MBA students arrived at uni at 8.30 in the morning, were given a fairly hefty case study (about a Korean business-to-business ecommerce software provider in 2001, in case you crave details), and then were left to our own devices for three hours, supplied with water, Toffee Pops and Fruit Bursts, to come up with a ten minute presentation that outlined, and justified, what we thought was the best way forward for the company given the information provided. At the same time, another four postgraduate and several more undergraduate teams from around the country were doing the same.
Our proposed strategy, I think, was very sound, and, it turns out, probably what the company should have done - it was a real case, and we were told afterwards that the company chose a different option, and went bust within a year. Just as we predicted (which I guess is kind of a cool feeling, like perhaps we've actually learned something over the past few weeks and months).
Unfortunately, our presentation was not so sound. To begin with there was a slight issue with the organisers which saw a couple of team mates run interference at the end of the three hours, due to a disagreement over interpretation of the rules, while I hurriedly finished off our slides, and then our actual presentation was rather more winged than perhaps we had hoped. The judges seemed to think is was ok, but we guessed from the feedback later in the day that we hadn't done enough to win the competition. We were right, and in the end Massey Albany took out the title. Chatting to them after though, this was only fair enough, as they had done something like thirteen practice case studies before, at at least whereas our team had done one or two total!
So I guess we were legitimately pwned.
Two. That when you find yourself buying rounds of Long Island Iced Teas, the following day is probably going to suck on two counts: physically and financially. Although I guess I can't really say I learned this in the last week, more had it reinforced after past, similar, experiences. Still, the mechanical bull was good fun, and the hangover was not.
Three. That clouds aren't cool when you're trying to watch a total eclipse of the moon. Damn clouds.
Four. That Wellington is a cool place to have as a getaway destination. I felt extremely, well, relaxed when I arrived today. The bus ride into town is almost becoming routine, and the view of the harbour from Adam and Heidi's window is like coming home in some ways. I'm here for the next four days, and hope to catch up with everyone (like, in the entire world) while I'm here. And get some sleep. And read a book or two. And not think of anything to do with business, or an MBA, or anything along those lines.
