BUS 600 Presentation Readiness & Plan - IMPORTANT

Below is the conversation with Eric regarding the Final Presentation assignment and plan.

lowedmond: Question on BUS 600, in the beginning of the semester – you did mention that we are going to have final presentation on Wk 10 to present a summary of a career goal and provide our MBA Capstone Project summary.

Are these two items that needs to be presented on Wk 10 (stated in the CALMAT_BUS_600-1_Syllabus_Summer_2009 package - http://ulearn.calmat.us/mod/resource/view.php?id=133)?

And I realize that you also stated that the final assessment/ grading is on Wk12 in your Assignment posting page (http://ulearn.calmat.us/mod/assignment/index.php?id=34).
Is this also part of the presentation plan on Wk10 (part 1) and Wk 12 (part 2)?

Eric Tao: Yes, we will have a presentation.

Eric Tao: We have to decide if we should meet for another one more week, may 15 or not.

Eric Tao: we will decide that next Sat.

Eric Tao: our initail plan is to meet 6 times and the last one is may 1.

lowedmond: ok, got it.

lowedmond: So, are we going to present both the MBA capstone and also the career goal and plan (also, the estimate presentation time, please)?

Eric Tao: Yes, the goal and plan should be brief (1-2 min). capstone is 3-5 min.

lowedmond: Thanks

** Please convey the message to the rest of the classmates **

BUS 540 Week 7 Assignment Checklist

Summary Wk7 Checklist

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BUS 540 Week 7 Assignment

Setting up a free MailChimp account for email marketing

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BUS 540 Week 6 Assignment Checklist

Summary Wk6 Checklist

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BUS 540 Week 6 Assignment

• Build links to your site or blog

http://lowedmond.blogspot.com/2010/03/new-website-found-for-san-jose.html

http://lowedmond.blogspot.com/search/label/Badminton%20Hot%20Deal

• Analyze your Google metrics – in progress (ECD: 4/9)

• Post your findings in the forum for discussion – in progress (ECD: 4/9)

BUS 540 Week 5 Assignment Checklist

Summary Wk5 Checklist

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BUS 540 Week 5 Assignment

Using Facebook and Twitter to promote my product.

Here we go with my facebook and twitter postings!


click image to go to my twitter posting.


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BUS 540 Week 4 Assignment Checklist

Summary Wk4 Checklist

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BUS 540 Week 4 Assignment

Creation of My Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn Accounts and network invitation to CALMAT BUS 540 participants.


click image to go to my twitter account link
http://twitter.com/lowedmond


click image to go to my facebook account link
http://www.facebook.com/people/Edmond-Low/724319418


click image to go to my linkedIn account link
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/edmond-low/1b/20a/370

Also, I tried playing the Adwords tools (Google advertising tools)...i think..... I will stick with twitter/ facebook publisity for now....

BUS 540 Week 3 Assignment Checklist

Summary Wk3 Checklist


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BUS 540 Week 3 Assignment

Setting up your Blog and Google Analytics.

As required, i set up a new blog of a simple online business of selling/ buying used badminton equipments.

Here's the business blog link and is also posted in previous posting.

http://usedraket.blogspot.com/

http://lowedmond.blogspot.com/2010/03/new-website-found-for-san-jose.html

Also, set up and familiarize with Google Analytics tools (website tracking tools) for both of the website that i owned.


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BUS 540 Week 2 Assignment Checklist

Posting a checklist to ensure all the course work/ assignment is done and taken care of.
Summary Wk2 Checklist

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BUS 540 MARKETING ASSIGNMENT

Marketing Assignment here i come!

Alot of reading and slide to go through!

Interesting subject that keep my brain active with pictures of real world marketing happening globally.

Let's get into business (assignment)...no time to be wasted!

New website found for San Jose Badminton Fanatic Player/ Fan

Buy/ Sell Used Badminton Equipment Service in San Jose.

New blog in San Jose - http://usedraket.blogspot.com/

New! Buy and sell used good quality badminton racket.
Also, selling quality birdies/ shuttlecocks at affordable price.

Email usedracket@gmail.com

BUS 600 Week 6 Assignment Checklist

Summary of Wk6 Assignment checklist.

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BUS 600 Week 6 Assignment 2

Assignment 2
Software Tools and definition of QA.

Tools
http://www.informationforaccountants.com/article_Analysis_1.html

http://www.drjimmirabella.com/bus305/

Definition
http://www.yourdictionary.com/business/quantitative-analysis
Mathematical study of something. For example, an economist makes an economic forecast to management after analyzing many quantitative factors, including currency exchange rates, inflation, interest rates, and changes in the money supply.

http://www.investopedia.com/terms/q/quantitativeanalysis.asp
A business or financial analysis technique that seeks to understand behavior by using complex mathematical and statistical modeling, measurement and research. By assigning a numerical value to variables, quantitative analysts try to replicate reality mathematically. Quantitative analysis can be done for a number of reasons such as measurement, performance evaluation or valuation of a financial instrument. It can also be used to predict real world events such as changes in a share price.

BUS 600 Week 6 Assignment 1

Assignment 1
Chapter 5 – Quantitative Analysis


Earlier in Chapter 1 and 2 we touch on decision making based on right and wrong.

I would classify Quantitative Analysis as a decision making of an investment/ project based on “yes” or “no” of facts and information gathered for simple understanding.

QA will also study the cash flow analysis and also the future value (NPV).

Something sounds familiar to me (learnt during old school days) that was mentioned in the chapter regarding probability studies of the following few distributions:

• Binomial Distribution – Only two possible outcome – “Yes” or “No”.








• Normal Distribution – Bell shaped distribution






• Cum Distribution Function (CDF) – A normal distribution that shows the probability of less or equal.

With all the probability gathered from the facts and data, one can quantify or forecast the value of the investment special mathematical method of Regression.

BUS 600 Week 5 Assignment Checklist

Summary of Wk5 Assignment checklist.



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BUS 600 Week 5 Assignment 2

Assignment 2
What kind of leader I am “using VCM Model”?

I would like to share and review my personal behavior of my past, present and future VCM model. (Past and present weightage inputs are based from my 5 ex-colleagues in Malaysia that enter the industry the same time when i first graduate and my personal review)

About 10 years ago when i first graduated and get a first job, I have big vision to become a skillful engineer and provide 100% commitment on the task with minimum managerial skills (less exposure).

My current job requirement. More managerial roles- decision making and planning. Lesser vision as i'm involve more on engineering management.

And of course, to be a successful most wanted manager and leader. I need to ensure my growth to a more balanced VCM model. Tough but do-able!

BUS 600 Week 5 Assignment 1

Assignment 1

Chapter 4 – Organizational Behavior Summary and blogging

Through out the years, I’m exposed to scenario that required me to use Problem solving and decision making skill.

I would like to share my view of OB using example from what I learnt before:

“The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People” – Steven R.Covey

Behavior is also known as Habit. The Habit consists of the skill/ knowledge/ desire. One need to focus these elements that will bring the whole organization to practice the following 7 Habits that brings effective and efficient end results to the company.

1. Be proactive
• Make the positive difference your self to improve lives and work process.
2. Begin with the end in mind
• Create/ set goal and long term goal.
3. Put First thing first
• Ensure time and effort is being spent in understanding your goals. Identify the workload division/ category/ criteria in order to meet the goal.
4. Think win-win situation.
• Seek agreements that benefit each other. Also, reward the win- win situation.
5. Seek first to understand then to be understood.
• An individual that understand the whole picture will get to be understood by people.
• Willingness to accept and get input of bigger pictures.
6. Synergize
• Create trust and mutual understanding within the organization that can help to solve issues and avoid conflict.
7. Sharpen the Saw
• Re-visit and continue to improve.

Practicing these Habits will help to develop one to gain the leadership skill of setting Vision --> Commitment to deliver --> Managing the project.

BUS 600 Week 3 Assignment Checklist

Summary of Wk3 Assignment checklist.



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BUS 600 Week 3 Assignment 2

Assignment 2
Learning Forum of Ethics (Also posted in the uLearn Forum - require uLearn login)

Ethics - the right and wrong of decision making

First of all, the word “Ethics” is all about decision making to me. Whether one make the good or bad/ right or wrong decision for your organization or business.

Most of the companies/ organizations will introduce the right and appropriate ethics for the organization/ business as the fundamental work practice for their employees. Any new hired are compulsory to attend or go through the company policies/ code of conduct.

My current employer does emphasize the ethic values in our everyday working culture and it plays a major role to the employee in dealing with customers internally or externally.

From the articles and experience that i had, a lot of time we are in gray area in defining the right or wrong of ethics practices especially when we are be dealing with new projects/ invention/ design/ products/ organization/ business/ social awareness/ economy situation/ global culture and others. That’s some of the ethical challenges for an individual or the organization.

I would like to share an example of ethical challenge that related to Quality and Productivity.

Quality is an important factor in defining the standard of a product. With the recent economy recession that we faced, most companies will choose to go for low cost operation/ materials in order to sustain and produce mass production in the market industry.

Dealing with ‘low cost” is not easy and challenging for the business at the same time maintaining the quality of the end product.

We need to ensure low cost operation and material will not impact the quality to meet customer requirements and to gain long term customer trust in the industry. Also, the low cost material need to be compliance with the environmental protocol and conduct rules.

Therefore, tighter evaluation and qualification of the low cost processes/ materials are needed in dealing with this ethical challenge. Involvement from appropriate engineering functional group – Quality, Process & Product Engineering/ Procurement group are important (Important point – team work and responsibility).

A well documented evaluation with data collection will help in providing the fact and helps in decision making.

Data collection is another major challenge that related to productivity. Online based real time data collection system is required for analysis purposes and one need to be responsible in reporting the right data and fact for the benefit of the production and business.

A good analysis of the qualification will provide success to the company in cost saving and maximizing production with best quality operation.

Vice versa, wrong analysis or wrong qualification information will cause the company losses in money/ time and business opportunity.

BUS 600 Week 3 Assignment 1.2

Assignment 1.2
Chapter 3 – Accounting Summary and blogging


At the last part of the overview, Steven (the author) mentioned that:
“If the material in this chapter was totally new for you, most probably you have not completely absorbed it”

Well, I have no comment based on my background. But I do understand the importance of accounting to help my management administration skills.

Key things on Accounting:

1. Assets = Liability + Owner’ Equity
1. Assets are economic resources
2. Liability is an entity arising from past transactions or events.
3. Equity is the residual claim investors in assets after liabilities paid off.
2. Three basic financial statements:
1. Balance sheet is a summary of the financial balances of a company
1. Summarize the Assets/ Liability and equity of a company financial situation
2. Income statement is the profit and loss statement (P&L), operating statement and earnings statement.
1. It will shows how the company revenue being transformed as the net income.
3. Cash flow statement is the cash in and cash out activity of the business.
3. Accounting records and statement must always balance.
4. Operating results can be analyzed and managed using variances.
1. This helps me to understand the operating cost of an organization.
5. Last but not least – leave it to the software to take care of your accountings.- Peachtree/ MYOB/ CYMA etc.

BUS 600 Week 3 Assignment 1.1

Assignment 1.1
Chapter 2 – Ethics Summary and blogging

Ethics is one of the human core value of right and wrong.
To ensure the right ethical practice within the organization:

1) Introducing Global Cultural Awareness for multinational company.

1. This will help to eliminate the culture shock/ diversity issues and also individual can also understand certain culture well.
2. For example:
1. Kissing is not a common practice in Asia as compare to western countries
2. Time management is not accurate in Asia (except Japan) due to the heavy traffic.
3. Lesson learnt: there is hardly any universal moral code to judge another society’s moral or ethical standards.

2) Treat internal or external related employee as “Customer”.

1. Each employee or parties have the rights and responsibilities to ensure any decision made will not harm the business or customers but bring benefit to the company and the employee.
2. The responsibility of treating everybody as the customer with the right courteous will help to maintain a quality end product and working environment.
3. It’s part of the social responsibility of Business.

3) HR responsibility in ensuring the right corporate ethical conduct rules and values practice.

1. HR need to work closely with professional lawyers and financial analysts.
2. The Code of conduct need to also comply with the Labor law for the benefit of the company/ employee and customer.
3. It is part of the possible threats within and outside the company identification process.

BUS 600 Week 2 Assignment Checklist

Summary of Wk2 Assignment checklist.

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BUS 600 Week 2 Assignment 2

Assignment 2

What are the competitors doing?

Interesting Activity! What’s in my mind? I need to pampered myself after spending my weekend studying and doing assignments (giving excuses to go for nice relaxing massage)
Therefore I choose to surf the internet to look for the massage centres in San Jose.

It will be great for me to compare below two massage centre marketing material.

Bare Feet Reflexology Centre.
http://www.barefeetreflexology.com/

Roman Paradigm Massage Centre
http://www.rpm-therapy.com/index.shtml

Below is the the comparison of the marketing of both company.

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Now, which one i go for? hmmmmm.......any comment?

BUS 600 Week 2 Assignment 1

Assignment 1
Chapter 1 - Marketing summary and blogging.

Marketing is important and will help the organization to focus on the target market and to find new opportunities. A good Marketing involves measurement of the business/ organization progress (health card). This will provide benefit of gaining customer confidence and market segment in order to achieve the organization business goals/ objectives as well as future plan.

I would like to touch base on the following 4 points that is rather important:

1) Product Involvement

1. Defining the product importance to consumer is critical.
2. We will know whether the product is a must owned items or nice to have items for consumers.
3. Doing market research or study on the prototype of a new product will help to get response from consumers.
4. Also, need to consider others factor of fashion/ trend/ technology and etc.
5. It is one of the primary question that the organization need to consider before even consider developing/ investing the products/ projects.

Example:

• Consumer will consider buying USB thumb drives over outdated optical device (CD/ DVD) for convenience of data storage.
• There are consumer that prefer Micro SDRAM card (rather expensive) than USB thumb drives(cheaper) as.
• There are also consumers that prefer a larger data storage device like External hard drives as more and more memory space required.

In summary, we are able to observe that Optical device product no longer relevant and lost its touch to new technology of Solid state memory. Meanwhile, consumers have the choice of getting a Micro SDRAM card over USB thumb drives (difference on cost and also the physical advance of the product) Large memory product is still relevant as the demand of data storage is expanding higher day to day.


2) Segmentation

1. After defining the product involvement, we can also look into Segmentation.
2. With reference to above example of USB thumb drives – we are able to determine that the market segment are targeting on below consumer criteria:
1. new generation to 60 years old
2. Low income.
3. Growing countries.
4. Computer user
3. Mean while, the market segment difference compare to External hard drives product:
1. Mid income
2. Also, Home appliances users (movie/ audio download)
4. Segmentation got to be strategically measurable and able to research the market behavior of the consumer in order to control production and also react according to market demand.

3) Product Life Cycle

1. Technology influenced products (as per above example) is really volatile to new technology and new product.
2. Therefore, the organization must be able to study market trend and demand very well.
3. For instance, Product Life Cycle of memory storage can be determine by the consumer demand or growth of higher capacity.
4. Products that have limited memory capacity will soon be gone.

Example:
- Floopy disk manufacturer EOL (end of line) the products.


4) SWOT Analysis

1. I first come to hear about SWOT from my ex-boss in Malaysia.
2. SWOT is important for the whole organization structure from employee skills to product ability to sell in the market.
3. This competitive analysis will help us to define:
1. Strengths of the product or organization
2. Weakness or challenges faced.
3. Opportunities to launch a product at the right market time.
4. Threats from competitor
4. By identifying SWOT will definitely a good strategic planning model for any company.

BUS 600 Week 1 Assignment Checklist

Posting a checklist to ensure all the course work/ assignment is done and taken care of.

Summary Wk1 Checklist

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BUS 600 Week 1 Assignment 4

Assignment 4.

My Business Vision

My business vision got nothing to do with what I’m working right now. It will be my future business if there’s opportunity and when the time is right.

I would like open up a Music and Sports Arena café in San Jose and probably in US.
Here’s the initial fish bone of the business vision and plan.

Executive summary.

Sports and Music is the connection between human. These two elements allow human to get together and express themselves.

Arena Café is a full-service food house/ café that will help to improve social interaction of people in San Jose. Arena Café features:

1. Simple and comfort food and beverages influenced by western and asian cuisines with moderate prices.
2. Arena Café is the heaven for all live sports entertainment that is happening in the world with giant HD TV screen and at least 40 others TVs around each corner of the premise.
3. Arena Café will also provide free wi-fi internet service for the customers to work/ leisure and stay connected with the world and people.
4. Also included - free magazines and social business board for the customer that interested.
5. Live performers (soft music and all time favorites music performance)

Objectives:

1. First half year of operation monthly sales to reach ~$150,000
2. Sales of ~$200,000 monthly by the end of first year.
3. Sales of ~$2 million by first years

Mission:

1. Arena Café is the inspiration of the current social life around the world especially those that live in the urban metropolitan life. People will get together with their friends and families to watch a game or to listen to music.
2. Arena Café will be the choice of casual dining and coffeehouse venues as the premise will be design to accommodate up to 1000 patrons.
3. Arena Café will be located at the heart of San Jose, easy access to most of the residents. Best strategic place – Berryessa Near to the flea market (a lot of parking spaces available)
   Arena Café will provide affordable and hygiene and no MSG food, coffee and others special beverages.
4. Arena café’s will be the hub of entertainment for 948,279 San Jose populations. It will soon attract customers around Bay area and be part of the must go spot for any tourist to Bay area.
5. Patrons get the choice of watching the live PPV sports on our Giant HD TV with commentary audio. Added point compare to watching a sports game live in the stadium/ arena.Patrons can also relax while listening to live performers with their wish list all time favorite songs.

Keys to Success:

1. Product quality: Food/ coffee/ special house beverages (cocktail), and entertainment are our products.
2. Service: Good service and smiles from our courteous staff is important. Every staff need to be train to treat customers the right way and to make them feel comfortable. Customer pay for their rights.
3. Marketing: Target audiences as early as possible. The right information of the benefit of the affordable dining and entertainment in Arena café is important.
4. Management: Proper business plan/ code of conduct/ business core values/ training or employee management and quality will help in success.
5. Technology: Uses the current latest technology computing for company operation/ inventory/ data analysis is important. Allow monitoring of quality/ time/ product/ business trend.

BUS 600 Week 1 Assignment 3

Assignment 3.
Weekly study planning

Remind me of my old school days of preparing the time table. See below!


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Let's hope i can follow accordingly! Cross my finger!

BUS 600 Week 1 Assignment 2

Assignment 2.

X-perience of the 1st Face 2 face meeting at CALMAT, Silicon Valley.

6th February 2010
I woke up early (unusual for my normal Saturday routine) realizing that it’s the beginning of another chapter of my life and “The Truth Is Out There’ and “I Want To Believe” (slogans from the popular TV series during the 90s – The X-files) that I got to equipped myself with MBA skills to face the new world of technology in order to help me to climb up the corporate ladder in my organization.

It’s a chance of the life time and I’m glad that I have this golden opportunity to gain the knowledge here in Silicon Valley with CALMAT.

I reached CALMAT quite early, it’s like “X-Files” to me as it’s whole new mystery in knowledge gaining place and mystery in meeting up new people from all kinds of professional background.
There’s nothing negative, no worry.

I put on my observant glasses and start to analyze everything around. What I see in summary - everybody in the class is eager to learn about “Business”. Different as compared to my previous study environment (I’m from engineering background by the way).

I got a wake up call out of a sudden that I need to put aside my engineering helmet and start wearing corporate ties and suits.

Be practical! – This is one thing that CALMAT interest me and have the upper hand. It’s proven to us from the course of studies. Book studying is out of date and is a burden for students. Using real life stories and current business/ economy environment as the study resources will definitely help our MBA knowledge well.

Many more to learn. I will make sure my “MBA X-Files” mystery solved by the end of the course.

BUS 600 Week 1 Assignment 1

Assignment 1.
"Ask Eric and Classmates?", post a question about CALMAT MBA or BUS 600.

Below is my postings in uLearn forum.

Question - Your thoughts about Steven Silbiger - the author of "The Ten Day MBA"?

My thoughts:

• My first impression about Steven Silbiger - marvelous marketer.
• Chosen a best title name for the book - the word "Ten Day" really attract the readers. The branding of the book title relates to marketing strategy (for example: $0.95 burito vs $1.00 burger, consumer will somehow attracted to burito)
• But, what is hidden behind the content of the book is related to the word “Ten Day”.

10 days = 10 days x 24 hrs = 240hrs
240hrs x 60 mins = 14400 mins
14400mins x 60 sec = 864000 sec.

• Based on my calculation of 11 weeks of study, we need to spend 3 hrs 7 mins daily studying Steven Silbiger’s masterpiece.
• Now, this leads me to another question:

"How we plan our study time according to above finding effectively?"

• Something for us to think about it too by now.

The Rise of BUS 600 ASSIGNMENT.

Aloha! Finally, after spending time reading and catching up with the MBA course, it’s ASSIGNMENT season (something new and refresh to welcome 2010 Spring Season). I hope I’m able SPRING myself (the feeling of wearing NIKE AIR) by providing my best MBA view and analysis in my blog and forum based on my knowledge/ experience and expectation. I will continue to challenge myself. Do provide your view or input to help me help you.

Thank you to everyone that is reading. Please “Add to Favorite” or continue to "Follow" my blog. Appreciated!