I have laid out the document for my last university assignment ever and it is looking quite nice. In the time between the second last assignment and preparing for the last one I have upgraded my Microsoft Word to version 2013 and it is quite fancy if I do say so. The features have allowed me to create a stunning document so far. I just need to put the content in and change it from information about butterflies (the template does look good with the butterflies, pity it has to be an assignment about leadership theory) to an insight into why lessons learnt are not adapted within project management and the same mistakes keep on happening, and need to find a leadership theory to help fill this gap. Simple right? Well it sounds simple enough until you try to find said leadership theory. I am still trying to make my mind up on what it should be.
Should it be contingency, situational, or participative leadership. It seems no matter where I turn someone has a leadership theory or a theory about something. There are continuum, models, frameworks and you name it, the list continues. I really think that someone sits down and decides, Yes I want to create a framework or a theory and be known forever about this subject. Maybe I should create a theory about all the theories that are out there.
I know it sounds tedious but it surprises me that no matter what subject you studied throughout the degree there was some bloke,(mostly men sometimes women so don’t worry there were a few) that have created more work about ways to do things and it doesn’t require a theory. Situational theory is about choosing whatever works for the time, place and task, so really what theory is that? It is just picking different techniques to do something and having an over arching theory about all different theories.
It has got me thinking that maybe I should create a theory and see if it becomes popular. What should I call it? How about “Theory of the Total/Whole” it would be a holistic theory that identifies that everything is linked and a failing in any area can effect the project or the organization. Very much like some other theories but it would be more holistic and communicative. If I detail my theory with graphs, and link to examples it might take off. Who knows. Then everyone will be quoting me and then some student will be questioning the theory like I am. It all comes full circle.
Have you set up your assignment and it looks pretty and nice but there is no content yet? I do that and make sure that I have the headings all ready so I know what goes where. It is just a matter of filling in the areas and completing it on time now… the deadline is on. This Friday it is due and then no more assignments, just the pain of waiting to find out how I did in the subject, waiting for my grade has always been hard and stressful.
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Today I went to the university for my contracts exam, I navigated the large campus and with some other student I found the place for the exam.
I did manage to get to the right building but could not see where there the exam would take place. I looked online via my wonderful iPhone (the girls and hubby gave it to me for my birthday this May – I have a sparkly pink case chosen by the girls) and ended up with the same information that I copied down at 4am this morning; this information was still no help to me.
With about 10mins left to find the place to sit this exam I was starting to get a bit concerned. I had been in the city for hours and now I might be late. Oh no this cannot be happening, after of course a much needed toilet break I headed out the door the way I had come in. I asked the first person I saw and he seemed to be in the know and I followed him. Thank god, I found it. Well? Really I followed and found it but still the same outcome. So no point dwelling on if I did it or someone else did.
Now to find the seat number for my exam, if you have never sat a university exam they give you seat numbers to make sure it is you and you have turned up for the test. I found the right number and sat at the right desk and waited. The man at the front told everyone to put their bags and belongings under their chair. I did as asked. However I left out my two pens, a notepad that had never been written in, a piece of paper that had my seat number and other info that I needed, and of course my reading glasses (that were still in their case).
Before proceeding with this exam you need to fill out the answer booklet with your details, Name, Course code and number, Student ID, Paper code, and Seat number. You also need to detach a part of the paper so that they can take it and you have to sign this as proof you were you and not someone else sitting your exam for you.
I did not have my student number on me but remembered that I had it on my phone as I logged in to get the room number of the exam. I was going to turn it off but wanted to get the student number first and then I was about to switch it all off. One of the ladies that was monitoring the exam, (it was not just contracts that had their exam today two other faculties had exams in there as well) noticed I had the phone and I explained what I was doing and then told her I was turning it off and packing it away. While she was explaining this and I agreed and told her that was what I was doing, she then told me that I needed to pay attention to the man that was giving us all instructions. I then explained that I was but she was talking to me as well. I found this rather frustrating, being told to listen to someone and them telling you something else.
Just before the exam started another person that is overseeing told me that I cannot have my glasses case on the desk. I then explained that I had my reading glasses for the exam and I needed them. She said that glasses were fine just had to lose the case. So I did.
We had 10 minutes reading time and then our 2 hours started. In the 2 hours we were then allowed to answer and to write responses, but during the reading time you cannot do anything but read.
Once the exam started not even 10 minutes in, a man who is overseeing the exam came to collect the piece of paper that I had signed to prove it was me sitting the exam and asked where my student id card was? I explained that I don’t have one as I study online and that I have a drivers licence if that would help? I also mentioned that the exam had already started and why is he doing this now not later or why was this not done before? His answer was that he did not notice. I stopped the exam, got the drivers licence and then he did his thing and I had to leave it on the desk until I completed my exam.
Where to go for the exam and other info for paperwork
One of the ladies that were keeping an eye on the students came up and remarked on my piece of paper with the room number, paper code and so on. She looked at it on one side, then the other and thought it very suspicious and told me I could not have it on my desk. I did not understand where the threat to the exam was but went along with it and put it under the desk (you will see the menacing piece of paper as I have added it as an image for this blog post – you can even see I have used it to test my pen as well)
Then a younger lady that was also helping with making sure that there were no funny business looked at my notepad and asked if I could open it. It is blank I said and showed her. I told her that I did not know if I might need to write notes of work or ideas out and that are the reason for it. She decided that too had to go and it joined the crowd under my desk.
I am not sure how I went but think I did o.k, only time will tell. I managed to finish with 40 minutes spare and was able to drop off my specialisation form to the right people for next year’s graduation. I did leave a couple of questions and went back and looked at them, but could not remember the answers. I believe I gave it a good go and tried to answer and give more information for all questions.
Not sure what the people that were overseeing this exam thought, where they bored and wanted to be seen to be doing something? It was just rather bizarre, removing things that are no threat to cheating or anything like that at all.
I must say my hand and arm is very sore from writing so much in a short space of time. I find when I do exams I don’t write very well as I am so used to typing all the time. Do you have this issue? Also have you faced something similar in an exam? It did feel a bit like harassment but not sure if they were just to eager to do their jobs. What are your thoughts? Send in your comments. Why not continue the discussion on our twitter or facebook pages.
More study awaits me. Image by FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Tomorrow semester 2 starts, and it is my second last subject. Yippee I hear you say, I am nearly finished a masters degree in project management,however I need to survive this semester. The subject I will be studying is contracts management, although very interested and feel that understanding contracts is fundamental to a project going well, I am also very worried that it might be all over my head. ( I am sure it won’t be but last semester the subject was not easy, and the exam was the worst)
I have had a fascination with law and would in theory love to study law, just don’t know if I could actually do it. I have logged on to the online learning system and downloaded the material and now it is a matter of reading it and understanding it all.
It was a big shock to realise that my holiday from university is now over, the time went so quickly. I am upset as I wanted to achieve and do more. Even though I did not get some things done, I definitely had a rest and had time out.
Now I need to think positive and do a good job, as I want to do well this semester. There is an exam with this sujbect as with last semester, and I wish to be better prepared for this exam. Well I can only hope.
If you are studying has the course started again? Did you think you had more down time, I did. I think that this semester will require a lot of reading and referencing regarding cases and precedents. I hope that I remember all the facts, wish me well. Send in your comments.
Today dropped the kids off at school, but before that, there were many meltdowns. I don’t want to wear those shoes mummy and not that shirt or dress. Oh, why can’t we just put clothes on and get out the door. Then the running around to avoid mummy as she wanted to brush hair. So after all this carry on, we were late getting to school. The only up side to getting to school today was getting a park and dropping the girls off without a fuss, like the other day. YES!
Finally back home, I make a cuppa tea, put the heater on and a jumper. Very cold today, and not happy about that, but pleased that the house is warm. I am at the computer to tackle my first week of tutorial questions from university. I am just amazed at all the theories about the same area that are surfacing. I am sure that they were there before, just was not exposed to the idea before now. Today I managed to learn about complex adaptive and transactional models in project management. I have also addressed the difference between a manager and a leader, and why in some examples certain projects were failures or a success. I finished it all, uploaded it online to the university’s site and all is good, very pleased and happy with me today. I know small things make me happy.
I am not sure that I was o.k with all my answers but pleased it is completed. Now on to read more and to get started on my individual assignment, organise a day per week to meet with my group for our assignment and generally research the whole subject. This will be done a piece at a time, not that clever it can all happen in one day or week. After reading this it made it sound like I am super study woman.
Today I had hoped to see if I could finish the pants that I am making for the girls. It was rather cool today, so thinking winter will be very cold indeed. Oh well at least the uni thing this week is not needing to be done and now I can do the pants without thinking about uni. The problem is that if I know I need to do something and want to do something else, I think about the other as it needs to be done before the other. I know, it is hard. However, having limited time to ones self is hard to try and fit it all in.Is this just me that does this. I used to be so organised with a day job, children have thrown me around a bit. I need to get my to do list organised.
So the weekend I think will be making and finishing pants time. I promise pictures to come soon.
If you have had some time to yourself this week, what did you get up to? Are you studying? If you are studying, have you managed to get things done? Wishing you all luck if you are in the same boat as me, and that you will get all your work done.
I logged onto the university website last night to discover the course content was all there. This now means that I need to start downloading, reading and researching to make sure that I stay on top of it all. After reading the course outline and skimming all the lectures to get an overview, I think this course is going to be very intense. Formulas, theories, matrixes, and much more that will take some doing to remember.
I have also noted that there appears to be an exam at the end of the course, 2 hours to be precise. Did not realise there was one and as I am an online student will have to travel to campus to do this exam if we have one – have enquired to the lecturer to confirm if we do have one as in some literature it says no and some says yes. I have also asked if there are other areas where I might do this exam rather than travelling into the campus in the city. No answer yet, but only asked late last night.
In case you all did not know, I am nearly finished a masters in project management, I have 3 subjects left to do. This semester I am studying: Project Process Planning and Control. I am rather worried that I will not do well, however this worry is not taken seriously. Every semester I have the same freak out. I will not do well, I will just pass, I might fail, and some other scary thoughts. However at the end of the semester I get a distinction and no one finds that wonderful due to fact that it keeps on happening.
I think the family and friends would be more shocked if I passed, however getting good marks is now an expected outcome (which I think is just strange, but nice). I would like to maintain my good grades as I feel that would help in employment and roles in the long term also will impress people; however I am not great at formulas, calculations or things of that nature. So I think this semester I have to concentrate on reading more, understanding the formulas and theories that are important and seeing if I can recall them. If asked in an exam about a formula or theory I am afraid I might mix it all up and not get it right, or reference the wrong one. I find it hard when there are so many to choose from. Why is it that a course does not tell you what are the standards and we can just learn the core, and if you want you can cite extra examples if you wish.
So as long as I pass that is fine with me. After this subject I just have 2 more to do, and as I am doing 1 subject a semester, my last subject is next year, first semester of 2013. Graduation will be in November of 2013 and I am looking forward to it so much. However to graduate you have to get through the subjects this year. Wish me luck, lecturers start on Monday the 5th of March and it is all done via Skype. I have to hope that I have kids in bed by this time or it is not going to work.
Are you studying? Is it something that is a passion or for a work related role? If you have kids how are you fitting it all in? I try and do most of it in the evening and now kids are at school that will help also.
