Tips &
Suggestions
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ENSC201: Tips & Suggestions |
These are various tips and suggestions designed to make the life of the hard working Engineering student more pleasurable:
A web site will be maintained as a way of communicating course content (and other information) to you. Please check it frequently. You will find it via http://www.sfu.ca/~mvolker/ensc201/. Bookmark it.
There is one main website with links to various external articles and information (the most frequent links are to a general "business basics" website maintained by Mike at http://www.sfu.ca/~mvolker/biz/.)
Pages are updated often. If you can't find a link that you are looking for here, please report it to me ASAP at mike@volker.org.
The Course "text" is the Globe and Mail's Report on Business. The Financial Post is an alternative. Students should read this regularly (at least twice weekly). What should you read? Look for articles on technology companies as well as general articles on the economy or on finance and investing. It is a good idea to track (and chart) a few things such as a stock index, interest rates, and maybe a few stocks. Look at the Companies in the News index to identify technology firms. Come to class with questions (e.g. what is an option? what is a short sale? and so on). Although it isn't as decadent as leisurely reading the paper in the Jacuzzi, the Globe is also available online at www.theglobeandmail.com. We will draw your attention to various articles that you should read. Happy Reading!
TIP: ask lots of questions about what you read - feel free to send emails often!
There will be a weekly team project assignment. The team project assignments are intended to encourage team work in tackling a business challenge: i.e. planning and bringing a product to market. This year we will also be running the Ken Spencer Business Plan competition.
SUGGESTION: Since the weekly group assignments are optional, you will need to impose on yourselves a certain degree of discipline so that you actually submit assignments from time to time for feedback. If you do not do this, you may regret it later - because you will run out of time towards the end of the course to make updates and adjustments. Besides, you don't need the extra stress!
ASSIGNMENTS
There will be ten(10) individual assignments - i.e. one per week. These will be in the form of a take-home or on-line assignment and/or in-class quiz. These will not be onerous. Late assignments will NOT be accepted unless prior arrangements have been made at least 24 hours prior to the due date.
You may also do additional assignments if you wish - this will undoubtedly count in your favor - not only grade-wise but also because of your own personal self-actualization and enlightenment. For example, attendance at the Vancouver Enterprise Forum events (I have a limited number of complimentary passes - first come, first served) will be rewarded with bonus credit. To receive credit, please submit a brief (less than one-page) email (no attachments) to the instructor and TA within one week of the event.
All project and assignment submissions must adhere to a proper business style - i.e. no "chicken scratch" on loose leaf pages. Instead, a printed memo format with appropriate headings (same as used in business), dates, contact information (email, tel #), etc. is expected. If an email transmittal is used, the email itself can serve as the memo. Late submissions will absolutely not be accepted. However, prior arrangements (by notification and confirmation at least 24 hours prior to due date) may be made in exceptional circumstances. Submission instructions will be specified for each assignment (e.g. hard copy, email, etc) and the assignment details can be found in the on-line syllabus in the right-most column.
To help you prepare for tests, you'll be given some typical test questions to ponder (available and updated regularly on the Web). Don't take the tests too seriously - they exist mainly to keep you stimulated, inquisitive, and focused.
In the past, I have given sample questions to help students prepare for the tests. What I found puzzling is this: very few students ask me anything relating to these sample questions. I suspect that either they knew all the answers and had no questions or perhaps were reluctant to ask for fear of pestering me. May I remind you: This is your course. Please do not hesitate to take advantage of the resources available to you. With email and phone technology, there should be to problem with communications - at least not technically. Although I will not "give" you my answers to the sample questions, I will be delighted in assisting you in obtaining answers to your questions. Don't be shy!
OFFICE HOURS - Mike (see above) is available all the time via cellular and email. Don't hesitate to call. It's your course. Get your money's worth! Office meetings are by appointment only.
Telephone is the best way to make contact. Don't by shy!! Email is another way to keep in touch. But, keep them brief!! Please use mike@volker.org to contact me. Use a Subject Line. Emails sent without a subject line or to a different email address, may not be answered. If you send emails, avoid attachments. Links to your own website would be acceptable, too. Ask your questions directly in the email message. If you'd like a complete assignment reviewed, let's discuss it together. (i.e. please don't give me a bunch of pages for general review - ask for specific guidance). But - in any case - don't hesitate to phone me if you don't hear back within 48 hours (the lines are open - Sorry no "800" calls!).
Carpe Diem!
Copyright 2006 Michael C. Volker.
Updated: 060509