A milestone year...

I am 40 years old now...birthday was yesterday. I think this year is quite significant to me, sort of like a milestone year for me...Accomplished many things that I have been wanting to do for so many years.

1. I am finally going to attain MBA! This life agenda has been kept away at the back of my mind for at least 15 years and thanks to hubby who found this online program which was perfect for me and thanks to the Singapore Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong who sponsored 50% of my tuition fees, I am finally going to complete my studies by this coming weekend! It took me exactly 2.5 years!


2. Hubby and I are going to have a baby boy in March! It is not easy for me to have another baby as I am already ligated. The only option I have is to do IVF and with God's blessings, I got pregnant with the 1st trial! Om Sai Ram! Thank you, Baba!


3. Both hubby and I have settled back in Singapore after being away working in Hong Kong for the past 5.5 years. We are a complete family now with everyone dear to us under one roof!
   
4. Hubby bought me the Tiffany diamond ring that I have been eyeing for the past 3 years! We will be celebrating our 5th anniversary this year!

I guess this will also be a milestone year for hubby and the kids too. N will be taking her GCE 'O' Levels examinations, D is in Secondary School now and hubby has completed his masters and looking for a new job. Exciting year for all of us!

HKUST

I was at the campus of The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) last Saturday with hubby for his masters admission inteview. I was amazed with the beautiful view of the sea from the campus. It was a rainy day but if it was bright and sunny, I think the view would have been even better. I could see some people wind-surfing despite the weather. Oh~How I miss campus life!

Hubby's interview went well and he will be starting his studies from September this year. I wonder if I can go to the campus with him on Saturdays and do my own studies there at the canteen or the library. I love the view and the fresh air!

Decision-Making

My 1st discussion topic for my 1st subject of my MBA program was : " Assuming you are the CEO faced with a prospect to lay off 600 workers, which decision-making model will you use and why." *Yucks!*

I don't believe anyone would like to make a decision like that and I definitely hope that I will not have to make such a decision in real life, especially not when I am the CEO! Anyway, after reading 2 related chapters of the textbook, I realised that there are many models of decision-making and approaches which I actually have been applying at work all the time but had no idea that they have names. For example there is a model called The Garbage Can Model of Decision-Making whereby I must have been using all the time in this company. I have to make decisions under highly ambiguous conditions whereby the goals are not clear, the participants change fast and I also do not have a set of rules to guide me along! So I am actually a Garbage Can decision-maker all along! And the Japanese bosses in my company will always use the Political Model of Decision-Making whereby they use their powers (titles) to affect the decisions...

Most of friends who have done the MBA are telling me that I will have a freshing and enjoyable time doing my MBA. I was at doubts about myself going back to studies after so many years but I am beginning to believe them now. I feel that my time is spent more fulfilling now that I have things to read about and the theories I learnt are actually applicable to my work! It is really a revitalising experience. I am looking forward to starting my next subject next month and then the next