FOR BUSINESS STUDENTS BY BUSINESS STUDENTS
OCTOBER 2010 Issue III Volume II
magazine
get out of your comfort zone your 2010 halloween go-to-guide strategies for creating an effective team
transform 1
BSA
Business Students Association
Business Students Associat
We don’t just wish for a cleaner world. We make it a daily practice.
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Editor’s Note
Letters from the Editors Breanne Fisher
e d i to r
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to completely transform? October brings in a sea of transformation: from the vibrant colours outside, Halloween costumes that allow us to re-invent ourselves for one day, to a revitalized student life, there is much more to October than just a change in seasons. Our October issue wants to emphasize that it is indeed “Time to Transform” for the better. Whether you are looking for a way to spend October 31st (check out “Are You Ready for Halloween 2010?!?”), need a spot to perform your best studying (“Secret Edmonton: Study Space Edition”), or simply need to be social, take a turn for the better this season. Try not to vanish away during midterms. Instead, take advantage of the many opportunities the School of Business has to offer, which are all coming up fast.
G
Give yourself permission to transform this season. Take a risk: it’s time to dive in!
Jyoti Lamba
ive yourself permission to transform this season. e d i to r
We’ve come a long way in a short time. I’ve heard from so many people – students and faculty alike – who love how we’ve changed the magazine. To me, there is no higher praise. We strive to bring you articles that will broaden your mind, brighten your day and keep you up to date on all the latest news from the School of Business. October used to mean many things to me: my birthday, Halloween, and Thanksgiving. But now, it means one thing only: midterms. So while you’re wrapped up in your studying, reading and papers, make sure you take some time to just breathe. While walking to class, do stomp on crunchy leaves – even if they’re out of your way. I assure you it will go a long way towards relaxing your mind and body. October always reminds me of being a little kid. The stress of school often makes us forget the smaller, sometimes more important things in life. So this October, I plan to manage my time a little bit better and make time for the little things: watching Glee with my friends, playing with my adorable puppy and stomping on crunchy leaves. I encourage you to do the same.
CONTRIBUTORS
Breanne Fisher Editor bkfisher@ualberta.ca Jyoti Lamba Editor gurjot@ualberta.ca Farzana Allidina Creative Director fallidin@ualberta.ca Sally Au Creative Director yeeting@ualberta.ca Shirley Guo Creative Director jingyans@ualberta.ca Brittanee Tomkow Creative Director brittane@ualberta.ca Karolina Zheng Creative Director kzheng2@ualberta.ca Breanne Pisani Senior Contributor bpisani@ualberta.ca Paul Kan Production Director kanofpulc33@hotmail.com Bryan Tran Photography pthal.tran@gmail.com
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Table of Contents
EDITOR’S NOTE
05
CONTRIBUTERS
06
CALENDER
07
TIME KILLERS
business
CONFERENCE CORNER
10 16 20 22
Alberta Energy Challenge
18
GROUP WORK:
Tips from the business librarians How To Come Out Ahead
10 23
THE LEGENDARY COHORT CUP Become #1!
SOCIAL NIGHTS WHY YOU NEED TO STUDY ABROAD NEXT SEMESTER
TOASTMASTER’S: BUSINESS AND BEYOND! SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT STREETLIGHT
4
YOUR COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE:
student life
08
AEC
09
19
entertainment
Alberta Internal Case Competition
health and wellness
AICC
in every issue
03
BEST HALLOWEEN COSTUMES OF ALL TIME. THEATRE REVIEW
U of A Studio Theatre: Eurydice
12 08
Choose your own path... Transform
Evan Shoemaker
Leo Tang
Leaticia Kaggwa
Have you ever experienced a professor who put you asleep five minutes in the lecture? Or, have you ever had a professor who is so engaging and captivating, you never missed a minute? The latter was probably a member of Toastmasters. Flip to my article “Toastmasters: Business to Beyond!” to find out why!
My article describes a unique and fresh case competition called the Alberta Energy Challenge. The event ran Sept 16-19 and brought together teams from across Canada and the US for a weekend of intense learning and great fun. Take a look at my insert “AEC: A Huge Success!” to find out how it went.
If you’re worried about finding a job after graduation, or if you’ve ever dreamed of traveling but thought it would cost too much money, then read my article “Why You NEED To Study Abroad Next Semester” to discover how you can significantly boost your chances of landing your dream job while getting paid to study anywhere in the world.
Daniel Abdo My article “AICC” is definitely a must-read! AICC will not only help you in your school work, such as Bus 201 case write ups and presentations, but during your time in the School of Business, you may also discover case competitions to be one of your passions.
Puneeta Sandhu
Elaine Sun
I just came home from the Philippines. I spent some time there volunteering at Streetlight International’s orphanage and study centre. Talk about a transforming experience!
To me, Business is one of those faculties that inspires change in a person. In my first year, I felt as though I lacked ambition. But now I’ve learned that if you want something, you need to be proactive and create the opportunities for yourself.
My experiences with the School of Business have utterly changed the way I view my place in the world. Take a look at my article “Something to Think About” for an idea of what I mean.
Jordan Iverson I wrote an article about a new and exciting event put on by the BSA: “Student Social Nights”. Everyone should check them out because quite frankly, they are for everyone! It’s all about meeting new people and having a good time.
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Take a chance! If you want to learn more about what opportunities the cohort system can offer you, please check out my article “The Legendary Cohort Cup: Become #1!”
Monday
Sunday
Tuesday
October 4
3
Wednesday
Thursday
1
Change is approaching... 6
5
Anti-Burnout & Lazy Faire Release
7
SIFE Day
10
17
11
Thanksgiving Day
12
BEA Exchange Sign Up
18
13
20
14
21
19
24
25
26
Halloween
Friday
27
28
BFA Mock Market Challenge Begins
8
6
2
SIFE Leadership Forum
9
Last Day to Withdrawl from Classes - Receive 50% Fees and Grade of W
BSA Dodgeball Tournament
BEA Exchange & Award Deadline
AIESEC Exchange Applications Due
15
BSA Case Lunch & Learn #1
16
22
Student Social Night
29
BEA Halloween Party Cohort Event #1
31
Saturday
30
AIESEC Exchange Review Board
How did you get into football? I grew up in the Middle East and went to a lot of international schools. There were a lot of army kids who loved football and played at lunch time. However, in terms of organized football all we really had was flag football. How long have you been playing and what position do you play? I moved to Canada in the 9th grade, and a lot of the people I hung out with played football. When it came time to go to high school, they all signed up for the school team so I started playing organized contact football in grade 10. In high school, I played in a variety of positions including Running Back and a little bit of Defensive Line, but when I made the move to University Football, I was too small to play Running Back or Defensive Line. So, during my first two years with the Golden Bears, I played Line Backer and Special Teams. But I’ve since put on some weight and have moved to Running Back. How do you manage to balance schoolwork with such a rigorous football schedule? It’s hard, and what makes it harder is I’m a natural procrastinator and I love playing video games. But I’m used to having a hectic schedule. In high school, I had two hour practices M-F, played a musical instrument and acted, but always found a way to get my work done. In university, things changed a lot, but I also make my own schedule which really helps. I have four hour practices Monday through Thursday and if the team is traveling that weekend, we’re not back till 1 am Sunday. I have pretty good time management skills though, and I plan my schedule so I have Tuesdays/Thursdays off to study and get assignments done. What is it like playing for the University of Alberta Golden Bears? It’s a lot of fun. The team is really like a second family; 75 brothers looking out for each other. I really like the atmosphere because we work hard but we’re always having fun, and always pushing each other to get better. It’s an environment of never-ending improvement and positivity which is great to be a part of. What would you say is the achievement you are most proud of? I don’t really know. I’ve played on provincial teams, I play for a University team, I am an Academic All Canadian, and I made it into business school… I’ve achieved a lot of great things. But, there really isn’t one achievement that stands out for me. Not yet anyway. What does your future hold for you? Football or Business? Or both? Once I’m done my degree, I’m pretty set on heading to Law School. However, I’m keeping my [options] open. If the opportunity presents itself to play professionally, I would definitely take it. There are plenty of years to go to Law School but not too many years left to play football.
KK Sonuga Program Bachelor of Commerce
Time Killers Explosm | explosm.net It’s a great website if you’re looking for a quick laugh. The site is made by a couple of guys who write e-comics for a living. BBC News | bbc.co.uk/news I don’t get as much time as I would like to watch the news, so BBC is a real life saver. It’s really concise and it gives you a great objective view of the world.
Year 3
Stand-Up Comedy I’ve done a couple open mikes on Whyte Ave, which is always fun. I have some videos up on YouTube - not safe for work. I use a lot of profanity [laughs].
Major Business Economics and Law
Would you like to be featured in the next Time Killers and participate in your own photo shoot? Drop us a line telling us why at submissions@bsaonline.ca
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THE LEGENDARY COHORT CUP: BECOME #1! By: Elaine s un
Cohort Director, Internal Portfolio Every year, the BSA hosts the infamous Cohort Cup, which pits all 7 cohorts against each other in challenges of leadership, friendship and camaraderie to win points towards the ultimate prize of the Cohort Cup. By participating in cohort events such as Frosh Week, Cohort Olympics, Dodge Ball and Business Week, you can help win Spirit Points for your cohort and pave the path to its success. There are also Cohort Events off campus at bars and clubs that are a great way to have fun and meet new people. Keep watching the BSA Board on the second floor of business by the Business Lounge. As your cohort collects points, your cohort’s designated monkey will move further and further up the tree. The first team to reach the top wins the cup! If your team is victorious, there is a fantastic prize at the end of the year for
D O E S Y O U R C O H O R T H AV E T H E sP I R I T A N D sT A M I N A TO O U T L A s T T H E R E s T A N D TA K E T H E T I T L E O F N U M B E R 1 COHORT?
the cohort that accumulates the most points. Start the year off right by helping to make your cohort Number 1!
Theatre Review| U of A Studio Theatre: Eurydice By: Jyoti Lamba
“Don’t look back.”
Has there ever been so tempting a phrase? Synonymous with the oft-heard “don’t look down,” this was the condition upon which Greek hero Orpheus could retrieve his wife, Eurydice, from Hades’ Underworld. Of course, Orpheus looks back and in doing so, loses his wife once again. Sarah Ruhl’s play puts a slightly modern spin on this ancient tale and tells the story from the perspective of Eurydice as she travels to the Underworld and reunites with her father. Eurydice, played by Beth Graham, is a rather naïve young woman who falls into the trap of Hades, played by Mathew Hulshof. Director Dave Horak masterfully unites the comical and the somber in a beautiful portrayal that had the audience laughing through their tears. Take, for instance, the tender scene in which Eurydice’s dead father mimes the act of walking his daughter down the aisle on her wedding day. He smiles at guests and winks at a few in a scene that is, without doubt, one of the highlights of the play. Michael Peng skillfully portrays all the emotions that a father feels on his daughter’s wedding day: joy, sadness, pride, and worry. Mathew Hulshof stood out as Hades/Lord of the Underworld. His clever remarks and arrogant swagger had the audience falling in love despite Hulshof being the antagonist of the play. He attempts to seduce Eurydice on her wedding day and succeeds in luring her to his “lair” with the temptation of a letter from her dead father. Soon after, Eurydice finds herself on an elevator with one floor: the Underworld. There, she meets the helpful Stones who insist that she must forget her life and grow accustomed to the never-ending Underworld. Eurydice ran from September 23 – October 2. The next play put on by the U of A Studio Theatre is Love and Human Remains which runs from November 4 – November 13 (no play on Sundays). Tickets are $10 with valid student ID. For more information, please visit www.drama.ualberta.ca and click on U of A Studio Theatre. Don’t forget to check out November’s Lazy-Faire for a review of the play.
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What is
Come out and join
in the fun at AICC this year Saturday,
November 6, 2010
AICC? Co-written by Daniel Abdo and Jacky Tsui Academic Event Directors
T
he Alberta Internal Case competition is an annual case competition held by the Business Students’ Association at the Alberta School of Business. Competitors are divided into 2 categories: the Junior division which is for first year business students and other case novices, and the senior division which is for those in their second year of business and up. This year, the competition expects over 100 undergraduate students to compete in an academic case analysis, which will test their teamwork and determination. The purpose of the Internal Case competition is to promote cases in the classroom and increase student exposure to case simulations. Classroom concepts will be applied to real business situations and students’ ability to make strategic decisions will be tested. The registration dates will be held approximately two weeks prior to the scheduled competition date - Saturday, November 6, 2010. Registration will take place in front of the BSA office on the 2nd floor of the School of Business Building. There will be forms for each team to fill out and submit to the BSA office. Each team consists of 3 delegates and there will be a fee per team. The fee is expected to be close to last year’s fee of $30.
— be sure to sign up!
W
hy should you partake in this event? It is one of the best ways to improve on your presentation skills, speech, vocabulary, and body language. All of which will be enhanced by the suspense of the competition and the great feedback from the judges (who are corporate and academic professionals). Throughout business and beyond into whichever industry profession you wish to achieve, the skills obtained through cases, such as public speaking, working with a team, and networking with all delegates and judges, are essential to your success in the real world.
“To share my own personal experience after competing in AICC, I gained a great amount of confidence in my presentation skills, and had a better approach and confidence for future classroom projects and presentations. Participating in AICC not only helped me with my school work, but also helped me find a way to apply my skills needed to accomplish my Bachelor of Commerce degree in a competitive nature. All the friends I made from that one day of competition were priceless. I could never have hoped to meet such talented young people, and it made my first year of business an even more amazing experience.” – Daniel Abdo, Academic Events Director
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GET CONNECTED. Conference Corner
By Anna Leyva, Conference Director For more upcoming national and international conferences, go to the “Conf. & Comp.” tab on www.bsaonline.ca. Be sure to apply early! Business Forum on the Fashion Industry (Q’BFFI) Where: Kingston, ON Date: Oct. 15-17
Social Nights! By Jordan Iverson VP Internal
Topic: From lively panel discussions to workshops that require an imaginative application of business knowledge to the “real world,” Q’BFFI is much more than just a forum. Each night is culminated by unforgettable social events allowing sponsors, delegates and industry leaders to network and exchange valuable ideas. This year, speakers will include fashion designer David Dixon and runway coach from Canada’s New Top Model, Stacey Mckenzie. (W): www.qbffi.com Harvard Undergraduate Women in Business: Intercollegiate Business Convention (IBC) Where: Boston, USA Date: Oct. 23
This academic year, the Business Students’ Association is hosting a brand new event – Social Nights. Social Nights are designed to encourage business students to interact with the BSA, clubs, and other students. The name of the game is networking because in today’s world, it’s not what you know, it’s who you know. There are absolutely no restrictions on who can attend – no club restrictions, no major restrictions, no year restrictions, and no cohort restrictions. It encompasses you. Everyone can attend. Social Nights are held once a month, starting in October, in various places around campus and around the city. They will be held in a smattering of different locations, but always in a relaxed environment where students can interact with each other. Some examples of locations include: an Eskimos’ game, an Oilers’ game, the Water Park at West Edmonton Mall, and Hudson’s on Campus. Keep a look out on the website, Facebook, in the Lazy-Faire, and posters around the School of Business for your chance to take part!
STAY CONNECTED. 10
Topic: The mission of IBC 2010 is to inspire future leaders to challenge boundaries and innovate. By exposing participants to a vast range of industries and a wide network of professionals, IBC strives to revitalize the conception of business and embrace its fusion with technological developments. Keynote speakers include: * Kate White (Editior-in-Chief, Cosmopolitan Magazine) * Marissa Mayer (VP of Search Products and User Experience, Google) (W): http://huwib.org/ibc/
EXCHANGE DEADLINE: OCT. 15
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Halloween 2010 Where the Creatures Take You
Forget School, Halloween is around the corner. Forget those
assignments and textbook readings for a moment and make plans for a great Halloween weekend!! From wacky costume ideas to pub crawls, this article will be all you need for a festive and spooky Halloween.
By Sally Au
Where to Shop? Custom Costumes Largest Halloween shop in Edmonton. Costumes for all genders and ages. Location: #103 2920 Calgary Trail South (Seasonal Listing, and different each year) Theatre Garage Featuring Halloween rentals, wigs, make-up, costume sales, and accessories. Address: #102 10575-115 Street, Edmonton, AB Website: http://www.theatregarage.ca Karries Kostumes and Dance Supplies A wide selection of costumes for rent and sale. Location: 2001 Gervais Road, St. Albert, Alberta Website: http://www.karrieskostumes.ca
How to Stay Alive
Silly Costume Ideas Tourist: Find your dad’s Hawaiian shirt. Add Bermuda shorts, a visor, a camera around your neck, and sandals. If you want, tuck the shirt in for an extra-dorky look. Stuff some University of Alberta or brochures in your pockets and you’re good to go!
Nerd: Easiest. Costume. Ever. Just wear your clothes a size too small, button your shirt up, pull up your pants to your waist, and make sure your white socks come up over your pants. Add a couple of fake zits, and a handy TI-83.
Transformer: Simple. Get a cardboard box, write “transformer” and wear it as pants!
Nickelback:Tape a nickel on to your back!
*not to be taken seriously* • If your companions suddenly begin to exhibit uncharacteristic behavior such as hissing, fascination for blood, glowing eyes, increasing hairiness, and so on, get away from them as fast as possible. • Do not search the basement, especially if the power has just gone out. • If your children speak to you in Latin or any other language which they do not know, or if they speak to you using a voice which is other than their own, run away. It will save you a lot of grief in the long run.
Halloween Pick-Up Lines “What do you turn into at midnight?” “Your treat or mine?” “Would you like to come back to my castle?” “I want to suck your blood!”
“........”
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TOO OLD TO TRICK OR TREAT?? WHAT TO DO??
You know it’s that time of the year again when creepy and mystic beings rise up and roam around the Earth. For kids, it is time to dress up and try to “out-costume” everybody else and gain more candy. Sadly, many of us might be getting a bit too old to go trick-or-treating. Check out these events for some spooky fun.
Free Events Spook-Tacular Market The Spruce Grove Farmers Market Vendors transformed into the Spook-Tacular Market. Date and Time: Saturday, Oct. 30th 9:30 am – 2:30 pm Location: Grain Elevator Site, 100 Railway Avenue, Spruce Grove The Norwood Haunted House A free haunted house for all ages. Dates and Times: Oct. 26 – 30th 6:30 - 10 pm,Oct 31st 5 - 11 pm Location: 11319-95 A Street Edmonton, AB Website: http://www.norwoodhauntedhouse.ca/index.html
The Knights of Terror Haunted House A haunted house to raise donations for the Edmonton Food Bank - put on every year by the Knights of Columbus. Dates and Times: Oct. 30th 7-8 pm, Oct. 31st 7 - 9:30 pm Location: North Edmonton, 18024 - 96 Street in the Lake District Cost: Free Admission with a donation to the Food Bank Website: http://knightsofterror.ca/
Ticketed Events Edmonton Symphony Orchestra Mysterioso: Music, Magic, Mayhem, and Mirth Dates: October 29 and October 30, starting at 8 pm Location: Francis Winspear Centre, 9720 102 Avenue NW Website: www.edmontonsymphony.com/robbins-pops/201011-robbins-pops/mysterioso-music-magic-mayhem-andmirth-fri/ Ghost tours in Old Strathcona Dates and Times: October 18 – 31, starting at 7 pm Location: Old Strathcona, Edmonton Cost: $10 per person, Family Rate: $30 (2 adults and 2 kids under 13 yrs old) Website: http://www.edmontonghosttours.com
Party Night Life Spookfest 2010 Date and Time: Saturday, October 30th, 7.00pm till late Location: The Old Timer’s Cabin 9430 - 99 Street NW (Scona Rd) Edmonton, AB Cost: $25 per ticket Website: http://www.spookfest.webs.com/
Oktoberfest to Rocktoberfest Dates and Times: Oct 30 Doors at 6:30, Oct 31 - Doors at 7:00 Location: Shaw Conference Centre, 9797 Jasper Avenue NW Cost: $32.50 with GST (include free beer mug, chance to win awesome prizes) Website: www.oktoberfestedmonton.com/
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Exchange
Why YouNEED Study Abroad
to
Next Semester By Evan Shoemaker
For more information about studying abroad, visit the BEA’s website at www.uofabea.ca Qustions, Advice? uofabea@ualberta.ca Office Hour: Mon-Fri: 1-3 pm
You are facing the worst job market in decades. What are you going to do? I hope you are excited.
For me and many of my friends who graduated in 2009, the dominant mindset
was one of scarcity and fear. I saw many of my friends either join the army of unemployed college graduates or go straight back to school in lieu of not being able to find a job. But do not fear my fellow Albertans, for there is light at the end of the tunnel. To date, I’ve gratefully had the opportunity of living on 3 continents, traveling to over 30 countries, and visiting nearly 200 different cities across the globe. All while dangerously blurring the lines of my studies, work, and pleasure. Hopefully my story can inspire you and bring hope to your dwindling college days. “Experience, travel - these are as education in themselves.” - Euripides (Greek playwright, c. 480-406 BC) Truer words have never been spoken. Travel, in itself, is one of the greatest educations you can receive. Contrary to popular belief, studyingabroad isn’t just a glamorous adventure or semester off, but a lifelong experience that will challenge you in a yriad of unimaginable ways. It’s excellent at pushing you outside your comfort zone, which ultimately leads to our greatest personal growth and accomplishments. Not to mention that as a business student, you have the opportunity to study at some of the world’s best universities,in the world’s most beautiful cities, while learning from world-renowned professors. What more can you ask for? If you have ever entertained the thought of going on ex change, let me make it clear for you: DO IT. Going on an ex change was singe-handedly the greatest decision I have ever made in my life. Not only is studying abroad incredibly fun and ex
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citing, it can also help you in many ways after your graduation. When I was growing up, I always dreamt of two things: owning my own business and traveling the world. Now at the age of 23, I’m combining the best of both worlds as I travel around Southeast Asia while at the same time building my business. Here are just a few things that studying abroad can do for you:
* Studying abroad opened up a whole new world of career opportunities. When entering the job market, my experiences helped me land a dream job abroad in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Traveling is a great conversation point in an interview and will help you distinguish yourself from the sea of applicants competing for your job. Want to stand out and differentiate yourself? Ask your interviewer about the picture of the Eiffel Tower on their desk and talk about how you spent a semester abroad in Grenoble learning French.
*Traveling allows you to create countless friendships with incredible people from all over the world. I lit-
erally have a network of hundreds (if not thousands) of awesome friends all over the globe. For example, I met my current business partner while studying abroad in Vienna, Austria in 2007. We started our own company together in late 2009 and now we’re traveling the globe, operating a cloud-based business with a team of 10+ employees from all over the world.
*Exchanges teach you to adapt to new environments by completely removing yourself from your comfort zone. By immersing yourself in a new culture, you learn to appreciate things you would normally take for granted, which allows you to gain a greater understanding of how the world works.
*Studying Abroad forces you to make new friends by putting yourself into a completely new situation
with no previous relationships or friends. This life skill is invaluable and will help you adapt to new situations that much easier while expanding your network immensely. Not to mention you will also have some of the best times of your life while on exchange.
*More often than not, you are exposed to a new language, new culture, new food and quite possibly, even a new world view. You can take these teachings back with you to your regular life and experience your own home town in a whole new way. After returning from exchange, I appreciated Edmonton so much more and learned to see what I thought was a “boring” city for what it truly was. It’s amazing what a little perspective can do. I love traveling so much that I’ve actually found a way to turn it into my “job” and am now getting paid to travel the world. The possibilities are endless once you open your eyes to them and step outside of your comfort zone. At the end of the day, it comes down to making the choice and taking a leap of faith. If money is your biggest concern, then maybe Europe isn’t the best choice for you - but that doesn’t mean you can’t still study abroad. There are world-class Universities and Colleges in South America, Mexico and Central America or even Southeast Asia. In Thailand for example, the cost of living is significantly lower than in Canada. This is not even considering the wealth of scholarships that are available for studying abroad. Plus the BEA’s Travel Award Program grants $1000 to every exchange student to help cover the cost of your flights. Not a bad deal if you ask me. Who knows? You might just even save some cash by going on exchange. “Empty pockets never held anyone back. Only empty heads and empty hearts can do that.” - Norman Vincent Peale For me it’s not even a question of whether you should study abroad or not, it’s a question of when. Everyone says that they’ll travel - when the time is right. They’ll travel once they finish their degree, or maybe after a couple years of work after they have some money saved up. Don’t wait, do it now. The timing will never be right and you may wake up 20 years from now behind your desk job wondering where the time went and wishing you had experienced more. Don’t let that be you. Happy travels!
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Evan Shoemaker Dumaguete, Philippines
Group Work: How to Get Ahead By Sally Au
Suggested Reponses for Disruptive Behavior Hostile (“It’ll never work.”) “How do you feel about this?” or “Let’s review the facts and evidence.” Know-it-all (“I’ve done this many times.”) “Let’s review the facts.” Loudmouth “Can you summarize your main points?” “Let’s hear from others.” Interrupter “Wait a minute. Let’s let Sarah finish what she was saying.” Interpreter “What Jay really means...” “Let’s let Jay speak for himself.” Gossiper (“I thought I heard the VP say...”) “Can anyone here verify this?” Whisperer (side conversations) Make eye contact with this person; stop talking and let silence take over.
W
Silent Distractor (reads papers, rolls eyes) Ask questions to determine their level of interest; support, build alliance.
ith rapid technological advances and globalization, the ability to work and communicate efficiently and successfully is a definite asset. Regardless of the type of industry or organization, there will be a need to work in groups with partners across the world. Working in a group setting could maximize efficiency and creativity when functioning well. However, many students have had confusing and frustrating experiences with team work. This article will provide some advice to avoid those experiences and enhance your team work to the maximum level.
Plan Meetings Ahead of Time
Find a consistent time where everyone is available to meet. A good tool to use is www.doodle.com. Make sure the purpose and objectives of each meeting are clear. Set up schedules and deadlines for completing tasks well in advance and use the meetings to check up on how each task is going and whether any problems arise. Stay on topic, don’t interrupt, and support others. At the end of the meeting, restate any conclusion or decisions made and assign or review the tasks for the next scheduled meeting.
Busy (keeps leaving meetings, takes messages) Schedule the meeting away from distractions; agree to minimize them.
Create a clear and achievable goal
Build Mutual Trust
Whiner 1 (“I don’t understand why we are doing this.”) Explain and if it persists, ask to deal with it in private.
Everyone should be clear on what goal the team is trying to achieve as a whole and be accountable for their contribution to the team. A good way to handle this is to allow for everyone in the group to express their expectations and responsibilities in the first meeting. Afterward, the team must reach a consensus on what the penalty should be if a member fails to do his/her share. Many classes do peer evaluations which are good ways of accurately evaluating your teammates without direct confrontation.
Good communication is the key to great teamwork, and having trust in your team members will enhance open discussions. Every member should feel that they are a part of the team and be respected, even though they may not like one another. Being fair, reliable, and supportive is important to build trust and efficiency in the group. Make sure you confront problems as they occur, and discuss it openly.
Latecomer Make it inconvenient for them to come in; stop talking while they come in. Early Departure Before starting, ask if anyone has a scheduling conflict.
Whiner 2 (“This is a waste of time.”) You might try sympathy and suggesting that since they are there, they might try to get something out of the time; you might think about saying they can leave if they wish. Taken From Acctg 414 Wiley Chap. 1
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By Breanne Pisani
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Winspear Business Library
Hours of Operation: •Monday to Thursday: 8:30am to 10:00pm •Friday: 8:30am to 6:00pm •Saturday: 11:00am to 6:00pm •Sunday: Noon to 10:00pm •Holidays: Closed Questions? E-mail: businfo@library.ualberta.ca
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id you know that 1200-1300 students filter through the Win spear Library on a regular weekday? Chances are this might include you. What you may not know is that the library is much more than just a space to study. From study rooms to databases and free candy canes to free coffee, this library truly is “your competitive advantage”.
The Winspear Library is ranked 1st for being the best database in Canada, containing 118 different holdings. It’s also ranked 2nd amongst all publicly-funded schools in North America. For any research you may need, whether it is for group projects or individual assignments, you can find the information you will need. With over 38 different subjects, the database has you covered across all areas of business. And of course, it is extremely useful for BUS 201. Tired of reading endless articles? Search through the 750 business and economics videos available to assist you in research and give your presentations that extra edge. If you find yourself struggling to find the information you need, make an appointment with someone in the library and receive assistance with your research. This can all be done online, but remember to book early! Appointments are especially helpful for group projects. As well, tutorials are available online to provide extra information on research.
Besides an amazing database, the Winspear Library provides support to students through many other means. Need to book a study room? There are three rooms available to be booked and you can book your room in the binder located at the front desk. But, stay tuned – the booking system may become online by the winter semester! The library is open seven days a week. During the week, due to the generous funding of the School of Business, the library hours are extended until 10 p.m. Even on weekends, the library is open from 11 am-6 pm on Saturdays and 12 am -10 pm on Sundays. However, keep in mind the resources are available online 24/7. Be sure to check out the library during the exam period, as refreshments are often provided, as well as mini candy canes during the Christmas season – just a little something to keep you going through those long hours of studying. The Winspear Library is ultimately here to help you. Use it to its full advantage. You literally have access to millions of dollars of information right at your fingertips, so take advantage of the opportunity to help you develop your own competitive advantage. Attention Prime candidates: the Winspear librarians can help you identify information/data sources for your research papers!
e rimthe P n ntio es: can Attendidaltibrariansinforma- r Ca pear tify r you s o en Win you id urces f o help /data s pers! tion arch pa rese
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Toastmasters: Business and Beyond! Since joining Toastmasters, how has your perspective changed when listening to another presenter delivering a speech of any kind?
Speeches, interviews, report and proposals are just some of the ways communication skills prove to be crucial. Delegation, group work, time management and listening are a few requirements to be a good leader. This is a sneak peek at the club in the School of Business that will help you achieve both, as well as pave your way to your own stardom.
Giselle: First, with people of higher experience such as professors and guest speakers, I can’t help but count the number of times they say “um”, “ah”, “like”, “um ah” and “you know” in their lecture or speech. In Toastmasters, we help students reduce these “crutch words” to make their speech more concise and effective.
How does a regular meeting run? What part(s) of the regular meeting do you like best? Priscilla: Our regular meeting contains prepared speeches, table topics session (the impromptu speaking part) and evaluations of the speeches. Most excitingly, people can win awards for being the best speaker or evaluator of the meeting.
I also started observing the ways in which speakers arrange arguments to support their main point and adjust their style. After listening to them, I began to adapt styles that I felt were effective. The Toastmasters program encouraged me to listen and learn from people, from the club environment and the outside world.
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How can the club help members to become better leaders? Sarah: Toastmasters helps members to become better leaders by pushing them past their comfort zone. One of the goals of Toastmasters is to help you grow. We encourage members to take on more leadership roles when we feel the member is ready. We also have various roles at each meeting: the roles range from being very small and simple, to being larger and more complex. A member is continually challenged to suit their abilities and comfort level in the club to become a better leader.
How do you think Toastmasters will benefit you in your future endeavours? Meera: I feel I have benefited a lot from joining Toastmasters. Not only have I gained confidence in speaking openly in front of an audience, but I have also developed different strategies and skills to overcome my anxiety while speaking. I have seen the importance of good communication and how it can open an array of opportunities. I hope to eventually go to Law School and I am confident that Toastmasters will be that stepping stone towards this goal.
What exciting events are coming up soon?
Quick Facts
Owen: We always come up with a “theme” to make our weekly meetings fun and exciting. We also have monthly socials for the members to just get to know each other and have fun. On October 16, we are holding our annual International Speech Contest for the school year. This contest will be on Table Topics and Humorous speech. This is a great opportunity for members to compete and meet amazing speakers from other clubs in the Edmonton district and potentially advance up to the International level!
Mission statement: to help you become a better communicator and leader! Established: 2001 How you can get involved: at one of our weekly Monday meetings, contests, and socials! More information: www.bbtc.ca or email Meera at info@bbtc.ca Membership Fees: $60 (Sept-April), $100 (whole year including summer). New business students’ fees are covered by the club! Meetings: Mondays at 6:30 in BUS 2-05
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Something to Think About From Streetlight Canada Business is about so much more than making money; something that we, as business students, are always trying to convince the rest of the world of. How do we show everyone that we’re not just accountants without personalities and marketers without morals? We are some of the best and the brightest of our generation, and the world needs to know what we have to offer. It is estimated that around 20% of us will work for non-profit organizations in our careers. This is a big chunk of the business world! These organizations represent an entire facet of business that, by definition, is about people, not profits. They are vital to society, and they offer the world something more than just products to be consumed.
Streetlight Canada brings not-for-profit management to you on campus as the School of Business’ only not-for-profit based student group. Streetlight raises money and awareness year-round for our parent organization in the Philippines. Profits generated from our events benefit an orphanage and a study and development centre for kids. Global citizenship and social entrepreneurship are at the core of everything we do. By working with Streetlight, you can learn about what work goes into running a not-for-profit organization, how to plan fundraisers, the benefits of volunteering (abroad and at home) and how to work with and manage people in a really relaxed and fun way. We are always looking for great people to help us grow, whether you want to join our official team or just put in some casual volunteer hours. We are also open to all faculties, so tell your friends! Contact Puneeta president@streetlightcanada.ca or Jen volunteer@streetlightcanada.ca for more information on how to get involved.
For more information: - Visit: http://www.streetlightcanada.ca/ - Contact: Puneeta puneeta@ualberta.ca or Jen hoffert@ualberta.ca 22
The
Alberta Energy
Challenge:
By Leaticia Kaggwa A Huge Success! The inaugural Alberta Energy Challenge (AEC) is a business case competition focused on exploring gates to augment their understanding of key probopportunities and challenges in the dynamic en- lems and comment on the feasibility of proposed ergy sector. On September 16-19, AEC brought to- alternatives. The competition culminated on Sungether top commerce students from across North day, September 19th, where each team presented America and provided them with an unparalleled their analysis and ideas to a distinguished panel of opportunity to further develop and explore their judges, including the Mayor’s Chief of Staff and interests in energy and the environment. the CFO of Matrikom. The John Molson School of Business at Concordia University finished in Teams of four undergraduate students from each first place, followed by the University of Saskatchparticipating institution were given 36 hours to re- ewan and Pennsylvania State University. search and develop a comprehensive and innovative solution to a real-time challenge faced by an Overall, AEC was a highly successful and exciting energy firm. Interdisciplinary panels of industry and event for all who participated, and we look forward academic consultants were available to the dele- to next year’s competition!
Business Spotlight: Xerox Who we are. With sales of $22 billion, XEROX is the world’s leading enterprise for business process and document management. You know us well for our leadership in document technology and services that include printers, multifunction devices, production publishing systems, managed print services and related software. We continue to build on this heritage of innovation today. Who we serve. Schools, small businesses, government agencies, commercial printers and Fortune 1000 companies – we span all types and sizes of organizations. Besides online and over the phone, we reach and serve our customers through our global sales force, independent agents, dealers, value-added resellers and systems integrators. 160 countries We extend our global reach through wholly-owned subsidiaries of regional office technology dealers, as well as more than 6,500 authorized sales agents and concessionaires and about 10,000 technology resellers. 66,500 customer- facing employees We have more than 8,000 sales professionals, 46,000 employees directly serving our clients through on-site operations or off-site delivery centers, and 12,500 technical-service employees We care. Environmental sustainability Sustainability can no longer be viewed as a cost of doing business, but as a way of doing business. Our responsibility to the environment focuses on four areas where we can have the most impact: Climate protection. Because our aim is to be carbon-neutral, we invest in technologies that reduce the carbon footprint of our operations and the document-management solutions that we offer to our customers. Preserving biodiversity and the world’s forests. We work with our customers, suppliers and other stakeholders to support the development of a sustainable paper cycle through paper-sourcing guidelines, recycled paper offerings and business process services that decrease offices’ dependence on paper. Preserving clean air and water. We strive to eliminate the use of persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic materials throughout the supply chain. Preventing and managing waste. Our goal is to produce waste-free products in waste-free facilities to promote waste-free workplaces for our customers. Our proprietary solid ink printers generate 90% less waste than comparable laser printers. Are you interested in working with an environmentally responsible company? We are currently recruiting for Account Managers (Sales) in Edmonton, Calgary, Winnipeg and Vancouver. Please contact Diana Wyley for more info. Diana.Wyley@xerox.com or 780-504-2638
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