Post 6

Term project was the highlight of this module. We were asked to write a proposal to the URA in which we had to identify a problem in Singapore’s urban landscape and propose a solution to rectify that problem. As a group we decided to address the issue of Singapore’s increasing carbon footprint. After deciding on the problem we started researching for possible solutions. The main catch in this proposal was that we had to come up with a solution that could be implemented by the URA. This was the first, and thankfully the only hiccough we experienced for this project. However, we got over it and proposed an increase in the number of CNG stations, in order to promote the use of this environmentally friendly fuel. Whole credit goes to Ms. Radhika who patiently listened to ideas we bounced off of her and gave us immensely valuable feedback which helped us a lot in coming up with a viable solution.

Once we got a direction, everything else became quite easy and enjoyable. We managed time very effectively and therefore we were able to come up with a respectable piece of work within the timeframe. All the group members contributed to the fullest of their potential. Things we learned from peer-teaching helped us a lot in getting things done. Because of those teaching sessions we were able to conduct a successful survey for our primary research and also set up an online wiki to share information efficiently without meeting face-to-face. However, we did not completely substitute face-to-face meetings with online meetings, and I am glad we did not do that. Hence, not only did we get a chance to discuss and debate matters more effectively, but we also got the opportunity to bond with each other. That’s why I think I have made long lasting friends through the platform of this module. In the end I would just like to say that it was by far the best course I have studied. The whole module was like a beautiful symphony and the conductor of the orchestra performing that symphony was no less than Mozart. That’s you Miss RadhikaJ.

Post 5

Yesterday we were given a chance to present our research project in front of our peers. Not only we got the opportunity to express our ideas regarding urban redevelopment but also got a chance to brush up on our oral presentation skills. Being a science student, I did not have many avenues to present in front of a group; therefore it was a very effective learning experience for me. The valuable feedback from Prof. Radhika and fellow colleagues was the most important aspect of this exercise.

Overall I received positive reviews from all the audience. They felt that I was very confident and composed. Ms. Radhika said that it looked like I had a firm grip on the content which I was presenting. All of these complements were very encouraging as I did not have much prior experience in oral presentations. However, some weaknesses were also identified. Ms. Radhika mentioned that I looked a bit too relaxed which shows a lack of enthusiasm. Another student mentioned that my slides lacked in content due to which it was hard for him to follow the presentation. This shows that there is still a lot of room for improvement and I hope I will be able to overcome those weaknesses in future presentations.

The best part of the presentation was the Question/Answer session. A lot of difficult questions were thrown at us, but we managed to provide satisfactory answers to most of them. It was a true team effort and it also shows that all the group members knew the topic inside out. Most of all it was a fun experience.

Post 4

We are surrounded by people with diverse cultural backgrounds, especially in a cosmopolitan city such as Singapore. Some days back my friend Ali was invited to a Student Exchange Program (SEP) dinner to share his experiences with exchange students. After a formal presentation the gathering divided into smaller groups to carry out their own discussions. Ali’s group comprised mainly of European students. They started having a discussion on relationships. This eventually brought up the subject of marriages and finally arranged marriages. During the conversation a student asked Ali “Is it true that you guys marry your first cousins?” Being a Muslim of South Asian origin, he paused and then answered in the affirmative. This answer proved to be quite shocking for the European student, so he went on to comment, “Isn’t it incest? How can you marry your own sister?” Ali was not expecting such a harsh comment because it is a common practice in our culture. Therefore, the discussion turned into a heated debate with each party making moral allegations on each other’s cultures. Things started to get a little out of hand but the situation was saved by another student who started a discussion on football.

What my friend experienced was a low tolerance of cultural differences. Such situations arise when we fail to understand why people subscribe to different beliefs and practices since thoughts and practices different from our own are alien to us and are treated with disdain. In conclusion, we should first try to figure out the reasons behind cultural differences before making nasty comments about them.

Post 3

Mohammad Ali

Blk 67 Commonwealth Drive #02-221 Singapore 140067

Phone: (+65)-84242311

Email: u0806021@nus.edu.sg

Dear Recruiting Manager,

I am a student in the National University of Singapore (NUS), pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Statistics with a minor in financial Mathematics. I am interested in applying for a full time position in the Risk Management Department. I am applying to Credit Suisse because not only does it have a reputation of consistently meeting its goals and outperforming its competitors but it also boasts one of the finest risk management teams present in the industry. The fact that Credit Suisse emerged unharmed, if not stronger, from the last recession is a testament to the prudent risk assessment and strategic allocation of capital by the institution.

I consider myself to be a people person who takes initiative in meeting and befriending others. My role in organizing successful events for the NUS Statistics Committee, such as designing souvenir T-Shirts for the students graduating in 2010 from the Statistics department, is a proof of my excellent management and soft skills. I am also a member of the Cross Cultural Community (CCC), whose sole purpose is to help international freshmen to adjust to a new environment. Being a part of the CCC, I had the chance of organizing a presentation with people from a diverse mixture of nationalities. This experience not only gave me the opportunity to work in a multicultural environment, but also introduced me to new perspectives about different cultures. After having such a close interaction with people of such diverse cultural backgrounds, I feel that I have learned to respect the cultural differences and to use them to achieve a better group dynamic. I believe that these experiences have left me with the ability to perform very well in a multicultural workplace such as Credit Suisse.

Apart from the interpersonal skills, I am also well trained in the subject of risk management. The Statistics and Mathematic courses in my curriculum have prepared me for the rigor of calculation and analysis pertaining to risk evaluation. Advanced level of proficiency in probability and data analysis makes me suitable for the work done in the Chief Risk Office. I also have the experience of working with many statistical tools such as R and Microsoft Excel which can aid the process of data analysis. I also keep up to date on the latest financial news and events through both print and electronic media.

As a person who is fascinated by the intricate workings of the financial market and has the appropriate skill set to make a significant contribution to the Chief Risk Office at Credit Suisse, I look forward to discussing my career prospects with you in person.

Sincerely,

Mohammad Ali

National University of Singapore (NUS)

Post 2

I’ve seen my fair share of conflicts over the past years. When I look back I come to realize that most of the conflicts arise due to some misunderstanding on part of one or more of the parties involved. Sometimes people in conflict converse with each other with the preconceived notion that the other party is trying to take them for a ride. Due to such prejudice they fail to understand what the other party is trying to say. They merely resort to stressing their own one sided platitudes and the conflict escalates.

I came to hear about an incident in a research institute. The researchers in that facility work on recently developed materials with unknown properties. One day a lab researcher was told to dispose of a chemical in the restroom. The chemical had a brown color and it badly stained the toilet. Next day the cleaning lady informed her company that she was unable to clean the mess. This is where the conflict began. The cleaning company contacted the lab in-charge to talk about the matter. In the conversation the lab in-charge kept on demanding from the company that it’s their job to clean the washrooms, while the company representative kept on stressing that it was not their job to clean chemical waste.

If we analyze the conflict we come to know that both the parties are correct in their stance. However, this does not help in resolving the conflict. The lab in-charge could have suggested some way for dissolving the chemical or the cleaning company could have quoted some extra money for the unusual job. What do you guys think?

Post 1

Everybody is a salesman. It might look like a sweeping statement at a glance, but if we think about it, it is actually true. Sales are not only restricted to goods and products. Sometimes we have to sell an idea, sometimes we have to sell an image, and more often than not we have to sell ourselves. So anyone who has ever sat for a job interview or applied for a research grant has been a salesman. Therefore, it is not be wrong to say that in order to be successful in life one must be a good salesman.

This is where the importance of good communication skills comes into play. A bad communicator can never be a good salesman. In order to illustrate that I would give the example of Dr Barry Marshall, the discoverer of H-Pylori bacteria for which he received a Nobel prize in 2005. Dr Marshall was a medical doctor. Hence he was not very much aware of how to communicate with the scientific community. Therefore, he had to struggle for ten years to make the scientific community believe that what he has discovered is actually a milestone in the history of medicine. The sufferance he had to go through is evident in some of his written communication with different scientists who were skeptical about his discovery.

What Dr Barry Marshall had to go through is not something out of the blue. Many people have great ideas, great accomplishments and great qualifications but still they do not succeed because of the inability to get the message across. Therefore, in order to avoid this kind of situation I am taking this module, so that I know how to effectively communicate in my professional life.