Google Docs + Gmail

Is there a better way to collect survey / questionnaires online?
The UM MBA says:

Let me tell you the benefit of the method below:

• You can export the data to Excel, OpenOffice, PDF, and many more.
• You can work on the data immediately. New feedback is immediately append below the spreadsheet.
• It is made available by Google. It's trustworthy, safe and reliable.
• It's easy for your respondent to response. No more attachment.
• It has no expiry date.
• You can publish the findings on real-time to share it with the public, or you can make it private. It's up to you.
• It doesn't have to be used just for questionnaires only. Be creative and use it for collecting all kind of data.

(You probably need a Google Account to use this)

1. Go to Google Docs.
2. Create a new form in your Google Docs and name it something like Survey – What do you like about “Ask the UM MBA” site.
3. Here’s where you add details to your questionnaire
1. Give it a good title. Make it interesting so that people WANT to participate in your questionnaires. “Man makes more money than woman” is definitely going to bring in much more traffic compared to a dull title like “Gender differences in Income”
2. Tell your recipients why they should help you to participate in this survey. Explain to them how you will safeguard their privacy, compile the data and maybe even advise a copy of the result to them.
3. This is where you start your questionnaires. Remember to write something in the help text. It helps to clarify your questions.
4. Select the second questions and move on. You can edit, copy and even delete the questions by clicking on the far right buttons.
5. View the published form (if you decide to share it)
4. When you are done, click on the “Email this form” on the top of the page.
5. So, how does it looks like in the email? Below is a snapshot of the forms in Gmail. I can now interact with it without opening another sites, or download an Excel spreadsheet. It’s there immediately. I can fill it now, or I can fill up later when I am more relaxed. This is just a snap shot of how I use the forms to track my daily expenditures.
6. So the end results?

I use this feature to track my daily expenses, collect contact information from my family members, survey and many many more.

Do you have materials on Advanced Corporate Finance and Marketing Mgmt?

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Thanks for the sharing. It will help me a lot in next semester for the Capital Market. 

BTW please could you also share the past year questions as well (Capital Market)? Do you have any materials for Advanced Corporate Finance and Marketing Management? I am taking these subjects in current semester. Thanks.

The UM MBA says:

I’m glad that you find my sites interesting.

To access past year exam questions,

1. First, you need to register an account with UM’s library. (If you haven’t done so)
2. Then, proceed to http://www.umlib.um.edu.my/ and login.
3. You should be forwarded to http://www.diglib.um.edu.my/interaktif/SQL-bin/interaktif.asp. Here, you may browse the directory for past year papers. (it can be found here –> http://202.185.97.87/umexams/). However, take note that this site may be down. So, don’t wait till the last minute to visit and try to visit on regular intervals. The site is working just not reliable.

For Advanced Corporate Finance, I strongly recommend you to run through Damodaran’s site at http://pages.stern.nyu.edu/~adamodar/

His 2009 webcast is here. His notes can also be found there. (WARNING though. His classes is several times more detailed than what you’ll experienced. So be prepared to be overwhelmed. It’s very educational though.)

As for Marketing Management, I strongly recommend www.marketingprofs.com and www.bnet.com.

You may also want to consider sites below to supplement your classes.

www.dshort.com (Daily updated graphs)
www.investopedia.com (It’s a great sites to learn about financial world)

I’m planning to take 4 subjects. Can I manage it?

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Hi, thanks for this great site. This is my second semester and I have failed 2 subjects last semester (Accounting and Marketing) and my CGPA was < 3. Now I'm planning to take 4 subject (Accounting, Marketing, Ethics, and Economic). Is it okay or not, since I'm a full time student.

I need your advice about the subjects that I'm planning to take. Thanks in advance for your help.

The UM MBA says :

Truthfully, only you can answer this well. Can you cope with it? Everything in life is a struggle.

"Winning is an attitude.” 
- Sylvester Stallone in Driven

In addition, failing is never easy.

"Everyone falls down. It's just how fast you get up that counts."
- Sylvester Stallone in Driven

Therefore, did you know WHY you failed? Have you taken steps to remedy it?

In MBA, beside learning the academic materials, you also learn many other skills. For example, you’ll learn :

1. Time Management (Discipline) - (I used www.rmilk.com on daily basis)
2. People skills (Office politic) – especially when you’re working in groups. In the working world, you can’t go complain to your boss about your colleague now can you?
3. Prioritization (Sacrifice)
4. Ability to read ALOT and VERY FAST. (Check out www.spreed.com)
5. Analytical skills (Think)
6. Ability to function well with very few hour of sleeps.
7. Stamina - MBA is a marathon, not a 100m sprint. Prepare yourself accordingly

To assist you in your classes, I would recommend these site to you as supplemental materials.

1. www.marketingprofs.com
2. www.bnet.com
3. www.ted.com
4. http://1979journal.blogspot.com (This is my personal blog – Check the list on bottom right for all the free resources.)
5. www.investopedia.com

“…I can only show you the door. You're the one that has to walk through it.”
- The Matrix

Where can I get supplement materials for the classes?

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I understand that searching for these information can be quite stressful especially if you’re not Internet savvy. Therefore, I’ve created a second site solely to compile all the resources I have been collecting over the years. I like to invite you The Internet is Free site. They are all FREE!!! (what a nice word).

Feel free to contribute them as well if you have any.

How should I register for my classes?

I'm taking specialization in General Management. I would like to complete all the lectures in 2 years time (PART TIME). Is it possible?

That means:
Year 1 Sem 1    = 3 subjects
Year 1 Sem 2    = 3 subjects
Year 1 Special   = 2 subjects
Year 2 Sem 1    = 3 subjects
Year 2 Sem 2    = 3 subjects
Year 2 Special   = 1 subjects
Total : 15 subjects
Then Year 3 Sem 1 = Thesis (6 credit hours)
Can this be possible?

THE UM MBA SAYS:

First of all, you need to differentiate between Academic year and Calendar year.  Based on your suggestion, you will graduate in August of Year 4 (since the convocation for graduation is in every August).

Overall, I think your selection is ok. However, you need to be careful in terms of the subjects that you want to register (Remember that special semester is usually reserved for elective subjects only).

Being a generalist, you actually have more selections in choosing your elective subjects. However, if you come across an electives subjects that you like, by all means, do grab it as soon as it appears. Depending on its popularity, it may not be offered for several semester to come.

Good Luck in your pursue of MBA degree.