Pereproshuyu za traslit, ale take zhittya :)
Inkoly, os' napriklad zaraz, ya duzhe hochu govoryty uzbeks'koyu abo ukrayinskoyu. A pislya dvoh rokiv v Kyive, tse zazvychay Ukrains'ka.
I do bisa, sho moyi rechennya nepryrodni, a gramatika vzagali vbyvstvo.
Prosto hochu pochuty tsu dyvnu ta spivuchu movu. Tse navit ne mova - zagadkova pisnya. Pochuty iyiy zvuk... Vidpovysty...
Eh, yak by ya mogla govoryty i pysaty ukraynskoyu vil'no...
Thursday, November 29, 2007
About Russia
Russia is apparently quite a big topic here. It is often mentioned on lectures 8I think even more often than in Ukraine).
Basically, the 2 main pretexts are:
Basically, the 2 main pretexts are:
- How much money Finnish companies lost in Russia just after the collapse of the USSR and economic recessions in the 90s and how it led to considerable changes in the structure of Finnish business.
- How Russian markets are developing now and how Finnish companies are trying to benefit from that.
The other day one of the AIESECers attended some business conference about the perpectives of development of Russian business. Among other interesting things was the fact that today, the biggest country in terms of investing into Russian economy is Canary Islands. Which basically means that Russian people are returning money to their home country recognising its improvments in economic development.
It reminded me of many jokes about "new Russians" :)
Monday, November 26, 2007
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Freerice
Sometimes it's better to stay friends. No business, only personal :)
Really. Some people are more important as friends.
Thank you for helping me realize this :)
And, btw, today I passed 1200 grains of rice (www.freerice.com).
Join!
Really. Some people are more important as friends.
Thank you for helping me realize this :)
And, btw, today I passed 1200 grains of rice (www.freerice.com).
Join!
Friday, November 23, 2007
Some AIESEC Update
Well, I am again becoming active in AIESEC. Donno how it will go. For sure different from Ukraine. But, anyway, yesterday I was selected to become the OCP of SUCCESS 2008 (similar to Ukrainian SpringCo). Being an OCP used to be my dream about a year ago. Hm, let's see ;)
And another thing. AIESEC in Finland was one of the founders of AIESEC. Actually, my school's LC will be 60 years this spring. And yesterday I had a meeting with the LCP of TKK (one of Helsinki LCs). Can you imagine: her grand-dad went on AIESEC internship!!! That one was not a great learning XP (he mostly did some secreterial work even though he was a student of economics), but still he remembers it. And he met his wife there (or went there after her, don't remember). Anyway, in the end the girl's father was born in France, where the internship took place.
C'est le vie :)
And another thing. AIESEC in Finland was one of the founders of AIESEC. Actually, my school's LC will be 60 years this spring. And yesterday I had a meeting with the LCP of TKK (one of Helsinki LCs). Can you imagine: her grand-dad went on AIESEC internship!!! That one was not a great learning XP (he mostly did some secreterial work even though he was a student of economics), but still he remembers it. And he met his wife there (or went there after her, don't remember). Anyway, in the end the girl's father was born in France, where the internship took place.
C'est le vie :)
Social projects I admire
Thanks to Ira Voronova I've learned about the Free Rice (www.freerice.com). This porjects is aiming to help feed people in poor countris and at the same time learn English for free.
This is the kind of projects I cannot help admiring. So simple and so genious.
Well, maybe I'm over-idealistic :)
Anyway, I have already helped to collect 1030 grains of rice today!
Join!
This is the kind of projects I cannot help admiring. So simple and so genious.
Well, maybe I'm over-idealistic :)
Anyway, I have already helped to collect 1030 grains of rice today!
Join!
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Printing Intelligence
Probably, you've never heard this concept. Actually, almost noone has ever heard. This is what at least our lecturer today claimed.
And this is what also proves the saying, "do not trust market reports completely".
The birth of the idea may be recognised as the result of ITC (Information technology and Communications) Development. At the late 80s paper machine producers suddenly found themselves in a deep crisis. Not many customers wanted to buy new paper machines.
At that time paper producers did not pay that much attention. But no more than in decade they experienced the same. We do not want to buy paper. Not anymore. why should anyone of us care about printing, ink, etc, when there are all those handy laptops, PCs almost everywhere in our life?
Is it the end? Or maybe the beginning?
There is no guarantee this concept will ever live. But it may also become the new reality.
Because for now almost the only most popular thing we do with paper is printing. (ok, there still exists origami and some prefer handwriting, but...) And then there is the packaging paper with which we usually wrap. Not too much. Especially, if we think that printing is merely the process of putting small ink dots on a piece of paper. And for the last several decades the single best invention in this spehere was putting coloured jots on the same piece of paper!
But what if we try to think out of the box?! What other uses of printing may be? What else can we do besides printing dots?
Impressed is not the world that can describe my today's öecture. Much more. You see the history in making. Even before it has been really made.
RFID printed on paper: huge environmental savings, extremely low costs; new modes of putting holohrams: again huge savings and you can even save ink. Paper packages able to detect the freshness of food inside. Paper prushes detecting whether the furniture (in restaurant or hospital, for instance) satisfies sanitary standards. Printed lamps, printed detecting devices, bio-degradable batteries. Paper able to transmit info to your mobile phones. Medical tests.
And that is just to mention few...
Still impressed :)
And thank you VTT!
And this is what also proves the saying, "do not trust market reports completely".
The birth of the idea may be recognised as the result of ITC (Information technology and Communications) Development. At the late 80s paper machine producers suddenly found themselves in a deep crisis. Not many customers wanted to buy new paper machines.
At that time paper producers did not pay that much attention. But no more than in decade they experienced the same. We do not want to buy paper. Not anymore. why should anyone of us care about printing, ink, etc, when there are all those handy laptops, PCs almost everywhere in our life?
Is it the end? Or maybe the beginning?
There is no guarantee this concept will ever live. But it may also become the new reality.
Because for now almost the only most popular thing we do with paper is printing. (ok, there still exists origami and some prefer handwriting, but...) And then there is the packaging paper with which we usually wrap. Not too much. Especially, if we think that printing is merely the process of putting small ink dots on a piece of paper. And for the last several decades the single best invention in this spehere was putting coloured jots on the same piece of paper!
But what if we try to think out of the box?! What other uses of printing may be? What else can we do besides printing dots?
Impressed is not the world that can describe my today's öecture. Much more. You see the history in making. Even before it has been really made.
RFID printed on paper: huge environmental savings, extremely low costs; new modes of putting holohrams: again huge savings and you can even save ink. Paper packages able to detect the freshness of food inside. Paper prushes detecting whether the furniture (in restaurant or hospital, for instance) satisfies sanitary standards. Printed lamps, printed detecting devices, bio-degradable batteries. Paper able to transmit info to your mobile phones. Medical tests.
And that is just to mention few...
Still impressed :)
And thank you VTT!
My studies here
Some of you have been wondering how I like studies here and stuff like that.
Well, I must admit I really enjoy it here.
First, it is the change in my own approach which makes the difference. After 2 intensive AIESEC-non-university years I really want to study. And I do feel the value of my studies. And practical implications (actually, many of them come from the AIESEC and other working XP)
Second, the ambiance here is more encouraging. Starting from the basic technical and other life conditions (at least one beamer per every room, even in the smallest ones, videos, ppts, Internet connection everywhere, and other things that really add value to your studies), continuing with the teaching approach (will tell more later below) and ending with the general respect to the studying process here. For example, your Bachelor's and Master's degree theses are something which do matter. Companies often offer themes. You may base them Companies often order research for them, where students at certain level can participate. As well as the government.
About the teaching process. The good thing is that it is always very practical. (Sometimes even too much, I think, but in general it's good). You have a textbook which you are supposed to study on your own before the exam. And then there are lectures, many of which are actually guest lectures, which focus on some practical aspect or feature. Sometimes there is theory, but mainly you are supposed to master that yourself.
One traditional drawback of many of the teachers here is that they are over too calm. Maybe, I'm just not used, but sometimes, after 1,5 hours of very mild, calm, confident lecture you just lose the point. And the way many of them use ppts. Sometimes there is really much too much text on them.
And I enjoy this focus on innovation everywhere. Actually, one of the interesting arguments one of our recent guest lecturer has made was that with the increasing introduction of computers in our life and management, human beings virtually not only keep control, but they also increase the number of opportunities to do interesting creative work while leaving the boring ones to computers. :)
Well, I must admit I really enjoy it here.
First, it is the change in my own approach which makes the difference. After 2 intensive AIESEC-non-university years I really want to study. And I do feel the value of my studies. And practical implications (actually, many of them come from the AIESEC and other working XP)
Second, the ambiance here is more encouraging. Starting from the basic technical and other life conditions (at least one beamer per every room, even in the smallest ones, videos, ppts, Internet connection everywhere, and other things that really add value to your studies), continuing with the teaching approach (will tell more later below) and ending with the general respect to the studying process here. For example, your Bachelor's and Master's degree theses are something which do matter. Companies often offer themes. You may base them Companies often order research for them, where students at certain level can participate. As well as the government.
About the teaching process. The good thing is that it is always very practical. (Sometimes even too much, I think, but in general it's good). You have a textbook which you are supposed to study on your own before the exam. And then there are lectures, many of which are actually guest lectures, which focus on some practical aspect or feature. Sometimes there is theory, but mainly you are supposed to master that yourself.
One traditional drawback of many of the teachers here is that they are over too calm. Maybe, I'm just not used, but sometimes, after 1,5 hours of very mild, calm, confident lecture you just lose the point. And the way many of them use ppts. Sometimes there is really much too much text on them.
And I enjoy this focus on innovation everywhere. Actually, one of the interesting arguments one of our recent guest lecturer has made was that with the increasing introduction of computers in our life and management, human beings virtually not only keep control, but they also increase the number of opportunities to do interesting creative work while leaving the boring ones to computers. :)
My birthday :)
Yahoo! I'm 20!
First of all, thank you very-very-very much everyone who called, smsed (or tried to ;)), sent me messages in chats, facebook, email and mailing lists. Thank you! I'm lucky to have so many friends :)
And I had a really nice small celebration yesterday. Actually, it was one more time when I realized: the best things happen spontaneously and unexpectedly :)
Of coz, a birthday is not really the thing that happens all of a sudden, but till the last minute yesterday I thought I wouldn't have any celebration. At least, I'm more or less used to not having them with friends. Coz for the last 6 or even more years my birthday was either on the arrival date of an important chess tournament or on the departure date of important AIESEC conferences :)
But then I decided that I should change this tradition. I just invited several of my friends from here.
That was one of the best times I've had here. the evening which I totally enjoyed till the very last minute.
And, which is more, I somehow felt much better today in general. (Not that I didn't feel comfortable here before, but today it was something different)
Thank you!
First of all, thank you very-very-very much everyone who called, smsed (or tried to ;)), sent me messages in chats, facebook, email and mailing lists. Thank you! I'm lucky to have so many friends :)
And I had a really nice small celebration yesterday. Actually, it was one more time when I realized: the best things happen spontaneously and unexpectedly :)
Of coz, a birthday is not really the thing that happens all of a sudden, but till the last minute yesterday I thought I wouldn't have any celebration. At least, I'm more or less used to not having them with friends. Coz for the last 6 or even more years my birthday was either on the arrival date of an important chess tournament or on the departure date of important AIESEC conferences :)
But then I decided that I should change this tradition. I just invited several of my friends from here.
That was one of the best times I've had here. the evening which I totally enjoyed till the very last minute.
And, which is more, I somehow felt much better today in general. (Not that I didn't feel comfortable here before, but today it was something different)
Thank you!
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Strategy
I've had a really nice discussion about strategy, its development and implementation in one of the classes recently. At the end, the professor suggested visiting this website: Strategy as Practice. Strategy as Practice is a community of scholars interested in the practice of strategy.
There they have really nice discussiona bout strategy, how it should be percieved, different tools, etc.
One of the research paper bulishe there is called "The strategic conversation as a power issue between top and middle managers". In a nutshell, it speaks about the interaction of middle and top managers in strategy development and implementation, how different parties see their roles and behave.
Well, pretty nice. Enjoy!
There they have really nice discussiona bout strategy, how it should be percieved, different tools, etc.
One of the research paper bulishe there is called "The strategic conversation as a power issue between top and middle managers". In a nutshell, it speaks about the interaction of middle and top managers in strategy development and implementation, how different parties see their roles and behave.
Well, pretty nice. Enjoy!
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Some latest happenings :)
It won't have any logic, but ....
... a few days ago I realised that snow at the beginning of November sounds quite ordinary for me. Could never imagine it earlier than mid-Jan 3 years back (well, ok, there was once that it snowed on my birthday, but I was five then and it never repeated again :))....
... yesterday learned that (I cite) "people there (India and other third-world perfect-for-outsourcing places) are more clever than we are" (i.e. Western Europeans and US guys :). It was one of the top-management of Nordic IBM. It's used to be the labour cost why they outsourced. Now it's both cost and competency. Food for thought...
... sportsmen are a sort of slaves. Seriously. You buy and sell them. Football and sport clubs even depreciate them. We were all laughing during our accounting class today when we went through their accounting reports. But...
... I have already received the first birthday congratulation of the year :))) So sweet. Thank you Lorochka
... one LC invited me to the OC of one the conferences. Or maybe an OCP. Need to think...
A short snapshot and lots events behind. :)
... a few days ago I realised that snow at the beginning of November sounds quite ordinary for me. Could never imagine it earlier than mid-Jan 3 years back (well, ok, there was once that it snowed on my birthday, but I was five then and it never repeated again :))....
... yesterday learned that (I cite) "people there (India and other third-world perfect-for-outsourcing places) are more clever than we are" (i.e. Western Europeans and US guys :). It was one of the top-management of Nordic IBM. It's used to be the labour cost why they outsourced. Now it's both cost and competency. Food for thought...
... sportsmen are a sort of slaves. Seriously. You buy and sell them. Football and sport clubs even depreciate them. We were all laughing during our accounting class today when we went through their accounting reports. But...
... I have already received the first birthday congratulation of the year :))) So sweet. Thank you Lorochka
... one LC invited me to the OC of one the conferences. Or maybe an OCP. Need to think...
A short snapshot and lots events behind. :)
Friday, November 9, 2007
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Дохлая лошадь :)
Спасибо Машке :)
Древняя мудрость индейского племени Дакота гласит, что если Вы обнаружили, что скачете на дохлой лошади, наилучшая стратегия – спрыгнуть с нее.
Однако в бизнесе, похоже, мы часто стараемся использовать другие стратегии по отношению к дохлой лошади, включая следующие:
1.Покупаем более сильную плеть.
2.Меняем наездников.
3.Говорим: «Мы всегда скакали на лошади именно таким образом».
4.Создаем комитет по изучению лошади.
5.Организуем посещение других организаций, чтобы посмотреть, как они скачут на своих дохлых лошадях.
6.Повышаем стандарты скачки на дохлых лошадях.
7.Создаем тигровую команду по оживлению дохлой лошади.
8.Организуем тренинг по развитию скаковых навыков.
9.Проверяем соответствие состояния дохлой лошади современной окружающей среде. 10.Меняем требования к лошади, провозглашая, что эта лошадь дохлой не является. 11.Производим анализ издержек, чтобы выяснить, не могут ли контрактники скакать на ней дешевле.
12.Нанимаем контрактников, чтобы они скакали на нашей дохлой лошади.
13.Собираем несколько дохлых лошадей в упряжку с целью повышения скорости.
14.Провозглашаем, что никакая лошадь не может быть слишком дохлой, чтобы ее бить плетью.
15.Обеспечиваем дополнительное финансирование для повышения производительности лошади.
16.Покупаем продукт, который заставит дохлую лошадь скакать быстрее.
17.Создаем кружки качества, чтобы найти применение для дохлой лошади.
18.Пересматриваем требования к производительности лошадей.
19.Продвигаем дохлую лошадь на должность руководителя.
Древняя мудрость индейского племени Дакота гласит, что если Вы обнаружили, что скачете на дохлой лошади, наилучшая стратегия – спрыгнуть с нее.
Однако в бизнесе, похоже, мы часто стараемся использовать другие стратегии по отношению к дохлой лошади, включая следующие:
1.Покупаем более сильную плеть.
2.Меняем наездников.
3.Говорим: «Мы всегда скакали на лошади именно таким образом».
4.Создаем комитет по изучению лошади.
5.Организуем посещение других организаций, чтобы посмотреть, как они скачут на своих дохлых лошадях.
6.Повышаем стандарты скачки на дохлых лошадях.
7.Создаем тигровую команду по оживлению дохлой лошади.
8.Организуем тренинг по развитию скаковых навыков.
9.Проверяем соответствие состояния дохлой лошади современной окружающей среде. 10.Меняем требования к лошади, провозглашая, что эта лошадь дохлой не является. 11.Производим анализ издержек, чтобы выяснить, не могут ли контрактники скакать на ней дешевле.
12.Нанимаем контрактников, чтобы они скакали на нашей дохлой лошади.
13.Собираем несколько дохлых лошадей в упряжку с целью повышения скорости.
14.Провозглашаем, что никакая лошадь не может быть слишком дохлой, чтобы ее бить плетью.
15.Обеспечиваем дополнительное финансирование для повышения производительности лошади.
16.Покупаем продукт, который заставит дохлую лошадь скакать быстрее.
17.Создаем кружки качества, чтобы найти применение для дохлой лошади.
18.Пересматриваем требования к производительности лошадей.
19.Продвигаем дохлую лошадь на должность руководителя.
Monday, November 5, 2007
VALS
While reading the "Principles of Marketing"by Kotler I came across the VALS tool to define consumer's behavior (you can read more about it and pass a survey here).
Basically it's about determining consumers depending on how they spend their time and money (self-orientation and resources)
Here is who I am:)
Experiencers
Experiencers are motivated by self-expression. As young, enthusiastic, and impulsive consumers, Experiencers quickly become enthusiastic about new possibilities but are equally quick to cool. They seek variety and excitement, savoring the new, the offbeat, and the risky. Their energy finds an outlet in exercise, sports, outdoor recreation, and social activities.
Experiencers are avid consumers and spend a comparatively high proportion of their income on fashion, entertainment, and socializing. Their purchases reflect the emphasis they place on looking good and having "cool" stuff.
Innovators (formerly Actualizers)
Innovators are successful, sophisticated, take-charge people with high self-esteem. Because they have such abundant resources, they exhibit all three primary motivations in varying degrees. They are change leaders and are the most receptive to new ideas and technologies. Innovators are very active consumers, and their purchases reflect cultivated tastes for upscale, niche products and services.
Image is important to Innovators, not as evidence of status or power but as an expression of their taste, independence, and personality. Innovators are among the established and emerging leaders in business and government, yet they continue to seek challenges. Their lives are characterized by variety. Their possessions and recreation reflect a cultivated taste for the finer things in life.
Basically it's about determining consumers depending on how they spend their time and money (self-orientation and resources)
Here is who I am:)
Experiencers
Experiencers are motivated by self-expression. As young, enthusiastic, and impulsive consumers, Experiencers quickly become enthusiastic about new possibilities but are equally quick to cool. They seek variety and excitement, savoring the new, the offbeat, and the risky. Their energy finds an outlet in exercise, sports, outdoor recreation, and social activities.
Experiencers are avid consumers and spend a comparatively high proportion of their income on fashion, entertainment, and socializing. Their purchases reflect the emphasis they place on looking good and having "cool" stuff.
Innovators (formerly Actualizers)
Innovators are successful, sophisticated, take-charge people with high self-esteem. Because they have such abundant resources, they exhibit all three primary motivations in varying degrees. They are change leaders and are the most receptive to new ideas and technologies. Innovators are very active consumers, and their purchases reflect cultivated tastes for upscale, niche products and services.
Image is important to Innovators, not as evidence of status or power but as an expression of their taste, independence, and personality. Innovators are among the established and emerging leaders in business and government, yet they continue to seek challenges. Their lives are characterized by variety. Their possessions and recreation reflect a cultivated taste for the finer things in life.
Friday, November 2, 2007
My first week in Helsinki
It has been exactly one week since I moved here. ;)
Good time to post my observations and first experiences.
Actually, I am very lucky to have come here before: I knew what to expect, at least for the first time. And, then, the internnational students community is vey friendly here. We stick to each other :)
About my university. Well, for now I am satisfied. Of course, you wouldn't call it perfect, but still, it's much better. And what I like here is the students' motivation and approach, which turns into a completely difefrent approach from professors (or vica versa). And then, the university stuff here aims to help you in the most ways possible.
And, BTW, I am getting more and more motivated by the NGO idea for education development in Ukraine/Uzbekistan (basically, it's about setting a link between the corporate sector and universities). Here it really works. Slightly different from what I've heard about Asian universities, but still, very effective. Almost everything here is financed with the help of companies. Almost all courses include practical implications from the sponsoring companies. Universities conduct research for them. And even thesises may be written based on a company's request for investigation. And then there is the practice of alumni financing their universities. And that all besides governmental subsidies.
Nokia... Nokia is almost everywhere here. It's not only phones, much more. It's a kinda national symbol. They recall it on each and every class :) I think you won't find any person here who doesn't know Nokia :)
One unexpected fact was that marketing (in all meanings) is unpopular here. :) Can you imagine? They appreciate engineering, medicine, construction, innovation, but not marketing. According to some survey it's one of the least popular professions here (second to TV-show hosts:)). And another thing is that they don't get attracted by working in advertising agencies (while I was searching for marketing people in Ukraine I had a notion that most marketers from Ukraine prefer to work in specialised agencies instead of marketing departments in other industries).
Coming back to my life: it's becoming incresingly balanced and scheduled. I hope one more week of getting used to the studies and it will be totally balanced :)
Stay tuned!
P.S. I will start preparing the NY party from the next week ;)
Good time to post my observations and first experiences.
Actually, I am very lucky to have come here before: I knew what to expect, at least for the first time. And, then, the internnational students community is vey friendly here. We stick to each other :)
About my university. Well, for now I am satisfied. Of course, you wouldn't call it perfect, but still, it's much better. And what I like here is the students' motivation and approach, which turns into a completely difefrent approach from professors (or vica versa). And then, the university stuff here aims to help you in the most ways possible.
And, BTW, I am getting more and more motivated by the NGO idea for education development in Ukraine/Uzbekistan (basically, it's about setting a link between the corporate sector and universities). Here it really works. Slightly different from what I've heard about Asian universities, but still, very effective. Almost everything here is financed with the help of companies. Almost all courses include practical implications from the sponsoring companies. Universities conduct research for them. And even thesises may be written based on a company's request for investigation. And then there is the practice of alumni financing their universities. And that all besides governmental subsidies.
Nokia... Nokia is almost everywhere here. It's not only phones, much more. It's a kinda national symbol. They recall it on each and every class :) I think you won't find any person here who doesn't know Nokia :)
One unexpected fact was that marketing (in all meanings) is unpopular here. :) Can you imagine? They appreciate engineering, medicine, construction, innovation, but not marketing. According to some survey it's one of the least popular professions here (second to TV-show hosts:)). And another thing is that they don't get attracted by working in advertising agencies (while I was searching for marketing people in Ukraine I had a notion that most marketers from Ukraine prefer to work in specialised agencies instead of marketing departments in other industries).
Coming back to my life: it's becoming incresingly balanced and scheduled. I hope one more week of getting used to the studies and it will be totally balanced :)
Stay tuned!
P.S. I will start preparing the NY party from the next week ;)
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