my usual week

Here is a brief rundown of my week..

Weekly Timetable
Monday
9am - 12pm: Management
1pm - 3pm: Seminar
3pm - 6pm: Banking and Finance

Wednesday
9am - 12pm: Strategic Management

Saturday
1pm - 4pm: Organizational Behavior

Content and Homework

Management
How to write good journal papers in our research fields and the trends (or hot topics) of those "I"-journals. We were taught to analyze academic journals for their pros, cons, limitations and improvements.
-> Each students are given 2 papers related to their research areas and told to present it to the class. Also, we need to analyze the 5-year trend of a journal that we were given and do a presentation on it. Finally, we need to submit a proposal (or research topic) that we wanna research on.
My presentation dates are Oct 24, Nov 14 and Dec 12. 
Proposal submission dateline is Jan 02.

Seminar
*Compulsory for Year 1 and 2 PhD students
Every PhD student (2nd Year and above) is to share what they are currently researching and/or any publication that they've submitted. For 1st Year students, we're supposed to select an academic paper that is similar or relevant to our possible research areas and do a presentation on it. Thus each week, one to two students will be on stage to do a presentation.
My presentation date is Dec 12.

Banking and Finance
Talks about how to get publish, how to analyze and critique papers and how to look for possible research topics/areas.
-> Homework given as and when the professor thinks it is necessary. So far only written assignments were given. Ample time is given thus do not impose much stress. Maybe the rush might come at the end of the semester when everything comes all at once.. :(

Strategic Management
Textbook used.
-> Everyone in the class is to do 2 presentations and critique 6 assigned papers. Every chapter is allocated to a student. Thus each week, a student will have to "teach" the class the chapter he/she is assigned.
My presentation dates are Dec 21 and Dec 28.
Assignment datelines are Oct 12, Nov 09 and Dec 14.

Organizational Behavior
Every week, we are given 5 - 6 academic papers to read. Discussion will be conducted during class on those papers.
-> Only 1 written assignment is required.
Assignment dateline is Nov 05.



One very important fact to note:
As part of the PhD requirement, we need to publish 2 research papers in academic journals. These journals must be listed in SSCI or SCI for these indexes are internationally accepted benchmarks of academic "influence and reputation". Yet, I must add that this "obsession" with publishing in journals within these "I"-lists is very peculiar and specific in Taiwanese academia. If one could get published in a A++-ranked journal, one could get a lecturing position (either an assistant professorship or even an associate professorship) in one of the top-tiered universities in Taiwan fairly easily, according to most professors. Even promotions (from asst. prof. to associate prof. or from associate prof. to prof.) are based on the number (and quality) of publication.

Thus it is no surprise that getting published is deemed to be the most difficult prerequisite for graduation. However, before we can submit a paper to these journals, we need to "chose" an advising professor as our mentor. And this decision cannot be taken lightly nor hastily as this advising professor will determine how (horrible/stressful/*feel free to add in your own horror words*) our lives will be for the next 3 - 7 years.. as advised by my seniors, it is very important to find a professor that we can "click with" and get along, although his/her research area/specialization will also play a huge role in determining if he/she is supportive/useful in aiding our graduation. 

Currently, I've already shortlisted a few professors, and I would want to find out more about their temperament and their "modus operandi" before deciding. This year, there was a new ruling from the university - each (associate) professor can only mentor 2 students (from the same intake). So there is pressure to "secure" one's adviser as soon as possible.. A few of my fellow 1st Years have already "found" their mentors, either because they were under these professors during their Masters or their area of research matches exactly what these professors are doing.. all these really adds pressure to those of us who haven't decide what exactly we wanna research/focus in.. It is one thing to write a research proposal for gaining entry to the PhD program, quite another to ACTUALLY pursue it.. 

I for one am thinking of changing my focus from Healthcare Information System Management to Organizational Behavior, as I realized the latter encompasses human psychology and management, among other things. I am always curious about the whys and hows of human behaviors. I read a lot of (general) psychology, philosophy and sociology books, and I think my unique experience of having lived in 4 different countries and encountered (and worked with) people of different nationalities, culture and religion will provide me with some unique research perspectives. 

Again, it is too early for me to decide on anything yet.. I'll keep my option open and explore Organizational Behavior further to see if that is really what I wanna research on for the rest of my life..