The tyranny of one page report, analysis or recommendation.

Every generation needs a revolution - an entrepreneurial revolution

When this post was taking up MBA, he often encountered the tyranny of one page analysis//recommendation.  You do this after reading a 50 - 100 pages of case.  Its rather challenging:

     1.  You do not have much time to read well, much less comprehend the case;

     2.  You really have to dig deep into your brain to come up with a brilliant insight

     3.  You are trained to simplify your thinking, if not clarifying the issues.

     4.  You are trained to look at both the forest and the trees;

     5.  You are trained to "BLINK"   (reference to book by Malcolm Gladwell)

As you manage the business, you look up to your subordinates to be able to do this task.  Oftentimes, they clutter their thinking by coming up with more problems, and complicating issues.  

What rigorous training we had with our MBA

Some stories on strategic plan - common weakness is financials

Every generation needs a revolution - an entrepreneurial revolution

Makati City
November 5, 2016

Today despite eye problem, I attended a strama defense that involved 3 MBA candidates.  The first one breezed through her presentation because she is COO, an EA to her father who heads the company.  The study was about a local company making refrigeration equipment for f and  b firms.   However, despite the planned doubling of sales, the resources needed to attain the objective were not detailed.  The additional expenses and wages were missed out.

The second one which dealt with sale of Chinese trucks, mentioned the weak financial position of the company.   (The industry and the PTM was not clear.)   However he failed to address this issue at the strategy portion.   The company has huge liability, a loan payable (which was converted from advances of parent company.)

 The third one which was about a real estate company, had all the competitive analysis and external analysis all about real estate operations ie land banking, development and selling of lots and house and lot package  However the financials pertained to a construction company, (contract income (there were no inventories, contract receivable.  The competitors had these data in their FS obtained from SEC.  The sales achievement of the company was not very clear too.

More critical thinking and fs literacy needed by  MBA candidates

Our Valentine date yesterday was at Entrep Class at MBA Regis at Ateneo Clark

Angono Rizal  Philippines  February 15 2014

                                         Have a heart sign

I and several other students (14 in all) had rather unusual Valentines Day celebration yesterday.  We had our first session for the Entrep Class at Ateneo MBA in Clark.

We had the following activities:

1.  Creative ideas, ideation -  New ID or other gadget design.

2.  Self Introduction

3.  Walk through the syllabus

4.  Debate:  "Entrepreneurs are Born, Made or product of Opportunities"

Teaching Assignment for MBA AGSB-University of Iloilo Program

Iloilo City, Philippines December 14, 2013

                                    Terence was the masterful Presiding Officer of the debate

I was given a teaching assignment for MBA Regis Program at University of Iloilo by Ms. Bigette Vinuya.  Our academic coordinator there was Ms. Carmen Dabao, and the student for entrepreneuship there would be the first batch for MBA:  Terence, Pam, Christian, Joevic, Ramey and Jan.

I said that they need MBA only for the certification.  Joevic is a NSM of Jardine Davies,  Christian family's AM Builders have several (dozens of stores all ready)  Terence business include sugar central, importation of soya, livestock, sustainable livestock, and flour,   Ramey if Coke plant manager, and the family of Jan is into pharmaceutical.   We just need to facilitate the sharing

And so I flew in from Manila and the plane was delayed for two hours last Friday December 13, 2013.  Since I could not find the hotel booked for me, Circle Inn, I stayed at Riverside Inn, where I usually stay for my Iloilo visit.  It is cheap (only P500.00 per night after senior citizen discount,) and very accessible.

I taught the following day. The assignments were explained we would catch up next session.  We only have 3 remaining days session:   Jan 15, February 1 and 8


I found out that three of the students business were hard hit by Yolanda:  AM builders of Christian, the sugar central of Terrence, and the cock farms of Joevic. They welcome donations

The classroom did not have a PC or computer:  only a projector.  We were used to the support given to the faculty at AGSB

We had a lunch though at Chicken Inasal.

Our major activities were:   the walk through of the syllabus, the debate and the group presentation of Illegal Activities.  We had fun in the debate and the illegal activity and practiced a lot of critical thinking.    Terence though deftly handled Joevic who constantly asked questions;  he was entitled to only one question.

                                    Ramey and Christian, the suwerti group/proponent

                                       Jan, Joevic and Joy (we were 4 Js at this side)

                            Lunch at Chicken Inasal (I treated Gary here on his birthday early this year

                               Christian and Terence ordering the  lunch

                                        Illegal activity for tax laundering

                                 UI lobby (but closed) Regular entrance is at the main entrance

                                UI campus

Are your school's MBA students worthy of being called Master/Gurus?

In one of the entrep talks, I was asked that question.  I remember it was duirng an MBAH entrep class entrep guest presentation and the guest who is from UP, an MBA (he was a milk company comptroller, and he did a lot of asset swaps, back to back leasing when the financial crisis stuck). shocked me with the question "Are your students now, worthy of being called Masters/Gurus?  During our time, our training made so good in business and strategic thinking"

I was shocked and frankly I did not know the answer.  I did not know what kind of stuff my fellow professors were teaching the MBA students, and whether there were assessments made to that effect.

Do we have gurus and Masters in our midst? Really?

Judging from some of the Strama defenses I attended, and from some of the BP submitted to me, and during case analyses which I did after that question was raised, and from the forum on the net on which is the best MBA school?,  I hate that I was asked that question.

     l.  Many lack critical thinking;

     2.  In the area of Personal Mastery (just coming to school on time and regularly;  submitting all the assignments)

     3.  Many fare badly in case analysis

     4. Many lack the rigor of use of research data and facts.  Some think that my subject does not have rigor.

In our search for being the biggest, we neglected quality.  However I admire the male strama professors who make sure that the school MBA imprint is deserved by those who wear it. I joined the ranks of faculty who were more rigorous and even flunked those who did not deserve to be called MBA.  (Now many of them are now forgotten and me included are at the backdoor)

I would have to do a lot more work (with our colleagues, to answer yes to that question.