I am pursuing Executive MBA from UCD Michael Smurfit School of business and glad that first semester is over. Towards the end of the semester schedule and work load was so hectic that I felt like playing 30 minutes of extra time after 90 mins of regular time in a game of football. However now I am feeling relaxed and it is time to recharge batteries and enjoy some personal time.
The feeling about the first semester is mixed with its high and lows. The best thing by far has been learning from case studies, this was the first time I was using this mode of learning and I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed participating is these session. One might not be able to touch all aspects of topic in single case study but it is very effective way of leaning. It is also very unpredictable as even lecturer does not know how the energy in class will be and what will be the outcome for any case study. It is an art in itself to channel the energy and momentum of class in a meaningful way so that takeaways can be taken from each session that can be applied in practical manner.
However I must confess that often I was left frustrated after these sessions because I had more questions than answers. This feeling of anxiety is unbearable for me. I discussed this with my lecturer and they told me that motive of case study is to ignite fire in you to look for correct answer. The aim is not to find right or wrong answer as right and wrong answers are applicable only for certain situations but if one needs to develop comprehensive understanding that can be applied to different practical situations then one should enjoy the journey of finding the answers. I am not sure if I can claim that I enjoy journey more than the end result but I do enjoy hoping from one article to another and from one journal to another in search for answers much like as Chow Yun used to hop from one house to another in movie Crouching tiger hidden dragon. More I know more questions I have and more I notice that how ignorant I was and I am.
When I look at the curriculum of MBA, first semester seems like that most interesting semester and I can't help thinking that why college has put all interesting and important subjects in first semester itself. I would really like to revisit advanced marketing concepts later in MBA as this is one fascinating subject that cuts across whole organisation. It is absolutely important to get it right and get it right the first time. May be I can choose some electives for the same purpose.
It was fascinating to learn new tools and models created by best minds in the business such as Porter and Canon. However when I look back at first semester I feel that I should have challenged more these standard theories and practices rather than just learning how to apply them. We should not accept these model as just extract from Bible or Gita but to get most out of these tools best things perhaps would to challenge them. Who know there might be next Potter among us. I suppose you got my point.
Still fresh in my mind is the first case study that we studied, it was called Honda(A) in which we learned how its legendary Sochiro Honda turned his passion into a big conglomerate and used precision strategy to beat the competition. In the second part of that case study called as Honda (B) we learned how Honda as an organisation tasted failure but tweaked its strategy time and again to overcome challenges. It was an eye opener to see that company like Honda also have their low points. Later we went through number of case study where one striking similarity was that companies hardly get their acts right the very first time. In fact, it is all about being persistent and keep on trying new things and learning from your mistake. I really wished if there was any video game that I can pay through my Xbox where I will play the CEO of my company and play my strategies to see how I face these challenges. This could be a fascinating simulation game to practice business strategy. This game can be further extended to make it a multi game player where different players can play and be competitor to each other and prepare counter strategies. I suppose you got my point.
Am I really 25% MBA? I am not sure but then it reminds me of story in which baby elephant was tied to a tree with a chain. Baby elephant would try his best to break free but he is not strong enough to free himself. After trying for a while baby elephant gives up accepting the fact that he can't set himself free. Later when baby elephant grows into a strong full size elephant he still does not try to set himself free when tied to a chain because he has accepted the fact the he can't set himself free. This is baby elephant syndrome. Hope none of us suffer from this syndrome and realise our full potential and break all boundaries.
The feeling about the first semester is mixed with its high and lows. The best thing by far has been learning from case studies, this was the first time I was using this mode of learning and I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed participating is these session. One might not be able to touch all aspects of topic in single case study but it is very effective way of leaning. It is also very unpredictable as even lecturer does not know how the energy in class will be and what will be the outcome for any case study. It is an art in itself to channel the energy and momentum of class in a meaningful way so that takeaways can be taken from each session that can be applied in practical manner.
However I must confess that often I was left frustrated after these sessions because I had more questions than answers. This feeling of anxiety is unbearable for me. I discussed this with my lecturer and they told me that motive of case study is to ignite fire in you to look for correct answer. The aim is not to find right or wrong answer as right and wrong answers are applicable only for certain situations but if one needs to develop comprehensive understanding that can be applied to different practical situations then one should enjoy the journey of finding the answers. I am not sure if I can claim that I enjoy journey more than the end result but I do enjoy hoping from one article to another and from one journal to another in search for answers much like as Chow Yun used to hop from one house to another in movie Crouching tiger hidden dragon. More I know more questions I have and more I notice that how ignorant I was and I am.
When I look at the curriculum of MBA, first semester seems like that most interesting semester and I can't help thinking that why college has put all interesting and important subjects in first semester itself. I would really like to revisit advanced marketing concepts later in MBA as this is one fascinating subject that cuts across whole organisation. It is absolutely important to get it right and get it right the first time. May be I can choose some electives for the same purpose.
It was fascinating to learn new tools and models created by best minds in the business such as Porter and Canon. However when I look back at first semester I feel that I should have challenged more these standard theories and practices rather than just learning how to apply them. We should not accept these model as just extract from Bible or Gita but to get most out of these tools best things perhaps would to challenge them. Who know there might be next Potter among us. I suppose you got my point.
Still fresh in my mind is the first case study that we studied, it was called Honda(A) in which we learned how its legendary Sochiro Honda turned his passion into a big conglomerate and used precision strategy to beat the competition. In the second part of that case study called as Honda (B) we learned how Honda as an organisation tasted failure but tweaked its strategy time and again to overcome challenges. It was an eye opener to see that company like Honda also have their low points. Later we went through number of case study where one striking similarity was that companies hardly get their acts right the very first time. In fact, it is all about being persistent and keep on trying new things and learning from your mistake. I really wished if there was any video game that I can pay through my Xbox where I will play the CEO of my company and play my strategies to see how I face these challenges. This could be a fascinating simulation game to practice business strategy. This game can be further extended to make it a multi game player where different players can play and be competitor to each other and prepare counter strategies. I suppose you got my point.
Am I really 25% MBA? I am not sure but then it reminds me of story in which baby elephant was tied to a tree with a chain. Baby elephant would try his best to break free but he is not strong enough to free himself. After trying for a while baby elephant gives up accepting the fact that he can't set himself free. Later when baby elephant grows into a strong full size elephant he still does not try to set himself free when tied to a chain because he has accepted the fact the he can't set himself free. This is baby elephant syndrome. Hope none of us suffer from this syndrome and realise our full potential and break all boundaries.
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