Live case study report handed in!

On Friday all the syndicates handed in their 'Live Case Study' reports. This is the culmination of our learning across the year. My original syndicate C from first term were the team I worked with so I was pretty pleased to have such good folks around me. The report was more than 17,000 words and I was pretty proud of what we handed in. We will present the findings of the report in a 90 minute session with Q&A on our last day on campus - December 12. Not much more now and then we all depart Dunedin and go our separate ways. It will be a bit sad but I am also really looking forward to the next chapter as well.

I love Joseph Schumpeter - the father of creative destruction

This year during my studies I have learned a great many things. One of the highlights was discovering the thinking of the Austrian economist who help us change the world. Joseph Schumpeter was not recognisd by his peers during his seminal period in the 1930s and 1940s but has sprung to fame in the last decade or so. According to Christopher Freeman (2009), a scholar who devoted much time researching Schumpeter's work: "the central point of his whole life work [is]: that capitalism can only be understood as an evolutionary process of continuous innovation and 'creative destruction'. Google, iPhones, and Facebook are perfect examples of creative destruction - destroying existing business models and causing established business to rethink everything they have done. This type of entrepreneurship is not just happening in technology but in everything we do. If we think like Joseph Schumpeter, it is a great time to be in business!  

Life after the Otago MBA

Even though I still have a bit of work to do this year (as well as a bit next year) I have really started to think in earnest about what I will be up to next year. One of my ventures with my wife is Fresh Focus. The business has been running for a number of years now but has primarily been driven by my wife Nikki although I have cameo-ed with a couple of consulting jobs. With my new found knowledge (as well as my old knowledge) we are joining forces to relaunch our market research, insights and strategy business. Check out our new 'pimped up' website - www.freshfocus.net.nz

Otago wildlife

 

One of the best kept secrets about Dunedin is its beaches. Today at our local beach it was sunny but the surf was flat so we went for a walk instead. It was quite eventful as lying in the middle of St Kilda beach was a 2.5 metre leopard seal sunning itself. It was the biggest seal I have ever seen. There were people everywhere but this fellow didn't seem to mind. Just another cool experience of Otago!

Guest speakers from international business

As part of our paper on International Business, we have had a number of really great speakers address the Otago MBA class this week and next. While they all have been really interesting, my particular favourite was Graham Stuart, CEO of Sealord, New Zealand's (and one of the world's) largest fishing companies. While I cannot share all the details of the presentation, his presentation touched on the growth in China, the impact on Sealord, the horizons of leadership and the innovation occurring in the New Zealand. For company details see www.sealord.com

Other speakers were:

• Glenn Tyrrell, Business Development Manager of Silver Fern Farms, New Zealand's Lamb and Venison co-operative, who spoke on the changing world ie growth of China and the impact of the meat industry, particular Lamb. See www.silverfernfarms.com/
• Alex Duncan, General Manager Group Strategy and Corporate Finance, Fonterra, New Zealand's Dairy Co-operative that accounts for roughly 25% of all New Zealand's exports. Alex spoke about the challenge's the dairy industry faces but in particular growth of consumption from China. New Zealand seems to be China's farm! See: www.fonterra.com
• Anne Walsh, a very senior FMCG global marketer with senior management experience with Heineken and Unilever who gave us great insights in to how global FMCG companies operate in markets around the world.

On Monday we will have Graham Budd, CEO, Destination Queenstown speaking - will provide details as they come to hand!

The Otago MBA difference

One of the things I believe makes a real difference to the Otago MBA experience is the 'open door' policy of the staff and in particular, the leadership. Ian Lafferty, Director of Executive Programmes and his team are very accessible. In fact, on Friday, I had a couple of ideas around connecting the Otago MBA to industry in New Zealand and was able to sit with Ian for 45 minutes or so and discuss the feasibility of the ideas. I am not sure other MBA leaders would actually allow you to do that. To me, that open dialogue that ultimately leads to improving the MBA for future years really vindicates my choice to choose Otago.

Job application skills

All the way through the Otago MBA we receive extra curricula training and information to enhance our professional development. One of the cool things we did last week was to go through a job interview process with feedback at each step of the process. Having done a little of this outside the course I know how valuable it can be and also how expensive it is! We were very fortunate to have two international recruitment consultants review our cover letters, our CVs and then interview us as if we were applying for an actual role. The process was pretty simple, each of us found a job online that we would like to apply for then actually submitted a cover and CV to the MBA office. It is activities like this that can be the difference between getting the top job or not!

Otago MBA T20 excursion

Well despite the chilly temperature, 5 hardy MBA folks headed down to the university oval to watch the Otago Volts take on the Northern Knights. The Indian students (who are mental about cricket) were very excited to see the likes Dan Vettori, Jesse Ryder and Neil Broome up close and personal. Unfortunately the Volts failed to reach the score in their allotted 20 overs but the beer was cheap and the sausages from the local Lions Club sausage sizzle were tasty. Ironically, one of our number is Finnish and he struggled with the cold - such is watching sport live at night in Otago. One of the other highlights was the fact that the floodlights were actually hanging from 4 cranes around the ground - never seen that before. Overall, it was a good night and another fun excursion!

5 weeks to go

Its funny, the closer we get to the end the more my motivation is waning. In week six and we are working but no where as hard as last term. I have time to get a surf in most days. I am quite keen to finish now as this term really has started to drag a little. Because we have had our international business subject in 2 x 2 day blocks and our operational excellence course compresses into the first 5 weeks there is a lot of open space in our calendar. It is not helping that my wife and daughter have been away 2 weeks! Oh well, December 12 can't come soon enough.

Movember MBA

 

Hi folks,

It’s Movember and the men of Otago MBA 37 will be growing a moustache for Movember to raise funds and awareness for men's health. It's going to be a hairy journey and we want you to be part of it. A moustache is the mark of a man, and today it is a symbol to spark conversations about important health issues. So guys, pledge to grow a Mo today, or ladies, join the team to support our Mo's. Find out more about why you should join us and Movember, by taking a look at the causes we are fighting for. Thanks in advance for supporting us and helping to change the face of men's health.

United we Mo.

PS. Will be providing photos as this is going to be a quality social experiment with a very multinational participation!