Business School teaches you how to utilize some powerful tools that could make a big difference to the results of how you make your decisions in business. In addition, people in management are expected to have knowledge that an MBA program teaches, such as organizational behavior, human resource management, financial statement analysis, and entrepreneurship, especially when you become senior managers. Of course, it does not mean that you can win easily with an MBA, nor that you can succeed in your ventures after completing the program, but at least that you can minimize the risks of failure by learning the key elements of management and business frameworks. Unlike doctors and lawyers, there is no qualification to be a professional business leader, and, in fact, anyone can become a business leader. Then why do people consider an MBA to be so valuable?

I am currently in the process of learning at a business school, so I do not have the perfect answer yet. However, the case method makes me analyze the problems in the cases and I can practice carrying out my action plans. It is also true that which school you attend can also influence the value of an MBA but you can learn essentially the same information. Even as each school can stand out in one way or another, a learner’s passion and mind-set while studying will make a big difference in the end.

I try to focus on how to train myself as a business professional who finds the meaning of my life and to complete my dreams, something that is strongly emphasized at my business school, the International MBA Program at Globis University. Business schools are valuable because their MBA programs train you to grow, challenge yourself and become a creative and innovative business leader. It is definitely worth studying at a business school and I would hope each individual can create value from an MBA.

Just to share some other comments on “what make an MBA so valuable?” I have asked this question to some of my friends who graduated from business school this year as well as a current MBA student.

“I would sum up my business school education in two words–access and breadth. Great business schools provide access to untapped networks that would otherwise be unavailable. I got to meet multiple CEOs of the world’s largest companies and a vice president of a country. A business school education also provides you with both horizontal and vertical breadth. I now understand how decisions impact not only the function that I work in but also other business areas within the same company and industry.”

Alumna, the Johnson School at Cornell University

“I think the main advantage of an MBA is that it gives you a great sense for what kinds of jobs are out there. After working for 5 years, I only understood equities trading, but after being at Wharton for just a few months, my professional horizons have expanded tremendously and I feel like I have a much better sense of the broader economy outside finance.”

Current MBA student, the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania

“It is the “life experience,” not the “career step-up.” Life is only once, and there are many different jobs, industries, cultures, people and life styles in the world to experience. An MBA for me was a concentrated intense 10 months to explore such things and solidify my life goal.”

Alumna, INSEAD

The International MBA Program at Globis (conducted entirely in English) is still new, but as all business schools have their own history, I am delighted to be a part of creating history and am grateful to study at a place where I feel a strong passion of teaching from the faculty. Within a decade, I am confident that Globis will be ranked as the top business school, and I am looking forward to see my classmates make the world their stages, especially in the international community.

O Mizutani

Have you ever hit your thumb with a hammer instead of the nail you were aiming at? Most of us have and it hurts! The same thing is true, in various ways, almost everyday, for the Front Line Supervisor, the guy with his nose to the grind stone

Expectations are high for the Front Line Supervisor. If he screws up (hits his thumb) it is immediate apparent and there is no place to hide. Everyone from the top and the bottom are watching. If he is a new supervisor then the problem is doubled. More about the new supervisor later.

Let’s get the bottom line up front and make me explain, in plain English, what I’m driving at in this episode. It’s called leadership! The Front Line Supervisor must be an exceptional leader or he will not succeed. His crew is depending on him and those above him are anxious that he turn in good results. They want to get the biggest bang for their buck. Take a look at this road crew story and decide for yourself if this fellow is a leader or not.

THE ROAD CREW STORY

I’m sure you have seen these road crews in America and Japan. The only observable difference is that in Japan the person directing traffic is usually a senior citizen or a young girl. In America  and Europe women share the heavy work with the men. They will not have it any other way.

When I first started doing research for this book I spent a lot of time in libraries. However, it soon became apparently that all the material I was reading was not about the Front Line Supervisor but about someone higher up on the food chain. I needed a shot of reality and that is why I visited the road crew.

I arrived before the crew and found a spot where I could watch them without disturbing their work. When the yellow van arrived ,with the crew, nobody issued any orders as the crew, which included one female, disembarked.  Almost immediately they removed lunch boxes (O Bento in Japan) from the Van and set them in a shady spot.  The lunch boxes were lined up in a neat row perhaps in the order of rank. I tried to guess which lunch box was in charge, but soon gave up. They had achieved the first order of business for the day and were now ready to go to work.

Again nobody said anything ,as the tools were removed and people leisurely set out for their individual tasks which collectively would result in repair to the damaged spot in the road.  To the casual observer (me) it was not apparent that anyone was in charge and I began to wonder if I was wrong about  there being no such thing as self-directed teams, but then I knew someone belonged to that first lunch box. Sure enough, one of them, whom I had noticed was dressed a little better than the others and even looked a little cleaner got back in the Van and drove it to a place off the road where it would not be in the way of oncoming traffic. I guessed that this person was the supervisor. I approached him and  after assuring him I was authorized to be there and what my  purpose was. I started to ask him a few pertinent questions about assigning work and quality control. Before I could get an answer we were interrupted by some mild shouting over where the crew was working and he left me to look into the problem.

Bob – “She forgot the water jug.”

Mary – “Nobody told me it was my job.”

Bob – “Jugs are always a women’s job, Ha Ha.”

Mary – “Up yours.”

And so it went for a few minutes until the supervisor finally feed up with the bickering told them to go back to work. When Bob protested, that he was thirsty and wanted to use the Van to get some water the supervisor said, “NO” and then he told him in plain English to watch his mouth when talking to Mary. Grump, Grump went Bob, but Bob went back to work and on the way apologized to Mary.

I hung around all day. The supervisor told me “You won’t believe the stupid questions I get asked all day long. Just like a bunch of kids. Can I have this or that. My answer is NO. Many of my friends just can’t say no so they end up going places and doing things they don’t want to do. I like to keep my crew together, we’re close, he said. Even though I bitch about them, they’re good people. Every morning we punch in and I check the schedule. Everybody knows their job, because I trained them. Naturally there is some kidding around but everyone does their job without too much fooling around.” Who sets the standards? “ I do, was his reply.”

I watched with more than a little fascination at how this crew communicated. Rarely did anyone speak. Once in awhile they would look at the supervisor and he would shake his head yes or no. I figured they had their own secret language. Later I learned that this is true of all professions, doctors have their own language, airline pilots and work crews all communicated in their own special way.

What can we learn from this crew. I believe that the supervisor Hit’s the nail on the head when he says NO. What do you think? Should he have negotiated with Bob? Should he have made it clear earlier that no sexual harassment would be tolerated? Should he have checked to make sure that Mary brought the water? Did Mary really not know this was her job? Is he giving Mary preferential treatment because she is a female? What is this thing called leadership, anyhow? What follows are 10 (yeah, maybe I’m stuck on the number 10 ) leadership traits that you can use in connection with the 10 self-evaluation checks to grade yourself.

1.  Know yourself and seek self improvement.

2.  Be technically proficient.

3.  Seek responsibility and take responsibility for your actions.

4.  Make sound and timely decisions.

5.  Set the example.

6.  Know your employees and look out for their welfare.

7. Keep your employees informed.

8. Develop a sense of responsibility in your employees.

9.  Ensure that the task is understood, supervised and accomplished.

10. Train your associates as a team.

There you have the essence of leadership. It is what the first lunch box guy or gal must do if the are to win that coveted spot as a SUPER FRONT LINE SUPERVISOR.

Before leaving you this month I want you to know that I’ll miss you. You are my customer and we will have a lot to say about who is who’s customer later. I also want to leave with you where this title “Whistle While You Work” came from. Remember Chuck? After he was stricken with cancer and had to retire he took up golf. He was not a good golfer and really irritated his friends because he was so slow. To overcome this new handicap Chuck started to whistle as he moved from hole to hole which was hard because he had had throat cancer. His fellow golfers soon relaxed and everyone played happily. He said, “how can you get mad at someone who is whistling or singing? Try it at your work place. It works!

What have we learned so far, (1) always say I’m fantastically wonderful, (2) make a self-evaluation, (3) follow the principles of leadership and  (4) above all whistle while you work.  Next month we will take up how to figure things out. See you on the blog.

Only a few months into the program, this experience has been once in a lifetime.

The IMBA experience is having a great impact on me. It is about thinking critically and qualitatively analyzing issues across all areas of business, just to say but a few. I have been exposed to a worthwhile international learning experience at the Graduate School of Management, Globis University. Here, strong leadership and management skills are enhanced. The experience goes beyond academics; it is embedded in the practicality of the business operational approach of learning, especially through the series of case methods, several of which are used by the renowned Harvard Business School.

Just like any other endeavour, studying for a professional MBA degree is such that it might be very challenging. However, it doesn’t seem so tough for the tough! To sail through in the first place, all you need is dedication, commitment, and a continual allegiance to your dream/life course. Moreover, you must carry your family along because when others aren’t there, these are the people that will always stand by you! Therefore, I perceive, for those who made it in the past and for those of us who are striving to make it, all that is necessary is a balance in our day-to-day activities (along with other factors).These are among the certain basic requirements  for making a notable impact in society.

I cherish and relish the unique interactive teaching styles of each individual faculty member. They bring to Globis a range of professional backgrounds, with years of practical experience in their disciplines in the business world. Some are CEOs and veterans in their disciplines, to list just a few. I personally like the practicality involved. All the modules employ a unique approach which allows full participation. What more can I say about the interactive learning environment should I forget to mention the state-of-the-art learning aids? The case-method style of teaching is a much valued experience that gives students practical insights into different corporations in various business environments, cutting across cross-cultural, international, and other business models. I am especially enjoying the study of the different protagonists in each case. What happened in their time, how they responded, and their successes and failures are serious learning points for me. Entrepreneurial skills couldn’t have been learned better in any other environment. I have recently learned that in order to be very successful in your field or discipline, you must learn from those who have gone before you, avoid the mistakes they made, adopt their successful approaches and then have a practical and practicable action plan for execution in the face of any challenges that might present themselves. The key success factors (KSF) necessary for your desired goal are found only in YOU! Globis can help you name them, search diligently for them, and accomplishment on your path to fulfil your destiny.

I have since been enjoying the professionalism of the student body that cuts across cultural backgrounds. The international experience has truly enhanced and improved my skills as well as my learning points. There is a high degree of interaction that comes almost naturally because of the teaching methods employed. There’s no way you could be an island. You cannot stand aloof. No choice to keep to yourself for whatever reason, whether cultural or personal. The study session is essentially tailored not to only enhance our learning skills, but to have continuous interaction and networking opportunities. I like this idea so much. Team work experience is an “induction” that every student at Globis must have! While quite a number of students are young, other students are veterans in their own professions. So, both old and young, with their variety and wealth of experience and exposure, have helped make the learning environment the great success that it is.

My professional background has been in the building industry. As I enrolled in the IMBA at Globis, I realised that I needed to learn and know how to manage businesses and allocate resources appropriately. The leadership learning experience at Globis University has been immense. As an architect, although I have had some leadership experience and been especially involved in team work in handling projects both in design and site supervision in the past, I needed to learn the fundamentals of leadership and human management. It is not enough to have had a leadership experience; it is essential to learn basic leadership skills, which help to add “spirit” to the “form” it entails in the contemporary business world. You cannot compare the traditional management and leadership styles of the past century to the evolving dynamism employed in managing resources and corporations in 21st century. The millennium’s challenges can be effectively tackled by the ensuing innovation and creativity of this age. These are just a few of the learning points I am currently experiencing.

Moreover, the foresight and entrepreneurial spirit of the President of the Management School–Dean Yoshito Hori–has been “contagious”! His visionary and leadership spirit is being “implanted” into every student. I wouldn’t be surprised if in the next few years, a very high percentage of the students in Globis become founders of new businesses, operating across the globe.  Globis is beyond Japan! It goes beyond the shores of Asia! It is global!

Not tomorrow!

Do not say, “I’ll do it tomorrow”

When indeed you can do it today

A friend’s experience you can not borrow

Strive; take a step in time

Do all you can, and go forth!

…pursue to the very top, non-stop!

“Except you’ve got a goal

There’s no other place to go!”

Now, prove that you have a goal. Choose to step up your skills. Choose IMBA experience! Choose Globis!

Cheers.

Sunday Odebiyi Femi

How we take academic work and then apply it to real world examples of international businesses.  We look at challenges, opportunities and how the people inside those companies have made a difference. Classes like this almost demand that the student be proactive and take the initiative, after all, one day they might be doing something similar in a real-world company and their decision could effect profits, employees and relationships.  After many types of class at Globis University, I have found these ones to be amongst the best.

Business classes (and case studies) teach something else too.  I am an accountant, so have basic knowledge about financial matters, cash flow, record keeping etc. Something I never experienced before however are areas such as HR or Marketing.

Off course this is something that anyone can learn by themselves.  Any number of book stores, even in Japan, have a huge selection of English language books on just such a subject and all you have to do it drop in and choose the one that interests you.  However, the Globis University course gives you something that you can’t get from reading one of these books. It gives you a great environment for applying and taking your learning out side which makes you more confident in the area as a result.

In class teams, when we talk through a TTO study session, we learn some of the frameworks of Marketing and Strategy. By the end I and I’m pretty sure most of the students in the class have a great understanding of it.  We plan to share the experience we have had on the internet, as you never know, what new opportunities and information it might lead to.

M.Ohashi

6:00 A.M:

7:00 A.M: On the train I skim the headlines in the Nikkei Newspaper before going into the Corporate Finance section more carefully and associating case-studies from yesterday’s class with some of the articles.

8:00-9:00 A.M: On the phone with commodity brokers in Sydney, sharing views about short-term market trends.

9:00-12:00 A.M: Calculating the value of an investment project by using the Discounted Cash Flow Method. Group work in Finance Class gave me an intro to working-capital assumptions and how to time cash-flow estimates.

1:00 P.M: Join in on a telephone conference with an overseas joint venture partner to discuss environmental issues on a project.

3:00 P.M: Make a presentation to some of the high-level management regarding Q2 financial results and a revised budget. It’s always important to remember key points I learned during Business Presentation Class.

5:00 P.M: Brainstorm with team members on a new market entry plan. Marketing frame-works learned in class enable me to facilitate the meeting helping us all put together some really great ideas.

6:00 P.M: Leave the office for Globis University. “Time to enjoy class!!”

7:00-10:00 P.M: Participate in Accounting Class and once again, plenty of exciting buddies from interesting personal and professional backgrounds in here.

Life as an MBA student goes on…

It’s a really demanding time, but it’s also the most exciting and rewarding time in my whole life.

Shinichiro Sugihara

When I started my project in Tokyo my father gave me a lot of advice, and he still does. One of the first things he stressed was the importance of having a platform in Japan. A platform is important in any country but especially so in Japan was his point. A business platform is a versatile term that can refer to everything from a strategy to a reputation. It is an established network and experience gained from past projects that you now use as building blocks to stand on. In my case I want to build a platform and that takes time, so in the mean time I need to be part of another platform or community rather than float around on my own. The universe shined on me last week when I was invited to a cocktail party and such a platform was offered to me with a glass of wine and a delicious buffet.

For the past 10 years there has been an annual event where Swedish design is promoted in Tokyo. The person in charge of this event is no other than my best friend’s mother. Through the years I have helped her out at various occasions and she was kind enough to invite me to a cocktail party where she was going to announce the plans for the 10 year anniversary of her event. It was going to be a grand event and she wanted as many people as possible to be a part of the event for a small fee. And just like that, I had my platform. I told her about my music exchange event and she thought it sounded great. I can stand on her experience and network to showcase my event and get that first foot through the door. When I contact or pitch my idea I now sense that they are hearing me in a new way, with much more consideration rather than out of sheer kindness and respect. I have their attention.

Things to do:

1. Website!!
2. Look at possible sponsors
3. Choose an act

Through the companies website they found a contact e-mailing address but also a statement saying that it was explicitly for inquiries and that e-mails from job seekers and thereof would be disregarded. My friend ignored this warning and sent an e-mail requesting a meeting anyway. To his surprise they received a response and were invited to hold a presentation with the firm. After the meeting they learnt that the only reason they received word back from the company was because they were gaijin, a Japanese person or group would have been unsuccessful.

It is important to be aware of these types of advantages when in Japan, however, it is at the same time equally important not to let them get to your head and abuse them. The Japanese are extremely competitive and clever businessmen, the one mistake you do not want to make is to underestimate them. In regards to the business that my associate and I are trying to start, there are unfortunately very many foreign parties, which disables our impact as gaijin. This makes perfect sense considering that we are attempting to import foreign products to Japan, hence other companies that are doing the same will obviously be in touch with a foreign party. On the flipside, we have also found that many of the Japanese companies we have contacted are very familiar with dealing with foreigners making it a lot easier to talk business and make progress.

So we have once again been shocked and stumped by the international aspect of the business community in Tokyo. There has been a gaijin under every stone and it looks like the language and cultural barrier will not be as hard to break through as we thought. On the other hand, we are not as special as we thought with our “unique” idea. In fact, we are one of hundreds of companies looking to do exactly the same thing. Never underestimate the size of Tokyo nor its international community!

Things to do:

1. Still get out on the web
2. Re-fine presentation and mission statement
3. Market research!

What was even more surprising was the extent that we could use English with most of the people we encountered. As I mentioned before, the language barrier is very real in Japan, and many people who come here are usually convinced to learn Japanese before they even begin to work or live in Japan. So are Japanese people really that bad at English? ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ in my opinion. We found that the Japanese people we met were at first apologizing greatly for their lack of knowledge in English, but once the ball was rolling they kept up with the discussion and were very much involved with comments and ideas. Like so many things in Japan, the act of apologizing is a mere formality, a programmed social sequence that you are supposed to act out when you encounter a foreigner. They are not near the standard of central European countries but the Japanese are not as disabled when it comes to English as they are made out to be.

The week ended, as I said, with several positive meetings and especially one venue that were very helpful and eager to hear more about our project. In truth, when we started looking at everything that had to be done to make this project work, we were a little pessimistic. It is easy to get lost in all of the difficulties and challenges ahead and dig yourself into a negative hole. The positive result from this week’s endeavors has given us a second wind that I now realize we desperately needed! The “can do” attitude that can be found in Tokyo can be compared to the classic ideology of America as the “land of opportunity”. We are up and running for now, question is how long we can go on a tank of “can do” attitude?

Things to do:

1. Get out on the web
2. Presentation to foreign and local clients
3. Time schedule

It turns out that the first step to starting my project was to simply find someone who wanted to do the project with me. Someone who I could discuss ideas with and hopefully give me a good slap the next time Mike gave me a call. Its no big secret really that it is easier to accomplish something if you are two, it just takes awhile to realize the obvious sometimes. I needed another person involved in the project so that I had an excuse to not procrastinate, someone who would be let down if I did not get the ball rolling. It is one thing letting ones self down, it is something completely different to let someone else down.

The project we have started is to bring foreign bands to Tokyo on a PR weekend tour with the goal being that they leave with a record contract. Our aim is to be the interpreters between foreign bands and Japan, the bridge between the two cultures thus improving the export/import relations between other western countries and Japan. Our goal is for artists to contact us when they want to, as the Alpha Ville hit single goes, be “big in Japan”.

What will follow in the near future are the true accounts of our attempt to start a business in Tokyo. From the entrepreneurial and cultural aspects to the personal aspects. It will be a hard journey and there is a chance we will not succeed but that is what makes it all the more exciting. A lot has to be done and after many discussions regarding what to do next, we have decided to look for a potential venue for a live-show here in Tokyo and to formalize our business idea or pitch.

So… How do you find the optimal venue in one of the world’s largest cities?

Things To Do:

1.    Write up a plan/pitch
2.    Find potential venue
3.    Start estimating costs

photo credit: OiMax

Recently, a real VP of Finance of a big, international company in Kansai told me that things are pretty serious right now for Japan’s economy, especially in the Kansai area. His company, Company X we will call it, was consistently bringing in a profit of 16 million dollars a month in previous years. The company’s revenue each month has been 36 million and taking away fixed costs of 20 million, they have been making a profit of 16 million, in other words, an 80% profit each month.

Companies usually aim for at least a 30% profit so if a company is getting an 80% profit, it is very successful. However, from November, the profit of Company X dropped from 16 million a month to 10 million. December came and it dropped to 5 million. January came and it made no profit but just enough revenue to barely break even. February for Company X will probably result in a negative balance, meaning that the company is in “the red” and its operating costs are higher than its revenue. This company is doing what many companies in Japan and all over the world are doing, that is cutting costs and clipping coupons in order to save money wherever they can.

The first cost to be cut from companies nowadays is the entertainment budget. That’s right, the days of eating tenpanyaki and drinking expensive sake and the nights of visiting expensive hostess clubs in Kitashinchi are over. Another unfortunate thing that usually has to go is the company English lessons. Some companies spend a lot of money sending their employees to eikaiwas for private lessons and when the economy is down, learning English is usually one of the first things to go.

The next cost cutting strategy is to lay off the temporary and part-time workers and cut overtime. In Japan, the company has to prove its financial situation to the Ministry of Labor in order to lay off employees. However, many companies don’t like to do this because then it is public news that the company is having financial troubles. Therefore, trust in the company’s products goes down and they are likely to lose clients. So usually, unless it’s a dire situation, only the part-timers are cut.

This is one way for company’s to reduce their variable costs. Variable costs include employees’ salaries, number of workers, materials and delivery costs, etc. In a financial crunch, it’s best for companies to reduce their variable costs and focus more on fixed costs. Fixed costs are those that remain the same regardless of the company’s sales. Some examples are rent on an office building, insurance, etc.

The 3^rd thing that is cut from the budget is business trips. Hello Skype, web cams, email, and the good ole’ handheld telephone. Telephone and video conference meetings are more popular than ever with the financial crunch and the tightening of belts recently. As with Company X, they saved 2 million dollars a month just by cutting the costs listed above.

So it seems that we could probably all take a page out of their book to get control over our money these days but it seems like no matter what we do, it’s going to affect someone.