This blog documents my MBA student life at Ryerson University, Canada (2010-2012). It was an attempt to demystify the MBA experience, help understand MBA topics & encourage MBA wannabes. I have a Pre-MBA blog about B-School application process (and a few other blogs) as well. I used to blog actively in the past and interact with readers regularly, but life got very busy after my MBA. Good luck. Take care. Cheers! Gerry.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Hitting my books with a vengeance !
These days, I am hitting my books with a vengeance! I am pushing myself to go in depth in some subjects. Doing a lot of readings. This is going to be very important in the future. Hope to be a smart MBA guaduate when I DO graduate, in the near future !
Can a computer replace a CEO? perhaps future MISs (Management Information Systems) can !
During one of our guest lectures, I had asked the speaker this question (but had not got a kind of answer that I had wanted) : "These days, computers can play chess, computers can diagnose diseases, computers can fly planes. Do you think that in the future, computers can replace CEOs?".
In reply to his remark, I had continued, "Is being a CEO just following a set of policies and protocols? Or about following a set of algorithms that can be implemented by a computer as well? Or is it about very personal and very customised solutions."
And later on, I stumbled upon the concept of "MIS" or "Management Information Systems". This got me very excited. Ofcourse, I had heard of and used HIS in the past - Hospital Information System. But this is new for me.
Here is some info about MIS:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Management_information_systems
Management Information System (MIS) is a system or process that provides information needed to manage organizations effectively. Management information systems are regarded to be a subset of the overall internal controls procedures in a business, which cover the application of people, documents, technologies, and procedures used by management accountants to solve business problems such as costing a product,service or a business-wide strategy.
Management information systems are distinct from regular information systems in that they are used to analyze other information systems applied in operational activities in the organization. Academically, the term is commonly used to refer to the group of information management methods tied to the automation or support of human decision making, e.g. Decision Support Systems, Expert systems, and Executive information systems.
In reply to his remark, I had continued, "Is being a CEO just following a set of policies and protocols? Or about following a set of algorithms that can be implemented by a computer as well? Or is it about very personal and very customised solutions."
And later on, I stumbled upon the concept of "MIS" or "Management Information Systems". This got me very excited. Ofcourse, I had heard of and used HIS in the past - Hospital Information System. But this is new for me.
Here is some info about MIS:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Management_information_systems
Management Information System (MIS) is a system or process that provides information needed to manage organizations effectively. Management information systems are regarded to be a subset of the overall internal controls procedures in a business, which cover the application of people, documents, technologies, and procedures used by management accountants to solve business problems such as costing a product,service or a business-wide strategy.
Management information systems are distinct from regular information systems in that they are used to analyze other information systems applied in operational activities in the organization. Academically, the term is commonly used to refer to the group of information management methods tied to the automation or support of human decision making, e.g. Decision Support Systems, Expert systems, and Executive information systems.
Chief strategy officer / Chief Strategist
I love the subject of Strategy. Here are some prospective career prospects for those who love Strategy:-
* CEO (Chief Executive Officer)
* Business Management Consultant
* Chief Strategy Officer
* Chief Global Strategist and so on.
Here is some info from Wikipedia about this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chief_strategy_officer
A Chief Strategy Officer (CSO), or Chief Strategist, is an executive who is responsible for assisting the chief executive officer with creating, communicating, executing, and sustaining strategic initiatives within a company or agency.
A typical CSO is not a pure strategist that creates long-term planning that is isolated from the company's current initiatives. Many CSOs are considered "doers" first and have the past experience to help advise and execute. Chief Strategy Officers are often executives who have worn many hats before at a variety of companies or agencies before taking on the responsibilities and tasks that come with the job title.
Chief Strategy Officers are responsible for the critical jobs that are the most important aspects of successful strategy execution:
A Chief Global Strategist (CGS) is one of the highest-ranking corporate officers, administrators, corporate administrators, executives, or executive officers, in charge of the global strategy and the domestic and international expansion of a corporation, company, organization or agency.
The position is a relatively new one in the private sector and a reflection of the influence of globalization upon companies and other organizations that seek to expand their influence, whether as a matter of necessity to survive or the exploration of an opportunity.
A prominent example is Howard Schultz of Starbucks who was Chairman and CEO but in 2000 left the position of CEO to become Chief Global Strategist. Schultz returned to his previous role of chief executive officer on January 18, 2008.
* CEO (Chief Executive Officer)
* Business Management Consultant
* Chief Strategy Officer
* Chief Global Strategist and so on.
Here is some info from Wikipedia about this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chief_strategy_officer
A Chief Strategy Officer (CSO), or Chief Strategist, is an executive who is responsible for assisting the chief executive officer with creating, communicating, executing, and sustaining strategic initiatives within a company or agency.
A typical CSO is not a pure strategist that creates long-term planning that is isolated from the company's current initiatives. Many CSOs are considered "doers" first and have the past experience to help advise and execute. Chief Strategy Officers are often executives who have worn many hats before at a variety of companies or agencies before taking on the responsibilities and tasks that come with the job title.
Chief Strategy Officers are responsible for the critical jobs that are the most important aspects of successful strategy execution:
- Must communicate and implement a company's strategy internally and externally so that all employees, partners, suppliers, and contractors understand the companywide strategic plan and how it carries out the company's overall goals.
- Must drive decision-making that creates medium- and long-term improvement.
A Chief Global Strategist (CGS) is one of the highest-ranking corporate officers, administrators, corporate administrators, executives, or executive officers, in charge of the global strategy and the domestic and international expansion of a corporation, company, organization or agency.
The position is a relatively new one in the private sector and a reflection of the influence of globalization upon companies and other organizations that seek to expand their influence, whether as a matter of necessity to survive or the exploration of an opportunity.
A prominent example is Howard Schultz of Starbucks who was Chairman and CEO but in 2000 left the position of CEO to become Chief Global Strategist. Schultz returned to his previous role of chief executive officer on January 18, 2008.
CMA designation - something worth striving for !
It looks like I am bitten by the academic bug ! I love academics so much ! Love the empowerment that it brings with it. Love the knowledge & confidence. After the MBA, I shall consider getting an CMA title. I know this is going to be hard work. But it shall be totally worth it !
For this, it is essential to be good at Accounting, Strategy & Marketing, I guess. It is important to take an entrance test and then, take some courses. And finally, take an exam to get a CMA certification in less than 2 years after completion of MBA (on a part time basis). Well, it is not exactly as simple as this, but it is kinda close.
For this, it is essential to be good at Accounting, Strategy & Marketing, I guess. It is important to take an entrance test and then, take some courses. And finally, take an exam to get a CMA certification in less than 2 years after completion of MBA (on a part time basis). Well, it is not exactly as simple as this, but it is kinda close.
Something about Integrative Week (Oct 2010 last week)
We had an integrative week in the last week of October, 2010. It was a pretty amazing experience!
All the MBA students in the program assembled on early Monday morning (more than 70 of us). And we were given a general overview and introduction to the event.
Then, we were all handed copies of a case for the sake of presentation. We had 3 days to prepare for a presentation. And on the 4th day morning, we had to make a presentation. The topic was implementation of CSR (Corporate Social Relationship) and Sustainability in a medium sized IT company in Europe called Host Europe.
There were 11 teams of 7 persons each in the team. And presented the case to 3 teams of judges. This was a great exersise in application of the knowledge learnt from the previous month and half of training as MBA students, especially the subjects of Strategy, Finance, Ethics, Human Resources and Business law.
A lot of us were initially nervous about presentation, but with time, we were ok. And after presentation, we felt so much better. We came out wiser and smarter after this Integrative week experience !
We are grateful to our amazing team of Professors & teachers for teaching us so many new MBA skills - including presentation, analysis, decision making and implementation. This is exactly what we shall be doing as Management team members in the future!
People say that the colleges for case studies are Harvard Business School & The Ivey School of Business. But Ted Rogers School of management is not far behind in these matters ! We have a lot of case presentations in our business school too !
All the MBA students in the program assembled on early Monday morning (more than 70 of us). And we were given a general overview and introduction to the event.
Then, we were all handed copies of a case for the sake of presentation. We had 3 days to prepare for a presentation. And on the 4th day morning, we had to make a presentation. The topic was implementation of CSR (Corporate Social Relationship) and Sustainability in a medium sized IT company in Europe called Host Europe.
There were 11 teams of 7 persons each in the team. And presented the case to 3 teams of judges. This was a great exersise in application of the knowledge learnt from the previous month and half of training as MBA students, especially the subjects of Strategy, Finance, Ethics, Human Resources and Business law.
A lot of us were initially nervous about presentation, but with time, we were ok. And after presentation, we felt so much better. We came out wiser and smarter after this Integrative week experience !
We are grateful to our amazing team of Professors & teachers for teaching us so many new MBA skills - including presentation, analysis, decision making and implementation. This is exactly what we shall be doing as Management team members in the future!
People say that the colleges for case studies are Harvard Business School & The Ivey School of Business. But Ted Rogers School of management is not far behind in these matters ! We have a lot of case presentations in our business school too !
15 days left for 1st term MBA exams !
The MBA final exams are nearing ! Most of the subjects having about 30% marks allocated to these tests. Along with these theory exams, we also have practicals - presentations for Marketing and Human Resources. These have between 25 % to 40 % weightage.
Preparation is coming along fine. And I am glad.
Preparation is coming along fine. And I am glad.
FEI (Financial Executives International) Case competition at Ted Rogers School of Management.
http://www.feicanada.org/
We had FEI case competition recently and it was so very awesome !
Ted Rogers School of Management played host to an MBA Case competition on 13th November, 2010. MBA teams from 11 Universities participants. Teams of 4 each, from University of British Columbia, University of Alberta, York University, University of Toronto, Ryerson University, St.catherines, McGill University and so on.
Team rankings:
#1: University of Alberta.
#2: University of Toronto (Rotman)
#3: McGill University
It was an amazing environment! We as students of TRSM felt so proud to have hosted the event! I must say that the Rotman team was indeed awesome ! I was quite amazed by their presentation. Except for the fact that one of the speakers spoke too fast and did not seem to be a good fit into the team. But overall, they were good and proved that Rotman is indeed a fine institution !
The case was about a Canadian mining company, HudBay, based in Mannitoba, having problems and how consultants advise that they be managed. The problems were that there was the threat of strike by workers, threat of poor relations with First Nations locals and the threat of a friendly / hostile takeover by an Australian mining company. The opportunity was that there were reserves of sulphide found about 1000 feet deep into the earth. The question was : "How will you manage the situation?" What would you advise, as a consulting company, to HudBay? What should be the future course of action? It was fun to watch !
I have decided to attend as many case competitions as I can and learn from these events. And hopefully, I shall get better myself, with time.
We had FEI case competition recently and it was so very awesome !
Ted Rogers School of Management played host to an MBA Case competition on 13th November, 2010. MBA teams from 11 Universities participants. Teams of 4 each, from University of British Columbia, University of Alberta, York University, University of Toronto, Ryerson University, St.catherines, McGill University and so on.
Team rankings:
#1: University of Alberta.
#2: University of Toronto (Rotman)
#3: McGill University
It was an amazing environment! We as students of TRSM felt so proud to have hosted the event! I must say that the Rotman team was indeed awesome ! I was quite amazed by their presentation. Except for the fact that one of the speakers spoke too fast and did not seem to be a good fit into the team. But overall, they were good and proved that Rotman is indeed a fine institution !
The case was about a Canadian mining company, HudBay, based in Mannitoba, having problems and how consultants advise that they be managed. The problems were that there was the threat of strike by workers, threat of poor relations with First Nations locals and the threat of a friendly / hostile takeover by an Australian mining company. The opportunity was that there were reserves of sulphide found about 1000 feet deep into the earth. The question was : "How will you manage the situation?" What would you advise, as a consulting company, to HudBay? What should be the future course of action? It was fun to watch !
I have decided to attend as many case competitions as I can and learn from these events. And hopefully, I shall get better myself, with time.
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