Otago MBA News http://www.otagomba.com/ http://www.otagomba.com/content/otagomba/templates/grey default/images/logo.png http://www.otagomba.com/ by Emma, Otago MBA student 2012When asked to write a blog
about working full-time and being on the Otago MBA, I wasn’t sure, I’ve never
blogged before, but then reflecting on this year, that is what the MBA has been
like, doing and learning lots of new thi by Emma, Otago MBA student 2012When asked to write a blog
about working full-time and being on the Otago MBA, I wasn’t sure, I’ve never
blogged before, but then reflecting on this year, that is what the MBA has been
like, doing and learning lots of new things.

For those of you
considering applying for the Otago MBA while still working, let me share my
insights with you. Well, there is no denying I was nervous, I had been a
student before, but to work and study, I knew I was in for a challenge. Juggling
lectures, syndicate meetings, completing assignments and on top of keeping up
with a full time workload…I’m sure you get the picture. However, working at the
same time has many advantages. It is great to be able to reflect on my
practice, get new ideas as to how to approach situations and many learnings I
am able to put into practice the following day at work. Furthermore, I believe I
have enriched the learning of others, I am able to share my experiences with
work colleagues and in turn bring current examples into the classroom.

The Otago MBA is providing
me with a breadth of skills, such as human resource management, how to motivate
and engage people, how to reach your target audience, and of course the experiences
of working with a new group of people every term.  But life isn’t just about work (or study) and
through my MBA study I have made some wonderful friends, had a go at curling, learnt
to play squash, badminton and the list goes on…

So yes, at times it is
hard work, but studying while working has so many advantages. I have learnt
such a lot, enhanced my work practices, made some wonderful friends, and on
that note, perhaps I might see you next year!

PS
- Here is a photo on a winter’s but beautiful day to illustrate that it’s not
all hard work.

Here is Emma (this blog's author) and her winning team at recent Postgraduate Quiz Night. From left MBA 36 class members
- Dominik, John, Emma, Wendy, Dipankar  http://www.otagomba.com/otago_mba_blog/article/286 Fri, 02 Nov 2012 14:27:00 +1300 The Otago MBA
syndicate rooms, despite being tremendously useful for cooperation and
discussion within each syndicate, have had the reputation of being unpleasant
and unjoyful: like a cave or even a dungeon. Mostly, because of the absence of
windows, these rooms are r The Otago MBA
syndicate rooms, despite being tremendously useful for cooperation and
discussion within each syndicate, have had the reputation of being unpleasant
and unjoyful: like a cave or even a dungeon. Mostly, because of the absence of
windows, these rooms are referred to as “the dungeons”.

The MBA 36 class
has implemented change and transformed the dungeons into cheerful and colourful
continents. The initiative included:

·        
Re-branding
of the rooms into continents: At the moment 14 different nationals are part of
the MBA 36 class. The MBA 36 class wants to incorporate the diverse cultural
experiences, backgrounds, as well as differences and similarities into the
syndicate rooms.

·        
As a
first step, every class member was encouraged to show his/her best pictures
from Asia, Africa, America, Europe, and Oceania to the class. After a class
vote, two pictures for each continent were chosen to be hung up in big size in
the assigned continent rooms. 

·        
Each
picture consists of hundred little photographs from different continents: mosaic
pictures. So, just take a closer look and you will see more than just one
picture, but hundreds of pictures taken by MBA 36 class members. 

·        
Every
room is also equipped with a continent map, where every current, former and
future MBA student is encouraged to stick a little flag pin with his/her name
on the place where they come from or where they have lived during their
lifetime. A visual Alumni-network so to speak…

Here are the continent
mosaics:

AfricaAmericaAsiaEuropeOceania http://www.otagomba.com/otago_mba_blog/article/285 Mon, 29 Oct 2012 20:12:00 +1300 As part of syndicate C’s Live Case Study, Koustubh, Isaac, Blake and Dominikwere visiting Oceana Gold at Macraes last week. Their visit was focused aroundunderstanding the needs and the pain of mining corporations around their fleetmanagement.Although it was raining, snowing, warm and cold As part of syndicate C’s Live Case Study, Koustubh, Isaac, Blake and Dominikwere visiting Oceana Gold at Macraes last week. Their visit was focused aroundunderstanding the needs and the pain of mining corporations around their fleetmanagement.Although it was raining, snowing, warm and cold in one day, they had a fabulousday at Oceana and had very useful meeting with key personal in the organisation.Please see the following impressions of their visit at Oceana. http://www.otagomba.com/otago_mba_blog/article/284 Mon, 29 Oct 2012 13:16:00 +1300 The Great OtagoMBA Debate 2012.  Forget Obama-Romney, OtagoMBA class witnessed its own high voltage debatetoday as a part of International Business studies. The debate was facilitated by
Vivienne Shaw.
The 2 topics for the debate were:1. “The taking, or giving of a The Great OtagoMBA Debate 2012.  Forget Obama-Romney, OtagoMBA class witnessed its own high voltage debatetoday as a part of International Business studies. The debate was facilitated by
Vivienne Shaw.
The 2 topics for the debate were:1. “The taking, or giving of a bribe or gratuity distorts markets and creates unfaircompetition”2. “All barriers to international should be eliminated”Each topic saw a team talking against and in favour of it, then the rebuttal and finallythe debate was made interesting by allowing questions from audience. Each teamgrilled one another on their position statements and during the rebuttal. The audiencewas also quite supportive and kept the team on their feet by asking some pretty toughquestions.At the end of each debate, the audience applauded the teams whole heartedly.Vivienne also did a fantastic job of facilitating both the debates and asked some prettyhard-hitting questions. But at end of the day each team was a successful in puttingforward their arguments and made the debate informative and interesting. It was agood learning experience for all of us…The pictures for the debate can be found on the FaceBook page of Otago MBA.

MBA Batch 36_ Syndicate-EBlakeDominikIsaacKoustubh http://www.otagomba.com/otago_mba_blog/article/283 Mon, 29 Oct 2012 12:54:00 +1300 Think you’re busy with a full course load
already? Nah, here is a project that will take another 20 hours a week. As they
say, this is an MBA…

As part of the Otago MBA, student groups
work with businesses around New Zealand to help them w Think you’re busy with a full course load
already? Nah, here is a project that will take another 20 hours a week. As they
say, this is an MBA…

As part of the Otago MBA, student groups
work with businesses around New Zealand to help them with a real business
problem they have. Our group selected a mid-sized New Zealand company that was
looking to break out of the traditional business model to something based more
in the 21st century. These “Live Case Studies” are a serious piece
of work, according to the BSchool - 750 hours in total for the group. Given
that there are only four (and now down to three) people in our group it’s not
hard to see that it’s a lot of work over a 3 month period, especially with an
already full core set of courses. 

Well to start us off we met with the client
in Wellington (flying up at their expense – thanks guys!), on what was a
remarkably good day in the capital. After knuckling down for the client meeting
we walked around the capital for a few hours and had a few drinks in the sun (hey,
it can’t all be work), before heading back to Dunedin. 

Over the last few weeks we have been
surveying customers and researching different value propositions (you know
you’re an MBA when you use a term like that and can keep a straight face), to
find a solution for our client. With that side of things ticked off last week,
we are now coming up with a strong business case and with only one month to go
before our presentation to their exec team, there is still a lot of ground to
cover. 

Well, I should get back to surfing the
internet studying hard.

On a lighter note, check out this webpage
to know if you’re an MBA or not. http://www.yamanoor.com/h/mbaj.htm

As a taster.

You
know you are an MBA when....

You ask the waiter what the restaurant's
core competencies are.

You decide to re-org your family into a
'team- based organization.'

You refer to dating as test marketing…. http://www.otagomba.com/otago_mba_blog/article/281 Thu, 18 Oct 2012 12:12:00 +1300 The Graduate Management Admission Test (also known as the GMAT) is often used as a test criterion for admission into graduate business administration Programs such as the Otago MBA. Click here for tips, a free learning schedule and other resources to help you survive the GMAT! The Graduate Management Admission Test (also known as the GMAT) is often used as a test criterion for admission into graduate business administration Programs such as the Otago MBA. Click here for tips, a free learning schedule and other resources to help you survive the GMAT! http://www.otagomba.com/otago_mba_blog/article/276 Mon, 16 Apr 2012 22:50:00 +1200 Teaching staff and the arrangement of core courses for Phase One of the Otago MBA in 2012 are now finalised. The Otago MBA timetable for Term One is also now available for students to review. Most MBA teacher bios are also available on the site. Teaching staff and the arrangement of core courses for Phase One of the Otago MBA in 2012 are now finalised. The Otago MBA timetable for Term One is also now available for students to review. Most MBA teacher bios are also available on the site. http://www.otagomba.com/otago_mba_blog/article/273 Fri, 23 Mar 2012 09:55:00 +1300 To achieve a powerful and complete LinkedIn profileUpload a professional image. A professional photo is taken of Otago MBA students during the year which can be used for this purpose. Create a compelling headline. Otago MBA office staff use their full role title in this field. Examples for current s To achieve a powerful and complete LinkedIn profileUpload a professional image. A professional photo is taken of Otago MBA students during the year which can be used for this purpose. Create a compelling headline. Otago MBA office staff use their full role title in this field. Examples for current students might be Otago MBA Student in New Zealand or Otago MBA 36 Student.List current positions and at least two past positions. Students can say they are an MBA Student at Otago MBA in the Experience section to link their profile to the Otago MBA company profile. Graduates can list their MBA Business Project in the experience section by including the client organisation in the role title. For example, Consultant for Port Otago at Otago MBA. This will link their profile to the Otago MBA company profile and introduce their Project experience without claiming employment, and does not duplicate information from the Education section.Complete the Summary section. This allows you to describe who you are and how you help people. Either right in third person or at least avoid using “I” too frequently. Enter any specialties. This will help a profile to appear in search results.Enter interests and groups and associations. These provide a way to link to other users with shared interests.Give recommendations first. In order to receive recommendations, they should first be given. Recommendations are a great way for profile visitors to get a feel for a person. Three recommendations are needed in order for LinkedIn to label your profile as complete.Edit public profile URLs to make them more shareable.Make profiles visible in full, to everyone.    Bonus TipsConnect with everyone to increase your networkMake every interaction personal, delete generic text from invitations.References- Rosenberg, C., Director LinkedIn Australia and New Zealand. (November 2010). Presentation notes: How to get the most from LinkedIn. Social Media Junction 2. Auckland.- Hussain, A. & Turner, J. (October 2011). How to use LinkedIn for Business: A beginner’s Guide. Hubspot.com.The Otago MBA has adopted LinkedIn, the world’s largest online professional network, as its key online networking platform. To
 leverage the power of LinkedIn, Otago MBA students and alumni are 
encouraged to build a solid professional profile and presence.  
According to LinkedIn, a completed profile provides a 40% greater chance
 for networking success.Business people use LinkedIn tobuild their online profile and discoverabilityfind new people and opportunitiesstay in closer contact with colleagues    share ideas, expertise and newshear about info, opinions and opportunities from trusted connectionsdiscuss developments in their industry or sector. http://www.otagomba.com/otago_mba_blog/article/272 Thu, 08 Mar 2012 13:07:00 +1300 Hal Weston (MBA 1) and Manish Sawadkar (MBA 34) represent the oldest and youngest Otago MBA graduates and capture the changing face of the Otago MBA over its impressive 35 years. Manish, who hails from Vashai, Navi Mumbai, was recruited as part of Otago MBA’s Six Continent Selection Strate Hal Weston (MBA 1) and Manish Sawadkar (MBA 34) represent the oldest and youngest Otago MBA graduates and capture the changing face of the Otago MBA over its impressive 35 years. Manish, who hails from Vashai, Navi Mumbai, was recruited as part of Otago MBA’s Six Continent Selection Strategy, which aims to reinforce the programme’s global perspective. The Otago MBA is New Zealand’s leading full-time campus based MBA.Hal, who came from a background in broadcasting and television, was in the first intake of the Otago MBA students. Hal graduated in 1981. Manish now works as an ICT Technical Consultant for Objective Corporation in Wellington.Hal and Manish met recently during last year’s Otago MBA Alumni road-show held in Wellington, Auckland and Dunedin. The road-show entitled World Future, NZ Future, MBA Future featured Otago MBA alumna Wendy McGuinness as keynote speaker. http://www.otagomba.com/otago_mba_blog/article/271 Sat, 18 Feb 2012 22:33:00 +1300 MBA graduates may find things are looking up on the job front in 2012.According to the Graduate Management Admissions Council (GMAC), 74 percent of businesses plan to hire MBAs this year. That is up from 58 percent in 2011.The finding forms part of GMAC's 2011 Year-End Poll of Employers whic MBA graduates may find things are looking up on the job front in 2012.According to the Graduate Management Admissions Council (GMAC), 74 percent of businesses plan to hire MBAs this year. That is up from 58 percent in 2011.The finding forms part of GMAC's 2011 Year-End Poll of Employers which surveys companies who have previously hired graduates or are associated with graduate management programmes.The poll also asked to share thoughts about hiring international talent. Respondents often cited barriers such as visas and costs, and language or cultural difficulties.However, companies that were willing to hire internationally, particularly in Europe, associated the wide raning skills, language, mobility and flexibility of international candidates.GMAC is the owner of the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) exam. The GMAT is an important part of the admissions process for more than 5200 graduate management programmes around the world.All Otago MBA applicants must sit the GMAT to gain a place on the full-time programme.Source: GMAC 2011 Year-End Poll of Employers (pdf)  http://www.otagomba.com/otago_mba_blog/article/270 Tue, 17 Jan 2012 10:43:00 +1300