Saturday, February 21, 2009

An article in The Star (Toronto)

Taking the MBA plunge
Those who enter program now will be ready and waiting when economy and good jobs come back


When the business world slows down, applications to MBA schools go up.

It's no secret these are difficult times in the business world. Companies are cutting jobs and freezing hiring, and stock markets are way down.

Still, MBA schools say that applications are way, way up. Those who take the plunge into an MBA program, which can cost as much as $65,000 for Canadian students at top-tier schools, hope to acquire skills that will put them at an advantage when the economy rebounds.

MBA schools are doing their best to bring discussion of the latest events into the classroom – whether it's falling stock markets, mass layoffs or directors who were asleep at the controls – as they help educate the next crop of business leaders.

At the Rotman School of Business at the University of Toronto, applications for the full-time MBA program at up by about 10 per cent to 1,500 this year. That's for about 260 spots.

"People are thinking now is a good time to go back to school because it's not a good time to get a job," said Richard Powers, associate dean and executive director. "And they want to be in a better position to find an interesting job in an industry that they want that's being compromised right now."

In the part-time programs, which take three years to complete, the number of applicants is flat. These mid-career recruits would typically get financial support from their companies, as well as flexibility in their work schedules – two things that may feel like big requests these days.

"The companies just don't have the training budgets. MBA programs are expensive," Powers said. "Secondly, people just don't want to be leaving early and arriving late in a time when people are being let go."

MBA classes typically draw from the business world to illustrate management theory. That's especially the case in times like these.

"As a school, we talk about it amongst the faculty in terms of how can we make this real and relevant to the students.

"Then it's up to the faculty members to bring this into their classrooms," said Eric Morse, associate dean at the Richard Ivey School of business at the University of Western Ontario.

Ivey is case-based, meaning that through hundreds of case studies, students are immersed in real problems and challenges faced by real companies at a point when management decisions could make or break the firm.

"We have these live cases. We bring in a business person who might say, `I have to make drastic cuts in my budget. Where should I be doing that?'" Morse said.

The headlines make the education seem more relevant, but it doesn't change the basics, said Scott Carson, director of the Queen's School of Business at Queen's University in Kingston, Ont.

"What it doesn't change is the structure of good management education where it is essential to develop in people a clear understanding of how to formulate strategy or good human resource policy," Carson said. "We're always going to be teaching those kinds of things, but because the context is so dramatic it shapes the way discussions go in class."

This year, Queen's expects to get about 3,700 applications for the one-year program's 75 spots.

That means more competition on the way in – and the way out.

With companies cutting back, students who graduate during the recession will be competing for fewer jobs.

Schools are helping students take the long view.

"It's important for people to recognize that taking an MBA is not like going to plumbing school or being a pipe fitter.

"We're looking for long-range value-added and the aim of the program is to make students better able to move forward in their careers over the long run, not whether they can get a job by July," Carson said.

Joseph Palumbo, executive director career development centre at the Schulich School of Business at York University, puts it this way: "In times of economic slowdown, there's no better time to invest in yourself.

"We're teaching people how to accept and understand various points of view so they can make better decisions; we're teaching listening and flexibility; we're teaching team-building and how to go forward in a very uncertain world."

Regardless of the economy, getting the degree sends a message.

"It tells people that this is somebody who's willing to learn" and to invest in himself "for life," said Palumbo.

Labels:

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Rewire For Recession


These tough times are forcing companies everywhere into survival mode. In extreme situations like these, some practices that made sense in better times need to be abandoned, while others need to be given greater importance. In today’s globalised economy, no one is immune.

Yet, with the right strategies, it is possible to not only survive, but to thrive. Three time-tested strategies are crucial. Throw out what you don’t need; manage your resources; and convert what you have into something more valuable.


You can read more here.

This is an article that I wrote with a Director at my firm for Outlook Business publication!

Labels:

I have received a lot of emails in the past few weeks from prospective applicants enquiring about Queen's. The questions have primarily revolved around there key topics
- Interview tips
- Life at Queen's
- Job scene in North America.

Traditionally, B School applications are high during a downturn, and I wouldn't be surprised if Queen's receives a lot of applications this year. All the best if you are starting B School this year. Yes, there would certainly be uncertainty about the economy, but I assume that you are doing an MBA for a long term benefit rather than a short term one. So, you are the best person to decide about what needs to be done next rather than asking people if you should accept an offer or defer it.

I have always mentioned that Queen's is a very unique school. Two aspects that stand out are the team based learning and the international experience. Every year, I get connected to recent graduates from the program and the message I get is the same - the school makes a BIG difference in your life.

Regarding interviews, I would state that it would be straight and simple. There would be the usual questions (why MBA, why Queen's, why now, why Canada). There would also be specific questions (arranging finances, short term and long term plans) and there would be questions based on your resume.

The people interviewing you are very nice and want to understand you better. So, don’t be nervous – stay positive and create an impact. Oh yes, if you are having a telephonic interview - speak slowly, especially, if you have a thick Indian accent and the person at the other end is a non Indian!

Good luck!

Labels:

Friday, November 14, 2008

Queen's MBA Threepeats Top Spot on BusinessWeek's "The Best B-Schools" Ranking

KINGSTON, ON, Nov. 14 /CNW/ - BusinessWeek magazine has ranked Queen's MBA best in the world outside the US for the third consecutive time in the influential business publication's biennial business school rankings. The announcement was made yesterday at 5:00 p.m. (Eastern time).

BusinessWeek's methodology involves scoring the results of questionnaires answered by corporate recruiters (45% weighting) and graduating MBA students (45% weighting), as well as an analysis of "intellectual capital" that comes from faculty publications in 20 key academic and practitioner journals (10% weighting).

"Two key audiences - recruiters and graduates - have once again confirmed that Queen's School of Business is world-class," said David Saunders, Dean of Queen's School of Business. "To be ranked first for the third time in a row is a great honour. Our innovative MBA program enables participants to personalize their academic experience at Queen's, and clearly it's an approach that works."

BusinessWeek's ranking of Queen's corroborates a 2008 survey by Environics Research Group that revealed that Canadian executives rank Queen's as offering the best overall student experience, the most innovative programs,the highest academic quality and the most sought after graduates.

The complete results of BusinessWeek's 2008 business school rankings are now available online at www.businessweek.com and will be published in the
magazine's next issue.

Labels:

Saturday, October 25, 2008

Queen's A+ in Globe Student Survey


More than 43,000 students rate 55 universities in this new survey and again this Queen's University claims more A pluses for overall student experience than any other mid-sized university


In the recent survey Globe and Mail Canadian University Report, conducted in association with the Strategic Counsel and the Educational Policy Institute - students shared their opinion on 100 questions about Canadian university student experience.

Queen's is alone among the peer-universities in receiving an A+ for academic reputation. The Queen's Library (my favorite!) received one of only two A+ grades among universities in all size categories.

Queen's also scored top marks for:
* Quality of education ... A+
* Extracurricular activities ... A+
* Campus technology ... A
* Buildings and facilities on campus ... A-
* Availability and variety of courses offered ...B+ .

Way to go!

Labels:

Sunday, October 12, 2008

A year after the Queen's MBA experience

Wedding of my classmate


With the little baby



Same school..same firm..meet up at Bangkok!

Labels:

Queen's MBA fair in China



Kerri (Program Manager) and Jian Luo (Queen's MBA 07)

Dr. A. Scott Carson, the Queen's MBA Program Director and Kerri Reagan, the Program Manager were in India recently for the MBA Fair. It was a pleasure to meet them.
We discussed a lot of interesting stuff. Updates soon.

BTW, here is a picture

Labels:

Tuesday, October 07, 2008

Giving advice in adversity
From the Economist





WHEN even consultants suggest that companies might want to spend less on consultancy, you know the industry is in for a difficult time. A recent article in the McKinsey Quarterly argues that Wall Street’s ailing banks could slash up to $2 billion each from their bloated overheads without damaging employee morale.

Convulsions on Wall Street and elsewhere are grim news for the global consulting industry, which boasted $309 billion in revenues last year, according to Kennedy Information, a research firm.

Financial institutions are some of the industry’s biggest customers. But revenues are also under pressure in other areas. The credit crunch has cut the number and size of deals by private-equity firms, which are also big consumers of consulting services. And a decline in mergers and acquisitions means there is less demand for the nitty-gritty work of combining computer systems, a mainstay of some consultancies.


Consultants say they have fared pretty well in the first half of 2008. But consulting revenues are not immune to a downturn .Consultants will feel the pinch next year, as clients cancel or delay projects.

Some consultancies are already sounding cautious about the rest of this year.

All consultants agree that emerging markets such as China, India and the Middle East offer the best opportunities for the future. But they accept that most of their business will come from the developed world for a while yet. So the industry badly needs a “Big New Idea” that it can sell to clients there. Previous consulting booms were built on ideas such as “total quality management” and re-engineering. But at the moment consultants have no successor to such money-spinners.


Read the entire article here

Friday, October 03, 2008

I read a very interesting quote today:

"What I do today is important because I am paying a day of my life for it. What I accomplish must be worthwhile because the price is high."