Meet our Students: selfies

This blog serves the purpose of allowing candidates to learn about us; meet our lecturers and students; and follow what's going on term by term. Here's an opportunity to listen to our students talk about their Otago MBA experience and international exchange.

Enjoy,

David 

Candidate Info: why study overseas (in NZ)

The question often arises about what criteria you should use to select the "right" MBA programme. We recently conducted a survey of why students choose to study overseas and specifically choose to come to New Zealand and attend the Otago MBA. Respondents' answers follow familiar themes: affordability; geography/outdoors; desire to live and work in NZ; encouragement of international students; joy of travel, adventure, living abroad, pushing boundaries; stable economy with good job opportunities; Dunedin (e.g., beaches, peaceful, university city); global perspective with a focus on Asia/Pacific; and westernized, English speaking country. Here are sample responses:

• Want a global perspective.
• NZ is westernized and embracing of immigrant cultures, unlike the USA where after eight years there's no renewal of the visa. I would like to retire in NZ!
• I like travelling and being abroad.
• USA is cost prohibitive; New Zealand is more cost effective.
• The focus is on Asia/Pacific; this region is booming; growing economically; I want to be part of it.
• I prefer a one year MBA for economic reasons.
• NZ is encouraging for international students: it is a good destination.
• NZ is an English speaking country.
• NZ is a unique environment; mix of cultures; with outdoor activities and beautiful scenery.
• I want to try something new and push my boundaries.
• [Otago] is a renowned University; number one in NZ; with a flexible curriculum (phase two); and I would not be just a number out of 400 in a class.
• I'm a nature loving guy; travel a lot to the mountains. NZ is very beautiful.
• NZ has a stable economy and has good job opportunities.
• Dunedin: hills, beaches, peaceful and a university city. I can get total concentration on my studies.
• I looked at a number of Universities (e.g., Copenhagen), but didn't have enough funds. NZ caught my eye.
• The people are a joy to work with. NZ will help me to understand how people think.

So, the questions becomes: What are you looking for in an MBA experience? And, are you

the kind of person who would benefit from studying in New Zealand? 

Cheers,

David

Term Two: week six update

From Susan Steer, Admissions Manager

World Cup Final – Monday 7am

Argentina vs Germany: We will be playing the world cup final match in the classroom at 7am, Monday morning. Come in early, bring your breakfast/share a breakfast at halftime, and watch the game!

Exchange applications and interviews

Reminder: MBA exchange applications close 5.00pm Monday 14 July at the Exchange Office. (Note: If you provided a letter of reference as part of your application process, we can add it to your exchange application: please see Susan or Olga to get a copy).

Interviews will take place on Friday 18 July

• Interviewers: Claire Ramsay, Graeme France
• Venue: International Office meeting room
• First Interview: 12.10pm
• Interview length: 15 - 20 minutes

Applicants will be asked to prepare and deliver a short pitch (3-4 minutes max) on the following:

• Why I chose my selected institutions (please have 2-3 choices in mind)
• How do I see the International Exchange as an opportunity for myself, and
• What would be the benefits to the University of Otago for investing in my exchange

Toastmasters

Jamie will be back for another toastmasters session on Thursday at 11.30am.

Dunedin Young Professionals - Information Session & Re-launch Party

Members of the DYP committee will be coming in to tell you about their networking group with information on membership and events for the rest of the year. Time to be confirmed.

They will be re-launching the start of their year at a re-launch party at Alibi in the Octagon on Friday at 5pm, all welcome.

Finance Quiz 2

Friday 18 July, 9:30-11:30am, MBA classroom

Bloomberg Aptitude Test

Bloomberg will be at the Business School on 22nd and 23rd July to offer free Bloomberg Aptitude Test (BAT) sessions for students. This will be particularly useful for those students who are currently studying finance, and Anindya has recommended taking this test.

Please see the attached information about the BAT and how to register. There is limited capacity so register asap to ensure you get a place. You can also find out more about the Bloomberg terminal and how it may benefit you.

Marketing Individual report

Due on Monday 21st July.

Optional Open Lecture – Thursday, 5.15pm

"Future Visions: Ecology, Economics at the End of the World". Dr Andrew Shepherd, Centre for Theology and Public Issues. Burns 2 Lecture Theatre.

Meet our Term Two Lecturers: Daniel Hellyer

Daniel Hellyer

I would like to introduce our Term Two accounting lecturer, Daniel Heller, an NZ chartered accountant and Associate Director at Deloitte Private. Daniel brings a wealth of practical experience into the classroom with twelve years accounting and business experience, most of this time working in the “Big 4” accounting firms.

Daniel is a senior team member at Deloitte, with a large base of clients. He offers advice on a broad range of accounting issues, such as traditional accounting and taxation, governance, succession planning, business planning and forecasting, buying and selling markets, Government tenders and RFP’s (in both wider health sector and technology), business and company valuations, mergers, acquisitions, litigation, and general business advice.

Daniel is heavily involved in the business development at Deloitte, and chairs a business development staff group charged with generating new ideas for our current clients, plus giving the company opportunities to talk to potential clients. He has been involved with the local branch committee of the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants, and currently mentors two provisional members of the institute who are working through their practical experience and examined aspects of becoming Chartered Accountants.

Daniel is married with two boys (5 & 3 yrs) who keep mom and dad very busy; he enjoys Rippa Rugby in the winter, swimming, camping and racing mountain bikes (both cross country and enduro/downhill). In Daniel's own words: "I try and train five – six times per week either on the bike or on foot and when I get spare hour or so you'll find me heading up and down Signal Hill (highest in the area), feeling way too old on the way up, and way too young on the way down."

Thank you Daniel, for your contributions to our Otago MBA programme, 

both as a student mentor and lecturer.

Candidate Info: working in New Zealand after graduation

A significant percentage of our Otago MBA students choose our programme with the intention of staying in New Zealand after completing their degree. If you wish to work in New Zealand once you finish your MBA, you may be eligible to apply for a Graduate Job Search Visa. We are not permitted to offer advice on immigration or encourage you to select "us" as a means of seeking residency, but you can find more information about the Graduate Job Search Visa here.

Other useful information:

Accommodations while you study.

Cost of Living

Moving here from overseas (DCC)

Dunedin Economy

More information... 

Top Ten Things about New Zealand

Lake Wanaka

New Zealand, resides at the bottom of the world and across the Tasman Sea from Australia: most people know very little about this gem of a country. Here's my top ten list of great things about NZ, in no particular order:

• The place is safe. You've got to like a country in which the top national news story is, "Bird Strike Halts flight at Auckland airport" and politicians argue about fish quotas.

• Stable economy. The Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) recently increased the Official Cash Rate (OCR) by 25 basis points to 3.25 percent. They report: 

"New Zealand’s economic expansion has considerable momentum, with GDP estimated to have grown by around 4 percent in the year to June. Global financial conditions remain very accommodative and are reflected in low long-term interest rates and narrow risk spreads. Economic growth among New Zealand’s trading partners is gradually improving and global inflation remains low."

• The people.  NZ was recently ranked fifth in the world for its positive contribution to humanity: the only non-European country to make the top 10 of the Good Country Index, which measures 125 countries on how much they give to the "greater good" of the world.

• Adventure sports. New Zealand is the adventure sports capital of the world: see for yourself.

Queenstown

• Coffee. New Zealanders do not drink "drip" coffee. Coffee houses are plentiful and all menu options (e.g., long black or flat white) are made with espresso. More...

• Beaches. New Zealand has 14,000 kilometers (8,700 miles) of coastline bordering the Tasman Sea and Pacific Ocean: 10th in the world. The Dunedin alone is home to more than fifteen beaches, identified below, with numerous opportunities to surf, swim, beachcomb, walk dogs or view wildlife.

• Entrepreneurial Culture. Ninety-seven percent of enterprises in New Zealand are small businesses. NZ is ranked third in the world for "ease of doing business" in the 2014 World Bank Doing Business Report. Only Singapore and Hong Kong are ranked higher than New Zealand, but NZ ranks first in the world for starting a business and investor protection.

• Climate. We enjoy a temperate climate with Dunedin described as having microclimates associated with topology; and modified by its proximity to the ocean. This leads to mild summers and cool winters with high temperatures ranging from about 20 degrees Celsius (70 Fahrenheit) in summer and 10 Celsius (50 Fahrenheit) in winter. Dunedin receives little snow fall.

• Geography. The geographic diversity of New Zealand is difficult to imaging, with fiordland, Southern Alps, wine country, lake district, the Catlins (temperate rainforest & petrified forest), and Stewart Island. 

• Sports: Rugby and the All Blacks, Cricket and Football (soccer) You've got to love country in which every rugby team has a "top fifteen hooker." It's a position and the hooker leans on a prop.

Term Two: week five update

From Olga Meglinskaya, Curriculum Delivery Manager

 

Time Management Workshop – Monday 1pm – 2pm

Suzy Keene (Senior Training Advisor, University of Otago HR dept) will run a workshop on time management. She will email all students who have RSVP’d to join this workshop, to send you a short quiz to complete over the weekend prior to the workshop.

Networking Workshop – Wednesday 10 am – 11.30 am

Matt Gorman (CEO Gallaway Cook Allan Lawyers) will lead an interactive workshop on how you get the most out of any networking function – such as the typical cocktail party or conference event. By the end of the session you will feel confident about how to: make a good first impression, remember names, break into a group, describe what you do for a living, introduce others, and escape from the party bore.
All full-time and part-time students are encouraged to attend.

Accounting Midterm Exam – Friday 9:30-11:30 am in class

Syndicate De-briefs – Friday

12.00pm – 12.30pm – Syndicate B
12.45pm – 1.15pm   – Syndicate A
1.30pm – 2.00pm     – available.
2.30pm – 3.00pm     – available.

Syndicate C - please email Susan with your preferred time asap.

Term 3 and 4 Papers (Schedule Change)

Courses delivered in Term 3:

BMBA506  Human Resource Management: Lecturer Liz Gordon
BMBA509  Strategic Planning for International Markets: Lecturer Richard Higham
BMBA510  Leading Sustainable Enterprises*: Lecturer Sara Walton

Live Case Studies (part of BMBA513 Strategy Implementation) will launch in Term 3

Courses delivered in Term 4:

BMBA511  Operational Excellence*
BMBA512  International Business
BMBA513  Strategy Implementation

*Note the change or order of the two papers: Leading Sustainable Enterprises and Operational Excellence.

Timetable of Term 3 classes is available on MBA Google Calendar and Course outlines will be available shortly.

If you need to discuss your courses for Term 3 and 4, please contact Ms. Olga.

Fifth in the World: contribution to humanity

New Zealand ranked fifth in the world for its positive contribution to humanity.

It's the only non-European country to make the top 10 of the Good Country Index, which measures 125 countries on how much they give to the "greater good" of the world. Countries were judged across seven categories, including science, culture, peace, climate, equality and health. New Zealand ranked fifth overall, beating the United Kingdom (7th), Australia (15th), and the United States (21st).

Kiwis scored highly (7th) for their contribution to the planet and climate, with no hazardous waste exports, and for science and technology (10th), with a large number of international students and journal publications, patents and Nobel prizes.

Ieter Gluckman, the Prime Minister's chief science advisor, said it showed New Zealand does "remarkably well given where we are in the world and our size". "It tells us something that we've known for a very long time, that New Zealand is a great little country. We should be proud of ourselves."

The high score in science and technology showed "we have a remarkably effective scientific system for the relatively small amounts of money we spend [on science]". "It reflects the fact we have very good scientists who do a remarkable amount per dollar spent, and who are internationally respected."

A breakdown of New Zealand's scores also revealed it did well in terms of charitable giving, food and humanitarian aid, something Gwen Green, Oxfam NZ's engagement director, said was a "striking" feature of New Zealanders. "I think it's intrinsically part of being a nation with a small population, people are very close knit and there's a real inbuilt psyche to want to help people," she said. "Even if people can't financially give, they still want to know how they can help in one way or another."

Top five Good Countries

1. Ireland
2. Finland
3. Switzerland
4. Netherlands
5. New Zealand 

Term Two: week four update

From Olga Meglinskaya (Curriculum Delivery Manager)

Stats Revision Sessions with Anindya

Two sessions below have been organised for students taking BMBA508 Investment & Global Financial Markets paper: 

Tuesday      1 July, 10:30am – 12noon

Wednesday 2 July, 10:30am – 12noon

 Finance Tutorial

Anindya will be available on Friday, 4 July 10-11am for a Finance tutorial. The tutorial will focus on practising different problems relevant to the course and Quiz 2.

Attendance is strongly recommended, especially if you require support and/or additional practice with solving Finance problems.

 Assessment Dates

BMBA508 Investment & Global Financial Markets – Syndicate Mid Term Project  Due: Friday 4 July 12 noon 

Time Management Workshop - RSVP

Thank you to those who replied to the invitation to join the Time Management Workshop on Monday 7 July, 1-2pm. This session is open to all full-time and part-time students: if you want to attend, please RSVP to Olga by Wednesday 2 July.

Toastmaster Clubs in Dunedin

Jamie has kindly provided the following information for students who want to join one of the Toastmasters clubs, including contact emails and times they meet. We suggest that prospective members email the Club for further details or contact Jamie on 021 931 037.

 This information could be useful for our part-time students who may not be able to attend the sessions organised as part of MBA programme. 

Scarfies Club	Tues 5.45 -7.45pm	scarfies@toastmasters.org.nz
Dawnspeakers	Tues 7 – 8.15am	dawnspeakers@toastmasters.org.nz
Lunchspeak	Wed12.30 -1.30pm	lunchspeak@toastmasters.org.nz
Polytech Club	Fri 12 – 1pm	polytech@toastmasters.org.nz
Speakeasy	Tuesday 5.45 – 7pm	speakeasy@toastmasters.org.nz
Taieri	Wed 7.30 – 9.30pm	taieri@toastmasters.org.nz
Wavecrest	Mon 7.30 -9pm	wavecrest@toastmasters.org.nz
Dunedin Toastmasters	Thurs 5.30 – 7.15pm	dunedin@toastmasters.org.nz

Meet Term Two Lecturers: Sergio Biggemann

Dr. Sergio Biggemann

I would like to introduce Sergio a veteran Otago MBA lecturer with four years of experience teaching marketing in our programme. Biggemann holds a Doctor of Business Administration from Macquarie Graduate School of Business (MGSM) at Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia.  He also holds a Master of Business Administration and a Master of Management and Public Policy from the Catholic University of Bolivia (both with Distinction) and a bachelor’s degree in Mining Engineering.

Sergio brings extensive practical business experience into the classroom. Originally from Bolivia, he spent twenty years in mining and related industries. He is a co-founder and was general manager of a mining company, a terotechnology company, a silver-ware crafting company in Bolivia. Founded a paint manufacturing company in Australia, and more recently became involved in a construction company in Bolivia.

Sergio is a Senior Lecturer it Marketing at the University of Otago in New Zealand, he is also currently a visiting fellow at MGSM where he aims to extend his research on business relationships. His research interests are in the dynamics of business-to-business relationships, interaction in business networks, the creation and implementation of business solutions, and supply chain integration and collaboration.

What's the classroom experience like?

Sergio uses a case-based pedagogy.  He introduces students to a broad range of marketing concepts (e.g., stretching into product logistics); supplies outside readings and cases; and devotes class time to student-driven discussions and analyses of data (e.g., case studies such as LG Electronics, Bolivia Coffee, Global Oil & Logistics, Firestone and the Global Wine Wars).

We are fortunate to include Sergio as a member 

of our Otago MBA faculty team. 

Term Two: update for week three

From Olga Meglinskaya (Curriculum Delivery Manager)

Winter has arrived in Dunedin, but no worries. We have a sunny day this fine Monday and the rest of the week looks good with high temperatures of 10+ degrees Celsius (i.e., 50 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit) with a mix of clouds and sun, and little rain. We're all following the World Cup: Go USA!

Assessment Dates:

BMBA508 Investment & Global Financial Markets – Quiz 1 (in class exam)
Tuesday 24 June, 9:30-11:30am: MBA classroom
Open book (textbook, notes, calculators and laptops are allowed)
Answers to be completed in the exam scripts provided

BMBA507 Accounting – Quiz 2 (online, multiple choice)
due 12 noon Friday 27 June on Blackboard

 Reminders:

• Friday                4  July,       12-2pm                  Syndicate Debriefs with Brian Johnston

• Monday             7  July,       1-2pm                    Time Management Workshop with Suzy Keane

                                                                                    RSVP to Olga by 30 June

• Wednesday      9   July,      10-11:30am           Networking Workshop

• Thursday          17 July,      11:30am -1:30pm  Toastmasters session- TBC

• Wednesday      23 July,      11:30am-1:30pm   Group Mentoring: Career Planning – TBC

• Thursday          24 July,      12-2pm                   Guest Speaker - Lauren Rosborough, Reserve Bank

Best-Masters MBA survey

Eduniversal is conducting their annual survey of MBA programmes. Please spare a few minutes of your time to sign up and participate in their survey. To complete the Student Satisfaction survey, please open an invitation letter sent by the Eduniversal Masters ranking office via email and follow the instructions. To receive a new invitation letter, please register at http://www.eduniversal-survey-mastersranking.com/. Last year, we ranked top 8 amongst full-time MBA programmes in Oceania. Your participation has a direct impact on the ranking of the Otago MBA program and its international reputation. Receiving your adequate feedback will not only result in a more accurate program ranking, but also better recognition of your MBA degree and institution of study.

Term 2: week two update

From Olga Meglinskaya (Curriculum Delivery Manager)

Welcome to Shahnawaz: 

Please welcome our new full-time student, Shahnawaz Aslam, who is joining the MBA class this week. Shahnawaz comes from an Accounting and Finance background and will be part of Syndicate A this term. We wish him a very good start on the programme and appreciate your support with helping Shahnawaz to integrate smoothly into the MBA environment.

Guest Speakers, Career Development & Mentor Programme Events:

We have planned a number of workshops and professional development sessions for you in Term 2: please note the calendar of events below.

These events are scheduled in your MBA Calendar on the Otago MBA website. Please check this calendar regularly for any updates. You can also import the MBA Calendar into Outlook by following the instructions at the bottom of the web page.

• Wednesday    18 June, 12-1pm Questionnaire Design Workshop with Beth Rose

• Friday               4 July,   12-2pm Syndicate Debriefs with Brian Johnston

• Monday            7 July,    1-2pm Time Management Workshop with Suzy Keane –                                                          RSVP to Olga by 30 June

• Wednesday     9 July,    10-11:30am Networking Workshop

• Thursday        17 July,   11:30am -1:30pm Toastmasters session- TBC

• Wednesday    23 July,   11:30am-1:30pm Group Mentoring: Career Planning – TBC

• Thursday        24 July,   12-2pm Guest Speaker - Lauren Rosborough, Reserve Bank NZ

Dunedin Beaches

Doctors Point Beach

Dunedin (and the immediate surrounding area) is home to more than fifteen beaches, identified below, with numerous opportunities to surf, swim, beachcomb, walk dogs or view wildlife. Very briefly, St Clair may be the favourite beach (most used) for surfing and viewing the ocean from the esplanade (with restaurants & coffee), especially on stormy days; Tomahawk is great for walking dogs (plus surfing); and the beaches south of Brighton go on for kilometers. Long and Allans beaches are beautiful and less used; and all of the beaches have distinctively different sea shells. Dr.'s Point and Aramoana are particularly great for hunting shells. Most beaches provide easy access (i.e., many within minutes from downtown Dunedin), but Tunnel and Sandfly require some effort.

I've seen seal, sea lion and penguin on numerous beaches.

Dunedin Beaches

Allans Beach

Brighton Beach
Tunnel Beach
Blackhead Beach (surfing)
St Clair Beach (surfing)
St Kilda Beach (surfing)
Tomahawk Beach (surfing)
Smaill's Beach (surfing)
Allans Beach
Sandfly Beach
Victory Beach
Aramoana Beach
Long Beach
Purakanui Beach
Doctor's Point Beach

Purakanui Beach: leopard seal

Adventure in Education

Duke University Fuqua School of Business

Most people go through life avoiding emotion-laden experiences; they hope

nothing extraordinary will happen in the course of the day.

Applications for International Exchange are now being accepted. Between now and mid July our students have the opportunity to pay Otago MBA tuition and take three courses from one of our world-class international exchange partners during (in most cases) the first semester, 2015.  For many of our students this may represent a once in a lifetime academic adventure, with access to a phenomenal educational experience.

Exchange Partners:

National University of Singapore
Mahidol University College of Mgmt (Bangkok)

Kenan-Flagler Business School (USA)
Duke Fuqua School of Business (USA)
Kelly School of Business (USA)
Schulich School of Business (Canada)
University of Economics (Prague, Czech Republic)
Copenhagen Business School (Denmark)
Cologne Business School (Germany)
Grenoble Ecole de Management (France)
Aston Business School (UK)
Rotterdam School of Management (Netherlands)
Universitat St Gallen (Switzerland)
Vienna School of Business (Austria)
More...

I've entitled this post, "Adventure in Education." Why? It's interesting: the memories we carry for a lifetime, those that track our path through life, are those that are emotional-laden.The experiences informing these memories infrequently happen; they take us out of the routine of life; and they come with a cost (e.g., dollars, time or anxiety). They also inform us about who we are as individuals. So, imagine the potential value in life experiences and career opportunities (strength of your resume): an MBA from University of Otago, New Zealand and international exchange from another leading school in the USA, France, Denmark....

Shouldn't an MBA degree come with experiences that excite or scare us, rather than

just sitting in a classroom or earning a piece of paper?

Note: Feedback from our students and exchange students coming to the Otago MBA describe our programme as rigorous (or more) than elsewhere.

University of Economics, Prague

Term One: Lecturer's Meeting

All Students Passed Term 1 Courses

Our Otago MBA team met on Friday for the end-of-term lecturer meeting to review students' performance and formally accept final grades: all of our full- and part-time students successfully completed their term one courses!

We use these meetings to discuss insights gained from the experience to improve our programme, year over year, and identify ways we can further support our students as they enter term two.  Our Term One lecturers and MBA management team shared the following insights:

• We have a very capable group of full- and part-time students: they performed well.

• Our MBA38 full-time students were anxious starting the year and may not have anticipated the rigor of our programme: the need to study every day.

• Time management represented a continual challenge through the term.

• A few international students struggled with the challenge of thinking in their language and writing in English, an issue we are addressing.

• Our students focused excessively on grades (over the quality of their reasoning) early on. 

• Our support with writing workshops (focused on conceptual reasoning) appears to have helped with our students' study (reading) habits and performance on assessments.

• Our full-time students are very good group: cohesive and supportive within and across syndicates.

• The full-timers have proactively (doggedly) solved challenges affecting their performance. They have taken full advantage of the out-of-class access to our lecturers.

• All of our students are gaining confidence and should perform well going forward.  They are experiencing the normal transformative (growth) process of becoming polished professionals. 

Congratulations on a great start to the year!

David

Term Two: a preview

Term Two Preview

Term two of our (2014) MBA 38 programme begins on 9 June, with our students taking Accounting, Marketing and Investment & Global Finance. Our lecturers this term are Daniel Hellyer (Accounting), Dr. Sergio Biggemann (Marketing) and Anindya Sen (Finance).  As a brief introduction, Daniel is an Associate Director at Deloitte Consulting with extensive practical experiences to share with our students; Sergio is from Bolivia with more than fifteen years of teaching (using a case-based pedagogy) and extensive international experience; and Anindya is our new MBA management team member (last) from IIMB in India, with three years experience teaching stats and finance in our MBA programme.  Anindya is a perennial favorite lecturer owing to his energetic personality; he has designed a balanced course emphasizing corporate finance and investments (including derivatives).

Students will complete term two with a professional understanding of how

assess the financial and operating performance of a corporation

owing to their acct and finance courses.

We look forward to an outstanding term two. Our students will continue to build their quantitative skills with a practical emphasis, as well as analyze real world data (cases) using the professional marketing literature--another opportunity for students to refine their conceptual reasoning abilities. Students will also enjoy the diversity and multicultural experiences of our lecturers from India, Bolivia and New Zealand. 

In terms of logistics, Accounting will meet on Monday and Thursday morning (9:30 to 11:30); Marketing happens on Monday and Wednesday afternoons (2:00 to 4:00); and Finance classes meet on Tuesday and Thursdays (2:00 to 4:00); with tangential professional development workshops mixed in; and Fridays reserved for non-contact hours (e.g., readings, class prep, syndicate work and written assignments). Final exams occur on 28 & 29 July, marking the end of the term.

As a side note, the Otago MBA management team will soon begin to work with our students

to identify "Live Case" clients, a syndicate level analysis of a real client conducted over

about twelve weeks - and delivered on the last day of our 2014 programme. 

The challenges our students face will continue to grow, as will their readiness and 

confidence to face these challenges. This growth is fundamental to the

transformational experience of our MBA programme.

Express your interest now to join next year's MBA class.

Cheers, David

Otago MBA: Now accepting applications for April 2015

Considering an MBA?

An investment in an MBA degree may be one of the most important, career-changing investments you can make in yourself; and make no mistake, the $40+ grand in tuition and time away from a income generating job is an investment in you, with a return on investment (ROI) calculated over the remaining years of your employment (e.g., better jobs, more mobility, faster promotions, greater responsibility, access to executive-level positions, higher salaries and payback on the initial investment in just a couple of years).

Otago MBA is now accepting applications for April 2015

The question is: "Are you worth the investment?!"  April 2015 may seem like a long way off, but our market for incoming MBA candidates will peak over the next five months and the nucleus of our MBA 39 class will be in place before the end of 2014.  The choice of MBA programmes can seem bewildering and risky; thousands of programmes exist; and many candidates rely on rankings as the predominant criteria for evaluating their options.

Your reliance on rankings (i.e., a suspect summary statistics of programme quality) equates to

us (the Otago MBA management team) distilling your quality as an MBA candidate

to a GMAT score, something we do not do.*

Everything you need to know

This blog is intended to allow you to get to know us, to peek inside our programme, meet our people and gain an understanding of the experience (value) we offer.  I encourage you to click on the links below to gain insights into the Otago MBA and make an informed decision about whether a good fit exists between your needs and our programme.

Programme Design: Focus on the individual and Academic Integrity. 

Candidate Selection / One & Two: experienced, mature, self-motivated, etc.

Why Candidates Choose Us: New Zealand experience or residence. 

Reliance on GMAT Scores: a suspect summary statistic.

Diploma vs. Full-time MBA: two options.

Conceptual Reasoning: Business Model, Concept, Reading & Writing, In the Classroom.

Placement: You're kidding!, A better way.

The Classroom: Emphasis on thinking, Active Learning, Power of Introverts.

Students: Cultural diversity.

Our Faculty Team: Denis Kobzev, Paul Hansen, Julia Richardson, Beth Rose, Anindya Sen.

Our Students: Ryf Quail, Krister Häll, Silvia Scherer, Melissa Barry.

 Mentored Consulting Experience: One, Two, Three, Four / Congratulations James!

Graduate Profile: what should our graduates look like?

Otago MBA Ranking: QS Global 200.

Life in New Zealand: Dunedin, Adventure, Coffee, Top Tourist Destination.

Miscellaneous:  Public Speaking, Doing Business in India. 

Register your interest in our Otago MBA programme!

Click here

*We do request a GMAT score, but we're far more interested in the complete candidate profile, ...and we provide you with our most recent QS Global 200 ranking (above).

Doing Business in India: a synopsis

Doing Business in India: Melissa Barry & Jason Silby (centre back)

Melissa Barry and Jason Silby recently returned from their trip to India and offered the following (condensed and consolidated) synopsis of the Doing Business in India (DBI) programme offered through the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT – in New Delhi, number 6 Business School in India) and funded through scholarships through Education New Zealand.

Melissa described the DBI programme as “a hugely enjoyable and worthwhile experience that was an excellent follow-on from the Otago MBA programme. I fully encourage anyone to apply for similar opportunities that may arise in the future.”

Jason wrote, “Given the opportunity I’d return to India in a heartbeat and highly recommend that anyone considering doing business in India wastes no time in doing the same.”

About the Experience:

Melissa describes her experience as “chaotically wonderful. Nothing you read in books or look at on the internet can prepare you for the smells, heat, crazy traffic, haggling in the markets or diversity and sheer number of people.

Jason adds, “I was delighted to be given the opportunity to spend two weeks experiencing the differences [between NZ and India] first hand as a participant on the DBI programme.

The DBI Programme:

Jason: The programme was designed to make the most of our time in the country combining classroom learning, practical exercises, field work, networking and sightseeing.

 “The topics included Indian manufacturing, services, retail and banking sectors, hedge strategies when operating in int'l markets, mergers & acquisitions, the Indian macro economy, opportunities for int'l trade, trade regulations, WTO trade regulations and the implications of the probable free trade agreement between India and New Zealand."

Melissa: “The IIFT covered a range of subjects that complemented the core classes of the Otago MBA. The programme consisted of general lectures in different areas of business all with a focus on India – Economics, International Business, Marketing, Human Resources and Operations delivered by excellent lecturers who were world class.

Both students commented positively about, “going on site visits to a number of places that included Yakult India and Maruti-Suzuki in New Delhi, a shoe factory in Agra, a 5-Star resort called Chocki Dhani, Mahindra World City and a jewellery manufacturer in Jaipur.”

Comparison with the Otago MBA:

The small size and highly interactive nature of each session made the classroom learning feel… similar to that I have experienced on the Otago MBA. The IIFT faculty were outstanding in their ability to simplify complex material delivering both breadth and depth to what was essentially a very diverse group."

“…the lecturers effectively delivered large amounts of information in an interesting and concise manner. The classes were intense but I found them valuable and …on par with those taught at Otago University.”

Personal Highlights / Key Insights:

Melissa: “For me the stand out lectures were on International Business where we learnt a huge amount about Free Trade Agreements and tariffs,

Jason: “The most obvious lessons learnt during the DBI programme are the importance of face time and personal relationships in Indian business (they don’t rely on email), the level of price sensitivity and the importance of tailoring product offerings to the Indian consumer.

Melissa and Jason’s experience in India was “not all work; we were taken

to visit the Taj Mahal in Agra and the Amber Fort in Jaipur.

Coffee: an update!

the fix: a Dunedin landmark and arguably the best coffee in 
the city, owned by Kevin and Amanda Smart

I previously wrote a post on New Zealanders and their coffee, but need to share some insights gleaned from recent experiences.  As noted, NZers take their coffee seriously and prefer fresh brewed from a French-press or espresso machine. This post explains the (possibly confusing) terminology of mainstay menu choices and identifies three of the best coffees in Dunedin: the fix, Allpress Espresso, and Strictly Coffee (see NZ Coffee Culture for more information).

Short black: This is a single shot of espresso; full-flavoured, fragrant, with a velvety body and lingering after-taste in a demitasse (small cup).

Long black: Double shot serving of espresso, with an equal amount of hot water added, or sometimes with the water served separately (typically $3.00 to $3.80 per cup)

                    - Insight - Some baristas will ask you how much water you want added                                                                           to your long black.  The long black usually comes half the cup filled 
                      with water, but you can order one-quarter or three-quarters.  Three 
                      quarters water approaches an Americano. 

Quad-Shot: Insight - You can ask the AKO Espresso cafe at the Polytechnic for a quad-shot             which is the equivalent of two long blacks in the same cup, with your preference for the amount of water added.  The price is $4.40 or less that twice the long black price, my new favourite drink (not available everywhere).

Americano: This is a double shot of espresso in a cup with hot water added to the brim: much stronger/better than drip.

          - Insight: the only difference between a long black and an                                           Americano is the amount of water added, so it's a mistake to                                   order an Americano with slightly less water.

Flat white: This is one-third espresso, two-thirds steamed milk and a touch of swirled froth on top.

Ristretto: This is an espresso (same amount of beans), but half the water: a high-octane half shot of espresso.

      * Cappuccinos and lattes are generally available.
      * Want low-fat milk, ask for “trim” or “skinny.”
      * Starbucks exists on George St., but Kiwis tend to view their coffee as inferior.

Coffee in the States does not come close to the quality
of brews in New Zealand.

Cheers, David 

Congratulations James!

James Nation

We have our first Otago MBA graduate of 2014!  As a little background, James is a former Olympian in NZ hockey and wanted to pursue a career in performance sports. He identified a client with a specialization in sports (software) technologies. His client had previously enjoyed a leadership position in this industry but had recently experienced growing competition. Rivals were catching up. James was charged with analysing the competitive landscape and identifying both strengths and weaknesses in his client's current product offerings (as well as opportunities). He was also asked to evaluate the professionalism of the company's management systems (and separability of the company from the owner) as part of formulating an exit strategy: an essential component of any entrepreneurial venture. James needed to interact with the scholarly entrepreneurship literature to identify "best practices" for a maturing venture.  James' project supervisor best describes the quality of his work:

"James has done an excellent job of this project for [his client].  The task was rather difficult given the two very distinct parts of the business that required separate analyses with respect to the market / competitors and an internal analysis of the professionalism of the company's management systems. James did a great job of splitting these parts more distinctly than staff / management were able to do, so this project is beneficial for the company.

James did a significant number of in-depth interviews with a range of internal and external experts, as well as analysed and presented their views well in his report.  From this, he was able to formulate a way forward for the company that meets the objectives of the owner who may want to exit the business in around five years.

The fact that James has been employed by the company attests to the excellent job he did in this project and from a supervisor's perspective, James was a good student.  We met weekly throughout the project, he took my feedback very well, and maintained the progress schedule we had compiled early in the project.  I cannot fault his management of the project in any way."

Congratulations James!

This project and James' management of the work involved constitutes a model for how

our BUSI 540 projects are intended to work.