Week 1 Powerpoints

7/31/2019 Week 1 Powerpoints

1/12

Master of Business

Course APMG 8099

Facilitator : Ken Simpson


2/12

A thought to begin with

Education is not what the teacher does; it is a process

spontaneously experienced by learners. It is not acquired by listening to words; but by

experiencing a relevant environment.

The teachers task is to prepare activities located in

that environment; then refrain from interfering in theprocess.

(Maria Montessori, n.d.)


3/12

The postgraduate philosophy

We do not set out to teach you anything no facts,figures, rules, or other answers

Instead we try to create an environment where you

can choose to learn to the extent that you want to So very few answers, but plenty of questions

You can therefore :

- respond with minimal enthusiasm and focus on apassing grade

- respond with maximum application and focus onimproved capability

Your choice !!!


4/12

Objectives for the first session

Describe the structure and process of the course

Explain the meaning of business strategy in the

contemporary business environment Present a useful strategy framework model

Learn a little about each other


5/12

Key points from the course schedule

Attend all classes, email me in advance if you areunavoidably detained

Pre-break what class based on assigned reading :

absolute necessity to have read the material Post-break how class based on personal

development for improved capability

What class assessment is 70% of total grade,assessed through written business strategy

How class assessment is 30% of total grade,assessed through on-line participation

What assessment may need extra information itis your responsibility to ask, not mine.


6/12

Some hard facts about the New Zealand

economy

We are self-sufficient in food items, but importdependent for non-food items

We generate large quantities of primary produce,which are sold as commodities and not as valueadded products

New Zealanders are legendary at thinking up newideas, weak at making money from those ideas

Paradoxically, our competitive efforts are far tooheavily based on imitation rather than innovation

The result is a conservative and less than ideallyefficient economy


7/12

Some hard facts about New Zealand

businesses

New Zealanders are very keen on self-employment,thus almost every business is over-shopped

The average New Zealand business is classified as

small, and often as micro Technical skills are quite strong, generic management

skills are very weak

The planning horizon is measured in weeks, months ifwe are lucky, and those plans are seldom written down

A common approach is open the doors and see whathappens

All of this equates to an anti-strategic approach!


8/12

Good news or bad news?

If you are the New Zealand government, desperatelybad news

These characteristics dont make for international

competitiveness Especially with a high wage and low productivity

labour market

For a new business start-up though ....

- the playing field is crowded

- but most of the players arent very good!- smart new businesses have a slight advantage

So how do we come a smart business?


9/12

A chain of logic

In 5, 10, 15 years time, your life will be one of threethings better, the same, or worse than today

This will happen, cant be avoided

So you can (a) plan for the future or (b) do nothing andwait and see what happens

To do (a) means to better understand the world youlive in geographic, industrial/commercial, personal

Understanding leads to identifying opportunities andanticipating problems

Identified opportunities and predicted problems meanimproved future.


10/12

Grants case studies

A solid appreciation of their own strengths andweaknesses

An uncanny ability to understand the world in whichthey lived

An ability to develop a set of long-term goals thatare realistic, achievable and will contribute to long-term success

An ability to successfully combine all of theseelements in an implementation plan that will lead togoal achievement.


11/12

The strategy ladder 1-5

1. Know the factors that make you behave the way thatyou do

2. Develop a workable understanding of the world you

live in3. Develop an intimate understanding of the industry you

work in

4. Know exactly what it is you want to build as a futurepersonally and professionally

5. Know your current and potential skills, talents,capabilities


12/12

The strategy ladder 6-10

6. Know what are they key things you have to get right inorder to succeed

7. Combine all of those elements into a formal future

planning document8. List the specific things you need to start (and keep)

doing, as of tomorrow!

9. Understand and prepare for what could possibly gowrong

10. Measure your progress regularly

Documents

Week 1 Powerpoints