Some thoughts on building a Syria “MBA” Program

Neal M. Burns Tian Zhang

Aug 3, 2009

Objectives

Business Objective

“Build the best MBA program, which is as good as Harvard in Syria”

Project Objective“Assess the landscape of successful business schools and MBA programs to determine what works, what doesn’t and how the current environment impacts the MBA-program-to-be in Syria.

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Outline

What is a successful MBA program and why do it?

Who can Syria partner with to be successful in their future efforts?

Who is successful in the advanced business education?

What are the opportunities and challenges for the MBA program in Syria?

How should Syria leverage its MBA progam portfolio?

Recommendations

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What is a successful MBA program and why do it?

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What is MBA…

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The Master of Business Administration (MBA) is a master's degree in business administration, which attracts people from a wide range of academic disciplines. The MBA designation originated in the United States, emerging from the late 19th century as the country industrialized and companies sought out scientific approaches to management. Graduates of accredited MBA programs are well prepared to undertake advanced professional occupations in businesses, as well as in colleges and universities as instructors of business administration and management.

A high-profiled MBA program Yields Numerous Benefits

6• Benefits for the government, the industries and society as a whole

Economic Benefits A more sustainable

development Enhance asset value and

profits Improve employee

productivity and satisfaction

Increase core competences of creativity and innovation.

More employment opportunities

Social Benefits More accesses to the

advanced business professional education

Contribute to overall quality of life

Increase the brand image of Syria.

Benefits

Research Findings of Syria’s MBA education Awareness

The findings below show the magnitude of the need for Syria MBA Program to expand their expertise in order to achieve more accesses to advanced business professional educations.

Getting lost in the expanding business professional education

Lack of association with the expert in advanced business professional education.

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Who can Syria partner with to be successful in their future efforts?

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Top 10 worldwide MBA program

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Sources: BusinessWeek

Sources: BusinessWeek

# Top 30 U.S. Programs

# 1 University of Chicago (Booth)

# 2 Harvard University

# 3 Northwestern University (Kellogg)

# 4 University of Pennsylvania (Wharton)

# 5 University of Michigan (Ross)

# 6 Stanford University

# 7 Columbia University

# 8 Duke University (Fuqua)

# 9 MIT (Sloan)

# 10 UC Berkeley (Haas)

# Top 10 Non-U.S. MBA Programs# 1 Queen's University# 2 IE Business School# 3 INSEAD# 4 Western Ontario (Ivey)# 5 London Business School# 6 ESADE# 7 IMD# 8 Toronto (Rotman)# 9 IESE# 10 Oxford (Saîd)

What are effective characteristics presented in MBA program that can provide our future MBA program with valuable takeaways?

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Effective Forms of Communicating Sustainability

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• Global • Effective- More

communication among the different countries

• Downside-It asks for deep cooperation

• Sequences-oriented

• Effective- Easily to get all the resources arranged to build up a 1tier program

• Downside- Other coursework might not be well set up

• Career- oriented• Effective- Ranking

focus heavily on the placement

• Downside- Academic record might be ignored

Diversity • Effective-More Accesses to the underserved demands• Downside- Hard

to achieve

Key Takeaways from the current MBA programs:

Questions we asked Who is being targeted? What are our ideal candidates? What’s our mission statement?

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Key Takeaways from Current MBA Programs-HBS

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A Habit of Leadership

Engaged Community Citizenship

Capacity for Intellectual

Growth

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Intellectual Vitality

Demonstrated Leadership Potential

Personal Qualities and Contributions

Key Takeaways from Current MBA Programs-Stanford

What are the opportunities and challenges for the MBA program in Syria?

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High-profiled faculty members

Cross-trained functions

Learning in practice

An engaging community

The world's business school

A mature alumni network

Recommendation

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How should Syria leverage its MBA program portfolio?

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Advertising and Media

Innovation Management

Finance

Manufacturing Management

Social Responsibility and Brand Management

General Management

Accounting Management

Small Business Consulting

Supply Chain Management

Real Estate Investment

Entrepreneur

Marketing Management

Business, Government, and the International Economy

Technology and Operations Management

Leadership and Organizational Behavior

Strategy

program portfolio

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Length of the program:

24 months

21 months lecture, including the holidays

3 months internship (Required)

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Global Study Program

A semester study abroad program

Partner with other worldwide top business school

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Career- Oriented

Satisfy Syria’s government’s needs and wants

International on campus recruiting

Small sized program in order to keep pace with the students’ needs

Plan of Action

Define target audiences Who are our ideal candidates?

Re-branding Syria MBA Program Tie in new branding strategy across all touch points

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