Posts Tagged ‘teamwork#8217;

 Richard Barnard current student of the International MBA program – Class of 2010 describes his experience during examweek in the second core period:

We are midway through our second exam week of the International MBA programme and this period, Core 2, has flown by. Regarded as the busiest term and often the most testing in terms of time, team and workload management, it has proven to be struggle at times but overall we’ve pulled through and are now heads-down, charging for the finish line.

Core period 2’s difficulties lie in the fact that we’ve had to manage 3 work groups: our Core Period 2 work group, entrepreneurial management group and also the Core Period 1 work group which we’ve used for the Economics and Marketing projects (the subjects that straddle Core Periods 1 and 2). Finding the time to commit to each of these teams has been hard and conflicts have naturally arisen. However, we were advised that Core Period 2 would produce ‘crunch’ situations and thus we were prepared.

There have been some major deliverables this term; memorable moments have included the final entrepreneurial management project presentations, carrying out questionnaires on the streets of Madrid for our marketing assignment, and revising for the subject that has given us all nightmares, cost accounting.

Inevitably the groups experienced moments of blowout, but thankfully all issues were resolvable and the mood within my section is positive, looking forward to clearing the exams, enjoying a few days well-earned break and then cracking on with Core Period 3 or, for the minority, embarking on an internship (IMBA in Practice).

Once the exams are over IE has granted us all 3 days holiday to fly to Paris and attend the annual MBAT (MBA Tournament) Europe’s largest annual MBA sporting/ social event, or to just relax and recuperate on a Spanish beach. I’m taking the first option, flying to Paris to represent IE at cricket and dodgeball, am presuming the skills required are vaguely compatible … run, catch and throw!

The past few weeks have seen blue skies, long sunny days and rising temperatures, the weather we all came to Spain for. With temperatures rising to the high 20’s centigrade, the parks and plazas are now filled with people chatting, drinking and eating long into the balmy evenings, and the prospects of a long hot Spanish summer await us all … happy days!

For the last 30 years EFMD has been organizing Case Writing Competitions with the aim to improve management education by developing new teaching materials and learning methodologies. This year IE Business School won the “Euro – Mediterranean Managerial Practices and Issues” category for the case “Novartis, Commercial Strategy for Success” written by professors Claire Bastien and Teresa Serra.

According to EFMD this year’s competition was a great success breaking the record in the number of submissions received. Education institutions across the globe can use these cases for teaching purposes, at IE Business School we take a practical approach to teaching focusing on the case methodology.

To learn more about the EFMD Case Competition click here.

During the International MBA program students have the opportunity to participate in several real consulting projects. The IE Consulting Project (IECP) is offered during the elective period and this April marked the conclusion of the April 2010 class’s IECP where 16 International MBA students presented their final projects to senior management at Unilever.

This year four teams of four students each worked on projects closely aligned with Unilever’s core activities such as Corporate Social Responsibility, Strategic Planning and Process Improvement. In order to complete these projects teams met with senior management but also visited Unilever facilities in Europe.

Duncan McIver, Works Director of Unilever’s Aranjuez facility concluded: “Once again I am extremely impressed with the caliber, professionalism and enthusiasm of the students and the work they have produced. Some projects were more strategic and others more operational, but in all cases the conclusions and recommendations have been practical, and applicable immediately to our business.”

To learn more about the International MBA program and our teaching methodology please click here:

One of IE Business School’s key values is entrepreneurship. The school was founded in 1973 by a group entrepreneurs and we are proud that 10% of our alumni start their own ventures after gradauation. Jeremy Melul, International MBA Class of 2009 graduate,  decided to start his own company Jogabo after finishing the program. We interviewed Jeremy where he shares his experiences with the MBA but also his current situation with his new venture:

Hi Jeremy, could you please introduce yourself?

My name is Jeremy Melul, I am both French and English and I graduated from the 2009 International MBA program. I currently live in London UK but I am a citizen of the world after having lived in London, Paris, Brussels, New York, Boston, Palo Alto, Sydney, Cape Town, Madrid and Pune. I work for my own startup, “jogabo”.

Why did you come to Madrid and IE?

I came to IE because I was looking for a more innovative program and something more geared towards entrepreneurship. I also wanted to diversify my US centric network a bit. After having done my Bachelor at Tufts, and my Master at Stanford, Europe was really my only option and I have to admit that the advantages of being in Madrid and getting to re-learn Spanish in such a wonderful environment really influenced me. Oh and did I mention the weather in Madrid?

Describe your International MBA experience
It was an amazing experience but it sure went by fast. Obviously I got a lot of the knowledge I was seeking coming in as an Engineer looking to get the bigger picture on things. But that is obviously not the only reason I decided to get an MBA.

Tell me about “Jogabo” the company you founded
Jogabo is the social and easy way to play soccer. Our aim is to make amateur soccer “bonito” by connecting soccer enthusiasts, facilitating the organization of games and adding a social layer of fun and competitiveness to the beautiful game. If you look at how people get their games organised or how they go about looking for playing opportunities it is quite astounding and archaic. It is a painful and inefficient process that requires using multiple disconnected tools and usually leads to many people actually not playing, which to me is the biggest concern. At any given time and location, there are many games being organized and many players potentially looking for other players. Unfortunately, they are just not aware of each other’s interest, and are not connected in any way. When you think about all the tools that are out there, be it smartphones, facebook, twitter, location aware devices (you name it), this shouldn’t happen! What we are doing is building a location aware web application for the soccer community that allows users to organize games, share their plans and discover opportunities to play in their area. Organizers can create games, invite players and get simple tools to manage their event. Players can follow games their friends are planning, as well as games that match their location and interests thereby helping them discover playing opportunities they would ordinarily be unaware of.

How did the program help you found your company?
We are a lean startup and are bootstrapping the company for now. This is obviously not what Business School prepares you for. However, the program has helped me prepare for steps we will take in the near future once we start looking for funding and we start hiring people. It is good to know that I am well equipped to tackle the future because it gives me the confidence I need to be able to just concentrate on “now”. And in startups, it is all about what is the most important thing that we need work on RIGHT NOW!

What is the next step for “Jogabo”?
The next step for us is to launch the site in closed beta, which is what we are working on non stop to make our deadline. I am actually in the US right now so that I can work closer to my technical co-founder. You know how the story starts right? “Two guys, in a garage…” so I guess we are trying to improve our odds a little bit that way.

What do you recommend to people starting the IMBA?

I have two main recommendations for new intakes. First of all, get involved in extra curricular activities through the Clubs and take a leadership role if you can. It really enhances yourwhole experience. For me it was the Football Club (obviously) and my MBA experience would not have been the same without it. It was a lot of work in addition to the existingcourse workload: organising the internal league, the 11-a-side team, the teams tournament travels to Paris, Barcelona and Los Angeles and starting the IE GreenLaces Cup. Looking back through, it was a hell of an experience with many opportunities to bond with some of my peers outside of my section. Secondly, take advantage of every minute of your MBA because it goes by fast and it is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Work hard but don’t forget to play hard.

Students at IE Business School that are interested in Entrepreneurship can also join the Entrepreneurship Club or participate in Venture Lab where students have the possibility to develop a business idea and make it real. 

Richard Barnard current student of the International MBA program – Class of 2010 argues that the International MBA program provides opportunities apart from just working and studying:

Although our daily schedules are packed with classes, meetings and work, the majority of the International MBA students do find some time to relax and enjoy life. The phrase “work hard, play hard” is an appropriate maxim.

The IE Business School intramural football (soccer) league is well underway, with players from across IE playing midweek and at weekends. The quality players can aim for the IE representative team, which recently won the “Tackle Africa Cup” tournament hosted by London Business School and attended by Business Schools from across Europe.

IE’s Clubs ensure a constant stream of events, seminars, parties and workshops for the students to enjoy. The incredible diversity of the IMBA student intake results in fascinating events that provide a window on to the varied cultures of the world.

Weekend breaks are very popular, to provide respite from the studying and enable us to appreciate the country and continent we are in for a year. Recent groups have gone skiing in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, to the historic city of Salamanca, last weekend a large group headed to Valencia, on Spain’s Mediterranean coast, for the fiesta of Las Fallas, which celebrates Saint Joseph with a riotous combination of street carnival, music, fireworks and bonfires. Personally, I flew to Rome last weekend, thanks to the budget airlines that are based in Madrid, and watched the 6 Nations tournament rugby international between Italy and France, which Italy won by 1 point! The celebrations were epic!

Finding time to relax and enjoy yourself is crucial within the IMBA programme as the workload can appear daunting and thus the need to freshen yourself with something new is vital. On the horizon we have the Spring Games hosted by IESE Business School in Barcelona at the end of March and then the annual MBA Tournament in Paris in May. Events to look forward to and work towards.

Richard Barnard current student of the International MBA program – Class of 2010 describes his experience just as Core Period 2 starts:

Core Period 2 is now upon us and it brings a variety of new challenges for the IMBA students to overcome.

The majority of our Core Period 1 classes are now completed, only Managerial Economics, Marketing Fundamentals and Entrepreneurial Management straddle Periods 1 and 2. These 3 subjects have been joined by Cost Accounting, Financial Management, Strategic Management, Operations Management and a non-examined course entitled Creative Management Thinking.

As we were advised at the start of the IMBA programme, Period 2 is where the “crunch” occurs, where the workload skyrockets and the students’ ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects is put fully to the test.

To provide an additional challenge we also change workgroups at the start of Period 2. This forces us to apply all that we learned from the positive and negative experiences of group work in Period 1 to immediate effect, as the deadlines for Period 2 projects start immediately and continue throughout the term.

The key skill we are all developing is how to perform effectively rather than just efficiently. Within the limited time we have outside of classes, workgroups meetings, applying for internships and attending business school organized industry seminars we must develop the ability to absorb, analyze and apply the content as effectively as possible. It puts you to the test.

Term 2 is an examination we are embracing thus far. The pain of the workload is undoubtedly eased by the fun we have when we take a deserved break from our studies. The country-themed dinners are proving popular and with St. Patrick’s Day and the 150^th anniversary of Italy’s unification on the same day next week we are ensured of good times ahead. See you all on the dancefloor!

Richard Barnard – Current student of the International MBA program Class of 2010 and Fellow student at IE Business School, writes about his experience of learning through teamwork.

The holidays are over and the International MBA continues apace. All students have been welcomed back with a series of mid-term exams and project assignment deadlines. It’s at times like this that you value the support of your fellow students, the bonds of friendship and respect that have developed over the past 2 months.

I’ve been deeply impressed by the manner in which we have all engaged in collaborative learning, teaming up in small groups for student-led tutorial sessions focused especially on the technical areas of Quantitative Analysis and Financial Accounting. Those students who have a strong comprehension in these areas are perfectly willing to share their skills, knowledge and experiences with their classmates. This has created a positive environment that has brought all the students closer, enhanced our mutual respect for each other and highlighted areas of expertise within the student cohort. To those students who have helped the many, we thank you all; your generosity and patience have been priceless. Here’s hoping we don’t go and depreciate our decision variables (!)

As students we are learning the lessons of the IMBA program, that teamwork and collaboration are vital to success. While not all of us are experts in Quantitative Analysis and Financial Accounting, as the International MBA program continues and the subject content broadens, undoubtedly there will be opportunities for all the individual students to provide support to the cohort in their areas of expertise.

The Spanish victory last Sunday is a great example of the importance of good leadership and the teamwork. As Santiago Iniguez, the Dean of IE Business School, stated in DeansTalk, Vicente del Bosque, the team’s coach remained calm and collected throughout the tournament and demonstrated to the world the benefits of collaborative leadership. He prioritized strategy over emotions, displayed sportsmanship with his respectful attitude towards other teams and was modest at all times passing on praise to his team.

The team also did their coach proud – they performed exceptionally and by working together won the World Cup. Spain’s King, Juan Carlos, summed it up when he said the “team is an example of sportsmanship, nobility and team work”.

 IE students along with the rest of the world should draw lessons from such fine examples of leadership and teamwork.