Do a Strategic MBA to ride the Sea Change Sri Lanka is up against -Rohantha Athukorala

Is the current turmoil simply a bump in the road or a sea change?

Sri Lanka is just about to experiencing a down turn in the economy with quarter 3 GDP dropping to 4.8%. Some are wondering if it’s just a bump in the road. The reason being if so then waiting until the storm passes and re activating a strategy is all what is required. But what we see is a slightly different situation. Companies globally are cutting back, laying people off, and reducing costs to the bone. Current predictions are that we are in for a sea change. Organizations are foreseeing a new reality that calls for new thinking. In other words we are in the midst of economic uncertainty unlike any we have seen since the Great Depression.

Environmental challenges threaten sustainability for millions of people and perhaps for the livable planet. The technological revolution has flattened the earth and turned us former typists and telephoners into technophiles and technophobes, social networkers and IMers. The generational divides are more palpable than they have been since the 1960s. The baby boomers are retiring, or were until the stock market crashed and their retirement funds were depleted, and the millenniums bring a different set of values and norms to the workplace and to the family creating conflict, miscommunication, and huge succession issues.

The era of United States world hegemony is ending. Americans who became accustomed to power and privilege are now waiting in the long “other” line when crossing international borders. The socalled BRIC nations of Brazil, Russia, India, and China are challenging the U.S. supremacy on economic, cultural, educational, and innovation fronts. And the world of nations is facing a new kind of international threat, from loosely connected factions undefined by national boundaries or 20th century modes of warfare. If we are in a sea change, what passes for the new normal will be characterized by three qualities: future uncertainty, inadequate information for decision making, and constant change. How will you, and all of those people and teams managing important organizations and institutions, have to modify their leadership to cope with this new reality?

Why a Strategic MBA?

With this background unfolding, University, being one of the leading campuses in the world. For a student who is planning to start higher education in an international university the MUFY comes as a great advantage since the course can be completed within one year and you can start while pending O/Level results. Therefore, you are given a chance to graduate at an early age and save a few more years for further higher education or to start your career and gain experience. Through MUFY students are given an opportunity to prepare for university teaching methods, styles and techniques the 12month MBA offered at Oxford College of Business in affiliation with the Australian Institute of Business (AIB) in Sri Lanka, I see the uniqueness of the MBA programme given that it is ranked no 3 in Australia and no 10 in the world. It’s 7 core subjects offered are all strategic subjects like Strategic Marketing, Strategic HR, Strategic Operations, Strategic Management, Strategic Finance Issues etc which is the type of training that is required so that a typical candidate is equipped to deal with the sea change issues that has implica- which are very much different to the primary education system in the country. Students are also able to polish their English language skills required for university studies through the course. The Monash University Foundation Year helps you make a smooth transition into university by developing your study and learning skills to prepare you for success. Call us on 077 38 444 38 for further information or participate in Monash Information Evening on 20th March 3.00pm – 6.30pm at ANC Education. tions to the multiple dimensions of a business. Each module in the 12month AIB MBA programme has its own strategic spin making students look at strategy from different business functions.

12month AIB MBA at Oxford College of Business is a technical MBA

If one does a deep dive the 12month AIB MBA offered at Oxfo rd Colle g e of Business it could be seen as a technical MBA where the key strategic principles of modern day business is understood within a 12 month duration that can be high rigour in nature. But the fact is that it has produced some high caliber individuals in the recent past that has taken up top management positions in the corporate sector. Hence its interesting given that most us have been educated via Management MBA’s from traditional Universities that has also produced a separate breed of leaders that has also taken the Sri Lankan economy to be a 60bn dollar economy. The question is can the technical MBA products make Sri Lanka a 100 billion economy by 2017. Let’s wait and see. After all one part of learning in an MBA is the art of reflection that becomes a way of life in a year long programme.

Bring Results

Travel can open your eyes to a whole new world; Given that the 12month MBA at OCB is originated out of Australia which is a country that navigated itself so craftily to have not much of an effect by the global financial crisis may be there is something unique that the AIB MBA has to offer to a Sri Lankan business graduate. This includes a different type of learning which is more individualistic, concentrating on one subject a month, grounded with strong theory and balanced with a practical assignment and an exam for each module, that is open book driven which is high-impact on delivery of result which is an interesting and unique concept of post graduate studies. Though it does not have soft skill training, the ethos is that at the very senior managerial level of education one is already equipped with the skill set and now needs strategic decision making training.

12month AIB MBA Ranked # 3 in Australia and ranked #10 in the world

A report released recently states that the AIB MBA is ranked #3 in Australia and # 10 in the world according to the CEO Magazine (UK). I guess it indicates the global recognition and the impact it has made in the global corporate world by the products that it has delivered in the recent past. “I also observe that the 12 month rigour calls for strong dedication and sacrifice that brings out the athletism on the programme” Says Mr. Athukorala who is a Black Belt Karate whilst being a eminent Corporate personality in Sri Lanka. For more information contact Malindu Ranasinghe - 0714151547 or visit www.ocbsrilanka.com