(l to r): Hasan Mujtaba, Sally Arshi, Neeraj Kaushal, Runnu Sinha, Yuzhi Wang, Riyaz Nathwani, Jean-Rene Carle-Mossdorf and Queen’s Chancellor David Dodge

The Queen’s full-time MBA Class of 2010 was in full swing on June 4, learning to fine tune their pitching skills during the 8th annual Kingston Ventures Study Tour (KVST).

Each year, KVST offers the incoming MBA class the opportunity to study small and medium sized businesses in the Kingston area. The event provides great exposure for local businesses and helps generate ideas about career direction for students. The tour provides students with an authentic insight into the real-life challenges faced by SMEs in Canada.

MBA teams are assigned three Kingston companies to visit throughout the day where they have the opportunity to ask questions about the nature and scope of the business.  At the end of the day, each team creates a 90 second elevator pitch about one company that they present to a panel of judges at the end of the day. During the reception, presentations are done in front of representatives from the respective companies, other local businesses, community and School of Business representatives and a panel of judges. 

The winning team is chosen by how strong their pitch is in increasing the judges’ knowledge about the company and its service or products. 

Yuzhi Wang was the designated pitcher for this year’s winning team which included Sally Arshi, Jean-Rene Carle-Mossdorf, Neeraj Kaushal, Hasan Mujtaba, Riyaz Nathwani and Runnu Sinha. Wang’s team pitched Dunne & Associates, a technology consulting group whose specialty is interactive software and related electronic hardware for medical systems, including neurofeedback systems.

This year’s judging panel included David Dodge, Senior Advisor Bennett Jones LLP and Chancellor of Queen’s University; John Molloy, CEO, PARTEQ Innovations; Dorothy Hector, Kingston City Councillor; and Charlie Reid, founder and President of Charlie Reid & Associates Strategic Manufacturing Solutions Inc.

David Saunders, Dean of Queen’s School of Business, has been appointed to the 2010 Canadian Business Hall of Fame selection committee. Established by Junior Achievement of Canada in 1979 to recognize the lifetime accomplishments of Canada’s most renowned business leaders, the Canadian Business Hall of Fame honours those who have made lasting contributions to the economic development and prosperity of Canada.
 
Dean Saunders joins Canada’s foremost leaders in business and media as part of this year’s selection committee, which includes Phillip Crawley, Publisher and CEO, The Globe and Mail, Annette Verschuren, President, The Home Depot Canada, Peter Mansbridge, Chief Correspondent, CBC News, and John Manzoni, President and CEO, Talisman Energy Inc.
 
Junior Achievement has been working with young Canadians for over 50 years inspiring leadership, entrepreneurial and workforce readiness skills for future achievement. To date over three million Canadian youth have participated in business and entrepreneurial education free-of-charge. The 40th annual Junior Achievement Conference will be held at Queen’s University in August 2010.

But expert advises that cutbacks can actually be a catalyst for “lean innovation”

KINGSTON, ON, – A survey of over 200 working managers and executives reveals that many employers are cutting back in response to the current economic climate. Almost three quarters (72 per cent) of the participants who are completing their Executive MBA at Queen’s School of Business in boardroom learning teams across Canada indicated that their organizations are spending less than they were two years ago. 

However, an expert in operations and technology at Queen’s School of Business doesn’t feel that these widespread cutbacks necessitate a slowdown in innovation, if they are treated as inspiration for positive change.

“The scarce resources and short-term focus that often come with a tough economy are not barriers to innovation if executives choose the right ‘less’ and focus resources on improving skill sets for employees and enhancing the core value offerings to their customers,” said Barry Cross, Lecturer in Operations Management and Technology at Queen’s School of Business. “Innovative companies are finding ways to maintain that spirit of creativity, and establish some type of balance with efficiency in their day-to-day operations.” 

Professor Cross sites the video rental company Zip.ca as an example of “lean innovation.” “Zip.ca has eliminated the in-store customer experience and enhanced the model to create new value elsewhere. Unlike traditional rental stores, they have no costly real estate, but have a substantial, centralized video inventory.  They also have adopted the Internet subscription model, where your personalized selections are delivered by mail.”

The same size, but better
While there has been employee attrition in all industries, the Queen’s Executive MBA respondents said that cost containment isn’t coming primarily in the form of staffing cuts. In fact, six in ten (62 per cent) believe the size of their organization’s workforce is likely to stay the same or even increase in the next six months. Additionally, almost three quarters (73 per cent) of those surveyed express little or no concern over their own job security over the next six months.

“If you look at your workforce performance and capabilities in a bell curve, consider what you can do with the group on the lower left of the curve,” said Cross. “Could you coach or provide additional training to help them reach a higher level of performance, or failing that, replace them with some of the all-stars currently in the job market? Take the opportunity of the slower business climate to shift the overall performance curve of your operation to the right.” 

The road ahead
The Queen’s MBA survey also reveals optimism on future management of organizations and recovery:

o 65 per cent of respondents at Queen’s think the financial downturn “will” cause a long-term, fundamental change in how Canadian companies are managed, and 79 per cent believe it “should.”
o 85 per cent see light at the end of the tunnel and believe we will see economic recovery in the next two years.

The research was conducted between May 22nd and May 31st with 239 members of the EMBA and AMBA classes at Queen’s School of Business located in Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton. Survey participants responded to questions via the One Touch technology currently used in the program to allow students to be polled on-demand, communicate with the instructor and “electronically raise their hand.” 

About Queen’s School of Business:
Queen’s School of Business (business.queensu.ca) is one of the world’s premier business schools — renowned for exceptional programs, outstanding faculty and research, and the quality of its graduates. Canadian executives regard Queen’s as Canada’s most innovative business school, offering students academic excellence and a superior overall experience. Queen’s School of Business — where Canada’s first Commerce program was launched in 1919 — is located at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario. The School also delivers programs at locations across Canada, as well in the U.S. and the United Arab Emirates.
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