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SCMP Reporter

The skills of Asian management professionals are vital to help the world's economy get back on a positive growth track, according to a visiting academic.

   Professor Terry Garrison, of the British-based Henley Management College, said the views of Hong Kong management professionals helped portray an accurate picture of the economic situation in the region.

   He said that without informed views in times of economic uncertainty, countries retreated into deflation and protectionism.

   Professor Garrison, the institute's lead tutor in international management, was in the SAR recently to speak to local Henley alumni who had graduated from its Master of Business Administration (MBA) programme.

   Among the alumni in attendance were past winners of the South China Morning Post and Henley MBA award scheme. Since 1994, the annual award has helped 15 Hong Kong professionals study for their MBA degrees through Henley's distance-learning programme.

  Once again, the scheme is offering $420,000 in MBA scholar ship money to help three local professionals achieve their goals of postgraduate education while facilitating the growing needs of business.

   The programme takes about three years to complete based on part-time studies. Henley, one of Europe's most experienced independent management colleges, takes a pro-active approach to formulating the curriculum of its various programmes.

   The requirements of management are a constantly changing and cumulative process which needs to be open to new and progressive strategies of thought to flourish and prosper.

   Professor Garrison, an author of books on European business strategies and international business culture, said with the current economic downturn in the region, the demand for qualified management professionals had never been greater.

   With firms making greater demands on top management personnel with skills in finance, strategy, personnel and information management, there was a danger of being left behind in the managerial race.

  'There is a culture clash going on in the world between an open Anglo-Saxon business culture, which is exemplified a lot by how the IMF thinks, and how America, and particularly Britain, does business,' Professor Garrison said.

   'The importance of a Western- style MBA is for people in Asia Pacific to understand how other parts of the world think and do business. An understanding of that can only be beneficial.'    The MBA curriculum would provide students with greater knowledge of the European Union and what impact the launch of the euro currency would have on the global economy.

    Professor Garrison said it was vital for top management to understand the development of the EU and what the European Monetary Union was all about.

   'We will be looking at how world trade is shaping up and how big political decisions lie ahead as to how to get everything back to a positive balance. With the euro, the students need to understand how strong a currency it would be, what European interest rates would be, and to what extent would it affect the competitiveness of Europe,' he said.

  Management professionals also needed to consider the effects of devaluation, particularly the yuan, on Asia Pacific.

  'Consequently, it would start a flood of exports to Europe and the US - how would these countries react? Management needs to have an understanding of such issues.'    In the module-based curriculum, students are required to study courses in foundations of management, managing people and managing information during the six months it takes to complete the first part of the course.

   The second part takes a year and includes courses in managing marketing, managing performance and managing financial resources. The final 18 months includes classes in strategic direction, business transformation and an elective.

   Other requirements include a 7,000-word term paper where members take a holistic view of their organisation's strategy in an integrated project. There is also a 10,000 to 15,000-word dissertation on a critical approach to a general management programme.

    Students receive study support from academic advisers and support managers. They also have full use of the Henley Hong Kong resource library for reference materials and samples of past assignments and exams.

   There are also topical seminars, networking events and Lotus Notes computer software. Course materials are a mixture of books, audio and video tapes and CD-ROMs.

   Owen Jonathan, South China Morning Post chief executive, said the judging panel was looking for individuals who clearly showed a commitment to succeeding in their professional life through postgraduate studies. He said candidates would be judged on their leadership skills, knowledge of their profession, personal ity and their written submission which should outline their career goals and what they feel they could bring to their workplace.

   'Strong and well-qualified management are important characteristics of most successful businesses. These are requirements that are made all the more vital in these testing times for all of Hong Kong's businesses,' Mr Jonathan said.

   'It is our hope that these awards will enhance the skills and know-how of the few selected managers, and so represent a small contribution towards Hong Kong's business needs in the next millennium.'    Applicants for the scholarship must be aged at least 27, be a Hong Kong resident and have at least three years working experience. A first degree is preferable while fluency in English is a must.

    Candidates need to submit a 250-word essay with their application on 'How they think the Henley MBA Programme will help them to achieve their company's short and long-term objectives'.

   Yolanda Ho, staffing manager for Intel Semiconductor, was one of the winners last year.

  She said she was working towards an MBA to gain a greater business-oriented perspective of human resources - her area of specialisation.

 After graduating with an honours degree in industrial psychology, Ms Ho worked as a human resource consultant with Price Waterhouse before joining Intel.

   By earning an MBA she hopes to add value to her employer's business as an all-rounded and business-focused human resources professional.

 'The programme has been extensive and challenging, and requires a lot of dedication, motivation and good time management skills,' Ms Ho said.

   ' I would say to anyone thinking of embarking on such a challenge to carefully consider their motivation for taking such a course. It is not an easy task and really requires discipline and commitment.'   Deadline for entries is May 10, with the winners to be announced in the Classified Post on June 19- 20.

 The awards will be presented in July.

Strong, well-qualified management is an important characteristic of most successful businesses 



Asian management expertise will play major role in helping world economy get