Summer
1998, Vol. 19, No. 2
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JAIMS Team Crowned "Grand
Champions"
The sharp-witted team of Japan-focused MBA (JEMBA)
students who won the regional semifinals of the 1997 Universities
Business Challenge in January returned to London on March 4 for
the final competition and captured the title of Grand Champions.
The Challenge, a management simulation game, required the team to
act as the board of directors for beer, cider and potato chip ventures--all
very British industries. Team members Chee Meng Chan (Singapore),
Marie Antoinette Go (Philippines), Suzanne Nakano (USA), Sanjay
Pareek (India) and Curtis Washington (USA) returned to Hawaii bearing
engraved crystal bowls, a check for 1,000 pounds and many experiences
they will not soon forget.
When the students began the JEMBA program in August 1997, the Challenge
was unknown to them. And despite an intensive course schedule at
both JAIMS and the University of Hawaii College of Business Administration,
all volunteered for the JAIMS team. "It was a good complement
to our curricula because it gave us a chance to go out and apply
some of the things we learned," Washington said. "Since
our program is Asia-focused, and Japan- focused in particular, it
was very interesting to see the other side of the world."
The Challenge consisted of a preliminary round
of five trading sessions that took place via Internet, e-mail and
fax last October through December. Every week over 60 teams, each
acting as the directors of the Brew Masters Brewing Company, sent
in their decisions on such matters as pricing, production and marketing.
In January, 22 teams competed in a one-day semifinals event in England,
where the JEMBAs won their regional division. (As the Hawaii team,
they were a "part" of the southern England region.) The
competition was the toughest in the March finals round, where the
JEMBAs prevailed over teams from the University of Edinburgh, University
of Newcastle, Lancaster University and University of Warwick.
It was the first time a team from outside Great
Britain had competed in the Challenge, which is sponsored by Peritas
Ltd. and the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants. According
to JAIMS Vice President for Academic Affairs Blair Odo, who accompanied
the team to London for the finals, "The team was fantastic.
They worked well together under such pressure and were able to focus
on both micro and macro issues. Everyone at JAIMS is so proud of
their accomplishment."
MBA Graduates Share Job-Hunting
Experiences Throughout the Asia-Pacific Region
Given the recent downturn in many Asian economies,
some recent MBA graduates might be daunted by an Asia-focused job
search. Not necessarily the case, however, with the Japan-focused
MBA class (JEMBA-7) that graduated last November in Tokyo after
their three-month Japan business internship. Individual stories
tell of unique situations, ranging from those who immediately resumed
work at their pre-JEMBA companies to those who took their time in
finding that perfect job. And while a few JEMBAs are still weighing
their employment options or struggling in countries with weak economies,
all are working and putting to use the skills learned in the Japan-focused
MBA program.
Participants in the JEMBA and CHEMBA (China-focused
MBA) programs typically have three to five years of previous work
experience, and several graduates each year return to the companies
where they worked before earning their MBA. A case in point is Ravi
Ranjan, who returned to Tata Steel, in Jamshedpur, India. As the
assistant manager in the technical support group, he is beginning
work on a new information technology project that has technical
tie-ins with Japanese steel majors, so he is able to use his Japanese
language skills. "I'm hoping my use of Japanese becomes frequent,"
Ranjan said. "I'm beginning to realize it's easy to forget
without practice."
Upon returning to their home countries, many
JEMBAs found both the MBA degree and their Japan experience enhanced
their employment options. Wendy Kar Shuen Chan returned to Hong
Kong after receiving her degree and quickly became planning manager
with MindShare, a marketing company. "Since I had worked at
another marketing company in Hong Kong before JEMBA, I had many
contacts in the area. What made a big difference when I returned
to Hong Kong was the experience I had gained through my Japanese
internship. People were impressed by that," Chan said.
Fermin Taruc found that his MBA made him a more
well-rounded manager. "While in Japan, the group I had previously
worked for in the Philippines contacted me about starting up a new
business software company--Scala Business Solutions," Taruc
explained. "This fit right into what I wanted to do after getting
my MBA." Taruc is also the unofficial contact for the JEMBA-7
class. "We are in constant communication, keeping each other
posted on the things happening in each other's lives, sharing in
each other's good and bad news," Taruc said.
Not all job-hunting experiences are so enviable,
however. Although Kristanto Djuanda of Indonesia avoided much of
the political and monetary turmoil that spread throughout his country
while he was studying in Hawaii and interning in Japan, he and his
wife and young son returned home last November to an extremely difficult
situation. "The job market was in a slump, and it was difficult
for me to find a proper job commensurate with my education and qualifications,"
Djuanda observed. "Finally, after more than two-and-a-half
months job-searching in about a dozen companies, I was hired by
Philips Lighting, a Dutch multinational company that operates a
lamp manufacturing plant in Surabaya, my hometown. I am a quality
systems manager, mainly responsible for the plant's quality improvement
programs. While it's not really related to the education I received,
it allows me to keep alive until the perfect match arrives."
Jennifer Araki of Hawaii is the only JEMBA-7
who has stayed in Japan. After interning with Levi Strauss, Araki
was hired as a financial software package consultant with KPMG Global
Solution K.K. and has found work to be filled with lots of learning,
reflection and challenges. "In terms of job-searching, in general
the market in Japan is flat," Araki noted. "But of course,
there are pockets that are looking to expand, and people with certain
backgrounds are in high demand. For those who are interested in
working here, I would suggest starting right away--giving lots of
time for searching and interviewing and strategizing."
For Dede Prabowo, originally from Indonesia,
and David Lu, from California, the JEMBA focus on Japanese language
and business has made a decisive difference in their careers. After
interning at Prospect Asset Management's office in Japan, both are
now working at the company's Honolulu office, where they are securities
analysts covering Japanese small capital companies for U.K. and
U.S. investors. "We're on the phone to Japanese companies all
the time," Prabowo said. "So our ability to speak Japanese
and to understand business in Japan makes a big difference."
Christine Maii devoted almost six months to
finding a job in Honolulu, and she recently shared her experiences
with the 1997®98 class of JEMBAs and CHEMBAs. Although Maii had
lived and worked in Japan before earning her MBA, after graduation
she was interested in working at a Honolulu-based company, partly
because of her wish to be near family. Just before she began her
job search, however, several major companies in Hawaii underwent
a massive wave of layoffs--not an encouraging sign. "Despite
that bad news--which I first heard when I was doing my internship
in Japan--I found there were pockets of growth in the Hawaii
economy. I just had to look harder for them," Maii said.
Although she had several job offers when she
first began looking for work, they were not a perfect match for
her. And although she still did not have a job after several months,
Maii decided to wait until the right job appeared, even though she
entertained a few self-doubts about the jobs she had passed up.
"I truly networked," Maii stated. "I would dig, search
and talk to as many people as possible, including former professors
and business executives I had met at JAIMS. For example, I talked
to one friend at a large financial firm who referred me to his boss.
That person didn't have a job for me, but he referred me to someone
at another firm. This scenario happened countless times and each
time I followed up, revised my resume, wrote introductory letters
and sent out thank you letters."
The networking paid off with a job at Akimeka
& Company, Inc., a health care and telemedicine consulting firm,
where Maii is a project manager and trainer. "It's a company
involved in growth areas," Maii said. "I'm able to travel
and use my Asia-focused skills, and it is an exciting, challenging
job that pays comparatively well. It was well worth the time I spent
searching."
Where They Are Now:
The 1996-97 JEMBA Class
Jennifer Araki (USA), KPMG Global Solution K.K.,
Tokyo
Ambar Bajpai (India), Nuclear Power Corporation, Bombay
Wendy Kar Shuen Chan (Hong Kong), MindShare, Hong Kong
Wee Seng Chan (Singapore), Systems and Computer Organisation, Singapore
Heidi Hsiang-Chiun Chen (Taiwan), Core Investment Trust Co., Taipei
Wongyoung Choi (Korea), MiraeNet Co., Ltd., Seoul
Herminia Cruz (Philippines), Trends-Market Behaviour Ltd., Quezon
City
Kristanto Djuanda (Indonesia), Philips Lighting, Surabaya
Judy See Kiat Gan (Malaysia), Lion Group, Kuala Lumpur
David Lu (USA), Prospect Asset Management, Honolulu
Christine Maii (USA), Akimeka & Company, Honolulu
Sunil Misra (India), State Bank of India, Bhubaneswar
Peta Nicholson (Australia), Independent Consultant, Honolulu
Marcus Otsuji (USA), Japan Works, Salt Lake City
Dede Prabowo (Indonesia), Prospect Asset Management, Honolulu
Todd Sakoda (USA), Pacific One Bank, Portland
Ravi Ranjan (India), Tata Steel, Jamshedpur
Fermin Taruc (Philippines), Scala Business Solutions, Manila
Health
Care Marketing Workshop at JAIMS
Dick McDonald, managing officer of BVK McDonald,
a health care marketing and communications firm in Milwaukee, Wisconsin,
was the featured speaker at two workshops presented by JAIMS in
May. McDonald, together with Steven Steiber, the head of Opinion
Research Corporation's health care market research division, addressed
a group of Hawaii health care professionals on May 6 and Japanese
professionals on May 7 and 8.
For the Hawaii audience, McDonald focused on
health care positioning and branding--the association of a name
or symbol with the attributes of a product or services. In general,
marketing is a fairly recent concept in the health care arena, as
doctors and hospitals were barred from advertising their services
until the early 1970s. Since then, health care marketing has surged
ahead; health care has become the nation's top industry; and medical
facilities have evolved from hospitals, to centers, to networks,
to systems, to health plans.
Health care marketing in Japan is a newer concept,
however. "Japanese medical professionals are in a unique position
in that they can learn from the marketing mistakes made by American
hospitals over the past three decades," McDonald said. "We
got caught up in 'inside out' speak, where hospitals and doctors
used technical language to try to sell their qualifications to consumers.
We're now seeing a shift to addressing the real concerns consumers
have about health care, especially in relation to caring for their
families."
During his presentation of new research on patient
loyalty, particularly toward doctors, Steiber noted, "Health
care delivery in America changed forever when the patient became
a consumer."
Behind the Scenes at JAIMS: Makoto
Takenaka
Amidst the hustle and bustle of busy students,
instructors and visiting alumni, there also exists the quiet continuity
of the JAIMS administrative staff. While the academic affairs staff
has constant, visible interaction with JAIMS participants, those
in the administrative area focus on the often-hidden workings of
the Institute: the facility, the finances and the information technology.
Makoto Takenaka, vice president for administration,
oversees much of what happens behind the scenes at JAIMS. As the
senior Fujitsu representative at JAIMS, Takenaka serves as liaison
between the two organizations. Before coming to JAIMS, he was in
Fujitsu's International Sales Division, involved in the global marketing
and sales of computers, giving him a strong sense of cross-cultural
business interaction and a marketing orientation. His responsibilities
at JAIMS include administering the annual budget, maintenance of
the campus and coordination of human resources.
Takenaka also has an abiding interest in academic
issues. "The administrative side exists to enhance academia
at JAIMS--to provide a good environment for all participants and
staff and to ensure continual improvement of all programs,"
he said. "Working closely with academic services, interacting
with participants--these daily encounters give me hints of what
we in administration have to do to provide better services."
Last year better services included upgrading all the computers and
renovating the classrooms, both visually and technologically. The
JEMBA/CHEMBA and ICMP rooms now have ergonomic chairs and lap-top
computer connections for each desk.
Takenaka is also closely involved with the Fujitsu
Asia Pacific Scholarship, the generous program that each year provides
tuition and expenses for JEMBA/CHEMBA and ICMP participants from
developing Asia-Pacific countries. "This program is a real
highlight for JAIMS," Takenaka noted. "It ensures a strong
cross-cultural diversity in our programs. It is also exciting to
see the growing network of Fujitsu Scholar alumni throughout the
Asia-Pacific region."
news@ JAIMS
The 1997-98 JEMBA and CHEMBA classes completed
their Hawaii coursework in July and are off to their internships
in Japan and China. Chee Meng Chan, of Singapore, received
the Francis A. Wong Award for Leadership, which is bestowed
on the basis of "promising entrepreneurial skills as evidenced
by demonstrated initiative and leadership qualities while at JAIMS."
Vladimir Lopez, Parameswaran Thangavelu, Kian Tjoi
Tjong and Chee Meng Chan were grand prize winners in
the JEMBA speech contest for their group presentation Saigo no
nihongo no kurasu desu ("Last Japanese Class"). Other
honors were given to Suzanne Nakano (most entertaining),
Wai Pong Wong (most informative) and Gregg Hirohata-Goto
(best delivery).
In the spring ICMP class, Kyoko Someya
received the Wong Award for Leadership, while the Students' Choice
Award was bestowed on Shinichi Murakami. Someya and Murakami
also placed first in the ICMP research contest for their combined
presentation on "Expectations of Japanese Tourists Visiting
Hawaii." The team of Koji Endo, Mika Sakamoto and
Kiyomi Yamase placed second and Taisei Minamoto placed
third. Margaret Rose Canobis was awarded first place in the
speech competition for "Learning Japanese in Hawaii."
Rieko Kawaguchi took second place honors, while Woo Taek
Auo took third place. Congratulations to all!
While on a site visit to the KGMB television
studios in June as a part of his business communications course,
ICMP participant Xavier Cheng-Kuo Li was asked to cook a
Taiwanese dish on KGMB's morning news/talk show. Xavier performed
like a seasoned chef for all of Hawaii and later repeated his culinary
skills for the JAIMS International Night potluck!
In April, George R. Packard, member of
the JAIMS board of trustees, was appointed president of the United
States-Japan Foundation, an organization dedicated to strengthening
mutual knowledge and understanding between the U.S. and Japan. The
Foundation awards grants in the fields of policy, pre-college education
and communications/public opinion. Fellow board member Keizo
Fukagawa was promoted to senior executive vice president of
Fujitsu Ltd. in June.
JAIMS President Glenn Miyataki's recent
business trips brought him in touch with JAIMS alumni in Japan and
China, where he discussed the concept of the "JAIMS Family"
global alumni network (more on this in the next issue of Global
Horizons). In June, Miyataki accompanied four Crown Prince Akihito
Scholars to an audience with Their Majesties, the Emperor and Empress
of Japan.
JAIMS staff said aloha this spring to
Tammy Tamai, who had brightened JAIMS for four years. New
to JAIMS is Bert Warashina, manager of administrative support,
who brings extensive experience in legal issues and labor relations.
Returning to JAIMS is Dori Lyn Hirata, special assistant
to the president, after receiving a master's degree in education
at UH Manoa.
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