Thursday, January 29, 2004

Someone asked me about how much change the MBA participants can bring to the school, how much initiative there is.
I will be honest.

Change is difficult. A rushed one-year program, complicated by campus exchanges does not give much time for change.
There are clubs and many activities. Anyone with energy will certainly find enough to occupy its already full weekly schedule. But what about new initiatives, new ideas?

In P1 - you discover INSEAD. You are timid about getting involved, or you don't know what the rules of the game are.
In P2 - you have one more course, you have a better idea about how you can manage your time and where you stand in the program but you are already thinking about spending P3 in Singapore
In P3 - you are in Singapore, roaming around the city like a Chinese Fish in an English pond
In P4 - you really wanted to go to Wharton so you have hoped over to the States
In P5 - you just realized that you will be graduating in 2 months and you are thinking that sending a couple of resumes would be appropriate
You are gone. Bye bye quaint Fontainebleau. Bye Bye perfectly oiled Singapore. Bye Bye Philly.

This is over simplifying but it is rare for anyone to reap the benefits of change. Therefore, change agents must be desirous of bringing change for the school, for other participants, or simply for the sake of the achievement. Finally, any change that requires a sustained effort for any length of time, or a strong buy in in the student population will heavily suffer from half promotions fleeing campus every half year, and from the geographical moves. It is difficult to campaign and build coalitions. It is difficult to keep a core team in place for more than two months.

This is not to say that there is no change, no new idea and no new club. The average MBA participant dreams up more initiatives and crazy schemes that could be implemented in a lifetime. Some of the changes are informal, less durable. Traditions exist (the National Weeks are a good example) and participants do get involved in campus life.

Pick your change and make sure you are clear about your motivation!

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