Unit 9.

1. How do you think British and German managers would differ in their approach to management?

Well, british managers are more into a team work, they are very social and getting very bored when working alone. Doing the job in a group is their working condition number one. Our german friends are more like individual players in our so called game ( i mean work), that's the main difference, others are more intrapersonal.

From my point of view, the main difference between British and German management is that, Germans focus on technical skills and experts while the British focus on management skills. Moreover there is a difference in career path system and in sense of authority. It means that British mangers frequently reorganize their departments, and frequently change jobs. Furthermore the always delegate authority and Germans there is a contracting attitudes to career path system and in sense of authority.

2. If you have experience of working with managers from countries such as Japan, Sweden, usa or France, how would you describe their approach to management and organization?

Unfortunately, I don`t have this experience, but I`ve read a lot about Japan management and I know that Japanese management consist of 4 elements: a long-term employment, slow performance and promotion, generalist career path and consultative decision making. From my point of view, management in Sweden based on two key elements: involving their employees in decision making and social qualities of education. In USA individual performance is measured and initiative is rewarded, moreover companies have competitive and aggressive attitudes to work. I guess French managers look at organization as an authority network where the power to organize and control others comes from their position in their hierarchy. French managersfocous on the organization as a pyramid of differentiated levels of power.

3. If you were going to collaborate with a British or German company, what could the potential problems be?

As we know, German managers, both top and middle, consider technical skill to be the most important aspect of their job, in sharp contrast British middle managers see themselves as executives first and technical second, as a result such difference in approach may raise status problems. Secondly, we can face negotiating problems, as Germans use more formal language than British. Finally, Germans and British managers have contrasting attitudes concerning managerial expertise and authority. This schism results in turn from the very different levels of qualification and sorts of career path.

Unit 10

1. What do the letters MBA stand for?

MBA or Master of Business Administration is a program of higher professional education. If you are working in the economic sphere or are a manager, in the presence of financial opportunities, in front of you opens another option to improve their educational level. This is MBA.

2. In your country how important is it to have an MBA to succeed in management?

In my opinion, MBA is important for the further success of the job, for advancement on a career ladder. At present, the most prestigious and well-known of MBA programs in Russia are considered programs of MIRBIS, HSE, WCSH, IBS, PFUR. In any case, this education is necessary and even in a crisis you will never be without work.

3. Do you know many people who have an MBA, or who are studying or plan to study for one? Are you one of them? What are the reasons for doing so?

If we consider the people, then tell the truth, I do not know those who have the diploma. But a lot of people among my friends wish to get it. First of all, when choosing a business school they pay attention to the time and cost of the training, the content of training programs, the availability of special courses. The reason of this is that any UNIVERSITY in the country can’t compete with the quality of the education offered by schools MBA.

4. What is the attitude of UK employers to MBA's? Are they very positive, negative, or in between?

Getting an MBA is one thing. Getting employers to take it seriously is another. MBAs have not traditionally inspired the same respect in the UK as in the US, but an increasing number of UK employers are now taking them very seriously indeed. Equally convinced of the value of MBAs is direct marketing company OgilvyOne Worldwide, which has recently established an MBA bursary for staff members. Chairman Nigel Howlett believes that the MBA's formal education in analytical skills and constructing solutions provides a very useful training, producing people who have a good overview of business issues rather than a concern for details.

5. Several top business schools are mentioned in the text-which ones are they? Do you agree with this list? Would you add others?

The company actively recruits 30-40 people a year from major business schools, such as INSEAD in France. Harvard and Stanford in the US. and London Business School and Manchester in the UK. It spends around £1 million a year sponsoring its 25-30 graduate recruits to complete full-time MBAs at the same institutions. INSEAD has positioned itself as an international school with a cosmopolitan faculty and student body. In my opinion, these are the main business schools which can brag of high quality experts. There can’t be many such schools therefore the best are mentioned in this article.

6. According to the article, do most MBA students pay for themselves?

According to this article, many students study according to the program of external subsidizing of candidates through MBA of the United Kingdom with guaranteed work subsequently. It just also is considered that after the completion of study they should fulfill that in them enclosed.

7. In which country are MBAs very highly regarded by employers, according to the article?

It is UK. With a £50,000 Harvard MBA, McKinsey knows how- attractive its staff are to other employers. Those who wish to leave within two years have to repay their sponsorship, but Seaward believes the staff development strategy has a good return rate. 'We look for people to develop a long-term career with us, not just an analyst job for a couple of years, and reward high achievers with good salaries and opportunities.'

8. Some disadvantages about MBAs are mentioned by people quoted in the article. What are they?

But not every- company favours MBAs. In the early 1990s Shell actually abandoned its own MBA course at Henley when it realized that it was not producing graduates who would fitted the jobs for which they were destined.

'We're slightly ambivalent towards MBAs,' says Andy Gibb, Shell's head of global recruitment. 'A lot of Shell's work is technical, while MBAs from leading schools are pitched at a more strategic level. It can be frustrating and unnecessary to be trained for strategic thinking, when the job you're moving into is not really- suited to that. We would rather focus them on technical leadership.'

9. Businesses are generally grouped into two broad categories- manufacturing and production on one side, and services on the other side. Into which categories do the four companies mentioned in the article fit? What does this tell you about the type of companies which generally favour MBAs? Is this the case in Russia too?

For each type of the companies mentioned in article possibility of receiving MBA is characteristic. It enriches people with a lot of management theory, and perhaps a bit of jargon thrown in. The MBA's formal education in analytical skills and constructing solutions provides a very useful training, producing people who have a good overview of business issues rather than a concern for details. It can be the administrative companies, and also technical, etc. As to Russia, that, in my opinion, we need highly skilled experts in the sphere of the highest top management. Therefore, it is necessary to pay huge attention to training of the Russian experts in the MBA program.

10. Many people study for MBAs part-time over several years, or even by distance learning. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this route compared to a full-time MBA? Which route would you prefer?

MBA received remotely by means of individual lessons, in fact, doesn’t differ from that which is given in audiences of business schools. Receiving MBA degree remotely, you are actually simply training in absentia. You also have the sessions which delivery is obligatory. And upon termination of all programs, and it is about two years, you receive such the diploma as graduates of the internal forms of education. The problem which prevents quite many to end a course MBA remotely – inability competently to organize the time. For me, this form of education is most acceptable, because I have already passed time-management courses.

6. According to the article, do most MBA students pay for themselves? Essentially that most companies see MBA as a waste of companies budget. However, some companies are eager to invest money in their employees’ education because of possible growth of profit in future. They establish special company culture to retain experts. 7. In which country are MBAs very highly regarded by employers, according to the article? The UK, US and France are considered to be the most popular countries, providing MBA programs. Companies spend around 1 mln a year sponsoring its 25-30 graduate recruits to complete full-time MBAs at these countries. 8. Some disadvantages about MBAs are mentioned by people quoted in the article. What are they? 1. It is not producing graduates who fitted the jobs for which they were destined. 2. MBA is pitched at more strategic level 3. MBA doesn’t focus on technical leadership 4. opportunity of loss the employees increase. 9. Businesses are generally grouped into two broad categories- manufacturing and production on one side, and services on the other side. Into which categories do the four companies mentioned in the article fit? What does this tell you about the type of companies which generally favour MBAs? Is this the case in Russia too? These companies are operating in service sector providing consulting services to others. So they are interested in employees gained MBA as they bring breadth of vision to the business point and that can be an advantage. I think that Russia has the similar situation. 10. Many people study for MBAs part-time over several years, or even by distance learning. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this route compared to a full-time MBA? Which route would you prefer? Advantages: You can complete most of the classes at your convenience. You can review the assignments and do your homework during off-hours or from home. You don't have to live in the same city or the same country to attend the learning institution of your choice.  Self-paced learning. For slow and quick learners. This reduces stress and increases satisfaction. Accessibility. Online classes address physical accessibility issues that some people with limited mobility encounter when taking traditional classes. Disadvantages: Costly and complex technology.  Advance planning. Both the instructors and students involved in distance learning may need to make sacrifices at times to get things done in time. Distance learning does not always offer all the necessary courses online.  According to all disadvantages I would prefer to study full time. Moreover distance learners may feel isolated or miss that social physical interaction that comes with attending a traditional classroom