Workshop: The Connection between Leadership and Strategy, Executive MBA

Barry at the Executive MBA Workshop

Barry Wilson attended the British Chamber of Commerce Event hosted by the Ivey School of Business. An Executive MBA workshop was lead by eminent Professor Mary Crossan visiting from The University of Western Ontario, Canada and utilised their Case Study method of learning.

The study group included Philip Chen/ E-Trade Int'l Group Limited、David Butler/ Frank Butler Consultant、Kenneth Chueng/ Glory Horse Industries Limited、Betty Tsoi/ Asian Charity Services、Edwin Tian/ China HR、Barry Wilson/ barry wilson project initiatives、Philip Murton/ Royale International Freight Forwarding Agency (Shenzhen) Limited、Oliver Cai/ Royale International Freight Forwarding Agency (Shenzhen) Limited、Qianwu Hong/ Shenzhen La Vida Enterprise Management Co., Ltd.、Yu Zhang/ Simvest Technology Company Limited、Xiaoju Liu/ STAS Asset Management Co., Ltd、Vinvent Wang/ Tianjin Airport Economic Area Shenzhen Branch、Guorong Li/ Dongguan Energy saving tech firm、Kevin Lee/ Dongguan Alliance PCM Eneray Saving Limited、Ivy Buche/ Learning Synergies、Millie Qiu / Learning Synergies、Teller Tse/ Bank of China. 

Professor Crossan facilitated class discussion between the executives, challenging ideas and inspiring business leadership skills. Through the discussion it became apparent that many business models lacked clarity and focus, with senior executive being busy but not efficient or working to their business goals and core activities. Lack of strategy could be seen to result in the poor allocation of time and human resources, not addressing the business preferences and failing to adapt to the changing business environment.

A key factor coming to light was the growing realization by businesses of the importance of human characteristics as well as technical qualifications and capabilities in their leaders. The sum of virtues, values and traits equals good character, which, in addition to competence and commitment, is one of the 3 ingredients that make a leader effective and respected. For many, however, virtues, values and traits remain indefinable, even elusive. Mary described how good leaders show a mixture of the following traits:- Accountability, Justice, Temperance, Integrity, Humility, Humanity, Collaboration, Drive, Transcendence.


Further Reading;-

Developing Leadership Character

by Mary Crossan, Jeffrey Gandz, and Gerard Seijts

Strategic Analysis and Action (7th Edition)

by Mary M. Crossan, Joseph N. Fry, Peter Killing

Business Decision Making : Texts And Cases

by Elizabeth Grasby, Mary M. Crossan, Ann Frost




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