IBR Global MBA Testimonials
The process of creating value through work-integrated learning is extraordinary. It shifts the primary learning experience from the confines of academic institutions to the actual workplaces of our students. This transformation leads to an unparalleled sense of purpose, as it transitions skills training from theoretical teaching to the invaluable experience gained on the job.
Additionally, work-integration redirects the traditional focus of study from analysis to practical implementation. It is the act of implementation that has the power to bring about real change in the world. This new approach enables students to realize their potential in effecting positive changes within their work environments.
We invite you to explore the remarkable feedback from some of our students who have been willing to openly share their experiences of creating genuine value in their workplaces.
Alan Krohne, Manager: Retail Infrastructure and Development at Mobile Telecommunications Ltd, Windhoek, Namibia
05.2019 |
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While reading the mandatory readings for this course and later applying it to my own life I made me realized, how quickly we can judge across cultural lines. While it is our human nature that justifies our behavior, this model made me realize how dangerous it is to judge because of a lack of knowledge. Having studies this course, I see how international business negotiations can be won: don’t be judgmental, know the culture of who you are dealing with and how they operate and want to be treated. |
| Cross-cultural Management |
Noreen Muchena, Company Secretary and Legal Advisor at Microcred Zimbabwe (Private) Limited, Harare, Zimbabwe
05.2019 |
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All the principles learnt during this course were quite new to me. This course enlightened me to management principles that are often ignored yet valuable. I shall definitely be making use of them in my upcoming projects. |
| Principles of Effective Management |
Sharon Bwanya, Chief Operating Officer at Nurture Invest, Harare, Zimbabwe
05.2019 |
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This course has been eye-opening for me in many ways as I had hitherto thought that issues of processes management were just for businesses in the manufacturing sector or those who produce goods. I initially struggled to apply some of the principles of operations processes to service industry but thankfully, mandatory readings dedicated a lot of content to how operations management applies to businesses in the service industry, including professional services like ours. Even though it was not within the direct purview of this assignment, my largest take-aways from this course are content on core capabilities and quality dimensions. This resonated well with me in the professional services industry because it is often difficult to differentiate our service offering from that of our competitors who have the same level of expertise as we do but when looking at the service quality dimensions in the mandatory course readings such as responsiveness, aesthetics, humanity, flexibility, options etcetera, I got ideas of the precise features we need to include in our service offering in order to differentiate ourselves and give us a competitive edge over our competitors who have the same skill and ethical reputation as we do. It may seem elementary to a skilled mind but to me, the light bulbs turned on quite bright and I am now working on coming up with a list of service features that are aligned to our core capabilities which can help us define our competitive advantage and how our service is differentiated from that of our competitors – something which we have hitherto struggled to clearly define. |
| Operations Processes |
Kelvin Mukuku, Metallurgical Manager at Eastplats, Brits, South African Republic
05.2019 |
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This concept of analysis of management as a profession was a new concept to me. I have never viewed management like this. All I have known is to try my best and do my work as is expected without realising that I can have a long-term plan that will not change regardless of whatever element comes my way. I will take the learning gained and try build on them and get them to help me add value. |
| Principles of Effective Management |
Sharon Bwanya, Chief Operating Officer at Nurture Invest, Harare, Zimbabwe
04.2019 |
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The main value I have derived from this course is that is, strangely enough, not in the form of gaining new insights and knowledge on human resource management skills. Whilst I have discovered a great and useful tool in the ongoing PMI that I will no doubt readily implement to improve my communication and relations with my subordinates, the greatest value creation has been in the form of self-introspection and stepping back to view the person I have become and how I have treated those subordinate to me. My biggest regret is that I perpetuated the treatment I had abhorred whilst I was on the receiving end of it onto those who were entrusted to me to facilitate their learning and development. With due respect to those who trained me, the famous passage in George Orwell’s Animal Farm rings true: “The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again, but already it was impossible to say which was which.” It is indeed sobering to realize how easily one can exude the same traits the abhor in others. This assignment was on improving my own performance in facilitating the training of others but perhaps I need to start by working on what kind of person I want to be because the disposition of that person will inform the kind of manager I will be. |
| Learning and Employee Development |
Perseverance Chavunduka, Production Superintendent at Bindura Nickel Corporation, Bindura, Zimbabwe
04.2019 |
| This assignment has been great in helping me put to use some of the Six Sigma tools that I have known to exist but had never put them to use. It also has helped me to introspect on how I can make a difference in the process efficiencies daily. |
| Operations Processes |
Ndapewa Ganes (nee Hangula), Senior Manager: Strategy Consulting at PricewaterhouseCoopers Namibia, Windhoek, Namibia
04.2019 |
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This course was particularly challenging for me, as it has shown me another way of financial planning for organizations through the introduction of TARI. Gaining financial planning is vital for any leader that wishes to understand their business performance, and I believe this course has equipped me with skills that I can use in both personal and professional life. As a senior manager at my workplace, we are required to set targets and assess how our teams are performing based on the set targets. This course has given me a better appreciation for financial planning for my team and future roles. |
| Advanced Financial Planning |
Henry Hoveka, Managing Director at Multi-Wealth Management (Pty) Ltd, Windhoek, Namibia
04.2019 |
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The IBR operations processes module has been the most difficult to comprehend at the onset as it was the first time I was ever introduced to this subject matter. Until after the tutorial session, most of the self-learning did not make sense at all. The Tutorial presentations, whose recording I listened to a few times now, opened my eyes and the guidance receive fr om Professor Eli Dorfman was most enlightening. Subsequently, challenges I experienced in our company and to which I wondered where to get solutions from had a sudden answer. Thank your Professor Eli, I am most empowered and doing this assignment was very challenging and also enriching. |
| Operations Processes |
Alan Krohne, Manager: Retail Infrastructure and Development at Mobile Telecommunications Ltd, Windhoek, Namibia
04.2019 |
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As an Operational Manager in the commercial department the journey through this module assisted me in discovering impacts of globalisation on what we do today and will do tomorrow. Project planning and ad-hoc commercial projects is part of my KPA’s. The course opened my eyes to the importance of globalization in our industry. Furthermore, I feel empowered to approach challenges and decision taken in our weekly Commercial Committee meetings with a globalization mindset. |
| The Nature of International Business |
Charles Stols, Engineering Manager at MegChem, Cape Town, South African Republic
04.2019 |
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This course was valuable – especially for dealing with international partners. This is not limited to an international investor who may want to invest in our company but also for me looking to invest in another country…. Completing this course also showed me that there are a number of logical steps to undertake in doing business internationally … which makes it all less daunting. Through completing this assignment, I realized that attracting investors from abroad may not seem so far-fetched. |
| International Business Law |
Kelvin Mukuku, Metallurgical Manager at Eastplats, Brits, South African Republic
04.2019 |
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This assignment successfully integrated concepts of nature of international business, cultural aspects in business and the international business law in such a way that gave me a broader understanding and appreciation of international business. My company also benefited through an introspection of the current form and how to successfully convince a potential investor into the business, especially given the drive and expansion that has been targeted for this year in order to increase profitability. |
| International Business Law |
Henry Hoveka, Managing Director at Multi-Wealth Management (Pty) Ltd, Windhoek, Namibia
03.2019 |
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Even though I was involved over many years as a senior employee in many institutions with the facilitation of learning and development of various individuals on the job, I never received formal advice on how best to execute it. Working on this assignment, I have discovered many personal and professional gaps that need to be closed if I am to be successful in assisting others in achieving their career aspirations. This particular course clarified elements I personally struggled with as a business leader in our company and its leading business coach and counsellor. Almost all everything made an impact to my learning and created immense value to my body of knowledge. |
| Learning and Employee Development |
Noreen Muchena, Company Secretary and Legal Advisor at Microcred Zimbabwe (Private) Limited, Harare, Zimbabwe
03.2019 |
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I think all along it has always been engraved at the back of my mind that different countries and/or markets obviously have different cultures. However, this assignment and the valuable text, made me realise the impact of the culture differences on the business, which impact I had never imagined to be this great. My company is on an expansion drive into Africa. This assignment made us realise where we went wrong. As legal advisor, I am now confident to sit on the negotiation table. I understand how my behaviour as an individual may make or break the deal for the company in whichever culture, I am in. The assignment also opened my eyes to potential barriers that I may face as result of my age and gender. |
| Cross-cultural Management |
Henry Hoveka, Managing Director at Multi-Wealth Management (Pty) Ltd, Windhoek, Namibia
03.2019 |
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Educational programs attended before this Global MBA course and reading management books already got me to understand the need for personal skills development to assist in the achievement of business organisational development. All as result, I enrolled for this MBA program as I understood that I need to improve my personal management skills. I am amazed about IBR’s approach to learning that makes the subject matters so easy to understand, interesting and practical to apply in our business right away. Again, like many times before, this course “Developing Management Skills” lead me to share outcomes of my assignment with my colleagues. We are committed to integrate my recommendations as policy matters in our evolving business. |
| Development of Management Skills |
Charles Stols, Engineering Manager at MegChem, Cape Town, South African Republic
03.2019 |
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This assignment was of true value for me. I was not aware of that fact that misunderstanding and miscommunication in international business can be traced back to cross-cultural issues. It truly shed some light on my past experience – i.e. short-comings – in negotiating internationally and led me to adapt my style of communication. It came as a revelation that I don’t need to change as an individual but rather appreciate the difference and respect the other party’s culture. |
| Cross-cultural Management |
Kelvin Mukuku, Metallurgical Manager at Eastplats, Brits, South African Republic
03.2019 |
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With this assignment, I learnt the value of understanding people or companies in the country in which you are doing business. This knowledge will better prepare me for any issues that may arise during negotiations. I also learnt that my mannerism, as normal as they might be to me, might offend the people one is doing business with. This has better prepared me for future negations and other conflicts that may arise in doing business. |
| Cross-cultural Management |
Perseverance Chavunduka, Production Superintendent at Bindura Nickel Corporation, Bindura, Zimbabwe
02.2019 |
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I have realized that I as a line manager I need to enforce the appraisal system in my section of responsibility. I see the need to be more involved in building up the correct culture and have already started by having agreed performance contracts with my subordinates. In addition to enhance the appraisal system and also to be proactive, I now run personal interview meetings with them and as a team we have noticed incredible improvements with regards to being much more effective and increasing quality. |
| Appraisal and Performance of HR |
Samantha Kachikira, Process safety engineer at Ishecon cc, Johannesburg, South African Republic
02.2019 |
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Writing the assignment for this course taught me a lesson that I never thought was valuable – human behavior. That human behavior is the foundation of organizational behavior. As a manger if I master and understand that people are different, they have different personalities and they behave differently in different situations that it can become easy to influence their behavior in achieving organizational goals. Management is not as challenging as it seems, people have needs, and once I understand the basic needs of each individual I manage, I can be able to motivate them by rewarding them with their deepest need. |
| Appraisal and Performance of HR |
Rufaro Muzamhindo, Sales Manager at Rainbow Tourism Group, Harare, Zimbabwe
01.2019 |
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This course has created great value for me as I have realised that in order to achieve the overall objectives of the company there is a great need to be clear with regards to communication objectives to your clients. The assignment will also create tremendous value for the organisation as there had been no clear target audience as well as no communication objectives. Advertising was also more reactionary rather than planned. The assignment will help management to achieve its overall strategic objectives through planned communication that achieves results and ensures high occupancies with satisfied customers. |
| Marketing Decisions and Managing Activities |
Samantha Kachikira, Process safety engineer at Ishecon cc, Johannesburg, South African Republic
01.2019 |
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This course gave me the most valuable experience regarding communication with subordinates, family and friends. My approach had always been that of not building any relationships in workplaces at all because everyone knew why they came to work. However, my view has taken a total 360-degree change, and I am learning to be more congruent even in personal relationships. |
| Learning and Employee Development |