On Friday, 21st January 2022, I walked into the intimidating edifice housing the Lagos Business School. Albeit relaxed look. The properly mowed lawn, beautiful flowers, and greenery could not go unnoticed. The look was an immediate statement that you had entered a different zone. One of tranquillity and peace. It was nothing like the typical Nigerian University. I couldn’t help but smile at the thought that I had made the right choice. This was the next best thing to going abroad. Nevertheless, I listened intently to the sessions at the orientation program as if in a bid to verify my conclusion. As the first semester ends, I reflect on the journey so far, without prejudice to LBS.
The orientation program was properly handled by the MBA department. Taking us through the history of the school, to its vision, mission, and values. One could see exactly the premise on which LBS was built. It was to raise responsible African business leaders who can compete globally without compromising its Opus Dei philosophy. The latter drives its teaching, research, and activities.
To date, I scuffle to come to terms with my initial idea that I made the right choice. My judgment was somewhat flawed. The reason is not far-fetched. Like the common idiom, “the proof of the pudding is in the eating”, the confirmation of the right choice is indeed in trying it out. Now to the nitty-gritty. The past four months at LBS have been eventful. The faculty are knowledgeable and work hard to deliver the course content in an engaging manner. The crux of learning is case-based- an approach that fosters in-depth and practical learning. In my opinion, this has helped the assimilation of concepts and immediate application in real-life problems.
However, I do find that the workload often defeats the noble purpose. Take, for instance having an average of three lengthy cases to tackle in one weekend, without having adequate time to do justice to them. It appears to be a fire brigade approach. Another proximal issue is the method of case analysis. While one understands the need to be original and critical in reasoning, one must be guided to achieve this intent. The case analysis method used at LBS is quite fluid. As opposed to the framework used by Harvard Business School in the analysis of the same cases. This makes it difficult to follow and replicate from case to case.
In addition, I struggle with understanding why any business problem should be analysed individually. In solving real-life problems, we seldom do it in silos. It is often done by a group of people with differing opinions and perspectives on the problem. Each person brings their strengths and weaknesses to the table. That is what the boardroom truly looks like.
Notwithstanding, knowledge is power. At a recent LBS cohort networking, someone said to take the content and leave the container. Now that is exactly why I am still here. After all, I do not know of anyone who in Nigerian local parlance “uses their money to buy trouble”. Laughs!
So, have I made the right choice? I guess time will tell. But I know I can boast of knowledge, and it is beginning to reflect in my everyday life. Thanks to LBS.
THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX