Algebra, Royalty and Identity

This MBA is demanding, not only intellectually, but also inwardly.

In one day of class the students from GIBS 2011/2012 visited South Africa’s infamous death camp Vlakplaas, and then in the afternoon we were swathed in algebra around the price elasticity of demand.

I say demanding because no matter how you have sheathed yourself from the past or prepared for the MBA, you will feel like you have toppled out of a washing machine – you will feel groggy and disoriented.

In a debriefing session our class got involved in some metaphorical statue making. Two groups made human statues of their depiction of the state of South Africa. Not only was it interesting to freely discuss our interpretations, it was also a vehicle for us to unload our perceptions in the classroom in a non-confrontational way.

During one of the classes an anthropologist/project manager from the Royal Bafokeng Nation spoke to us about her involvement in the project. It was a fascinating hour and a half. We learned about the education projects, feeding schemes and the King’s vision on the 300 000 members of the tribe. The Royal Bafokeng tribe is a nation within a nation.  http://www.bafokeng.com/

Some of the practises and methodologies working well here, like the online status of projects, could be replicated in government.

Before you know it another 4-day session of modules has gone by.

The goal now is to complete the individual and group assignments. It is hard enough streamlining a group of seven individuals. I can almost fathom how difficult it is for a King to lead a nation of 300 000.

See you at GIBS.