Induction to Masters of Business Course

After a long summer break, believe it or not, it is both refreshing and exciting to get back in the classroom.  We were given our timetables and went through the basic introductions to all of the courses.  The masters of business programme includes roughly 23 hours of class per week.  From what I understand from induction, Corporate Finance and my Dissertation are going to be the two classes that will challenge me the most.  I have found the teaching styles in Ireland very similar, but you can see varying views and different perspective typically swinging hard to the left.  For example, in America we are given a syllabus that has a strict regimented schedule where all of our assignments and exams are assigned with locked deadlines and due dates.  In my Technology Integration and Management class, the professor actually asked us when the first paper should be due.  The looseness in the teaching structure will be an adjustment for me for sure. This difference could also be influenced by the difference between undergraduate and masters level study.

 

I have also found the large amount of both similarities and differences in the education systems.  Both business programs I have been a part of stress the same values in strategic and critical thinking, but a majority of the time the difference lies in terminology. For example, in Finance a “stock” at home is a share here, and “stock” in Ireland is called “inventory” back in the US. Next, It is interesting how many American companies (such as Ford, Apple, and Google) are referenced on a daily basis as best practice.  However, I have been more engaged with the discussion regarding Michael O’Leary and RyanAir, and the accounting errors of Tesco competing with Aldi.  These European companies are all new to me, and it is opening my eyes beyond the United States. 

 

I am excited about my dissertation, and plan to write about how the new Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will impact the medical device and orthopaedics market in the U.S. I will also explore how the physician and medical sales reps compensation will be effected by the newly ‘socialised’ system.  The current reward system for reps is 100% commission based for a majority of the leading orthopaedic companies. Physicians in the past were rewarded on a system based on “fee for service”.  I am beginning to question whether the operations at firms will remain the same with such a dramatic change in the healthcare system. 

 

In summary, I am looking forward to diving into the course and making the most of my education this year in Carlow.  It is important for me to bring all of my experiences together to improve my perspective globally verses nationally.  In order reach your full potential, it is imperative that you are exposed to as much of the world as possible.  This programme will expand my horizons a great deal.