Rubbing elbows with the rich and famous - in laws of Kings

Professor on Entrepreneurship

Rizal Philippines
October 6, 2019

When he was still alive (he died about 3 weeks ago), our Chinese business partner told me that one of his in laws was a motel magnate. And he was wondering in what way I was connected with the company. I told him that the motel of his in law was a favorite case.  And I love it the way it distracts straight thinking from the students in case analysis and discussion. Some even mentioned that it was the result of one of the owners veering towards being a devout Christian.  But businessmen will be businessmen no matter what the religious inclination is.  Some are disciples of the Church but when it comes to money, when it comes to business, business is business....  My name pala sticks out in the search engine for Victoria court because of blog posts made on the company/case

  A way to remove tension and formality in the class, and what conclusion do people have about the case.

The case goes like this:  the owner was re positioning the motel as a medium priced hotel and having thematic room.  The conclusion is that the top execs were not successful in the re positioning adventure, but they were successful in changing the  price points of the industry.

The said motel exec owner  died in a helicopter crash near Cuenca (Mt. Maculot) mentioning that he is a billionaire (as a result of this case exercise?)

From CNN 2015 - Motel chain owner dies in helicopter crash

ABS CBN You tube post on the heli crash

Pranav Case Analysis from the POKER QUEEN

hi sir... sending my report on Pranav again. i checked your blog site this morning and did not see my report.

thanks

Janice SAraza, MD

----- Forwarded Message -----
From: janice saraza <janice.saraza@yahoo.com>
To: "profjorge.entrep.sentrep@blogger.com" <profjorge.entrep.sentrep@blogger.com>; "profjorge.entrep@gmail.com" <profjorge.entrep@gmail.com>
Cc: "janice.saraza@yahoo.com" <janice.saraza@yahoo.com>
Sent: Wednesday, March 6, 2013 6:12 PM
Subject: pranav assignment from the POKER QUEEN

REPORT ON THE PRANAV NEW YORK

Submitted by: POKER QUEEN (aka Janice Saraza)

Date submitted: March 6, 2013

SITUATIONAL ANALYSIS:  The case was about the business venture of Karlo Nisce and Mark Orbos with two other partners, who were taking up their Masters in Business Management at the Asian Institute of Management in 2003. The group went into the salon/spa industry by putting up their own salon/spa service whose concept catered to male customers at the Robinson's Galleria addressing the need for an integrated grooming and wellness establishment with the appropriate male ambience. (A salon/spa cum barbershop experience)  They felt that they have conducted a relatively sufficient feasibility study with the following good points favoring their concept:

1.       Novelty concept as there are limited service providers that combines the different "core values" for male grooming and wellness services as a "one stop shop"

2.       The emergence of the " health and wellness trend" which was correlated with salons and spas.

3.       The  "Metro Sexual" male culture is gaining ground in the urban setting as seen in the comments under Exploratory Interview with Industry Experts.

4.       The urgency to start the business for the partners' compliance in school

5.       Validation from their mentors that their concept was refreshing and promising. This was also supported by Focus Group Discussion activity with prospective clients, as well as interviews with leaders in the industry and suppliers.

PROBLEM ANALYSIS: However,  after three months of operations, the group found themselves losing money from leasehold dues and operational expenses due to weak sales.  And upon careful review of their current position, the following where the observations:

A.      Poor functional practices like:

1.       Hiring an "all-female"crew

2.       barbers chair was not used by the business

3.       the placing of the chairs was too crowded to prevent simultaneous services to be done conveniently

4.       the air conditioning was too cold

5.       the office space blocked some of the frontal window

B.      Poor strategic practices:

1.       Despite their initial knowledge of the malls general population, the group failed to recognize other possible market segments: FEMALES which is 60.8% of the mall's gender distribution.

2.       poor location choice: PRANAV was at the third floor which made it far from the part of the mall where establishments catering to men was far (opposite side of the mall), and far from general foot traffic

3.       Questionable PTM:  What would be the value proposition of their salon/spa?  they later on identified that Classical Haircut customers characteristics include those who are price conscientious and availing of basic pedicure and massage whereas those who are Style Cut customers are motivated differently by the value of the services they can get from the spa.

DECISION ANALYSIS:  The entrepreneurs decided to breakdown the information they have based on their three months experience as well as do a benchmarking review with Roberto's (which was an apparent frontrunner in the male grooming services) and a study with several low and high end unisex service providers.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

I would recommend that the concerned entrepreneurs re-organize their business to maximize on the following opportunities:

1.       They may focus on their core business which is hair cutting (classical or style) and do a cost analysis in the pricing of their services giving consideration to their break even cost

2.       With the current gender distribution of clientele of Robinsons Galleria, they may enhance their services by providing services for women/females. They already have confirmation from their studies that women spend more than males. Their fixed expenses (rent, utilities, salary) will be the same anyway, so adding products that caters to women would increase the potential for their spa to get more women customers who are more willing to spend on styling and or relaxing services than males.

3.       Just like in those food fads ( pearlshakes, Shwarma, milk teas) that appears in the market, trends might not be a good basis for a solid long term business. The "metrosexual" trend in the 90's did not actually hit big because it is very dependent on the capacity of a person to spend on luxury items or how they will prioritize their expenses.

On Case analysis and critical thinking and Bible study

 


Ateneo Professor on Entrepreneurship

Yesterday, I had conversation with Tito Fabay, a bikemate who said before he conducted, together with martial arts training spiritual exercises.  These spiritual exercise were Bible studies.

And he mentioned that most Bible study sessions end up in debates and arguments, sometimes very heated with members of other religion.  He said that INCs had this tendencies but Seventh Day


Adventists were compliant with what the Bible says.

He brought several points:

l.  Many can speak well about the Bible, but to understand and live it is another matter.  (relevance)

2.  The biggest mistake that one can make is to call the other side wrong.  No one can be wrong   in his belief.  This reminds me of the a story while I was taking up MANACC.  The CPA told that somebody's proposed entry was wrong.  To which the Prof, Mallari said, what is your basis;   and then asked the Engr. whose proposed entry was labelled wrong to explain why he thinks his entry is correct.  To which the Professor said that you see, he is right too.

There is not one single option for a solution or decsion, or understanding of truth

For as long as your position is buttressed by facts that are accurate and relevant, then you are right.

The question is are you looking at the facts?  Are you an evidence based person?  Did you read the case well?  Did you understand the facts well?

Why am I posting this?

Is this relevant to entrepreneurship?

Are the SEntrep students very good, have enough practice on case analysis and critical thinking?

May I suggest that for those who think they are not very good at this (especially those who were absent or late for the case analysis) to try making comments on the US, Eurozone news.

What is the Correct Answer in Case Analysis?

An Ateneo Graduate School of Business Advantage

We are now in the case analysis portion entrepreneurship.  I enjoin that everyone read the case well and if need be several times, to get  a good grasp of critical and relevant data to appreciate the situation/problem in the case.  (Sometimes some students say there is no problems.  Period)

Others ask for the correct analysis/solution from the professor.  I throw back the question, "What do you think?"  Maybe it is a shocking answer.  I say that the correct answer is the one that you can adequately defend after searching for the relevant facts/data.  We train the MBA students to think critically for themselves on their feet to become guru, masters themselves when they leave the school portals.

That is the purpose of case analysis and/or MBA.  We professors are not there to give you the correct answer (what is this a course on memorization?) but to train you engage in critical thinking.  That can not be taught by blogs or distance or on line teaching.   That is where MBA education, case analysis comes in.

3rd and 4th session at Lipa Regis campus

An Ateneo Graduate School of Business Advantage

We had  the 3rd and 4th session of the entrep class at Lipa Regis.  That means it is a whole day session.  We had to because most would have their Christmas party on December 17.  I would not have done this were it not for exigency.  We all know that learning takes time.  Attention span is only l hour.

However, we were to survive the day.  We had four lectures:   Opportunity,  Product Design, Innovation and Marketing.  Really we had to conduct these lectures;   some basic knowledge escaped the memories of the students. 

Then we had the creative activities.  These were hands on.  Product creation, prototyping.  However the Margarita prototype nearly got me.  

Then we had the cases:  MC2 and Jose Lontoc.   MC 2 was easy.  Lontoc was not.  Probably they were tired all ready.

Our Regis Make up Class Has Ended; but being Entrepreneurial has Not!!

Our generation needs an ENTREPRENEURIAL REVOLUTION.

We held the make up class at Rm 210 instead of 2l2 which was occupied. Save for two students, and although some came in late, enthusiasm to show that they survived the hell two months was there. Thank you guys.

We tried to remind everyone about the activities that were held and how they connect to three mastery. And I reminded the class of what we tried to set out for: to develop entrepreneurial mindset, to change our mindset, to give everyone a view of how it is to be a boss. I am not forcing anyone or the class for that matter to be converted to a business entrepreneur. It is your call; it is your choice.

But someday, the lessons learned here, (and they are tough ones and I am sure you will not forget them) will be your handles your guide ropes as you navigate the uncertain and risky times ahead.

The dark clouds of business downsizing looms as Europe admits that it will enter again a time of recession (0.5% growth. Congratulate ourselves.

We are not sure whether is 4% or 6% but we are better off than the behemoths in the financial world ?(has been?) When your organization downsizes, are you ready for it? Have you planned your options? Has this class opened your eyes to these possibilities? If not, then this subject has not made an impact on you as person and as an MBA, and that is sad.

I just met a former student who owns bus companies (2) plying EDSA and they will soon be suspended. And the student smiled at me and said that she had a nul2 (we have l2 for the l5 days entrep elective) and was she glad that she is prepared.

Are you?

Has the entrep class made you a better person? A better MBA student?

                          Group Picture with Guest Entrepreneur last November 8 2011

                                   Class Picture last November 13 2011, make up class

                                          PTM for case analysis - Mico

      Ms Cruz being very conscious as she recited and I took her picture for Pranav case analysis

Developing Critical Thinking from Cases and Comments on Current Events

Our generation needs an ENTREPRENEURIAL REVOLUTION.

One of the graduation outcomes being developed among MBA, GSB graduates is critical thinking. That is why the faculty underwent a lot of workshops on case analysis,logic, analysis. That is why sometime is to be spent on case analysis - orals where grasp of relevant facts is very visible among the students. This can be supplemented by the students making comments on global news (specially) on how they impact micromarkets, macro markets, sales forecast and estimates. - (Opportunity Seeking)

Comments on articles and video on US events posted at this blog), Euro crisis, rice price hike in Thailand,commercial cropping etc is encouraged.

I hope before the term ends, these are forthcoming. Marc Guison and RBF made a lot of comments and helps me rate the critical thinking ability of the MBA students.