Here's Asia's #1, AIM. Here's The AIM Gordian Knot, Part 1

MANILA - Did you know that the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) is a very creative school but it's clueless? I mean, it doesn't have the theory, but it has the practice of Creative Thinking. And since AIM copied its teaching method from Harvard Business School, HBS is equally clueless!

It is ingrained in AIM's being, yet it doesn't recognize it. Subsequently, thinking about it some more, thinking AIM, as an exercise in Creative Thinking in Business Management, I have invented a case study that I call The AIM Gordian Knot.

For background, first, the good news. According to the Washington SyCip Graduate School of Business, "AIM is the oldest B-school in Southeast Asia" (aim.edu.ph). I take exception and say AIM is the oldest A-school in Asia in management, A for Excellence.

Now visit The Aspen Institute's 2011-2012 ranking of the world's business schools, where the Asian Institute of Management ranks #1 in Asia and #52 in the Top 100 MBA Programs of the world (beyondgreypinstripes.org). Not only that; except China, where the China Europe International Business School ranks #56, in the World's Top 100, there are no other top-ranked management schools in Asia (for a list of Asian countries, see the footnote[1]).

Excellence is in the details, lots of details.

The Aspen Institute conducts biennial surveys of business schools through its Beyond Grey Pinstripes (BGP) initiative. BGP describes itself this way (beyondgreyprinstripe.org):

Beyond Grey Pinstripes is a research survey and alternative ranking of business schools that spotlights innovative full-time MBA programs leading the way in the integration of issues concerning social and environmental stewardship into the curriculum. These schools are preparing students for the reality of tomorrow's markets by equipping them with the social, environmental, ethical and economic perspectives required for business success in a competitive and fast changing world.

No wonder AIM is the top MBA program in Asia. As I understand it, with its 16-month MBA offering, AIM sharpens the minds of business managers in considering the Big Picture, not only the economic piece of the jigsaw puzzle but also the social, environmental, and ethical pieces.

And now the bad news.

Lack of awareness of time - There is one important detail I have just found out that AIM is not excellent with, and that is dates - not the fruits but the times. There was this AIM press release published by GMA News; the news is dated 23 September 2011 (gmanetwork.com), but it does not say on what exact date was the AIM MBA program declared Asia's #1? There was this AIM news item "AIM MBA Ranked in the Global Top 100," but there was no date mentioned either (aim.edu).

Lack of awareness of the creative process - There is one very important detail that AIM is not conscious of but is excellent with it: Creative Thinking. This is how it all works out; from aim.edu, here is the text of the case study I created:

The AIM Gordian Knot

The Asian Institute of Management (AIM) has been known as the "Harvard of Asia" because AIM uses the case method as the primary mode of learning in all its programs. In collaboration with a seasoned professor, students analyze real-life solutions in class discussions, and learn important concepts and skills. They are drilled in evaluating hundreds of cases during their course to sharpen their managerial skills. An AIM education means rigorous training, up-to-date management concepts, and emphasis on analytical, people management and leadership skills.

The title is mine, the text AIM's. Now, let's take the above word-for-word quote as an example of how the Harvard / AIM Case Method works. I have already done it myself; as I typed the phrases or sentences - no, I never type word for word - my mind digested it instantly. Now it's your turn to consider it. What exactly is the problem? (Or, is there a problem at all?) Challenge yourself. Go on, read it again, before you read what I have to say below.

Give up? Let me help you. It's in the details.

Okay, I'll give you another chance to show the creative genius in you. We now visit the Harvard Business School MBA website, hbs.edu, and look for the clue in this entry:

When students are presented with a case, they place themselves in the role of the decision maker as they read through the situation and identify the problem they are faced with. The next step is to perform the necessary analysis - examining the causes and considering alternative courses of actions to come to a set of recommendations.

You will find another clue in this quote from an AIM graduate (topmba.com):

"I was challenged many times in class reviewing case studies that exposed our ways of decision-making and the short and long-term effects of these decisions. I got a better understanding of many aspects of doing business, not only of the top line," says [Milosz] Mogilnicki.

Clue: What do you do before you make a decision?

To emphasize the creative process that AIM MBA students go through, professors included, except that AIM does not recognize it as Creative Thinking, I will stop here and give you 72 hours after this is uploaded to email me your case analysis of "The AIM Gordian Knot," frankahilario@gmail.com. After that time frame, with or without an email reply, I will then write another essay and be the Alexander the Great and unravel my own Gordian Knot, in "The AIM Gordian Knot, Part 2."

If you beat the deadline, I'll be very proud to say: Case dismissed!

In the meantime, I am an AIM Outsider with a theoretical view and a practical eye wondering why the one thing that AIM does not emphasize is the creative process that in fact AIM employs each time there is a case study to be resolved.

For lack of emphasis on creativity by the school, I do not now wonder that the initiative website of AIM MBA, "The resource for Asian Institute of Management," is not updated and is in fact late by 4 years - its latest ranking of AIM by the BGP is that of 2007! where AIM ranked #42 out of 111 schools. What were the ranks in 2008, 2009, and 2010 it doesn't say. The website does claim that it is not associated with AIM, but if you have been an AIM student, you're an AIM product, how can whatever you do afterwards not be associated with it?

The Aspen Institute survey details cover 4 groups of scores for ranking the schools: relevant coursework, student exposure, business impact, and faculty research. I can see that once AIM recognizes and emphasizes the creative method in considering the relevant courseworks, student exposures, business impacts, and faculty researches, then AIM will rise even higher in the World Top 100 MBA Programs.

Creativity is what business needs to thrive in these times of rapid technology changes.

The publisher of the world rankings, the Aspen Institute says it aims to "equip business leaders for the 21st century with the vision and knowledge to integrate corporate profitability and social value" (topmba.com). Frank H says vision and knowledge will get you nowhere without creativity.

As for Asia's #1 business school, it could do much better beginning with trying to resolve The AIM Gordian Knot. Is it a matter of life and death? Well, I would be guilty of deathly silence if I didn't talk about it.

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Asian countries: Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, China, Cyprus, East Timor, Georgia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Macau, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Syria, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen