A. How will this MBA degree help you to achieve your career goals?
Please outline your career objectives and how the MBA program will help you to achieve them.
It will enable me to be all rounded civil servant
Ministries of Foreign Affairs, almost everywhere, are stuffed with employees from different and well diversified educational backgrounds. Not only that, they also have departments entrusted with peculiar activities which are mainly not found in other kinds of Ministries and/or entities.
In the same manner, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia which I am employed to, has departments assigned with various kinds of responsibilities. They range from “protocol and etiquette office” dealing with international diplomatic courtesy rules and enforcing privileges and immunity up to “International Organizations Department” focusing on securing interests in various kinds of international, regional and sub-regional interstate organizations.
These departments are stuffed with employees/diplomats with different kinds of professions. Biologists to historians, lawyers to anthropologists are working in the same institution and; even on many occasions, in the same department.
The Ministry rotates diplomats in the various departments in a certain period of time. This prepares and promotes diplomats to be equipped with different knowledge, aptitude and skill making them to be a “generalist” opposed to being a specialist.
Due to these reasons, acquiring knowledge in business administration is one huge step forward for my career development. It will help me have a diversified knowledge and skill in management and business. It will widen my area of knowledge and competence resulting in the opening of new opportunities and advantages. In General, having the chance to study MBA in business administration will make me a better all rounded civil servant.
It improves skills of managing business operations and enhances decision making ability.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its different embassies/consulates stationed throughout the world deal with different bureaucratic activities and routine tasks which are calling for proper administration. Starting from continuing improving the working environment to delivering a quality service for customers are essential tasks that need to be accomplished for the institution endowed with various tasks.
Securing the interests of a state is a huge task that involves but not limited to strengthening political relations, attracting foreign business entities and investors, soliciting economic aid and cooperation, engaging the diaspora community, managing a consular service, attracting favorable public opinion and fostering economic development. The effective realizations of these all-tasks prerequisite the availability of a well-organized knowledge and skill on how to manage operations and make decisions.
Therefore, studying the MBA will help in creating the knowledge on how to plan, organize, coordinate and control tasks with the ability of making a calculated decision. This benefit will not just help in advancing my personal career but it also allows me to better contribute for my country’s development.
It gives better opportunity for development of skill for social interactions
Diplomatic carrier requires an effective ability in communication and interaction. A good outcome in diplomatic endeavor is, most of the time, preceded by an effective communication and laying foundation. The ability to understand, persuade and reach to a common denominator is quite essential not only in diplomacy but in day-to-day activities of life.
Having knowledge and skills to manage business and operations will not just enhance the ability for human interactional and social engagement. It will also create a better opportunity to know people and widen social scope. Studding the MBA will open a new horizon of human, social and corporate people meeting opportunities and experience sharing.
It enhances knowledge on corporate law
It will give the opportunity to understand basics and further enhance knowledge on rights and duties of companies and organizations together with their legally governed aspects of their components. This is a vast area of knowledge which will enable an opportunity for career development.
It will open a wider area of knowledge and helps for a deeper understanding of the subject matter for further specializing on the issue. It will help in career development not just as a result of enlightenment for further study but also enables an expertise knowledge for helping internationally trading citizens and business companies
Moreover, it will create a vivid understanding on how the rules and regulations work in certain companies and be able to provide assistance in handling and maneuvering over problems with a legal aspect analysis.
B. Describe both an achievement and an adverse experience from your professional or personal life. What have you learnt from those incidents about your strengths and weaknesses regarding setting and achieving goals, and working with others?
When I was working on consular issues, particularly insurance claims of our citizens, I was able to finalize almost all cases with great amounts of indemnity payments.
When I found out most claims were either not settled at all or unsatisfactory payments were offered to finalize them, I decided to look in to deep and conducted an investigation on the issue.
I studied why insurance companies deny payment claims of policy holders or marginally reduce the amount of payment. I looked into old settled cases, pending claims and spoke with managers of various insurance companies. Well, I found out in most of the cases they based their adversary decisions on easily reversible or explainable errors. Not only that, some of the issues were just looking for explanations on the different legal systems and procedures applicable in document originating country. Generally, I found out that they were refusing payments mostly for inadequate reasons.
Moreover, it was found essential to continuously follow up the claims, have a deep study of the received documents and preparations on possible loopholes in achieving goals. Not only that, establishing rapport with managers and staff of the insurance companies was observed to result in timely settlement of almost hundred percent of the cases with highest amount payments.
Furthermore, illustrating the essential requirements, even the wordings, and advising beneficiaries of insurance policies to meet the needs, avoided possible errors in advance. These achievements were possible through a collaborative work of colleagues who contacted beneficiaries at the headquarters and explained the needed contents of documents.
Therefore, the success in this area educated me that deeply studying problems, referring to previous experiences, prudently examining cases, formulating alternatives solutions and adequately engaging with all stakeholders are essential for a fruitful achievement and meeting goals.
From my observation and experience in different departments of government work, I sadly found out that it's better if your subordinate fears you than loves you. I saw people manipulate the advantage of having an understanding, workaholic, flexible and helpful boss/leaders. Most of the people I work with showed laziness when the boss is a good one. They frequently miss schedules and are demanding as they know the boss will fix the problem and they can also get away without any repercussions.
Besides, Imagine, you are a boss and you urgently need a document to be delivered to you at 2: 00 AM. If you are a “good” boss who is loved by your workers and called for one of your subordinate staff to bring the document on that dark night, I believe you have a slight chance of meeting your needs. However, if you are a “bad” boss and instruct your subordinate to do the same, I believe, he will do it for fear of consequences.
When I got subordinates working with me, I tried to be good, not because I want them to like me but I am thought being understanding would help. I tried to be a leader, work things out, treat them as human’s must be treated, deeply understand why they are failing and help out and worked hard to meet goals and set examples.
However, the manipulative traits started to show up, they give me work with so many errors-knowing I will fix them and delay in delivering their work-expecting me to take over and finalize the work. I ended up having a lot of work on my desk which resulted in stressing me out and compromising quality of work. This is when I found out I need to work more on my managerial skills and locate the appropriate line of mark of a successful leader.
C. Why did you choose this MBA program?
Please describe the primary advantages and disadvantages you considered.
Specializing in business administration will open new doors for advancing my professional career development. It will arm me with knowledge and skills in business administration and help me widen my scope of understanding on management and operations of business. Learning the ability to plan, analyze, process and control business operations and help me understand functions in each division in my organizations.
My working conditions require me to make decisions on multiplicity of matter. Issues ranging from routine activities up to complex policy matters are on my table. These are all calling for an educated and precise decision. Mastering business administration will increase managerial skills and help in becoming a good leader in my everyday activities by providing a better decision-making ability.
The above reasons are some of the positive advantages of studding the MBA in business administration. The possibility of conflicts with working hours and class attending times and the situation of having a lot on a plate and adding more on to that up to ear work load are some of the adverse effects were considered before making a decision to apply to join the MBA program.
D. Describe an ethical dilemma you have experienced. How did you manage the situation and what were your feelings about it?
Once I was faced with a situation where I had to choose between work rules and helping an individual who needed my urgent assistance. The man was a new father, his spouse just gave their first child a day before. He looked exhausted and anxious cause his foreign employer sucked him for not picking him up from his work place on time. On that day, he was in the hospital delivery room waiting for his baby and, as a result, was unable to appear on time.
Even though he served as a driver for more than a year and explained the whole situation to him, the employer was mad and told him to give back the car key and refused to settle his one-month salary which was due. He told me I was his only hope since his employer is not cooperative at all and he needed his salary and severance pay for settling urgent demands of having a new baby. Moreover, he lost his job while he had his baby and this made him frustrated.
I was working in a department that deals with cases lodged against diplomatic entities and their diplomatic staff. The name of the department was called “arbitration and conciliation section”. The department was necessitated due to the immunities of diplomatic entities and diplomatic staff under international law. Cases against diplomats cannot be brought before a court of law due to their immunity rights. The department I was working in was the only option for access to justice.
The new father had information that we have such an office in our ministry foreign affairs. However, the problem was his employer was a business person not a diplomat. We have no jurisdiction to entertain the case. The court is the right place for lodging claims not the ministry. It was against my work ethic to be involved in this case. He insisted that the employer would fear and comply if I just called him and inform to settle the payments. He further showed me the bills of the hospital where the mother of his child is laying.
I was in a dilemma, should I violate my work ethic and intervene on the issue? You know, I am not just acting on my own. I am in the Ministry and working for the Ministry which necessitated actions to correspond to the rules of the entity. I could also be responsible for misuse of delegated functions. Besides, it would be setting precedence calling for other similar requests.
On the other hand, this man is in a real need of help. The negative turn out of things and the misunderstanding of his employer are unimaginable. I could take him a month or even a year to finalize a court case. His employer might also go back to his country without settling his responsibilities. I tried to tell him the case belonged in court. However, he insisted to help him with one simple call from my office, the Ministry. Doing nothing while understanding the whole situation the man was in, was immoral and regrettable.
I was stuck in the middle of two opposing thoughts. Respecting the rules of conduct of work vs helping this poor guy out with just a phone call bugged my mind. I finally called the employer. I told him I work in the Ministry. I heard the unfortunate situation and requested him to settle the payments as a noble person. Further reminded him the driver would be forced to settle his claim through court, if it couldn’t be settled now.
Efforts paid off. The employer apologized and pledged to settle the claim on that day. I expressed my gratitude for his cooperation and once again reminded him I am, as any human being would do, assisting a troubled person. He confirmed he understood the whole situation and expressed his apologies to the driver.
A. How will this MBA degree
help
you to achieve your
career
goals?
Please
outline your
career
objectives and how the MBA program will
help
you to achieve them.
It will enable me to be all rounded civil servant
Ministries of
Foreign
Affairs
, almost everywhere,
are stuffed
with employees from
different
and well diversified educational backgrounds. Not
only
that, they
also
have
departments
entrusted with peculiar
activities
which are
mainly
not
found
in other
kinds
of Ministries and/or entities.
In the same manner, the Ministry of
Foreign
Affairs
of Ethiopia which I
am employed
to, has
departments
assigned with
various
kinds
of responsibilities. They range from “protocol and etiquette office” dealing with
international
diplomatic
courtesy
rules
and enforcing privileges and immunity up to
“International
Organizations
Department”
focusing on securing interests in
various
kinds
of
international
, regional and sub-regional interstate organizations.
These
departments
are stuffed
with employees/diplomats with
different
kinds
of professions. Biologists to historians, lawyers to anthropologists are
working
in the same institution and; even on
many
occasions, in the same department.
The Ministry rotates
diplomats
in the
various
departments
in a certain period of
time
. This prepares and promotes
diplomats
to
be equipped
with
different
knowledge
, aptitude and
skill
making them to be a “generalist” opposed to being a specialist.
Due to these reasons, acquiring
knowledge
in
business
administration
is one huge step forward for my
career
development
. It will
help
me have a diversified
knowledge
and
skill
in management and
business
. It will widen my
area
of
knowledge
and competence resulting in the opening of
new
opportunities
and
advantages
.
In General
,
having
the chance to study MBA in
business
administration
will
make
me a
better
all rounded civil servant.
It
improves
skills
of managing
business
operations
and
enhances
decision making
ability.
The Ministry of
Foreign
Affairs
and its
different
embassies/consulates stationed throughout the world deal with
different
bureaucratic
activities
and routine
tasks
which are calling for proper
administration
. Starting from continuing improving the
working
environment to delivering a quality service for customers are
essential
tasks
that
need
to
be accomplished
for the institution endowed with
various
tasks.
Securing the interests of a state is a huge
task
that involves
but
not limited to strengthening political relations, attracting
foreign
business
entities
and investors, soliciting economic aid and cooperation, engaging the diaspora community, managing a consular service, attracting favorable public opinion and fostering economic
development
. The effective realizations of these all-tasks prerequisite the availability of a well-organized
knowledge
and
skill
on how to manage
operations
and
make
decisions.
Therefore
, studying the MBA will
help
in creating the
knowledge
on how to plan, organize, coordinate and control
tasks
with the
ability
of making a calculated
decision
. This benefit will not
just
help
in advancing my personal
career
but
it
also
allows
me to
better
contribute for my country’s development.
It
gives
better
opportunity
for
development
of
skill
for
social
interactions
Diplomatic carrier requires an effective
ability
in communication and interaction. A
good
outcome in
diplomatic
endeavor is, most of the
time
, preceded by an effective communication and laying foundation. The
ability
to
understand
, persuade and reach to a common denominator is quite
essential
not
only
in diplomacy
but
in day-to-day
activities
of life.
Having
knowledge
and
skills
to manage
business
and
operations
will not
just
enhance
the
ability
for
human
interactional and
social
engagement. It will
also
create a
better
opportunity
to know
people
and widen
social
scope. Studding the MBA will open a
new
horizon of
human
,
social
and corporate
people
meeting
opportunities
and
experience
sharing.
It
enhances
knowledge
on corporate law
It will
give
the
opportunity
to
understand
basics and
further
enhance
knowledge
on rights and duties of
companies
and organizations together with their
legally
governed aspects of their components. This is a vast
area
of
knowledge
which will enable an
opportunity
for
career
development.
It will open a wider
area
of
knowledge
and
helps
for a deeper
understanding
of the
subject matter
for
further
specializing on the
issue
. It will
help
in
career
development
not
just
as a result
of enlightenment for
further
study
but
also
enables an expertise
knowledge
for helping
internationally
trading citizens and
business
companies
Moreover
, it will create a vivid
understanding
on how the
rules
and regulations
work
in certain
companies
and be able to provide assistance in handling and maneuvering over
problems
with a legal aspect analysis.
B.
Describe
both an achievement and an adverse
experience
from your professional or personal life. What have you
learnt
from those incidents about your strengths and weaknesses regarding setting and achieving goals, and
working
with others?
When I was
working
on consular
issues
,
particularly
insurance
claims
of our citizens, I was able to
finalize
almost all cases with great amounts of indemnity payments.
When I
found
out most
claims
were either not settled at all or unsatisfactory
payments
were offered
to
finalize
them, I decided to look in to deep and conducted an investigation on the issue.
I studied why
insurance
companies
deny
payment
claims
of policy holders or
marginally
reduce
the amount of
payment
. I looked into
old
settled cases, pending
claims
and spoke with managers of
various
insurance
companies
. Well, I
found
out in most of the cases they based their adversary
decisions
on
easily
reversible or explainable errors. Not
only
that,
some of the
issues
were
just
looking for explanations on the
different
legal systems and procedures applicable in
document
originating country.
Generally
, I
found
out that they were refusing
payments
mostly
for inadequate reasons.
Moreover
, it was
found
essential
to
continuously
follow up the
claims
, have a deep study of the received
documents
and preparations on possible loopholes in achieving goals. Not
only
that, establishing rapport with managers and
staff
of the
insurance
companies
was observed
to result in timely settlement of almost hundred percent of the cases with
highest
amount payments.
Furthermore
, illustrating the
essential
requirements, even the wordings, and advising beneficiaries of
insurance
policies to
meet
the
needs
, avoided possible errors in advance. These achievements were possible through a collaborative
work
of colleagues who contacted beneficiaries at the headquarters and
explained
the needed contents of documents.
Therefore
, the success in this
area
educated me that
deeply
studying
problems
, referring to previous
experiences
,
prudently
examining cases, formulating alternatives solutions and
adequately
engaging with all stakeholders are
essential
for a fruitful achievement and meeting goals.
From my observation and
experience
in
different
departments
of
government
work
, I
sadly
found
out that it's
better
if your subordinate fears you than
loves
you. I
saw
people
manipulate the
advantage
of
having
an
understanding
, workaholic, flexible and helpful boss/leaders. Most of the
people
I
work
with
showed
laziness when the boss is a
good
one. They
frequently
miss schedules and are demanding as they know the boss will
fix
the
problem and
they can
also
get
away without any repercussions.
Besides
, Imagine, you are a boss and you
urgently
need
a
document
to
be delivered
to you at 2: 00 AM. If you are a “
good
” boss who is
loved
by your workers and called for one of your subordinate
staff
to bring the
document
on that dark night, I believe you have a slight chance of meeting your
needs
.
However
, if you are a “
bad
” boss and instruct your subordinate to do the same, I believe, he will do it for fear of consequences.
When I
got
subordinates
working
with me, I tried to be
good
, not
because
I want them to like me
but
I am
thought
being
understanding
would
help
. I tried to be a leader,
work
things out, treat them as
human’s
must
be treated
,
deeply
understand
why they are failing and
help
out and worked
hard
to
meet
goals and set examples.
However
, the manipulative traits
started
to
show
up, they
give
me
work
with
so
many
errors-knowing I will
fix
them and delay in delivering their work-expecting me to take over and
finalize
the
work
. I ended up
having
a lot of
work
on my desk which resulted in stressing me out and compromising quality of
work
. This is when I
found
out I
need
to
work
more on my managerial
skills
and locate the appropriate line of mark of a successful leader.
C. Why did you choose this MBA program?
Please
describe
the primary
advantages
and disadvantages you considered.
Specializing in
business
administration
will open
new
doors for advancing my professional
career
development
. It will arm me with
knowledge
and
skills
in
business
administration
and
help
me widen my scope of
understanding
on management and
operations
of
business
. Learning the
ability
to plan, analyze, process and control
business
operations
and
help
me
understand
functions in each division in my organizations.
My
working
conditions require me to
make
decisions
on multiplicity of matter.
Issues
ranging from routine
activities
up to complex policy matters are on my table. These are all calling for an educated and precise
decision
. Mastering
business
administration
will increase managerial
skills
and
help
in becoming a
good
leader in my everyday
activities
by providing a
better
decision-making ability.
The above reasons are
some of the
positive
advantages
of studding the MBA in
business
administration
. The possibility of conflicts with
working
hours and
class
attending
times
and the
situation
of
having
a lot on a plate and adding more on to that up to ear
work
load are
some of the
adverse effects
were considered
before
making a
decision
to apply to
join
the MBA program.
D.
Describe
an ethical dilemma you have experienced. How did you manage the
situation
and what were your feelings about it?
Once I
was faced
with a
situation
where I had to choose between
work
rules
and helping an individual who needed my urgent assistance. The
man
was a
new
father, his spouse
just
gave their
first
child a day
before
. He looked exhausted and anxious cause his
foreign
employer
sucked him for not picking him up from his
work
place on
time
. On that day, he was in the hospital delivery room waiting for his baby and,
as a result
, was unable to appear on time.
Even though
he served as a driver for more than a year and
explained
the whole
situation
to him, the
employer
was mad and
told
him to
give
back the car key and refused to
settle
his one-month salary which was due. He
told
me I was his
only
hope since his
employer
is not cooperative at
all and
he needed his salary and severance pay for settling urgent demands of
having
a
new
baby.
Moreover
, he lost his job while he had his baby and this made him frustrated.
I was
working
in a
department
that deals with cases lodged against
diplomatic
entities
and their
diplomatic
staff
. The name of the
department
was called
“arbitration and conciliation section”. The
department
was necessitated
due to the immunities of
diplomatic
entities
and
diplomatic
staff
under
international
law. Cases against
diplomats
cannot
be brought
before
a
court
of law due to their immunity rights. The
department
I was
working
in was the
only
option for access to justice.
The
new
father had information that we have such an office in our ministry
foreign
affairs
.
However
, the
problem
was his
employer
was a
business
person not a
diplomat
. We have no jurisdiction to entertain the case. The
court
is the right place for lodging
claims
not the ministry. It was against my
work
ethic to
be involved
in this case
. He insisted that the
employer
would fear and comply if I
just
called him and inform to
settle
the
payments
. He
further
showed
me the bills of the hospital where the mother of his child is laying.
I was in a dilemma, should I violate my
work
ethic and intervene on the
issue
? You know, I am not
just
acting on my
own
. I am in the Ministry and
working
for the Ministry which necessitated actions to correspond to the
rules
of the
entity
. I could
also
be responsible for misuse of delegated functions.
Besides
, it would be setting precedence calling for other similar requests.
On the other hand
, this
man
is in a real
need
of
help
. The
negative
turn out of things and the misunderstanding of his
employer
are unimaginable. I could take him a month or even a year to
finalize
a
court
case. His
employer
might
also
go back to his country without settling his responsibilities. I tried to
tell
him the case belonged in
court
.
However
, he insisted to
help
him with one simple call from my office, the Ministry. Doing nothing while
understanding
the whole
situation
the
man
was in, was immoral and regrettable.
I
was stuck
in the middle of two opposing thoughts. Respecting the
rules
of conduct of
work
vs helping this poor guy out with
just
a phone call bugged my mind. I
finally
called the
employer
. I
told
him I
work
in the Ministry.
I
heard the unfortunate
situation
and requested him to
settle
the
payments
as a noble person.
Further
reminded him the driver would
be forced
to
settle
his
claim
through
court
, if it couldn’t
be settled
now
.
Efforts paid off. The
employer
apologized and pledged to
settle
the
claim
on that day. I expressed my gratitude for his cooperation and once again reminded him I am, as any
human
being would do, assisting a troubled person. He confirmed he understood the whole
situation
and expressed his apologies to the driver.
Funny
Love
Wow
Angry
Sad