ANN ARBOR, Michigan - In the months of May and June, Global MBAs participate in Ross' cornerstone program, the Multidisciplinary Action Project, commonly referred to as MAP. MAP exemplifies the Ross commitment to bridging the gap between the academic environment and the world of business practice. MAP is a collaborative process that benefits our students, our faculty, and the sponsoring organizations. In the seven week project, student teams work diligently to address very real and significant issues that companies face in today's global market. From the start of the project on May 11 through mid-June, Global MBA students could be found in Brazil, China, India, Malaysia, and the US advancing their cause through executive meetings, targeted research, and interviews with clients. The pictures below show three of the teams on-site with project representatives.

We were fortunate enough to partner with 8 impressive companies for this years' projects. Three of the eight projects were initiated by University of Michigan alumni and three projects were hosted by sponsors who returned this year after hosting projects for previous classes. On June 26, the MAP teams presented their recommendations to the faculty team. While some project hosts joined the presentation at the school, others held a separate presentation at the project site to allow the MAP team to deliver their recommendations to the company's top managers.

Many thanks to the sponsoring companies and congratulations to the Class of 2009 for their successful completion of MAP. 

ANN ARBOR, Michigan - The Ross Leaders in Thought and Action Award is an honor presented to graduating MBA students who have distinguished themselves and have made a significant and lasting impact on the Ross community through their innovative ideas and leadership talents. On June 26, Director E. Han Kim presented the Leaders in Thought and Action Award to three students from the Global MBA Class of 2009 who made efforts to expand their MBA career beyond the classroom while representing the Ross Global MBA Program, the Ross School, and the University as a whole. Pictured here are the Class of 2009 recipients of the Leaders in Thought and Action award (from left to right) Hyoung Il Kim of Samsung Electronics, Wen-Cheng Chang of Minland International Corp., E. Han Kim, and Jie Ren Julian Lim of Hawaii Furnishings.

These three students are recognized for the outstanding leadership skills they displayed during the program. From actively pursuing relationships to develop a network made up of individuals from across the University; to actively assisting classmates through support and encouragement; to leading the class in social and academic events throughout the program, we are pleased to acknowledge their efforts.

ANN ARBOR, Michigan - Just hours after completing their MAP presentations to the faculty team, the Global MBA Class of 2009 joined Professor E. Han Kim for their final school sponsored event--the annual Global MBA Farewell/Welcome Dinner. Each June, students from two Global MBA classes are in Ann Arbor. One class is just beginning their 13-month session, while the other is completing it. During this overlap, Professor Kim hosts both classes to a dinner party in their honor. On June 26, the Class of 2009 was bid a fond farewell, as the Class of 2010 was welcomed to Ann Arbor. Professor Kim along with several Ross faculty were present to show their support. Professor Pris Rogers is shown below with Hsin Wei (Renee) Wang of Tech Rock and the Class of 2009 and Jo-Wei (Wendy) Huang of Genia & Co and the Class of 2010. Throughout the dining room, students from both classes and their guests enjoyed good conversation, a delicious dinner, and delightful entertainment.

The Class of 2009 provided the entertainment for the evening. On-Uma Amornpan of Krung Thai Bank and Jin Il Park of Samsung Securities, welcomed students in several different languages before inviting Julian Lim of Hawaii Furnishings to present the class gift to the school. In what is now a time-honored tradition, the Global MBA Class of 2009 presented the school with a monetary donation to the school’s art collection. In addition, Julian narrated a video presentation that captured the emotions of his classmates in their final days of the program. Following the video, Hiroki Kobayashi of Toppan Printing entertained guests with a cello performance accompanied by a traditional Japanese piano melody specially produced for the evening by Kenichi Izawa of Toshiba Corporation and his wife, Rie.

DEARBORN, Mich. - As an introduction to American history and culture, Global MBA students visited one of the finest landmarks in the area - The Henry Ford. The Henry Ford is a collection of museums that celebrate American history. On July 13, Class of 2009 students visited two attractions at the Henry Ford; the Ford Rouge Factory Tour and Greenfield Village.

The day began with a tour of the Ford Rouge Plant which was the site of the world's first automotive assembly line. Today, the renovated modern manufacturing facility produces Ford F-150 trucks. The tour provided the class with a firsthand look at the plant in operation. In addition, students viewed a film about the life and history of Henry Ford and the Ford Motor Company. A multimedia presentation of the making of a Ford truck followed, complete with lasers, smoke, and sound effects. The tour included a trip to the observation deck at the top of the facility, allowing the group to view the world's largest living roof. From the observation deck, students were able to view the entire expanse of the Ford Rouge complex. Upon completion of the plant tour, students were shuttled to Greenfield Village for lunch.

After lunch, students spent the afternoon at Greenfield Village where they enjoyed a narrated walking tour with the opportunity to view artifacts and characters from America's past. The tour covered great American inventors. Tour guides led the students through a neighborhood of historically significant buildings that Henry Ford himself assembled as a vast outdoor museum of American history. Horse drawn carts, Model-T automobiles, and old fashioned bicycles were constantly in the background as students walked through the birth home of Henry Ford, the laboratories of Thomas Edison, the workshop of Wilbur and Orville Wright, and a courthouse where Abraham Lincoln practiced law. 

Professor Karnani received Ross teaching excellence awards in 1991, 2001, 2006, and 2007. He has held visiting appointments to teach in the MBA and executive development programs at universities throughout the world. Professor Karnani’s interests are focused on the basic question in strategic management: Why do firms succeed? He is also interested in global competition, particularly in the context of emerging economies. His recent research has focused on poverty reduction and the appropriate roles for the private sector, the state, and civil society.