Dr. Masayuki Hirosue / BASF German global HQ / MBA student at Waseda Business School
[Profile] My name is Dr. Masayuki Hirosue and work at BASF German global HQ. During my 15 years professional life, BASF gave me several opportunities in research, scientific collaboration, business development, new business scouting, sales and technical marketing. I have worked in these areas both in Germany and globally. Since 2014, I have been responsible for global marketing, strategy, and product development in automotive fluids. This business is quite unique at BASF. The chemical industry is mainly focused on business to business. However, this unit has also provided B to C experience. I learned marketing on the job and through internal seminars and reading. In addition, I have also looked for opportunities to get academic overviews.Covid 19 has changed the program to an online format, I therefore joined the class in Japan from Germany.
1, Micro MBA has changed my mind set
Before the class, I was biased towards the value of the online training, but this changed immediately after the lecture from Prof. Maki.
He frequently asked the participants to provide opinion with phrasing “ why do you think so?, please elaborate it more details”. This triggered to change the depth of discussion level from casual surface chats to valuable productive discussions.
After first lesson, I brought my learning to my webex internal conference. When I moderated the web meeting, I encouraged colleagues to participate in the meeting as proactively as possible by using phrases such as “great idea, would you give me some more details ?” As a result of applying such motivating phrases, we have had very constructive and productive meetings.
2, “The second conditional approach” has helped to view topics from different angles.
The case study in the 4th class helped me to see the topic from a bird’s eye view as well as from the different angles.
My previous experience of “design and thinking” was mainly abstract.
However, this course has given “design and thinking” a very strong visual and tangible aspect.
As an example, debating in ZOOM during class encouraged me to guide a debate in a more concrete way.
Furthermore, I learned the importance of understanding opinions from different positions.
This “take-away” has already been implemented in my daily working life at BASF that I tactically ask myself :
• “If I were customer, how would I see the product?”
• “If I were in plant production manager, how would feel this product change?”
This “The second conditional approach”, which I gained during the class 4, helps to enhance communication. This directly results in positive boosts for each project.
3. Data from the past for innovation
During the class 2 and class 6, we were given an opportunity to learn “ how to use data/empirical study for innovation”. Both neuroscience and experience inspired me, but my key learning was that data is a summary of the past. If we want to innovate in future, we have to take action by referencing the past
Prof, Maki gave an equivalent comment during class 1 about “food car simulation”. “Market study can’t create sales” in food trucks. Action is required for creating sales !!
4. Take action
As a result of 6 classes, my brain is full of new knowledge. Now it’s time to take action!
《My boy also experienced the online school. Will online class become more and more popular in the future!?》
