Building better business leaders

May 9 2024

Professor Edward Buckingham and Assistant Professor Harriman Samuel Saragih.

The ability to anticipate problems is crucial to business success.

But what if effective leadership is not about possessing all the answers but cultivating an environment where solutions flourish?

“We tend to think that our leaders already know all the answers, but the reality is they don’t,” said Professor Edward Buckingham, Program Director of Monash University Indonesia's Master of Business Innovation (MBI).

“The burden of leadership is impossible if we, as colleagues, remain problem-centric; what leaders need is for people to step up with solutions. Solutions are, in effect, options that facilitate choices and strategic leadership.”

This solution-oriented philosophy is the foundation principle of the MBI and more recently, a pioneering collaboration between Monash University Indonesia and pharmaceutical giant Kalbe Farma.

This collaboration recently earned Prof Buckingham, and the program’s co-creator and MBI Assistant Professor Harriman Samuel Saragih, a 2023 Monash Business School Dean’s Award for Industry and Communication.

Shared vision takes root

The seeds of the partnership were sown in late 2021, according to A/Prof Saragih.

“Kalbe representatives approached us to discuss designing a professional development program for their employees,” A/Prof Saragih said.

The initial talks ignited a year of planning, leading to the launch of the partnership's flagship initiative, the General Management Program (GMP), in April 2023.

The executive education program blends academic rigour with practicality using the Minto method – a framework developed by former McKinsey consultant Barbara Minto to concisely articulate problems and communicate solutions with precision and clarity.

The GMP learning objective? To empower Kalbe employees with management frameworks and a solution-oriented mindset.

“Ultimately, success for us is when our students become solution-centric thinkers, so that, whenever they encounter a problem, they are able to develop alternative solutions based on theories and practice,” A/Prof Saragih said.

Throughout the program, participants engaged in intensive in-class sessions and group mentoring, culminating in a high-pressure pitching day where Dr Buckingham joined Kalbe's Board of Directors and Commissioners to evaluate the team pitches.

The winning group embarked on a week-long benchmarking expedition to Melbourne, facilitated by the Business School, School of Pharmacy, Alliance for Digital Health at Monash, and the Australian Indonesian Business Council. The trip provided opportunities to engage with prominent academics, industry, and government.

Building lasting partnerships

A/Prof Saragih said for Kalbe, the impact of the program had been remarkable, resulting in strategies to expand its medical device solutions, vaccine development, and natural product innovation.

“The company has also adopted our approaches to solutions-centric thinking across its management systems,” he said.

With discussions underway for a second iteration, the program is poised for further expansion.

“We are very keen to continue collaborating with Kalbe to further this program,” he said.

Dr Buckingham said the engagement with Kalbe was an important development for the university.

“It sets a precedent for other important corporate relations, such as the one we are developing with PLN - Indonesia’s state electricity commission,” he said.

“PLN has enrolled 30 students at Monash Indonesia for their MBI, and upon graduating, they will proceed to study for their Masters in Engineering in Australia in 2025.”

The resounding success of the GMP has garnered widespread acclaim and won the prestigious 2023 Dean's Award for Industry and Community Education Programs.

“This recognition not only reflects my commitment but also underscores the importance of our collective efforts to enhance the Indonesian business landscape,” A/Prof Saragih said.

“This accolade motivates me to continue striving for excellence in our mission to foster innovation and sustainable growth within the industry.”