META-Skills

Define, Learn, Design, Lead, Execute

Define
The IBIS graduate defines — uncovers — the right problem to solve or opportunity to pursue and frames it in a way that invites creative solutions. His starting point can be an issue that’s already been identified such as a decrease in sales, poorly performing employees, disruptors entering the market, rise in customer complaints, technological developments, gap in own knowledge or skills etc.. It can also be the discovery of a development, issue or opportunity through alertness and scrutiny of the environment (macro and micro) or just a ‘hunch’. The Business Innovator collects problem-related knowledge to define the scope of the ‘problem’: contextual information, environmental information, historical information, information regarding the end user and (business constraints), on an international scale. He applies multiple perspectives and empathic skills to his observations, questionings and investigations, continuously suspending judgment. He watches how people or end users behave and interact with their environment, with others, with products and services. He also observes physical spaces and places in order to identify contextual and environmental factors that shape user experience. He engages with and listens carefully to people in order to determine the end users’ (hidden) needs, underlying motivations, beliefs, values, preferences and aversions.

Design
The International Business Innovator develops ethically sound solutions that can better meet the end users’ needs and that generate value for the end users. These solutions can take the form of concepts, products, services, strategies, business model, processes, a whole business (department) or his own learning process, depending on the problem that is in need of a solution. Based on a meaningful and actionable problem statement, the IBIS graduate generates a vast variety of ideas on possible solution paths in collaboration with others (multidisciplinary). He has a large number of creative techniques at his disposal which he can use flexibly. In a constantly iterative process, the Business Innovator combines, expands and refines ideas, eventually bringing the most useful ones to a more detailed level, visualizing and objectifying them. He is comfortable with experimentation and trial-anderror ways of working. The IBIS graduate is capable of developing a schedule, HR-planning, budget / funding approaches and work methods that fit the (unpredictable innovation) process.

Execute
The IBIS graduate executes a variety of (specialist) activities as part of the running business. For instance, activities can include sales / customer relationship activities, purchasing, preparing (job) advertisements, conducting job interviews, preparing financial reports, producing a corporate brochure / website, conducting training sessions, dealing with suppliers and manufacturers (also abroad), performing tasks in a (international) project, doing financial calculations, dealing with the press etc. He implements and executes the designed concepts, products, services, experiences, business model, processes, strategy, business and/or department, as well as his own learning process. This implementation goes beyond writing implementation plans. He actually performs the tasks involved in the implementation, by himself or in a team, but always in-context; as part of the bigger whole of the organization or department and with attention to detail and legal aspects. He is capable (and willing) to work in accordance with plans, budgets and methods, but also knows when deviating from them is called for and has the courage to come up with new methods ‘on the fly’ if necessary. Networking, collaborating, negotiating and communicating, across departmental, organizational and national boundaries and cultures, are a crucial part of his daily activities. He is aware of the importance and relevance of his activities for the larger whole of the organization (mission, strategy, goals, operations) and can navigate this interdependency. His clear understanding of what customers, vendors and suppliers want is apparent in all his actions. He has a very strong and keen sense of timing and most favorable execution methods in any given situation; he is a master at aligning market developments, technological developments and products.

Learn
The Business Innovator continuously monitors his (learning) actions, activities and results. He doesn’t wait until a process, task or activity is finished to evaluate it, but reflects on the appropriateness, efficiency and effectiveness before, during and after performing them. In his evaluation he takes the bigger picture into consideration; actions and results that are good at the micro-level might not be for the organization as a whole. He is able to assess actions and results in the here and now as well as their ‘fit’ with the future that was envisioned. He is very familiar with iteration; he knows that the ‘right’ or ‘best’ answer hardly ever presents itself the first time around, but that he arrives at an answer by continuously analyzing, evaluating, testing and reflecting and by sparring with others. He is aware of the fact that sometimes one needs to adjust to the context and sometimes one needs to adjust the context itself. The IBIS graduate uses analysis as well as his common sense and the ‘wisdom of the crowd’ to evaluate and assess ideas, concepts, products, actions, services, processes, strategies. He is willing to fail and learn important lessons from his failures.

Lead
The IBIS graduate has profound knowledge of how business works. In general terms like business, management & organization theory, as well as specific terms like the business the organization is in. The IBIS graduate also understands what customers, vendors and suppliers want. He manages people, action, information and himself, whether in a managing position or not. He motivates the people in his multicultural and multidisciplinary team to do the best job they are capable of doing. He is an effective teacher / coach to his team members and knows how to push the right buttons on everyone to make them want to perform at their best and achieve goals. He leads and performs by example. He is capable of taking on different roles in a team; leading in some instances and being lead in others, actively taking part in different stages of the innovation process. The Business Innovator is an effective communicator: selecting what information to share in which way, explaining what he and the organization want in ways that make sense to employees. He also really listens to his team members. He is not afraid of asking for or even demanding input, commitment and effort from his people and manages conflicts in an appropriate and respectful way. He recognizes the difference between where the team is and where it is going and makes decisions accordingly: planning, prioritizing and facilitating the execution of necessary actions by his team. The IBIS graduate understands his own needs and characteristics, the needs of the organization / team and the needs and characteristics of each employee / team member. He represents his team and their needs with higher management and manages expectations both ways. He is capable of dealing with the integration of huge amounts of information and performing ‘on the run’. He has the stamina and resilience to deal with failure, resistance, delays and postponements. He stays fit and adopts stress-reduction strategies to cope with the pressures of his job.