MBA Blog: Innovation to Save an Industry

In her fourth blog published in Financial Times, current MBA student Monica Dee shares her experience of a study trip to Taiwan, where she created a business proposal aimed at reviving the market’s fading agricultural industry.

During the study trip, Dee and her classmates participated in lectures and case studies and visited businesses focused on cultural arts, creativity enterprises and technology ventures – all of which were arranged to provide them with the insights needed to conceptualise their main project for the trip.

The project was to create a business proposal for the agricultural business sector in Taiwan – the so-called water caltrop, which is a food crop similar to a chestnut but with a very distinct shape. Unfortunately, the industry is now slowly fading. Problems faced generally revolve around the product being unappealing and difficult to cultivate and process.

With bright minds and a good team effort, Dee’s team was able to come up with a great proposal, suggesting entirely new products derived from the water caltrop that related to a variety of business sectors… Read More (PDF)

Source: Financial Times
Date published: 20 January, 2015