2011-04-26, 12:00 | Link #42 |
Moving in circles
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Singapore
Age: 49
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It's ironic that I find [C], which plays fast and loose with its faux financial concepts, more entertaining than Moshidora, which actually takes management seriously.
Put me among the others who found this episode bland. That said, I do hope that's just because the payback will come later in the series. If the Economist article that Tempester referenced is anything to go by, the actual book on which this anime is based was apparently a hit in Japan, so I am very curious to see why. To me, it takes a stretch to see how business management relates to high-school baseball-team management. By that, I don't mean that the same basic principles do not apply, but rather that I would think it takes more than just sound management to forge a winning sports team. Incidentally, despite being a business graduate, I confess I never actually read Peter Drucker, though I did study some of the topics he wrote about through other writers. Michael Porter's thoughts about gaining and keeping competitive advantage were more to my interest (and possibly even more directly relevant to sports management!), I'm afraid. That said, this episode's "thought exercise" was actually a pretty good example of stakeholder analysis. Minami got it right towards the end when she realised that, if one were to think very broadly, a baseball team's customers include not just all of its audience and sponsors, but also its members. And it's common sense, of course, that the more aligned each member's goals are, the more motivated a team would be, overall. And, naturally, it's also a lot easier to crystallise an organisation's "mission statement" once you've made clear what every stakeholder wants out of it. Problem is, so what? I've never found such analysis to be useful in practice. It's a given that, within any organisation, there will be competing goals. And, in the end, there will almost always be a need for a charismatic individual to champion a single objective that everyone will follow, grudgingly or not. Without such decisive leadership, an organisation can find itself endlessly stuck in "soul-searching" mode, much to its detriment. Still, I wish Minami the best possible luck! |
2011-04-26, 12:24 | Link #43 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
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Wow. A fellow business school grad.
I rarely felt the urge to comment on any anime series, but I will make an exception for this one. I have an advanced degree from a business school (and have read Drucker... for fun), I found that the points touched upon in EP1 are relevant and useful in many areas. I have personally witnessed how integrity and transparency can transform the entire organization (my department). Without them, no one will buy into the leader's objective. When I was a graduate student, my adviser was appointed as chair of the department I was in. He had no managerial experience, but he led with integrity. He brought all faculty members on board with his vision and objectives. After that, he set out to market our department to donors who would give us money. Needless to say, due to my personal experiences, I am very impressed with this series. But for many other viewers, I can see that the content and the message are both foreign and uninteresting. |
2011-04-26, 12:29 | Link #44 |
Yuuki Aoi
Join Date: Jul 2004
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"Rather bland" is a good description. I enjoyed it -- but maybe not as much as I had hoped. It is a good sign, however, that I enjoyed it more the second time I watched it.
Maybe it helps that I am interested in management -- a fascinating thing both to do and to learn about: how to help people work together and succeed. I think good management can make a huge difference in how well people are able to express, combine, and focus their talents. So I'm not really a doubter (at least for anime purposes) in the premise of the story. Like ipodi, I've had experience of seeing people buy in and work well when they are led with honesty, with respect for their knowledge and opinions, and with as much openness as possible. No mushrooms. I liked Hikasa Youko's voice here as Minami (she's Mio in K-On). Very plain and strong and straightforward, somehow appropriate for the character. Hyocchi herself was apparently a very good softball player all through high school.
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2011-04-26, 13:55 | Link #45 |
Bittersweet Distractor
Join Date: Nov 2007
Age: 32
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Well this series is airing pretty much an episode a day for two weeks, so perhaps the slow pace will be appreciated at some point, since this is going to go by quite fast.
However I also am skeptical of applying Peter Drucker's methods to a baseball team , but we'll see.
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2011-04-26, 14:51 | Link #47 | ||
sleepyhead
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Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: event horizon
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How many episodes is it?
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2011-04-26, 18:42 | Link #49 |
Seishu's Ace
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Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Kyoto, Japan
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Premiere was interesting. It's an extremely odd premise, obviously, and presented in an extremely odd format. The questions Minami (via Drucker) asks aren't ones you normally ask about baseball, but strangely relevant. I respect any series that can make you look at something extremely familiar in a new way.
But interesting in not entertaining, and on that score the jury is still out. It was hardly riveting, and none of the characters really popped. Will any of the guys develop as something more than props? Will the fascinating concept pick up some dramatic imperative? Given the 10-day broadcast schedule we won't have to wait long to find out.
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2011-04-26, 19:27 | Link #50 |
Osana-Najimi Shipper
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Mt. Ordeals
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Second episode already? Wow didn't expect that.
So a new episode everyday for the this week and next not counting the weekend? Well, considering how slow everything is, I'd say that's a good thing else people will lose interest. And 16:52, it was Minami who gave Jirou's glove... D'aww. ^_^ God I'm a hopeless shipper lol. :Heh:
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2011-04-26, 23:13 | Link #54 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
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Once again, the people who worked on this anime nailed another important issue facing the management- clear communication. Think about how various governments are trying to convey the reality and danger of climate change but people continue to have difficulties understanding the science behind it, leading to increase skepticism about its reality.
I think viewers can get a lot of mileage out of this show if they are not expecting romance and/or baseball drama. |
2011-04-26, 23:56 | Link #55 | |
Yuuki Aoi
Join Date: Jul 2004
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@ars89 -- I infer/guess that Minami came to hate baseball when she was no longer allowed to play, or when the boys got so much bigger than her that she was ineffective. And I think that Yuki is her friend: she called Yuki's mother "auntie," which could mean she was her real aunt, but is the normal way of referring to a friend's mother, or to any woman somewhat older than you.
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2011-04-27, 04:51 | Link #56 | ||
I disagree with you all.
Join Date: Dec 2005
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2011-04-27, 06:05 | Link #57 |
Me, An Intellectual
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: UK
Age: 33
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Episode 2.
I just can't get into it. I mean I actually paused 6 minutes in to watch Koi Sento (drugs would've been cheaper) and then went back to it and stopped 3 minutes later. I just can't get into it.
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2011-04-27, 06:12 | Link #59 |
Kana Hanazawa ♥
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: France
Age: 37
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I can see where this is going now. The team does have a lot of issues (some minor, some a little more important) that you wouldn't notice at first glance. Minami's job will be to help them overcome them, as well as act as a mediator (or interpreter) between the coach and the team. I like the characters so far: the seemigly cold but thoughtful coach, the shy and lonely co-manager, the sensitive pitcher, the lovely Yuki (I wouldn't be surprised if one of the guys joined the team for her ), ...
I'm glad Kana-chan wasn't typecasted and was given Yuki's role instead of Ayano's.
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2011-04-27, 06:20 | Link #60 | |
I disagree with you all.
Join Date: Dec 2005
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baseball, drama, production i.g. |
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