Monday, July 26, 2010

Management Education: Look for Differentiators in Choosing your College




The Telugu Version of this article @ Eenadu : http://www.eenadu.net/chaduvu/chaduvuinner.asp?qry=topstory1




Management Education
Look for Differentiators to make difference to your career


As on today we have many MBA colleges across AP and in India. While we compete in the Population we do also compete in generating number of MBA/PGDBM courses across the State/India. The key differentiator for any body to take-up an MBA program would be after their work experience.

Ingredients of Choosing a Business School:


Today every college has built what is called “can be built…and no differentiator”…. but the differentiator in your success is purely the application of their knowledge to practice your career. Check for that USP(Unique Selling Proposition) which would become your USP for a great CAREER. We shall discuss about the various Ingredients that one should check before opting for a Management Institute:

Affiliation:

The students should be aware of the differences in various programs/degrees offered by Institutes in outside world. Corporate would only look for the value that they bring to the organisation in improving their business. Lets review some of the types of Affiliations from Students perspective and how they are useful.

University Affiliation: All the courses, which are built, based on University framework would have been well thought out and designed by academicians… These are the programs, which are useful for your career progression in terms of number of years of study as your progress. These programs have strict norms to be followed for delivering the framework provided by the university they are affiliated. Student would go through an almost a similar sort of exposure in such institutes.

AICTE Approved & Independent: On the other hand the PGDM courses which are approved by the AICTE as an independent body would have the ingredients of best school provided the investment is done in right direction to create a differentiation. All the IIM’s Offer PGDBM/PGP programs are government institutes having the autonomy with recognition for various higher studies. You would find a lot of flexibility in conducting an AICTE approved course and changes from college to college.

Not under The above framework: On the other hand ISB to start of is not affiliated Institute like above but the top 10 Management Schools in the world.. . not a small achievement.... however, their association and the expertise levels are far superior to any other business school in India. These are institutes, which are made for people who do not need any affiliation, as they would have achieved certain level in the organisations. The average experience of 7 years would make them only look for the best of the brains to interact and stimulate them intellectually to apply their knowledge. That is what an not affiliated in the academic framework should give to the students which the students would have gone through at least 5 years of best of their corporate life. There are many Institutes in India who are not affiliated to any University or AICTE/Govt approved like IIM’s… fresher’s with just graduation should avoid to make sure that you are better off without it.

The following key points are highlighted along with the differentiated factor for each of you to evaluate in the light of creating a great career. You may want to choose the order based on your opinion and advise from learned/knowledge sources would help you to define your future. Check for each of the following key factors for your decision making on an institute:

Key 1 : Student (You) :

The Change comes from with you and within…… The key for success of any individual is to get the RETURN on INVESTMENT in your Management Education. This is not purely because of the money that you invested, its purely how sincerely and dedicated invested your TIME too. Assessing one own self and inculcate the habits of

Differentiator: Management education is all about application, its only possible for students who constantly put in their untiring efforts in practicing the principles of management as they breath in and Breath Out. The key ingredient, which would, helps to look for the diverse backgrounds of the Students intake.

Key 2: Institutional Promoters & Credentials:

Most important for any management school is the ability and attitude of the management to invest in the Student. Not necessarily in Infrastructure but in your overall development making you a business-oriented person and taking you close to the reality of the business.

Differentiator:

The diversity and the credentials of promoters/In charge in various Businesses would help your gain that advantage as natural as your breathing. The promoters and head of institute who can stimulate a thinking process to help the ground up of any business.


Key 3: Faculty :

Important Ingredient, which makes all the difference of making you, enrich with what you gain. All the institutes would follow certain norms in terms of recruitment of faculty under the guidelines of govt./affiliating body. The profile and experience of faculty is of great importance in grooming you. The larger the experience in Academic and Industry the better the expected outcomes for your investment of life’s precious time.

Differentiator:

The more experienced with the industry the faculty, the best that you can get during your course. Industry experienced faculty make you Industry Ready product. The Diversity of the faculty from various Industries, Countries, cultures and Continents would add immense value.


Key 4 : Alumni:

The student alumni are the one who can speak volumes about the quality of Institute. The stronger the institute’s Alumni network the better you are aware of the situation outside your school. They would help you in teaching what would make a difference when you move out to build a career.

Differentiator:
The Number of Alumni come back to college to give back makes a great difference. The more number of guest faculties from your alumni would create role models live. The active the Alumni network the better it is.


Key 5: Placements:

The business school should be in a position to build you as an independent Enterprenuer first and worker/job holder later…. The most and only thing generally looked by students and advertised by the Institutes is the PLACEMENTS. However the best never focus on Placement as selling point. However, Placement record is an other yardstick for you to choose the Institute.

Differentiator:

The more entrepreneurs that the college generated with the help of Venture/Private equity companies, or created an environment of Financial support through mentoring the best brains in the Industry is the key differentiator. The more % age of people opt to be independent is the indication of business like grooming. However the %age of jobs offered could come in next.


Key 6 : Infrastructure :

Infrastructure is important to the extent it would help you to practice yourself. Just going by the rosy picture of great glass buildings, ultramodern presentation material, A/C rooms, Library, Laptop Free doesn’t just help unless they are all put to practice and build a sense of Humility. What industry is all about on the ground and zero level to start career… as you don’t serve the customers the way you are treated by the Infrastructure. Focus on an Infrastructure promotes sense of belongingness and pride in delivering a great career.

Differentiator:

Business Like environment promoting customer interface. Is the college close proximity to the Industry? Can it attract the best of the Industry brains without hardship of long travels for vacations? The infrastructure to include provides facilities to spend more time to work on assignments and industry interface.

However it’s not just the Infrastructure at college that adds value, but also your own quest for learning more when you are out of the college. Your personal computer and Internet can do a lot for your development. Doesn’t mean that you need to have your own, but at least a pool with your good friends.


Key 7: Management Development Programs:

The internal capacity of the Institute to build and run management Development Programs for Industry would make a lot of difference. This shows the capability in action of the Faculty at the Institute.

Differentiator:
The Faculty drawn from the Industry attracts best of the participants who would visit the Institute. The alumni of such programs are not only the word of mouth for the Institute but the hiring influencers for placement.


ABSOLUTE Differentiators:

Research & Publication Capability:


Management education is all about knowledge addition with application. The research helps in taking the essence of the business and summaries the finding for your knowledge addition. There are various institutes who have a separate wing for Research and lot of efforts/time/money is invested to bring about Publications. This would directly help the student to use the capability.


Industry Consulting Assignment:

This is a key differentiator directly… the more industry consulting assignments done by the Faculty the more your get back. They incubate the thoughts that are generated by the business and stimulate your thought process. You can enquire and learn more about the Industry Consulting to make sure that you are in safe hands.

Incubating Future Talent @ Campus:

There is lot of initiatives taken by Institutes currently to bring the Industry at the doorsteps to benefit the Students and ultimately help the Industry hands on. It is benefit to the industry to incubate their own talent.

Industry Back-Office @ Campus:

Think of Creating an ERP lab in association with an organisation at college and guided by an Industry expert from that Company. A sales back office to help in creating the market information and sales calls with appointment fixing would be a great value to an organisation. A HR back office which helps in creating Recruitment, Employee Relation back office created at Academic setup. Look for any infrastructure created with the help of Industry and affiliation.

Look for these initiatives by the Institute, which would create an environment of practice right under your seat.

Time allowed spending @ Industry:

Second most important thing an Institute could provide is to allow as much time as you can spend at the Industry. Look for the time allocated for the Industry oriented projects during your admission. The more beyond 50% of your time spent @ Industry would help you to gain from the practice.



Student to keep in mind always is “ If you have got a great rank or not to get into a college, All that matters from now on is your Focus and ability to extract the best out of your 2 years life invested”

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