31st Week@XIMB

31st Week-  8th January to 14th January 2012

8th January: A busy day in the assignments.

There was a public lecture by Prof Norman Uphoff, Director, Cornell Institute for Public Affairs (CIPA) and Professor of Government and International Agriculture on “Public Policy Opportunities for Food Security (and Poverty Reduction) in a Climate-Stressed World: Building Upon Our Learning from Agroecology and SRI (system of rice intensification ).” There was a headband of "JAI SRI" (Joint Action Initiative on System of Rice Intensification). The students of the 3 Continent Global Management Program also attended

The System of Rice Intensification, assembled in Madagascar over a 20-year period and gaining application internationally since 2000. As per my knowledge, PRADAN started introducing SRI in rainfed areas of the Eastern Gangetic Plains in 2003. He stressed the point of diminishing return obtained in the genetic input and external input after few seasons of cultivation.

9th January: There was only one lecture on IRV (Introduction to Risk and Valuation). I was amazed to know that the Ph.D. guide of our Prof. is Dr. Kirit S. Parikh. He stressed the fact that nothing is interesting if you're not interested and preparing the question paper of any subject can give you command over it. I was introduced to the concept of the time value of money.

- Microeconomics is only a tool of decision-making in the text of consumers, firms, and markets.

- Each of the people sitting in the class has a different opportunity cost, hence the unique ability to differ in decision making.

10th January: Only one lecture on REPP (Rural Enterprise and Public Policies). He gave high regard to P Sainath. He raised the point that despite so many successes, India's rural-urban divide is terrifying. As Amartya Sen warns in his address to the 93rd Indian Science Congress in Hyderabad, India's future "cannot be one that is half California and half sub-Saharan Africa". South Africa and Brazil have economic inequalities within their social structure but now India is also joining their ranks. All thanks to the wrong economic and political policies of the Indian government.

The concept of Gap Year College was told by him. An interesting concept read by me in the blog of Rashmi Bansal. Ending today with a quote for an engineer  -

"And somewhere there are engineers

Helping others fly faster than sound.

But, where are the engineers

Helping those who must live on the ground?"

-- Young Oxfam Poster

11th January: A lot of classes were canceled.

When you feel that the film industry is always a place of people with no art, culture, or political interest. The stereotype is wrong. Surprised to see the talk of Mansoor Khan who was talking about sustainability and growth. For those who aspire for a career change, purpose in life and trying to make sense of this insane world, he sets a glaring example.

TEDxYouth@Chennai - Mansoor Khan - The Third Curve.

Mansoor Khan is known to the country as the director of Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak and Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander. Despite being a success in Bollywood, he moved with his family to Coonoor where lives on a 22-acre organic cheesemaking farm. Alumni of IIT-Madras, he went on to study at Cornell University and then, MIT, USA.

12th January: There was the first lecture on CMIB (Community Mobilisation & Institution Building). There is a proposed discussion of Swades, Manthan, and Chak De India in the course outline. I am excited about the movies especially Manthan. Manthan was a 1976 Hindi film made by Shyam Benegal, based on a story written jointly by Verghese Kurien and director Shyam Benegal.

Professor of OM (Operations Management)  started with few quotes that were so precise and accurate.

“I never teach my pupils; I only attempt to provide the conditions in which they can learn.” ― Albert Einstein.

“If you think your teacher is tough, wait until you get a boss. He doesn't have tenure.”      ― Bill Gates.

"Freedom makes a huge requirement of every human being. With freedom comes responsibility. For the person who is unwilling to grow up, the person who does not want to carry his own weight, this is a frightening prospect.” ― Eleanor Roosevelt.

I heard the first time about the triple bottom line (abbreviated as TBL or 3BL). As per the economist (magazine), behind it lies the same fundamental principle: what you measure is what you get, because what you measure is what you are likely to pay attention to. Only when companies measure their social and environmental impact will we have socially and environmentally responsible organizations.

Never know about any business model till this class. Learned about one today. For example, one of the initiatives in the business excellence movement is a framework known as the TBEM (Tata Business Excellence Model). TBEM assesses core aspects of business operations: leadership, strategic planning, customer focus, measurement, analysis and knowledge management, workforce focus, process management, and business results. Read more on the Tata group website.

13th January: MR (Marketing Research) class started with two lectures back to back. A lot of stuff about social networks and content analysis is still there to learn.

OM (Operations Management) class is becoming full of new information and jargon. One article on strategy was given to us for reading. What Is Strategy? by Michael E. Porter. Source: Harvard Business Review, 21 pages. Publication date: Nov 01, 1996. The author argues that operational effectiveness, although necessary to superior performance, is not sufficient, because its techniques are easy to imitate. In contrast, the essence of strategy is choosing a unique and valuable position rooted in systems of activities that are much more difficult to match.

14th January: CMIB lecture was focused on the definition and characteristics of the community. I was thinking about our Cinephile society that emerged as Cine Darbaar now. My head was revolving around the talk, dreams, and vision of realistic and indie cinema. I was able to appreciate the necessity of social capital and the need for regular interaction for vibrancy in the community.

Prophesy is a good line of business, but it is full of risks. - Mark Twain. Any guess for mentioning this quote. I was reading about forecasting in OM (Operations Management) class. We were assigned to find the concept of the Markov chain. Happy Weekend.

I talked today with one of the teachers about the quality of students at XIMB. The discussion was casual yet confidential in nature.

Sparsh: Development in a Trimester of rural management - 2...

Sparsh: Development in a Trimester of rural management - 2...: Continuing from the 1st part of the Development series in RM , I will move towards the 2nd part of the learning in the field of Rural Manag...

30th Week@XIMB

30th Week- 1st January to 7th January

1st January : This day was not any more significant than other days. A day worth utilized in reading book.

There is a different world that exist outside the college gate. Hence, jumping directly from the graduate college to B School for higher education is not a good idea. One should try a year off or career building in any industry, NGO etc. It always makes you wiser. I feel sorry for the few classmates who didn't show the inclination of growing as a mature person even now.

Passing over six months in MBA, I think pre work experience before a MBA is more useful rather than a fresher doing an MBA. There is a difference in the mindset of the Workex and freshers. It is a difference of maturity and vision. People with Work-Ex may be overqualified or unfit for certain type of the job, but they can manage things better due to their previous interaction with the outdoor environment.

Recently Department of Industrial and Management Engineering (IME) at IITK plans for a ‘no entry’ board for freshers. It is planning to close the doors for candidates who don’t have prior work experience. “The reason why such a decision is being deliberated over is because freshers lack practical knowledge and can’t visualise the responsibilities that come with a managerial position,” said Prof BV Phani, faculty of finance and entrepreneurship, IME. “Our objective is to provide students with the best possible management exposure/education so that they learn and understand the process. Students view the management programmes of IITs as secondary, as compared to the IIMs, and stop-gap arrangements. This has resulted in a disconnect between the students and faculty.”

2nd January : Whole day was spent in CTCRI for the preparation of the report.

A sarcastic cover letter written to Hiring Manager for a International Humanitarian Organization. I see remarkable and subtle similarity in our course program with the applicant.

There is a tussle to turn this course like postgraduate course of social work without paying attention to the students loan. Education is not only about academic learning and vision about students of the college, but also about ROI (Return of Investment) on the high course fees paid by each student here.

I bookmarked an interesting paper by Bernadette M. Wanjala and Roldan Muradian published in 2011. Can Big Push Interventions Take Small-scale Farmers out of Poverty? Insights from the Sauri Millennium Village in Kenya. CIDIN Working Paper 2011-1. Nijmegen: CIDIN.

Abstract: Using household survey data from Sauri Millennium village and propensity score matching methodology, this paper sought to analyze the impact of the Millennium Village Project (MVP) interventions on agricultural productivity and income. The results show a significant increase in agricultural productivity and an insignificant income effect, which can be attributed to small land sizes and over-reliance on agriculture. The results indicate the need to diversify economic activities and a revision of the assumptions on the relationship between productivity and income, on which the MVP, and many other rural development policies, rely on.

3rd January - The registration for the third trimester started today. There are lot of academic reports pending to be completed due to RLLE.

My respect for our Class Representatives (CRs) Gaurish and Saket had increased today. They are coping with administration (higher management) without adequate support from the students on the issues of missing SRM (Social Research Method) classes and introducing of OBL (Outbound Learning program) to RM. They are the real hero that our Rural Management program deserve, but most of our batch-mates don't even respect the duo right now.

We remember the leaders who always encourage and gave opportunity to make our own choices. I hope better sense prevail in the administration. The course choices, not the mandatory part of the curriculum define the decision making power of a student in the Business School. The policies of college must reflect the priorities of the students and industry rather than reinforcing the position of the faculty caught in wrap of timelessness. We all know that the absolutist conformity had always discouraged open inquiry and citizen dissent.

4th January - I was busy in CTCRI for preparing the RLLE report. I was surprised to know that people from other countries are waiting for out report.

‎5th January - I was busy whole day since there was visit of one company to the campus. Since, its a confidential matter, nothing much can be written in the public.

A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, formerPresident being felicitated by XIMB Director P.T. Joseph at Xavier Institute of Management in Bhubaneswar. He is at XIMB to interact with students on Thursday evening.— Photo: Ashoke Chakrabarty

He raised an important question and an oath for the students - "What will i be remembered for..??" and "Small aim is crime." I disagreed with the quest of legacy raised in the question and the ambition aspect of the oath. I was surprised to see myself disagreeing with such an eminent personality and even mine own role model. There is no crime in aiming small. May be I acted as a conservative & guardian of "Small is Beautiful" manifesto.

His talk focused on the importance of creative leadership for economic development, the relevance of sustainable development in the current global economic scenario, the implementation of PURA (Provision of Urban amenities in Rural areas) and his visualization of India in the year 2020. He is an inspiration source to us who wants to create a sustainable development model by mobilising the youth of the country.  He mentioned a website of the movement started by him - WHAT CAN I GIVE?  His full speech at XIMB campus can be read on his personal website.

I decided to be free again on the personal front. Happy New Year to me.

6th January - I had meeting with Fr. P T Joseph regarding EQ & Leadership course with group of other students. He had taken feedback with the student of the last six month. Few of us had courage to speak our minds while rest were silent spectators. The anger against administration or system may prosper in the hostels (and now social media) but it is a practical prospect outlining career path of achieving economic stability that decides the fate of any revolution inside college premiers. This led to the path of subservience and avoiding any clash with the administration regarding their own problems.

7th January -A day of rest and reconciliation. While I was having good time, continuous news of recession had created a pessimistic environment. Top B-Schools like IIMs, ISB expect fewer recruiters, fewer jobs and lower salaries this time . This news alarms the bad condition of the rest colleges and Indian economy. A college reputation in market depends on the capability to place its student with good package. The mettle of a college and its student came in limelight of these tough situation only.

I am not a job creator. Even while seeking a job, I believe in the long term prospects. Most people mistake the placement packages for success that are mere numbers . Through hard work and determination, one can balance these figures in the career. So, one should not let figures determine success. The whole scenario of cultivating job creators rather than job seekers is changing the landscape of India business. But it is long time to change mindset of an average student burdened with the loan for the risk of an entrepreneurship. Here is one step taken by TISS in the correct direction - School abolishes placements to push graduates to become entrepreneurs.

29th Week @XIMB

29th Week - 25th December to 31st December

25th December-  A day dedicated in the library for preparation of the upcoming exam.

There is an inspiring talk by Pradeep Kashayp, CEO & Founder, MART at a TEDx event at Hyderabad (on 'Creating an Endearing Organisation - The MART story'.



He been advocating entrepreneurship courses for the business school and I taught courses in XIM- Bhubaneswar in 1993 called ‘Start your own business’. XIMB was the second institution after IIMA which had this course. Now most of the B- schools have entrepreneurship courses.

MART had also developed 3M model that is an innovative approach to initiating micro enterprises based on the three tenets of micro finance, micro markets and micro planning.

I was also reading about legendary management thinker Peter Drucker. In a 1984 essay he persuasively argued that CEO pay had rocketed out of control and implored boards to hold CEO compensation to no more than 20 times what the rank and file made. What particularly enraged him was the tendency of corporate managers to reap massive earnings while firing thousands of their workers. "This is morally and socially unforgivable," wrote Drucker, "and we will pay a heavy price for it."

26th December- PROJM end trimester paper is over.

27th December- ITM end trimester paper is over.

News of the Day - Developed by XIMB, PRIASoft is a model accounting system that will be used for maintaining accounts at panchayat samiti and zilla parishad levels. One more feather in the cap of XIMB .....

28th December- MEARS end trimester paper is over. I read three impressive quotes while going through the study material provided by the faculty.

Creditors have better memories than debtors. - Benjamin Franklin.

How can you expect somebody who's warm to understand somebody who's cold ? - Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn in One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich.

'Inflation is like sin: every government denounces it and every government practises it.' - Sir Frederick. Leith-Ross, Observer 1957.

29th December- SRM end trimester paper is over. This website helped me a lot in understanding SRM. The question paper was difficult but good in the material.

30th December- RPLS end trimester paper is over. I was busy playing "Age of Mythology" till the morning of next day.

31st December- It was a hibernation day for me. With upcoming of the new year, I am not so enthusiastic in joining the bandwagon of the celebration.

One couplet dedicated to billion of honest Indians on the eve of new year !

‘मैंने अदब से हाथ उठाया सलाम को, समझा उन्होंने इससे है खतरा निजाम को।

चोरी न करें, झूठ न बोलें तो क्या करें, चूल्हे पे क्या उसूल पकाएंगे शाम को।’

- ‘अदम’

This was the the last week of 2011. A year of struggle, love, joy and failures had just completed and the journey to new experiences is awaiting me.

28th Week @XIMB

28th Week - 18th December to 24th December

18th December- I again visted to the same village with more bonding and enthusiasm. While talking to villagers, I was overwhelmed by their efforts to overcome difficulty of credit, regular income, irrigation and education.

Despair is frightening at this situation when you love the people but placed in the system you despair of. Farmers were poor but they were trying to cope their life with dignity and hope. They have been cheated on the development projects before and still they were helping us with full enthusiasm. They are to be admired not pitied.

The field part of RLLE was over. This one month experience was a memorable one. I felt strongly that the strength of India lies in the resilience of poor not the money power of Indian middle class. Without the support of such agricultural workforce, the great Indian middle class bubble would have busted long back.

I finished remaining day work and started journey for one day documentation on the tourist spot of Gopalpur beach. We reached pretty late in the night. Recalling his previous experiences at Pradan, MM told us about nature, trekking, development and sustainable livelihood schemes.

19th December- I walked in the morning on the beach over to 2 km enjoying morning breeze at the seashore. We started to document and draw a lot in much more detailed manner for project report early in the morning. We left to Bhubaneswar from Berhampur city bus station. It was a 5 hours journey covering 170 KM.

20th December- Our group of four visited Dr P.S.Sivakumar at CTCRI for taking feedback on the rough draft of our reports. He talked openly about exaggerated figures and planning aspect of Indian government. He was equally critical of the government bureaucracy and blind following of  Robert Chambers and Johannes Hubertus Den Van Broek by our academics in the field of rural development. I didn't agree with all but lack of faith in original homemade solution is an old age problem for India.

I also visited Toshali National Crafts Mela 2011 exhibiting near our college at Janata Maidan, Bhubaneswar. Incredible Odisha, Incredible India !!!

21st December- I was congratulated by Chandan Raut for the selection as an intern in State Disaster Management Authority of SGGPA during summer 2012. It was 12:02 AM in the morning. SGGPA (School of good governance and policy analysis) is situated at Bhopal, M.P.

I am waiting for the return of other students to listen their stories of rural India. There are dark circles around mine eyes and dark shade on the face. This tour has affected health little bit.

22nd December- IRMA results has been declared and this year cut off is quite low. People are inquiring a lot about XIMB RM 2012-2014. There is a fair of chance of having only 60 seats in PGDM-RM 2012-2014 batch as we are not shifting to new campus. The quality of entrants will be much better this time around due to entrance through IRMA/CAT/XAT.

I am paying a lot of money for this course – so focusing less on grades, and more on learning but there is no preparation of the 2nd Trimester examination and have fair chance to grab lower grades.

23rd December- I was talking to many guys returning from the rural hinterland of India with one month of experience. Lot of youths of our generation including me neither had any idea earlier and nor do we care how other people live and struggle for their daily livelihood. It was an eyeopener for all of us. In some cases, the prevailing corruption had killed the enthusiasm of mine colleagues interested in the developing Bharat. Most of us has our heart in the development but inadequate money and educational loan comes as major constraint early in the career.

While I may grudgingly respect the enemy, I have nothing but contempt for traitors. The pseudo development and bureaucratic forces have shown their corrupt nature in implementation of various schemes. We generally admit that there was lot of work done for the poor in the last twenty years due to Panchayati Raj, RTI and liberalization of Indian economy. Even the disparities between rich and poor has increased, a lot of fund has been made available for various government projects. And yes there is lot of need of rural managers and rural developers in the country.

One of our Professor had actually lived like a wanderer and stayed into the wild. He is a bit difficult customer for students but he has gained respect from me today.

24th December- There is a positive air in the batch and a lot of confidence after this one month of rural stay. There is sudden springing of maturity and professionalism among the individuals. There is nothing more satisfying than the growth of the peers and friends.

I read and even bookmarked a fantastic piece of article - What to do during your MBA ?