SINCERE COMMITED AND SUCCESSFUL

In this issue of CULT, we bring to you the story of a couple who have been instrumental in the growth and success of the institute as we know it today. Both these individuals have been silent crusaders and have kept their focus and attention going which has helped them achieve success and create a legacy of excellence. Both Mr. Sandeep Ghosh and Ms. Shikha Ghosh give due credit to their teams and insist that any leader is only as good as his team. Another important factor for success in their opinion is the ability to innovate and create solutions out of problems. It is this innovative spirit that has taken helped them on numerous occasions and has created magic in most of what they touch. While Ms. Ghosh has been associated with almost each division of Planman consulting and IIPM, Mr. Ghosh has been the man behind the expansion and the growth of the institution. He has been instrumental in setting up the various branches that the institute has across the country and has been managing the smooth functioning and operation for years.

As both the leaders who we have featured in this issue have agreed that Innovation is key for business growth and wealth creation, the importance of innovation becomes even more evident in times of crisis. As most businesses grapple with the trying times and try to keep themselves afloat, it is the innovative spirit of the organization and its people that comes in for the rescue and helps the organisation save itself from the perils it is facing. It would be unwise to say that a slowdown impacts one functional area of a business more than the others, as the fact is that each function, be it marketing or finance or HR each have their own set of challenges to face and overcome in order to survive the downturn. These days, more and more organizations are waking up to the importance of understanding the HR implications on any strategy that they wish to implement, it becomes even more critical for the top management to see that the role of the HR department is not reduced to on only nodding in agreement at most of what is decided. The leaders of the HR function in an organization must also see themselves as change agents. And in this light they must “BE” the change that they want to see in their company. It is very impressive to see that most Indian corporate leaders have actually walked the talk and have lead by example. This leads me to believe that we are infact a starong and resilient bunch of professionals who have taken this slowdown as a time meant to reflect and rectify the mistakes that others have committed in the past. It also points to the fact that the Indian HR professional is mature and proactive and is better equipped today to handle situations like the current slowdown with greater ease and better results the next time over.

INSPIRE TO LEAD AND LEAD TO INSPIRE

For many, management education is complex and often thought of as a subject to be studied by a few enlightened souls. Management is taught the world over using a mix of both theoretical and practical lessons. Keeping this is mind, it becomes essential for a management teacher or instructor to carry real world live information into a classroom. In most b-schools in India, the trend of having industry professionals teach aspiring management professions is just about catching on. Most Business schools in India don’t have the bandwidth or the inclination to hire such people who can bring in these learning’s into a classroom. Internationally business schools encourage instructors to undertake researches so that they are in touch with the realities of the corporate world however in India the trend is almost non existent with most teachers not having actively worked in the business field. Often then, companies complain of the lack of practical insights that these management graduates have about the workings of business.

At the institute, our endeavor has always been to ensure that students get the best of learning at each step. All internal professors who teach at the institute are subject matter experts and are usually working on numerous research and consulting assignments with various organizations so that, what they teach at the institute is both relevant and current. The institute also draws on the experience of management professionals and has a large number of visiting or adjunct faculties who share their experiences with the students. These professors are encouraged to bring their real life case examples into the class and ensure a more comprehensive and holistic learning experience for the students.

In this issue of CULT, we have featured two luminaries who have been at the forefront of business leadership at Planman consulting and have always been at the front. Both these leaders have extraordinary people skills and manage people tactfully and both accept that it is the people of an organization which ensures growth for an organization and are the only true assets of the organization. Both Mr. Kaistha and Mr. Wadhwani are leaders who have understood the businesses that they are in and have innovated to beat the competition and stay ahead. During our conversations with them, they both accepted the fact that service delivery is critical to the success of any business as a satisfied client is a client who would give repeat business and yield better profitability for the organization.

Both Mr. Kaistha and Mr. Wadhwani have contributed to the organizations goals immensely and have been pillars of support for the organization over the years. Their contribution to the cause of taking management education to the next level is unparalleled. We have enjoyed speaking to these leaders and have been motivated by their energy levels and passion for their work and we hope to convey the same to our readers in the true spirit.

INSPIRING THROUGH PASSION AND CREATIVITY

I have often read and heard of a teacher being compared to a candle, one that spreads the light of education and removes darkness from the lives of the students who he touches. A good teacher is also a role model for many. He inspires by his passion and commitment and makes the students work hard to realize his true potential. In today’s times, it is the sincerity and passion of the teachers which makes a change in the life of the student under his tutelage. I have had the good fortune of having had some of the most brilliant and inspiring teachers, change my life. While at school, subjects are more structured and most educators follow syllabus strictly, at the graduation and post graduation levels, teaches move on to impact a student’s life more than ever. I feel it is also a time when an individual can and should develop a sense of thinking which is independent of any external pressure or influence. 

Both the individuals who have been featured in this issue of CULT have had that effect on me. One is a brilliant orator who inspired me to go beyond every boundary and stretch myself to limits that I thought I couldn’t touch, and the second is a dreamer who motivated me to dream and think beyond what was ordinary. While Professor Shubhoshekhar, taught us the importance of communication and the skill to speak publicly, Professor Prashanto made sure all of us looked beyond the visible concepts and question these paradigms. Both in their own ways made us independent thinkers, and that in my opinion, has been their biggest victory and also the biggest contribution that they have made to our lives. I have often seen teachers and educators fail in this simple yet fundamental duty of theirs. Most often we as teacher want our students to conform and not confront. This is maybe due to the fact that our society is such. We want youngsters to unquestioningly follow what is being told to them by seniors or society. In doing so we are killing the spirit of entrepreneurship and innovation and are dulling the brilliant minds that would have otherwise questioned norms and maybe even bettered them and made society much better than what it is today. 

It is the job of an educator to inspire his students to be independent and free thinking citizens of the corporate world. Anyone not doing this is not doing his job properly and should infact not be allowed to 

impact our country’s future and harm the development of students. Today the only critical differentiator is infact the delivery of the course or the pedagogy, given as it is that curriculums are widely standardized and regulated to ensure quality. In light of all the above, I feel it is necessary for us to have an new breed of educators who are not afraid to set their students free instead of binding them in the shackles of conventional methods.  

“CHANGE AGENTS AND VALUE CREATORS”

In this issue of CULT, we have featured two stalwarts of the IIPM fraternity who have gone on to build systems and organizations that have added value and in the true sense of it created value and benefits for the group. They have been instrumental in setting up businesses and have collaborated to create magic for the organization. Both these individuals who on the outside are so very different work perfectly in synchronization like a well oiled machine and deliver time and time again. They inspire people all around and create magic in all that they touch. Such is the charisma of these people that they continue to inspire alumni of the institute who have long left the institution. 

While Prof Naveen Chamoli is a dynamic individual with an infectious smile and equally infectious energy, Prof Sourav Chatterjee inspires you with his knowledge and wisdom. During our interaction with them, we realized the fact that IIPM is perhaps the only institution in the world which brings about such a huge amount of change in the students that join us every year. It is this knowledge that gives me the confidence of knowing that we indeed are a unique and truly life changing institution. If one were to see the quantum of change that is visible in each and every student who leaves the campus, one would truly appreciate the magic that education is able to bring about in people. This change in my opinion is “Value”, one that is created for the individuals as well as the community and the country they live in.

When I was a student of IIPM, I had often heard my professors talk of value creators and change agents. I used to often wonder as to how these people would work, given the fact that you could only change so much. I was pleasantly surprised recently when I met one such individual who continues to bring about change and in the real sense of the word creates value. I was amazed at the simplicity of this awe inspiring individual and perhaps for the first time realized the fact that one doesn’t to be complex himself to solve complex problems or even to create complex solutions. All it takes is a simple mind and a straight approach to problem solving. Over the last few years I have seen such seemingly complex problems being solved simply by using the right approach. It is the knowledge of this right approach that is critical to the success of most businesses, and most often people fail to see it. It is this right approach or common sense that is taught in most business schools. Some pepper it with complex sounding names and puzzle the students, while other who are more honest to the cause take the approach of calling a spade a spade. Regardless of the approach if the outcome in both the scenarios is the same then in my opinion all is not lost. We can be assured of the fact that the next generation of managers who are coming of out these b schools will infact create value for the organizations that they work in and also for India as a country.  

TAKING THE WORLD BY STORM

In this issue of CULT, we bring to you the stories of some of our international alumni who are doing well for themselves. It has been our endeavour to document the success of our alumni and to celebrate their triumphs so as to share their happiness and inspire everyone at the institute.  During the course of our interactions, we have found these alumni to be strong and independent individuals who have persevered and constantly challenged the limits to do better than what was expected. Each and every one of these stories has inspired us tremendously and each interaction has left us with a greater appreciation of the struggles that these people have faced. These interactions have also enriched us and taught us the value of the human spirit and its ability to go on regardless of the hurdles or obstacles that come in the way. As we document the trials and tribulations of some of these individuals who have carved a niche for themselves in the International markets, we realize the impact that IIPM as an institution has made not just in the Indian markets but also in the international arena. Each year the institute places hundreds of students in international markets and they start their career at a platform where the others might take time to get to. It is this unique advantage that allows these internationally placed students to then take their careers to dizzying heights. In its endeavour to get students international job opportunities, the institute has found huge success with leading corporation form the world over becoming repeat recruiters at the campus. These leading organizations that recruit IIPM’s talent are testimony to the fact that the institution provides world class and cutting edge education to its students and develops them into competent global managers and leaders.  

Also in this issue, we have also featured two of the most inspiring and exemplary leaders of our institute who have gone beyond the call of duty to leave an indelible mark on IIPM as an Institution. Both these ladies Prof. Rajita Chaudhuri and Prof. Arundhati Banerji are classic examples of the vision that IIPM has for its students and the society at large. Their dedication, passion, steely resolve and commitment to the cause of taking the IIPM revolution to the next level leaves no doubt in one’s mind about the changes that they have brought about in the institution. Both these leaders who are also role models for a huge number of women have managed multiple roles and have emerged as winners in each of these domains have shown the power of women to the world. They wear a number of hats being mothers, teachers, administrators, strategists and a lot more and are equally committed and successful at each one of these roles. Every student who has attended their classes at the institute swears by them and fondly remembers their classes as being the most engaging and informative. We at CULT, salute the resolve and commitment shown by these ladies and hope that they continue to inspire us and the whole IIPM community and go on doing the wonderful and awe inspiring work that they are currently doing.  

INNOVATION THE NEED OF THE HOUR

Innovation it is said has been at the forefront of driving technological advancements across industrial nations for a good part of this century. Almost all that we value today is a result of this complex yet simple process of thinking outside the box. So what exactly does one mean when one says that innovation will drive growth and development in the future. What does innovation mean , does it mean streamlining process and systems so that they deliver more , or does it mean doing something differently in order to achieve more. Interestingly, I think it means both these and, maybe even more . Innovation in my opinion is a way to achieve a goal faster , better and maybe even cheaper. Many people confuse it to be something that is complex and often confounding. I might sound naïve in saying so but in my opinion it might not necessarily be that. Infact it might actually be something simple and basic. One of the most important enablers for innovation is the ability to think differently and that in my opinion is the real stumbling block that most people face today. As managers most of us are not programmed to think creatively and therefore we fail to innovate while at work. We simply see systems and processes in the same light as most others and are therefore not able to bring about that change or innovate. What we desperately need today is a breed to fresh young energetic and fearless managers who will literally go beyond and in the process innovate . Business schools need to play a very critical role in this process by building capacity in the fresh managers to see beyond and bring about change. Unfortunately most schools have not been able to do that in the past and therefore have failed in delivering value to the nation. Some schools have tried to do their bit in terms of ensuring that students atleast know about the process of innovation, but I think they have not been able to do anything substantial on that front. It is therefore imperative for schools to undertake this as the next big challenge and contribute towards the growth and development of industry in India.  Learning by rote has often been the objective of the school system in india. This needs to change as it is detrimental to the cause that we need to work towards. Schools have paid too much attention to the fact most lessons must be learned and then used to the benefit of the learner. In my opinion, this does not work as what I experience often stays longer with me than what I have merely read or studied. In order for creative thinking to become a process and a habit, all parties to the process will need to commit. The B-schools teaching management, the professors delivering the content and most importantly the students who received this new and innovative pedagogy. Even if one part of these three sides of the process was to renegade on its commitment, the process would fail . Therefore the change needs to be inclusive and must necessarily have the Buy-In of all parties concerned.

MARKET READY MANAGERS...

The ultimate objective of a management institution should be to provide market ready and employable business graduates who are able to deliver value to the organizations that they work in. This has however not been the case; with a majority of the B school graduates not being properly skilled. Industry experts often lament the lack of skills that some of these students display and often blame the faculty of such schools as being the cause for turning out under prepared managers. In the recent past there has been some talk of creating a skill based curriculum and the government is getting involved in this process. There have been some changes to the curriculum and I am happy to note that the government has taken some concrete steps in this direction. I wonder however if this is enough and if the government is serious in its commitment to make this situation better. 

For the situation to change, the first thing that will need to change is the old paradigm. What we need today is broad based learning that is not dependant on only one parameter or factor. The need of the hour is to enable the learning of skills and concepts that further the ability of an individual to solve problems for his organization. These skills and learning aren’t only limited to the classrooms that they are taught in; they encompass a whole range of activities and initiatives that go beyond the four walls of the classrooms. And these should also be scalable and be replicated by the entire system. At IIPM, we pay special attention to the development of such skills. We focus on ensuring that the students understand and appreciate these skills and their application in the corporate world. Right from ensuring that each student is trained in executive communication skills to developing complex skills such as project management, every minute detail is paid attention to while developing and upgrading the curriculum. All of this ensures that the students who pass out of the institute are not only ‘highly’ employable but also become ‘great’ assets for the organizations that they work for. 

To make sure that the quality of students who passout is high, the institute must also ensure that its faculty is updated on the happenings in the market. Assignments which hone the skills of the faculties and keep them abreast with the trends in the markets should be encouraged. Additionally institutes must pay attention to the research that faculties are undertaking and actively encourage and help faculty members find relevant scopes of study. This will not only help the faculties and the institutions but will largely help the management fraternity as newer thoughts and ideas would come into play. As it is, with the fear of another slowdown imminent in the market place, path breaking and out of the box strategies will help solve a lot of the problems of the future. It is therefore imperative that B-schools all over the country take note of this and commit to ensuring that their students who graduate are at least employable.

INTERSTING TIMES TO COME...

As we step into the New Year and the hype and excitement around the resolutions starts to settle, all factors point to the fact that this year is going to be a tough one for the Indian economy. Talks of a double dip recession have already started gaining grounds and this time around it seems that even the Indian economy is not going to be spared the onslaught. Several companies have already started feeling the impact and other are bracing themselves for the impact. 

The good thing however is that there is a more programmed approach to solve problems. It is not the typical knee jerk reactions that one saw the last time. And I am of the belief that the last recession has toughened us and taught us a thing or two. We are today better equipped to tackle the issues that are bound to come our way. I have often heard people say that “when the going gets tough, the tough get going”. This is for the first time perhaps, that I have realized the meaning of the phrase and have seen individuals do wonders in situations which were extremely tough and demanding. I am therefore of the opinion, that the Indian management professionals have in fact taken the acid test and have emerged winners at the end of it. This is particularly encouraging in the light of the current economic conditions that are prevalent in the world.  

Not only are Indian management professionals occupying centre stage globally, many Indian organizations have started to come of their own in the international markets. Today organizations are not shying away from taking on challenges that would have seemed impossible just a few years ago. From cars that are the cheapest in the world to technology products that have created international benchmarks, it seems that Indian organizations have started to come of age and are no longer afraid to take the fight to the competitions backyard. These are interesting time we live in and these are probably the best times for management professional to establish themselves globally. 

The last time we had a slowdown it brought about a whole new wave of innovative problem solving techniques. Managers in all functional areas literally started thinking outside the box and created some very interesting and innovative strategies that helved respective organization. Another slowdown, is sure to bring even more such innovations into the marketplace whereby making the market more dynamic and complex at the same time. I can’t stop myself from getting excited at the prospect of a whole set of new and innovative practices being implemented across workplaces to solve problems that are thrown up during the times to come. 

In this issue of CULT, we have tried to bring to you the story of the man who has tirelessly led the IIPM 

revolution form the front, Dr. M.K. Chaudhuri. We have also featured his biggest support during these times, his wife Mrs. Ratna Chaudhuri. We sincerely hope that their story of sheer passion and perseverance is able to stir your soul into action and also helps you in appreciating the power that one man’s vision and commitment has.