MBA should not be taught in B-schools!

Master of Business Administration (MBA) should not be taught in b-schools; instead it should be taught in business firms. A business school can only simulate a firm and will not be equivalent to a corporate at all. Even the most adored 'case study' methodology will not be useful as that of a b-firm. This is one among the reasons why do most of the b-schools prefer candidates with work-ex for MBA.

The case study methodology helps to simulate a real scenario in a firm. But there are a lot of if's, but's and what-if's in it. The number of assumptions may be too many in some cases which will really destroy the beauty of the case. It is similar to playing cricket in computer and that in the real life. The simulated experience will not take into consider the mind set of human beings (employees in a firm), the macro economic situation (which may vary based on the country understudy), the competition, history of the firm, customer relationships, previous executives, on spot decisions taken etc. There is always a gap between what is happening in the industry and the picture of industry depicted in the cases.

To make the MBA students more industry oriented, the MBA education should be under the control of the respective industry bodies and should be happen in a business firm only. This helps to understand the business very well and also helps in taking better decisions which is one of the important objectives of MBA.

Every student must select an industry in which (s)he is interested and should undergo the MBA in a business firm in the selected industry. The student should be an employee of the firm and must have a minimum contract period with the firm. The education and the work should go hand in hand. A stipend should be given to the student for the work (s)he is doing. Scholarships should be given to meritorious students. There should be only practical tests with real case scenarios and should not include any theoretical questions (which is utter useless). The certificate of MBA should be given by the industry body which may have a tie-up with any University. The top performing students should be retained in the firm in which they studied.

Also there should be assistance from the industry bodies for those who wish to be entrepreneurs in the respective fields.

No (fresh) MBA graduate is perfect. It is similar to learn swimming. Unless you try it out, you cannot be a 'Master' in business administration. So face challenges, put your hands in fire, learn and correct the mistakes. Practice (valid experience) makes a manager perfect!

'Knowledge' - India is losing, while others are gaining!

According to Ghemawat, today's world is semi-globalised, not fully flat. This has helped us partially to bring information at our finger tips through the development of communication and technology. 'Any doubts? Google it!' Search Engines are more or less like a service person who is in direct contact with costumers asking 'How can I help you, Sir?' Anything and everything has an answer and is in front of you 24x7. But the question arising is - Will this help in improving the knowledge of an individual?

Through the advent of internet, information is overloading. Mere information does not increase knowledge. Knowledge is the application of information; that is information in action is known as knowledge. Without the proper mind set to apply the information at the right time through the right approach and at the required place, no knowledge will be developed. Thus knowledge is the integration of various perspectives of applying information in a focused, concentrated manner.

Although many are claiming that India is developing day-by-day, it is not the truth. It is only some figures, especially the financial, growth figures that shows India is climbing the growth ladder. But the real fact is India is losing. For any country, the main asset is its (hu)man power. And this makes India in a strong position these days where more than half of Indian population are youth. This will finally help India to be at par with China where the majority of population is aged with their single child policy.

Mere (hu)man power does not make a country rich or developed. Adversely, it will over burden the country. But the real asset is where the human resources are properly utilised for the development of the nation. When we dig the history of ancient India, it was the knowledge of human resource that made India in a proper position among other coutries. This is the nation of Aryabhatta, Sushrutha etc. They applied the information that they got from their Guru. Acquiring knowledge was a part of the society in those old days; but now education is a part of society which does not bring the real value of education.

The ancient Indian life style was very disciplined which prepared them to acquire new information, without using any books or sciptures. The knowledge of Guru was directly transmitted to the disciples which they memorize on the spot. The students were smart and had knowledge about everything in the universe. Indians and Romans were very good in Mathematics which is the mother of all sciences. But this has changed on course of time. Acquiring knowledge gradually reduced to acquiring information, with the advent of books. This has even diminished by the new technologies. Those who are inventing the new technologies are applying the information that they have, but others are losing. Thus the number of people possessing the knowledge decreases from the ancient days.

At the same time, other nations who realised the potential of Indians and India's wealth, made use of them and are still utilising. But Indians are not realising this. Thus Indians become just the information gatherers and the foreign nationalities put this information into reality. There are Indians who apply the information what they have. But the percentage is very less - may be less than 10%. Not a single student is acquiring knowledge unless (s)he is applying what (s)he has learned from schools/colleges.

True learning will be complete only when the information learned is applied some where. Thus India has lost what India was in those ancient days. At the same time, others gained a little bit from no-where. Eventhough politicians are claiming growth in Indian economy, the 'real' growth is not taking place. It is essential at this point of time to filter out the unwanted information and select and focus on those information which is relevent to a person. Apply those focused, filtered information to be a better Knowledge Capital - a better India. Similar to 'outsourcing' refers to Bangalore, the word 'knowledge' must trigger a thought about India. India - the Knowledge Capital of the world!

'Children of Heaven'

'Why am I not a child of heaven?' My thoughts continued with a cluster of complex questions. Am I a child of heaven? Or may be it is God's wish that i should not suffer too much?

It was another typical day in their life. The two children - the boy and the girl- were students and was very much aware of how their father strive to meet the ends. It was a poor Arab family. The boy, who was the elder of the children, accompanied his father in search of a job for his father. His father was a good gardener. They knocked each and every gate for a gardening task; but only added up the disappointment. Even then the boy was so passionate to get a work for his father. He was very well aware of the family situation. Finally the father got a task in a house and was well paid.

The girls and boys had different timings in the school. This helped them to adjust with a pair of shoes. After the girl child's classes were over, She would ran to a closed place and her brother would have been waiting for her there to exchange the only dilapidated, 'good' shoes that they had. She was so much fascinated with the attracting, good-looking shoes of her friends. Once she noticed that her friend was wearing a new pair of shoes and asked her what she did with the old shoes. She got the reply that the old pair of shoes was thrown out by her mother. She was stunt and amazed with the answer.

One fine day, the boy noticed an announcement in his school about a long distance racing competition(4 km) where the third prize was a pair of shoes. He decided to get those pairs for her daughter. Even if the registration was closed for participating in the race, he begged for a chance to his master(sports teacher) and literally stood on his knees. At last the master changed his mind and gave a chance to register in the race.

It was the D-day. He could see the children from other schools and were exercising, supported by their parents. They had enough to eat and drink. Everyone to take care of them. But what about him? The race began. The words of his sister echoed in his mind. Yes, he need to get the third position for the shoes. He looked back and checked whether he was in the third. No, He is in the first position. He slowed down. He was pushed down by other runners. He was behind so many. But the words of his sister gave him the strength to be back in the run. His mental desire to win made him to the first five. And they could see the finishing line. He was in the fourth position now. His master was running outside the track, encouraging him. He need to get the shoes. He was pushing himself forward- both mentally and physically.

Before he could understand what was going on, he realised he was cared by his master. Oh! he was the winner. The camera flashed many times with different people around the winner. But he was so much worried and was neither in a position to look upwards nor to pose for the photo. He reached home and his sister was waiting for him- with the pair of shoes. The smile in his sister's face faded out. It was another day in their life, as usual. The girl had gone to help her mother while he was caring the wounds in his legs due to the old shoes.

The above lines are based on a film - 'Children of Heaven'. It is a very nice Arab movie which shows the life of a poor Arab family, not knowing how to meet the everyday expenses; especially when the children are studying. It is a touching film which shows the mindset of the children who are aware that they are poor. Given an opportunity, every one, especially children, should see this movie so that they may not take their life and fortune as granted.

"The life is always rocking-
Mixed up with challenges and opportunities.

Some may be lazy,
Calling it a fate;
Some may be hardworking,
Who always decide their fate."