COUNSELING @ MBA INFORMER

Question – Dear sir, please tell me that what are the things an MBA student can expect from the curriculum? How can I know that how is my curriculum different from what other institutes have to offer?

                                                                      - Arvind Singh, New Delhi

Answer - Good question Mr. Arvind. In the present scenario most students expect a job from the curriculum. They just take MBA as a tool to get a good paying job. They seem to forget that the 2-years can add a lot of value to them. A good B-school would ensure that the student gets a strong grounding in fundamentals. In addition, the program would be designed to increase the student’s capacity to think and to integrate the learning in the different functional areas. And finally, the student should be able to learn to work in teams and apply what he has learnt to business situations.
I have already articulated the kind of value a good business school should add to a student. So it’s more about understanding what a business school needs to impart and then going ahead and ensuring that you impart it well. The keys to this are the quality of the faculty and the extent of industry interface the school is able to build. The institute should have a team of very high pedigree faculty and should collaborate actively with the industry in curriculum design and delivery.

Question - Is it important to acquire an academic qualification to sharpen managerial skills? If yes, then how much?
                                                                           - Abhishek Bhardwaj, Kanpur
Answer - An MBA program is more about perspective than about knowledge and skills. While there are definite additions to knowledge, the real advancement comes in perspective. The qualification is thus important as it enhances the individual’s ability to look at business from a holistic viewpoint. The other important value-addition comes from the rich interaction with a vibrant student community and a strong faculty team.

 Question - Dear MBA Informer, some says that education is important while some says experience is much more important. I am confused. Please tell me, does a qualification in management teach anything that pure experience can’t?
                                                                             - Anant Shrivaastva, Lucknow

Answer - As they say, there’s no substitute for experience. The time spent in acquiring a qualification in management from a good institute is also part of that experience - a good B-school would create simulations of real life business situations and impart the necessary theoretical training to enable a student to understand and address these situations. I would expect a business school graduate to compress the on-the-job learning curve substantially - and to be more proactive in the way he/ she runs a business.

 Question – Dear sir, I am an MBA student. I want to know that, what soft skills a good manager should have in these days.
                                                                                    - Awasti Singh, New Delhi

Answer – The most common attribute to all successful managers is their soft-skill proficiency - their ability to communicate, handle themselves at work and relate with people within and outside the organization they work for. From listening and communicating clearly to showing empathy and optimism to extreme self-awareness to knowing what’s going on around them, these vital competencies are an integral part of a progressive manager. Managers need to improve their listening, speaking and presentation skills and have the ability to conduct themselves in formal, boardroom-like of situations, without losing sight of the virtues of empathy and team-work.


COUNSELING @ MAB INFORMER :- For answers to any MBA related queries send mail to mbainformer@gmail.com with MBA COUNSELING in the subject line.