| |
|
|
| |
 |
 |
 |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
The
Indian economy has witnessed
a major change in the past
few years. In the present
scenario of economic globalization
and emphasis on technological
development the need for
management studies and good
managers is bound to increase.
Just wanting the degree is not enough. The strongest
candidates competing to gain admission into graduate
business schools are very focused on their intended career
paths. They are reasonably clear about what is needed
to get there and what it takes to be successful. Are
you one of those people? Can you compete favorably in
the applicant pool?
The MBA is designed for people who want to learn about
business across many different disciplines. But schools
want you to have already identified an area of interest
that you plan to pursue after you obtain this broad base
of knowledge. Most MBA programs do not provide the time
to find those interests during the course of study, so
you need to have a good sense of what you are planning
to do with the degree. |
|
|
| |
Business
school admission counselors
want to see evidence of
your professional interests
to ensure that you
will take full advantage of the MBA program. At
a minimum, they consider
career history and aspirations,
evidence of leadership potential, and academic
achievement.
Therefore, the typical MBA candidate has several
years of full-time, post-undergraduate work experience
in a responsible capacity and can clearly articulate
his or her motivations for wanting to earn an MBA. |
| |
|
Eligibility :
A second class bachelors
degree or equivalent
with minimum 50% marks
(45%
for SC and ST candidates)
in any faculty is the
usual requirement for
any management
institute. However some
B-Schools like IIMs ask
for just a bachelor’s
degree in any discipline.
M.B.A. (Master of Business Administration) is two year
Programme (with 2 semester / 3 trimester in each year)
of management studies. Each semester span is 18 to 20
weeks. Each trimester span is 10-12 weeks and each trimester
has 6-9 subjects.
|
| |
|
| First
Year |
Introduction
to functional area of management |
| Summer
Training |
Project
work 8 weeks to 10 weeks |
| Second
Year |
Compulsory
courses + 17-20 elective
of ones own choice, specialization
courses |
| Method
of Instructions |
Class
room lectures, Assignments,
Case Studies , Discussion,
Presentation, Group Tasks,
Projects, Business Games. |
|
|
| |
| With
the development of global business
concept the complex business structure
has been divided into several specializations.
The students can select the stream
which interests them the most.
Some most desired fields are: |
| |
|
This
is a career for people generally
interested in quantitative skills
and who would like to do a lot
of planning, managing
the resources and policy formation. “Number Crunching" is
how most people would describe a career in finance! How
best to manage money and its consequence what finance is
all about. MBAs in this discipline face competition from
CAs-but also learn a lot more than what a normal CA colleague
does, especially because of the behavioral aspects covered
in the MBA course. There are several options in this discipline. |
| 1. |
Consumer
banking |
2. |
Investment
banking |
| 3. |
Institutional
banking |
4. |
Merchant
banking |
| 5. |
Development
banking |
6. |
Non-Banking
Finance |
| 7. |
Corporate
Finance |
8. |
Treasury |
|
Consumer banking, Investment banking, and Institutional
banking are usually carried out by the same institution.
These cover respectively individual accounts. The management
of securities (and other investments including foreign exchange
dealings) and lending to corporate clients. A lot of Indian
and Foreign banks are in this head.
Most banks also have Merchant banking subsidiaries
or divisions. They focus on public issues of capital by organizations.
This field has also seen several non-banking firms entering
but their viability is doubtful and the past two years have
seen a complete washout in the Primary market definitely attributable
to factors like promoter's greed, institutional failures, regulator's
failures, investor's shortsightedness - not necessarily in
this order! While in the other three banking areas described
above (i.e. consumer/investment/institutions) the foreign banks
are rated the best (Citi Bank, Stanchart, American Express,
Hong Kong Shanghais Bank (HSBC) etc.), the merchant banking
divisions of Indian banks are currently rated as the best.
Development banking falls
under the preview of specialized institutions
set up for this purpose e.g. ICICI,
IDBI, IFCI etc. The mandate is to help
the economy grow by aiding industrial
growth. The focus here is very different
from traditional banking and is extremely
challenging. Even these institutions
have been registering their presence
on premier campuses during the placement
season.
Non banking finance (NBFC)
is of two types.
One set is through
(usually) small privately
run specialized companies.
These include companies
involved is leasing,
hire purchase, or
private banks. The
other is through
specialised public
sector institutions
concentrating on
shipping finance,
housing finance,
venture capital etc..
However, it must be mentioned that the NBFCs have not had a
very good time over the past few months. In the short term
near future, the outlook is bleak but talking of a long term,
people are bullish.
|
| Top |
|
Most
people say that HR Management is
the management of the next millennium.
That is, if you can manage your
people
well, they, in turn, will take care of your organization
as well. This has become the most important specialization
in management over the recent years. There are three broad
career opportunities in this area. It is important to note
that this area is probably the fastest growing specialization
in India today. The three areas are :
Human Resources Development
Personnel Relations
Industrial Relations
A HRD executive is involved with activities like performance
appraisal, employees counseling, employee training and employee
motivation. His activities are directed towards development
of the people in his organization.
He is involved in normal day to day activities like recruitment,
selection, job description, salary management and employees
welfare. Most organisations in recent times differentiate between
personnel and HRD managers. This is so because of the growing
complexity of modern management.
Industrial relations focus on labour management. With the increasing
activity of labour/staff unions, often with the backing of
political parties, organizations have developed a need for
specialists in handling union related activities. Normally
students who have a law background are preferred for this functional
area.
|
| Top |
|
Marketing
is the discipline that is most
famous among management graduates.
People with good communication
skills, leadership
qualities and who are daring to go to different places
generally find it extremely interesting. The career in
marketing has the maximum to offer in terms of responsibility,
challenge, innovation and growth. Marketing is further
divided into the following parts: |
| 1. |
Sales & Distribution |
2. |
Product/Brand
Management |
| 3. |
Advertising & Promotion |
4. |
Market
Research |
| 5. |
Media
Planning |
|
|
|
| |
The
opportunities in Sales and Product
Management are wide. However most
of the organizations prefer their
trainees
to get sales experience before joining product management.
Advertising and market research are service sector activities.
In India, we have several small agencies, (which may not be
the best place to start a career if a global is expected) and
few big agencies, often with foreign tie-ups (in fact, most
Indian advertising majors are witnessing foreign collaborations
and/or mergers, willingly or unwillingly). Most of the large
and professional market research agencies are divisions or
subsidiaries of advertising agencies. In fact, one of the best
known marketing research agencies in India is recently reported
to have been literally taken over by a foreign major. Media
planning includes activities like media buying etc. Specialised
courses on media planning are available in few institutions.
Thus, marketing can be your bread-n-butter if you are willing
to take the plunge! |
| Top |
|
This
specialization is generally preferred
by engineers. The opportunities
in this sphere are not as wide
as in Finance
or Marketing. Generally people with very specific inclination
towards Production/Shop-floor Management go for this. Manufacturing
is one of the most important areas for any product-based
business. Many techniques and theories have been developed
by management school which focuses on issues relevant to
the area. These skills are especially useful to those who
are engineering graduates. The four types opportunities
are in : |
| 1. |
Productivity
Improvement |
2. |
Quality
Control |
| 3. |
Inventory
Control |
4. |
Production
Planning |
|
| |
The
focus of the production specialist
is not on engineering problems,
but on the managerial implications
or engineering
problems. The specific skills required are behavioral,
technical and statistical.
These techniques are largely applied to manufacturing organizations.
MBAs with this back ground stand a bright chance with several
consultancy firms. |
| Top |
|
Over
the past one decade the thing that
has astonished most of the people
in terms of growth is the IT Industry,
popularly
referred to as " INFOTECH" or " SOFTWARE".
In all spheres of life, computers are becoming part and
parcel of all human endeavors and a career in computers
show unmatched promise, potential and a veritable goldmine
in terms of innovation.
India too, has not been far behind as far as " software
development" or "InfoTech growth" with the Government's
policy of reforms in 1991, the entire InfoTech market has seen
a quantum leap. This has induced job opportunities for computer-savvy
individuals like never before. But these days a degree in Computers
is not enough. Generally most industries seek graduates who
have flair in both Management and Computers. For such people,
the career is an MBA in Systems. There are four broad career
options in this field. |
| 1. |
Computer
manufacturing/selling organisations |
2. |
Systems
consultancy organisations |
| 3. |
Systems
department of organisations |
4. |
E-Commerce |
|
A very common question often asked is "What is the difference
between a Computer Guy and a Systems Guy?" The
key difference is the type of skill needed. While systems specialists
will work on understanding a problem and then resolving it,
the focus of the computer specialist is narrower and more technical.
The computer specialist would know about software and hardware
of certain types. However the MBA, in the course of his programme,
would have learnt about all the functions of an organisation,
in addition to computer knowledge. Hence the systems MBA, unlike
a computer engineer, is equipped to design systems for many
types of organisations. To specialize in systems one doesn't
need prior experience in computer or engineering. However,
in smaller institutes, this might be desirable for placement.
In fact, most of the IT majors are concentrating on this area
as it promises on the highest growth rates due to the facts
that India still has one of the lowest per capita PC penetrations.
Once the boom starts, experts predict it would be mind boggling.
In facts, several enterprising young people have started companies
that are dabbling in E-Commerce already. |
| Top |
|
This
is a new stream that has come in
the recent years and is getting
popular very fast. People with
this specialization
are basically interdisciplinary in nature. The responsibilities
are huge and so are the returns. The market has welcomed
this specialization with open arms. An operations person
basically deals in the various internal and external movements
and flows within an organizations that affect its efficiency.
These flows could be processes, relationships, vendor development,
ancillary management etc. |
| Top |
|
The
development of the corporate world
created demand for Brand management,
Direct marketing & Event management,
media management and corporate
communication & PR. People
with good communication skills are eligible for such stream
of management. |
| Top |
|
This
stream of management is related
to the management of the forestry & other
allied commercial industrial fields.
There is a growing need for managerial manpower development
of managerial capacity in the foresting & allied sectors. |
| Top |
|
This
field of management is related
to the socio-economic development
of the rural people. The programme takes into consideration
the environment in which rural organisations work and the
professional management required for the challenging responsibilities
in the rural co-operation sector & development organisations. |
| Top |
|
This
stream relates to the modern management
techniques for handling international
business operations in a highly
dynamic & competitive environment. Globalisation & new
world trading system requires scientific management of
the international trade and such a programme execution
for the global village. |
| Top |
|
New
telecom industry requires Technology
Business leaders with focus on
Telecom, IT & management graduates
from any stream can go for it but
computer literates are preferred. |
| Top |
|
This
stream contains management in banking & insurance
retail management which deals in retail chains & logistics
which deals in costing & management of the movement of
goods. |
| Top |
|
The new era is a fashion era & there are people required
for management in this field. Simple graduates are eligible.
It involves marketing of the garments etc.
Self-assessment helps you focus and articulate your thinking
so you can make wise decisions. It will enable you to identify
career and education goals that capitalize on your strengths
and address your weaknesses, plus it will help you make the
choices that are most likely to make you happy in the long
term.
You
have probably come to this article
because you are still deciding
whether to go to business school,
but you can benefit from self-assessment
at any stage of the "MBA process"—whether
you are considering going to business
school, looking for the right programs
for you, applying to school, or
planning for internships and post-MBA
employment. Self-assessment is
not only helpful to people in the
MBA process, it is also a common
element of professional development
for people in countless different
fields of endeavor, from teaching
to management.
So,
how can self-assessment benefit
you now and in the near term? It
can help you do the following:
- Identify
schools with strengths that
correspond to your interests
and aptitudes: You will want
to look at curriculum, placement
success, the strength of
the alumni network, and the
overall reputation of schools
and programs to find the
ones that fit you best.
- Increase
your chances of being accepted
at the school(s) of your
choice: Self-knowledge and
confidence in your strengths
allow you to articulate the
clear, realistic goals admissions
professionals expect MBA
applicants to have.
- Choose
a school with the courses
and faculty that will help
you prepare to work in the
companies or industries that
suit you: Business schools
generally do not accept transfer
candidates or coursework
completed at another school—wherever
you start school is where
you are likely to stay, so
you should choose a place
where you will be happy and
get the education you need
to fulfill your goals.
- Identify
the elective courses that
will prepare you for MBA
internships and jobs: Many
schools require MBA students
to choose their concentration
and electives as early as
second semester; you'll benefit
from knowing from the start
what you need to take to
serve your career goals.
- Develop
the right interest-specific
network and enjoy yourself:
MBAs often say the most long-lasting
value of their degree is
the network of classmates,
professors, and business
leaders they cultivated during
MBA studies. Knowing yourself
will help you connect with
people who will enrich your
MBA experience and be helpful
to you throughout your career.
- Get
the right job: Success in
this area depends on getting
the right education and developing
a network of professionals
in your chosen field early
in the MBA experience.
|
| Top |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
