Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Leadership-2

Management has always been an art as well as a science. It is a common knowledge that managing requires exceptional skills and talents. Some of the best leaders in the world essentially apply some magical charismatic skills that they possess to efficiently run operations and administer things at work with unparalleled laudable capabilities. Leaders, apart from managing, focus more on leading. Even in managing, there is less of managing and more of delegating. Essentially, managing less is managing better. Delegating works often increases self-esteem of employees. It also makes them excited about their work and when that happens, great things take place and business flourishes.

All great leaders possess great communication skills. Having an effective communication skill makes things much easier. Leaders are found to have great eyes as well. Eye for detail. Eye for changing pattern and changing preferences. Consequently, they are always able to adapt to change. More so, they are willing to change as and when time and situation demands. Almost all good leaders have one quality in common and that is encouraging new ideas. They welcome new ideas, and focus on values like idea generation, loyalty and commitment to work. They also get themselves involved with all kind of details.

Leadership is an art and it’s worth mastering subtle nuances of this art.

Monday, April 28, 2008

Leadership

A leader is more like a skilled magician who produces unanticipated reality which not only astonishes and amuses the competitive forces but at the same time, a leader also comes with amazing results that satisfy all people connected to the organization including the customers. A leader is a fine culmination of creativity, strong business acumen, inventiveness, organizational and analytical abilities, to name a few. He is a master in the art of management.

What makes a leader tick? What makes him/her different from the normal crowd? Basically, at the core of every leader, there is a human who is more alert, more willing to take risks, more innovative and more prepared for unforeseen situations. It’s not a miracle to be a leader. Rather, it’s that inborn and developed tendency to lead from the front and to go ahead with one’s strong convictions. It has always made for an interesting discussion that where does that rare leadership skills come from? Detailed discussions, observations and studies conclude that some leaders are inborn leaders. Some others develop this talent over the course of life. And finally the third category of leaders emerges out of difficult/challenging situations. But one thing is common amongst all the categories of leaders and that is, these leaders inspire people with vision in their mind of how things can be done better.

Sunday, April 27, 2008

Management Insight-3


It has been observed that quality management puts special emphasis on empowering its workers with decision making authority at all the levels in the organization. It also focuses on organizing regular interactive workshop between senior and junior levels of staffs which really help in reducing communication gap and that finally leads to enhanced efficiency and competence. Effective organizations are well aware of the fact that it’s most precious and important constituents are human resources. Considering that they are found to conduct frequent communication skills seminars and personality development programs for its employees. It also helps in long run as leaders develop out of managers.

Every organization wants to have quality leaders because they are one of the most crucial elements for organization’s success. Leaders bring with them vision, goals and clarity which finally makes all the difference. We don’t need to look far to see what some of these great leaders have achieved. When we take names of Ratan Tata, Dhiru Bhai Ambani, Sunil Mittal, Munjal, we find that these leaders single handedly changed the fortunes of their companies and consequently Indian business landscape. They brought revolution, change, new technologies and what not! Behind every successful organization, there was at least one great leader.

Friday, April 25, 2008

Management Insight-2

Talking about first mover advantage, the classical examples are Microsoft in software industry and Coke in Beverage segment. They are renowned for accurately gauging what is going to be required next, what is going to be in demand in coming times and no wonder they are still numero uno in their respective segments. They have always managed to come up with new products befitting the concurrent demands. Talking in Indian context, Maruti and Hero Honda in automobiles segment, Infosys, TCS and the likes have managed to excel because of their first mover strategies. A good management never sits idle on its past laurels. It tends to endlessly strive towards improving its earlier performance and stay ahead of promising competition.

Likewise, fine-tuning itself within the organization is very important in context of today’s situation. A good management recognizes the needs and requirements of its employees. Most of the successful organizations reward their employees for their hard efforts. This helps them standing in good stead in the eyes of employees and at the same time it also motivates employees for better performance. No wonder, it has been found that employee friendly companies tend to perform better than its peers. Successful organizations also follow Delegation of authority and bottom-down management approach, which proves to be very important in enhancing employee’s self-esteem and efficiency.

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Management Insight-1

Management is often defined as “The art of getting things done through the people, with the people and by the people”. Global world is changing fast, in fact faster than anything else and so are organizational goals, policies, strategies, formulations etc. the rate of change is so fast that, strategies which worked as magic potion few years back are no longer similarly helpful in today’s circumstances. Earlier theories held as radical are fast turning out to be archaic after some years. That presents a case of the need of dynamics of business being in sync with external world.

Few of the business could not envisage this changing pattern and no wonder, they died a premature death. But smart management is all about foresight and vision. So it tries to be ahead of its time. Most of the successful organizations are found to have this knack of anticipating the approaching changes in the outer world. This proves to be a sure shot way in sustaining a business provided other basics are in place. Consumers have become demanding and that’s not surprising given the fact that they are spoilt for choices. In such situation, anticipating shifting customer inclinations help businesses to diversify themselves and thus preserve and even enlarge their consumer base. It also gives them a first-mover advantage.

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Why MBA-3

Thus, keeping up to date periodically through Constant professional development is of paramount importance. This development program includes seminars, focused groups, discussion gatherings etc. No wonder; these steps definitely enhance professionals’ careers and help them in stay afloat in tough corporate world.

In nutshell, MBA is a lucrative profession with opportunities of globe trotting, handsome pay packages and great chances of intellectual stimulation. Apart from giving a business qualification, this degree also improves job opportunities, helps in obtaining specialist skills, gives a firm career direction and last but not the least increases self confidence and self esteem. With fluctuating World economy the uncertainties are a common state of the affair. The eternal circle of boom and depression keeps on repeating themselves. During the time of boom, almost all and any MBA can be employable. They help in keeping that boom phase intact. Whereas, in the time of recession or depression their work is all about handling the economy in most effective way and help it in coming out of that vicious circle. These make the job of MBAs even more crucial. MBAs are the need of the hour. And They are there to stay! Yes, the world of MBA is indeed vivid.

Friday, April 18, 2008

Why MBA -2


Not all courses are same. They always differ in terms of content, methods, duration and elective subjects. The basic degree is general management degree/diploma where all students are supposed to study few core subjects in the first year. In the second year, students get a menu of electives for the purpose of their specialization. It can be, marketing, finance, human resource management, system, operations etc. new age business schools and few reputed ones have also started to provide specialization in new subjects like banking, entrepreneurship and financial services etc. Thus, an MBA course from a good business school prepares the students in such a way that they can face those challenging conditions bravely.

On one hand an MBA course prepares candidates for future challenges and on the other, it should also be kept in mind that, the course won’t suffice for a lifelong professional career. The reason being constant technological change and new knowledge requirements.

To quote “US Department of Labor, technological change and new knowledge requirements have cut the 'half-life of skills' (the amount of time it takes one to lose half the value of his skills) from between seven and fourteen years in the late 1960s to between five and seven years by the late 1980s”. To think of it, this analysis is only about late 80s! What would have happened if we try to analyze that shrinking ratio till 2007? But natural, it will have shrunk even further.

Thursday, April 17, 2008

Why MBA?

Another buzzword which tends to hang around corporate corridors is entrepreneurship. Managers are expected to be innovative, think out of the box and get the work done. They are also expected to put more emphasis on proper utilization of organization’s most precious assets, i.e., human power. Respecting the sanctity of Morale and ethics are also ingrained in managers’ minds. All these above mentioned factors glorify the need of having fresh approach towards corporate world. It also emphasizes on development of soft skills like, teamwork, interpersonal skills, emotional intelligence and negotiation art, in business professionals.

These factors clearly show that job profile of an MBA is far from a casual walk in the park. Now in these conditions, MBA course from a good institution comes very handy. All of the reputed institutes design their course curriculum in accordance with present and future needs of the corporate world. They duly anticipate the changing scenarios and accordingly include the relevant subjects in the curriculum. An entry level MBA student gets to learn so much about business strategies, different types of industries, their working methodologies, functions, operating techniques that one actually starts feeling the difference within oneself! And from there onwards, it becomes an altogether new journey.

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

MBA And Corporate Reality

In today’s fast paced competitive world managers are required to work in an increasingly complex, cutthroat and volatile environment. Studies conducted all over the world show massive scale of upheaval in the corporate world. Almost half of all corporate managers experience some form of organizational restructuring in any given year. Looking closely at listed companies and government workforce, more than two thirds of the managers face annual turmoil. When scenario is so tough, management professionals are expected to be up on their toes all the time. Adaptation is the key. Adapting quickly to the changes occurring within and outside the corporate walls is a must. They are also supposed to initiate and manage change themselves.

Present and future managers are always caught up in the strategic planning process and the way things are going work is always going to be even more complex. Workload will keep on increasing because of the fast changing dynamics of the business world. Management professionals require high level of knowledge, skills and flexibility. These requirements become even more prominent in situations of multidisciplinary projects. Management never works in isolation. Almost all functions require joint cooperation across the departments. Team work is of paramount importance and essential to get the work done. Hence, Managers not only need to excel at their own competencies but they are also required to understand various key management functions and their inter-relationship.

Monday, April 14, 2008

Scope Of MBA

As per the common wisdom, MBA (Masters of Business Administration) offers a post graduate degree. The significance associated with MBA is tremendous in today’s world. Factors like globalization, liberalization and privatization have resulted into growing business and communication. This has also led to more and more companies looking for world class knowledgeable managers who have full hands on experience, before they enter an organization. Primary reason being companies do not want to spend their precious time on training individuals. They want managers who can contribute to the organization directly from day one. An MBA program, in its entirety offers all these benefits and hence it deserves its due value.

An MBA program includes, many hands on project experiences, assignments, internships etc. this makes a student completely equipped with all the essential skills that a manager should have. These skills greatly help one to become an expert in one’s own field and can help him or her to become a leader. Often conducted researches prove that MBA students are more able to perform and deliver than students without the MBA degree. Another reason of increasing significance of MBA in today’s world is because of the extreme competition that each company faces. With increasing salary packages, companies also expect a lot from an employee in terms of performance and productivity.

Saturday, April 12, 2008

Certificate and Diploma Courses-2

The reach of certificate and diploma courses has spread far and wide to all corners of the country. This factor has made it easily accessible for the thousands of aspiring candidates. Normal duration of a diploma course ranges from six months to three years whereas certificate course tends to be for a short duration of few months.

MBA Certificate and Diploma courses aid in enhancing broader outlook about particular subjects by integrating real life situations and accordingly finding the answers. This core method has proved to be very valuable instrument in making the students comprehend the practical sides of subjects. Further, it also helps in maintaining thorough knowledge environment which culminates in bringing the best out of the students. The ever rising list of Diploma and Certificate courses is significantly useful in intensifying existing knowledge base of the candidates. It also helps in advancing their career options. For many of the working professionals, these courses come very handy. A certificate or diploma course of few months greatly add value to their resumes. Apart from imparting new knowledge, it also helps in honing their professional skills. At the same time, for students who can not afford to pursue full time MBA course, a diploma and certificate course comes as an easier option because of their affordable and reasonable fee structures.

Wednesday, April 9, 2008

Certificate and Diploma courses


Certificate and Diploma courses are significantly helpful in boosting the vast talent of millions of Indian students. Certificate and diploma courses are one of the best methods of acquiring knowledge as well as mastering new skills. The modern age cut throat competition has made sure that, professionals can no longer afford to rest on previously acquired qualifications. In last two decades, the business dynamics has witnessed a 360 degree turn. Job opportunities have increased but so has competition. Growing Indian economy offers multitude of job prospects to Indian youths. But most of these job prospects require specialized qualifications apart from the basic rudiments.

In those conditions, certificate and diploma courses prove to be of great help to aspiring applicants. They act as great foil to the willing candidates. Students and professionals alike had never had it so good as far as options are concerned. They can go for their required diplomas and certificates in almost all the courses. Whether it is management, medical, retail or creative and hospitality etc. Candidates can pursue their desired course from any of the universities and institutions who are providing it. Many of the universities have made these courses available on internet. Acquiring these certificates and diploma programs not only assist in pursuing headway in same field but also helps in case one decides to shift to other areas.

Monday, April 7, 2008

Distance Learning MBA

These days so many of management institutes and B-schools are offering MBA distance education. Many candidates, who can’t pursue regular MBA, tend to opt for distance learning mode. Correspondence courses have come as a boon for such management aspirants who can not afford full time MBA because of separate reasons. Whether it is, lack of time or financial reasons, distance learning mode has provided a great solution for such problems. Needless to say, it is progressively becoming one of the most popular modes of education these days. Its relevance and acceptance can be measured from the fact that, unlike earlier times, even top notch institutions are offering correspondence courses in variety of subjects.

Now candidates can pursue MBA through distance learning from their desired universities in India as well as abroad. Universities have started to open separate distance learning departments to cater to mounting demand for a range of courses.
As per the latest numbers, India has 11 open universities and about 56 distance learning institutes spread across the length and breadth of the country. All of these
Institutions provide almost all types of professional, certificate and diploma courses. This is primarily done with the help of internet and course modules sent through the post. Candidates also have the facility of interacting with other fellow students and online faculties.

Saturday, April 5, 2008

Types of MBA Courses-2

A good number of institutes all over the India are offering Online MBA programs. It’s rapidly gaining popularity amongst working professionals. The obvious benefits associated with Online MBA courses are less cost and saving of precious time. A regular MBA course takes two complete years and significant amount of fee whereas Online MBA program is far less costly and allows students to manage time as per their own convenience. The fact that, one can actually study as well as work while pursuing Online MBA, also helps. Though, a full time two year MBA program is considered much more credible than an online MBA program

Another type of MBA program is through Distance Learning Mode. Numerous Management Schools and Institutes are offering MBA through distance learning. That shows its demand and popularity amongst the MBA aspirants. The biggest advantage of pursuing Distance Learning MBA program is, one can obtain an MBA degree sitting at home. Its course curriculum is almost similar to a regular MBA course curriculum. The only difference being that one does not have to actually attend classes and lectures. Distance learning type also makes it very convenient for the students to study at their own pace.

Thursday, April 3, 2008

Types Of MBA Courses

Growing popularity of MBA has helped in making it a vocabulary for a common man as well.
There are various types of MBA programs. Advancement of communication and technology has acted as a trigger in making MBA courses available worldwide. Major types of MBA programs are Residential MBAs, Distance learning MBAs, Executive MBAs, and online MBAs etc.

Residential MBAs are basically the regular two year MBA courses, often with living accommodation facility. Residential MBAs programs are generally preferred by students who have just cleared their graduation. Executive MBAs are usually very helpful for working professionals with more than 2-3 years experience. This form of MBA assist management executives to take a year’s break and pursue their education. Since these students already have so much of business experience and possession of required expertise, they do not need intensive two year training. Hence most of the executive MBAs globally are for one year.

The importance of MBA in today’s fast changing world has grown simply because of the extreme competition that each organization faces. This importance explains why more and more B-schools are offering diverse kinds of MBA with different electives and specializations!