It's long long time we all are missing on this blog..........best way to catch up and share our knowledge .......thought just to give a reminder.........let's c who respond first....

My thoughts - MBAs in IT

My thoughts on MBAs in Indian IT - Is the Indian IT industry ready to accept MBA's?What type of roles do MBA's get in the IT industry? Why is it that even though India is so well known globally for IT, students at business schools in India opt for Marketing and Finance specializations in large numbers and not for IT? (Questions from Dr. Nilay Yajnik, my professor from NMIMS)

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The term manager is misused and devalued in Indian IT industry. Any 2-4 years experienced engineer asked to coordinate activities in small team are deemed managers. Not only that, majority of experienced people in IT who have been through this route believe that IT management doesn't require MBAs.

I believe the factors responsible for this attitude are -

1. Many IT companies have well documented processes for 70-80% of the work these managers are expected to do. So they believe it's just matter of following documented processes/templates, attending internal training and applying common sense.

2. Senior/executive management have failed to appreciate value of MBAs, task them with intellectually challenging work and motivate them by giving proper roles and rewards

3. Still large portion of Indian IT revenue comes from ADM and support services that require more of people management and demands very little strategic and tactical management skills. This leaves very few opportunities for qualified MBAs to demonstrate differentiating performance in profit centers and attract management visibility

The real problems with these attitude are -

1. The typical IT managers (engineer-turned-people-managers) lack the management thinking and knowledge of strategic frameworks. So they try to solve most of the problems in same old ways as other managers have tried in past

2. The culture becomes experience (number of years in IT industry) driven and they fail to appreciate the value of young, intelligent employee (irrespective of MBA or others)

3. These managers find it tough to engage with western client executives in discussion strategic IT roadmaps

The biggest problem these managers face is that client invariably gives feedback to our managers - "You guys are followers and we expect you to provide technology leadership and bring in proactive, innovative ideas". This expectation is very difficult to fulfill without focusing on management education in IT.

When the Indian IT industry doesn't give due respect, encouragement and rewards to MBAs, it is not surprising that the MBA students avoid specialization in IT.

Rajesh

MPE blog has a new address

Greetings,

What's up, everyone? Our blog now has a new address. Visit http://mpe.rajeshrathod.com and stay connected.

Cheers,

Rajesh

March 27 - Feeling Great

NMIMS MPE 2007-09 Last Day (Part IV)

NMIMS MPE 2007-09 Last Day (Part III)

NMIMS MPE 2007-09 Last Day (Part II)

NMIMS MPE 2007-09 Last Day (Part I)

Obama's new term: 'Insurance reform'

In his Wednesday night address, Obama talked about “health insurance reform” a noticeable shift from the “health care reform” he had been talking up until late last week.
With support for reform softening, Obama attempted to move the conversation away from the talk of taxes, public plans and the other divisive issues dominating Congress and the headlines back to how his reforms would help the 160 million Americans who already have insurance. The pivot was an attempt to reframe the bill as something that directly benefits most Americans, instead of a subsidy for the uninsured.
“I realize that with all the charges and criticisms being thrown around in Washington, many Americans may be wondering, ‘What’s in this for me? How does my family stand to benefit from health insurance reform?’” Obama asked. “This is not just about the 47 million Americans who have no health insurance. Reform is about every American who has ever feared that they may lose their coverage if they become too sick, or lose their job, or change their job.”
Obama used the term 'health insurance reform" in his Saturday radio address and repeated it again on Monday when he jabbed the insurance industry, saying: "Even as America's families have been battered by spiraling health care costs, health insurance companies and their executives have reaped windfall profits from a broken system."
Linda Douglass, a spokeswoman for the White House Office of Health Reform, explained the shift saying, “Much of health reform is health insurance reform: getting rid of pre-existing conditions, discrimination based on age or gender, rescissions, in which insurance companies suddenly withdraw coverage when you get sick.”
But the term also has distinctive political advantages. Insurance reform, insiders say, likely polls better than a more general reform message because it targets something voters know, understand and don’t particularly like. And, it has the added bonus of setting up the insurance industry as a political punching bag.
‘I think they’re pivoting because they’re looking at cratering poll numbers that people are seriously concerned about too much government, too much spending and turning health care over to Washington. And they’re trying to change that story and looking for a boogeyman,” said a health care insider. “People aren’t buying what they’re selling so they’re trying to change the subject.”
Emphasizing insurance reform also allows Obama to begin highlighting insurance market changes as a principal part of reform, and not as an also-ran to its glitzier partner, the government-run health insurance option.
“If Obama’s unable to reach a consensus, a bipartisan package on a public plan and financing, then this may be opening the door to a fallback position of insurance market reform,” said health care consultant Phil Blando. “That may be wishful thinking on my part, but it’s possible.”
Perhaps a bit ironically, Obama’s recent message dovetails with the industry. America’s Health Insurance Plans began airing a national television ad this week that promotes providing affordable coverage for everybody that doesn't deny insurance to those with pre-existing health conditions.
“We agree that health insurance reform is a critical part of health care reform and health insurance reform means getting everyone in, making sure that pre-existing conditions are a thing of the past and that people have a guaranteed source of affordable coverage,” said AHIP spokesman Mike Tuffin.

9 Marketing Tips from a Six-Year Old’s Lemonade Stand

Here is a very good blog post that one of my colleague shared today. It's about how little kids outsmart you with business idea and teach you marketing lessons:-)

9 Marketing Tips from a Six-Year Old’s Lemonade Stand

Do you have similar experience to share?

My MPE Convocation

MPE is over. Hopefully the education is not. While I really don't know where I will be at the time of MPE convocation, yesterday I thought I had my convocation. It was when I watched Steve Jobs's 2005 Stanford Commencement Address (CEO of Apple). I had read his speech earlier, but hearing him in this video was quite inspiring. It's just fifteen minutes message, but worth remembering for next fifty years of my life.

If you have fifteen minutes now, don't miss this...

My favourite speech - "I have a dream"

Dr. Martin Luther King's speech - "I have a dream".

Getting Ready for Airtel Presentation

MPE Farewell: Anand's feeling

It's exam time of MPE final semester. It's been a memorable period of life for all of us, but for Anand it's been double delight, extra special, golden experience of life. So, it's quite understandable how he feels about farewell from MPE. Read on...

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Yeh Degree bhi lelo, Yeh Naukri bhi lelo,

Bhale chheen lo mujhse US ka Visa,

Magar mujhko lauta do college ka canteen,

Woh thanda saaa paani ,Woh TeeKha Samosaa, 

Woh College ki sabse - purani nishaanee,

Woh chai vaalaa jisko - sab kehte the... jaani,

Woh jaani ke hathon - ki 'cutting' chai meethi,

Woh chupke-se journal - mein jo bheji thi chitthi,

Woh padhte hi chitthi - tha uska bhadakna,

Woh chehre ki laali, woh hothon ki gaali ... 

Kadi dhoop mein - apney room se nikalnaa,

Woh project ki Khatir - tha dar dar bhataknaa ,

Woh lecture mein doston - ki proxy lagaanaa,

Woh ma'm ko chidana, aeroplane udaanaa,

Woh submission ki raton - ko jagna jagaanaa,

Woh viva ! ke kisse, woh pracs ki kahani.... 

Woh dena Bimaari - ka har time bahana,

Woh doosron ke assignment - ko apnaa banana,

Woh seminar ke din - pairon ka cchat-patanaa,

Woh workshop mein din bhar - pasiinaa bahanaa,

Woh slogans banana - woh poster chipkana,

Phir Exam ke dinon - yaad aati thi naani,

.... 

College ki thi - woh lambi si raatein,

Woh doston ke tapre mein - fokat ki Baatein;

Woh gathering ke din - pyari mulakatein;

Woh kudiyon ka yuhin - hamesha akadnaa;

Woh ladkon ke aagey jo unka matakna;

Bhulaaye nahin bhool sakta hai koi -------

Woh college, ki yaadein jo ab hai kahani...

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NMIMS MPE Class of 2009

It was last day at NMIMS for study and we really had a blast! All lectures for MPE are over and it was time to say 'kabhi alvida na kahena' to our class of 2009. It was a moment to cherish. Here are few pictures that we had taken on my camera...



More picture and video coming soon...

IPL - Indian Political League

In this time of economic downturn, India got two unexpected stimulus packages:

• IPL - Indian Premier League: a cash rich cricket bonanza
• General Election 2009 - A mega democratic election that people across the globe can feel proud of...

While India missed the first package due to schedule conflict with General Election, the capital markets of India welcomed a decisive verdict of General elections in spectacular fashion. The BSE Index (Sensex) hit two up circuits as if it was saluting Mr. Manmohan Singh and the Indian Voter. It's been one of the most sensible election results at least in my lifetime. Good job, UPA! Excellent job, India!

Ultimately, politics is politics... Here is one of the insightful pictures by The Times of India that aptly represents where things stand as of today.

(Source: The Times of India)

Nortel's Downfall - A funny video

Hot & Happening – Indian Genius Pranav Mistry’s Sixth Sense

Pranav Mistry is the MIT grad student behind Sixth Sense, a tool that connects the physical world with the world of data. He and his advisor at the MIT Media Lab, Pattie Maes, unveiled Sixth Sense at TED2009.

Don’t miss this… It’s truly spectacular.

(If you can’t see the video in email, click here)




Also, read An interview with Pranav Mistry, the genius behind Sixth Sense

Seedhi Baat, No Bakwaas! Sab Clear Hain! Congratulations!

Semester III results are out... All members of our group are "all clear":-)

Lets say that cool line of Sprite one more time (remember our presentation in Brand Management subject during Semester III?)...

"SEEDHI BAAT, NO BAKWAAS! CLEAR HAIN?!"

Yes, boss! Saab Clear Hain:-)

Congratulations to all my dear friends (Anand, Anshu, Namita, Nitin, Prachi and Lakshmi)!

Southwest Airline - Enjoy!