TIPS FOR SUCCESSFUL CAREER

Students who are doing their post graduation in Management are concern about how to make a successful career. Some of the tips are—

1. Students must take up only that profession, in which they have passion, are enthusiastic and have an aptitude for it. You may be passionate to become a doctor, but if you are afraid of blood, you cannot be successful. Same is the case with all profession like Finance (love for numbers), Marketing(love for converting goods and services to cash), HR(love for helping  and developing People)

2. You need to know your strength and limitations. If academically you are an average students, with couple of ATKT’s. It may be possible, you start at a junior level and grow up by work performance. Try to align your career choice with your core strength.

3. A typical problem among the students community is the gap between once aspiration level and his core competencies or skill. A wide gap wills only leads to setbacks, which can lead to frustration and loss of confidence. Each of you must assess, the riskfactor, based on your present knowledge and personality profile and career you are aiming for and then plan.

4. Don’t take decision of your career based on CTC.Very few organizations with excellent job profile and credential, pays well. Most organization which has higher CTC will not give good job profile or work environment. It is desired that you start a career, were Organization have a good brand image, job profile is interesting and challenging, there is a demand to perform and you are constructively occupied.

5. Other Characteristics involved are-good knowledge of written and spoken English, Good numerical abilities, Fluency and Assertive in communicating in English language, Self Motivator and a positive approach, Patience and tolerance to ambiguaities,highlevel of committement in all walks of life,Organised and discipline, can handle crisis and good team player,etc.Finally one must be a master of his subject.

6.Must be updated on current affairs and General Knowledge.

Prof. N. Rajan

Faculty - HR

B.Tech, PGDM

Digital Media

First things first, let us first understand what is Digital Media and then move on to Digital Marketing (Sales, Branding, Awareness, and Promotion etc). You will get umpteen Digital Media definitions splattered all across the web so let us try and simplify what Digital Media is – Digital Media is any means / medium that uses Digital Technology to store, transmit and display content. Here, both the means and the ends are classified as Digital Media, so a Digital Video, a CD and a Computer are all part of Digital Media. However, in today’s time all the mediums (apart from Print Media) use Digital Technology to at least broadcast content.

So, how do we define Digital Media for our purpose, i.e, from Marketing’s perspective? For our understanding we will segregate the newer mediums – Internet and Mobile from the traditional and conventional mediums like TV, Print, Radio and Hoardings (these days even OOH uses Digital Medium). We do this because of two reasons – the Content and the Users / Viewers (the two most important aspects w.r.t. marketing) of these two mediums significantly differ from the rest and this is how it does:

Content: the content in case of both Internet and Mobile can be – Personalised & Customised (E-mails, Banner Ads targeted at specific TG only), be Interactive (Forums, Blogs, Social Media websites, Messengers) and be User generated – all on Real-time basis. This, along with employment of sophisticated statistical techniques by the marketers gives instant feedback and analysis, unlike other traditional mediums, giving the marketer an opportunity for intense Customer Engagement leading to Customer Loyalty and gauging his preferences, tastes and societal trends quickly and effectively.

Users / Viewers: thanks to Technology and Content, the Users / Viewers for both these mediums are highly demanding, interactive and restless youngsters (forming a major chunk). Also, note that unlike in other mediums – Viewers / Audiences in case of Internet and Mobile are also called Users due to their ability and yes, inclination to participate.

Isn’t it intriguing that in spite of Internet and Mobile being present in India for nearly 15 years, it’s only since last 3-4 years that we have been seriously taking note of these mediums for Marketing activities? The answer lies in the high growth numbers since 2005 which is due to significant improvement in infrastructure, convergence of technologies, better formats, cost-effective subscriber schemes and people embracing technological advancements – all resulting into deeper penetration of the market.

Today, the number of mobile subscribers and Internet users in India stand at more than 770mn and 81mn respectively – numbers which are hard to ignore. A significant trend in recent years has been a steep rise in the usage of Mobile and Social Media platforms, which has caught the attention of the marketers.

We see people hooked onto their BBMs, using phone apps to book tables at restaurants, buying movie tickets online and through mobile apps, using Mobile Banking for transferring funds and the list is endless.

Thanks to convergence and enhanced infrastructure, today PCs, Television, Print (in terms of infotainment) and Radio have all seamlessly integrated or rather merged with Mobile devices which once upon a time used to serve only the basic function of communication and today they (Mobiles) serve as a Medium to gratify consumers needs on real time basis.

With this convergence, marketers have an array of Digital Tools like – Messengers, Social Media Platforms (Blogs, Social Networking websites, Content Sharing websites, etc.), Informative, Interactive & Entertaining websites, Blue Rays, Pen Drives, Widgets (Apps), Sms, E-mails, M Coupons, Digital Payment Systems, etc. etc. etc. which can be explored and exploited for their benefit (Sales, Branding, Promotion, CSR activities, CRM and Customer Engagement. Digital Medium can in fact be effectively used for Sales as it reduces the intermediary costs (distributors, retailers, etc.) and crosses the geographical boundaries.

In future, with technology advancing – advent of 3G (in developed countries there is 4.5G!!), Blue Rays, IMPS (Interbank Mobile Payment Service), etc. – the PCs, Television, Newspapers, Credit Cards – will all become redundant and Mobile will be a one point device to transact,  interact and communicate with people and organizations.

To sum up all, Digital Media is at a stage from where it cannot be ignored or rather needs to be employed extensively in any Marketing activity to effectively Engage and Reach the TG, create Brand Equity, enhance Customer Experience (Mobile banking, functional apps, etc.) along with generating Revenues through Sales as –  the future is Digital Media!

Prof. Ruchika Gupta Raut
Faculty - Marketing
PGDBM

My (New Age) Heroes

Dr. Devi Shetty – Thanks for showing me that, serving your countrymen can be more satisfying than chasing dollars in western healthcare industry.

Julian Assange – For making the cunning diplomats, corrupt politicians and arrogant governments run for cover. For making them look vulnerable and exposing their hypocrisy. Not that the world did not know of this but now the evidence convinces how the world works.

Anna Hazare – For making the ruling party feel they are responsible and accountable to common man. For making us all believe we can make ourselves heard, and for spreading fear amongst shameless bureaucracy.

Nagesh Kukunoor – For telling me the lure of America and Western comfort cannot and should not override your passion.

M S Dhoni – For making me believe that talent and composure matters more than arrogant body language and sledging (read Ponting).

Arvind Kejriwal – Who made me believe the common man is smarter than karan thapar and kapil sibal. For making me believe simplicity is the most authentic way of communication.

Saina Nehwal – For making me believe it’s not the gender that counts but competence and hard work.

Dr. Badrinath - For telling me that western best practices and Indian philanthropy can build transformational health care solutions for poor Indians.

Late Dhirubhai Ambani – Who inspires me reach out for the stars and grab them even if am not born a Birla, Tata, Wadia, Ruia or Bajaj.

Tom Alter – Who tells me it’s not the colour of your skin but the conviction in your heart and purity of your soul which determines if you are a worthy citizen.




Prof. Shravan Rungta
Associate Professor - Marketing
Chairman - Admission
Incharge - Media Relations
B.Com, MMS, NET

Preventing Frustration through Avoidance of Cognitive Dissonance

Cognitive Dissonance is the result of Data, Information and Sensory Input flows being disharmoniously processed in the brain under the influence of the following exogenous variables :-

Previous          learning           that are gathered

Memories                                   that can be recalled

Expectations                              that one cherishes

Beliefs                                          that are imbibed

Fantasies                                     that one dreams about

Values                                          that are nurtured in upbringing

Attitude                                       that are developed

Personality                                 that is generated as a result of all above variables       

The Dissonance results in personality seeing the Dark side of everything; the consequence of which is wrong action, faulty interaction and violent reaction culminating into Frustration which is the embryo of failure.

Frustration can be briefly classified in three different ways:

1)      Resource Frustration

2)      Non Achievement Frustration

3)      Comparative Frustration

Resource Frustration is a defense mechanism which all humans use as a justification for non-performance. Effective management is based on optimization of resource, which is the most misunderstood term in Management. All of us view resources as facilitation hence the frustration whereas Resource should be understood as constraints within the framework of which one must perform. If we learn to view Resource as constraint and use optimization principle then this frustration can be avoided. The Mantra is Innovative Thinking and Productive Creativity.

Non Achievement Frustration is the next hierarchical order of frustration. If positively viewed it can result into a stepping stone for success else it will result in fear of failure and avoidance of participation. ‘The Man who fears to begin’ is the apt example of Non Achievement Frustration and will eventually suffer from PHOBOPHOBIA – fear of the fear or fear of unknown.

The mantra for avoiding Non Achievement Frustration is to have Right Attitude, Self Belief, High Expectations, Correcting Mistakes of previous learning and fantasizing success through Right though and correct action without sacrificing values.

Those who see the seeds of failure in success are humble.

Those who see the seeds of success in failure are hopeful.

Let us endeavor to become humble and hopeful citizens of this great country.

Comparative Frustration is the highest degree of frustration with a strong Intensity which has only one Incidental destination – Failure.

‘Bhala uski kameej mere kameej se safeed kaisi’

The old Ad campaign breeds comparative frustration. I once gave a promotion with increment to a junior officer who was more qualified. Another experienced officer came to me with a complaint that I have more experience and work like a donkey for 10 hours everyday on an average and yet you promoted a relatively junior person. I humbly replied that you have answered your complaint unknowingly. I advised him that I want people to work like human beings and not donkeys. I then counseled him about comparative frustration and lessons from Bhagwad Gita. He took it positively and next year he also got back his smile and I gained his permanent respect towards me.

Comparative Frustration is caused by exogenous variables playing havoc with Data, Information and Sensory Inputs processing in brain leading to cognitive dissonance. Such a dissonance is permanent and a human being suffering from comparative frustration will change his intellectual asset into behavioral liability and will become a Set Ass ( anagram of Assets) toppling the Balance sheet of professional career and personal life.

So My humble request to one and all is learn to develop will power to overcome comparative frustration by using the Old Adage :-

‘Mera Number Bhi Ayega’

Remember don’t allow small Rifts to cause big differences in life.

In Conclusion:

Failure is a mechanism and success is a process. Failure is like a keyed toy which dances until the spring is tense and drops dud and dead after the spring is relaxed. The word failure starts with letter F- Frustration (key) and Ends with E- Estrangement or Emptiness. The best way to avoid failure is by preventing the nucleation of first letter - frustration.

Success is a process which starts with self direction and ends with self acceptance. It is a ladder of two steps. The first step is Commitment and the next step is Competence. Using the two steps mentioned above the process will lead to Satisfaction and a Gratifying balance between personal life and professional career.

Failure(Mechanism)	Success (Process)
F    Frustration	S    Self direction
A   Aggressiveness (misdirected)	U   Understanding
I    Insecurity	C   Courage
L   Loneliness	C   Charity
U  Uncertainty	E    Esteem
R   Resentment	S    Self Confidence
E   Estrangement / Emptiness	S    Self Acceptance

Prof. A. N. Khedkar
Dean - Academics
HoD - Marketing
M.Tech (IIT), PGDMS

The Seminar in Management School

Many students often enquire as to why we have the Annual Seminars in various areas in the Institute. As we all know N.L.Dalmia holds seminars with unique names given to them to ensure a special identity. Marketing Seminar is called ‘MIRAGE’, Finance Seminar is called ‘MULYANKAN’ and HR Seminar is called ‘MANUSANDHAN’.

The yearly seminar has a major theme of topical interest on which speakers from industry share their views. For example, this year marketing seminar’s theme was ‘FOOD – Key to Hospitality’. We had speakers who shared their views on Fast Food hangout places attracting youngsters, a matured high-end hotel using food to keep their valued customers, a multinational services company which has its major business accent on corporate catering, advertising company executive walking us through the strategies of a multinational fast food chain in India, a caterer who caters to social occasions fitting the whims and fancies of unorganized sector and a celebrity chef taking us through the nuances of culinary tourism.

The students are involved right from choice of the seminar topic. They get wide experience organizing such a mammoth event, coordinating different agencies and ensuring that all are present to make the seminar a success. The seminar per se is a good exercise in Event Management and Project Management. One of the important aspects they learn is Crisis Management. There will be crisis notwithstanding the elaborate planning that goes prior to the seminar.

The benefits of seminar is that students get to know diverse views on a particular topic from practicing professionals. The seminar also gives an opportunity for the corporate people to visit us and interact with our student community so that they carry good impression and look forward to a continued association. It also brings the spirit of group working among students. All these benefits are in addition to the experience they get in public speaking and coming out with micro level planning which ensures the success and provides immense satisfaction.

Of late the students have been coming up with creative ideas to decorate institute campus with exhibits and scenes from real life so that an ambience is created reflecting the theme of the day.

Please feel free to communicate to me the other advantages and dividends the students get out of such activities carried out at the institute.

 Bye for now !

Prof. R. Subramanian

Chairman - Placements

Professor - Marketing

B.Tech (IIT)

PGDM (IIM-A) Marketing

Anna Hazare’s Movement: Some Lessons for Management Students

All is well that ends well. When 74 year old Gandhian who withstood 291 hours without food, announced his decision to end his fast, on the basis of Parliament passing the sense of house resolution moved by Pranab Mukherjee, Finance Minister of India, entire nation had a sigh of relief. At the same time, Parliament was spared from passing Jan Lokpal bill, maintaining the supremacy of the Parliament as well as constitutional provisions in the matter.

Are there any lessons for management students?  It is reported that Xavier Institute of Management will study the Anna  Hazare Movement. Let us analyse what lessons can be drawn form this movement.

In the history of India, there are at least three non violent movements: First of course the non violent movement led by Mahatma Gandhi against the British rule, second non violent movement was launched by Shri Jai Prakash Narayan against emergency and the last one was led by Anna Hazare against corruption. All the three movements succeeded because the leaders of all these movements were perceived to be selfless men who led the movement with the strength of their own moral character. They truly reflected the will of common citizens who gave whole hearted support. The first lesson to be drawn  from this movement is: You can provide effective leadership, when  you lead on the strength of your own moral character, without any conflict of interests, that is, without any personal gain or hidden agenda.

Next important lesson is that you have to put in place a core team with impeccable credibility who will not budge even if their own credibility is targeted or questioned. Only when you have such a team in place you will be able to weather the storms and take on mighty governmental establishment.

Third lesson to be learnt is: Do not under estimate power of communication and media. When you are launching a project or championing a cause of people, you must constantly talk to media and through the media to the common man. This will ensure that public interest is aroused to create sufficient pressure on the powers that be, and this in turn will bring success on your way earlier than expected media certainly can play role of agent of change.

Last but not the least, interests of common man also should not be overlooked. He is the ultimate stakeholder. Hence, if you take up cause of common man you are expected to receive unequivocal support of common man. Hence, as a leader of corporate body, product or a service will receive indeed an overwhelming response if you can connect common man with the product / services launched by you.

Notwithstanding what is stated herein above, it is pertinent to note here that we get the government we deserve. If members of the government are corrupt, that is because we as the members of the society are corrupt. When we point out one finger at others, three fingers are pointing back to us. Until we stop participating in the game of corruption – mindlessly paying bribes to traffic police, Police constable, Municipal peons/clerks and officers, village patwari, and politicians of every hue for getting our work done – corruption will not stop despite passing how so ever strong Lokpal bill. This not to undermine the great awareness created by Anna Hazare’s movement against corruption. But real gains will be possible only when every citizen stops giving or taking bribes. Onus of creating such a society is on us- “we the people of India”- including you and me. Let us all resolve that we will not fail India in creating corruption free society.

Prof. Anil Gor

Faculty - Finance

M.Com, LL.M, MFM, FCS, CAIIB, MICA

An Appreciation of Jerome Joseph

An Appreciation of Jerome Joseph’s Contribution to Human Resource Management

Dr. Jerome Joseph of the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad has been writing about numerous industrial relations issues for the past three decades, and among his significant books are Strategic Industrial Relations Management (1990), Transformational Industrial Relations (1995) and Towards an Industrial Relations Theory of Negotiated Connectedness (2004). One of the important concepts that Jerome Joseph has studied is that of alienation. In his words (2004: 99-100), “The most basic insight is the Marxian – alienation as fundamental, alienation as contradictions in all forms and moments of human community … Slave, feudal, capitalist; yesterday, today and tomorrow – contradiction is constant, expression varies. The exploiting and the exploited, the dominating and the dominated, accumulation and exploitation, oligarchy and marginalisation, the elites and masses – are but two sides of the same alienation coin – the alienating and the alienated. Both are in a dehumanised state, both needing conscientisation and liberation, neither exempt from the inhumanity of fundamental contradiction … the only tragedy of human existence is that more often than not consciousness of this condition remains latent and is not manifest even to those submerged in the quagmire of fundamental alienation.”

The principal methodological contributions of Dr. Joseph’s thought can be summarized as follows.  The human in organisations is not a solitary being in search of the notion of an apologetic yearning for salvation within the system of technical control. The human is an autonomous master of the process of technical control in determining the nature of the organisation. The human constructs the organisation. The effectiveness of the meanings made by the human are far greater when the construction of the organisation occurs through a conscious, explicit collective process. Such a conscious, explicit collective process then renders a notion of self reliant action on part of the human. The human does not feel bound to the existential prisons that haunt the character of the organisation. Instead the human is able to transcend these prisons and formulate her existence in the morphology of a collective community that actively presents the situation of dialogue and deliberation. Deliberative dialogue opens up new avenues which prevents rigid status quos from crystallising and attempts to ensure that these status quos will forever remain accountable to the synergy of an ethics which places the discursive argument as a central feature of organisations. These discursive arguments shape the morality of the organisation and vigorously attempt the eradication of the sensibility of domination.

Unlike physical phenomena occurring in nature, social phenomena not only encompass the territory of thoughts and actions, they also include the scheme of silences, which inhabit the non execution of actions, and the non imagination of thoughts. The idea of evolving a critical theory perspective of human resource management is thus a revolutionary project, which will need the evolution of an entire array of conceptual rethinking. Yet such a conceptual rethinking cannot be undertaken in isolation of a sense of community. It will need to be undertaken through the prism of dialogue with those who are willing to reimagine the nature of human resource management. Thus, there is a need for a community of thinkers on human resource management, who are committed to evolving radical thought on the quality of the human person in organisations.

Dr. Srinath Jagannathan

Faculty - HR

FPM (IIM - A)

N L Dalmia Institute of Management Studies and Research