Top 5 Must-Read Books For MBA Students in India

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A real MBA is an all-rounder, an aspiring student in his times, popular in college and a leader at work. How does this happen? Does it merely happen by attending a good reputed and ranked business school? No, it happens by gaining knowledge and hearing out other people’s experiences. Not often do we know people of relevance whose experiences we can learn from. But, don’t forget we have books where innumerable applicable and real-life experiences offer abundant knowledge at hardly any cost. Use this to aid you to become the real MBA you desire to be. MBAupdates encourages you to read the following books from Indian management scene.

World Class in India: A Casebook of Companies in Transformation, Gita Piramal

This Penguin India book is a must-have, as it supports the case for corporate India to make necessary changes and amendments in context of the global scenario. It talks about the managers of the now big corporate and their resistance to changes that could have cost fortunes. It is a well-researched book diving into various industries and sub sections attempting to understand the psyche of the corporate Indian leaders.

Fortune at the Bottom of the Pyramid, C.K. Prahalad

This book by the reputed management Guru C.K. Prahalad offers some great insight into how the developing countries, like the BRIC nations are actually offering more poor population to make great markets out off. The story of the new market begins form the bottom of the pyramid than the top cream section. This is a book with different perspective that will set you thinking.

Count Your Chickens before They Hatch, Arindam Choudhary

This book explores the different angles making it an encompassing read for an MBA. It starts with the need of the hour in terms of managers and human labour, comparatively analysed by the industry specific experts who possess these qualities along with the psychology of the leader unfolded in each page. This book is a great read to understand the Indian business manager.

Winning Strategies, Shiv Khera

Winning Strategies edges more towards personal development. It teaches the correct attitude 
that business leaders should have, inter personal skills they should develop, how they should set their goal and how strategies are made based on the personal abilities assessed by an individual. This a definite read for all those suffering from taking that extra step forward due to the feeling of incapability and low self-esteem.

Sack the CEO, Jitendra Jain

This is humorous account fictionalised by the author who aims to talks about the different types of leaders, managers and bosses and how each should be dealt with. It unfolds a strategy, strategy worth lending your ears to.
These are some of the most resourceful chosen books after careful and relevant research by the MBAupdates team.

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Posted by samjohnson

Would the Increase in Women Managers Benefit the Nation?

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Issues of the men and women have dominated debates since the beginning of mankind. Women were classified to be home makers and the child bearers whereas men were the bread winners, earning a living for their family for basic sustenance and life. Today, things have changed. In fact, MBAupdates thinks that the profile of men has more or less remained the same, but women have added more cookies to their already heavy baskets. Women can multi task, yes it is a fact, and this is exactly what has given them the edge over men when it comes to see-sawing between, home and work. This in fact is the biggest proof of women being better managers than men. Multi-tasking means increasing productivity in two spheres making them better contenders to help increase productivity in the nation, at large. Here are few reasons why MBAupdates gives away the trophy to the fairer sex MBA.
Flexibility Adding To Productivity
Women are known to be more flexible and probably that one reason why women leave their houses after marriage then men. Flexibility and the openness of the mind add more value to their productivity. Since birth, women know they have to handle both home and work and hence their thought processes are less restrictive in nature that attempt to navigate and find ways to reach the result faster and yes, the same result with any compromises MBA.
Women Are More Ethical
Women are known to be more ethical as their efficiency has more finesse than that of men. This is the reason why they do not really resort to unethical and illegal articles at work. Women are lesser corrupt than men by a whopping 40%. Women include more considerations than men do and hence the try to encompass most of the factors that would probably affect their final product even before a project has started lending them the ability to do tasks without any negative assistance.
Tolerance Levels
Women are more tolerant than men and are stronger at handling feeling of dejection, incompetence and failure. Men often take such adjectives on their ego resulting in a depressive state of mind incapable of adding more productivity to any official result at work or any other place. Higher tolerance levels help them deal with a range of diverse problems unlike men who have a lower threshold on tolerating nuances at work.
Women Are More Tactful
As women have the ability to think 360 degrees, they are more tactful while handling people, managing expectations, giving feedback that reflect as being more responsible. This makes top bosses trust women more than men. Women understand the finer elements and threads of relations and expectation based on the value system as they are multi-faceted by nature and profile.
Yes, thus employing more women at a macro country level will definitely help increase the productivity, efficiency through timely execution and a finer understanding of the scope of the work, as women understand expectations better.

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Posted by samjohnson

What Do B-Schools Look For In A Candidate While Selection?

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 The pressing question of what do B-Schools really look for in a candidate for admission has a rather ambiguous answer. Each business school has its own criteria which undergoes changes each year. There are no criteria fixed by any university, private or public or none listed by the governmental decision-makers on education in the country. This puts prospective MBA desirous students in a fix, in a dilemma with no objective answer. MBAupdates has deciphered the intricacies and researched the opinion of many B-School ex-students and those currently in process of application and admission to boil down to the few indispensableand vital admission gaining criteria for selection by B-Schools.
Experience, Experience, Experience
No matter what people say experience is something that definitely adds oodles of value to your chances of getting chosen in your dream B-School. Having experience in your kitty completes the picture. MBAupdates research shows that having a minimum 2 years’ experience can be lucrative for an admission desiring MBA. Working as an intern or a management trainee reflects your ability to work, your motivation, and your determination about taking up the MBA seriously. Work experience before an MBA looks like a more organised and chalked out system than a one without it.
You scored!                                                                          
Getting a good CAT, CET, NMAT, XAT etc. score is not the ultimately test. MBAupdates estimates that a good qualifying score matters to an extent of 50%, nothing more or nothing less. There are a practically no colleges that take students based solely on the parameter of their score. Thus, beating the world in the common eligibility test is no real guarantee of you getting through the desired program and college. Of course, MBAupdates does not deny the importance of a good score. A good score is necessary but not a sufficient condition. A good score needs many props like experience and overwhelmingly impressive resume.
All-Rounder Resume
There is stark difference in actually being an all-rounder and having an all-rounder appeal for your resume. You resume needs to reflect the correct growth. The resume should show the responsibilities undertaken by you on an increasing trend. You involvement in Extracurriculars should show a rise of nearly 25%at each stage starting from the 10th standard, to graduation, other post-graduation if any and rounding off with a minimum two years of professional work experience. Building a great resume is tough job. However, do remember to highlight extracurriculars at along with each score you write.
Thus, as researched one can notice that none of the above mentioned selection criteria are independent of each other. One’s power is dependent on the others and hence irrespective of the presence each element should be present in your successful selection equation into preferred a B-school.

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Posted by samjohnson

Does Learning a Foreign Language Help MBAs

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In an increasing universal work culture, where work is now become globally interconnected any additional skill that bridges the domestic and international gap in any way is more than welcome. What differs one country from another is the culture, the food, the work life but the most important point of difference is the language. English no more holds the roost for being the most spoken language in the world. Hence, there is a requirement for new languages.
Need for a Foreign Language
Log on to some offbeat job site or community website that shows freelance and part time job openings. You will see a lot of such jobs as translators and copy makers in certain specified languages. Markets have undergone evolution, the countries that used to communicate in English have been taking a backseat whereas the developing countries like China and the other BRIC nations are moving forward in business and enterprising requiring professional equipped to handle their native languages. Knowing the native language of a country helps bringing in the business, striking deals and closing negotiations of favourable terms. Hence, corporate and organizations prefer bilingual and multilingual mba professionals.
Important foreign languages for MBAs
From the detailed research and survey MBAupdates attempted it was observed that the languages in demand are Mandarin, Japanese and Spanish. These are the languages that are in demand. As the countries speaking these language are the countries taking a piece of the world with their development goals. You do not need to be great at reading or writing; just talking it fluently by learning through different ways can help you get the essential skills you need to know a new language.
How Does It Help MBAs
If you are an ambitious MBA looking for a good job opportunity abroad then here is a small but effective gateway. Learn a few, or even a single foreign language based on which country of the globe you intend to settle down it. First of all, if you have an additional skill of a foreign language, your resume looks more complete; secondly, the foreign language prefers you over the rest of interviewees, and thirdly, research shows language skills help basic post MBA salaries by nearly 15%-20%. The reason why this is considered an asset by employers is because languages are the keys to the hearts of many. Many a business deals and projects are one by making the client feeling more familiar, at home giving the MBA a new kind of business exposure! And this is best done with none other than the key to the client’s native languages.
Amidst the major, complex and detailed credit based MBA programs that students undergo, learning a new language is a rather relatively easier task, it is not too much of an investment and languages can be learnt effortlessly. Yes, learning a foreign language definitely helps MBAs. Talk a new tune, now! Do read the helpful tips and basics on language learning for MBAs complied by MBAupdates.

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Posted by samjohnson

Does Higher Education Reduce Crime?

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In the equation of crime, crime itself is the dependent variable, which is dependent on 20% education and 80% subjective personal circumstances. Education mba alone cannot mitigate the effects of crimes. Yes, crime is partially dependent on education. India is a vast country, a country filled with educated and uneducated people, with an average low literacy rates. In the other side, you have the United States of America, which too has been witnessing a discernible incline in crime rates, but wait; doesn't USA have higher literacy rates? Then why is it that the crime rates are seeing an increase. So what really results in crime?

Taking the education factor into consideration it should be accepted that higher education, that is , higher the child goes into the education system lower is the likelihood of crime as the individual is develops a stronger civic sense,  desires to be a better citizen, learns about rules, regulations and punishment. At the same time the higher the student climbs the ladder of education, higher are his chances of earning a better salary and thus lower is the possibility of him not being able to satisfy any of his needs. If he has the means, his desires are satisfied and hence education does play a partial role. If it did play a full role in reducing crime then no one in developed countries would have committed crimes. Take for instance the hate crimes, along with the other uncontrolled shootings that happen. Most of the criminals are highly educated.

Circumstances, the individual external situation and internal feelings play a major role in influencing crime. Individual situations can be caused by any family, relationships, friends, community etc. Internal situations can be caused to due to medical or psychiatric conditions and other mental disorders. Statistics show crimes arise mainly out of the inability to get the basic necessities. In a slowing global economy, mba, job and money matter, and the incapability to get these spur the crime rates. In times like these the job satisfaction levels are very low which tend to create an uneasy feeling prompting illegal alternatives as the short best quick route to the desired goal. A very abstract thought playing on the mind, is the contribution of the minority community in crimes. Research and survey have shown that crimes within and amongst minority communities have seen a steady rise. This could throw light on a very clear relationship between the lacks of benefits, opportunities and decent lifestyle with the need to commit crimes to get the basics.

Culminating so brings us to a totally different solution. To reduce the crime the government must try increasing jobs in general and specially to the minority groups and communities. Educational seats are already provided via the quota system but additional benefits could help the population at large feel more equated and at peace. Nonetheless, the attitude and mentality of the people can be honed with effective training, ideas and correct moral education. Thus, criminal activities are caused not singularly due to the lack of education and neither can higher education reduce crime single-handedly.

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Posted by samjohnson

Does The Length Of The MBA Program Make Any Difference?

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Taking a decision about enrolling for an MBA programs to a great extent depend on certain variables like the affordability of the program, the specializations offered by it and the duration of the program. Out of the three, two that are most significant and to an extent related to one another are the factors of affordability and time. The tenure of the program and the affordability are both directly proportional to one another and highly dependent on each other. There are many different angles to answer whether the length of the MBA program does make any difference? However, after a lot of deliberations, research and discussions MBAupdates presents you with you some easy solution you can choose as your answer. The answers are subjective in nature.
Answer 1- This solution depends on the type of MBA you are looking for. If you are a professional with a minimum 2 years work experience and looking only for an Executive MBA of sorts for a leap in your career then you should ideally not be attempting to go for any program lasting for more than one year. Even if in case you do something like that you tend to nullify the added advantage of the MBA course by the loss of two or more years of work experience. This brings you back to pavilion with respect to your salary. These courses are more affordable as the executives’ affordability kept in mind while pricing the coursework aligns with their opportunity cost lost with one year’s break at work. Yes, in this case the length of the MBA program definitely makes a difference. While pursuing an Executive MBA you are looking more for a titular course rather than detailed framework, so is the case with Part Time MBA programs which professional pursue simultaneously while working.
Answer 2- If you are a fresh graduate looking to complete your circle of education with an impactful MBA, then yes two year course definitely makes a difference to you. As you have no work experience you need to dedicate more time training yourself with an in-depth course detailed for a specialization of your choice. The investment you need to make will be way more than the other flexible MBAs but it will be worth it as your entire career could depend upon the credits taken during the MBA coursework.
Thus the question has personal answers, each student or professional’s primary motives of procuring the degree could be different. However the guiding factors that remain the same irrespective of the individual’s decision and circumstances are the consideration of the opportunity costs of money. That one considers in each of the answers given above. Choose any of the solutions above as your answer before you choose an MBA program with a set time period.

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Posted by samjohnson

Does The Hike In Fees Deter Students From Higher Education?

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Education is for all and indeed it should be for all. Basic education, graduation or higher education, accessibility and more than eligibility is a concern in India. Indian students mba are known to be brighter than the rest giving them an edge in the criteria of eligibility. What really bogs them down is their inability to make it to institutes that offer expensive programs. This is one the hardest truths the education system in India has witnessed with no concrete solution to it as well.
This was one of the driving reasons why the quota system in India was developed. Dr Ambedkar, while building the constitution gave the low income groups and lower sections of the society special cess and advantages in all spheres especially education, at all levels. This mitigates the effect of the costly higher education courses like mba. Consider a general category student of an upper middle class family who faces fund constraints. A very bright student after being called from a prestigious B-school discovers that his father can’t pay the fees, the scholarships are taken away, seats are bought out leaving him with no option but to let go off the call and probably choose another lower ranked college or simply stop himself for aiming for the said program. Are we moving towards restricting education only to rich and indirectly forcing the poor to remain poor?
The Reality
In times when the job scene is not fantastic, students don’t expect enormous salaries. So, if they have an education loan to pay off it is going to make it even tougher for them to sustain a decent living. Education was supposed to have a social role to play, it was for the public, it was meant to be for all. But surprisingly in India, education, the good quality education is being privatised. It has its own market of the niche richer section students. However, it must be noted that this is not the fault of the private education entrepreneurs as they see market and make a business out of it.
Solution
The problem, at least to some extent, lies with the government. It is the job of the government to make education more inclusive in nature. Talking about India, the financial diversity of the students’ needs to be taken into consideration. The Education Ministry needs review the ranked higher education institutes and put caps on the fees, the institution should be funded by the government partly, if not wholly. Even foreign institutes setting their ground on the Indian soil should be made to follow certain rules and regulations when it comes to sizing and pricing their courses if education and not revenues from the expensive courses is the final goal for Indian education.
India is losing out on the real value of its demographic dividend to its growth process if it does not make education more public in nature.

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Posted by samjohnson
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