Operacy 2013 on the Anvil: Students of KIAMS gear up for a sensational event

The much talked-about annual management inter collegiate event- Operacy of Kirloskar Institute of Advanced Management Studies (KIAMS) is back in its 2013 avatar. Spread over 3 days (19-21 October), it spans both locations of KIAMS – Harihar and Pune. The kal, aaj, kal mix will see executives (with 3 years experience max), current Management Students and prospective students all will mingle in a kind of melting pot from which will emerge the best as winners! Over the years, Operacy has become known as an extravaganza for students of management and the bar is expected to be raised higher this year.

This Annual Inter Collegiate Management event has a rich history of over a decade and it has transformed from a paper writing competition to a class act. Completely student driven, it is a national business festival in many ways and a marquee event in the calendar year for management students all over the country. Little wonder then that it has generated curiosity far and wide, which has only motivated the members of teams organising the event this year to put on a show to remember.

Prachi Aggarwal, an Operacy team, “Operacy simply means making things happen. And that’s what we aim to do with the organisation as well. We are giving it everything we’ve got because there’s a precedent for this event and we have to live up to the expectations.”

Students of the institute are charged up for the upcoming event because it offers them a platform to showcase their talents. At the same time, they are excited about the opportunity to interact with industry experts, who are going to make their presence felt at the event. In fact, giving students first-hand experience of the real corporate life is one of the objectives of Operacy.

Nikhita Gupta, another team member for the event, says, “This event is meant to enable you to discover yourself. It’s also an opportunity to learn from the experts in the business. And you will have a lot to look forward to on that count this year.”

There are several exciting events that have been lined up for Operacy 2013 and they are bound to hit the right note with the audience. For example, Catastrophe is a Finance competition that will test analytical abilities of participants. Inquisitor, on the other hand, is a Marketing challenge that will test the skills of participants to the limit.

Of course, the traditional Paper Writing competition, which the event started out as, has generated keen interest amongst students too. Held under the aegis of students’ managerial skills this competition has the students’ take on specific assignments on behalf of industry. They are offered much needed support by the faculty and it thus serves as a dynamic platform for students to learn and grow.

The Illuminati (Human Resource) and Vicissitude (Operations) other events that are being looked forward to. The stunning and sprawling canvas will also hold Ankuran, the inter-B-plan competition, that will offer an opportunity to budding entrepreneurs from different colleges to put forward their ideas and business plans. This competition, held by the E-Cell of KIAMS within the Operacy aegis, encourages students to dream big and become successful entrepreneurs. A unique aspect Ankuran is the introduction of the Jugaad Innovation concept.

Gayathri Suresh, another team member of the Operacy organizing committee, says, “Come, rejoice and rejuvenate’ is the mantra for our event. We want everyone to have fun, learn and feel refreshed at the end of it.” That’s what some of the corporate honchos are bound to feel as they relive their college moments during Déjà Vu,. Athelin is another competition that will be held on the campus, with the objective of helping students find out whether they are industry-ready.

All the events are distributed across both locations – Harihar and Pune – in an integrated and holistic design. With these challenging competitions, strong corporate presence, enthusiastic student organisers and prizes to be won, Operacy 2013 promises to be an event that will be remembered for a long time to come.

Student-Teacher team from KIAMS present paper at ICMIS-13 in Bangkok: ‘Re’search for Glory

The International Conference on Management and Information Systems (ICMIS-13) was recently held in Bangkok. Organised by International Forum of Management Scholars (INFOMS), the much talked-about conference had some of the most renowned and accomplished names from the world of Management presenting their research papers. Among them was a 23 year old student from Kirloskar Institute of Advanced Management Studies (KIAMS), whose paper – written along with Prof. Bidyanand Jha from the institute – was selected to be presented at the conference.

Needless to say Ravi Rajiv, who worked for six months on the paper under the guidance of Prof. Jha “Factors affecting purchase intention on mobile shopping websites in India”, was thrilled to bits. “When Prof. Jha called me to say that our paper had been chosen for the conference, I was hugely excited. Being the co-author of a full-fledged paper that’s chosen for a prestigious conference is a big deal,” he gushes.

Ravi’s first paper has already created ripples in the field and it’s worth knowing more about it from the horse’s mouth. “The purpose of this paper was to explore a conceptual model for analysing customers’ perceptions of using mobile commerce services for online shopping. This paper provides insights into consumer behaviour, and the results have important implications for designers, managers, marketers and system providers of mobile shopping (m-shopping) web sites,” he says, stating the significance of the research for today’s times.

While the relevance of the paper cannot be overemphasised, it’s also interesting to note that it was Prof. Jha who was already working on it. Ravi is quick to acknowledge the fact, and expresses his gratitude to his professor. “During the third semester of my 1^st year, I was working on a paper for a competition and met Prof. Jha for his inputs on it. He was already working on this paper and asked me to help him with it.”

Prof. Jha had said at the time that if the paper got selected, Ravi could present it in Bangkok along with him. And now, as those words have come true, Ravi can’t thank his professor and the institute enough for this support and the platform he’s been given. “Prof. Jha showed a lot of confidence in me and kept me motivated. His Marketing Management and Sales and Distribution courses were very educational, but the opportunity to work with him on the paper was priceless. He made the whole experience enriching and a lot of fun,” he says.

Ravi also talks about the emphasis KIAMS lays on research in its curriculum, which fosters the spirit of discovery in the best possible way. It’s this encouragement that faculty and students receive at the institute that pushes them to excel in their chosen areas of research.

Prof. Jha, who’s pursuing his PhD, has already published 10 papers in double blind peer reviewed international journals in the field of Consumer Behaviour, Retail, Mobile Commerce & Quality Management during his association with KIAMS. He talks highly of the pro-research bent of the institute that offers him the right impetus. Ask Ravi about the most challenging aspect of the paper and he says, “Definitely the questionnaire. We worked for a week trying to frame it just right. We then passed it around through printed copies, electronically and on some websites. Thankfully, the recovery rate was 90%, which worked in our favour.”

After making an impact with his paper and presentation at the ICMIS-13, Ravi is excited about working on his next paper, ‘Channel Partnership between Wal-Mart and P&G’, which he hopes to present at ICME-2014 in Sri Lanka. Meanwhile, he wants to make the most of the opportunities and support he gets at KIAMS and keep up with research.

Prof. Dr. V. S. Pai: Making a Strong Case

Prof. Dr. V. S. Pai of Kirloskar Institute of Advanced Management Studies makes it big once again with his research paper on Godrej Consumer Products Ltd. (GCPL) being accepted for publication in the Business Case Journal, USA. While Dr. Pai already has around 70 publications to his credit, the significance of his latest achievement is huge. “Business Case Journal, USA has an acceptance ratio of 10-12%. I am glad I could crack it,” he acknowledges.

Prof. Pai has a prolific, almost three-decade long career to boast of. He has worked with numerous educational institutes of repute like Gulbarga University & Manipur University, TA Pai Management Institute, Manipal, ICFAI Business School, & ISFAI Institute for Management Teachers, Hyderabad before coming to KIAMS. But he still manages to find time in his busy schedule for his research. He attributes that to his “passion for research and, of course, the subject. One also needs to have self-discipline. But above all, there’s the desire to achieve that keeps you going.”

It’s passion that drives Dr. Pai to choosing a particular subject for his research, but he also has a practical approach to his research. “It might start with your passion for a subject and your personal interest in it, but you also have to think about data availability and research trends,” he says wisely.

So what is it that made Prof. Dr. Pai work on this particular paper about GCPL? “The company was engaging in strategic and daring acts, especially globally. It had focused its energies on emerging markets and that caught my attention,” he explains.

He was also more than willing to offer further insights into the paper. “It was a wonderful example of how a family run business is seeking to go global. So far, it has been successful in emerging markets of Asia, Africa and Latin America,” he adds.

GCPL, as Prof. Pai points out, decided to focus on globally emerging markets. The company managed to do that with success, but is it the right way to go for Indian businesses? “Yes, most definitely, especially when targets are emerging markets. GCPL and Dabur Ltd. are glorious examples of such an approach in the FMCG sector,” he says positively.

Prof. Pai also has some pointers for overseas acquisitions, which we might see a lot of in the future. “Identifying a target available at a reasonable price, due diligence, timing of the deal, integration with the parent company, looking for synergies, whether to replace the existing CEO and the top team or not – these are just some of the factors that go into the success of an acquisition,” he says.

Going in for overseas acquisitions might be one thing, managing disparate subsidiaries in different countries is quite another. But Prof. Dr. Pai has a three-step strategy that can benefit companies. “Developing strong, entrepreneurial business units with their own resources and capabilities, managed with high levels of strategic and operational autonomy,” is step one. “Then you to enable a rich horizontal flow of knowledge, best practices and other resources across units. Finally, you create a corporate engine that fosters and maintains an exciting sense of purpose,” he explains his strategy.

Prof. Pai’s passion for teaching is visible in the way he tries to explain different concepts with clarity. Does he incorporate his research findings into classroom teaching too? “The cases are discussed in case sessions; empirical papers are dwelt upon during lecture sessions,” he agrees.

And are there any other papers that one can look forward to from Prof. Dr. Pai? “I’m working on an empirical research paper with my colleague at KIAMS. I’m also writing a case on the challenges faced by Nokia, now acquired by Microsoft, and a case on Cipla Ltd. with a co-author from the US,” he says. Obviously, we can expect a lot more from this erudite academician, who is not content to rest on his laurels.

Negotiation Skills and Conflict Resolution MDP in Dubai: Dr Gopal Iyengar of KIAMS bridges the gulf

Dr Gopal Iyengar, Director KIAMS is headed to Dubai to deliver a Management Development Programme on Negotiation Skills and Conflict Resolution. It has already become a hugely anticipated event not only because of the relevance of the subject for our times but also since it comes at the back of the successful Modern Management programme he had delivered last year.

Dr Iyengar is considered to be a voice of authority in the world of management given his 15 years of Industrial experience including Saudi Bahraini Cement Co., which has given him immense insight into corporate functions in the Gulf region. He also has 15 years of experience in Management Education and his papers presented at National and International conferences have always been warmly received.

As the Director of one of the reputed management institutes in India, he’s a respected academician and his management sessions are looked forward to. Little wonder then that when he accepted the offer to conduct a session on Negotiation Skills and Conflict Resolution in Dubai, it raised a lot of curiosity amongst those in the know.

Kirloskar Group has a substantial presence in the Middle East and executives from the company’s esteemed dealers are expected to attend the program. Dr Iyengar himself is quite excited about meeting the participants of the MDP in Dubai. “I am excited about partnering the K-Group in its knowledge initiative for its dealers. There would be cross national and cross cultural participants from the Marketing team of the dealers. That should be interesting,” he says looking forward to the experiences at the program.

“The participants are vastly experienced and that will enrich the delivery,” adds Dr Iyengar about what promises to be an inspiring platform for exchange of ideas and sharing of knowledge. Having delivered several MDPs in India, how different does he think this particular programme in Dubai would be? “Firstly, there would be a greater mix of Nationalities and cultures. Secondly the previous Management workshop went very well and they are all geared up for this one,” he enthuses. “Moreover multinational experiences will be brought to the table, which will add to the richness of the programme.”

The Middle East has established itself as a hub for industrial and corporate activities, which has brought the attention of the entire world. Its infrastructure is top notch and several huge projects are in the pipeline in different parts of the region. The Gulf is said to be the future and projected as the centre of growth for the next decade or so. In that context the significance of a programme on Negotiation Skills and Conflict Resolution cannot be overemphasized.

The two day programme delivered by Dr Iyengar is divided into different sessions that are directed towards understanding the concepts and context of conflict and then delving deeper into their classification and the impact they have. There will be sessions that will deal with approaches to resolve conflict including Negotiations as an important tool for it.

The pedagogy for the programme includes lectures, case studies, exchange of experiences, video clips, role play and discussions to have the desired impact on participants and helping them get a better grasp of the subject. There will also be a brainstorming session on a present situation that needs resolution so that participants can get a first-hand experience of putting these concepts into practise.

While Kirloskar group has a prolific presence in Dubai, the huge base KIAMS has in the region cannot be overlooked either. Many of the alumni from the institute have made their home in Dubai and their presence felt in their respective professions. Together they have carried the beliefs of the institute to the area and are its glorious ambassadors.

That’s why the first alumni meet of KIAMS in Dubai to be held during Dr Iyengar’s stay there seems long overdue. It’s something that has added a new dynamic to the trip for the institute Director, who is excited about catching up with his past students. “They have been extremely supportive of our initiatives in Dubai. I know each one of them well from their college days and am sure there will be a lot of nostalgia when we get together.”

Will he be carrying any message for his alumni? “Not really, we’ll just meet and have a blast,” he says. Seemingly all the messages and learning is reserved for participants of the MDP, who should be in for a special treat.

“The academic experience (at KIAMS) has helped to tone down myself from being more of a speaker to a listener, as it is important you listen and understand and then act.” says Bharat Gilda, Batch 2011-2013

For Kirloskar Institute of Advanced Management Studies (KIAMS) student Bharat Gilda his time at the institute went far beyond the academic experience.

“At kiams it’s more because you not only study but you gain from the experiences every day. The way it is done keeps you in touch with the way people think and what’s going on around you and how to do things and how people affect each other and how you can ‘optimally utilize all your resources’ – that is what the course teaches you.”

And he credits what he learned with landing his plum position as a channel sales representative with SBI Life Insurance.

Leading up to his interview for the position, Bharat said: “I prepared myself everyday as I would go through books which weren’t related to studies. Then I tried to understand how people sold something every time successfully and why. Relationships with friends and faculty at kiams teach you a lot about how to handle people.”

For Bharat, his time at KIAMS has been enormously rewarding. From friends who have shown various ways a problem can be solved to the wonderful faculty, KIAMS has given Bharat a platform where he could explore the world the way he always wanted to. He cited in particular Dr. V.S. Pai who he termed “a true rock star” among faculty.

There were some challenging times though, one of which was the summer internship when he had to travel two months through Sangli, Tasgaon, Bijapur, Miraj and Pandarpur. All turned out well in the end, he said and the journey proved to be a “revealing experience” in the area of job calls in the field.

Bharat hails from Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh. He comes from a family of businessmen. He chose to come to KIAMS to gain all the skills needed to run a successful business some day. His advice to current KIAMS students is “unless they work with dedication and stay in touch with what’s happening outside it’s going to be very difficult for anyone to get a good profile and a good brand to work with.”

Bharat Gilda,

                                                                                                   KIAMS Batch 2011-2013,

Placed with SBI Life Insurance

Kirloskar Institute Of Advanced Management Studies Alumni Testimonials Attest To The Institute’s Gold Standards

The Kirloskar Institute of Advanced Management Studies (KIAMS) is a program designed to prepare the next generation of students for the challenges that await them within the ever evolving business world of tomorrow. Current students of the program are immersed in real-world business situations that enable them to learn all facets of the corporate world. In this way, KIAMS enables students to receive a rock solid foundation from which to pursue their dreams.

As Anirudh Samanthray, a former student at KIAMS and current Product Marketing Manager at IBM, states: “After graduating from KIAMS, in the first few months as an executive at Pantaloons, I had to work out of a retail office without any desk space. The world outside is a far cry from the wonderful days at KIAMS, and you have to be prepared for it. In hindsight, I can confidently say that KIAMS prepares you well for the day when you bid farewell to its campus.”

KIAMS is an arduous program that accepts nothing but the best from its students while also offering nothing but the best for its students. Bhawana Dwivedi, a deputy manager of HR, says, “The standards were really very high, and they never changed in the two years that I spent at KIAMS. Over the years, I’ve chatted with a lot of my friends and relatives who have studied in various B-schools across the country-nothing that they’ve described come even close to the quality of life that KIAMS gave us.”

KIAMS prides itself on the level of real-world business interaction that is provided to its students. This level of involvement with the business world gives student at KIAMS a competitive edge. Biswajit Mishra, a former KIAMS student and current manager with the Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), says that KIAMS helps its students to look at the all aspects. “At KIAMS, we were taught to look at the bigger picture, understand the cause and the impact of any scenario and to then find a logical solution. Logical thought processes help to crystallize all of the ideas and the offers up solutions to different problems.”

KIAMS not only prepares students for the business world but also gives students a soft skill set that helps them to succeed, no matter which direction their path takes them. As Prashanti Akepati, an alumni of KIAMS and a Senior Manager with the User Acceptance Testing (UAT) Department at Bajaj Allianz, notes: “It was at KIAMS that I learned the art of listening. Very often you will see two people saying the same thing, but not agreeing with one another. One has to listen to be able to deliver what is needed. The most important thing that KIAMS taught me was the ability to learn and unlearn.”

KIAMS also offers students an environment that is receptive to collaboration and sharing. As Rahul Pugalia says, “I was blessed with an inspiring set of classmates at KIAMS. We had a great mix of people in our class, coming from different cultures. From each culture and domain, I would gain new organizational knowledge.

As these testimonials attest to, KIAMS stands as the gold-standard for offering students the best education to prepare them for the challenges of tomorrow.

“KIAMS Owes Its Almost-Perfect Business Education Culture To The Fact That It Has Been Raised By One Of The Biggest Business Houses Of The Country.” Says Bhawna Dwivedi,Business Partner – HR, Mahindra Satyam ,KIAMS Batch 2003-2005

When Bhawna Dwivedi walked into Kirloskar Institute of Advanced management Studies ( KIAMS) in 2003, little did she know that this would be the first of a series of transformations that she would be seeing in her life. For, the young girl who had gone to school in Patna and majored in Economics from Patna University as well, KIAMS in Davangere was the first academic outing.

“KIAMS was originally designed for an Executive MBA programme, so in terms of facilities it was really a class apart. The infrastructure, the rooms, the cleanliness and sanitation – the standards were really very high, and they never deteriorated in the 2 years that I spent at KIAMS. Over the years, I’ve chatted with a lot of my friends and relatives who have studied in various B-schools across the country – nothing that they’ve described comes even close to the quality of hostel life that KIAMS gave us. The atmosphere was very open. Even the visiting faculty would live on-campus in KIAMS. So we could chat with them, after classes as well. I learnt a lot and enjoyed a lot… KIAMS was the best part of my student life.”

The other big transformation in Bhawna’s life came along when she got herself a summer internship with Satyam Computers while at KIAMS. In 2005, she was placed as a Management Trainee, HR in Satyam Computers at Chennai, and has ever since been a part of its tumultuous transformation from Satyam computers to Mahindra Satyam, rising to the ranks of a Deputy Manager, HR.

“My role has been that of a HR generalist – what is better known as a business partner, HR. I take care of the HR of a business unit of Mahindra Satyam. The work of a business partner, HR, starts from the moment an associate is on the board. Post joining, once the training is done, till  exit; everything is handled by the business partner, HR – payrolls, salary , appraisal, all extra formalities and all kinds of fun and connect activities, all form a part of my job in Mahindra Satyam.”

In 2007, Bhawna got a transfer to Pune with Mahindra Satyam, after her marriage. She is currently on maternity leave having been blessed with motherhood in 2011.

Bhawna feels that one of the biggest reasons why KIAMS has an almost perfect business education culture – complete with exhaustive industry interaction – is because it has been raised by one of the big business houses of the country. She feels that the faculty is not just good, but considerably mature.

“I particularly remember Professor Janki Naik in HR. She brought freshness to the way she conducted her HR lessons in KIAMS. She was very particular about making us culturally sound with reference to a corporate environment. For a fresher in a new work environment, it really matters. Even today, I remember what she taught us at KIAMS.  Throughout the year we were kept busy. In school or college there were hardly any presentations to be given, but in KIAMS it was bread and better. Presentations need a lot of research, plus of course the ability to speak coherently and sell in front of a group.”

Bhawna feels that an institution like KIAMS is more of a platform – to communicate with seniors, faculty and industry representatives in an industrial environment. This boosts the confidence of a student at KIAMS no end, which is particularly important for an HR practitioner. While you’ve got to be strong in theory, at the end of the day, it’s a downright communication job.