Five years of industry exposure has made me a bit spoilt. The places of work spoil us with good food, paper napkins, cleaner loos and the likes. I was jolted back to my UG days, right from the orientation of PGSEM.
To leave the cribbing apart, classes are just wonderful. I could keep listening to the professors all day. Maybe after PSBB, I find lectures worthwhile to listen to. And more importantly the person in the podium is well read, handles doubts with ease and talks sense!
I wish I could just stay back in college and not have to come back to work :) This is the time when PGP looks all the more seductive AND unachievable.
There are 3 assignments by the next weekend. "If" I do little each day it would be easier by the end of the week. Else.. I shudder to think of the havoc my stressed out temper can play...
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Thursday, June 19, 2008
1st class blues
Classes begin tomorrow, as much as I look forward to attending it. I dread it as well. Why do I dread it? Well, we got a "welcome" mail from the Strategy professor. He had sent out the course outline and "as well as" our case study assignment for the 1st class. The case needs to be analysed based on 2 chapters from the prescribed text book.
I read the cases yesterday, read them like a novel. I understood what was going on and would be able to figure out what is written where. I am not sure I would be able to analyse the specifics, guess I don't even know what is expected of the exercise. The text book seems quite interesting, it tells you the meaning behind about a bunch of boards in your company that you usually is used as a "landmark" pointers. "Goto the printer next to the mission statement board" or "Keep going straight till you see a board with some corporate yada yada written on it and turn left. That is the shortest way to the loo"
I hope the "corporate BS" as many of us affectionately refer to things make sense and let us see what is in store in the 1st class.
I read the cases yesterday, read them like a novel. I understood what was going on and would be able to figure out what is written where. I am not sure I would be able to analyse the specifics, guess I don't even know what is expected of the exercise. The text book seems quite interesting, it tells you the meaning behind about a bunch of boards in your company that you usually is used as a "landmark" pointers. "Goto the printer next to the mission statement board" or "Keep going straight till you see a board with some corporate yada yada written on it and turn left. That is the shortest way to the loo"
I hope the "corporate BS" as many of us affectionately refer to things make sense and let us see what is in store in the 1st class.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Leadership
I read a forward today, I thought it would be wise to charter it in the omnipresent cyber space!
(Former President of India APJ Abdul Kalam at Wharton India Economic forum , Philadelphia, March 22,2008)
Question: Could you give an example, from your own experience, of how leaders should manage failure?
Kalam: Let me tell you about my experience. In 1973 I became the project director of India's satellite launch vehicle program, commonly called the SLV-3. Our goal was to put India's "Rohini" satellite into orbit by 1980. I was given funds and human resources -- but was told clearly that by 1980 we had to launch the satellite into space. Thousands of people worked together in scientific and technical teams towards that goal. By 1979 -- I think the month was August -- we thought we were ready. As the project director, I went to the control center for the launch. At four minutes before the satellite launch, the computer began to go through the checklist of items that needed to be checked. One minute later, the computer program put the launch on hold; the display showed that some control components were not in order. My experts -- I had four or five of them with me -- told me not to worry; they had done their calculations and there was enough reserve fuel. So I bypassed the computer, switched to manual mode, and launched the rocket. In the first stage, everything worked fine. In the second stage, a problem developed. Instead of the satellite going into orbit, the whole rocket system plunged into the Bay of Bengal. It was a big failure. That day, the chairman of the Indian Space Research Organization, Prof. Satish Dhawan, had called a press conference. The launch was at 7:00 am, and the press conference -- where journalists from around the world were present -- was at 7:45 am at ISRO's satellite launch range in Sriharikota [in Andhra Pradesh in southern India]. Prof. Dhawan, the leader of the organization, conducted the press conference himself. He took responsibility for the failure -- he said that the team had worked very hard, but that it needed more technological support. He assured the media that in another year, the team would definitely succeed. Now, I was the project director, and it was my failure, but instead, he took responsibility for the failure as chairman of the organization. The next year, in July 1980, we tried again to launch the satellite -- and this time we succeeded. The whole nation was jubilant. Again, there was a press conference. Prof. Dhawan called me aside and told me, "You conduct the press conference today." I learned a very important lesson that day. When failure occurred, the leader of the organization owned that failure. When success came, he gave it to his team.The best management lesson I have learned did not come to me from reading a book; it came from that experience.
(Former President of India APJ Abdul Kalam at Wharton India Economic forum , Philadelphia, March 22,2008)
Question: Could you give an example, from your own experience, of how leaders should manage failure?
Kalam: Let me tell you about my experience. In 1973 I became the project director of India's satellite launch vehicle program, commonly called the SLV-3. Our goal was to put India's "Rohini" satellite into orbit by 1980. I was given funds and human resources -- but was told clearly that by 1980 we had to launch the satellite into space. Thousands of people worked together in scientific and technical teams towards that goal. By 1979 -- I think the month was August -- we thought we were ready. As the project director, I went to the control center for the launch. At four minutes before the satellite launch, the computer began to go through the checklist of items that needed to be checked. One minute later, the computer program put the launch on hold; the display showed that some control components were not in order. My experts -- I had four or five of them with me -- told me not to worry; they had done their calculations and there was enough reserve fuel. So I bypassed the computer, switched to manual mode, and launched the rocket. In the first stage, everything worked fine. In the second stage, a problem developed. Instead of the satellite going into orbit, the whole rocket system plunged into the Bay of Bengal. It was a big failure. That day, the chairman of the Indian Space Research Organization, Prof. Satish Dhawan, had called a press conference. The launch was at 7:00 am, and the press conference -- where journalists from around the world were present -- was at 7:45 am at ISRO's satellite launch range in Sriharikota [in Andhra Pradesh in southern India]. Prof. Dhawan, the leader of the organization, conducted the press conference himself. He took responsibility for the failure -- he said that the team had worked very hard, but that it needed more technological support. He assured the media that in another year, the team would definitely succeed. Now, I was the project director, and it was my failure, but instead, he took responsibility for the failure as chairman of the organization. The next year, in July 1980, we tried again to launch the satellite -- and this time we succeeded. The whole nation was jubilant. Again, there was a press conference. Prof. Dhawan called me aside and told me, "You conduct the press conference today." I learned a very important lesson that day. When failure occurred, the leader of the organization owned that failure. When success came, he gave it to his team.The best management lesson I have learned did not come to me from reading a book; it came from that experience.
Thursday, May 8, 2008
SOP saga
Yippeee yay yay.. got shortlisted.. After all the celebration it dawned on me that there is a lot of work to do than anything else. I had to do 5 questions:
1. How do you see the PGSEM helping you in your goals? (150 words)
2. How would the PGSEM classroom benefit by your presence? (150 words)
3. What are two major achievements in your career? (150 words)
4. What is a major shortcoming you wish to discuss? What have you learned from it?
5. What is one issue dear to you? How do you see it resolved? (200 words)
Question 4 and 5 were the hardest. It took more than 2 days to even get the points done. I wrote my first draft had 3 main reviewers. I feel the reviews shaped the SOP really well.
Choosing the reviewers was very important. They should "want" you to make it to the course.
My husband was a natural choice of course, and 2 of my friends. Marrying a perfectionist was the best decision I ever made :) he had this immense patience to read-re-read the SOP and review it multiple number of times.
Finally submitted a well written SOP, most of my interview questions were from it. I guess it was an integral part of the selection process.
1. How do you see the PGSEM helping you in your goals? (150 words)
2. How would the PGSEM classroom benefit by your presence? (150 words)
3. What are two major achievements in your career? (150 words)
4. What is a major shortcoming you wish to discuss? What have you learned from it?
5. What is one issue dear to you? How do you see it resolved? (200 words)
Question 4 and 5 were the hardest. It took more than 2 days to even get the points done. I wrote my first draft had 3 main reviewers. I feel the reviews shaped the SOP really well.
Choosing the reviewers was very important. They should "want" you to make it to the course.
My husband was a natural choice of course, and 2 of my friends. Marrying a perfectionist was the best decision I ever made :) he had this immense patience to read-re-read the SOP and review it multiple number of times.
Finally submitted a well written SOP, most of my interview questions were from it. I guess it was an integral part of the selection process.
Friday, May 2, 2008
Is it destiny?
My entry into PGSEM'08 has made me believe in destiny more than anything else. The application deadline being extended by 2 days to accommodate my arrival from US, the googly caslet in the exam paper to name a few things.
The exam preparation started six years ago to be precise. My preparation for GRE - the exhaustive 50 wordlists from Barrons that strengthened my vocabulary. 2004 was my tryst with cat, couldnt fare beyond 92 percentile, there were a couple of personal factors attributed to it. 2006 cat + 2007 pgsem.. I'd rather not talk about the disasters. Would erase those chapters if I could.
I always "felt" that I should be giving PGSEM another shot, but never worked towards it. I even tried to settle down for an exec-MBA. It is purely a decision from the heart to go for the PGSEM-08 test. My usually supportive husband was also sceptical about my spurt of interest for the course. I slogged for a month. Took tests after tests. Worked out sums in boring meetings. (I am officially not saying this) Did my worldlists again. Stayed away from TV.
After a long time I felt prepared for an exam. The paper seemed very easy. I attempted almost all the questions.
Ofcourse IIM threw a surprise caselet about "tata-nano" in the exam. There were 2 questions to answer. I did the 1st one really really well. (I guess the practice for GRE case writing helped a lot). Since I had lost touch writing with a pen and paper, I wasnt fast enough for the 2nd answer, gave an half hearted attempt at it. Ofcourse felt super bad about not writing the 2nd answer well. The sad part was I knew so much about nano i could have done the answer really well. :(
I chewed my husband's brains for my mistake. Nice man that he is he did not leave me for all the tantrums I threw :) I eagerly awaited the results..
Finally after days and hours of refreshing yahoo mail I found the mail I was wainting for. Shortlisted!!!! "I made it" I thought I would pass out from the excitement. :)
Stay tuned for the sop, interview and the aftermath. :)
The exam preparation started six years ago to be precise. My preparation for GRE - the exhaustive 50 wordlists from Barrons that strengthened my vocabulary. 2004 was my tryst with cat, couldnt fare beyond 92 percentile, there were a couple of personal factors attributed to it. 2006 cat + 2007 pgsem.. I'd rather not talk about the disasters. Would erase those chapters if I could.
I always "felt" that I should be giving PGSEM another shot, but never worked towards it. I even tried to settle down for an exec-MBA. It is purely a decision from the heart to go for the PGSEM-08 test. My usually supportive husband was also sceptical about my spurt of interest for the course. I slogged for a month. Took tests after tests. Worked out sums in boring meetings. (I am officially not saying this) Did my worldlists again. Stayed away from TV.
After a long time I felt prepared for an exam. The paper seemed very easy. I attempted almost all the questions.
Ofcourse IIM threw a surprise caselet about "tata-nano" in the exam. There were 2 questions to answer. I did the 1st one really really well. (I guess the practice for GRE case writing helped a lot). Since I had lost touch writing with a pen and paper, I wasnt fast enough for the 2nd answer, gave an half hearted attempt at it. Ofcourse felt super bad about not writing the 2nd answer well. The sad part was I knew so much about nano i could have done the answer really well. :(
I chewed my husband's brains for my mistake. Nice man that he is he did not leave me for all the tantrums I threw :) I eagerly awaited the results..
Finally after days and hours of refreshing yahoo mail I found the mail I was wainting for. Shortlisted!!!! "I made it" I thought I would pass out from the excitement. :)
Stay tuned for the sop, interview and the aftermath. :)
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