High expectation
Its like a balloon
Sometimes there's no sense
In looking at the moon
The moon has spots
And balloons burst
To avoid getting hurt
Do your research first
And all the castles I had built about Harvard students came tumbling down like a pack of cards. And just like all the spam floating around: MDI Rocks.
Our strategy professor showed us a video of a case discussion in Michael Porter's class and I came away impressed.
At the level of my fellow students.
The only other differences between us and them are:
1) probably that their class is quiet
2) they have greater work experience
And I don't think that they really prepared the case as much as our prof. tells us they do. But all said and done they produce more reputed people. Why?
1) Harvard has a "brand" name
2) They have a huge roster of alumni and consequently very dense alumni network
3) Well if they admit a batch of 900, atleast 10 have to make it big!
Thinkvast would probably have asked them to look at the "numbers". Then he would send out an evaluation mail saying,
Dear students,
Today's discussion shows that the rigour in ur(sic!) analysis was missing. You need to understand this from the gestaldt (sic) view. The requisite skills in number crunching are sorely lacking. I expect u to perform to better standards. I have attached a matrix on which your performance can be evaluated
Rigour of research and analysis (including number crunching): 3
Application of strategic thought: 3
Presentation Dynamics: 4
Regards
Thinkvast
COO
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3 comments:
Dunno how you can evaluate the quality of HBS students by viewing a Porter video. (I myself have seen the video, btw)
Some points u may like to think abt:
1) Most of an MBA's worth comes not from his intellect or his knowledge. The very nature of the degree and the job profile suggests that communication and interpersonal skills play a very critical role. By my experience of workin with HBS grads, they are significantly better than us Indian MBAs (or even LBS) in that regard.
Part of the reason lies in the admission procedure. IIMs have such a rigorous admission procedure, but is it a fair one?
70% of my batchmates at IIMB were engineers. Do engineers make better MBAs than BAs? Evidence shows otherwise. HBS on the other hand has a much more well-rounded batch, who get in only on the basis of a imporessive CV and interviews.
2) No doubt HBS has a brand, and it helps them a lot. You should may be put some thought on how a brand is formed and more importantly, how is it sustained? Performance is the answer. AMong all US bschools, HBS continues to be the best cos they update their curriculum and maintain extensive industry interaction.
3) Your point about the numbers is flawed by definition. IIPM has 1000 students per year, can you show me 10 every year who make it big? In fact, its impressive that HBS has been able to scale up so much inspite of keeping quality the same.
My 2 cents!
Dear atticus a.k.a Sumit :)
You may not know me but I am your junior from VJ Mech!
Coming to the point, I agree but only in part to your 2 cents. Interperonal skills are important but that is one part. You need to be competent enough and also be able to think creatively. Im sorry but the video just showed the lack of the latter.
You may have interacted with HBS grads. We have done the same. We have two HBS profs here at MDI. I was not able to match them with an HBS standard that Porter displayed. What impressed me in the video was the way in which Porter guided the discussion. Had that happened in India, I'm sure you would have seen much better communication and interpersonal skills. The story is the same across the top BSchools.
HBS has been slipping among the top US Bschools. The same has been happening in India. The gap between the IIMs are other BSchools is shortening. Also all top BSchools in India are more or less modelled on the Harvard style of learning.
I think you missed the point that Bhobe was making. Don't compare IIPM with HBS. What he was saying is that at that level of intake at even an above average insti, 10% will surely make it big over time.
My $0.02,
regards
hi Gordon,
thanks for ur reply. to ur response, i wud just like to say that using ur interaction with a HBS prof as a measure of the skills of HBS students is wrong. HBS profs are not necessarily MBAs, rather they are PhDs and the like.
Also ur point about the difference between IIM and other bschools narrowing is highly debated. dont know on wot facts u base that statement. if u look at placements (the only objective parameter), ul conclude just the opposite.
abt ur comment on the interpersonal skills, well u are still in bschool. wud be great to discuss this further with u once u enter the management world and ACTUALLY work to appreciate what Im saying.
once again, i am still very dumbfounded as to how a video of one class interaction gave both of you such great insights into HBS students and their quality.
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