· Tell us something about yourself and your institute?
About Me: I am a baby bloomer who did my PhD in Stakeholder management. Currently I am the Director / Principal of Agni School of Business Excellence Morepatti, Dindigul in Tamilnadu India
After working in the Government of India in the Cabinet Secretariat and Indian High Commission Seychelles for 22 years, I worked in the manufacturing and IT sector for the next 8 years and has also done consultancy works in the field of Quality for small and medium industries in India. I joined academics to pursue my passion –teaching. I have authored books ranging from Total Quality Management, Environmental Science to Ethics, and have presented 16 papers at the national level and 13 papers at the international level on various management topics. My research papers can be assessed at SSRN Author page: http://ssrn.com/author=646193 . My research work continues on various topics ranging from Mentoring to Marketing as I try to give shape to the future managers of India. I can be contacted at Cell No. +919952669656 and [email protected]
About the Institute: Agni School of Business Excellence( www.agniasbex.ac.in ), Morepatti, Dindigul, India, an emerging World class B- School approved by AICTE and currently affiliated to Anna University promoted by a renowned academician Dr P. Kanniappan, (Former Vice Chancellor of Alagappa University and present Vice Chancellor of Kalasingam University)
· When did you join teaching profession? Why did you choose to be a professor?
Though I stared giving occasional guest lectures much earlier. I started teaching for IGNOU MCA students on Operations Research and Accounting in 1999. I became a full time Faulty when I joined Muthayammal Engineering College as the first Head, Department of Management studies in 2005.
Teaching has been and continues to be my passion. I believe that keeps me young and give tremendous amount of self satisfaction when my old students remember me over the years
· What about teaching at b-schools inspires you the most?
In B schools we have the freedom to make the curriculum and Assessment system that is relevant and up to date with the corporate needs and there is an opportunity to create the future CEO’s and managers for Fortune 500 companies from India.
· Which subjects do you teach? Which ones do you like the most?
I teach all management subjects especially all the new subjects. I like all of them. The recent ones that I have taught or teaching are
(1) Total Quality Management (2) Communication Skills (3) Corporate Social Responsibility (4) Talent Management (5) Business Strategy (5) Strategic HRM (6) Legal Aspects of Business (7)Operations Research etc
· What is your teaching philosophy?
I believe that every student has a potential and he/she can be guided to come out successful. We only need to ignite the fire in him/her. I hate the mark oriented cram learning- teaching process
I believe in learner centred learning. Concepts need to be understood by the students with their own examples and they should be able to explain logically. More than I teach I tell stories and share my experiences. That way I bring more Case studies and participation by students to the class. I also believe in self evaluation by the students.
· Do you believe teaching should be more application based than theory? If yes, then how do you support it?
I totally agree.
Current scenario of Management education in India needs lots to be done; some of them are
First of all there should be an independent body for management in place of AICTE which is more focussed on Engineering.
Second: Current evaluation of the institutes by government agencies are more on documentations. For Faculties teaching management subjects, minimum industry experience of 5 years needs to be made as mandatory. The syllabus should be updated every six months. A Common single aptitude test needs to be conducted for selection of students through out the country. Currently we have many and some of them do not really test the aptitude.
Third: There should be more interaction between corporates and Academics. Currently many committees exist in paper
Fourth: Industrial Visits, Case studies, Projects should have real value in the assessment of students
· Who in your life has influenced you the most?
My Father late Shri Ramachandran influenced me the most.
· What suggestions would you like to make in the course of MBA?
Some of the suggestions that I have to make in the course of MBA are
Communication needs to be given high importance
Industrial Visits and their reports needs to have a component in student’s evaluation\
One foreign language would add more value to MBA
Selection criteria of students needs to be more logical and not based on academic tests that test mostly memory rather than aptitude
One mini project should be part of every trimester/Semester.
Curriculum and syllabus needs to be updated at least once in 6 months to synchronise with the industry needs
Mentoring needs to be mandatory
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· As a faculty, what kind of projects do you expect students to work upon?
I had the following for my students doing their MBA in 2 tier- 3 tiers cities They should work from simple projects which I had given to my students in the first semester it self. For example on Marketing
After deciding on a product like Tooth paste or soap, observe a couple of shops how these items are displayed and then find out from the shopkeeper the popularity of the different brands along with their sizes.
Based on the above form a small questionnaire and take a survey for 30 to 40 shops in one town/area and do analysis
Repeat the survey among customers for the same product In the same area and do analysis
Now compare these two and see how they are agreeing
Repeat for the same in a bigger city and again compare the differences and check how your research is with the actual market data available from internet or data by other researchers in other areas.
Try analysing what improvements can be made.
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For Finance- making a Portfolio of companies under different sectors and compare their share prices for 3 to 6 months and use statistical methods to predict their movement in the future. Analyze the reasons for the increase and decrease in the prices from the news related to these companies - For HR – taking a small survey on the current HR practices in a small company nearby (Sample size 30 to 40)
In the later semesters go for major projects.
· How are current technological advancements changing your teaching style?
Current technological advancements are really a boon.
It has become more visual as we use more power points and video clippings.
We use Google groups to have communication between faculties and students to share our knowledge and for getting assignments etc.
Students are encouraged to get many data from the web and they make beautiful presentations
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· What is the impact of mobile technologies boom influencing your area of specialization?
Mobile technologies boom is also quite useful as it has been revolutionizing all management subjects like Marketing, Finance and HR
· How are social networks influencing your discipline?
Social net work has also very good impact as the forums in linked-in are quite interesting. Further it links many professionals and we are able to have a one to one talk over phone or email and it has led to direct face to face interaction as Guest lecture etc
· How does the economy story of India change your discipline?
The Economy story of India is changing everything as it gives us more confidence and changed our perceptions. I am sure we will definitely realize our people’s president His Excellency APJ Abdul Kalama’s vision of 2020 soon.
· What changes do you see on the horizon in your area of discipline?
The era of knowledge workers will see tremendous leap in Quality and that would lead to better Quality of Life and would make India a real super power very soon
· One touching incident that happened with you in your teaching career?
I always believe that every student has a potential and if he is willing we can definitely mould him/her. There are many touching incidents. I had one student who was almost always at the bottom of the class about 5 years back. Some weeks back he called me to inform that he has got a good job. I congratulated him and for complemented him for his communication skills. He said “Sir, now only I realized how much efforts you have done for us. I did not put my efforts then. But in the last one year I have done what you have told us and I am happy that I am in this position now”. That was one of the best thing that I got in my life
· There is a shortage of eminent professors at b-schools. With more and more institutes offering the MBA course, do you think MBA will become just another degree?
I am afraid that it has already become like that.
· Do you think the course curriculum is at par with industry expectations?
Most of the time No. The people associated with preparing course curriculum in the Universities are mostly Government Professors who do not keep themselves updated on the subject/ the needs of the industry. I believe that all stake holders including Industry representatives, other academicians and even students should be part of this exercise.
· If you hadn’t been a professor, what would you be? What are your professional/career goals?
I had many avatars. So I think I could have been anything from a Surgeon to computer engineer to a free lance journalist
· What message would you like to give to students across the globe?
Learning is a continuous process. Enjoy the joy of learning by understanding the concepts and trying to continuously improve on the existing knowledge base. Be Positive always.
· Any feedback for ManagementParadise.com?
I am very happy of the initiates taken by Management Paradise.com and wish it all the best with all support from my side.
. How can our readers contact you? Face book or Twitter Id
My face book id is rcay 54 and twitter id is rcay 54