Tell us something about yourself and your institute?
At the outset, I thank one and all associated with “Management Paradise” for giving this opportunity to address myself before you. Perhaps this is the most herculean task to go for self-introduction, because it is hard to start with. Let me give a try to see what kind of image you do have about me through my self-description. I hope that my impression about myself and your impression about me are not so different. Here it goes.
I have a long sincere academic journey with M. Com, M. Phil (Commerce), M. Phil (Futurology), LL. B, Ph. D and D. Lit to my credit. I was ranked at the top in the merit list of both M. Phil programmes under Berhampur University, Berhampur, Odisha, India. I am a person who is positive about every aspect of life. I belong to a family with rich social inputs, undoubtedly not materialistic. I am just someone indulged with the noble profession of teaching and a passion for research. But, my dream is still alive.
Coming to the next part of the question about my institute, I have been associated with National Institute of Science & Technology (NIST) since 2007 with due responsibility of teaching to students of MBA and PGDM programme, under the banner of NIST Business School. My institution always strives upon “research-led-teaching” practice, which truly transforms the budding professionals to meet with every future challenges of corporate culture. The institution is proud of its infrastructure which actually fulfils every academic and research wishes.
When did you join teaching profession? Why did you choose to be a professor?
I started my journey as a teacher from 1st April 1995 at I.C.W.A.I, Berhampur Chapter, Berhampur, Odisha, as a member of teaching staff with due responsibility of teaching Accounting. Since then, the same profession is still continuing and now I am posted at NIST, Berhampur, Odisha, India as a Professor in Finance at its B-school.
Teaching is undoubtedly a passion to me. I strongly believe that in a noble profession like teaching, a teacher is awarded through his performances and exposures but he/she is truly recognized through his/her students. Needless to say, my students are my real assets, my knowledge is my capital, and the responsibility towards them is my liability. I feel happy and indebted when my old students remember me over the years.
What about teaching at b-schools inspires you the most?
Teaching budding professionals at B-Schools is definitely a challenging task for everyone everywhere. It is the only professional course of its kind, which largely demands real-life case studies to deal with. Habit of this essentially energises both students and faculty fraternity with extra academic inputs to enrich their knowledge, skill and wisdom. This is so because, as the world moves faster, it desperately needs new academic insights – both theoretically and empirically – to understand and influence what is going on.
Which subjects do you teach? Which ones do you like the most?
Finance is my cup of tea. Accounting is my obsession. During my entire teaching life and even today, I feel it comfortable in teaching account and finance papers like Financial Management, Financial Services, Institutions & Markets, Security Analysis & Portfolio Management, Financial Derivatives and Corporate Restructuring. These are the areas very close to my academic and research interest also.
Amongst all, Accounting, Security Analysis & Portfolio Management and Financial Derivatives are the most preferred areas of my academic concern.
What is your teaching philosophy?
Teaching continues with reward, recognition and respect. Shocked……? Let me explain.
Reward in teaching lies in satisfaction derived while delivering the lectures with true spirit. A faculty needs to have self-satisfaction first before expecting it from the students’ end. I strongly believe that I need to be well-prepared before entering into the class to suit my academic responsibility, without entering with empty mind, and well-equipped, as well, with plenty of examples (possibly small and interesting) to cite and explain. My practice is that for every one hour class, I must have a preparation for two hours minimum to give justice to my delivery. Once the students are conceptually cleared on the topic discussed in the class, it gives true satisfaction to the faculty concerned, what I normally call it as reward.
Recognition in teaching lies in shaping the students to the best requirement of changing corporate needs. Students come to B-School as like raw-materials and depart as finished goods, ready for sale. Once they are truly sold (recruited), the institution gets recognition and teachers feel proud of them. Such recognition is ensured only when the entire mechanism is made fully devoted.
Teaching begs respect also, undoubtedly. Now-a-days, university system is more focused on to carry forward tradition, built for continuity and proud of their long history. This history and tradition, its related rigor, intellectual values and principles, and focus on knowledge generation and dissemination, are great asset for academia. These traditions, however, create a fundamental inertia within academic institutions that is very hard to overcome. Although business schools with their connection to current practice, are less bound to tradition than others institutions, perhaps, we nonetheless fall victim to the same weakness and our own tradition.
Do you believe teaching should be more application based than theory? If yes, then how do you support it?
The Indian education system has often been termed as completely theory-based. Of course, “there is nothing more practical than a good theory”, which still rings true even today. This is so because for scientists rely on theory more important than a practical. But now, time has come to find relevance of academics with industry and to bridge the existing gap, if any. So far as my experience goes, I have noticed that many students joining as Management Trainees lack basic conceptual clarity, communication & presentation skills, which are learnt during academic life. Accordingly, they are weak in logical & analytical skills. So, I request members of entire teaching fraternity to please come up with unique and cheap ways to implement practical-oriented teaching in schools and colleges and see how our students can be taught to visualize reality with theory because students must get access to things about which they are taught.
I am not sure how many would agree with me on this, but what I would suggest is that we westernize our education system. When someone does an Engineering course in India, for a span of 4 years, attending classes 6 days a week, by the time he or she finishes the course, what they would have actually learned is around 54 different subjects! By the end of 4th year, most of us (not all) wouldn't even remember what we studied in the first semester with numerous theories and practical. What is the solution to this? Westernize out educational system. There should be 4 subjects a semester with section-choice to students except for the few core subjects. Classes need to be divided into tutorials and practical with 3-6 hours tutorial a weeks, and around 3 hours practical. This would reduce pressure student's mind and he/she gets more time to focus on researching, which would make more sense for the future, by letting them taste the real life scenarios during the education itself. According to Albert Bandura, people's judgments of their own ability to deal with different situations are central to their actions. These actions include what they choose to do, how much effort they invest in activities, how long they persist in the face of adversity, and whether they approach the tasks anxiously or assuredly.
Who in your life has influenced you the most?
As for me, the most influential person in my life is, I think it's my mother because “mother knows the best”. She acted as my mom and dad at the same time when I and my siblings were about to see light of the day properly. She guided me the way to act what is appropriate and keeps on reminding me the value of respect and responsibility, even today.
Next is Prof. Jagannath Panda, who acted as my guru, guide, philosopher and above all my god-father. I am amazed at his capacity to influence the course of my thinking in the most unconventional manner. His suggestions have been apt, concise and to the point and provide ample room of personal thinking and creativity. I have greatly been benefited from his deep sense of understanding on the subject and clarity of vision. He is the one, without whose expert advice, specialist supervision and constructive critical comments my every research projects would not have become a reality. He has been kind enough to spare his precious time to guide and direct me.
What suggestions would you like to make in the course of MBA?
The MBA curriculum changes of the 1990s were a step in the right direction, but have been too constrained to have a fundamental impact. Business schools are burdened by a tradition-bound culture and blinded to the changing realities of their position because of their apparent popularity and success. We are not effectively utilising new technology or serving the changing needs for education by knowledge-based business. Business schools may be able to creep along for a while on the strength of their reputations and traditions but, in the long run, if business schools do not have the courage to rise to this challenge, new upstarts will meet these needs. These barbarians are already massing at the gate.
For years, business schools have been teaching students about corporate reinvention. Now, it is time for us to turn an unflinching eye to the business school itself and consider whether we are meeting the changing needs of knowledge-based organisation.
As a faculty, what kind of projects do you expect students to work upon?
Getting involved into high-funda research/project work is not always expected from students. It all depends upon their experience and exposures. Any project having a sense of its objectivity is always made welcome irrespective of area of work. I personally never ask my students to go big organisations and to do the research/project work; rather I instigate them to do anything and everything in the most justifiable manner. They are free to go for doing project work on any local issues of socio-economic background. Small is beautiful and the original beauty lies on the modality of the research/project work, not on its title and the organisation, where it is done without any sense.
Let me cite an example. Project report on “Mumbai Dabbawala” has acclaimed great response worldwide due to the clarity, honesty and sincerity in continuity and completion of the project work. The outcome is, undoubtedly, the most amazing management success story in India.
How are current technological advancements changing your teaching style?
Conventional teaching practice of “chalk and talk” has a great impact even today. There is no second thought to this approach. Whatever tools and techniques be adopted, the basic objective remains unchanged, that is to actively engage students in the learning process. It is also a fact that today’s students are digital natives and as such the use of technology in education has proven to be quite effective.
Technology has a significant role to play in the education system. The technological tools like the Internet, LCD Projector, Smart Board, Document and Digital Camera are some of them. The explosion of such technological advancements and their capabilities has provided a resource to teachers and students, which were just unimaginable a generation ago. Teachers who use these tools appropriately can actively engage their students on a daily basis in ways never imagined early days. This is a truth and I am not exceptional.
What is the impact of mobile technologies boom influencing your area of specialization?
As I told earlier, finance is my area of academic and research interest. This specialised area is blessed with the advent of new sophisticated technologies to a greater extent right from valuation to liquidation. When it comes to mobile technology, the interest is mounting high with the presence of online trading terminals. A safer and quicker trading practice through mobile has added a good volume of investor base to the database of BSE & NSE. This is not only shocking but surprising as well to believe on its wide acceptability by the investor community. Thanks to the service providers in achieving such miracles.
How are social networks influencing your discipline?
Generally, people perceive the Internet increasingly as the most reliable social medium that fosters interaction among people, sharing experiences and knowledge, involving in group activities, community formation and evolution. This has significantly led to a rising prominence of social networking in academics and almost everywhere. Academic work is highly soiled into disciplines while societal problems are multi-dimensional. Bridging scholarship across disciplines, promoting integration at the university level, and engaging in academic and professional service are some ways in which academics’ work can better reach and influence wider society.
How does the economy story of India change your discipline?
Indian economy is gaining its momentum with the advent of economic reforms since 1991. The impact is well noticed in almost all sectors, so education is not an exceptional. Presence of MNCs, Introduction of online portals for investment in stocks, beginning of derivatives instruments trading in stock exchanges, emerging importance of macro-economic factors, etc are the fuels to signify.
What changes do you see on the horizon in your area of discipline?
As stated, free economy in India has refined and re-defined the academic disciplines in general and finance in particular. The academic importance is now manifold with the new conceptual phenomenon like corporate restructuring, mergers and acquisitions, financial engineering, and above all the use of econometric tools in financial analysis for interpretation.
One touching incident that happened with you in your teaching career?
Incidents are many to share with. To refresh with, in the recent past, one of my student placed at Chennai had a call to me during the working hour and sought guidance on finalising an option trade of a foreign client. It was entirely a new experience for him to do and an interesting as well. It is really a nice experience to guide students at their work place in due course of discharging their duties. I strongly believe that a teacher is responsible to shape the student through teaching during the academic life but he is accountable to mentor the students after the course completion at least for one year of his professional 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?
There is no second thought to this.
Do you think the course curriculum is at par with industry expectations?
This is a difficult question to answer. All universities, offering MBA under UGC or AICTE, don’t have uniformity in their course curriculum and accordingly the syllabus is different. It is different in list of subjective papers and in content. Of course, some of the Business Schools with PGDM or alike programme, have to some extent, match with industry expectations.
If you hadn’t been a professor, what would you be? What are your professional/career goals?
In that case I would be Magician. I wish to see a smile in everyone’s face.
Everytime, my academic responsibilities are linked with professional touch and all my professional engagements are attributed academic backdrops. For the time to come, I wish to be indulged with both academic and professional platforms, be that teaching and/or research.
What message would you like to give to students across the globe?
I believe in one thing: “ANYTHING BELOW EXCELLENCE IS A COMPROMISE”. So I expect students across the globe not to be satisfied with whatever knowledge, experience and exposures they have. Because GOOD IS NOT GOOD WHEN BETTER IS EXPECTED.
Any feedback for ManagementParadise.com?
Your efforts, till date, are undoubtedly noteworthy. Please make it possible for the student community also to share their own academic and/or professional experiences, exposures and expectations.
How can our readers contact you? Facebook or Twitter Id
Readers can contact me in linkedin.com or can drop a mail to [email protected]. My contact number is +91 94371 58802.
At the outset, I thank one and all associated with “Management Paradise” for giving this opportunity to address myself before you. Perhaps this is the most herculean task to go for self-introduction, because it is hard to start with. Let me give a try to see what kind of image you do have about me through my self-description. I hope that my impression about myself and your impression about me are not so different. Here it goes.
I have a long sincere academic journey with M. Com, M. Phil (Commerce), M. Phil (Futurology), LL. B, Ph. D and D. Lit to my credit. I was ranked at the top in the merit list of both M. Phil programmes under Berhampur University, Berhampur, Odisha, India. I am a person who is positive about every aspect of life. I belong to a family with rich social inputs, undoubtedly not materialistic. I am just someone indulged with the noble profession of teaching and a passion for research. But, my dream is still alive.
Coming to the next part of the question about my institute, I have been associated with National Institute of Science & Technology (NIST) since 2007 with due responsibility of teaching to students of MBA and PGDM programme, under the banner of NIST Business School. My institution always strives upon “research-led-teaching” practice, which truly transforms the budding professionals to meet with every future challenges of corporate culture. The institution is proud of its infrastructure which actually fulfils every academic and research wishes.
When did you join teaching profession? Why did you choose to be a professor?
I started my journey as a teacher from 1st April 1995 at I.C.W.A.I, Berhampur Chapter, Berhampur, Odisha, as a member of teaching staff with due responsibility of teaching Accounting. Since then, the same profession is still continuing and now I am posted at NIST, Berhampur, Odisha, India as a Professor in Finance at its B-school.
Teaching is undoubtedly a passion to me. I strongly believe that in a noble profession like teaching, a teacher is awarded through his performances and exposures but he/she is truly recognized through his/her students. Needless to say, my students are my real assets, my knowledge is my capital, and the responsibility towards them is my liability. I feel happy and indebted when my old students remember me over the years.
What about teaching at b-schools inspires you the most?
Teaching budding professionals at B-Schools is definitely a challenging task for everyone everywhere. It is the only professional course of its kind, which largely demands real-life case studies to deal with. Habit of this essentially energises both students and faculty fraternity with extra academic inputs to enrich their knowledge, skill and wisdom. This is so because, as the world moves faster, it desperately needs new academic insights – both theoretically and empirically – to understand and influence what is going on.
Which subjects do you teach? Which ones do you like the most?
Finance is my cup of tea. Accounting is my obsession. During my entire teaching life and even today, I feel it comfortable in teaching account and finance papers like Financial Management, Financial Services, Institutions & Markets, Security Analysis & Portfolio Management, Financial Derivatives and Corporate Restructuring. These are the areas very close to my academic and research interest also.
Amongst all, Accounting, Security Analysis & Portfolio Management and Financial Derivatives are the most preferred areas of my academic concern.
What is your teaching philosophy?
Teaching continues with reward, recognition and respect. Shocked……? Let me explain.
Reward in teaching lies in satisfaction derived while delivering the lectures with true spirit. A faculty needs to have self-satisfaction first before expecting it from the students’ end. I strongly believe that I need to be well-prepared before entering into the class to suit my academic responsibility, without entering with empty mind, and well-equipped, as well, with plenty of examples (possibly small and interesting) to cite and explain. My practice is that for every one hour class, I must have a preparation for two hours minimum to give justice to my delivery. Once the students are conceptually cleared on the topic discussed in the class, it gives true satisfaction to the faculty concerned, what I normally call it as reward.
Recognition in teaching lies in shaping the students to the best requirement of changing corporate needs. Students come to B-School as like raw-materials and depart as finished goods, ready for sale. Once they are truly sold (recruited), the institution gets recognition and teachers feel proud of them. Such recognition is ensured only when the entire mechanism is made fully devoted.
Teaching begs respect also, undoubtedly. Now-a-days, university system is more focused on to carry forward tradition, built for continuity and proud of their long history. This history and tradition, its related rigor, intellectual values and principles, and focus on knowledge generation and dissemination, are great asset for academia. These traditions, however, create a fundamental inertia within academic institutions that is very hard to overcome. Although business schools with their connection to current practice, are less bound to tradition than others institutions, perhaps, we nonetheless fall victim to the same weakness and our own tradition.
Do you believe teaching should be more application based than theory? If yes, then how do you support it?
The Indian education system has often been termed as completely theory-based. Of course, “there is nothing more practical than a good theory”, which still rings true even today. This is so because for scientists rely on theory more important than a practical. But now, time has come to find relevance of academics with industry and to bridge the existing gap, if any. So far as my experience goes, I have noticed that many students joining as Management Trainees lack basic conceptual clarity, communication & presentation skills, which are learnt during academic life. Accordingly, they are weak in logical & analytical skills. So, I request members of entire teaching fraternity to please come up with unique and cheap ways to implement practical-oriented teaching in schools and colleges and see how our students can be taught to visualize reality with theory because students must get access to things about which they are taught.
I am not sure how many would agree with me on this, but what I would suggest is that we westernize our education system. When someone does an Engineering course in India, for a span of 4 years, attending classes 6 days a week, by the time he or she finishes the course, what they would have actually learned is around 54 different subjects! By the end of 4th year, most of us (not all) wouldn't even remember what we studied in the first semester with numerous theories and practical. What is the solution to this? Westernize out educational system. There should be 4 subjects a semester with section-choice to students except for the few core subjects. Classes need to be divided into tutorials and practical with 3-6 hours tutorial a weeks, and around 3 hours practical. This would reduce pressure student's mind and he/she gets more time to focus on researching, which would make more sense for the future, by letting them taste the real life scenarios during the education itself. According to Albert Bandura, people's judgments of their own ability to deal with different situations are central to their actions. These actions include what they choose to do, how much effort they invest in activities, how long they persist in the face of adversity, and whether they approach the tasks anxiously or assuredly.
Who in your life has influenced you the most?
As for me, the most influential person in my life is, I think it's my mother because “mother knows the best”. She acted as my mom and dad at the same time when I and my siblings were about to see light of the day properly. She guided me the way to act what is appropriate and keeps on reminding me the value of respect and responsibility, even today.
Next is Prof. Jagannath Panda, who acted as my guru, guide, philosopher and above all my god-father. I am amazed at his capacity to influence the course of my thinking in the most unconventional manner. His suggestions have been apt, concise and to the point and provide ample room of personal thinking and creativity. I have greatly been benefited from his deep sense of understanding on the subject and clarity of vision. He is the one, without whose expert advice, specialist supervision and constructive critical comments my every research projects would not have become a reality. He has been kind enough to spare his precious time to guide and direct me.
What suggestions would you like to make in the course of MBA?
The MBA curriculum changes of the 1990s were a step in the right direction, but have been too constrained to have a fundamental impact. Business schools are burdened by a tradition-bound culture and blinded to the changing realities of their position because of their apparent popularity and success. We are not effectively utilising new technology or serving the changing needs for education by knowledge-based business. Business schools may be able to creep along for a while on the strength of their reputations and traditions but, in the long run, if business schools do not have the courage to rise to this challenge, new upstarts will meet these needs. These barbarians are already massing at the gate.
For years, business schools have been teaching students about corporate reinvention. Now, it is time for us to turn an unflinching eye to the business school itself and consider whether we are meeting the changing needs of knowledge-based organisation.
As a faculty, what kind of projects do you expect students to work upon?
Getting involved into high-funda research/project work is not always expected from students. It all depends upon their experience and exposures. Any project having a sense of its objectivity is always made welcome irrespective of area of work. I personally never ask my students to go big organisations and to do the research/project work; rather I instigate them to do anything and everything in the most justifiable manner. They are free to go for doing project work on any local issues of socio-economic background. Small is beautiful and the original beauty lies on the modality of the research/project work, not on its title and the organisation, where it is done without any sense.
Let me cite an example. Project report on “Mumbai Dabbawala” has acclaimed great response worldwide due to the clarity, honesty and sincerity in continuity and completion of the project work. The outcome is, undoubtedly, the most amazing management success story in India.
How are current technological advancements changing your teaching style?
Conventional teaching practice of “chalk and talk” has a great impact even today. There is no second thought to this approach. Whatever tools and techniques be adopted, the basic objective remains unchanged, that is to actively engage students in the learning process. It is also a fact that today’s students are digital natives and as such the use of technology in education has proven to be quite effective.
Technology has a significant role to play in the education system. The technological tools like the Internet, LCD Projector, Smart Board, Document and Digital Camera are some of them. The explosion of such technological advancements and their capabilities has provided a resource to teachers and students, which were just unimaginable a generation ago. Teachers who use these tools appropriately can actively engage their students on a daily basis in ways never imagined early days. This is a truth and I am not exceptional.
What is the impact of mobile technologies boom influencing your area of specialization?
As I told earlier, finance is my area of academic and research interest. This specialised area is blessed with the advent of new sophisticated technologies to a greater extent right from valuation to liquidation. When it comes to mobile technology, the interest is mounting high with the presence of online trading terminals. A safer and quicker trading practice through mobile has added a good volume of investor base to the database of BSE & NSE. This is not only shocking but surprising as well to believe on its wide acceptability by the investor community. Thanks to the service providers in achieving such miracles.
How are social networks influencing your discipline?
Generally, people perceive the Internet increasingly as the most reliable social medium that fosters interaction among people, sharing experiences and knowledge, involving in group activities, community formation and evolution. This has significantly led to a rising prominence of social networking in academics and almost everywhere. Academic work is highly soiled into disciplines while societal problems are multi-dimensional. Bridging scholarship across disciplines, promoting integration at the university level, and engaging in academic and professional service are some ways in which academics’ work can better reach and influence wider society.
How does the economy story of India change your discipline?
Indian economy is gaining its momentum with the advent of economic reforms since 1991. The impact is well noticed in almost all sectors, so education is not an exceptional. Presence of MNCs, Introduction of online portals for investment in stocks, beginning of derivatives instruments trading in stock exchanges, emerging importance of macro-economic factors, etc are the fuels to signify.
What changes do you see on the horizon in your area of discipline?
As stated, free economy in India has refined and re-defined the academic disciplines in general and finance in particular. The academic importance is now manifold with the new conceptual phenomenon like corporate restructuring, mergers and acquisitions, financial engineering, and above all the use of econometric tools in financial analysis for interpretation.
One touching incident that happened with you in your teaching career?
Incidents are many to share with. To refresh with, in the recent past, one of my student placed at Chennai had a call to me during the working hour and sought guidance on finalising an option trade of a foreign client. It was entirely a new experience for him to do and an interesting as well. It is really a nice experience to guide students at their work place in due course of discharging their duties. I strongly believe that a teacher is responsible to shape the student through teaching during the academic life but he is accountable to mentor the students after the course completion at least for one year of his professional 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?
There is no second thought to this.
Do you think the course curriculum is at par with industry expectations?
This is a difficult question to answer. All universities, offering MBA under UGC or AICTE, don’t have uniformity in their course curriculum and accordingly the syllabus is different. It is different in list of subjective papers and in content. Of course, some of the Business Schools with PGDM or alike programme, have to some extent, match with industry expectations.
If you hadn’t been a professor, what would you be? What are your professional/career goals?
In that case I would be Magician. I wish to see a smile in everyone’s face.
Everytime, my academic responsibilities are linked with professional touch and all my professional engagements are attributed academic backdrops. For the time to come, I wish to be indulged with both academic and professional platforms, be that teaching and/or research.
What message would you like to give to students across the globe?
I believe in one thing: “ANYTHING BELOW EXCELLENCE IS A COMPROMISE”. So I expect students across the globe not to be satisfied with whatever knowledge, experience and exposures they have. Because GOOD IS NOT GOOD WHEN BETTER IS EXPECTED.
Any feedback for ManagementParadise.com?
Your efforts, till date, are undoubtedly noteworthy. Please make it possible for the student community also to share their own academic and/or professional experiences, exposures and expectations.
How can our readers contact you? Facebook or Twitter Id
Readers can contact me in linkedin.com or can drop a mail to [email protected]. My contact number is +91 94371 58802.