“General MBA is a better option than sectoral MBA. Don’t put all eggs in one basket.”

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MBAUniverse.com News Desk |
July 27, 2016
On June 4, at the appointed hour of 4.30 pm, MBAUniverse.com was buzzing with keen aspirants and executives who were putting their questions Live to Dr C S Venkat Ratnam on MBAUniverse.com Expert Chat.

The topic ‘Careers in Management’ had aspirants and executives posed classic dilemmas – Part-time vs full-time programme, relevance of Distance-learning programmes, One-year vs Two-year programmes, Sectoral MBA vs a General MBA and many more. Dr Venkata Ratnam, enjoying this Live interaction from IMI campus, addressed these questions with clarity, and wit. If you are interested in a management career, read this edited transcript to get a clearer vision of your future.

Dr CS Venkata Ratnam is director of New Delhi based prestigious B-school International Management Institute (IMI). He has been associated with Administrative Staff College of India, Hyderabad, International Labour Organization and Asian Productivity Organization. He was also a visiting Faculty for two terms at University in Graz, Austria and visiting Scholar a Japan Institute of Labour, Tokyo, Manchester Business School (UK) and McGill University (Canada).

Naveen: Hello Dr Ratnam, I am an engineer and have been working in sales for last three years with an IT company. I feel the need for a management degree...but am unable to decide whether I should go for full-time or part-time programme. What is your advice?

Dr C S Venkata Ratnam: Full time program is a better option. If you have confidence in you it is worth taking the chance.

Saurabh1: Sir, I'm a graduate wanting to do an MBA from a reputed institute. I'm confused about pursuing a sector specific MBA or a general MBA, many institutes are advertising MBA in Retailing & Insurance. Kindly guide.

Dr C S Venkata Ratnam: General MBA is a better option than sectoral MBA. In sectoral MBA you are putting all eggs in one basket.

Bhaskar: What parameters should I keep in mind while selecting the Institutes that I should focus on? Are rankings from media publication the best indicator?

Dr C S Venkata Ratnam: Rankings and media publication are not the best indicators. Not even the Coaching centres. Visit campuses you want to study and get a feel of the culture and climate and academic ambience. Talk to current and old students. Get some opinion from recruiters if you know any.

Kaveetha: Sir, Why is there so much emphasis on pre-MBA exam preparations...Should the institutes not check the raw potential?

Dr C S Venkata Ratnam: When large number of applicants chases few seats, written test becomes an objective filter. We found some of those who score 98 per cent CAT dumb in GD and/or interview. Therefore good schools use multiple tests, including weightage for previous scholastic record.

Priyanka: More schools are starting One year programme for working executive. If one have a choice between One Year and Two Year programme (from similar institutes), which one should I prefer?

Dr C S Venkata Ratnam: If you have five or more years of experience go for a one-year program. If you have less than five years experience go in for two-year program. Internationally five years experience is counted as equivalent to one year's study and therefore offer one year MBAs

Naveen: Is part-time MBA program valued at equal footing with full time programs...if yes how should one go about selecting the institutes?

Dr C S Venkata Ratnam: Indian industry seems to consider full time programs better than part time programs. As for selecting an institute, seeing is believing. Visit the campus. Talk to former and present students, not just the Faculty or Director. Do not be carried away by advertisements.

Naveen: A follow-up question. Are part time students taken as seriously by the institutes in terms of the rigour vis-a-vis full time students? Does IMI have a part time program?

Dr C S Venkata Ratnam: It takes two to make a tango. Students have as much to contribute to the success of a program as faculty and the Institute. As faculty I gain more from teaching part time students because they bring the real world experience in to classroom. Yes IMI has a part time program.

Pankaj: As a textile engineer working with a garment export company, I want to do a programme thru distance education. I can’t leave my job. Are courses offered by NIIT Imperia with IIMs and RelianceWorld useful and recognized by industry?

Dr C S Venkata Ratnam: For fresh students with no work experience full time program is the best bet. For experienced persons, degrees do not mean much. Track record and skills count most. When you interact with recruiters and prospective employers your ability to convince what you offer is what matters.

Naveen: How have part time students faired in the industry vis-a-vis full time students...any data is available?

Dr C S Venkata Ratnam: They fare well and perhaps better. Data, however, is not available. Henry Mintzberg in his book, Managers, not MBAs, says that management education should not be imparted to fresh graduates without work experience. In that sense learning could be better in part time programs if students are keen.

Bhaskar: What are the different opportunities after doing MBA in Finance?

Dr C S Venkata Ratnam: Many. In banking and finance, and financial analytics the opportunities are plenty. Finance people have opportunities in Marketing also (eg. Marketing of financial services). Several verticals in IT also look for people with finance background

Bhaskar: Some Institutes are offering dual specializations. What you prefer single specialized MBA or MBA with dual specialization?

Dr C S Venkata Ratnam: My preference is for dual specialization: one major and another as minor. Most good schools allow students to take more than 12 electives. Excessive focus on one area will make the person to be narrow in one's perspective. Also this is a sure way to enhance once marketability.

Bhart: Hi, I am a software engineer. I have 1.5 years of work experience-experience. I want to ask that should I go for MBA or not. How should I decide on this issue?

Dr C S Venkata Ratnam: You want to be a specialist or generalist? If your heart in programming do not go in for MBA. If you want to be master of your own destiny you should first be clear about your career goals.

Pankhuri: A lot of international MBA programmes are advertising in India. How do these International programmes fare for Indian students?

Dr C S Venkata Ratnam: First check what is international about the 'so-called' international programs. The best international programs are offered by the likes of IMD and INSEAD and Thunderbird. From such programs Indian students too stand to benefit a great deal because it gives global exposure and provide global opportunities

Bhaskar: Sir, what are the differences between MBA in finance and a CFA from ICFAI? Which one is paid more importance in Industry?

Dr C S Venkata Ratnam: I think you should be clear that are you looking for a master's degree or wanting to become a certified professional. As for pay, it depends on the fact that MBA Finance is from which institute.

Navin: Would you recommend specific institutes for engineers, which offer related specialisation like the one at IIT or NITIE?

Dr C S Venkata Ratnam: If you want to sell soaps it does not matter! If you want to leverage your engineering and want to go in for operations look for a good institute which offers programs in soft ware management (if your an IT engineer) or manufacturing.

Kaveetha: Are there any real benefits of so-called tie-ups and alliances between Indian MBA instututes with international ones. Or is it a just marketing exercise. Please be candid. I am an acadmecian.

Dr C S Venkata Ratnam: Tie-ups can be props which only the weak need. Look for substance behind the tie-ups, i.e., whether and what the tie-ups actually mean and provide for.

Anuradha: How to ensure personal credibility of MBA pass outs, as they are setting into a new age which is riddled with materialism?

Dr C S Venkata Ratnam: By your Deeds than Words. Walk the talk. And Talk the walk. Tell the truth so that you don’t have to remember what you said to whom and when.

 

(This transcript is modified for clarity and expression. MBAUniverse.com Live Expert Chat will be conducted periodically. Stay tuned to www.mbauniverse.com for next announcements. Email your feedback on this Chat and suggestion for future Topics and Experts to [email protected])