B-school trends come and go, but one that seems to have legs is the creation of specialized MBA programs, particularly by second-tier schools. The schools find them useful for attracting students and cementing their brand identities at a time when competition among schools for the best students is intense. In recent years, they’ve becoming increasingly common (BusinessWeek.com, 7/19/07) even at high-profile schools. Haas School of Business at the University of California at Berkeley, Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Sloan School of Management, and the Wharton School now offer specialized MBAs, majors, or dual degree programs in areas like real estate, sports management, biosciences, electronic commerce, and health care.

But is a specialized program always a good choice for an MBA student?

Not necessarily. While established programs have placement records on par with those of their general MBAs, many newer programs have not yet established the kind of recruiting relationships that guarantee students high-paying jobs at graduation. And graduates always run the risk of getting hamstrung by their specialties later in their careers, when an industry downturn forces them to look outside their specialties for opportunities.
Chart Your Own Path

Some who have gone through the specialized programs say they are best for those with a firm idea of their future goals, and who are keen to chart their own path. “I knew what I wanted to do,” said Carrie Stern Rathod, who received her MBA from Wisconsin’s Brand ‐ Product Management Center in 2005 and now works for Procter & Gamble (PG), which recruits regularly from the program. “There’s a range of people for whom this program is ideal. If you have an entrepreneurial bent but are not sure you’re ready to take the leap yet, the program might be right.” But, she added, “I think it would be tough if you wanted to go into consulting or something like that.”

For students who aren’t comfortable breaking away from the pack or seeking out professional contacts in unconventional ways, a specialized MBA might not be the best choice. This is especially true at less well-known schools, where big companies often don’t recruit. Students in these programs agree that making industry connections can require a lot of initiative from the student. “If you have a very specific company in mind, you might need to be a trailblazer in making relationships with those companies,” says Rathod.

More : businessweek.com

An innovation expert from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) will be visiting the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIM-A), in November to promote the importance of user-based innovations in creating successful companies.

“India and Indians residing worldwide have a wonderful record as innovators and entrepreneurs. I believe users tend to be the real developers of many important products. Recently, research by my colleagues has shown that many new companies are started by users who become entrepreneurs. Learning about how user innovations foster the creation of successful new companies will be very useful information for IIM students and others in India,” says Eric von Hippel, professor and head of Innovation and Entrepreneurship Group at the MIT Sloan School of Management and professor of Engineering Systems at MIT.

It will be his first trip to India, which he also intends to use “to forge closer contacts with my colleagues at IIM-A, who have very similar research interests”.

The lecture is part of a two-week long ‘Inventors of India’ workshop by the Centre for Innovation, Incubation and Entrepreneurship (CIIE) at IIM-A. About 70 inventors and innovators of all ages and technical background are expected to be present at the event. Premier institutes could also be called to participate at the workshop.

“Eric will participate and may give the inaugural address at the workshop. In addition, he will interact with the faculty and students and explore possibilities of collaborative research. Apart from visiting some grassroot innovators, he will interact with our incubatee companies as well. Several things are being planned and we are quite excited about his visit. Also, we may ask institutes like National Institute of Design (NID) and Mudra Institute of Communications, Ahmedabad (MICA), to pitch in,” says Rakesh Basant, chairman of CIIE and a professor at IIM-A.

An expert in Principle of Developing Economics, Eric has made two of his books available openly on his website at no cost to the reader: Democratising Innovation, published in 2005 by the MIT Press, and Sources of Innovation, published in 1988 by Oxford University Press. Leading companies in the world have used practical methods based on his research.

Hippel is also expected to meet grassroot innovators at SRISTI, an NGO founded by Anil Gupta, a professor at IIM-A. Incidentally, Gupta too would be lecturing at MIT as part of the Amy Smith’s International design and development course on July 16-17.

More : business-standard.com

In an attempt to consolidate its international network with universities and enterprises, the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIM-A) is now a super-take of international affairs as “Confluence” is probably already in November 2002. After the campus, this initiative is an abandonment of the ordinary management festivals, where as a first-of-its-kind initiative of the Wharton Business School, Stanford and other universities in India and Asia to manage International festivals. , Indicates a spokesperson (student) IIM-A: “Together with the case presentations, there will be a number of workshops from the company for executives and business management strategy for brand all students on campus world, it would be fitting to execution. “According to the spokesman of the event is an attempt, a global business experience for all businesses and students from the campus under a single management roof. “That’s why we’re not just limiting our initiatives of the Business Case papers and games”, informed the spokesman. The campus is also to launch online ‘live stock Game to simulate an environment of online commerce in collaboration with business leaders welcoming demonstrative for the implementation of workshops on some of the challenges of today. After the campus, other participating schools are part B, MIT Sloan School of Management and Asian Institute of Management, among others. “initiative in the direction of the workshops are given equal importance to four hours to take the time devoted to exchange knowledge and experiences with industry professionals to work” Said the spokesman. After the campus, the initiative to rope to help institutions of the prestigious IIM-A the leverage synergies for the future higher education and the interactions of the project. Comments on the new initiative, said a trainee SP Jain Institute of Management Studies and Research in Mumbai: “The initiative should be sufficiently safeguarded by a cell to initiate the constant interaction with international institutions in education and industry at the international level. “One-Stop annual initiative is not enough to create a lasting relationship with all these educational institutions and businesses.” indeed, it can only end in an ad hoc promotion, ” summarizes trainees.

BOSTON, March 14 / PRNewswire / - Twelve leaders of the business schools around the world come to Boston for the first annual international strategy Technology Business Case Competition, March 30 At 1 April 2006. Hosted by Boston University School of Management, The Motorola Foundation and Novell are sponsoring this event with a total premium of $ 45000 directly on students of the winning team. Students have 24 hours to the establishment of a case that addresses problems in the general theme of “mobility transparent.”

The eight USA and four non-American business schools are competing at the Boston University School of Management, Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta, Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, London Business School; Sloan School of Management, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin; Queens School of Business (Canada), Seoul National University (Korea); Graduate School of Business at Stanford University; Eller College of Management at the University of Arizona, Haas School of Business, University of California at Berkeley and the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

Each school sends four students. The winning schools receive trophies, and the first place team members are awarded $ 25000, the second team in the split-$ 15000; third place team members share $ 5000 Twelve industry leaders , Hear and pass judgement on the 12 conferences for the determination of the first four places. And the leaders of Motorola, Novell, the last four teams and determine the winners. Motorola CEO Edward J. Zander, (Boston University School of Management Class of 1975, doctorate honoris causa in 2005) is the price.

“This unique international competition focuses on the critical role of technology in the economy at all levels. It is essential for future leaders is to be in technology for the deployment and exploitation as well as strategic advantage, “said Louis E. Lataif, Dean, Boston University School of Management. The contest offers students exposure to highly placed technology and telecommunications leaders. ”

“The competition was organized by the Boston University School of Management MBA students for students of the world’s leading business schools, that the importance of technology in the economy of decision-making,” said Rob Eckhart, MS-2006 MBA, Director, in the case of competition Organizing Committee. “We look forward to your visit and against competitors highly motivated students from the prestigious school will accept our invitations.

About the Boston University School of Management

Was founded the College of Business Administration in 1913, Boston University School of Management as a guide for owners and networks of time, emphasizing the fusion of art, science and technology the company. The school prepares holistic approach is the next generation of leaders for one world, that values such as managing a system of interdependence of functions, decisions, people and technologies. It is the world leader in one of MS-MBA programme, a double rigorous conclusion and the next generation of fixing an MBA management training with traditional know-how in the field of technology ‘ information, the conversion of all holdings. The school also offers a full range of Undergraduate and Graduate Management curricula and Executive Education.

Calcutta: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), a global centre of excellence and learning, it is tip-toeing his way in Buddha’s Bengal.

In a movement that may redevelopment USA identity as a global force of knowledge, the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta (IIMC), everything is set up, forging an alliance with MIT in the areas of research, training and education. The city-centre of excellence based on, it is planned to collaborate with MIT Sloan School of Management, creator of the IIMC in 1961.

It was learned that professors Steven Eppinger and SP Kothari of MIT is scheduled to visit IIMC soon to discuss modalities of cooperation envisaged. For IIMC, the agreement with MIT involve a review of his alma mater.

These two institutes, ink a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and a note on what is expected, IIMC Board of Governors at its next session for approval. Both Eppinger and Kothari had earlier visited IIMC between March and July 2006 in collaboration with professors and Gordon Y Billiards Yasheng Huang.

During their visit, the faculty of MIT met a cross section of the Faculty and IIMC Post-Graduate students and doctoral candidates on the possibilities of cooperation between the two institutions. IIMC was the first institute nationally by the governments of the European Union in 1961, in collaboration with Alfred P Sloan School of Management, MIT and with government support, the Ford Foundation and Indian industry.

Disclosure of the nature and extent of cooperation between MIT and IIMC, the sources above, it is likely for students and teachers exchange programmes, development programs, internship opportunities, frame training, research center IIMC, education transfer among others.

It is felt that the proposed tie-up between the two is not only the strengthening of the mark IIMC international, but also make it more attractive to attract teachers and students. Both IIMC and MIT, it is anticipated that the possibilities of setting up an exchange program for students, both students of MBA and doctoral students.

Sources said IIMC in the process of creating an Alumni Foundation channelise funds to help its former offered by a large number of activities. One of them is without doubt be used to finance the MIT Sloan-IIMC cooperation programme. In addition to the efforts plans are under way, approach the ministry for the development of human resources for funding.

EDUCATION teach all to earn a living independently and respectful - there vimuktye his vidya. The current lack of training quite such a provision.

Management training, it’s seams burst. There are more than 1000 institutions and offers daily, at the root of growth. Each institution admits more than 60 students break, too, and teachers are all “visit” moonlighters who “refresh money” through these efforts. Quality education is suspect and it is difficult for future Students at a separate wheat from the chaff.

Management training began in the early fifties, and has pioneered the effort of government in the establishment of the IIMs. Growth has been phenomenal institutions, but many seem to have lost their lustre. A similar situation is also to the technical training, such as engineering and medicine, without customers, in many other schools. Business schools are popular, but now show a bleak future, if some changes are not immediately.

The government in its economic planning, the high objectives in education. It focuses on reading, writing and elementary schools. In the second and third plans that result in higher educational institutions and the establishment of universities and specialized institutions. The response was good and private institutions also has a role in education.

At the dissemination of knowledge

Encouraged by the results of initiatives taken in the early seventies, the Government seeks and obtains a grant from the Ford Foundation. There were two Indian Institute of Management (IIM), in Kolkata both in Ahmedabad. This grant has focused on the support of American Business transfer of knowledge and training models for other nations, and requires intensive cooperation with the United States in a Business School in order to facilitate the transfer of learning .

The IIM Calcutta collaboration with the Sloan School of Management at MIT, Faculty of Education and Development, and the IIM Ahmedabad same kind of cooperation with the Harvard Business School. IIM Calcutta at the Sloan incident laboratory method and continuous training, and continuing research and teaching philosophy focuses on the quantitative aspects and operational management. On the other side, HBS, IIM Ahmedabad pioneer of the method of teaching in India, the intellectual and research, directed in writing on the cases of companies and the Indian context, with an emphasis on Quality strategic integration. The mission of IIMs was the professionalization of the Indian administration, teaching, research, training, institution building and advice. She also had a mandate to professionalize the vital sectors of the economy, viz. Agriculture, education, health, transport, population, energy and public administration.

On the way to that end, they have helped several specializes in the management of schools. For example, the Indian Institute of Forest Management was founded in 1982 as head of management training for the whole of the forest economy of India, with the help of IIM Ahmedabad.