International Competitiveness

Take the challenge of life by learning @ competitiveness

 Since most of the learners do not know @ competitiveness, we receive lot of questions. This is true for even IIT Bombay, a leading institute of competitiveness research. So here you go; FAQ’s related to the course, we are proud about.

What’s the course?

The course is about an emerging concept ‘International Competitiveness’ that has high relevance for capable learners at IITB. Key objective of the course is to give sound basics and new perspectives to learners.  By effectively participating and contributing to the course, a conscientious learner should be able to:

• Develop an understanding about the concept, importance and processes of competitiveness / excellence
• Learn about the fundamentals of competitiveness using relevant resources: from articles, caselets to online learning resources, papers, books
• Identify practical dimensions through discussion of cases and caselets
• Give practical ideas and change agenda through challenging projects for competitiveness of ventures / firms

What’s unique @ the course?

IIT Bombay is among few institutions in the world (e.g. Harvard) to offer Competitiveness course.  IIT Bombay has been contributing significantly to competitiveness research (for example see at Google Scholar, ResearchGate,..).

The course is developed based on years of research, teaching and outreach to industry in Competitiveness.  The course was first offered at IITB in 2012 and has been upgraded  over the years.

The course has been designed to impart distinctive skills, knowledge and perspectives to committed learners. Following are the few elements of this holistic learning opportunity for IIT students.  Here is just a glimpse of  elements that make it a great learning opportunity for IITB students:

• Opportunity to learn and compete in projects dealing in competitiveness of Industries and firms.
• Interaction with past learners, professionals and executives from leading firms and ventures.
• Challenge options to learn, practice, compete and excel on different fronts –Intellectual, Physical, Social,

Why shall we take it? Now?

Opportunities to take such challenge courses come once in lifetime. You can look at the challenges being taken by past learners and the heights some are aspiring to climb.

These are just a few of the learners of the course in different walks of LIFE:

Corporate: Aman Shah (Nomura Consulting),..Anuj Karkare (Enpro),…

Research: Pranusha, Karan Gupta

Entrepreneurship / Adventure:  Vivek Shivde, Ketan Bhokray

This year the course comes with newer contexts, concepts and case studies. The course is a once in 2 year opportunity.  The course on a distinct and significant subject like International Competitiveness is definitely not the one you want to miss this year!!!

When is it slotted?

The course is offered in Institute Elective slot (slot 6; Wed. & Fri., 11:00-12:30). Venue will class room 4 (CR4; 2nd Floor in SJMSOM building).

 What to plan?

Its an interesting yet demanding and challenging course, we suggest a systematic approach for swift adaptation, progress and learning. Here are key suggestions:

Since this is high intensity, challenging course, we suggest that you plan systematically to have higher match and learning that you can apply.  Here are key suggestions:

• Must Complete the form to access material, information, etc.
• Keep your updated CV & SoP ready to be shared any stage of selection (we prefer to have higher match of your learning interests & course)
• Plan to have adequate time for this course during Jan.-May 2018; schedule your other high intensity courses/projects to minimize overlaps

For any additional questions, clarifications

• Please talk to us & clarify your doubts.
• You can contact Amruta @ amrutadeokar007@gmail.com at 9404001981

Goodbye 2015: A Memorable Year in Many Respects

The year 2015 was memorable in many respects. The most important may perhaps be the efforts and achievements of young members of the Group on Competitiveness (GoC). Also Shailesh J. Mehta School of Management (SJMSOM), IIT Bombay completed 2 decades—quite a remarkable journey of childhood to start emerging as a leading research-based management school of India. We have started a major experiment of Executive MBA (EMBA) in cooperation with Washington University in St. Louis in 2015.

The Group on Competitiveness (GoC) completed half a decade at IIT Bombay.  It is quite a short time, but thanks to its energetic members, the group has started contributing to differentiation of SJMSOM, IITB.  Here is just a glimpse of some achievements to celebrate and build on:

• 2^nd course on competitiveness was launched and benefited more than 70 students; 2 competitiveness courses were offered in a calendar year, perhaps 1^st time for any IIT or even IIM or any institution in India
• GoC Alumni (from IITB) have started landing in Japan
• Sundar represented us at major conference and paper development workshops (PDWs) of AIB, the leading academy of international business (IB) that came first time to India in more than 5 decades:

• Sujata presented her work at conference of Strategic Management Forum (SMF), leading strategy focused society of India
• Beginner GoC associates are getting trained at basics of knowledge-creation and sharing (KCS); Rahul, Deepa and Lalit cooperated to publish their first journal paper
• Enduro associates are climbing steps; e.g. Pranusha’s first journal paper got > 200 reads; her next knowledge artefact may compete at a C-level competitiveness journal
• Thanks to all associates, we crossed 600 citations since 2010 (as compared to less than 200 in earlier 12 years; a kind of a 5X) (Source: Scholar, 25 Dec. 2015).
• New associates have started getting on track early on: e.g. Sneha completed her first biathlon and a conference paper in the first sem.
• With quantity part being taken care of by younger associates, mature associates will start focusing on quality

We are excited about 2016. We hope to see papers reaching many more people; more energetic engineers exploring competitiveness course and even industry leaders getting taste of knowledge emerging from India’s leading group on competitiveness. Due to hard work done by us to lay foundations in the first half of the decade, we feel confident of taking the group forward to next heights in the second half.

We plan to build-on systematically to take SJMSOM, IITB in to top ranks in MoT and competitiveness,  and related areas such as Strategy, Internation Business,…

GoC members wish you a healthy, more energetic and challenging year 2016. Let’s cooperate on shared values such as hard work, diligence and commitment to quality. I urge you to at least have a glimpse of a beautiful book by the great former president of India late Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam with Arun Tiwari—Transcendence: My Spiritual Experiences…—from which I borrow a quote:

            The most powerful force on this planet is human cooperation

You may directly post comments on this post or Email to momaya@iitb.ac.in with sub: Comment on blog.

Yogathon for GoC

India has started opening new vistas of awareness with proposing Yoga Day.  Acceptance of 142/143 countries of IYD reflects the liking of so many countries.  With such a response, big responsibility fell on India to demonstrate that new benchmarks of awareness can be set.  Thanks to massive efforts by so many organizations, India was ready to demonstrate its concern for health.

IIT Bombay, a leading university of India,  also wants to contribute.  Practices were planned and interested learners were taught basics of Yoga, particularly Suryanamaskar.  The basics were good enough for one to start practice by self.  The main coach Sarang Nandedkar and volunteers Shiva were very helpful.

Group on Competitiveness (GoC) often creates awareness for SJMSOM’s participation in such local events. We are very happy that members such as Lalit Lalwani and Yugandhar Vardhineni helped SJMSOM represent well. Research scholar and faculty (incl. families) kept the flag high as all (7/7) completed the Yogathon (108 Suryanamaskar) smoothly. We have rarely seen such balanced achievement by GoC in the past; a symptom of growing maturity of training of members and their desire to climb steps. GoC members were happy to have contributed their bit to such pioneering event of IITB.

IITB Yogathon 108 Suryanamaskar Challenge

Yogathon 2015 Glimpse of participants

The members are getting ready for next level challenges. 7^th IITB biathlon is coming close (First was launched on August 15, 2012) and we hope that several new records will be set.

With very successful participation in the local Yogathon, the group is all charged to take next steps on competitiveness research journey.  We eagerly look for matching talent that is keen to aim next levels in Swimathon.

IITB Republic-day Biathlon 2015

IITB biathlons have been attracting loyal participants as well as amateurs.  This year was no exception about the challenge and spirit of new organizing team.  Long week-end, participation in inter-college sports meet (for management students) and winter early morning can provide enough reasons for people less keen to participate.  We had sought cooperation from key members of the “IITB Sports Council”, which they promised with enthusiasm.

Some key highlights of the event are

• While overall numbers were lesser, high enthusiasm of participants; more that 90 % completed full biathlon, perhaps the highest percentage ever
• Mens category had some strong competitors
• Several veteran professors supported the event; by words of wisdom from their long experiences, if not directly participating
• S. Soman, Prof. B.K. Chakravarthy graced the event

Prof. Soman giving medal to a winner

The best part of the event was getting wonderful tips from veteran Professors, who have sustained in much intense events for decades. Prof. Soman and Prof. Shart Chandarn shared several tips for benefit of participants. They urged aspiring winners to sustain practices, at least 2-3 times week.

At the same time, there are areas where improvements are needed.  Relatively low desire of many young learners to take the challenge of collective health is a major challenge.  Group and team health are not adequate to bring whole groups to the field.  Without adequate no. of participants and groups, competition is sub-par to aim at next levels.

We wish to thank all, who directly or indirectly has been supporting the initiative.  We wish to thank Prof. Yajnik, Dean students for desire to help.  Prof. Sharat Chandran  and Reddy coach has been contributing in many roles over years.  We also thank amateur organizing team (snap below) for taking the challenge and deliver to best of their skills and abilities. Please do visit relevant sections of this blog for updates, incl. about research project opportunities.

Members of core organizing team with hostel staff who provided service

 

Volunteers who made the event possible with Prof. Sharat and Prof. Chakravarthy

Indicative timing of lead players are given here for illustrative purpose only.  Considering the situation and limitations, these should be considered illustrative only and not definitive.

Table  Indicative timing of lead players in men and women category

Lead players – Men
Manoj Saini	23 min 52 sec
Rakesh Meena	23 min 57 sec
Divyang	25 min 39 sec
Prof. Sharat	26 min 23 sec
Kuldeep Singh	26 min 32 sec
Lead players – Women
Nisha Naikodi	16 min 45 sec
Jyotsana Parmar	22 min 39 sec
Deepa More	24 min 25 sec

Best of practice for exciting 2015.