FROM THE DIRECTOR GENERAL'S DESK

‘GREAT EXPECTATIONS’ - BUSINESS CHALLENGES AND THE INNOVATION IMPERATIVE “Even in these daunting times, one person with a good idea can still change the world” – Adam Cohen, International Herald Tribune

As we scan the national and global ‘good’ to ‘great’ Corporate Houses, we learn that whether it is the top hundred or five hundred, young, modern and dynamic business organisations continue to edge out the past heavy weights. Just as Microsoft climbed past IBM, Facebook, Google and Apple appear to be in sustained pursuit of the leading position. Nearer home, even when an IT giant notches 25% plus annual growth in revenues and profits, there is negativity in the marketplace, which is probably expecting a much higher performance. As the ‘Incredible India’ story now enters the second phase of challenging economic reforms, there appears to be a lot of jostling and rubbing of shoulders amongst young dynamic Corporate Houses to climb atop the winner’s podium. Their success is marked by evolution and sustenance of ‘innovation platforms’, which unleash the synergistic combination of young and dynamic professionals, always responding to the challenges of the marketplace.

Undoubtedly, one wonders, how feasible it is for an organisation to maintain a steady supply of such game-changers? How does one source such talent at affordable costs and continue to sow and reap the innovation dividend from these change agents? Does the ‘process’ take precedence over the ‘product’, while the people-performance-pipeline floods the consumer space, resulting at times in legal battles, to seek the final verdict on the ‘smart instruments’? Closer to our scenario, the dusty roads of rural India are being criss-crossed and served by e-empowered logistic chains, thus narrowing the digital divide. Don’t be surprised, when you learn that the three packs of branded tea/coffee, that you bought, were digitally recorded, via the remote sensing hub of the supplier/manufacturer. Next time, as you step out, to reach the next outlet, in all likelihood you are digitally tracked for the next purchase – remember ‘You are being served!’ – digitally!

Here, one must remember that our youth, especially those who are exposed to the world of business dynamics, through a business administration programme, would ideally be the closest to approach and leap across the innovation barrier. Whether it is the challenging metros or unexplored rural habitats, their tryst with management education lends them a great degree of comfort in relating to the complex world of business. As they seek knowledge, through academic exposure and the web world, they have to cross umpteen barriers and knowledge blocks, to seek their space in the marketplace. In fact, their epic struggle, to match business tools with reality, prepares them for the larger-than-life battles in the markets. Given opportunity and encouragement, they deliver performance, to match industry standards.

We, at the MET Schools of Management, continuously reshape and retool the delivery modules and the pedagogy, in order to shape the young professionals, to take on the challenges of the marketplace. Intense learning modules, supplemented by business simulations, role plays, case studies and interactive participatory learning processes, delivered in partnership with the industry, help them realise the importance of experiential learning. Industrial visits, interactive training sessions, with socio-political players, help them understand the contextual nature of business. A programme of working with NGOs, striving towards uplifting tribals in the Waliv/Vasai region, helps them From the Director General’s Desk 4 “Even in these daunting times, one person with a good idea can still change the world” Adam Cohen, International Herald Tribune 'Great Expectations' - Business Challenges and the Innovation Imperative understand the wide gap that exists between the haves and the have nots. The MET Seva programme, under the UNECOSOC special consultative status received by MET, helps them understand their roles and responsibilities, in building an inclusive society.

Thus, our industry-academia exchange aggregating over 600 corporate houses is designed to give students an opportunity to fathom the depth of the world of business. Guided by caring faculty and corporate shapers, our illustrious alumni are spread across the globe, from the scenic outpost of New Zealand, the majestic towers of Dubai, encompassing Europe and America, not to mention the freezing snows of the Russian winter in the suburb of Moscow. In India, they are seen maximising customer delight in skin care or arranging fruits and vegetables, exhibiting the freshness to the customer as also being actively engaged in increasing the TRP for media groups as also mastering algorithmic trading, to tame the ‘spirits’ at the bourses. They don the professional mantle as entrepreneurs or intrapreneurs, dishing out fine cut diamonds forever and can also be seen churning out packaged fruits, to challenge the consumers’ palette. Through their endeavours, they help us reach out to the strategic wonderland of global businesses, reassuring their comrades at home about the relevance of business management education.

With all humility, we hold the belief that despite limitations in the knowledge and competency areas, through their dedication, perseverance and commitment to build an inclusive society, they would excel in meeting corporate performance levels. Undoubtedly, all that they seek is an opportunity, to board the corporate ‘innovation’ platform. And, given the space-faith-time continuum, they will rise to match the ‘GREAT EXPECTATIONS’ of the marketplace, thus embodying the philosophy of Peter Drucker: “The best way to predict the future is to create it.”