The recent <keyword id="3315394" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="demonetisation">demonetisation</keyword> of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes by the Indian government has got a lot of people talking. 
 
On one hand, there are people supporting the government move and listing down various benefits of demonetisation in support of their argument. On the other, there are people opposing this move listing down various reasons for opposing the demonetisation. 
 
And both have some merits and taking the government explanation on face value, the intention of the government looks good though the implementation could have been somewhat better. 
 
However, it is ironic to see some people making a big issue out of poor people standing in queues which is a way of life for poor people in India even after almost 70 years of independence! 
 
The strategic humour story “Judo Strategy: Criticising Demonetisation - Sudden concern for poor people in queues!” explains the concept of Judo Strategy in a funny way. Judo strategy is an interesting strategy concept to engage with your competitor. 
 
Here, have a look! 
 
 
 
(The article is authored by Prof. Rajesh K. Pillania is judged Best Faculty for Strategic Management in India by ASSOCHAM &amp; Education Post and is ranked jointly #1 for research productivity among management professors in India. He is author of Strategic Humour book, a stand-up comedian on strategy and is faculty of Strategy with MDI, Gurgaon.)

Criticising Demonetisation: Sudden concern for poor people in queues!

The lure of growth through diversification is quite tempting for many organizations! 
 
Out of the two options of organic growth and inorganic growth, many organizations go for inorganic growth including mergers and acquisitions or alliances for diversification. 
 
However, as various studies show, a majority of the diversifications are not successful. 
 
According to a recent Harvard Business Review article, the failure rate for mergers and acquisitions (M&amp;A) is between 70% and 90%! Also, research shows that majority of alliances, almost two-third, result in failure. 
 Don’t get me wrong here. I am not suggesting one cannot go to newer businesses or diversification or mergers and acquisitions (M&amp;A) or alliances. One can go, but only after knowing, do one has the <keyword id="1430489" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Core-Competencies">core competencies</keyword> required to be successful in that newer business or can develop or acquire the newer competencies required. 
 
The strategic humour story “Core Competencies: Learning from ‘Pele: Birth of a Legend’ Movie!” highlights that one need to be careful about mindless diversifications. 
 
Here, have a look! 
 
 
 (The article is authored by Prof. Rajesh K. Pillania is judged Best Faculty for Strategic Management in India by ASSOCHAM &amp; Education Post and is ranked jointly #1 for research productivity among management professors in India. He is author of Strategic Humour book, a stand-up comedian on <keyword id="6363690" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="strategy">strategy</keyword> and is faculty of Strategy with MDI, Gurgaon.)

Here’s how you can learn about core competencies from the movie ‘Pele: Birth of a Legend’

<keyword id="94495" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="20" keywordseo="Innovation">Innovation</keyword> is becoming all the rage these days. 
 You go to any academic or industry conference or read any report on any industry or any <keyword id="13778" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="20" keywordseo="Management">management</keyword> book, one of the most widely used words is “innovation” these days. 
 
A study of top 100 firms in India, including Indian and foreign MNCs as well as private and public sector firms, by the writer of this article, found that an overwhelming majority are claiming to be doing some kind of innovation. Not only this, these firms intend to continue with innovations and add more efforts for innovation. 
 There are many new concepts in innovation such as Disruptive Innovation, Blue Ocean <keyword id="6363690" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="strategy">strategy</keyword>, <keyword id="3791547" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="medici-effect">Medici Effect</keyword>, Design Thinking, Reverse Innovation, Co-creation, Social Innovation and many more. Interestingly, these concepts are being used in various walks of life, not only in the typical industry set-up. 
 The strategic humour story “Demystifying Strategy of Raju Hirani the Famous <keyword id="143" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bollywood">Bollywood</keyword> Director: Medici Effect for Movies!” highlights that innovation concepts are getting popular and even used by Hindi <keyword id="938335" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="movie-industry">Movie industry</keyword>. 
 
Here, have a look! 
 
 
 
 
(The article is authored by Prof. Rajesh K. Pillania is judged Best Faculty for Strategic Management in India by ASSOCHAM &amp; Education Post and is ranked jointly #1 for research productivity among management professors in India. He is author of Strategic Humour book, a stand-up comedian on strategy and is faculty of Strategy with MDI, Gurgaon.)

Demystifying strategy of Raju Hirani- the famous Bollywood director

“Yes <keyword id="5189" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="competition">competition</keyword> is increasing and we need to match their strategies”- looks like a common argument in many <keyword id="6363690" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="strategy">strategy</keyword> meetings. However, there is a limit to follow the competition blindly. 
 
Remember you are in the market to serve the customer and not to just mindlessly beat the competition forgetting the customer altogether. 
“Every company has a DNA at its core, any strategy that is formulated needs to be in line with the overall DNA. In today’s marketplace where responses to competition are both strategic and tactical, any strategy that is ‘me too’, which goes against the company’s DNA is a sure shot recipe for debacle – both short term as well as long term. At the end of the day, customers remember companies by the nature of their DNA and not by ‘copy paste’ strategies,” stresses Sunil Nayak, CEO, Reliance Jewels. 
 
The strategic humour story “Competition - Death stare before the game and target focus in the game!” highlights that it is important to know your competitor and study him in detail but one should focus on the target, in this case winning the race, rather than the competition and getting distracted. 
 
Here, have a look! 
 
 
 (The article is authored by Prof. Rajesh K. Pillania is judged Best Faculty for Strategic <keyword id="13778" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="20" keywordseo="Management">Management</keyword> in India by ASSOCHAM &amp; Education Post and is ranked jointly #1 for research productivity among management professors in India. He is author of Strategic Humour book and is faculty of Strategy with MDI, Gurgaon.)

Competition is like the death stare before the game. Here’s why it’s important to know your competitor

<keyword id="107737" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Entrepreneurship">Entrepreneurship</keyword> has become a la mode these days. 
 However, the <keyword id="3756589" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="failure-rate-of-entrepreneurs">failure rate of entrepreneurs</keyword> is as high as up to 90 percent. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) of years between 1990 and 2016 shows that, on an average, the survival rate of new business is only around 20 percent. 
 
In India also, there is a high failure rate of entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs need to do a bit more exhaustive homework before jumping on the “in-thing” entrepreneurship. 
 
“Young entrepreneurs don’t know what they don’t know and they often end up changing the world, but also have a much higher failure rate. Older entrepreneurs will have higher probability of success due to an ability to leverage their past experience to attract funds and talent and scale the enterprise,” says Ashok Soota, Co-author, Entrepreneurship Simplified and Executive Chairman, Happiest Minds. 
 
The strategic humour story “Entrepreneurs need to know the tricks of the trade: Running away with passbook vending machine instead of ATM!” stresses the importance of knowing the tricks of the trade for entrepreneurship. 
 
Here, have a look! 
 
 (This article is authored by Prof. Rajesh K. Pillania. He has been judged as Best Faculty for Strategic <keyword id="13778" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="20" keywordseo="Management">Management</keyword> in India by ASSOCHAM &amp; Education Post and is ranked jointly #1 for research productivity among management professors in India. He is author of Strategic Humour book and is faculty of <keyword id="6363690" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="strategy">Strategy</keyword> with MDI, Gurgaon.)

Entrepreneurs should know tricks of the trade else they’ll be running away with passbook vending machine instead of ATM

‘Looks like, we were wrong in making the last minute changes. We should have stuck to our <keyword id="6363690" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="strategy">strategy</keyword>’-This is a statement often repeated in strategy discussions after havoc played by some last minute tactical changes. 
 
“Truly keep focus on the profound goal always and never get digressed by the small missteps in the short run,” says Manoj Kohli, Executive Chairman, SoftBank Energy. 
 
A bad tactic or a tactical digression from the corporate strategy can kill the overall good strategy! And unfortunately business world is full of such examples. 
 
“An isolated green patch attracts an errant sheep away from the herd, creating mayhem for the shepherd. Straying individuals, not looking at the final goal fail the team,” says Sid Sharma, President and CEO, InterGlobe Air Transport. 
 
The strategic humour story “Tactical Mistake At the cost of Overall Strategy: Premature celebration and stripping right next to the match referee!” stresses the importance of staying focused on the strategy. 
 This is based on one of the weirdest and funniest incidents of the <keyword id="6702825" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Rio-Olympics-2016">Rio Olympics 2016</keyword> and it went viral on internet. 
 
Here, have a look! 
 (The article is authored by Prof Rajesh K. Pillania, who is judged Best Faculty for Strategic <keyword id="13778" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="20" keywordseo="Management">Management</keyword> in India by ASSOCHAM &amp; Education Post and is ranked jointly #1 for research productivity among management professors in India. Currently he is faculty of Strategy with MDI, Gurgaon)

Pun intended! Making
tactical mistake at the cost of overall strategy is like premature celebration
and stripping right next to the match referee

<keyword id="6363690" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="strategy">Strategy</keyword> is among the most commonly misused and confused terms in <keyword id="13778" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="20" keywordseo="Management">management</keyword>. Many a time, big jargons are used even without understanding the meaning by many people in the business world. 
 
In a 2013 study of 100 CEOs, based in India of both Indian and foreign companies, by the author of this article, one of the key problems identified at firm level is that many times there is confusion about what is the strategy and either it is not well spelled out or not shared or not understood at various levels of the firm. 
 
The second problem identified in the same study is poor execution, which in part comes from the first problem as many times people at various levels are not clear or aware of the strategy itself. 
 
The strategic humour story “The Problem with Strategic Jargons: Creating a laugh riot with a crammed speech in a foreign language!” stresses the importance of understanding the meaning of strategic terms. 
 
In this hilarious story, a college student ends up giving a crammed speech without understanding it, which creates a hilarious situation. 
 
Here, have a look! 
 
 
(This article is authored by Prof Rajesh K. Pillania, judged Best Faculty for Strategic Management in India by ASSOCHAM &amp; Education Post and is ranked jointly #1 for research productivity among management professors in India. Currently he is faculty of Strategy with MDI, Gurgaon.)

The problem with strategic jargons: Creating a laugh riot with a crammed speech in a foreign language

Predictions or forecasting has always been a big business. The curiosity to know future in human beings has been exploited to a great extent by fortune tellers for centuries. 
 But forecasting is a dangerous business because there is limit to which you can correctly forecast the complex ever changing business environment. The great <keyword id="214930" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Peter-Drucker">Peter Drucker</keyword> has once said that one should never forecast and if forced to forecast than it should be always for a time period longer than one’s lifespan! 
 
Many times in the business world, ideas are sold using complex techniques of forecasting and spending lot of resources, which some people even without any business education know are wrong! 
 
The strategic humour story “The Funny Business of Forecasting - Trump Victory: Chinese Monkey &amp; Indian Fish Proven Right!” shares that forecasting is a funny business and it should always be taken with a pinch of salt and supported by a backup plan or plan B. 
 
Whereas the highly qualified and resourceful media failed, one monkey in China and one fish proved right with their forecast! 
 
Here, have a look! 
 
 
(The article has been authored by Prof. Rajesh K. Pillania is judged Best Faculty for Strategic Management in India by ASSOCHAM &amp; Education Post and is ranked jointly #1 for research productivity among management professors in India. He is author of Strategic Humour book, a stand-up comedian on strategy and is faculty of Strategy with MDI, Gurgaon.)

Funny business of forecasting! Chinese monkey, Indian fish proven right as Trump won election

Theoretically, <keyword id="6363690" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="strategy">strategy</keyword> looks so simple that many businesspersons call it common sense. 
 
However, there are so many strategic failures in the business world today, which echoes the popular quote by Voltaire, "Common sense is not so common." 
 
One of the reasons behind the failure of strategy is poor work with assumptions and predictions. 
 
Like in Physics, where the physical environment always moves towards more randomness or entropy increases, same things happen in the business world. 
 
The business environment is changing with such a rapid pace, it is becoming increasingly difficult to predict the future and any assumptions or predictions must be taken with a pinch of salt. 
 The great <keyword id="214930" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Peter-Drucker">Peter Drucker</keyword> once said that ‘one should avoid making predictions about future and if forced to make a prediction, the prediction should be for a time span longer than one’s life, so that even if it goes wrong, no one can catch you!’ 
 
The strategic humour story “Why does Strategy Fail? - Taking a beggar as a gentleman giving away money!” stresses the importance of making correct assumptions and predictions for strategy making. 
 
Here, have a look! 
 (The article is authored by Prof. Rajesh K. Pillania, who is judged Best Faculty for Strategic Management in India by <keyword id="3665930" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="assocham-education-post">ASSOCHAM &amp; Education Post</keyword> and is ranked jointly Number 1 for research productivity among management professors in India. Currently he is faculty of Strategy with MDI, Gurgaon.) 
 
(Cover photo: Thinkstock)

Why does Strategy fail? Taking beggar as a gentleman and giving away money!

…“But it a good growth opportunity and we should go for it. Even our competitor is going for it”… This is a common winning an argument in various <keyword id="6363690" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="strategy">strategy</keyword> discussions. And unfortunately, with this argument, many times the big picture is missed. 
 
Many firms miss the big picture of profitable growth, in pursuit of tempting growth opportunities, for boosting quarterly results. Relentless growth without profitability is a big trap in which many companies fall. 
 
A leading strategy consultant Ram Charan has highlighted that firm needs to think about growth with profitability for sustainability. 
“Exploring bigger picture involves thinking beyond short-term interests of external stakeholders, such as consultants, financiers,” said Prof. Kiran Momaya of Shailesh J. Mehta School of Management, IIT Bombay. 
 
“Staying focused on big picture requires a lot of discipline to ignore the short term temptations,” said Inderjit Sehrawat, Managing Director, DVTEL India, which is a part of FLIR Inc., a Standard &amp; Poor's 500 index component. 
 
The strategic humour story “Missing the Big Picture: A runaway thief sends a better picture on social media for police!” stresses the importance of staying focused on the big picture. In this hilarious story, a fugitive ends up sharing her latest picture with the police and gets caught. 
 
Here, have a look! 
 
(The article is authored by Prof. Rajesh K. Pillania, who is judged Best Faculty for Strategic Management in India by ASSOCHAM &amp; Education Post and is ranked jointly #1 for research productivity among management professors in India. Currently he is faculty of Strategy with MDI, Gurgaon)

Pun Intended! Businesses are missing the ‘big picture’, like a runaway thief sends a better picture for police to use on social media

India has thousands of institutes that offer <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=management+degrees&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">management degrees</a>. Few among this bunch offer quality faculty, and are worth your money. 
 
Given that a lot of schools make tall claims, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to make the right decision about what is a 'top B-School'. 
 
You need information on several parameters before you can come to a conclusion about the right MBA School. Here is a list of India's top <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=B-Schools&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">B-Schools</a> that will help you make the right decision this admission season. 
 
<a href="http://www.iimahd.ernet.in/">Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA)</a> 
 
<a href="https://insideiima.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/a-120.jpg">Image Source</a> 
Indian Institute of Management Ahemedabad has consistently been ranked as the number one management school in the country year after year in the last several years. 
 
IIMA stands at 56 among the top 100 international B-schools in the world that offer full time MBA. It’s two-year post graduate programme in management (PGP) is among the top ten programmes in the category of Masters Programmes in Management that do not require work experience as pre-requisite for admission. 
 
Its one-year post graduate programme in management for executives (PGPX) is also among the top <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=MBA&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">MBA</a> programmes globally. 
 
<a href="http://www.iimcal.ac.in/">Indian Institute of Management Calcutta (IIMC)</a> 
 
<a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/08/IIMKolkata.jpg">Image Source</a> 
The Indian Institute of Management Calcutta (IIMC) was established as the first national institute for Post-Graduate studies and Research in Management by the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Government+of+India&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">Government of India</a> in November 1961 in collaboration with Alfred P. Sloan School of Management (<keyword id="54274" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="MIT">MIT</keyword>), the Government of West Bengal, The Ford Foundation and Indian industry. 
 
Over the years, IIMC has grown into a mature institution with global reputation, imparting high quality management education. Its well known for placing students in consulting and finance roles. 
 
<a href="http://www.xlri.ac.in/">XLRI Xavier Institute of Management, Jamshedpur</a> 
 
<a href="http://www.kampuzz.com/images/college_images/KP5556895e9623c.jpg">Image Source</a> 
XLRI – Xavier School of Management is a management school based in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand. Established in 1949 as the Xavier Labor Relations Institute, XLRI is acknowledged as India’s oldest business management school. 
 
The Jesuit managed school’s main programs include a full-time 2-year post graduate program in Business Management, Personnel Management &amp; Industrial Relations (re-christened as Human Resources Management in 2011) and Global MBA, 15 months full-time General Management program (PGDM-GM), doctoral fellow programs (FPM) and many executive education programs. 
 
<a href="http://www.fms.edu/">Faculty of Management Studies (FMS), Delhi</a> 
 
<a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/20/FMS-_The_Red_Building_of_Dreams.JPG">Image Source</a> 
Faculty of Management Studies (aka FMS Delhi), established in 1954 under the University of Delhi. It offers management education to the professional managers as part-time and full-time MBA programmes. It is one of the oldest business schools in India which started offering a Full Time MBA programme. 
 
FMS is known for its academic programmes, training programmes, research and consultancy, but its primary aim is long-term academic programme leading to a Degree Certification. 
 
Currently, FMS conducts the following long-term programmes: 
 
· MBA (Full Time) 
· MBA(Executive) 
· MBA(Executive)Health Care Administration 
· Doctoral Programmes 
· Bachelor of Management Studies 
 
In addition to all these programmes, FMS also regularly conducts Management Development Programmes. 
 
<a href="http://www.iimk.ac.in/">Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode (IIMK)</a> 
 
<a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/33/IIM_Kozhikode_Aerial_View_s.jpg">Image Source</a> The Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode is one of the 13 Indian <keyword id="541056" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Institutes-of-Management">Institutes of Management</keyword> set up by the Government of India. The Institute, founded in 1996 in collaboration with the State Government of Kerala, was the 5th IIM to be established. 
 
IIMK offers following academic programs: 
 
· Post Graduate Programme in Management 
· Fellow Programme in Management 
· Executive Post Graduate Programme 
· Social Development Initiatives 
· International Exchange 
 
<a href="http://www.iimidr.ac.in/">Indian Institute of Management Indore (IIMI)</a> 
 
<a href="http://www.campusoption.com/images/colleges/gallery/25_05_16_081721_-IIM-Indore.jpg">Image Source</a> The Indian Institute of Management Indore is an autonomous public <keyword id="107736" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Business-school">business school</keyword> located in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. IIM Indore is the sixth of the prestigious Indian Institute of Management (IIM) chain of management schools. 
 
IIMI offers following academic programs: 
 
· Integrated Programme in Management (IPM) 
· Post Graduate Programme in Management (PGP) 
· Executive Post-Graduate Programme in Management (EPGP) 
· Post Graduate Programme in Management for Executives (PGPMX) 
· Fellow Programme in Management (FPM) 
 
<a href="http://www.spjimr.org/">S. P. Jain Institute of Management &amp; Research (SPJIMR), Mumbai</a> 
 
<a href="http://www.crackmymba.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/SP-Jain-Mumbai.jpg">Image Source</a> 
S.P. Jain Institute of Management and Research (SPJIMR) is a part of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. It is recognized as one of the premier business schools of India. The Institute grew rapidly in eminence from one of the three B-schools in Mumbai in 1981 to one of the top ten B-schools in the country by 1994-1995. 
 
S.P. Jain offers following academic programs: 
 
· Post Graduate Diploma in Management 
· Post Graduate Programme in Management · <keyword id="740123" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="40" keywordseo="executive-management-programme">Executive Management Programme</keyword> 
· Family Managed Business programme 
 
<a href="http://www.mdi.ac.in/">Management Development Institute (MDI), Gurgaon</a> 
 
<a href="http://getmyuni.azureedge.net/college-image/big/management-development-institute-mdi-gurgaon.jpg">Image Source</a> <keyword id="481185" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Management-Development-Institute">Management Development Institute</keyword> (MDI) is one of the premier business schools in India. It was established in 1973 and is located in Gurgaon, a commercial hub near New Delhi, India. 
 
MDI offers following academic programs: 
 
· Post Graduate Programme in Management (PGPM) 
· Post Graduate Programme – Human Resource Management (PGP-HRM) 
· Post Graduate Programme in International Management (PGPIM) 
· National Management Programme (NMP) 
· Post Graduate Diploma in Public Policy and Management 
· Fellow Programme in Management 
· Executive Fellow Programme in Management 
· Part Time Post Graduate Programme in Management (PT-PGPM) 
 
<a href="http://www.iift.edu/new/">Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT), New Delhi</a> 
 
<a href="http://fi.ge.pgstatic.net/colleges/gallery/processed/1430076655.3c6274feea944a8ca15826ebec3edf93.jpg">Image Source</a> 
The Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) is an autonomous public business school established in 1963 by the Government of India to help professionalize the country’s foreign trade management and increase exports. 
 
Its flagship program is the Master of Business Administration in International Business (MBA-IB). It is the only institute among the top-10 business schools of India that offers this program. 
 
Apart from the MBA(IB) Course, IIFT provides various Management Development Programs, Executive Programs and Certificate Programs catering to the requirements of aspiring International Business executives and mid-career professionals alike. 
 
<a href="http://www.imi.edu/">International Management Institute (IMI), New Delhi</a> 
 
<a href="http://getmyuni.azureedge.net/college-image/big/international-management-institute-imi-new-delhi.jpg">Image Source</a> 
International Management Institute, New Delhi, popularly known as IMI New Delhi is a Private Business School located in New Delhi, India. Established in the year 1981, IMI New Delhi was India’s first corporate sponsored business school. 
 
IMI offers following academic programs: 
 
· Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) 
· Post-Graduate Diploma in Management – Human Resources (PGDHRM) 
· Post Graduate Diploma in Management – Banking and Financial Services (PGDM – B&amp;FS) 
· Executive Post Graduate Diploma in Management (EXPGDM) 
· Fellow Program in Management (FPM) 
 
<a href="http://www.iimahd.ernet.in/assets/templates/mytemplates/iima/images/gallery/VikramSarabhaiLibrary1.JPG">Image Source</a>

The 10 Best Business Schools in India

<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Dear-Snapdeal-Get-Your-House-In-Order-Before-Its-Too-Late/articleshow/45822319.cms">Snapdeal</a> plans to have an extensive engagement programme with campuses before they go for final placements as they plan to hire more candidates next year, but is looking beyond B-school products. <keyword id="541988" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="SnapDeal">Snapdeal</keyword> hired about 250 MBA graduates across business schools this year. 
 
"We identify the needs of all our business units through an extensive workforce planning exercise and come up with a percentage that needs to be <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Snapdeal-to-foster-employment-in-rural-India/articleshow/46504328.cms">hired</a> through campus to decide our overall campus hiring number. However, the focus in not on adding more colleges but hiring the right candidates and we will ensure a large campus pool to get the best talent and right candidates for the roles," said <keyword id="2850599" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Saurabh-Nigam">Saurabh Nigam</keyword>, VP at Snapdeal, told ET. 
 
Nigam said that while the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Snapdeal-launches-special-zone-atDharamshala/articleshow/47771763.cms">company</a> looks at MBA-qualified talent to fill non-technical positions in the fields of sales and marketing, business strategy, category management, supply chain and product management to make strategic business decisions, the roles offered will not necessarily depend on the pedigree of the institutes as the company is looking at a talent pool with dynamic skill sets, people who are self-driven and have risk-taking abilities. 
 
"Besides, there is a sea of talent in our country and we are not restricted to just premier MBA institutes to fuel our growth as an organisation," he added. 
 
Snapdeal, which has over 5000 employees and hired a total of 250 MBA graduates this year, had a structured hiring plan for business schools for the first time this year. Nigam stated the company is now four times the size it was a year ago. 
 
"This year we recruited interns to review the candidate pool at campuses. We were amongst the first few to visit in the laterals hiring (rolling) process across all IIMs and other premier campuses like MDI, FMS and SP Jain. Furthermore, we were able to get very competitive slots across all top-tier campuses like ISB," said Nigam. 
 
This year, the company plans to have an extensive engagement plan to engage with campuses before they go in for final placements to ensure that they have clearly identified the campuses to visit during the placement season. <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Yes-you-heard-that-right-Snapdeals-selling-Yachts-now/articleshow/46631171.cms" target="_blank">Snapdeal</a> recruited from campuses like <keyword id="19478" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="IIM">IIM</keyword> Bangalore, IIM Kozhikode, and MDI Gurgaon this year. 
 
 
(Image credits: Indiatimes)

Snapdeal would engage extensively with campuses prior placement season next year

While presenting Budget 2015, <keyword id="6391015" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Finance-Minister-Arun-Jaitley">Finance Minister Arun Jaitley</keyword> had emphasised more on <keyword id="6375224" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="higher-education">higher education</keyword> and skill development. 
 
The government had proposed to set aside Rs. 69,074.76 crore for the education sector, out of which there was an increase in the Higher Education Budget from Rs. 23,700 crore in 2014-15 to Rs. 26,855.26 crore in 2015-16. 
 However, allocation for School Education &amp; Literacy was marginally reduced to Rs. 42,219.5 crore. For <keyword id="2783177" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Budget-2016">Budget 2016</keyword>, experts are looking for more enhancing vocational education requirements. 
 
“Government’s schemes towards providing scholarships to meritorious, economically backward students should be strengthened in higher education. There is also a need to develop more vocational educational requirements of people who are not eligible for higher education,” said Prof. Rupamanjari Sinha Ray, Assistant Professor, MDI, Gurgaon. 
 
Meanwhile, the minister had also announced new IITs and AIIMS-like institutions. Experts say in Budget 2016, they should focus on funding existing institutions and create world-class tech-based classrooms. 
 
“Education is an important social sector and allocation of budget should be increased substantially. Instead of creating more IITs and IIMs in the country, government can strengthen by funding all the existing institutes in terms of quality resources and creating world class technology environment,” said Ray. 
 
For skill development, Jaitley had announced allocation of Rs. 1,543.46 crore to Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. 
 
In Budget 2016, experts want more regulation in the education sector and private sector investments in skilling programmes. 
 
“With the focus on Digital India and start-ups, it would be nice to see investments in education and skilling programs to prepare the next generation. There is urgent need to transform bodies such as AICTE that control inputs such as curriculum and infrastructure and replace them with a body that rates “learning outcomes”. We need to attract private capital into higher education and invite ethical companies to invest and earn reasonable returns and ensure high standards in education. In other words we need to remove all controls and replace them with enabling regulation,” said Anil Sachdev, Founder &amp; CEO of School of Inspired Leadership. 
 
It is yet to see how much allocation does Jaitley announces for education sector but there is a need to have more practical learning classrooms. 
 
(Image: Indiatimes)

Experts pin hopes on more allocation for skilling programmes, tech-based learning in Budget 2016

US tech company <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Cognizant+" target="_BLANK￿￿￿￿">Cognizant</a> has retained its first place for the third time in the list of top recruiters in India, making as many as 192 offers at various MBA institutes in the country. 
 
Moreover, three other companies — <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Wipro" target="_BLANK￿￿￿￿">Wipro</a>, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Deloitte+" target="_BLANK￿￿￿￿">Deloitte</a> and <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=HCL" target="_BLANK￿￿￿￿">HCL</a> — made more than 100 offers in these institutes. Last year, only two companies had made offers in excess of 100, an exclusive ET survey has revealed. 
 
In a testimony to the growing demand for topnotch MBA talent, India Inc's top recruiters have stepped up campus hiring by 33.5%. 
Ten of India's biggest recruiters hired a total of 1,033 MBAs from 22 top business schools ET surveyed for this study. Around 774 graduates were picked by the top ten recruiters across 21 B-schools the previous year. 
 
These numbers, in absolute terms, reflect what is easily the most aggressive MBA talent drive in the five years that the ET India's Top Recruiters study is being conducted. 
 
The ET top 10 recruiters survey results are based on data from <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=IIM+Ahmedabad+" target="_BLANK￿￿￿￿">IIM Ahmedabad</a>; IIM Bangalore; IIM Calcutta; IIM Kozhikode; IIM Indore; IIM Shillong; IIM Ranchi; IIM Raipur; IIM Udaipur; Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies; Indian Institute of Foreign Trade; International Management Institute, New Delhi; Faculty of Management Studies, Delhi; Faculty of Management Studies, BHU; Department of Management Studies, IIT Delhi; XLRI Jamshedpur; XIM Bhubaneswar; SP Jain Institute of Management &amp; Research; IIM Rohtak; MDI Gurgaon; IIM Kashipur and IIM Trichy. 
 Meanwhile, IIT Delhi's Department of Management Studies and IIM Rohtak replaced <keyword id="3761718" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Jamnalal-Bajaj-Institute-of-Management-Studies">Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies</keyword> this year. There were 21 institutes last year. 
 With one in every 20-25 technology professionals holding a master's in business administration, Sriram Rajagopal, vice president — HR at <keyword id="28721" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Cognizant">Cognizant</keyword> Technology Solutions, says his company is probably one of the most aggressive MBA recruiters in India. 
Besides the 192 hired across the 22 business schools, the company offered jobs to more than 500 MBAs from the 2015 graduating batch. 
 
"We are in the midst of once-in-a-decade shift in the technology landscape. This trend is creating significant opportunities for B-school graduates. We believe our industry leading growth is, in part, a function of our ability to proactively provide solutions to business problems and not just technological capability and this attribute is strengthened by our MBA talent," said Rajagopal. 
 Following on the heels of Cognizant are Wipro, <keyword id="6358918" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Deloitte">Deloitte</keyword>, <keyword id="30331" type="CITY" weightage="80" keywordseo="HCL-Technologies">HCL Technologies</keyword>, ICICI Bank and <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=KPMG" target="_BLANK￿￿￿￿">KPMG</a>. The first five companies have been regulars on the top 10 list for the past five years. 
 Moreover, the fifth position this year is shared by two. <keyword id="50041" type="CITY" weightage="80" keywordseo="KPMG">KPMG</keyword> has made a big entry into the list for the first time to be alongside ICICI Bank. The consultancy firm hired 90 students from the surveyed schools, and reported a more than 20% overall jump in its MBA intake over the past two years. 
"Our MBA intake over the past few years has increased substantially," said Shalini Pillay, head of people, performance and culture at KPMG in India. "This is commensurate with our growth across various services in the advisory space.” 
 
Rival Deloitte reported a 30% increase in overall MBA hiring over the previous year, taking in 108 graduates at the surveyed schools alone. Wipro said it strengthened its focus on hiring from select B-schools and recruited 127. HCL and <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=ICICI+Bank+" target="_BLANK￿￿￿￿">ICICI Bank</a> hired 101 and 90, respectively, from the surveyed business schools. 
 
"Hiring talent from top-tier business schools through campus recruitment, thereby building a talent pipeline to create leaders for tomorrow, has been integral to ICICI Bank's recruitment strategy. This year, we have recruited 180 students from business schools across the country," said TK Srirang, the bank's senior general manager and HR head. 
 <keyword id="6370971" type="CITY" weightage="80" keywordseo="Accenture">Accenture</keyword> and <keyword id="15492" type="CITY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Vodafone">Vodafone</keyword> enhanced B-school hiring and reported a significant uptick in this year's numbers. Accenture was the top recruiter at the top three IIMs, with 49 offers, of them 21 at IIM Ahmedabad alone. 
 
"Yes, we are hiring more MBAs now. We believe that MBA talent is extremely important and a key component of our hiring and growth strategy," said Sukhpreet Kalra, associate director, recruitment, for <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Accenture+" target="_BLANK￿￿￿￿">Accenture</a> in India. 
 
Vodafone recruited 82 graduates from the surveyed schools to debut on the list at the eighth position. While Amazon led the ecommerce companies vying for fresh MBA talent, hiring 84 across the schools surveyed and moving to the seventh position from joint ninth last year. With <keyword id="541988" type="COMPANY" weightage="80" keywordseo="SnapDeal">Snapdeal</keyword> snapping up the ninth slot and making its debut on the list with 81 hires, India's largest online retailer, <keyword id="6354742" type="COMPANY" weightage="80" keywordseo="Flipkart">Flipkart</keyword>, missed out on the top 10 rankings by a whisker. 
 
Raj Raghavan, HR director at <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Amazon" target="_BLANK￿￿￿￿">Amazon</a> India, said the company has seen a 140% increase in its MBA intake over the past two years. "B-school graduates are a key part of our growth story in India and we are building a leadership pipeline for the future," he said. The company offered roles across operations, consumer business, HR and finance, and around 25% of its MBA hires came through pre-placement offers. 
 
Snapdeal, for the first time, had a large structured B-school hiring plan. It hired for roles in sales and marketing, business strategy, category management, supply chain and product management. 
 
"MBA graduates have proven to be better equipped to analyse, interpret and find actionable trends from complex data. Thus, it is crucial for us to get on board MBA talent for the company's overall business and growth strategy. We have hired around 250 MBA graduates across Indian B-schools this year," said Vice President Saurabh Nigam. 
 
Companies like Deloitte and <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Vodafone+" target="_BLANK￿￿￿￿">Vodafone</a> hired a big chunk of B-school graduates through pre-placement offers (PPOs). 
 
"In the last fiscal (year), we had about 288 interns... A majority of them went on to secure PPOs," said SV Nathan, senior director and chief talent officer at Deloitte in India. Out of the 100 B-school candidates Vodafone hired this year, 57% had been through PPOs. The focus on B-school talent is only going to sharpen for recruiters, the study shows. 
 
Amazon's Raghavan said with India becoming a major growth story for the US-headquartered company, it was looking for top talent from business schools to build a career in Amazon. 
 
(Image: Indiatimes)

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