MBA Projects - Different types;different learning opportunities

Usually the MBA dissertation involves a empirical study where great emphasis is placed on the rigor of the research methodology, data collection and data analysis.  There are different types of projects which are part of various MBA programs and offering students a choice in selecting what is appropriate for them is always a good idea. These projects might not perfectly fit what is expected as a dissertation, however they are valuable learning opportunities which will be useful as options for a term project or a mini project.  The challenge for large Indian public universities however is evaluating them all on a equal footing when different students pick different types of project within one cohort. This calls for substantial training of evaluators. 

The various types of projects can be listed as 

1.   Business Process Optimization/simplification
This type of study will be possible in a large organization where one can study in detail any one business process, identify bottlenecks/pain areas, and suggest what can be the process.  Even formats being used/ technology etc can be considered in the process. The purpose of such a study is to identify issues within a process and suggest improvements/simplification/cost reductions.

2. Business Model of the Organization 

   with a detailed study of each of the components. Tools like the Business model canvas/value chain analysis can be used.  Description of the various components of the organization's business model in students own words after gathering secondary data and primary data from interviews with executives and customers etc. Comparison with other players in the industry will be useful as well as any history of the development of the model (how it has changed over time)

3.   Executive Shadowing Report 

    Role, responsibilities, background, Observations, interview, reflection etc apart from Company/department background.This study will involve shadowing 2 or 3 executives in one organization over a period of 30 days. This means observing the executive at work, seeking information about the topics of interest to the student with a plan for observation and Questions to ask for each day. A specific theme based on any specific management topic can be chosen based on the Manager/Executive being shadowed and the organization. The objective is to understand the manager’s mindset and practical aspects of day to day business.

4.  Digital transformation 

   Study potential for a process/business to become digital with cost/benefit analysis or study the process/challenges of digital transformation in an organization.
This is also a study of the process/product/ service in detail to identify opportunities to digitize in the organization. The effort, training and costs as well as likely benefits of such a change can be estimated.

5.  Benchmarking studies

   One or more areas are chosen and the current practices/policies in the organization are studied. Best Practices (from published sources or based on a primary survey within the industry to find best practices) are compared with the organization's practices and suggestions provided in the context of the organization.

6. Demand forecasting studies

    Using a combination of trend plotting and industry analysis.When sales data of the organization is shared and industry data and trends are available, studies about shifts in customer wants for the particular category are accessible, then this type of study can be taken up. This should include industry analysis, industry trends, industry sales and projections, organization and its sales, sales forecasts using all the available data/trends.

7. Competitive analysis ( Marketing, HR, Supply chain )

   This is making a competitive analysis or a comparative study of a few players within the same industry as the organization in which student is doing the project. For example ‘Compensation and benefits for nurses among corporate hospitals in Bangalore’ ‘Employer branding – Comparison of Wipro with Infosys’, ‘Promotion strategies to market 4G data plans – Competitive analysis’

8. NGO diary 

    A daily report on working with a NGO including NGO profile, reflections, and contributions.This is similar to the Job shadowing except that it should include discussion about the cause the NGO is working for and the contribution of the student to the NGO during the project . Ideally a management aspect should be considered for tasks/work to be done at the NGO.

9. Innovation Journey

   Tracking how an innovation idea (product/service/process)was germinated to  its full scale implemented and results thereof within an organization.

10.Case Study

     A Case study about a situation in a firm/industry.  SWIF i.e Student Written Instructor Facilitated Cases are a fun and interesting learning option that add significant academic value as they can be published and help other learners.  Dr.Paul Michael Swiercz's guide to SWIF case writing is a invaluable starting point for such cases. Planned interviews with Business Executives in itself a great learning experience.

Surely there are other types and I will be very happy to improve my list with your sharing your knowledge on this. Your feedback /comments will be really valuable.

Role of the academic guide in Student Project/dissertation - MBA

Most professors will find this really very basic, however, young teachers who are guiding students for the first time will get some orientation is what I hope! Do send your feedback

Role of the academic guide in the MBA dissertation or Project from Surana College, Centre for Post Graduate Studies

Flavours of one Cuisine and Presentation of another....fusion or modernisation?

The Uthly is a new offering from the restaurant chain UpSouth. It is a nice combination of a couple of mini-uthappams, iceberg lettuce, a vegetable cutlet and maybe a slice of idli dipped in molagai podi and oil. It is being presented and sold much like a burger. It is not exactly fusion as all the ingredients and preparations are part of authentic South Indian cuisine. I am not sure if there is any name for this type of adaptation in how food is sold. UpSouth has chosen the presentation really close to the burger, including butter-paper wrapping, size/shape, lettuce, and ketchup sachets instead of any Chutney.  We loved the taste even if it was not delivered 'fast' as in fast food!

It is Vegetarian for sure. My guess it is Vegan and Gluten free too! 

Vijayapura ( formally Bijapur) Womens University Commerce & Management teachers Association - My workshop on 'Best Practices in Higher Education - Role of Commerce and Management Teachers

Some pictures from the event and my Presentation. The whole talk hopefully sometime soon!

Hon'ble Vice Chancellor inaugurated the workshop

Over dressed?

Native honouring ceremony with Shawl, a bowl of fruits and flowers....Many thanks to the Organisers!

Best Practices in Higher Education - Role of Commerce & Management Teachers from Surana College, Centre for Post Graduate Studies

My talk at MSRIM Conference - Start-up India, Stand up India - Role of B-Schools 27th of May 2016

Good Afternoon ladies and Gentlemen!

I am greatful to MSRIM, especially Dr.Muralidharan and Prof.Jayashree for having me here today. It gives me the opportunity to catch up with many old friends.

          When I saw the topic given to me, Business models, Technology & Marketing, my first thought was that Dr.Muralidharan made a list of subjects to be covered and after assigning the topics, put all the left over topics into one and gave that to me.

           That is not at all true. The two very important components of business model are technology and marketing, apart from the financials which is what everyone talks about with regard to start ups.

Let me by telling you three stories. All true stories.

Story-1

J.C.Fargo who was the president of American Express was on European holiday in 1892.He had a very difficult time converting the letters of credit that he carried into cash. He went back to the US thinking that if the president of American Express was having this trouble, what about the common traveler. American express then created the travelers cheques.

          In the year 2000, American express issued cheques worth USD 24.6 Million. In recent years the debit card/Credit card and multi currency cards have replaced these cheques and business has dispersed to many commercial banks thanks to Visa & Master card.

Story – 2

How many of you have heard of Vayloo technologies. This is a Bangalore based start up that belongs to Piyush Bansal. Recently Lenskart received another 130 crores rupees investment and their annual turnover has reached 100crores.

          The story I want to tell you is not about Lenskart. Vayloo technologies had conceptualized and started Bagskart , Watchkart and Jewelskart also. However no one has heard of them and Vayloo has shut down there three businesses.

          There are many startup’s that fail for a range of reasons. Today most of the ‘food delivery’ sites are closing down because they did not visualize that they have very little control on the restaurant or housewife who is cooking to supply.

(Dazo/Tiny owl, Zomato.)

Story – 3

Chandubhai Virani was selling potato chips near a cinema theatre in Rajkot Gujarat and also working in the Theatre Canteen. He started with one frying pan.  Balaji wafers today, has 65% market share in 5 states where it is sold and is a 1000 crore company.

          Chandubhai had earlier failed in two businesses in one his suppliers sold him fake fertilizers and in another he could not run a college canteen successfully.

Business models are very much about stories, stories about how enterprises work. Joan Magretta as far back as 2002 in a HBR article says “A good business model begins with an insight into human motivations and ends in a rich stream of profits.”

We have all learnt about identifying customer wants/needs and making a profit by satisfying them.A business model helps us to focus attention on how the various elements of the system fit into a working whole.

There are many business models classified as pipe and platform business models. The essential thing to remember is that we need to have clarity on how the business will actually make money.

Technology enables new products & services .

Technology is a choice in a start up and in a business model.

What level and type of technology to use to solve the problem?

Whether you want hand held order taker in your restaurant or just a writing pad is a choice. Using WhatApp to chat with your friend when the lecture is going on is good use of technology,   using it to chat with a roommate within the hostel room is unnecessary and wasteful use of technology.

In a start-up converting a technological innovation into a profitable product is a critical area. When Xerox launched its copier it was very expensive compared to the earlier wet copiers. To make economic value of this technology innovation, Xerox introduced a new business model, they leased the equipment which calls for very low down payment. This led to the success – 41% compounded annual growth (CAG) FOR 12yrs.

Like travellers cheques gave way to credit & debit cards, newer technology replacing the old is an everyday occurrence. Kodak is classic example of being washed away due to technological advancements and not accepting new realities quickly. Keeping track and adapting new technologies to offer value to customers is another important area. I love the Indian railway for launching internet booking long ago and it now sells 2 lakh tickets each day providing a great value preposition.

Technology and marketing are very much interconnected. Just a few years ago the buzz word was ‘technology marketing’ which relates to selling hi technology products and services. The book ‘Crossing the Chasm’ by Geoffrey Moore was very popular. Today the buzz word is ‘marketing technology‘which is about technology tools available for marketing especially digital marketing.

 Marketing is required to give life to technology innovations

          While the essential philosophy of marketing is still very relevant, there are three major changes in the world. First is the speed . Everything is much faster, so responsiveness needs to be instantaneous. Second, with the world becoming smaller, the need for marketing professionals to understand many cultures and tailor marketing programs to culture is increasingly important. Third, is the digital transformation that is happening all around us. Everything is now becoming digital.

I am sure many of the students have been exposed to the business model canvas. Many of the components need a good understanding of marketing concepts. Customer segments, value preposition, customer relationships, and channels are the core of every business model.

The opportunities for marketing to the bottom of the pyramid are immense and right from understanding customer needs, developing relevant lean products, to selling such products to this market is the need of the day.

Differentiation and positioning are becoming a challenge. Marketing needs a lot of pertinent creativity to understand customers and put out something that offers significant value to them and bring home a profit.

The sense I am getting is that behind every successful business, apart from a lovely lady, there are many failures. Business graduates must build the confidence to fail.

In my Opinion, Technology management especially using technology as a component of a business model, and how technology can add economic value that is useful to customers, marketing to the bottom of the pyramid and the stories of business models should be part of the curriculum of business schools.

Thank you

Khova Bun @ G.Pulla Reddy.....only in Kurnool!

Every town has its specialty and for me Kurnool is home to the not so popular Bun & Khova available only in the Kurnool outlets of G.Pulla Reddy. The first time I had it was 50 years ago...it is a long time for an item to continue on the menu!

Remember going to this shop with my dad who first introduced me to this delightful sweet snack. Numerous road trips between Hyderabad and Bangalore over the decades with my parents and the trips for 'van sales' with my grand uncle have given me many opportunities to visit Kurnool.

Every time I pass through this town, having Khova Bun has been a necessary ritual over so many decades. Recently I recommended this item to someone and he and his team called back to say it was super!

One important and interesting fact I learnt from Mr Wonderful- Raghava Reddy who like father became president of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad is that the traditional sweet makers are big sponsors of the VHP. The reason could be their fear that business will crash if Indians do not exchange sweets for the many festivals and shift to some western items! Business sense that keeps tradition and culture alive....interesting area for research!

Enjoy the Bun and Khova if you can....it is worth it!

Rural Tourism - Warmth to the soul and what Joy!

On a recent  visit to Shani Shangnapur, near Sonai  enjoyed a crisp glass of fresh sugarcane juice.


https://goo.gl/maps/fPnQbaeT6Ns

We discuss atmospherics in retailing and generally limit ourselves to enclosed stores. The atmospherics created by these sugar-cane juice vendors is so simple yet powerful enough to transport you back to a typical Indian village instantly. The song, the cow, the swing, the large roadside tree so many elements to create a rustic atmosphere.

With greater westernization of our lives and the rural  Samskara most Indians are born with, the opportunity to provide Joy for the soul, with, rural tourism is really huge as it provides a contrast that is, yet connected to the deepest in us. ( Connected Contrast? :) )

Small operators based in villages will benefit and grow. I wish this sector is recognized and encouraged for it is sustainable, green, positive to health, and as of now great value!

Do write in with your views and more examples of rural tourism in India