Executive MBA (EMBA)

ON STRONGER GROUND

An Executive MBA (EMBA) does more than just add a degree to your CV, it upgrades your skills and knowledge, enabling you to survive better in the competitive corporate world.

In the cut-throat world of business, obsolescence is fairly common. So if you’re looking to avoid stagnation, going back to the basics may be a noteworthy option. For most executives, climbing the rungs of the corporate ladder is always a challenge. While professionals find it difficult to get out of the rut, organisations face a dearth of qualified personnel to delegate responsibility to. Overcoming this two-fold predicament, business schools that look to the future have devised a unique solution: Executive Education. Says V H Iyer, dean, MDP, Welingkar Institute of Management Development and Research, “In the changing business dynamics, the industry needs people who can think of business as a whole.

Knowledge is paramount; in such a situation there is a definite need for management education. Hence, people who missed out on their MBA earlier, throng towards executive management programmes.” Adds Dinesh Harsolekar, director, IES Management College and Research Centre: “There are two reasons why we are introducing an executive MBA programme this coming July- Firstly, this is a golden opportunity for those professionals who, for a number of reasons, missed the chance to complete an MBA in the course of their academic tenure. Secondly, university courses are generally three- year courses, which are too time-consuming for working professionals to commit to. The EMBA is a fast track 15 to 18 month programme to cater specifically to such professionals.”

While the popularity of an executive education programme may be due to a desire to acquire professional education or a need to gain a broader perspective of the industry, the lure of the MBA stamp is clearly working its way across organisations. As Vivek Kejriwal, third year student of the part time EMBA, at NMIMS succinctly questions, “After having made the most of the ideal working age, when you’re offered a course that provides you a certificate along with your experience, it simply makes sense to go for it, doesn’t it?” However, if that’s not reason enough to drive you back to school, perhaps a better understanding of the course may just do the trick.“All EMBA programmes are encapsulated courses of study, considering the profile and work experience of people. They are applicationoriented and taught by specialists who are well up in industry practices as well as academics, bringing in rich experience to the classrooms to make the programme very relevant,” elucidates Iyer.

Highlighting the difference between a regular MBA and an EMBA course, Arun Mudbidri, director, Symbiosis Institute of Business Management says, “Because of the experiential base of the executive MBA students, the programme is more accelerated and interactive, and peer oriented. For example, students may be organised in learning teams of three-four students who work together throughout the duration of the programme. Moreover a higher level of seniority facilitates an improved exchange of each other’s experiences and makes the participation a worthwhile investment of time and money.”

Currently, while some B-schools offer shortterm management diploma programmes for executives, others offer the EMBA programme, which is for a longer duration. Obviously, choosing the right course is relative to each individual’s requirement as well as his or her organisation’s support. Tailor made, as it is, there is no specific format for the EMBA course, the options ranging from part-time to full-time courses, varying from school to school. While a minimum work experience of about three years seems to be universal, organisational sponsorship may be a requirement for particular programmes. “We see students coming in from all walks of life. Over the past few years there’s been a trend of practicing doctors coming in to do their MBAs. Entrepreneurs and their family members choose the executive MBA programme to pick up professional skills. So although working executives looking to boost their careers are most common, service professionals are not the only ones who want an MBA today,” reveals Prof Nitin Putcha, VP Marketing of the Institute for Technology and Management (ITM).

To sum up, an executive MBA is a course for those motivated professionals who desire to transition and upgrade themselves to a better implementation of their skills and knowledge. It brings about renewed confidence and a broader perspective so as to always remain in demand. “MBA programmes for working professionals help them immensely to upgrade their managerial and analytical skills; and thereby enable them to take better decision in their functional areas. The assessment and evaluation process for working professionals needs to be based more on project work and team presentations than traditional method of written examinations,” says P L Arya, director, N L Dalmia Institute of Management Studies and Research.

Finally, it provides an individual with one of the most potent tools required to survive in today’s corporate world- a key networking opportunity, which is one of the best assets you can inherit after an EMBA programme. As Mudbidri likes to put it, “We are at a point where the Executive MBA may soon become an essential part of the experienced Indian manager’s career progression. As the world economy shows signs of consolidated growth, and corporate results bring renewed confidence to boardrooms, business schools are reporting strong demand for their executive MBA programmes.” So if the word of top executives and education czars is anything to go by, this course is certain to transport you to the fast track to success!

Institutes offering EMBA courses (Indicative listing)

Welingkar Institute of Management Development and Research

Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies

SP Jain Institute of Management Studies

Symbiosis Institute of Management Studies

Indian Institutes of Management



Sunil Sharma
Moderator
Dil Se Desi Group