Journey of Kalikkhetro (Kolkata)

While things are quite hectic here in course work from Monday to Sunday, with full of classes, assignments, projects and exams(with a rare glimpse of free slots).We always took advantage of our location and surely landed up in few nice places of national importance.

Victoria Memorial

 

Birla Planetarium

South City Mall

@ IIM C

Park Street
Although I'm not adding anything from our visit to park street, because to be very frank we haven't explored that much.
But few of the nice places to hang around are Bar-Ba-Q, Mocambo,Peter Cat, Moulin Rouge,Tung fong( Chinese) etc

Our Guru

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shoji_Shiba

My Infographic Resume

My Infographic Resume:

Some Laws that Newton missed out on...

Some Laws that Newton missed out on :-)

LAW OF QUEUE: If you change queues, the one you have left will start to move faster than the one you are in now.

LAW OF MECHANICAL REPAIR: After your hands become coated with grease, your nose will begin to itch.

LAW OF THE WORKSHOP: Any tool, when dropped, will roll to the least accessible corner.

LAW OF THE ALIBI: If you tell the boss you were late for work because you had a flat tire, the next morning you will have a flat tire.

BATH THEOREM: When the body is immersed in water, the telephone rings.

LAW OF ENCOUNTERS: The probability of meeting someone you know increases when you are with someone you don't want to be seen with.

LAW OF THE RESULT: When you try to prove to someone that a machine won't work, it will!

LAW OF BIO MECHANICS: The severity of the itch is inversely proportional to the reach.

THEATRE RULE: People with the seats at the furthest from the aisle arrive last.

LAW OF COFFEE: As soon as you sit down for a cup of hot coffee, your boss will ask you to do something which will last until the coffee is cold.

Ref:  "Medha Ma'am (Vnitian)"

End of Term-I

" Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that's the stuff life is made of "
  - BENJAMIN FRANKLIN

Officially its over (odd 140 contact hours), we need to take a last exam of Regulatory National & International (RNI) on 6th June. First row benchers have already started comparing their grades :)
For them classroom is only meant to study while BB feel there is more in life than study study & study, BB strongly believe that one can learn more if one enjoy more. Few of them feel that girls like boys from back benches than from front bench.
But some how I've been trying different thing , I strongly believe that what you learn doesn't depend on whether you are first bencher or the last bencher. Its not true that only people from first benches would come up in life while the back benchers would always lag behind.I wish all the classrooms to have only middle benchers & no back or front.

Coming back to the IInd term it looks more hectic than the earlier one with 240 contact hours :-(

We also booked our tickets from IIM Calcutta to IIT kanpur & from IIT K to IIT Chennai for our Technology TERMS , as IIM C doesn't have the infra & expertise on technology aspects of the program.I was told by our chief Mentor Prof.Shiba that we are like 'diamonds' which is found in different areas and then those diamonds are processed from one city to another city to maximize its value.That is one of the reason that we travel allot from one campus to another in diversifying places.
As consultants always travel light....

Evaluation methods in evaluating the performance is done by max. three ways as listed below ;
1. End Term
2. Quiz (announced or unannounced)
3. Assignments
4. Class Participation
5. Oral Examination
6. Take home tutorials

Beside the hectic schedule of project work and home assignments we have started the process of networking.Placement Representatives have started a fantastic work of collaborating all the profiles and preparing interactive brochure for the program.

Over the last two months I've made few new friends and acquaintances. But I still feel like they hardly know about me and I hardly know about them.We are trying new methods of interaction !

I believe by the end of this hectic term we will be able to learn more & enjoy around the eastern part of this country.

Joyful Studying :-)

Symbolizing the Relaxing mood for few days....... :-)

Cricket match played against the PGPEX guys.

Exploring DIAMOND harbour :)

LP @ Ramanujan

Exotic food @ Mirch masala...Gariahat, Ballygunge Kolkata

And you give Yourself away...

Just because I laugh alot, doesn't means my life is easy.
Just because I've a smile on my face doesn't mean that something is not bothering me.
I just choose to move on,and not dwell on all the negatives in my life.
Every new chance/moment gives me the chance to renew anew...I chose to be that...."Unknown"

1 Year 1050+ Contact hours...Term-I is killing us...but Term-II looks more hectic.
Classes started with an Managerial Communication ...Understood the role of communication in actual industry.. I guess Managers can't communicate in vacuum.

1.Understanding of Logos,Pathos and Ethos.
2.Basic tools like Objective,structure and benefits of the M-strategy.
3.Presentation ,aspects of good writing and art of story telling.
4.As usual few HBS case studies..BCG matrix etc.

Then comes the FA.
>Financial Accounting --I'm really not understanding its tail from its head from
its front legs....Balance sheets, Income statement, Cash flow statements, Journal, ledgers and trial balances.
Then Prof. Manju's unique way of conducting the sessions and surprise quizzes...making it more difficult :) and as usual course project and class participation.

>Global Scenario--

Principle of global and regional trade Liberalizations, GATT ,GATS,RTA and TCF. by Prof Biju..I must say he has a very unique way of explaining this subject but VLMPians are smart enough to sleep with their eyes wide open in the sessions :-)

Which is same in Regulatory National & International (RNI)...

One term of Organisational structure and design is finished with lots of class participation and case studies,although the project report is still under concept planing stage.

 

>Decision Making tools--

Phir wohi kahani...Linear programming, regression analysis...with SS & SS again :) with lots of jokes(Real time Jokes) and practical applications.

 

>Managerial Economics--

Somehow scored a A grade in engineering economics but now it seems difficult in MBA.. http://gregmankiw.blogspot.in/

 

>Marketing--

The coolest sessions we have had.

 

I can proudly say till now having a 100% attendance physically...but mentally only God can tell :-)

 

I guess I had enough of boring discussion on my experience on classes and sessions and again sessions and again sessions.....

 

People continously saying that technical background guys like us do not need any break  but we desperately need a break to re-charge ourselves.

 

After a fortnight we got a break..which is like tasting a German beer in a KOLKATA dhaba in front of JOKA.

15 First Days at IIMC - Craziness (Learning Leadership)

I don't know from where to start.........the initial 15 days in campus had been one of the most toughest days.

We started from understanding the concept of BTM and FSDP and applied it four times as per Prof.Shiba in 6 groups.
One thing I realised that this course has started giving me lot of pressure by the end of the day,we are playing like a T-20 Match with DUCK worth Lewis on the head.
I'll try to summarize the events with the help of Photos, I really feel sorry .....but this blog is turning out to be a Photo blog rather than an story telling, as time in IIM C seems to be running out.

1.FSDP Exercise 1: We had no clue of what was FSDP, we tried and finished with lots of mistakes :)

2.FSDP Exercise 2: This time we improved :)

3.FSDP Exercise 3: Field visit - Gontermann Peipers Limited

4.FSDP Exercise 4: Visit to SPENCER'S Hyper Retail @ South City

Traffic at South City:

Good Bye day :

Classes Classes & Classes

We have completed four days into the Break Through Management and FSDP (Five Step Discovery Process) under the guidance of Padma Shri Prof.Shoji Shiba.I must say these last four days had been by most enlightening and draconian experience till date...I will post details soon :-) I think my batch mates will agree to this.

Understanding Leadership, BTM & FSDP through :
1.Unlearn
2.Explore
3.Dream

Batch was divided into 6 different groups for understanding the FSDP, all of us successfully completed the first task in complete 3 days...complete means almost 3Days*24 hrs.

I am still awake need to finish my home assignments for tomorrow's session as well , I might turn into a character played by Aamir khan in GHAJANI soon.... :-(

Oh yeah forgot to mention the last part of these four days activities....attending a real time ORGANISATION TRANSFORMATION and example of break through product Chotukool given by SVP of Godrej appliances.

I must thank Mr Hussain for enlightening all of us through his real time transformation process of Pune plant.He came to meet us specifically for this purpose only

Prof. Shoji Shiba says become CRAZY,think CRAZY ..live CRAZY ..if you want to be a GREAT Leader....

Will update more on the learning part in the next post.

Ice breaking session

Ice breaking Session started at 2.00pm(IST), which included "ice breaking" by an unique way of introducing each other followed by KARATE KID movie and finally ended up with a TREASURE HUNT to familiarise with the campus. Simultaneously had an opportunity to meet one of our alumni from VLFM community.

Aflare

Moving really drink out.

There's no way around it. However, moving makes sense when at the end of the day accepting a Techno-MBA from IIM Calcutta. My family and I must have repeated and thought of this to ourselves at least a thousand times while we were moving and packing up everything we owned, quitting our easygoing jobs, and leaving our friends/family for a city in which I know not a soul. It really is chilling, but anything in life worth having is worth working for ??

Our moving priorities were 1) Find a place, 2) Find Choti (Youngest Sister) a job, 3) Shifting all my stuff back to hometown,4) Quotation from packers & movers,5) Confused about shifting my BIKE to School.Honestly,I hope everything will go smoothly.(Fingers crossed).

A few parting thoughts on moving:

• Trying to collect funds (EPF) from my ex-firms :)
• Renting a packer & mover from Gurgaon(New Delhi) to Nagpur(Central India), I really don't have much experience of interstate relocation....hoping to hire a best one.
• Clearance from existing one, hoping to get my last Variable (Pre-MBA) after the Full & Final.
• Expecting a warm farewell from all my ex-colleagues as well as from my all time pals. 

Sattar Minute - Who says Bollywood movies dont inspire..

Journey to Jamuna Hostel Room-272

Best of luck to all applicants.

I got to know about this program during my free time at office(Lunch hours)...searching an MBA program for engineers at my office around DIWALI time.

To know more about the program http://programslive.iimcal.ac.in/pgpex-vlm/Overview.

Mission: The mission of the PGPEX-VLM is to develop future visionary leaders for the manufacturing sector in India so as to enhance the global competitiveness of our manufacturing sector.

Eligibility: A First Class Graduate Engineering Degree, First Class Marks High School Onwards with more than 5 to 10  years of experience, while no upper limit for sponsored candidates.(Usually 4-5 seats)

Selection Criterion: Selection of the candidates will be made on the basis of his/her academic background, which has to be consistently first division/first class from high school board examination level to graduation level, relevant work experience, employer’s recommendations, bio-data & essays, performance in the Aptitude Test and Personal Interview to be conducted jointly by IIMC, IITK and IITM. Institute welcomes GMAT score to substantiate academic credence.

My personal experience says If one has a consistent acads then the first stage is conquered, then focus on the profile, recos and essays...be true to yourself and be authentic in your essays .Avoid exaggerations also try to share failures and lessons learned.

Once the profile is shortlisted one has to appear for an aptitude test during the 2nd to 3rd week of December, next year in "2013" IIM Calcutta will be conducting the same.

Basic Preparation for Aptitude Test:
My personal experience says one who has a GMAT score or preparing for GMAT will crack the QUANT/VERBAL part, it will definitely help one to open gates for other schools as well... if not VLM.

Since it's an unique program by IIM so be ready for surprises for the aptitude test :-) next year.

2012 had three sections having 40 questions in each.

1. Verbal : I must say it is of GMAT OG level , someone getting a score of 35+ in GMAT will easily crack it, try to score as much as possible...try not to bluff :-)

2.Quant : It was different than what I thought...more of an engineering mathematics algebra,calculus...but be ready for the surprises next year, try to be accurate on this section based on 2011 exp.

3.Engineering Aptitude: Brush up the engineering basics mainly related to 1st year of engineering...question are of easy to moderate levels..
Questions basically will come from mechanical,chemical,metallurgy,electrical,electronics,Computers etcetera.

*NOTE: One who clears the aptitude section can only appear for PI, so prepare hard for the aptitude section.

JAMUNA Room No-272- What is this cipher!!
Frnds my personal opinion who so ever is planning to appear for this program and able to clear the 1st level of profile selection and aptitude test must stay at the accommodation provided by IIM C.

I chose to remain at the accommodation provided by the institute, few candidates preferred to stay at college....while others chose to stay at rented hotels outside.

Life is all about learning things...  I met my few fellow co-applicants who were damn sure about their selection !! and surprisingly they knew what kinda questions might come next day...may be the background check done by them was excellent, anyhow I learned few concepts that night and surprisingly few application based questions appeared next day :-)

So it was the room where I could not sleep for that night while others were discussing like hell till dawn....

I was the 2nd one in my panel to be interviewed...each panel had one IIT & one IIM prof.

After the interviews I along with few applicants went to BESANT BEACH.

Results came out by 8.30~9.00 Pm and the journey started.

Ever inspiring R Gopal Krishnan

One of my very good friend suggested me to follow RGK -Tata Sons, I must say thanks to him.

Fire On Ice - Hi all

It feels very awkward to start penning down a blog, the very truth is I've never had the guts to do it...It definitely gives a weird feeling. But a nice one. Keeping my fingers crossed. Let’s see how it turns out to be :-)

Brief History Of Time:

I'm an Indian Citizen and I still consider values instilled by my parents are my biggest achievements till date. And it has great impact on my individuality,I was born in Jammu and brought up in various states of Seventh largest country 'India"

-Karma to Kar-Maker: Designing ADDICTION For Human Race.

Friends, teachers, seniors, strangers all gave me different names according to their comfort....Even today when I go back and open any old frnd's slam book I could see only one thing,my interest towards CARS, machines...I guess it was genetic...but all I wanted to be a Kar-Maker(Car Designer) but fortunately or unfortunately started as designer for its AIR CONDITIONER :-) and my journey of designing Addiction for Human race started.

But my folks still call me Kar-Maker!!

-I'm happily single and hope to find one soon.

-My academic and Professional background : An undergrad in Mechanical Engineering from NIT Nagpur(formerly Regional Engineering College Nagpur), worked for Subros Denso Suzuki Design Centre for almost 1.5 years then joined as a Research Engineer with LG Electronics Inc. Head Quarters South Korea for about 3 years and later for Indian Subsidiary for almost 4 years as R&D Manager.You can find more about me at http://in.linkedin.com/pub/sushant-karmakar/6/25b/5a8

-Aur kya (What else) I like Lawn tennis,T-Tennis,Trekking,music,long distance journeys,scotch,wine...I like almost every decent and good things available to mankind.

-Why I'm so bothered to write this blog at this point in my life...Sometime back I started looking for MBA programs which was tailored towards Engineers with a focus on Technology, Operations and Manufacturing.I could hardly found few handful of them, but this one stood out IIM Calcutta's VLM program.

- One last thing for the day: as part of my introduction - Questions inside my mind back then were like toll on my family, ROI, no earning after 9 years of hard work, Cosy lifestyle and concluding my mind with VLM which I found more relevant program and was the best fit for someone like me.

-My hope is that this write up will certainly help others who are where I was not too long ago.

I guess it is enough for the introduction part.