Most of us step out of B-school with a spirit to conquer the world. As a fresh graduate, the only thing on my mind was to outshine my compatriots. B-schools teach you to be focused and fiercely competitive, but organisations don't need people who are forever aggressive. Successful managers don't think just about their own success, but also that of the organisation. A high degree of "interdependence" among employees thus becomes imperative. We often see those successful at their jobs help others succeed without factoring in "what's in it for me".
Businesses are built and grown on well thought out partnerships. A friend once said "the world is small, round and, to top it all, it revolves". This means that a professional needs to build bridges and ensure two-way communication "" be it within the organisation, with service providers or suppliers, or even competition.
Efficient managers are those who can get the right work out of people, keep them happy, motivate them consistently, and help them whenever it is required. Such inter-personal skills cannot be taught in a classroom. They can only be learnt on the job.
Case studies analysed at B-schools hardly take into account the human angle. In a case study, it is assumed that every one listens to you, but in an organisation, you may have to live with decisions which cannot be contradicted. Taking cognisance of such forces is not taught at B-school.
Any problem can be solved in a case study because of well-laid-out concepts and situations. But in real life, we may be exposed to blank situations which are open-ended, and where nothing is defined. What works is not the technical or analytical skills, but simple nuts and bolts stuff.
Ponnanna Utappa graduated from ENPC, Paris, in 1999
