The Indian Institute of Management-Calcutta (IIM-C) plans to redesign its strategic management course curriculum to include dramatics. The B-school has invited the famous theatre group Nandikar to conduct the classes. |
Theatre group Nandikar, that boasts of stalwarts like Rudraprasad Sengupta, Goutam Halder, Debshanker Halder and Swatilekha Sengupta, was chosen by IIM-C because it is one of the most successful theatre groups in Kolkata. |
It has also worked with corporates and is therefore expected to have gained in experience to train IIM-C students in management strategies that corporates weigh while recruiting B-school candidates. |
Confirming the development, Bishwatosh Saha, faculty of strategic management at IIM-C, said: "We have decided to have dramatics as part of the curriculum for 2nd year students. The subject will be added to the strategic management curriculum." |
"Although Nandikar has informed that it is ready to take classes with IIM-C students, we are awaiting a formal response. We will work out the course details soon," Saha said. |
Although the new modules on dramatics would be finalised by early 2008, it is likely to include topics like voice modulation, situational analysis, conflict negotiation, among others. |
According to IIM-C instructors, there are several lessons to be learnt from theatre and dramatics. Theatre helps students develop the confidence that's essential for speaking clearly, lucidly, and thoughtfully. |
Oral communication skills are so important to some employers that they often send management trainees to special workshops. IIM-C students would already have an advantage. |
IIM-C instructors note that theatre teaches to work effectively with different types of people, often very different types. Theatre demands that participants work together cooperatively for the production to success. |
In theatre, it's important that each individual supports the others involved. This trait, in turn, would please prospective IIM-C employers. |
IIM-C instructors also note that theatre teaches to work effectively with different types of people, often very different types. Students are required to work within the structure of a set of procedures and rules that deal with everything from shop safety to behaviour at auditions, rehearsals and work calls. They, therefore, learn to be a 'good follower'. |