Quality Improvement Program for Teachers & Management Program for Army officers organized at MDI

The program was designed to provide an opportunity to OB teachers to update themselves with new knowledge and teaching methods. The contents of the course included self awareness for enhancing teaching effectiveness, use of IT in organizations, Indian insights into leadership, emotional intelligence, spirituality and cultural content in organizations, new concepts and practices in HRD, and teaching methods like case method, role play, games / simulations/ outbound exercises and presentations. The program used multiple and intensive learning methods like experimental learning, group projects and discussions, industry visits, and interactions with senior executives.

The course directors Professor Satish K Kalra and Prof Rajen Gupta were of the view that there have been major changes in India’s economy during the last 10 years. These changes have affected organizations functioning in varied manner and there is a need to modify the curriculum and teaching methods in management education.

MDI Director Dr Sujit K Basu said, MBA education has advanced and the number of management institutes in the country has soared to around 2200. He however, felt that quality education was badly in demand and qualified faculty non-availability was a serious problem. “Quality education should expose students to a platform where they learn and know how they can be relevant to the society. Education has to make students complete human beings with a sense of humanism and dedication,” he said.

Management Program for Army officers
18 serving Major Generals of the Indian Army officers attended a week long management program at MDI, Gurgaon from March 16-20, 2008. The theme of the program included analysis of economic environment, vision building and corporate governance, leadership challenges, financial and strategic planning, and human capital development through competency mapping.

According to Dr Radha Sharma, course director, the objectives of the program were appreciation of economic environment and challenges with a view to identifying opportunities, understanding the role of vision in strategic planning and implementation, analyzing role of corporate governance in organizational effectiveness, appreciating emerging HR practices, and developing insight into one’s leadership style.

Delivering the valedictory address, Lt General J K Mohanty, GoC-in-C ARTRAC (Army Training Command, Shimla) said, change management is crucial to an organization’s growth. For that it is necessary to understand self as well as others. Leaders therefore, have to master various competencies to enable them to handle change smoothly, help productivity, and enhance organization effectiveness. General Mohanty said, the role of Indian Army was undergoing changes as per new requirements and in order to face new challenges, latest trends and theories of management had to be understood and applied. A dynamic organization like the Indian Army could in no way be oblivious of the vital developments taking place in management practices in the country and the world.