Friday, August 05, 2005

strategy

Today was the end term examination in strategy where we were supposed to analyze HBR cases using conceptual framework in a clear concise format. I really dont know what the entire purpose of analyzing HBR cases is. For one the teaching notes that are provided along with the cases always seem to be so out of sync with reality. HBR really does not inspire any associations in the indian management student i think. we just use the cases coz we are very lazy to wrtie something on our own. We all got to know what Schaefer did with Caterpillar but what the fuck is that supposed to mean? Indian cases have not been written is a point that i can understand , but for how long? Management education has been in India for close ot 50 yrs and with all the famed IIM's has it been so difficult to churn out 200-250 cases? All the cases of Indian companies are also written by HBR. The only other entrant seems to ICFAI business school which has put in some decent work.

For a course such as strategy it is imperative that practical experience be made compulsory. Most of the students in India come in with little of management experience, so directly starting on strategy is not the best thing to do in such a scenario.

excitement!!!

will leave for leh in 2 days. cant keep my feet on the ground. its never been liek this for a long long time. i feel as if there is going to be a spectacular experience awaiting me in leh. one that will chagne my life forever. prabhu kept saying that i will find my calling in the himalayas. maybe i would, maybe i wont but it sure is going to be fun. nature has always tempted me. it is not as if i feel that only nature can create beauty, man is nature's most beautiful creature and hence his creations are also as much of nature as man is. but mountains .. hmm.. they are of a different class. no two of them look alike, they are gigantic when compared to us but are still eroded by small streams some of them that dont even flow througout the season. mountains stay on, men come and go. listen closely and they will say: " we are watching. guns boom, emotions run high but we will keep watching. and its quite a solo watch. we are the guardians, we are aging but still hold the keys t0 the gateways that you seek." i have not even got anywhere close to the mountains but i think i understand what gives the mountain climbers the kicks. mountains represent that ultimate conquest, nature's monoliths, its your ultimate triumph to be able to carve out a path over or around them. the power of the human mind unleased. i think this will be the first of many trips of mine, k2 , hindukush and so on. the valleys will give you the feeling of open space, but all my life i have been in awe of mountains, lets see how it will turn out this time around. leh!!! here i come.
expected route:
6 4 pm intercity to delhi
7 delhi
7th night jammu
8 th evening to srinagar . bus
sringar-kargil-dras-leh. taxi
leh
return via manali
16th campus.