– Article Authored by Chanakya University, Bengaluru

India is a diverse and dynamic market, with a range of business models that have emerged in recent years. While some of these models are more established than others, all of them have the potential to drive growth and create value for customers and society at large.

Business models play a crucial role in sustainability, as they define how companies generate revenue, create value for their customers, and interact with the broader society and environment. A sustainable business model is one that generates long-term economic, social, and environmental value, while also considering the needs of all stakeholders.

A sustainable business model can help companies achieve a range of benefits, including:

1. Improved financial performance: Sustainable business models can lead to improved financial performance over the long term, as they prioritize value creation and risk management.
2. Enhanced brand reputation: Companies that prioritize sustainability in their business models can enhance their brand reputation, as customers, employees, and investors increasingly value sustainability and responsible business practices.
3. Reduced environmental impact: Sustainable business models can help companies reduce their environmental impact, by focusing on resource efficiency, waste reduction, and renewable energy.
4. Increased social impact: Sustainable business models can also help companies increase their social impact, by addressing social challenges and creating value for local communities.

Sustainable business models for consumer internet start-ups in India are becoming increasingly important as more and more start-ups are emerging in this space. These start-ups typically operate in the e-commerce, online marketplace, and social media spaces, among others. In order to ensure long-term success, these businesses need to have a sustainable business model that allows them to generate revenue while also creating value for their customers and society at large.

Key considerations for developing sustainable business models for consumer internet start-ups in India include:

• Balancing revenue generation and user acquisition: Start-ups need to focus on building a large user base to drive growth, but also need to generate revenue to sustain their operations. This requires finding a balance between user acquisition and revenue generation, which can be a challenge in a highly competitive market.
• Creating a value proposition that resonates with customers: Successful start-ups need to have a value proposition that resonates with customers and meets their needs. This requires understanding customer behavior and preferences, and developing products and services that address their pain points.
• Leveraging technology to drive efficiencies: Technology is a key enabler for consumer internet start-ups in India, allowing them to operate at scale and drive efficiencies. However, it’s important to ensure that technology is used in a way that aligns with the business model and creates value for customers.
• Emphasizing social and environmental impact: Consumer internet start-ups in India are increasingly being evaluated on their social and environmental impact, in addition to financial performance. This requires a focus on sustainable practices and responsible business operations that create value for all stakeholders.
• Adapting to changing market dynamics: The consumer internet space in India is highly dynamic, with rapid changes in technology, consumer behaviour, and regulatory environment. Successful start-ups need to be able to adapt quickly to these changes, while also staying true to their core values and business model.

Overall, developing sustainable business models for consumer internet start-ups in India requires a focus on creating value for customers, while also generating revenue and addressing social and environmental concerns. By balancing these factors, start-ups can build a long-term, sustainable business that delivers value for all stakeholders.

 Key Outcomes of adopting sustainable business models across the consumer internet start-ups in India

Adopting sustainable business models can lead to several key outcomes for consumer internet start-ups in India. Some of these outcomes include:

• Improved financial performance: Sustainable business models can lead to improved financial performance over the long term, by reducing costs, increasing revenue, and enhancing brand reputation. For example, a start-up that reduces its energy consumption and waste generation can save on operational costs, while also enhancing its brand reputation among customers and investors.
• Increased customer loyalty: Adopting sustainable business practices can enhance customer loyalty, as customers increasingly value sustainability and responsible business practices. By prioritizing sustainability in their business models, start-ups can differentiate themselves from competitors and build strong customer relationships.
• Enhanced brand reputation: Sustainable business practices can enhance a start-up’s brand reputation, by demonstrating its commitment to environmental and social responsibility. This can lead to increased trust and loyalty among customers, as well as positive media coverage and recognition from industry organizations.
• Improved employee satisfaction and retention: Start-ups that prioritize sustainability in their business models can attract and retain talented employees who are passionate about making a positive impact on the world. This can lead to increased employee satisfaction, productivity, and retention, as well as a positive company culture.
• Reduced environmental impact: Adopting sustainable business practices can help start-ups reduce their environmental impact, by reducing resource consumption, waste generation, and carbon emissions. This can help to mitigate the effects of climate change and protect the natural environment for future generations.

Overall, adopting sustainable business models can lead to a range of positive outcomes for consumer internet start-ups in India, including improved financial performance, increased customer loyalty, enhanced brand reputation, improved employee satisfaction and retention, and reduced environmental impact. By prioritizing sustainability in their business models, start-ups can create long-term value for their stakeholders, while also contributing to a more sustainable and equitable world.

Author: Asish K Bhattacharyya

Distinguished Professor, Shiv Nadar Institution of Eminence Deemed to be University, Delhi NCR (Formerly Shiv Nadar University)

Companies throng on B-school campuses during placement season to recruit management graduates because they find that MBA graduates perform managerial tasks more efficiently and effectively than graduates from other disciplines. Every year, bright young men and women compete to secure admission to their dream B-school. Management education is valuable to society as it trains youth to manage Business that creates wealth making productive use of resources. There is no ‘one best way’ to manage; it all depends on the situation. The business environment changes fast, leading to changes in business models. To keep management education relevant, B-schools have changed their programme structure and pedagogy to keep pace with the changes in how firms manage their business.

Management is a blend of science, art, and craft. Knowledge of science can be imparted in the classroom. Business simulations, business games and case studies endeavour to provide a holistic view of how business is managed and how managers handled situations they faced in the past in different business environments. Those are valuable techniques for imparting knowledge. But they need to teach the art and craft of management. Therefore, B-schools encourage students to participate in extracurricular activities. Almost all B-schools encourage students to form clubs, organize events, participate in sports etc., to enable students to learn the art and craft of management by managing different situations while working in teams. Summer internship also provides an opportunity for active learning. However, most B-schools focus too much on classroom learning, leaving little time to learn the art and craft of management.

This is high time to reform management education.  The time the students spend in the classroom should be reduced. More time should be allocated to active learning. Analytical skills are essential for entry-level jobs. The growth in a career depends on the emotional quotient – emotional intelligence. Success in a professional career and other social activities depend on the individual’s ability to manage his own emotion and understand and manage others’ emotion. Too much focus on imparting analytical skills, many of which are likely to become redundant due to technological innovations like AI and IoT, undermines the need to build on emotional intelligence. The structure of management education and the pedagogy need transformation. Management faculty should spend time innovating new courses and appropriate pedagogy to facilitate active learning. B-schools should provide an ecosystem that helps students to sharpen their emotional intelligence through community activities outside the B-school boundary, such as providing solutions to problems faced by neighborhood firms. In SNU (institution of eminence), faculty continuously innovate pedagogy to facilitate active learning.

Companies reduce search costs by recruiting management graduates from B-school campuses. Good B-schools have rigorous processes for selecting candidates for admission to their graduate management programmes like MBA. They sketch the ideal profile of a management graduate and then select those who can be groomed to match that profile.

What should be the profile of an ideal manager managing a twenty-first-century corporation? Twenty-first-century corporations are facing challenges from various sources. Examples are disruptions from geo-political tensions because its supply chain partners, assets and customers are located across the globe; disruptions caused by the emergence of start-ups with new business models and innovative products and services; a significant increase in the climate change risks; huge pressure from investors, vendors, customers and other stakeholders for contributing towards the global sustainability goals; and changing world view, attitude and behaviour of the new generation (millennials and Generation Z) who are both customers and employees. Technological innovations and the availability of massive data throw both opportunities and challenges – improved total productivity associated with cyber security risks and challenges of protecting data privacy. In this environment, only a resilient company survive. Strategy literature says that competitive advantage flows from institutional knowledge and relationship capital and not from efficient and effective use of technology.

A company is as resilient as its managers. Therefore, they need resilient managers who can see disruptions early, manage those and cause disruptions, manage relationships with all stakeholders, hold ethical values in a crisis, and have the motivation and ability to unlearn old skills and learn new skills quickly.

A decade back, B-schools assigned significant weight to the performance in national admission tests like CAT. In the last couple of years, B-schools realized that admission tests are designed to evaluate verbal, analytical and quantitative skills. Those skills are necessary, but more is needed to become a good manager.  Therefore, they have reduced the weight on the admission test performance.  They assign significant importance to performance in personal interaction (PI). The PI assesses a candidate’s traits, ability to think clearly and articulate ideas, conviction and commitment to her goals and worldview, curiosity to learn in-depth about important happenings around the globe, and ethical values (like honesty, integrity, and respect for human dignity).

It is not necessary to answer all the questions asked by the panel interacting with you correctly. What is important is that you do not beat around the bush and confess honestly that you do not know the answer to a particular question. If you want to guess, seek permission, and say that you do not know the answer but want to guess. Demonstrate confidence and conviction at every opportunity during the discussion. Panels may raise an issue for which no right or wrong answers exist. You should share your honest views in addressing those issues. A little bit of wit helps.

The best way to prepare for the PI is to revise the fundamental concepts you learned in the UG programme. Those should be in your blood. Take a pencil and paper and write clearly what you want to achieve, your career goals, and why you want to study MBA. You should also write narratives of important incidents shaping your worldview and helped understand your emotional strengths and weaknesses. Writing and revising the same multiple times allow you to understand yourself. Learn current affairs.

A bright future awaits only those who believe they can achieve their goals against all odds.

Amrita Vishwa Vidya Peetham will be conducting AMET – Amrita MBA Entrance Test 2023 for admission to MBA programs offered on February 25th and March 5th across 40 plus Indian cities. The computer-based test (CBT) is timed precisely for 150 minutes (two-and-half hours), and the students will be giving their exam in the following sections:

• Verbal Reasoning & Language Comprehension
• Data Interpretation & Analysis
• General Knowledge on Indian & Global Scenarios
• Quantitative Aptitude

Each section carries 25 questions bringing the total number of questions to 100. The students will be awarded 3 marks for each correct answer and -1 mark for each incorrect answer.

Clinching a rank in AMET, one of India’s prestigious entrance exams means you would be securing a seat in the MBA programs offered at any five Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham. These campuses, located in Amaravati (Andhra Pradesh), Amritapuri (Kerala), Bengaluru (Karnataka) and Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu), and Kochi (Kerala), rank top on the list of best B schools in the country.

Established in 1996, Amrita School of Business is one of the top 27 B-Schools in India. ASB is under the canopy of Amrita University, accredited with the highest NAAC Grade of A++ and one among the top 5 Universities in India (NIRF Ranking). The Coimbatore Campus is accredited by The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) and is the 11th school in India to reach the benchmark. AACSB (USA) recognizes the global standards for B Schools and is awarded only the top 5% of business schools worldwide.

At Amrita, the curriculum is crafted to meet the standards of future managers and entrepreneurs, aligning with the fast-changing trends and scenarios in marketing, finance, and HR, helmed by world-class faculty members with rich industry experience and impressive academic backgrounds.

The MBA students during the two-year program at ASB gain critical, analytical insights into the world of Global corporates. The regular and extensive industry interactions with management gurus and business leaders, including Management colloquia, MDPs, Consultancy, and customized company programs, form an integral part of the curriculum.

The Course Work at ASB:

The full-time MBA curriculum consists of core and elective courses. Each calendar year is divided into three standard terms and a summer term. To graduate, students must complete 30 core courses and 10 electives (or 11 based on their CGPA) among the 60 electives offered.

Dual Degree Program:

ASB provides Dual Degree MBA–MS Program at our Bengaluru campus in collaboration with the University at Buffalo (SUNY), New York. It also provides an MBA-MSc program at the Coimbatore campus in collaboration with Télécom École de Management, Paris, France. Student Exchange programs at Groningen, Netherlands (BBM & MBA Students only) TU Munich, School of Management, University of Mannheim – Business Informatics and Mathematics, UNM, New Mexico – the USA, Télécom École de Management, University of Twente, Netherland, Northern Illinois University, Singapore University of Technology & Design, Vrije University Amsterdam, Aalto University.

How To Get a Scholarship?

Amrita Vishwa Vidya Peetham believes in providing all help and guidance to its students. Accordingly, we offer a significant scholarship program to qualifying students up to 100%.

Amrita MBA Entrance Test is a vast platform to avail scholarships and admission into MBA at Amrita University. Meritorious students have an opportunity to help with scholarships up to 100%. Top Meritorious students can benefit from Scholarships from 25% to 100% as per the score in Amrita MET/CAT/MAT/CMAT/XAT/KMAT.

 Campus Placements After MBA At ASB:

With a steady 100% placements over the past years, the footprint of ASB’s Alma Mater is traced to top managerial positions – CEOs, VPs, Managements Executives, and Managing Directors in blue chip multinationals like Apple, Google, TCS, Microsoft, Deloitte, PayPal, AOL, Ernst & Young, Jones, Lang LaSalle, to name a few.

ASB continues to leave an indelible mark in the placement drives conducted by some of the best-known MNCs and Indian Corporates. The consistency and quality in placement make the program highly desirable and the most sought-after in the country. Our in-house Corporate & Industry Relations (CIR) team provides the best job opportunities to students in companies worldwide. It also grooms and prepares the students to fit into the best career path.

ASB has long promoted knowledge growth by offering regular coursework, live projects, and case studies in various industry sectors and verticals. The global exposure in our classrooms, interactions, field trips, and hands-on training prepares students to confidently confront the ever-increasing difficulties of today’s advanced business world.

 In 2022, the highest CTC of­­ 19.63 LPA, and an average CTC of 10.32 LPA.

The last date is approaching. More details:

http://amrita.edu/mba?utm_source=CL&utm_medium=article

Queries: 044-48133344| mba@amrita.edu

In recent years, India has emerged as one of the most active cryptocurrency markets. According to several research studies, India has more than 60% of the world’s crypto owners and ranks second in adoption rates. Since 2014, over 15 million retail investors in India have included cryptocurrency in their portfolios. With nearly 230 start-ups, the country as well stands to benefit from a solid organizational existence in this space.

Cryptocurrencies have been in the mainstream since 2009, but the last few years have seen unprecedented growth in this asset class. Digital currencies are indeed very popular among younger investors who have a higher risk tolerance and are eager to obtain adequate financial education in order to capitalize on the advantages of the ever-evolving landscape of digital finance. According to The Economic Times, approximately 20 million Indians trade in cryptocurrency.

Any form of virtual or digital currency that uses cryptography to safeguard transactions is referred to as a cryptocurrency. A virtual payment system known as cryptocurrency doesn’t quite rely on banks to verify transactions. It is a peer-to-peer encrypted payment system that allows anyone, in any way to make and receive payments. Cryptocurrency payments exist solely as electronic entries to an online database describing specific transactions, rather than as physical money carried around and exchanged in the real world.

Bitcoin (BTC) was the first cryptocurrency, and it is still the most popular of all digital currencies in terms of value and spread. The majority of curiosity in cryptocurrencies is speculative, with speculators occasionally driving prices skyward.

A glimpse on cryptocurrency 2022

• Cryptocurrencies fell by more than 60% in 2022 due to global scams and regulatory barriers.
• Miners are defaulting on machine-backed lenders as a consequence of low Cryptocurrency prices and rising energy costs.
• Despite these bleak developments, a few financial titans believe cryptocurrency would represent the next generation of markets.
• As the crypto market’s volatility rises and shareholders continue to flee toxic investments, the future of claimed cryptocurrencies appears grim.

Following the 2021 bull-run, cryptocurrencies experienced a regulation in the first month of 2022, with Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) dropping around 20% and 31%, respectively. Now, cryptocurrency prices have plummeted, with Bitcoin floating around $17,000, bottoming more than 60% since the start of 2022.

However, there was a slight improvement in October with an increase of about 1.76 percent, the first climb since July 2022 despite being below the peak in March 2022.

India on the verge of crypto market

According to Chainalysis, a firm that specializes in block chain analysis, (Block chains were indeed known primarily for their pivotal role in cryptocurrency systems, for keeping a safe and decentralized record of transactions, as it ensures the adherence and confidentiality of documentation of data and generates trust without the necessity of a trusted third party.) the adoption of cryptocurrencies worldwide increased by 880% in 2021. India came in second place in the ranking, just behind Vietnam, with a score of 0.37. The potential of the global cryptocurrency market is huge, and it is expanding quickly. Additionally, it seems to be a lucrative sector for India.

Given the vibrant local community and proactive government of India, the future of cryptocurrencies there seeming quite promising.  The Indian government is keenly emerging a Web 3.0 policy. It must participate in the global strategy development process and modify its tactics to fit this fast-paced world if it wants to be a major player in the global Web 3 economy. Up until that moment, Indian web 3.0 firms ought to have little trouble operating in a secure environment.

For an assortment of reasons, the Indian government and central bank have remained skeptical of the cryptocurrency market. One such reason was the potential role of crypto-assets in facilitating money laundering and terrorist activities. Cybercrime has put the system to be tested, because the crypto industry is virtual, one might expect it to be susceptible to hacking and scamming. Although technological advancement has improved security features, the simulated environment is not invulnerable to exploitation.

Two proposals made in the Union Budget 2022–23 by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had a big impact on the Indian crypto asset market. The Digital Rupee, relying on block chain technology, was launched in order to lessen the nation’s reliance on traditional currency. On November 1, the Reserve Bank of India has begun a wholesale market trial program.

However, India’s strict tax laws imposed on cryptocurrency-based incomes have caused the most harm.

Introduction of e-Rupee

The RBI’s preferred cryptocurrency is digital rupees. It is considered to be safer than privatized coinage because the CDBC (Central Bank Digital Currency) is an electronic version of a sovereign currency. The government’s 30% levy on virtual assets wouldn’t stop people from trading cryptocurrencies. The groundwork has been laid for cryptocurrencies to be recognised as an asset class.

Virtual currencies have the ability to give India’s youth financial freedom by providing lower transaction fees than conventional remittance services, allowing them to obtain credit as well as other banking services despite their wealth or social background.

Because of their lack of trust in banks and financial institutions, their high-risk tolerance, and their ability to obtain information online, this is a hot sector for millennials and Gen Z. Millennials in India’s rural and semi-urban cities are quickly adopting cryptocurrency. 66% of all users are still below the age of 35, indicating that cryptocurrency is gaining popularity among the young.

Future of Cryptocurrency 

From the perspective of a developing country, such as India, experts appear to think that cryptocurrencies could stand to gain its financial landscape. Although financial uncertainty persists in the nation, market behavior suggests that the Indian cryptocurrency market has a bright future.

In a single year, the Indian cryptocurrency market grew by 641%. The global cryptocurrency industry holds a lot of promise and is growing quickly. It appears to be an exciting industry for India as well.

Considering the speed at which the crypto financial system is growing, the Indian government’s acceptance of the digital currency system is a wise move. It would be difficult for the government to create a system that allows cryptocurrencies to operate without losing their intended purpose.

However, the likelihood of digital currencies substituting fiat money is low. Instead, cryptocurrencies and fiat money may coexist peacefully in the future. It would enable individuals and businesses to employ any cash they choose for a variety of purposes.

Although 2023 may not be as gloomy as 2022, it won’t be at its prime like 2021. The future of cryptocurrency appears bright in the next five years, and India is on verge of dominating the crypto market. However, the year would be eventful as the RBI expanded its pilot programs to grant the e-rupee a firm footing.

In a nutshell, one of the key elements in any business is financial management. So, one must possess a strong understanding of financial administration in order to establish or merely run a fruitful business. Therefore, understanding financial management is vital for everyone, as it involves financial endeavors inside a company or institution that are organized, managed, and planned strategically.

Top B-schools having financial management as a specialization enables future leaders by means of providing vast knowledge and objectives that leaves an imprint of reputable employability. Financial Management is the oldest discipline in the world, so it is indeed an excellent course for those who enjoy data analysis and working along with the core principles of statistics.

Alliance University hosted the introductory TEDx talk at its Central Campus in Bengaluru on January 21, 2023. The event witnessed enthralling stories about individuals who go ‘Beyond Boundaries’ to seek and invest in happiness, emotional experiences, solo trips, endurance, managing a career being a parent, acting and politics. Themed ‘Beyond Boundaries’ TEDxAllianceUniversity stands testimony to Alliance University’s commitment to pushing the boundaries to further the cause of learning and its transformational impact on people, communities, and societies. Alliance envisions itself as a hub of art, culture, sciences, and ideas, that has a natural alignment with TED’s mission of platforming ideas worth spreading. The talk points of the event were a) Inclusion and Diversity; b) Women in Leadership Roles; and c) Building a resilient workforce through skill-based education.

Recent developments in the academic discourse are not on disciplinary silos but on breaking down the rigid boundaries between disciplines and bringing in more fluidity and permeability. TEDxAllianceUniversity with the theme ‘Beyond Boundaries’ takes up the challenge of transcending boundaries at the contemporary juncture and uncovering new knowledge, which stands at an alchemical meeting point of several disciplines. Through the event, Alliance University tends to inspire communities to broaden their knowledge and perspectives while also driving them to think differently. The goal with this endeavour propelled ideas into action on the TEDxAllianceUniversity stage through power narratives that were around understanding human complexities and challenges. Alliance steadfastly upholds the commitment to shaping lives through scholarly teaching and learning, and that which contributes to an equitable and holistic transformation of society at large.

TEDxAllianceUniversity had speakers who brought in a variety of talks along with their emotions, achievements and the commitment to transform lives. The speakers were normal people but with stories that were extraordinaire, these included, Candida Louis, an Indian girl from a small town in Karnataka who took her passion to global touring on her bike; Ankita Mehra, a queer child who grew up to become an LGBTQ+ activist and a Diversity and Inclusion Leader; Ashish Raorane, one of the very few Indian cross-country rally pilots who has participated in the Dakar Rally, world’s toughest rally raid event as a privateer; Lt. Col. Rohit Mishra (Rtd.), an Indian Army veteran who co-founded an organization that empowers girls through self-defence and self-confidence; Malavika Avinash, one of the most popular names of the South Indian Film and TV industry with a dual role of being a dynamic political spokesperson; Ruchir Falodiya, an alumnus of Alliance University who beat every odd to set his feett in the corporate world and be a role model for all who think life is challenging; Vaishnavi H. S., a media professional who has been contributing in a big way to help producers and artists create award-winning shows; and Saiwyn Quadras, a master storyteller who has written scripts for Bollywood movies such as Mary Kom, Neerja and Parmanu: The Story of Pokhran.

The talks had in between and around them a musical performance by Alliance University student band, networking meet, event day lunch and much more that kept everyone excited and high on spirits. TEDx events are locally self-organized talk sessions that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. TEDxAllianceUniversity brought together students, faculty, staff, alumni, and invitees from various disciplines of business, law, engineering, liberal arts and beyond. Through the event, Alliance University celebrates the spirit of change and transformation that normal individuals have determined to bring about in their own lives and that of people around and all over through their stories and ideas worth spreading.

Down through the last few centuries, the civilizational advance has been fuelled by radical changes brought about by intellectual pursuits of mankind. What we learn from our past is that those who understand the changes and adapt, Thrive and those who stumble and delay, Struggle. We are living in a new world with new opportunities that demands new talent to drive Digital transformation across industries.

In an era where technology is rapidly changing the way we live and work, Alliance University recognizes the need for its students to be equipped with the skills and knowledge to thrive in a digital world.

At Alliance, we’ve bridged the gaps and brought down the silos between business management and technology and thus MBA in Digital Transformation has been created specifically in the context of accepting, understanding, and adapting the new reality of businesses governed by cutting-edge technologies like AI, Big Data, ML, Robotics etc. The programme is offered in collaboration with ABB Robotics, Siemens, Systema (SAP), Adroitec Engineering Solutions (PTC Gold Partner) under the aegis of Advance Mechanical Services Pvt. Ltd.

The Programme will build your capacity to develop winning technological strategies and drive digital transformation, and tech-based innovation.  You will build your foundation in cutting-edge technologies and, analytical tools like Cloud Computing, Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence, AR/VR and Big Data & Analytics in Digital Innovation.

One of the key features of the MBA in Digital Transformation at Alliance University is its focus on practical, hands-on learning. Students have the opportunity to work on real-world projects and case studies, allowing them to apply the concepts they have learned to real-life business scenarios. The program also includes guest lectures and industry visits, giving students the chance to learn from experts in the field and gain valuable insights into the latest trends and developments in digital transformation.

Key skills that a student will gain during the programme are as follows:

Digital Leadership

• the ability to lead and manage digital transformation initiatives within an organization. It involves developing and implementing strategies for leveraging digital technologies to achieve business objectives, as well as leading and inspiring teams through the process of change.

Strategic Thinking

• The ability to analyse business problems and develop strategies for addressing them through the use of digital technologies. This will involve identifying opportunities for innovation, assessing the potential impact of different technologies, and developing plans for implementing change.

Analytical Thinking

• • The ability to be the effective problem-solvers and decision-makers and understand the impact of different technologies and strategies on business operations to implement change.

Technical skills

• • Essential skills in areas such as cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and machine learning, depending on the focus of the program.

 Innovation

• • The ability to foster an innovative culture and how to identify and pursue new opportunities for growth and innovation.

Communication

• •  The ability to communicate effectively with stakeholders and how to present ideas and proposals in a clear and compelling manner.

Project Management

• The ability to lead teams, set clear objectives, develop, and manage budgets, and ensure that projects are completed on time and within scope.

In addition to its strong academic focus, the MBA in Digital Transformation at Alliance University also places a strong emphasis on personal and professional development. Students have access to a range of support services, including career counselling and mentorship, to help them succeed in their careers.

The MBA in Digital Transformation at Alliance University is a unique program that prepares students for the digital world of tomorrow. With a focus on practical learning and personal and professional development, it equips students with the skills and knowledge they need to thrive in the digital age.

Goa Institute of Management has recently concluded the Final placements for the PGDM programmes and the Big Data Analytics Programme. The Institute has achieved 100 percent placements in two major programmes and student body is celebrating the success for setting new milestones when it comes to placement activities.

The flagship PGDM programme of the Institute has witnessed 100% placement for the Batch of 2021-23 with the likes of tech-giants namely Microsoft offering roles in Program Management along with several other companies like Bain & Co, Reliance Industries, CRIF and also one of the Fin-Tech innovator D E Shaw offering roles in consulting, analytics and management trainee. The programme has seen a 20% increase in the average CTC as compared to last year. The highest CTC stands at 55 LPA and the average CTC at 14.6 LPA.

Big Data Analytics being cutting-edge, prominent programmes offered by Goa Institute Management has also achieve 100 percent placements by aligning themselves with the new recruiters including behemoths like Amazon, HDFC, Flipkart, CRIF, Lowe’s Inc. and the Trident Group. The sector wise placements saw recruitments in the fields of FMCG, IT etc., with roles offered like Business Analyst, Data Analyst, Data Scientist, Data Architect, Cloud Data Architect, Market Research Analyst, and Product Manager. The highest CTC for the BDA programme is 40.2 LPA and the average CTC is 17.2 LPA.

The youngest Banking and Financial Services programme offered by the Institute has also completed 100 percent placement for the Batch of 2021-23 and witnessed a Highest placement offer of 27 Lakh per annum and recorded an average CTC of 14.3 Lakh per annum.

The ongoing placements for the Healthcare Management programme inching towards completion, saw the Highest International offer of 60.4 Lakh per Annum by Shalina Healthcare for two students and the Highest Domestic offer of 29.13 Lakh per Annum by Johnson & Johnson.

“Business education is at an inflection point, and we at GIM strive to equip future leaders with competence and character to address emerging global business and social challenges. I sincerely thank the recruiters who placed their trust in GIM’s human capital and enabled us to once again reach newer heights.” says Dr. Ajit Parulekar – Director, Goa Institute of Management.

Goa Institute of Management (GIM) is a premier business school in Sanquelim, Goa, dedicated to transforming and improving management education. The late Fr. Romuald D’Souza founded GIM in 1993 and was named one of the world’s top four pioneering B- Schools in the Positive Impact Rating 2021. GIM was also titled ‘Sustainability Institute of the Year – Highly Commended’ at International Green Gown Awards 2022. The institute currently offers full-time and part-time PGDM programs. According to NIRF rankings (Govt. of India), it was recently ranked 36th among India’s top B-Schools.

By Aman Prince, Alliance University

The demand for MBA graduates is increasing day by day because of the change in the economic environment and the increasing need of the industry. There are plenty of B-School in India and Lakhs of MBA students graduate from them. But the problem is they are not trained or skilled enough to perform well for their organization. If a student wishes to pursue an MBA, it becomes necessary to get enrolled in some top-ranked B-Schools. Getting into top B-Schools becomes important because they provide high-quality education and focus more on industrial learning to prepare you for becoming a future leader. However, students have various options when choosing a specialization like Finance, HR, Marketing, Operation, International Business, and Business Analytics.

Getting into top B-Schools is not easy MBA Entrance exams are one of the toughest exams. Students need to prepare very hard to get into some top-notch B-Schools like IIM, Alliance University, NMIMS, and XLRI. So, some of the popular entrance exams are conducted for admission to MBA courses:

• CAT
• XAT
• GRE
• MAT
• AMAT
• CMAT

Common Admission Test (CAT)

CAT is the most popular as well as the toughest entrance test. Generally, CAT is conducted to get admission to IIM in specific programs like Entrepreneurship, Consulting, Operations, Finance, Analytics, Technology, and Management. CAT is conducted once a year in November or December and the results are declared in January. The application process for CAT starts in August.

Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT)

XAT is the entrance test conducted for getting admission into the MBA course at Xavier’s School of Management It is a computer-based online test. The XAT application process starts in August and students can expect the result in January just like the CAT exams.

Graduate Record Examination (GRE)

GRE is conducted by Educational Testing Services (ETS). The exam is taken in a computer-based format. So, the exams evaluate your analytical, Mathematical, and verbal skills. The test has three parts: Analytical writing, Quantitative Reasoning, and Verbal Reasoning. Students can get admitted to top B-Schools in India as well as abroad after clearing this exam.

Management Aptitude Test (MAT)

It is another popular entrance test conducted by the All India Management Association (AIMA) for an MBA. The exams offer the option to students to give it in online or offline mode. So, if the student is not comfortable online, they can go forward with the offline mode or vice-versa. The question paper of MAT consists of 200 questions from different areas of Indian and global language comprehension, Data Analysis and sufficiency, Mathematical Skills, and Intelligence and Critical Reasoning.

Alliance Management Aptitude Test (AMAT)

AMAT is the entrance test conducted for getting admission into the Alliance School of Business in the MBA program. Alliance University is currently the 2nd best B-School in Bangalore after IIM Bangalore. The exam is conducted twice a year exam pattern is more of the same as the CMAT. So, the question paper is based on Comprehension, General Knowledge, Conceptual Section, General English, Quantitative Aptitude

Common Management Aptitude Test (CMAT)

The CMAT entrance exam is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). It is an annual management test conducted for getting admission into around 150 B-Schools in MBA courses. It is an MCQ-type test consisting of 4 sections: Language comprehension, Quantitative Techniques, and Data Interpretation, Logical Reasoning, and General Awareness.

Top B-School In India

We all know that choosing a college for studies is a very important decision for any student and when it comes to choosing a college for MBA it becomes more important. Because pursuing an MBA becomes an important decision as the career of a student depends on it. If we look at our country, there are around 6000 B-Schools. But we all are aware that the most important thing for pursuing MBA is getting a quality education and Industrial learning. So, if a student is planning to pursue MBA, they should set a goal of getting admission into some of the top B-Schools. Therefore, let’s look at some of India’s top-ranked B-School for MBA:

• IIM Ahmedabad
• IIM Bangalore
• IIM Calcutta
• IIM Lucknow
• XLRI
• Alliance University
• ISB Hyderabad
• MDI Gurgaon
• NMIMS
• SPJIMR

So, these are some of the best B-Schools in India for MBA with high standards of education along with more focus on industrial learning and Students have a great chance of getting into some big Multinational Companies with a handsome amount package.

GDPI is a test conducted to assess the basic personality of a candidate’s leadership skills, communication and problem-solving skills that are essential to become a qualified manager.

Group discussion (GD) and Personal Interview (PI) are an integral part of the MBA/PGDM admission process. The most important thing is to know what topic will be discussed in the GD and PI rounds. In some cases, the interviewer may not tell you beforehand so that you would not be able to prepare in advance. However, if given an option, choose to know the topic beforehand so that you can think about it in advance and come up with questions to ask your interviewer. In this article, let us look at what these tests are and how to best prepare for them.

The candidates who have qualify national level entrance tests or b school specific entrance tests are generally required to appear for Group Discussion (GD) and Personal Interview (PI) rounds of most of the top business schools. It is often noticed that most candidates are nervous to face GD and PI rounds. However, there are ways to make it easier for yourself and increase your chances of getting selected if you plan and prepare yourself with a clear mindset well ahead of time.

Group Discussion (GD):

The most common type of discussion test is the group discussion (GD). The usual format of a GD involves around 6-8 people sitting in a room and discussing on a particular topic for about 20 minutes to an hour. This can either be pre-decided by the institute or decided upon during the test itself depending on available time. After the allotted time is over, the group members take turns to speak for 2-3 minutes each on what they discussed and their views on the topic. The participants are then evaluated based on their participation in the discussion as well as their stance on the issue at hand.

B-Schools look at Group discussion as a measure to find your ability to interact with others and work as a team member in a corporate environment. It also gives an idea of how you would fit into a team-setting where there are multiple responsibilities that need to be shared within members.

The most important thing during these rounds is to be on time for the test, with all your documents in order. This will reflect well upon you during evaluation as a person of standard and discipline. Another point of reminder is to make sure that you are familiar with the topic that has been given so that you can participate actively in the discussion. One could read up on any related articles or books to help formulate your views more clearly. Also, practicing public speaking with focus on clarity in delivery would all help in your performances effectively.

Personal Interview (PI):

The personal interview is generally a designed framework of questions that are asked to a candidate to know the better. Being you, being true and honest are the expectations in this round which might sound simple, however it is not. The true design is to understand your identity and presence of mind.

The questions that are put at a candidate is firstly to know the backgrounds that as personal and family background, educational and financial background, knowledge and skill-sets that the candidate possesses, ability to handle different scenario, etc. The questions narrow as you proceed with a clear intention to know the candidate well. The objective here is to understand as well as to make understand the need to know one-self whether he or she is able to undergo a real-time interview and deliver one-self truly and truthfully.

In the CAT GD round and in the GD rounds conducted widely by prominent business schools in India, the aspirants who are shortlisted gets divided into 8-10 different groups. A topic will be allotted to them, which needs to be discussed in a given time. The panel that does the interview monitors each candidates’ performance secretly. This is an important round as all the aspirants are judged purely on the basis of their skills that are communication, leadership, attitude and aptitude, decisiveness and teamwork.

Added to this, in CAT PI round, all the aspirants are judged on the basis of their verbal communication and also their presence of mind. The interviewers evaluate how smoothly the aspirants present their thoughts to convince the experts in the interview panel. Hence, the aspirants need to follow effective method(s) towards GD PI preparation for CAT.

The candidates would face questions such as

– Tell us about yourself.

– What are your strengths and weakness?

– Why do you want to study MBA?

– Why do we have to select you for our institute?

To get admitted into a quality B-School is quite a challenge nowadays due to the complexity involved in the process of admissions. Earlier were the days when getting admitted into a business school was easier and one need not worry about not getting admissions. However and today, due to the competitiveness and the standards involved in ranking and accreditation, selecting a good business school by itself is a challenge. To decide which business school to apply for or what all business schools to keep in your top choices is quite a conundrum faced by every candidate who prefers to go through a PGDM or MBA programme.

Top business schools prefer conducting their own entrance tests, after which further rounds are conducted. Clearing a business school entrance test could be attained through consistent effort in preparation and dedication. Candidates are short-listed on the basis of their scores in the entrance test initially followed by the candidate being called for the group discussion and personal interview round. After this, most business schools follow the seat matrix method and the seats are allotted to the candidates on merit basis in all the screening methods – the entrance test, the group discussion and the personal interview.

As a leading business school, ISBR’s admission and selection process is robust and it aims to assess various skill-sets of the candidates in order to ensure that they get the most out of the masters in business management programme. ISBR considers entrance tests such as CAT, XAT, MAT, NMAT and CMAT for the GDPI rounds.

Students who have not taken any of these tests or do not have the required cut off score will be asked to appear for ISBR’s very own aptitude test. This is primarily to encourage the interest of the candidate and to give them a chance to prove themselves. Additionally, none of ISBR’s tests are designed to eliminate the candidates but to make them get to know themselves well. The selection process at ISBR is as follows,

II. ISBR Aptitude test – online and remotely proctored (Duration: 60 minutes)

a. Quantitative Aptitude

b. Logical Reasoning

c.  Linguistic Skills

d. Essay Writing

II. Written Ability Test – online and remotely proctored (Duration: 30 minutes)

III. Micro Presentation

IV. Personal Interview

To know more about the MBA and PGDM programs offered by ISBR, visit www.isbr.in

By  Aman Prince, Alliance University

Whether you want to start your own business or want to become a manager in an MNC, pursuing an MBA degree with different types of specialization will be a great choice for you. It is obvious how fascinating and attractive the business or the corporate world is to people. People who get into the business field as an entrepreneur don’t think much before taking risks. The MBA degree will help you in various ways such as:

• In expanding your knowledge
• It will teach you how to tackle difficult situations in business with people having different mindsets
• It will also help you sharpen your skills and abilities
• You get more opportunities of meeting like-minded people and entrepreneurs

If we look in general, there are 4 types of specializations offered in MBA. Marketing, Finance, Operations, and HR. These courses cover a vast area for study not just focused on subjects particularly but also in the areas of general management. MBA is more of an industry-driven course and the professors or faculties of a top-ranked b-school like the one at Alliance University add immense value to it. They aim to make the overall development of students as leaders in their respective business fields.

Apart from these four above-mentioned specializations, there are many other specializations also, which are designed to sharpen and advance the skills of students in their chosen business area. List of some of the specializations offered by an MBA college are:

• MBA in Marketing
• MBA in Human Resource Management
• MBA in Operations Management
• MBA in International Business
• MBA in Finance
• MBA in Quantitative Finance
• MBA in Business Analytics
• MBA in Entrepreneurship

MBA in Marketing

MBA in Marketing is one of the core specialization areas of an MBA. Top companies from any industry need global audience reach. Traditional Marketing techniques are lacking behind in coping with the global market. So, most companies want marketers who can adapt to new techniques that include digital marketing also. An MBA in Marketing not only provides you with an opportunity to get a good package but will also help you to grow in your career.

MBA in Human Resource Management

An MBA in Human Resources or Human Resource Management makes you learn and trains you in how to manage the workforce of a company. This specialization even helps you understand business administration strategy, human behavior inside an organization, and how to build a healthy work culture in the organization. MBA in HR is a common specialization in MBA that is preferred by many students. The major focus of the HR profession is the management, recruitment, engagement, and retention, of employees with the right set of policies and benefits.

MBA in Operations Management

An MBA in Operations Management helps students in developing analytical skills. The course teaches them how to use mathematical systems and models in their research. The course helps future operations management graduates to improve product quality and reduce production costs. Pursuing an MBA in Operations Management offers a global perspective toward business trends to meet operational demands. So, an MBA operations management professional is required to look for the effectiveness and efficiency of resources like manpower and machines.

MBA in International Business

An MBA in International Business is another popular specialization among students. This course is specially designed for those students who wish to understand the global aspects of business and cultural challenges. Students in this course learn the scope and different approaches to doing business in international markets and concepts around exports, imports, global economies, etc.

MBA in Finance

Students who have a knack to manage money, accounts, and budgets, correlating finance to supply, demand, technology, investments, etc. take up Finance specialization in MBA. This is one of the best specializations for them considering the opportunities in the finance and accounting area. Finance students get high-paying jobs in banking, core, insurance, debt, investment, companies, taxation, etc. Finance is one of the core functions of any business and requires professionals to have immense knowledge of fiscal policies also.

MBA in Quantitative Finance

An MBA in Quantitative Finance is a new specialization offered by very few universities such as Alliance University, but the scope of this course is immense. The opportunities that students get in this field are immense. Quantitative finance uses extremely large data sets and mathematical modeling to analyze the finances and securities of an organization. It is an advanced version of the Finance area in a highly specialized segment.

MBA in Business Analytics

Business Analytics is slowly becoming a popular specialization in MBA because of its research-oriented curriculum. With an MBA in Business, Analytics students will be trained in both management as well as technical skills. Most of the top universities like Alliance University started offering business analytics as a major specialization in MBA. Even if we look at the opportunities for Business Analytics in the future it is immense, given the requirements in the technology, finance, and investment, areas.

MBA in Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship is among the top 5 specializations chosen by MBA students around the globe. Entrepreneurship completely depends on an individual’s creativity and unique way of thinking to start a new business or venture. MBA just gives a correct path and guidance to students to think creatively and build a new product or service which is beneficial for society or is commercially sustainable. Entrepreneurship plays an important role in maintaining the economic order of a country. Not all students who take up MBA in entrepreneurship become entrepreneurs but also are groomed to become enterprising individuals for the organizations they chose to work for.

In a summary, everyone needs to note that an MBA is a very rewarding program both academically and professionally. Therefore, a student might opt for any specialization and can succeed with determination and a focused approach.