Why do an MBA Specialisation

When one considers the future, one thing that you need the most, is knowledge of the now. And a knowledge that is not half baked, based on guesses, or only first hand information, but a comprehensive picture. This sort of a picture is not easy to generate at all, and still less easy to understand. The kind of data that is available today is immense, and very varied, to process all of it for any event requires training. To not take advantage of all the information and make a choice on a limited amount is senseless. But it remains impossible to deal with the immense amount of information that must be comprehended. The answer to this dilemma is specialisation. Every field of study or operation has specialists minutely trained to process information of a particular kind. But with this ability of detailed study, comes the disadvantage or inability to see the larger picture, or of processing information of a kind you are not used to. The answer to that question has been a different kind of specialist, one that can understand most information, even if he cant process the data, and then compile all the information he receives into a single, unified, simple model, and then predict the future.
In the world of Bussiness, this specialist, who specialises in being a ‘jack of all trades’ is called an MBA. I feel the best way to think of it, is to imagine the company like a circuit, with highly specialised components, all connected to a circuit board. The MBA is the circuit board. Some people might lead to believe he is the Procesor, but that’s not accurate, the MBA is as much an employee as any other. But his job is making sure every one else can function. This involves looking beyond only the immediate needs of the company, in the now, but also a degree of foresight. The responsibility of an MBA goes beyond just the limits of his company, but must be encompass the economy as a whole, the understanding of which cannot be imparted on the job. To a man trying to make a cotton factory earn money, the stock exchange in London may not make sense. It may not necessarily make sense to an MBA, but he will realise that it does impact the business. It is this vision, and an understanding of things outside the immediate purview of production, or profit that make an MBA invaluable.

Perhaps it will be better understood when I tell you the entire idea of outsourcing was that of an MBA, or as we know Bill Gates knows little or nothing about programming. In the case of outsourcing, it is a revolutionary idea, and that could only come from someone with a slightly wider view of the world one limited to the confines of a 9 to 5. Bill Gates and the windows were barely made for each other, in fact you could argue that Windows as OS is barely made for a computer. But the foresight of Gates, is what made him the riches man around. It is this trained ability to, look beyond the obvious, and to be aware of the periphery, like a growing pool of English speaking urban, educated youngsters in India, or the fact that computers were the future, and striking the deal with IBM, in the insipient years of the industry that makes an MBA.
Of course the argument that one can teach himself all this, is acceptable, but the time involved in learning things, that would lie outside one’s field of interest, only to gain minimally, over the time spent educating oneself, defeats the purpose of the exercise. Even an MBA of about six years ago, finds commerce vastly changed, and is constantly involved in furthering his education. To be teaching yourself the basics while the MBA could with ease give you the boost of a couple of years, is something an MBA would not suggest. The fear that as an MBA you may loose whatever specialised skills you possess, is in some ways a legitimate one, because as an MBA you’re compulsorily limited to managerial tasks. But that’s not to say that you wont have opportunity to bring you’re own experience into play. An MBA does not limit the paradigm within which you think, but is in fact an attempt to systematise and make easier the search beyond that paradigm. So anything that you have done or can do, which is more than the training you receive as an MBA will always be a resource to you… and though it might be something seemingly unconnected with business like playing the guitar, an MBA will help you see it as a economic resource, and though you may never end up with an album, it will help none the less.

Top Institutes For MBA In India

With so many MBA institutes cropping up in every nook and cranny , it becomes quite a conundrum choosing the right institute. However, it is general knowledge that IIMs are considered the mecca of MBA study in India.Again, there are many quality non-iIIM institutes which are giving the IIMs a run for their money. The B –school rankings in recent years have reflected this trend conspicuously. However, it is not wise to go by rankings purely as one’s choice on institute should be made keeping in mind several factors like choice of specialization, cost of course, return on investment,etc. Here is a list of the best places in India for MBA

1) All the Indian Institutes Of Management (Ahmedabad,Bangalore,Kolkata,Lucknow,Indore,Kozhikode,Shillong)

2) Management Development Institute, Gurgaon

3) SIBM, Pune

4) S.P Jain institute of Management & Research, Mumbai

5) Xavier Labour Relations Institute, Jamshedpur

6) Shailesh J.Mehta School of Management, IIT Bombay

7) Faculty of Management Studies, Delhi

8) ICFAI Business School, Hyderabad

9)Indian institute of Foreign Trade,Delhi

10) Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar

11) Narsee Monjee , Mumbai

12) International Management Institute ,Delhi

13) T.A Pai Mgmt institute, manipal

14) Nirma Institute Management , Ahmedabad

15) NIILM Centre for Management Studies, Delhi

16) ISB, Hyderabad

CAT Verbal Section Tips by Pravin Vedamuthu of IMS

n the last minute build-up to the Verbal Section of CAT 2008, we would do well to remember that CAT 2007 had 3 main ‘components’ to its verbal section, totaling 25 questions: verbal ability based questions (6), verbal reasoning based questions (7) and reading comprehension based questions (12). Each question with 5 answer choices had 4 marks allotted to it and a negative of 1 mark. Though CAT sections are not strictly timed, it is safe to say that one needed to allot 50 minutes per section so as to have the best chances to clear sectional cut-offs. So these 25 questions needed to be attempted over 50 minutes. The objective was to maximize score, not necessarily attempt all.

Over the years, Reading Comprehension (RC) based questions and Jumbled Sentences (JS) have been constant features in a CAT paper. For the last lap, it would be wise to take 1 ‘drill’ everyday on these topics. A drill will try to mimic the actual situation which you will face w.r.t these question types in the actual paper.

An RC drill would consist of a set of 4 passages with 3 questions each to be attempted in 25 minutes. A JS drill would consist of 4 questions on Jumbled Sentences to be taken in 10 minutes. While taking a drill, it has to be kept in mind that the idea is to maximize score under a pressure situation. After a drill is taken, you should compute your score. So 1 RC drill and 1 JS drill each day will need 35 minutes of your time and an additional 25 minutes for computation of the score and analysis. So 1 hour each day on drills.

Prepare a set of examples, w.r.t. all important grammar concepts focusing on errors. If you have every important concept error (e.g. mistakes in parallel construction, dangling modifiers, subject- verb disagreement, etc.) in the form of an example, you will be alert to these when you tackle the sentence correction questions.

For critical reasoning type of questions, it is absolutely necessary to be very clear about words like ‘inferred’, ‘implied’ and ‘implicit’ and how they play out in a CAT paper. Also, question types like ‘what, if true, would best support the author’s view…’, ‘what, if true, would provide the most compelling logical disproof of…’ ,‘all of the following support the author’s claim EXCEPT…’etc.

For vocabulary based questions, it would still be good to go through a wordlist and glance at especially those words which you have heard and read but were not sure about. It is of course past the time to learn completely new words.

Last but not least, remember that the CAT is becoming more and more rigorous and the questions more and more complex. It is less of a ‘speed game’ now and more of clear, composed and focused thinking free from biases and prejudices. It tests who has better reasoning in a stressful situation rather than who has ‘worked’ the most. So stay calm and do not panic. The test is not about ‘how tough or easy’ it is always about ‘how competitive’ and hence the most important thing is how to avoid meltdowns and not give fellow competitors a ‘competitive advantage’.

I wish you the very best of luck for CAT 2008.

Pravin Santosh Vedamuthu,
IMS Learning Resources
P.G - MICA

Courtesy: www.imsindia.com
Email: ims@imsindia.com

CAT Tips from Jaya Desai - IMS Centre Head

The countdown to the CAT is akin to the countdown to a rocket launch- A lot of hard work has already been put in ; there is a blend of nervousness and excitement ;an air of expectancy ….

Here are some tips that will hold you in good stead for D-Day:

Take two/three tests with a lot of emphasis on analysis:
After taking a national percentile ranking test like the SIMCAT, note down your total attempts within the allotted time frame. Then, arrive at the number of correct and incorrect attempts. You may feel as to why you should ponder over the correct attempts. Ah!there might be a faster or an easier way to do the same! Second, w.r.t the incorrect attempts, if the same has been due to oversight, tell yourself you will be more vigilant the next time. If it was the outcome of a blind guess, then you must resolve to steer clear of such an approach because of the spectre of negative marking. And last but not the least, if the incorrect attempt was because of lack of knowledge of the concept, then go back to your basics to that extent! Also, do not forget to have a kettle of tea or coffee next to you !



Work hard on areas of weakness and capitalize on areas of strength
If any of the components ,i.e. Quantitative Aptitude, Data Interpretation or English, has been an area of concern, please do not hesitate to devote quality time to concepts. Sections you are good at, you can fine tune attempts a bit!

Read the Instructions page carefully on test day:
"Elementary, my dear Watson!” would say Sherlock Holmes! But test takers ever so often do not read the instructions page carefully before zeroing in on a strategy. Reading this page is important from the point of view of knowing the marking system and the distribution of sections.

Keep away from the ‘Fixed Strategy’ approach:
Since the CAT does not have a fixed pattern with respect to number of questions, question type or the marking system, do not have a fixed way of approaching the test. The only cardinal rule that you need to keep in mind is start garnering marks in your kitty by attempting questions that you are sure about! Remember, there are always simple questions and absolute sitters in the paper, visible when you devote a couple of minutes scanning the questions.

Keep cool and do not succumb to paranoia:
Being in the right frame of mind is half the battle won! This is very essential because anxiety and negativity will kill the golden goose! You must be what a good manager is in times of crisis and uncertainty- cool, calm and collected. This will help select the right questions.

All the best for a fantastic experience!
Jaya Desai,
Centre Head - IMS.

Tips for the D-DAY (16th November, 2008) From CrazyUstad.com

Tips for the D-DAY (16th November, 2008)

Manage your time.

Balance speed with accuracy.

Analyze your mock CATs.

These are just few of the tips given to CAT aspirants by different organizations that help you prepare for the CAT exam.

The countdown to C Day (CAT Day, November 16) has begun. So have sleepless nights, nervous breakdowns and last minute revisions.

Remember, though, those who slog mindlessly for this test fail to acknowledge the inherent nature of the CAT examination.

As many of the articles we have carried earlier on Get Ahead have reiterated, CAT is a test of your managerial aptitude and managerial skill sets like:

~ Time management
~ How you handle pressure and uncertainty
~ Decision making

Remember, CAT is not about solving 75 questions in 150 minutes.

It is about solving 35 to 45 questions with 85 to 90 percent accuracy.

Here are a few tips that should fetch you a call from the best B-Schools in the country.

Tip 1: Handle pressure and uncertainty well. And reap the rewards!

Handling pressure and uncertainty is a crucial element of CAT. This is a vital skill that a manager requires in his/ her daily decision-making process.

The CAT examination spans 150 minutes, but if you are able to handle the pressure in the first 15 and last 10 minutes, your chances to excel increase.

Some pointers to help you excel at this stage are:
Have a flexible strategy.
Scan your question paper for the initial three to four minutes to locate easy questions.
Attempt your favorite section first.
Remember CAT is just another name for uncertainty. If it ain't uncertain, it ain't CAT!

Tip 2: Sequence and prioritize -- your mantras for success

Sequencing and prioritizing mean:

~ Deciding on the sequence in which you will attempt the various sections.
~ Allocating an approximate time to each section.
~ Prioritizing questions within sections.

Deciding your sequence before entering the examination hall helps you methodically attempt CAT.

As a result, you don't shuffle between sections and lose time. Once you have scanned the paper, allocate an additional five to 10 minutes to a tough section and take out five to 10 minutes from an easy section.

Let us assume that, before entering into the hall, your strategy was:

~ Scanning: 3-4 minutes
~ Quantitative Ability: 50 minutes
~ Data Interpretation/ Data Sufficiency: 50 minutes
~ Verbal Ability: 50 minutes

If, say, Quantitative Ability is tough and the other two sections are comparatively easy, your changed strategy may look something like:

~ Scanning: 3-4 minutes
~ Quantitative Ability: 55-60 minutes
~ Data Interpretation/ Data Sufficiency: 50 minutes
~ Verbal Ability: 40-45 minutes

By all means, attempt your favorite section first.

Those who have taken CAT, though, will advise you never to attempt Quantitative Ability in the end. QA utilizes your core fundamentals and formulae; sometimes, they are difficult to recall under the twin pressures of time and mental fatigue.

The other two sections are primarily practice-based.

Here are some sequences you could adopt if you do not have a strategy yet:

Sequence I

1. Quantitative Ability
2. Data Interpretation/ Data Sufficiency
3. Verbal Ability

Sequence II

1. Quantitative Ability
2. Verbal Ability
3. Data Interpretation/ Data Sufficiency

Sequence III

1. Data Interpretation/ Data Sufficiency
2. Quantitative Ability
3. Verbal Ability

Sequence IV

1. Verbal Ability
2. Quantitative Ability
3. Data Interpretation/ Data Sufficiency

Tip 3: Tame CAT by taming each section individually

Here are some specific section-related strategies:

Quantitative Ability

Attempt questions in three rounds.

Round 1

~ Attempt all one liners.
~ Attempt all two liners.
~ Attempt all four liners.

Round 2

Come back to the leftover questions of Round 1. Under pressure, you might just have left easy questions from Round 1 unattempted. Attempt them again

Round 3

If time permits, tackle the lengthier questions on your favourite topics.

There is a second school of thought which says lengthier questions are easier.

But remember: It takes just five to 10 seconds to decide whether you should attempt to answer one or two liner questions. Lengthier questions take more time to read, comprehend and crack, if at all you are able to do so.

Verbal Ability

~ Most students attempt English Usage or Reading and Comprehension questions first.
~ In Para Jumbles, look out for structural and logical connectors.
~ Before attempting Reading and Comprehension, scan the questions once.
~ Narrative RCs have generally proved students' nemesis. Be careful.
~ Generally, students scan a poem before an RC. A poem is short and easy to read, thanks to fewer eye fixations. You will also come to know within a few seconds whether it should be attempted or not.
~ Grammar questions should be your forte.

Data Interpretation/ Data Sufficiency

~ Revise your percentages and approximations.
~ Data Sufficiency questions are independent of each other and should be attempted first. Try not to use external knowledge while answering Data Sufficiency questions.
~ Once you are done with the Data Sufficiency questions, attempt single graph questions followed by the double graph questions.
~ Questions based on logical games and long tables are generally attempted last.

Speed breakers

CAT also features speed breaker questions. Beware of them.

These questions constitute about two to five percent of the CAT paper and are best attempted by not attempting them.

They are also known as 'take home' questions.

Most important!

1. Relax.

2. Take two easy full-length tests on November 14 and November 15 from 11 am to 1 pm.

The test on November 16 should be a three-section test.

Try taking a three-section test on November 15 (Remember, CAT may have an additional section on Reasoning).

3. Do not over-burden yourself on November 16.

4. Revise your mathematics formulae.

5. Watch a war movie to pump up your adrenaline!

If you have prepared well, do not worry.

All the best!

How to build a good Vocabulary ?

Be sure you have the communication
skills needed for a successful MBA

The Ten Best Vocabulary Learning Tips

• Step 1. Read, Read, Read! Most vocabulary words are learned from context. The more words you're exposed to, the better vocabulary you will have. While you read, pay close attention to words you don't know. First, try to figure out their meanings from context. Then look the words up. Read and listen to challenging material so that you'll be exposed to many new words.

• Step 2. Improve your context skills. Research shows that the vast majority of words are learned from context. To improve your context skills pay close attention to how words are used. Doing a search on a word using dejanews.com (for searching newsgroups) will give you many examples of how that word is used in context. Play our Daily Context Vocabulary Quiz.
  

• Step 3. Practice, practice, practice. Learning a word won't help very much if you promptly forget it. Research shows that it takes from 10 to 20 repetitions to really make a word part of your vocabulary. It helps to write the word - both the definition and a sentence you make up using the word - perhaps on an index card that can later be reviewed. As soon as you learn a new word, start using it. Review your index cards periodically to see if you have forgotten any of your new words. Also, do a search on a word using dejanews.com (for searching newsgroups) to get many examples of how the word is actually used.
  

• Step 4. Make up as many associations and connections as possible. Say the word aloud to activate your auditory memory. Relate the word to words you already know. For example, the word GARGANTUAN (very large) has a similar meaning to the words gigantic, huge, large, etc. You could make a sequence: small, medium, large, very large, GARGANTUAN. List as many things as you can that could be considered GARGANTUAN: Godzilla, the circus fat lady, the zit on your nose, etc. Create pictures of the word's meaning that involve strong emotions. Think "the GARGANTUAN creature was going to rip me apart and then eat me!"

• Step 5. Use mnemonics (memory tricks). For example, consider the word EGREGIOUS (extremely bad). Think EGG REACH US - imagine we've made a mistake so bad that they are throwing eggs at us and a rotten EGG REACHes US. Such funny little word pictures will help you remember what words mean, AND they are fun to make up. Also, find out which learning style suits you best. Everyone learns differently!

• Step 6. Get in the habit of looking up words you don't know. If you have a dictionary program on your computer, keep it open and handy. America Online and other internet services have dictionaries and thesauruses on their tool bars. Find them and look up any word you are not absolutely sure of. Use a thesaurus when you write to find the word that fits best.

• Step 7. Play with words. Play Scrabble, Boggle, and do crossword puzzles. These and other word games are available for the computer, so you are not dependent on a partner to play. Also, try out the Franklin Electronic Dictionary that features built-in word games.

• Step 8. Use vocabulary lists. For the serious vocabulary student, there are many books that focus on the words most commonly found in standardized tests, such as the SAT and GRE. There are also many interesting word sites on the Internet, many of which will send you a word a day by email.

• Step 9. Take vocabulary tests. Playing games, such as the ones on this site, that test your knowledge will help you learn new words and also let you know how much progress you're making. Offline sources for vocabulary tests include SAT prep books (we recommend "10 Real SATs" by ETS), and the Reader's Digest Wordpower section. For more, check out Amazon.com or your local bookseller.
  

• Step 10.Get excited about words! Come to appreciate the sometimes- subtle differences between them. Do you know the difference between something that denotes something else and something that connotes something else? If not, go look it up. Learn to say what you really mean and discover the joys of being able to express yourself in writing. Your future can depend on how rich your vocabulary is. A good vocabulary will make a difference on the standardized tests, like the SAT and GRE, that could determine whether or where you go to college. It will also determine the quality of your communication. So be in it for the long pull. Let building your vocabulary be a lifelong proposition. Remember: "In the beginning was the word." Until you have a word for something, it does not exist for you. Name it, and you have made your reality richer.
  

from pagal guy

Re: CAT preparation strategy advice - 28-04-2008, 09:31 PM

---

Hi,

IDIOTS Guide to Proverbian Approach to CAT08

Well its been close to 6 months since i took CAT 07. Almost 6 months remain for CAT 08. SO i believe its the right time to share my thoughts about CAT.

ps: I am noting down whatever that comes to my mind .Whatever i have typed below are personal opinions and should be taken in the right spirt

1.The longest journey starts with a single step
As rightly said by MAO, Please dont get intimidated by the sheer volume of CAT syllabus. Beleive me no one has actuallty completed all the materails at his disposal. Just think that this is the right time to start ur preperation. Start with small doses before getting into high profile stuffs.

2. Stitch in time saves Nine

The basic motto is to be REGULAR.So you should be spending the MAX(time at ur disposal) for ur CAT preperations every day.It may be 2 or 3 or even 5 hours everyday.For people who are working, its quite difficult but nobody other than urselves can help you out . Even if you are not in a mood to learn, do develop a habit of spending 2-3 hours daily on CAT related tasks. It can either be reading Newspapes etc or doing simple Arithmetics or going through Grammar. It is humanly impossible to go through all the sections(Quant/DI/Verbal/Reasoning) and its subsections(Number theory, Time speed, Probability, RC, Grammar etc) in a single day. SO u can schedule urselves in such a way that you brush up all the sections within every 3 days and all subsections in say every 10 days


3.A friend in need is a friend indeed

Try Forming a study group. Pagalguy is having vibrant communities @ most of the metros.Make use of it. Get new friends.if u r staying with ur frineds who arent preparing for CAT I strongly suggest u to rent out a new home with fellow aspirants for say 6-7 months and then move back.

4.A problem shared is a problem halved

Be active @ pagalguy.com . Try contacting seniors/ fellow aspirants and try talking out ur issues. Post devotedly.One important thing to be noted is not to get intimidated by the scores other pagals are posting. Just think that pagalguy is a den where all these 99.99%tilers participate. But there are also other cool percentiles to grab during the actual CAT. believe me 98.91% tile is also cool...So be confident and work towards ur goal


5.Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely

The basic idea is not to be over confident.I personally know at least 7-8 heavy weights who have faltered at the final step. They were getting mesmerising scores at mocks(99+ %tiles) but couldnt perform well during the D day. So if u r having good mock cat scores, then its well and good.BUt dont be over confident and treat the lesser mortals in a derogatory way. You never know whats going to happen on November 19th. So be cool and work towards ur goal


6.Make hay while the sun shines

The basic idea is to be flexible.Be flexible in ur strategy.But not on the Dday. You will get ample mocks to finalise ur strategy. BUt dont have a rigid time frame like (50-50-50) for the sections. Do learn thru the mocks on which section to start with and apply ur self developed strategies accordingly

7.It's not worth crying over spilt milk/Let bygones be bygones

This should be the golden rule. You might be getting close to 98 % tile overall and clearing all sectionals mock after mock but one fine day ur mock score became 68%tile.Learn ur mistake and get out of it. MOck CAT will give u an approximate picture on where u will be standing .. not the absolute picture.. Have faith in thyself and continue working towards ur goal.


8.Don't put all your eggs in one basket

You may be a heavy weight. You may be getting KILLER PERCENTILES @ mocks. Everyone knows that u r destined to be @ IIM-A. BUt u never know what future has in store for you. SO do write other exams like XAT/SNAP/FMS/NMAT/JMET etc. Write these exams get a good score, get a call , convert that call and then decide whether to join or not to join. Because Our thought process changes a lot once we get a REJECTION. So always have a backup plan

9.Don't try to walk before you can crawl

Preparing for CAT should be a step by step approach.Dont start with Full length tests if u r not comfortable about the basics. Its not the number of
Mocks/FLTs that matter but what u deduce from them matters the most


10.Oil and water don't mix
"Either u r with us or You are against us"-George Bush proclaimed after 9/11. Similarly words like laziness,boredom,Apni yeh Paatshala Masti ki patshaala dont go hand in hand with ur CAT preperation. I am not asing you to be a book worm. You have to be active but ur activities shouldnt hamper ur CAT preperation tempo. So a strict NO to gossips, masti, booze, pubs, girlfriends/ boyfriends etc when its ur study time.


11.Put your best foot forward

You have prepared diligently and its ur final day. Be cool. If u have prepared well Just think that You havent done that much crimes in life so that GOD is
gonna harm you at this juncture.Its ur day and perform well.

12.All's fair in love and war

This is a very very very tricky one. Viewer discretion advised. You may have to face situations @ actual CAT where you may get undue advantages.Instances like copying, not giving back the OMR etc are a strict NO NO. What i meant is say for eg: the instructor @ ur class room may give 5 minutes extra due to his stupidity. So make use of the time.Just go with the tide. I personally know people who have sat idle thinking about morality at that point.Please remember that Alexander Ruled the world not Harischandra...

13.Learn to keep ur Mouth shut and Ears Opened
When it comes to CAT , 100 people will be having 101 opinions. Do listen to it thru one ear, and if its crap let it pass out through the other ear.Believe me there might be situations when some wise people advice u to change ur startegy a day prior to D DAY. Approach only those people whom u genuinely think will help u ( @ pagalguy u will find hoards of them). Also dont go around proclaiming that you are preapring for CAT and u r expecting IIM calls. Its indeed a soothing experience to tell others if u have 98% tile but quite heart breaking when every tom **** and harry asks u about IIM calls when u r actually having 80%tile.


Thats it from my side.WIll kep this post updated..

CIAO,