Tower building exercise!!!!

LEC 2

There are two methods of understanding things:
1) learning and then doing
2) doing and then learning

Till now i have always followed the first method. But Dr. Mandi is teaching  Principles of Management through second method. The tower building exercise was an example of the same.

The activity: We were asked to build a single block tower using wooden blocks!

It was done in two parts:

First: Students were made to bid.The highest bidder was given a chance to build the tower.
Result: The tower was built with 22 blocks.

Second: Again the students were asked to bid. The highest bidder was given the chance to build the tower. The only difference was the tower had to be built by a blind folded person so the task was done in a group by 3 people who played role of CEO(top),manager(middle) and worker(low) respectively.
Result: The tower was built with 25 blocks.

The result  seemed bit surprising at first but when Dr. Mandi connected it to OLD (Craftsmanship) and NEW (Modern) style of management i got all my answers.

Key Learning :
1) Goal setting:
A goal is a desired result a person or a system envisions, plans and commits to achieve. Goal setting is very important esp. for an organisation because the efforts of all the employees can only then be directed. Goals should not be too high or too low,they should be S.M.A.R.T

2)Importance of management: 
When the task was done by the group, the performance was enhanced because every individual's work is well defined . This is new style of management.

3)Worker's viewpoint:
Every individual feels good when they are appreciated. If an employee is encouraged and appreciated in any form for his work his level of performance increases.

4)Approach:
There can be different methods for solving a problem, a person just needs to think for them!!!

Well the lecture was so interactive and informative that i am eagerly waiting for the next lecture!!!
Till then keep reading :)

The New Beginning...........

18^th June 2013

LEC 01

Before joining  NITIE I always wondered  how this b-school would  be different from my engineering college. I got my answer on the second day itself!!!

It was communication and negotiation skills lecture when I saw Prof. T Prasad entering the class. I had heard a lot about Prof. T Prasad and his innovative ideas of MANDI and HAMARA DHANDA so I had a lot of expectations from his class.

But his lecture was beyond my expectations. We sat on the floor around him and studied in DESI style as he called it. It was one of the most intellectual and thought provoking classes i have attended so far. He gave a new direction to my style of thinking and gave me a new outlook towards things.

In the class it was a two way communication where we were free to ask and speak. I feel this kind of pedagogy is very effective as it triggers the thought process of the students and makes the class more interesting and fun.

I found the concept of MANDI very interesting. The event would be a platform to experience the market, learn and understand management at its core. The thought of marketing and selling various educational products on the streets of Mumbai is fascinating and challenging in itself.

My key learnings from the lecture were:

Ø  Applying the knowledge  gained to innovate and create new products and technology.

·         Newton’s cradle shown in the class was a classic example of the same

Ø  Giving heart and soul to things we do in life because when career is made passion , success is bound to follow.

Ø  Earning while learning was an idea which instigated the entrepreneur within me.

Well I feel this is just a beginning and I have a lot more to learn from him and his lectures. I am looking forward for the same.

Till then keep reading!!!!!!