As far as possible, I am writing this as a buyer rather than a 2nd yr PGDM student. This is not a product placement but rather an endorsement borne out of my experience and extent of the fulfillment of the objectives with which I chose a B-School --
Quality post-MBA profile which harmonizes my 3 years IT experience and leverages on it
Monetary compensation that balances the opportunity loss
Self-discovery through rigour and quality peer interaction
Knowledge and hard skills
Confidence and soft skills
Objectives realized: 1, 4, 5,
Objectives not realized as per expectation: 2
Objectives realized. This is a happy diwali season for me as I landed a consulting role with a big 4 auditor. In that way the risk I took as a 3+ yr IT exp guy, quitting a 6 lkpa job and a possible onsite gig to pursue higher studies has paid off. On the salary front my expectations were on the lines of most B-school aspirants, and the expectations were not met in terms of doubling my salary (as goes the thumbrule, however flawed and unrealistic) but there was a considerable >60% markup. On the personal development front, I can vouch for the IMI experience benefiting me tremendously and I am speaking as someone possessed of a somewhat cynical disposition ;) Some say that one does not change in his late 20s but the last 2 years have honestly been transformational in terms of developing team-skills and social chops thanks to the breadth of extra-curricular exposure provided at IMI. The academic rigour (which is next only to the top B-schools) and the quality pedagogy here is designed to impart broad based knowledge and also hard skills like accounting and comfort with statistical tools. If the end goal of an MBA education is seen as developing a structured approach to problem definition and problem solving (alas engineering education teaches only problem solving) through case discussions and also to integrate cross functional knowledge to evolve a management orientation, then the 2 years spent here have given definite and tangible returns.
I am not sure if this can be said of most management programs in India as my experience is limited to IMI, but there exists today a glut of placement shops posing as B-Schools, with little value addition in terms of hard skills and the more squishy interpersonal and soft aspects necessary for succeeding in today’s collaborative workplace. To conclude in one sentence - on top of the great placement record, IMI is a b-school which takes being a b-school very seriously.
The quality of the peers at IMI also exceeded my expectations from a quality but lesser known institute. Most people were better than me and it was a necessary humbling experience which taught me a lot. Be assured that IMI, by virtue of being in the heart of Delhi, and through the pull of its star faculty attracts some really capable people, many of whom are ladies whose parents would not let them go to an IIM in the hinterland (yes, we have one odd who have left IIM converts). Our gender ratio is one of the healthiest amongst B-Schools. The location is IMI’s primary source of its strengths which range from retaining quality faculty, industry interface, to drawing urban students (who we must admit enjoy a distinct advantage in several areas from networking, quality schooling to soft skills). The lack of space to expand and fully residential facilities is the primary source of risk. Below is a SWOT for your reference.
Strengths
Superior faculty
Extensive industry interface
Top leadership
Processes (AMBA accredited)
Weaknesses
Lack of a brand
Space and infrastructure constraints
Opportunities
leverage distinguished faculty for MDPs, in turn increasing and cementing industry relations
Re-engaging a distinguished alumni
Threats
NCR is becoming cluttered with B-Schools, and some top names like XLRI
Reputational risk to a growing brand due to unforeseen events
Industry tends to not offer salaries on par with other colleges in our ’league’ (NMIMS, SIBM) which in turn leads to loss of some talent
Future projections - If the current leadership and zeal for creating corporate relations, scaling up (in terms of students, faculty and building infrastructure), seeking global accreditation continues and the alumni is re-engaged, IMI will bypass its limitations of brand pull and will post salaries on par with NMIMS, SIBM and XIMB. This will in turn get IMI the position it deserves. IMI is well on its way to become a premier SP-Jain like B-school with a unique character and value proposition (for corporates and students) in the next 5 years.