Value addition, or Filtering?

Unanswered questions always come around, don't they? About two years ago, when I was midway through the thoroughly unpleasant task of applying to B-schools, I wasn't really sure whether B-schools really add value to students, or they simply select a bunch high-fliers, hand them an MBA, and let the world know that these guys are the works.

A full term has gone by here at IE, right in the thick of the action, and I'm not quite sure of the answer, yet.

Maybe the first term was largely introductory in nature. But I don't think there was SO much to be learnt. Economics was great, and Information Systems was an eye-opener, and that's about it. Other than that, lets see...
* I've learnt not to be unduly impressed the next time I see a consultant presenting something with a two-by-two matrix.
* I've learnt that even smart MBAs ask the dumbest of questions.
* That many of us MBAs (and their professors) can't resist cliches (I might jump out of the window the next time I see an "iceberg" slide in a presentation).
* That if inclined to do so, you can make a bell-curve or an S-curve for just about anything.
* That people can give fancy names to the most basic, common-sense ideas and get published (ABC's window of XYZ), so-and-so's 5 forces, 4 Ps of marketing, 3 Ds of whatever....

But it's not all cynical. Many of the people around are genuinely interesting blokes. Quite a few of them talk sense. Most of them are equally at home in at least 3-4 countries. They have some really 'different' interests. And not everyone is out to join M/B/B or GS. A fair number of professors do actually try make the class relevant and interesting. So yes, you can emerge from the year at IE as a newer, improved version. But it's upto you !!

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Putting your money where your mouth is

Saw an article in the day's FT, on Flattr. Boy, I like the idea of this thing...


The basic concept is really simple, you can reward the creators of content that you like, by crediting any amount to them. As little as 1 cent, as much as your pocket (rather, your mood) allows.

What appeals to me is this -First, the user has total freedom - 'like' whatever you want, pay whatever amount you want. The only restriction is that you register with a minimum of Eur 2, per month. Not much. You'll hardly feel it. Second, for someone who's creating really good content out there, even the 1 cent contributions can add up !! And finally, for those of us who come across something really cool, it's a nice way of showing appreciation. This says you really like it. Not like the stupid Facebook 'Like' button (some of the things that people like.... don't get me started ) !!

I know, the obvious thing, why pay the creator when he/she has knowingly put up the content for free? I don't know!! But the fact is that we aren't always logical. I've often felt so relieved at finding the right figures/analysis while searching for data for reports in the MBA, I wouldn't mind crediting 5-10 cents to the content creator, say 'you're a lifesaver, dude !!'.

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Buy Low, Sell High

Some time towards the end of last term, one item popped up on our calendars- CIA debriefing.
No, our 'intelligent' class has nothing to do with the 'intelligence' agency. We were up for 'Change In Action' (CIA), something that we'll be doing for a week after every term's exams.

The best part of the entire CIA sequence was an oil-trading game we played. Basically, we were all given ten million Euros to spend in an online simulation. We had to invest a million at a time, based on some vague news clips, and at the end of it, we got to see whether our investment made money or tanked.

This was the most fun Demand-Supply example in economics, ever !!
Buy low, sell high !!

Needless to say, it became a race to the top. Everybody made more money than they lost. Not surprising, a friend of mine who was a trader before his MBA made the most!! He wasn't a commodities trader, so he had no undue advantage over the rest of us, but that doesn't matter. The "trader's attitude" did it!!

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Over and Out !!

We're done !! Done with the first term, 5-6 subjects, and a whole lot of fun. The exams were just the way I prefer, quick, short tests, one each day, for five days. No need to learn any formulae, no mugging... just go write down whatever you could retain from class!!

An exam can tell you a lot about what a professor thinks about the class. If he/she treat you like adults, you'll be asked to think, if not, it'll just be rote application of the 3Ps of marketing, formulae for NPV or some such nonsense. Thankfully, none of this stuff happened. Only thinking. Analysis. Much respect!!

PS: Financial Accounting was the exception. Straight out of the book, like in school. But I think that was just out of pity for the class, ha ha.

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