My MBA Makes Me See the Big Picture

Blog contribution by Kumaran Mahendran, MBA 2009 (Cohort 3)

On the verge of graduating from a Masters in Business Administration from the Asian Institute of Management, I try to walk back memory lane to reflect on the changes that this course has brought about in me, both, in my thought process and my outlook on life. I find that my analytical skills have improved as a result of the case study methodology, I have learnt to manage my time better and most importantly I am able to see the “Big Picture”.

Prior to starting out on my MBA, my view was limited to my job description and I was almost like a horse with blinders following the direction charted out for me by my immediate manager. I never did question any of the actions that I carried out and never bothered to really understand the underlying reasons for any organization wide change.

I never thought of questioning any of the actions I carried out neither did I see the link to the broad strategic goals of the organization or the external environmental factors in the global economy. I was a very diminutive part of the organization. Today, I can confidently say that my outlook has changed drastically as I am able to look much beyond the boundaries of my job description and also the organization and analyze the reasons for companies to behave the way they do – be it due to internal factors such as the culture and values of the organization or external factors such as economic indicators and market dynamics.

Another factor that has greatly benefited me has been the 360 degree approach to learning that is enabled by the Case study methodology at AIM. This methodology puts us in the shoes of CEOs and Managers of various corporations from around the globe and helps us to analyze the reasons why they have chosen to go the path they did or to learn from the mistakes that they have made. This coupled with the fact that the case-rooms are always lively with discussions from a diverse set of students from various geographies, cultures, job functions and mindsets has brought a wide variety of perspectives into my way of thinking. Now, when I am faced any issue, I find that I am able to analyze the situation better and come up with better solutions. I have also learnt that no individual is greater than the team.

Time Management is a simple yet hardly practiced tool and the MBA Program has helped me manage my time better. It has taught me to prioritize tasks and plan out my action plan towards achieving those tasks. The MBA Program at AIM is not called a “Boot Camp” without any reason. We are pushed to our maximum to reveal our capacity to endure and function with maximum output.

This article was featured in the November issue of Management Systems Asia. Click here to download online version.