Dr. Vijaypat Singhania 49th ANNUAL REPORT 2010-11 , Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad CONTENTS THE YEAR IN RETROSPECT .....................................................................1 ACADEMIC PROGRAMMES .....................................................................6 Post-Graduate Programme in Management (PGP) ......................................... 6 Post-Graduate Programme in Agri-Business Management .............................. 9 Post-Graduate Programme in Management for Executives (PGPX) ................ 11 Fellow Programme In Management ............................................................ 11 Placement................................................................................................ 12 Convocation ............................................................................................ 14 Faculty Development Programme in Management ....................................... 15 Gold Medalists 1966-2010 ......................................................................... 16 RESEARCH AND PUBLICATIONS ........................................................17 MANAGEMENT DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES ...........................19 INTERDISCIPLINARY CENTRES AND GROUPS ...............................20 Centre for Electronic Governance ............................................................... 20 Centre for Infrastructure Policy and Regulation ........................................... 20 Centre for Innovation, Incubation, and Entrepreneurship ............................ 21 Centre for Management in Agriculture ....................................................... 24 Centre for Management of Health Services ................................................ 25 Centre for Retailing .................................................................................. 26 Computer and Information Systems Group ................................................ 26 Gender Resource Centre ........................................................................... 27 Public Systems Group .............................................................................. 27 Ravi J. Matthai Centre for Educational Innovation ....................................... 29 DISCIPLINARY AREAS ............................................................................30 Business Policy ......................................................................................... 30 Communication ........................................................................................ 31 Economics ............................................................................................... 32 Finance And Accounting ............................................................................ 32 Marketing ................................................................................................ 33 Organizational Behaviour ......................................................................... 34 Personnel And Industrial Relations ............................................................. 35 Production And Quantitative Methods ........................................................ 36 ALUMNI CENTRE ACTIVITIES ..............................................................37 GOLDEN JUBILEE CELEBRATION ........................................................40 GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP AND CORPORATE AFFAIRS ...................42 GRANT-IN-AID ..........................................................................................44 INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT ...................................................45 PERSONNEL ...............................................................................................46 STUDENT ACTIVITIES .............................................................................48 VIKRAM SARABHAI LIBRARY ..............................................................54 WELFARE ACTIVITIES .............................................................................56 APPENDICES ..............................................................................................59 Board of Governors Chairman Dr. Vijaypat Singhania Members Smt. Vibha Puri Das Shri S.K. Ray Dr. Pushpito K. Ghosh Shri A.K. Joti Shri Hasmukh Adhia Prof. S.S. Mantha Shri Sanjay S. Lalbhai Shri Chintan N. Parikh Dr. Hasit Joshipura Shri Ashank Desai Shri Sunil Bharti Mittal Dr. Amrita Patel Ms. Rama Bijapurkar Shri Noel N. Tata Shri Kewal Handa Shri N.C. Vasudevan Prof. Rakesh Basant Prof. Prem Pangotra Shri Manvinder Singh Professor Samir K Barua (Vindi) Banga ThE YEAR iN RETROSPECT In the midst of the economic crisis, the Institute demonstrated significant resilience due to policy initiatives taken to deal with the situation. The year in fact marked a turning point in the financial situation of the Institute. I am happy to report that through pru- dent management of costs and generation of opportunities to earn surplus, for the first time, the Institute achieved operating surplus in 2011, after fully funding the pension liability of the Institute. This was achieved despite increase in the actuarial value of the pension liability by about 60% to Rs.860 million (due to sixth pay commission’s recom- mendations) by the end of 2011. No individual drawing pension from the Institute now needs to worry about inability of the Institute to pay pension. The Two-year Post-Graduate Programmes While continuing its dominant position as the most coveted post-graduate programme in management in the country, the Institute’s flagship programme, the two-year Post- Graduate Programme in Management (PGP), achieved the unique distinction in 2010- 11 of becoming the first post-graduate programme in management from India to be ranked at number 8 in the prestigious global ranking of Masters Programmes in Man- agement by Financial Times (FT). The year witnessed the completion of implementation of the final phase of expansion related to the OBC quota. I am happy to report that unlike some other IIMs, the Institute had planned and created the requisite facilities for increased batch size. The expansion of facilities for lodging and boarding as well as expansion of capacity of classrooms were completed in time to accommodate larger cohorts. Dealing with the rapid expansion of the batch size has been a challenge. In addition to the increased numbers, the change in the composition of the batch is an issue that the Institute will have to deal with going forward. Some concerted thinking is needed to alter suitably the manner of conducting the programme so as to ensure that the quality of delivery of the programme is maintained. The Institute’s academic programme in the agriculture sector, the two-year Post-Gradu- ate Programme in Agri-Business Management (PGP-ABM), also witnessed a significant increase in size due to OBC quota related expansion. Issues relating to agriculture and livelihood of agrarian societies have taken centre-stage in global dialogue on the future of mankind. The programme is in need of re-design to align it with the emerging issues in the sector. 2 FORTY-NINTH ANNUAL REPORT 2010-11 The Fellow Programme in Management Pending a comprehensive review, several policy initiatives were taken during the year to strengthen the doctoral programme of the Institute, the Fellow Programme in Man- agement (FPM). A major concern about the programme has been that the extremely resource intensive programme is funded entirely by the Institute. Based on a stated commitment by the government, the Institute has submitted a proposal to the govern- ment for funding the doctoral programme. Increasing the size of the programme will be difficult without outside funding for the programme. There have been proposals, especially from alumni, to admit external candidates to the programme who may be asked to pay fee for being permitted to pursue their doctorate. This option needs to be given serious consideration since expanding the programme in such a manner by the Institute and other management schools is perhaps the only solu- tion to deal with the increasing shortage of management teachers. The One-Year Post-Graduate Programme for Executives The post-experience one-year Post-Graduate Programme in Management for Execu- tives (PGPX) added another feather in its cap in 2010-11 by becoming the first from India to be ranked at number 11 in the prestigious global ranking of MBA programmes by Financial Times (FT). The quality of applications received by the programme continues to be high. It contin- ues to be comparable, if not better, than those for cohorts of the best business schools globally. The Institute completed a comprehensive review of the programme with a view to enhancing the effectiveness of the delivery of the programme. Changes in the design of the programme are being implemented. The Faculty Development Programme In the year 2010-11, the four-month Faculty Development Programme (FDP) of the In- stitute attracted ten management teachers from Ethiopia. This was the first time the programme attracted participation from another country. There is clearly scope for internationalizing this programme as India in general and IIMA in particular is well positioned to train teachers in management. The programme design needs a review so as to achieving more tangible academic output from the participants in the programme while they are at the Institute. Management Development Programmes The Institute continued its domination in executive education. The year witnessed con- tinued expansion in demand for executive education. The Institute conducted over