Professor S Krishna of IIM Bangalore conceived the Global Strategy and Management Academy (GSM Academy), a non-profit trust in 2012, to address the need for education in global strategies and management skills in new-age global managers, CEOs and entrepreneurs. In an talk with FE?s Abhishek Chakraborty, Krishna says there is a dearth in the knowledge as the business environment is getting global and the GSM Academy can address the exigent knowledge gap. Excerpts:
What was the need for establishing GSM Academy?
GSM Academy is an organisation with a focus on research and education on globalisation and management. The academy draws on a network of researchers, academicians, business schools and companies worldwide for undertaking research projects and management education. Globalisation of economic and business systems originated in trade and marketing. With advances in technology and management, manufacturing and services have been globalised. More recently, R&D and innovation are also increasingly globally structured. Globalisation of these vital business activities offers major opportunities and also challenges to organisations worldwide.
Research has shown that despite volatility of economic systems, globalisation has continued to develop. Advances in technology, together with increasing interdependence of economic systems, will ensure that globalised businesses and systems will be increasingly dominant in the future.
How can these courses help the top-level executives?
Traditional MBA curriculum on competitiveness, organisation design, marketing and other subjects largely limits itself to national boundaries. Managing globally has complexities beyond conventional classroom-based teaching. The opportunities and challenges of global business management creates a need for managers educated with the right blend of classroom, onsite and online education.
Is this programme accepted/recognised globally?
Advanced management programmes are focused on education of senior managers and are offered by few business schools worldwide. Universities associated with the programme?UCLA and SDA Bocconi?are rated among top 50 global management schools. None of the schools in India are rated within the first 300. As such, students will have certificates recognised not only in India but globally too.
What has been the impact of the programme?
The thing is that the executive students who join advanced management programmes have already been successful in their careers and are looking for education which will help them reach top levels. We have received feedback from many such students that their objectives are very well met. In many cases, they have acknowledged promotions, change of responsibilities and other advancement.
Is there any such course available in India?
The course is unique in terms of learning for senior managers and entrepreneurs with advanced courses not offered in executive programmes of business schools in India.