Last week, Delhi NCR-based Indian School of Development Management (ISDM) hosted the Dialogues on Development Management, to discuss the role of development management in building a developed India.
Ashish Dhawan, founder patron of the ISDM, and Ravi Sreedharan, president & co-founder, told FE that like business management and public administration have changed private and public sectors, we need to focus on the field of ‘development management’ for the social sector, and that it should be seen by young India as a career, just like MBA.
What is it?
Development management is tailored specifically for social purpose organisations – nonprofits that use traditional business activities to achieve their social missions. It recognises the unique needs of the social sector and sets it apart from traditional management practices.
Where to study?
While the ISDM runs the 11-month Post Graduate Programme in Development Management (PGP-DM), it’s now being taught by some universities and B-schools also – the SP Jain Institute of Management and Research runs the 12-month PGPDM, and the IIHMR University has the two-year MBA (Development Management).
Is it a career?
Dhawan – whose life can be traced as someone who moved from MBA to development management, as he is also the co-founder of Ashoka University and Central Square Foundation – said that India needs thousands of people who can solve complex societal problems, and that implies there is a career waiting to be explored. “But this career is usually for people who want a sense of personal fulfilment, want to solve societal problems, or feel a moral responsibility due to their advantageous circumstances,” he said.
Sreedharan added: “Those students who choose us over an MBA are very passionate about social change; a high-paying job isn’t something that excites them. They are excited by something that makes a difference to the society. That’s why we see them coming from different socioeconomic strata, different geographies, even different age groups.”
What about salaries?
Sreedharan said salaries are becoming better. A fresh graduate from the ISDM is today commanding anywhere from Rs 7-8 lakh per annum, to upwards of Rs 15 lakh in some cases – which is among the highest in the social sector. Some NGOs, nonprofits, national and international agencies, and social enterprises – in the fields of healthcare, education, poverty alleviation, environmental sustainability, etc – are very good paymasters.
Why not just an MBA?
While an MBA graduate from a good B-school will most likely earn a better salary that a graduate from a school such as the ISDM, a career in development management can have its own benefits.
– Expansive opportunities in the social sector, as people can find jobs in fundraising, digital marketing, management, advocacy, research, and content creation;
– Job satisfaction in an era where meaningful work, work-life balance, and fair compensation are becoming paramount;
– Development management is open to professionals from diverse backgrounds – doctors, lawyers, engineers, artists, accountants;
– There is a rising demand for social sector professionals – unlike the fluctuating demand for MBAs (which is subject to market conditions).