Tapan Rayaguru tells SHAlINI SAKSENA that in order to be a good leader, it is vital that the professional is open to learning from every possible source
How does one combine lecturing with guidance to develop working skillsIJ
In order to be an effective leader the professional must be open to learning from every possible source which comes hidden from peers, subordinates, family, small kids, role models alike. The issue with lecturing is exactly that. leadership, however, is one of learning from experiences of ones own and that of others. While fundamental principles of leadership can be learnt as theory, the true appreciation and ability to apply that in the real world of business is heavily dependent on the ability to assimilate the knowledge and relate it to real issues at the workplace.
Why is there so much emphasis on practical than on traditional learningIJ
The traditional method works well in pure sciences where there is only one truth; the lecturer is an established authority on the subject and the student has no knowledge/experience in the subject being discussed. When it comes to managerial/business/leadership learning, the key is to be able to apply the theory in real world situations that needs emphasis on the practical way of learning.
Why is it that our institutes are unable to amalgamate practical with classroom teaching more effectivelyIJ
Majority of our management institutes are moulded in the traditional education. What is unfortunate is that most of the professors while good at theoretical knowledge have never been inside the four walls of a corporate and have very limited ability to relate to the situation of the participant where that theoretical knowledge needs to be applied.
What is the solution to bridge the gapIJ
One of the solutions is to bring in more leaders from the industry to teach from their experiences. It would be a great idea if our present professors can spend some time working for real businesses. Of course, the traditional theoretical learning can continue as support but the key is for the traditional education industry being more open to new pedagogy and leveraging of technology to ensure effective learning.
There is talk about innovative pedagogy and technology as a solution. What does it entailIJ
What we need to admit is that the pedagogy should be chosen based on the student profile and the subject being taught. The pedagogy must allow for sufficient debate, discussion and relating to real world problems. Solving this problem cements the learning for everyone as they have seen theories in action helping solve business problems.
Technology has transformed our lives. We use enterprise quality webinar platforms that allow for two-way video, audio, chat, use of whiteboards etc. There is really no need to travel physically into a classroom. This technology gives students access to industry leaders from all over the world who can now make time since there is no time consuming travel required to share their experiences.
What are some of the macro environmental forces at work that make it imperative that we changeIJ
Our lives are getting more easy and complicated at the same time with abundance of technology. Information is available easily and knowledge is free. What one really needs to work on is how to assimilate that knowledge so that it can become a skill that can be applied at work to get a job done better.
How difficult will it be to redesign an MBA moduleIJ
To re-imagine an MBA with concepts like problem-based learning, hybrid mode of delivery and flexible course design are difficult to achieve.
A word of advise to the future leaders.
Be very hungry for knowledge and invest in your future.