B-Schools - Only Preach, No Practice

Business schools have ceratinly grown in number and also in terms of what they offer to students. They have emerged as good brand builders. Their brand building is unfortunately, focused outwards and rarely inwards. The way these schools are being run is in complete contrast to what is taught in the class.

I have tried to analyze answers to some of the problems plaguing the teaching fraternity out of my own experiences as a teacher.

1. I have come across many surveys by top magazines in India trying to find the sought after jobs by the youth. Teaching is never an option. Is somthing wrong with the youth? Are they only motivated by salaries? Yes (for a few,teaching is a part of their retirement plans).The pay packet is in no way comparable to that in the industry.

It might be argued that teaching is tension-free job. Not any more. B-schools want their teachers to teach, publish, involve in research, offer consultancy, conduct training progs and perform other mundane jobs involved in teaching.

2. Attrition rates- Most of the B-schools are in cities or in the suburbs. So the costs of living in a city does not compensate their income. Hence job hopping is very high. The best part is schools are not doing anything to contain such high attrition rates. Either they do not want to address the issue or they are too dumb to see the problem.

3. Motivation - Schools think that only salaries motivate employees. But this is not what they teach. They preach New Economy and practice Old Economy.

4. Appraisal - Schools only look at Student appraisals while, it is taught that 360 degree appraisal and self appraisal methods are the best.

5. Only one thing that is followed to the last word is the 80/20 rule: 80% of the work gets done by 20% of the people.

On the whole, the human element is missing.