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To focus on new and emerging areas of research and education, Centres of Excellence have been established within the Institute. These ‘virtual' centres draw on resources from its stakeholders, and interact with them to enhance core competencies

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Faculty members at IIMB generate knowledge through cutting-edge research in all functional areas of management that would benefit public and private sector companies, and government and society in general.

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IIMB Management Review

Journal of Indian Institute of Management Bangalore

IIM Bangalore offers Degree-Granting Programmes, a Diploma Programme, Certificate Programmes and Executive Education Programmes and specialised courses in areas such as entrepreneurship and public policy.

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About IIMB

The Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB) believes in building leaders through holistic, transformative and innovative education

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A View of Business Schools from Silicon Valley

Volume 19, Number 3 Article by Nirvikar Singh and Kyle Eischen September, 2007

Lost, Dysfunctional or Evolving? A View of Business Schools from Silicon Valley :

Recent critical articles have rekindled discussions around the direction and relevance of US business schools. There are two distinct viewpoints. On the one hand, business schools are considered overly focused on ‘scientific research’ and having lost their connection to ‘real world’ issues. On the other, they are considered ‘dysfunctionally’ focused on media rankings and superficial marketing fixes. A study of the educational opportunities and workforce development in Silicon Valley undertaken by Nirvikar Singh and Kyle Eischen offers insights into why management education finds itself in this contradiction and how it may evolve.

Both types of critique correctly identify the core challenge of management programmes as preparing managers for a globalised world. However, they misdiagnose why programmes are unable to move in this direction. It is possible that management schools, while providing valuable scientific research and being responsive to their core clientele, are also simultaneously unable to meet the needs of certain sectors of the economy that are at the cutting edge of global transformations. This is the value of a ‘deep dive’ into management education from a Silicon Valley viewpoint. The findings of the study indicate that business schools face structural, content, and programme shifts. Business programmes are seen as doing a good job of educating their students in core functional areas and processes, but doing less well in teaching interpersonal skills, real-time decision-making, recognition of contexts, and integration across functional areas. These are increasingly the skills demanded by the globalised business environment, which is characterised by greater technological complexity and workforce and workplace diversity. These challenges require business schools to build upon what they do well, while innovating to serve new business and student needs. Given the management and technological needs of the leading sectors in India, the insights emerging from the study are of relevance to Indian business schools as well.

Reprint No 07309