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MBA STUDY TOUR TO INDIA, JANUARY 2005
Where it all started...
Prof. Mukul Gupta,
professor of Marketing in the MBA programme at the Management
Development Institute (MDI) in Gurgaon (a suburb and corporate hub
of Delhi) India visited the University of the Free State School of
Management in 2004. After a second visit by Prof. Gupta an agreement
was signed between the UFS and MDI. The School immediately wished to
undertake a MBA study tour to Gurgaon. Given the weather conditions
in India, it was recommended that we should visit India preferably
between January and March. We had to take the start of the academic
year also into account, and within 1 month the tour was arranged for
January this year.
MDI comprises more
than sixty nationally and internationally acclaimed full-time
faculty. A wide range of programmes are offered. Apart from the MBA,
many other management programmes are offered. MDI is also considered
to be one of the earliest and largest Schools for continuing
education in India.
The experience...
Once it became known
that an MBA study group is on its way to India, we got many remarks
such as: “What? India? Do you know what you are doing?” Without any
doubt it was an experience that will be remembered for many years to
come.
We attended lectures
at MDI of a very high quality, and visited Heroites (BPO centre),
MarutiSuzuki (a motor plant) and HeroHonda (a motorcycle plant, or
as motorcycles are known in India, two wheelers). HeroHonda
impressed every member of the group. The company does not have a
vision and a mission, but a mandate including the values of the
organization. Every 20 seconds HeroHonda delivers a two wheeler and
4 500 per day. They dominate the market for two wheelers in India
with forty percent of the market share.
Over-population and
traffic have a new meaning. One third of the world’s population
lives in India and China. Thirty percent of the Indian population
live below the poverty line. The per capita income in India is $400
per annum. However, no one can ignore the economic potential and
power created in India. According to the BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India
and China) report India will be the third largest economy in the
world by 2040.
One of the gems of
the Indian economy is the IT market, worth $19,60 billion.
Interestingly enough, they excel only in the services side of the IT
market. They are not present in the market for the development of
products. Only fourteen percent of the revenues in this market are
generated in India. They rely heavily on exports and the USA counts
for seventy percent of the IT exports.
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And the Taj Mahal...
The group was speechless when they saw the Taj, and we now
understand why it is one of the man-made wonders of the world.
Unfortunately the Taj is threatened by pollution, as is the rest
of India.
A
hint...
It is recommended that if India is considered to be a tourist
destination it is important to pay a visit to a travel agency
already experienced India.
Lastly, only sincere appreciation for the
professional service delivered by Johann Beukes and his team at
Sure Etnique Travel. |
PROF HELENA VAN ZYL
DIRECTOR
SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT
UNIVERSITY OF THE FREE STATE |
