Making of managers

Staying abreast of the changing dynamics of industry is the foremost requirement of good managers today, writes Malobika Sengupta

As Corporate India surges ahead at breakneck speed, the need for strong management has become more important than ever before. As the management function evolves, most managers must understand the external and competitive pressures that might arise. Likewise, they must be well aware of the changes, technological advancements and the latest developments that might change their business, the inputs, the processes, and the outputs of their teams. To be abreast of the changing dynamics of industry is the foremost requirement of a good manager today.

What was said about great men, I would say for great managers: they do not do extraordinary things, rather they believe in doing ordinary things extraordinarily. Good managers are the ones who are aware of various ways in which they can contribute to the organisation’s growth and are determined to work towards it. They should fulfill four major functions: planning, organising, leading and controlling.

They who empower

Managers have a key role to play in planning the future trajectory of any company. They should be very clear about the plan of action, goals that they want to achieve in a set period of time, ways of getting there and most importantly how they are going to use their workforce to achieve the objective. Managerial efficiency is directly proportional to the output generated by their team. They should be able to push the envelope without overstressing the team. Remember, good managers are those who empower their employees.

They who deliver

While undertaking a major task managers must be clear about how any task is related to the bigger picture and what the expectations and deliverables are. That way they can organise the team to work in a particular direction. They have to recommend ways in which the project can be done, best specifying at the same time that they are recommendations and not rules. The deadline must be mentioned in clear terms and also the reason behind why it is so. No matter how brilliant their vision may be, it is the result that counts.

They who lead

That managers have to be good leaders is stating the obvious. But how do you lead is the monumental question? To be effective leaders they need to regularly analyse themselves and locate areas where they can improve. Good leaders always work to improve their leadership skills instead of resting on their laurels. Prioritising work and ensuring that each person in the team has equal work and responsibility is very important. Nothing can be as toxic as favoritism in the workplace. Each member of the team has a specific role to perform and should be treated with due respect and dignity. Good leaders are made and not born.

All of the above will be nothing more than the labour of Sisyphus if managers cannot control their team. Controlling not in terms of stifling the team, but ensuring that work is completed on the said date and that the quality of work is not compromised upon. Involve the team in every part of a project and understand their key strengths. Correct them when they are wrong, it is important for them to understand that their contribution to the project is being observed. Good managers are good team players too.

Action-oriented, ethical, enthusiastic, flexible and able to deal with ambiguities are other attributes that managers should develop. Great managers are the ones who challenge the existing complacency and who are prepared to lead their teams forward towards a vision. They are the ones who recognise problems, seize opportunities, and create their own future. Ultimately, they are the ones who stop to think where they want to go and then have the elan to set out in that direction.

— The writer is the CEO, WLC College India

Career Hotline
Legally bond
Pervin Malhotra

Q. Can you please tell me something about IPR practice and suggest a few courses?

A. There are barely 1,000 practicing patent professionals in the country. According to a NASSCOM report, 33 per cent of the IP demand is from the Knowledge Process Outsourcing [KPO] sector. According to a McKinsey report, the market demand for IP professionals is likely to touch 15,000 in the next three years.

The study and application of Intellectual Property Laws has gained further momentum due to the IT and entertainment revolution and globalization of the business environment. The importance and goodwill of a brand in the modern scenario has driven the demand for registering Trademarks and Patents.

Anyone pursuing law can opt for IPR as a specialization during the final year of LLB.

Practicing advocates and Company Secretaries can also practice as trademark agents. A practicing lawyer can also practice patenting.

Non-lawyers need to acquire the IPR qualification to practice trademarks by giving a one-day exam and viva at the Trademark office.

Similarly, you need to take a one-day exam at the Patent Office to be eligible to practice Patenting.

Patenting being a somewhat techno-legal area, you also need the basic skill of writing patents, which is honed only by experience.

You can either top up a Bachelor’s in Law with a degree in IP Law or if you have expertise in a given domain, that too can be topped up with a qualification in IP Law.

You could check out some of the following courses:

National Law University, Jodhpur (Raj) www.nlujodhpur.ac.in)

Course: Master’s Degree in IPR; PG Diploma in IPR Laws (Dist)

Amity Law School, Delhi (www.amity.org)

Delhi University, Department of Law, (www.du.ac.in) Diploma in IPR.

FICCI Institute of Intellectual Property Development, New Delhi. Course: PG Dip in Intellectual Property Management Admin & Law (6-mth, evn). Recog by MHRD. Elig: Bachelor’s degree (any). Ph: 2378760-70 (extn 316/368)

The Global Institute of Intellectual Property [GIIP] has tied-up with the

University of Washington’s Centre for Advanced Studies & Research on Intellectual Property [CASRIP] to offer an Advance Certificate Programme on Patent & Intellectual Property.

The programmes are offered through Software Technology Group (STG) training centres in Delhi, Bangalore, Kolkata and Mumbai. IGNOU & Queensland University of

Technology Australia, are jointly developing an online course on Intellectual Property Rights. The two-year master programme will be a unique course and it will aim at developing knowledge, awareness and practical skills in Intellectual Property Rights. The course will commence from January next year.

Distance learning

— Prerna Kaushik

A. Working teachers who have completed their B. Ed can opt for M. Ed from January, 2008, through distance learning offered by various institutions/universities approved by the Distance Education Council (DEC).

The DCE and the National Council for Teachers Education (NCTE) have joined hands to develop a national-level curriculum for the MEd programme.

More than 30 universities offer M. Ed (DE) courses. I am listing a few of them in north India for you:

Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) www.ignou.ac.in

Barkatullah Vishwavidyalaya, Bhopal-462026

Himachal Pradesh University, International Centre for Distance Education & Open Learning, Shimla-171005 (http://hpuniv.nic.in)

Vardhaman Mahaveer University, Akelgarh, Kota (Raj) (www.vmoukota.com)

Kurukshetra University, Directorate of Distance Education (www.kukinfo.com)

Maharshi Dayanand University, Directorate of Distance Education, Rohtak 124001 (Har) MEd (2-year Corresp)

Nalanda Open University, Patna (Bih)

Panjab University, Department of Correspondence Studies, Chandigarh 160014 (www.puchd.ac.in)

Punjabi University, Department of Correspondence Studies, Patiala 147002 (www.universitypunjabi.org)

University of Jammu, Directorate of Distance Education, Jammu (J&K)

University of Kashmir, Centre of Distance Education, Hazratbal, Srinagar 19006

For further details, log on to the website or write to Director, Department of Distance Education of the respective universities or the Distance Education Council (DEC).www.dec.ac.in .

You could also get the relevant information on www.ncte-in.org which is the website of the National Council for Teacher Education which governs all education in this field.

Art of working

Q. I want to do Master’s of Fine Art (MFA) in Applied Arts by correspondence. Can you please suggest some universities?

— Vibha Goel

A. Leaving aside the merits or demerits of studying art (that too, Applied) through correspondence, you could check out the following options:

Jiwaji University, Institute of Distance Education, Gwalior (www.idejug.org ) offers MA in Drawing & Painting. Madurai Kamraj University, Directorate of Distance Education, Madurai (TN) (www.mkuniversity.org )

MFA (Master of Fine Arts), M.Sc. in Visual Communication

SNDT Women’s University, Centre for Distance Education, Sir Vithaldas Vidyavihar, Juhu Road, Santacruz (W), Mumbai 400049 (www.sndt.digitaluniversity.ac.in) offers MA in Fine Arts with specialisation in Art & Painting (2-year).

Guru Nanak Dev University, Centre for Distance Education, Amritsar offers a PG Diploma in Commercial Art (1-yr) www.gndu.ac

Sikkim Manipal University, Gangtok (www.miteindia.com) offers PG Diploma in Graphics & Animation (1-yr)

Heart of the matter

Q. Can you please tell me something about the scope of perfusion technology? I have done B.Sc nursing.

— Harpreet Chaddha

A. A perfusionist is a skilled and qualified allied health professional who works as a member of an open-heart surgery team, responsible for the selection, set-up, and operation of a heart-lung machine and other life support systems such as artificial lungs, lABP LVAD, RVAD, & ECMO.

Clinical perfusionists are required to operate circulation equipment when it becomes necessary to temporarily and artificially replace the patient’s circulatory or respiratory functions. They also control the patient’s body temperature during surgery.

The perfusionist ensures blood supply to each cell during an open-heart surgery even when the heart and lungs are not functioning. The removal of carbon-dioxide from and addition of oxygen to the blood takes place through the machine when blood is pumped through it. This enables surgeons to make necessary cardiac repair. Understandably, this is a highly specialised job that requires total dedication.

Where to study:

AIIMs, New Delhi offers MSc Perfusion Tech. Elig: BSc Biol/Perfusion Tech

CMC, Vellore (TN) (www.cmch-vellore.edu) PG Diploma in Perfusion Tech (1-year)

ISECT (Indian Society of Extra Corporeal Technologists), Vadodara (Guj)

JNTU, Guntur (AP) offers PG Diploma in Perfusion at Yashodha College of Nursing, Hyderabad

Nizam Institute of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad (AP).

Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, (Kar) www.rguhs.ac.in: offers BSc PerfusionTech (Fr Muller Med College, Mangalore 575002; Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Belgaum 500001, St John’s Medical College, Bangalore 560034, Narayana Hrudayalaya Institute of Medical Sciences, Bangalore www.hrudayalaya.com). Elig: PUC with PCB (50 pc)

SV Medical College, Tirupathi

Sri Chitra Tirunal Institute of Medical Sc & Tech, Thiruvananthapuram 695 011 (Ker) (www.sctimst.ac.in/academic/allprogram.htm+perfusion

PG Diploma in Clinical Perfusion (2-yrs). Elig: GNM (+ 1-yr wk ex)/ BSc. Nursing.

KEM Hospital, Mumbai (Mah) Diploma in Extra Corporeal Perfusion Technology (1-year) Elig: BSc

You can find jobs in speciality / super speciality hospitals like Apollo, Escorts, Wockhardt, Fortis etc.

Managing malaria

Q. I want to become a health and malaria inspector. What are the requirements and from where can I do it?

— Beena Gautam

A. The Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs), of the respective Zonal Railways / Production Units under the Ministry of Railways, GoI, recruit Health & Malaria Inspectors Gr. III in the Pay Scale of: Rs. 5500-9000. Age: 18-33. The eligibility is a BSc (Chemistry) plus 1-year course in Health/Sanitary Inspector. Candidates usually undergo 6-months of training upon joining.

Selection is on the basis of a written/online exam To know more about the vacancies, eligibility and selection procedure for this and all the other different jobs in the Indian Railways, please refer to Rozgar Samachar or Employment News, wherein vacancies in different zones are advertised through the respective notifications. This information is also available on the websites of respective RRBs (there are 19 of them).

The writer is a noted career consultant

Please send in your query, preferably on a postcard, along with your full name, complete address and academic qualifications to: Editor, Jobs and Careers, The Tribune, Sector 29, Chandigarh-160030, or at careers@tribunemail.com

Genius is superior attitude to work
I.M. Soni

Hard work fuses images of past experience into new combinations. It is the basis of invention, art of scientific discovery. Marconi hardly took time to eat. A large number of youngsters now in cushy positions in many professions, degree/diploma holders in journalism have reached the top, roughing and sweating it out.

Social networking sites new media for hiring

Social networking sites are no more just hang-out places as corporates, faced with talent shortage, are seeing Facebook, Orkut and Myspace as a hunting ground for their hiring needs.

A significant number of people are using the social network sites for work-related tasks which include research on potential employees and generating new business, a report by global HR firm Manpower stated.

However, a majority is using these sites for personal reasons, with 83 per cent of people studied logging on to stay in touch with friends through them.

While 17 per cent use the sites to research for potential employers, 10 per cent for networking and generating new business and 17 per cent for other work-related reasons.

"Growth of this new medium is rapid. In future, due to huge Internet penetration and younger profile of our country expansion will further accelerate," Manpower India managing director Naresh Malhan said.

Experts believe in today's competitive world, it is important to target active as well as passive job seekers.

"About 30 per cent of the job market in the country is represented by passive job seekers, while about just 15-20 per cent are very active," HR service provider PeopleStrong CEO Pankaj Bansal said.

The passive market can be tapped through the networking sites such as Orkut and Facebook as people using it for personal reasons and not at present looking out for a new job may get attractive opportunities through the websites, Bansal said.

Technology is making it easier for companies to get to the population they want to get to, but they are not as adept as they need to be at finding the people they really want, Malhan said in a white paper on Technology Trends.

According to a separate Manpower report 'Virtual World of Work', use of social networking sites such as Facebook and Friends Reunited is the most popular among those under 35-year-old. About 74 per cent of those studied and aged 16-24 use such sites.

Some older people are also fans of these sites. One in five of those aged between 35-44 of age (19 per cent) and 21 per cent of those between 45-54 of age also make use of social networking sites.

The report also reveled that as the virtual world of work becomes increasingly attractive, people are expecting changes in the workplace over the next 10 years. The results reveals that 87 per cent think technology would play a bigger role in how people work.

About 85 per cent of those surveyed think people would hold more meetings via phone/Internet, while 81 per cent believe people would work from home on a more regular basis.

Around 78 per cent think it would limit their personal information available on the Internet because of concerns that companies would be able to access it, it said. — PTI

Australia's new visa policy allows students to work

There is a good news for Indian students who want to pursue their studies in Australia as new visa arrangements will allow them to work part-time in the country.

Listening to staff helps save over Rs 9 cr

Simply hearing out employees on what they feel about the company has helped public sector Rourkela Steel Plant make a one-time saving of Rs 9 crore, besides recurring savings of another Rs 9 crore last fiscal.

The company encouraged employees to share their views through an innovative 'Srujani Creativity Scheme' with a view to harnessing their ideas for improving the performance, RSP sources said.

Apart from the financial savings, the scheme has also brought about all round improvements in the process parameters, safety, quality, housekeeping and various other aspects, the sources said.

A record number of 11,131 suggestions were generated through the year, 9.74 per cent more than that of the previous year, RSP sources said today.

Out of these, 6,485 suggestions were given awards in 68 functions and 20 melas and cash prize of over Rs 7 lakh were distributed among the employees for this, the sources said. Prizes are given for acceptable suggestions, while cash awards are presented for those implemented. The employees contributing most under this scheme were awarded with 'Best Suggester' and 'Second Best Suggester Awards', while departments were being awarded with the Srujani Rolling Trophy every year. — PTI

Smart Skills
Wardrobe function
Usha Albuquerque

If you enjoy the thought of working with colours, fabrics, and fashion photographers, fashion design may be the ideal career for you. Today, more and more young people, both girls and boys, are seriously thinking of a career in fashion.

Fashion involves many careers related to the design, fabrication and marketing of clothing that is appealing and in step with the times. Fashion design itself, covers a variety of occupations, from those in textiles and finished garments to accessories, leather, footwear, jewellery, etc.

Young people getting into a career in fashion design are often unaware about the kind of work they will be doing, and confused about its scope and prospects. Fashion designers work in the clothing and apparel industry, creating new styles of clothing and accessories that are appealing to consumers. They are also responsible for the execution of their ideas and designs, coordinating with tailors and cutters, preparing final drawings for presentation, fabric selection and coordination of the lines, keeping the latest trends in mind.

Fashion design can cover not only stitched garments, but also textiles of all kinds, as well as designing of accessories, jewellery and even footwear. While most fashion designers design for the common man, with garments that are mass produced, a select few talented designers go into haute couture, producing a few exclusive designs which are displayed at select outlets, under the designer's personal label.

Fashion designers can also work in garment export organizations as merchandisers, or professionals who market clothes, and are required to make fabric selections, meet buyers and take decisions regarding design, colour and fabric, and keeping abreast of market trends. The designer also produces samples, procures raw materials and then ensures that the garments are produced according to the client’s requirements and the consignments reach the stores on time. Designers and merchandisers therefore require both, an eye for design as well as an instinct for what will sell. Fashion coordination is another area where a graduate in fashion design can find an opening. An export house recruits fashion coordinators who ensure that fabric and trimmings are of the correct shade, quality and design, keep production schedules, sort out day-to-day problems, meet with buyers and take decisions regarding fabric, colour and design.

Fashion designers can also specialize in textile designing creating woven, knitted or printed fabrics used for making clothes, curtains, upholstery, towels, carpets, lace and embroidery.

In the area of accessory/ jewellery design, various jewellery export houses and industries employ designers to design jewellery and other accessories. Jewellery designing is undertaken for costume jewellery and for precious jewellery. Other accessories designed could include shoes, bags, purses and belts, and the like.

As a fashion designer, you can work in a number of sectors. These broadly include:

Exports: This is a growing market in ready-made garments, textiles and accessories.

Textiles: Textiles include the processing and weaving of all yarn fabrics cotton, silk, wool or synthetics as well as machine embroideries, knitwear and lacemaking.

Ready-to-wear: Readymade garments include men's, women's and children's clothing and range from casual to formal wear.

Accessories: Accessories include handbags, shoes, jewellery, belts and scarves. Leather and silk items are in highest demand.

Saris: Saris were so far the preserve of our traditional handloom weavers and a few textile mills. However, some well known designers have now entered the field to put their own labels on the sari collections they develop.

Khadi & Handlooms: Now employ personnel in design and marketing positions, and maintain their own showrooms for their products.

Television & Film: Costume designing for theatre, films and television is another area that is gaining a lot of recognition today. Creating clothes to suit the characters in historical films, family dramas, soaps and the saas-bahu serials is attracting many of the new designers. Costume Designing involves study and research of the period and setting of the film, and of the characters portrayed.

In this creative field, intrinsic talent is a major pre-requisite. There are many successful designers today who have had no formal training. However, training hones a natural talent or flair for designing.

Candidates with a degree/ diploma in Fashion/ Textile/ Accessory Design can become Fashion Designers.

A working knowledge of computers and design specific applications is also important as today much of the designing is done through Computer Aided Design.

You can do fashion design after plus two and also after graduation. No particular subject discipline is required, but you do need to have some drawing ability, and an interest in fashion. Courses in Fashion Design courses are available at diploma and degree level at several universities as well as polytechnics and training institutes.

Most institutes have an entrance test to gauge the student’s ability and aptitude for fashion. Fashion design is a creative field which requires intrinsic artistic talent, creative sensibility and imagination coupled with a strong sense of colour, originality and an eye for detail.

The duration of courses in fashion design varies from 1 to 4 years. Most degree courses are of 3 - 4 years’ duration, while diploma courses are essentially of 2 years’ duration.

Among the most sought after fashion design schools is: the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) in New Delhi and its branches in Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Guwahati, Gandhinagar and Hyderabad. NIFT offers professional programmes at the graduate and undergraduate level in fashion design, apparel merchandising and marketing, garment manufacturing technology, accessory design and textile design, as well as certificate courses in knitwear and leather design and technology.

Fashion design and allied specializations are also offered at the Pearl Academy of Fashion, New Delhi, Apeejay Institute of Design, New Delhi, IILM School of Design, Gurgaon, SNDT College, Mumbai and at a few polytechnics, where diploma courses are usually of 1 to 2 years’ duration, offered at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

The National Institute of Design (NID), Ahmedabad, offers an intensive 4-year diploma course to students after plus two in textile and apparel design. NID also offers a two-and-a-half year PG diploma programmes in textile and apparel design to graduates from relevant specialisations.

Fashion design is one of the most sought after professions today, often for the wrong reasons. Fashion is not as glamorous a career as it might appear at first sight. It takes hard work and long hours and recognition may be slow in coming. However if you are creative and interested in the world of fashion, you can look forward to interesting work with established designers, in clothing or textile companies supplying the domestic or international market, or in export houses dealing with marketing or merchandising of garments.

With some years of experience you can also look forward to opening your own outlet or freelance for export or domestic companies.

Other jobs within the fashion industry include, fashion show choreography, fashion photography, or writing for fashion publications, or fashion publicity; and show-window dressing, which deals with decorating shop windows with garments to attract the attention of customers.

Today as the consumer market grows there is a rising demand for designers and there is no dearth of work for them. So if you have always dreamt of getting into Vogue magazine, or on Page3, and are prepared to handle time challenged darzis and embroiderers, then this is the time to fashion your own career.