LE01

Breaking the ice

Before joining NITIE, how many of us would have seen a video in the classroom, a video which itself is a satire on the conventional education system? Probably none of us. Choreographing such a unique introduction to a course requires prior thinking and planning. After this class, I am sure that I have begun at the right place i.e. NITIE.

An experiment never experimented

All of us have graduated from reputed engineering colleges and prior to that have gone to decent schools. Starting from class ninth, we all have performed n number of experiments related to all three basic branches of science i.e. physics, chemistry and biology. I wonder if we remember any one experiment which was done without the help of lab manuals. At least I haven't done any. This question hit me when I saw toys made by students and a few laymen also in the class which required no complicated experiments to be performed in the laboratory, but simple application of our common sense, creativity and some basic understanding of science. Then I realised what do we mean by an 'experiment'. It is not a tutored process to be followed in laboratories. Rather, it is an attempt to create something based on our learning.

Man, money and means

"Lack of money is root of all evil" is a famous quote by Mark Twain. Money is required not only for survival but also to earn respect from others and from ourselves. Money brings along with itself confidence, a sense of freedom, securities and exemptions. It is imperative to earn money for ourselves and for people who depend on us. Sometimes we become so engrossed in our personal pursuits that we fail to understand that we are becoming parasite of a man.

"Aak ki roti, aaj hi kamana" was an eyeopener for us. We were all filled with a sense of guilt somewhere deep inside our hearts. But as good intentions are not enough, this guilt also needs to be vented out and a mature planning needs to be done about how we are going to chase our dreams without becoming a liability on the society.

Only a few of us come from business families. Majority of us constitute that consumer group which looks at value for money whenever they buy any product. We spend each penny of our budget with utmost care. The short video of 'Mandi' gave us a glimpse of actual market scenario and compelled us to think how difficult it is to market and sell any product. The classroom learning equips us with the basic fundas and theories but these are not enough to make us proficient in the art of selling. We need hands on experience as well and 'mandi' is an excellent initiative in this direction. The art of convincing can be mastered only when we actually go on the streets and interact with the customers directly.

Goals: fun while learning 

A famous author says "Goals are the fuel in the furnace of achievement". Goals shape up the future of an individual or an organisation. Whenever we talk about goal setting in business environment, we first find out whether it is Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Timebound i.e. SMART. Only a smart goal can serve its purpose. To make us understand the concept of SMART goals, Dr. Mandi invited us for a class activity 'Building the tower'. Three students volunteered and each of the three stepped into the shoes of an engineer, team leader and higher management. The goal of building a tower of cubes was first examined to have the SMART characteristics. The activity ended on a high note. Apart from goals, we also learned how an organisation undertakes a task and how the management works together to complete it successfully.

Thinking out of the box

The whole experience of the class was an enriching one. The bottom line of all activities done in the class was that we should step out of our comfort zones and start thinking on unconventional lines. We need to broaden our perspectives and take ownership of all our deeds. We look forward to more such classes that focus on our overall development, teaches us management fundas and also inspire us to evolve as better human beings. 

Kiran

PGDIM-19

Sec B, Roll No. 76