A Lean Approach to Improve Course Curriculum of MBA

Abstract

Application of a lean approach to continuously improve PGDM (or MBA) course curriculum at a private higher management institute has helped in creating more value for recruiters. Diversity of students, faculty, courses; time pressure to pack more than 30 courses with five months of projects, examinations, extra curricular activities; meeting expectations of students and recruiters, all these could be managed by critically examining all non value adding activities and, if possible, eliminating them or reducing their impact. Based on the eight characteristics of lean system namely, Upgrade and maintain consistent high quality, Organize problem solving groups, Eliminate unnecessary steps (wastes), Standard work methods, Clarify process flows, Flexible workers, Responsive supplier network, and Good housekeeping, value adding activities were incorporated and activities that were adding only costs (not value for the customers) were either restricted or completely eliminated. Improved quality of placements measured by the increase in highest, average and lowest salary level of four batches of students confirmed the positive outcome of the continuous improvement process. Also, there is a marked decline in the number of recruiting companies required for a lot of 100 students. In the first phase the approach of making lean was successfully applied to courses in operations management area. Now it is extended to all courses in PGDM (or MBA).

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