At ISB, a few skills, I will surely add. But will the experience change me. The Prof who heads the Leadership Development Program mentions that trauma effects change and the ISB experience, because of its intensive nature, borders on trauma as its impact. But, is change really possible?

Many of us have met a lot of other members of the ISB community. But we chose as friends or mates who are more or less as we are. Or rather those who could empathize with our view point. Or at least those with whome we shared some commonality, such as the same school, college, town, etc. If we have made a group based on our past experiences, it is likely that we will continue developing the personality molded by our past experiences rather than break the path and reinvent ourselves. Lest I should be called cynical, I also mention that the choice of the group is not necessarily conscious; it is rather very sub-conscious, almost subtle. We scanned the people for a few days and then settled around a person or a group of persons based on one or more of above parameters.

Having said that, if we don’t try to change, then change is surely impossible. But this needs resolve; this requires ability to introspect and respond to situations in a completely different fashion from what we would otherwise normally do or have been doing. ISB experience, so far, has provided such situations to which if we respond differently, change can be managed.

Post Scriptum: One reason why I started a blog is to follow my thinking. Though I tend to be impulsive in my thought, a deep psychological structure controls what I think or what my impulses are. As I had earlier mentioned I am okay with being labeled inconsistent than being labeled unchanging. I really hope that by the time I graduate I pick up the “ability to choose my response to situations”. To me, change is about this.

 However much we may want to base our decisions on data and their analyses, assumptions become integral part of, sometimes basic to, decision making. The more I read, the more it becomes clear to me. Statistics is full of assumption – despite the rigorous math approach that this discipline has, at very fundamental level, the utility of statistics is possible because of assumptions. Marketing is full of assumptions too – a company assumes that the new flavor it adds in the ketchup would suit the taste buds of some people. How does one make assumptions? They cannot be made out of thin air. One needs experience or needs to closely know someone else’s experience. Hence, the premium placed on people with experience.

 When one is graded for class participation (CP), one tends to cook up doubts, even when none exists or can be imagined. In the entire first term, we are not being graded for class participation (CP). That is, no marks for asking questions. I have great regard for people who ask genuine questions which enlighten the entire class. Sometime even the Prof learns out of such doubts. These people are good. But the other category is interesting. These people want to ask doubts that seem to annoy only them. They want to ask questions on the subject the Prof is yet to cover. Some wake up and ask questions relating to previous class. Some repeatedly ask doubts. Ten to Fifteen doubts in each class! It has nothing to do with CP. They have a culture of asking doubts or seeking way. Get into an airplane. We can notice some people ask the air hosts to guide them to their seats. Get into an exam hall, there are people ‘feeling the need’ to be taken to their respective desks. These people are Boss’s nightmares. They would call up the boss every hour to clarify doubts. (Should I send this mail or not. Yes. Okay, then should I cc it or bcc it to you. Use cc. Okay. Should I use regards or cheers?) They would go to a colleague to clarify doubts. (The other day I saw you finish the project report. Did you type single space or double space? Double space. Did you send soft copy or hard copy? Hard copy. Did you use A or B size paper?). One kind of people. Long live diversity.

 However much we may want to base our decisions on data and their analyses, assumptions become integral part of, sometimes basic to, decision making. The more I read, the more it becomes clear to me. Statistics is full of assumption – despite the rigorous math approach that this discipline has, at very fundamental level, the utility of statistics is possible because of assumptions. Marketing is full of assumptions too – a company assumes that the new flavor it adds in the ketchup would suit the taste buds of some people. How does one make assumptions? They cannot be made out of thin air. One needs experience or needs to closely know someone else’s experience. Hence, the premium placed on people with experience.

 When one is graded for class participation (CP), one tends to cook up doubts, even when none exists or can be imagined. In the entire first term, we are not being graded for class participation (CP). That is, no marks for asking questions. I have great regard for people who ask genuine questions which enlighten the entire class. Sometime even the Prof learns out of such doubts. These people are good. But the other category is interesting. These people want to ask doubts that seem to annoy only them. They want to ask questions on the subject the Prof is yet to cover. Some wake up and ask questions relating to previous class. Some repeatedly ask doubts. Ten to Fifteen doubts in each class! It has nothing to do with CP. They have a culture of asking doubts or seeking way. Get into an airplane. We can notice some people ask the air hosts to guide them to their seats. Get into an exam hall, there are people ‘feeling the need’ to be taken to their respective desks. These people are Boss’s nightmares. They would call up the boss every hour to clarify doubts. (Should I send this mail or not. Yes. Okay, then should I cc it or bcc it to you. Use cc. Okay. Should I use regards or cheers?) They would go to a colleague to clarify doubts. (The other day I saw you finish the project report. Did you type single space or double space? Double space. Did you send soft copy or hard copy? Hard copy. Did you use A or B size paper?). One kind of people. Long live diversity.

 However much we may want to base our decisions on data and their analyses, assumptions become integral part of, sometimes basic to, decision making. The more I read, the more it becomes clear to me. Statistics is full of assumption – despite the rigorous math approach that this discipline has, at very fundamental level, the utility of statistics is possible because of assumptions. Marketing is full of assumptions too – a company assumes that the new flavor it adds in the ketchup would suit the taste buds of some people. How does one make assumptions? They cannot be made out of thin air. One needs experience or needs to closely know someone else’s experience. Hence, the premium placed on people with experience.

 When one is graded for class participation (CP), one tends to cook up doubts, even when none exists or can be imagined. In the entire first term, we are not being graded for class participation (CP). That is, no marks for asking questions. I have great regard for people who ask genuine questions which enlighten the entire class. Sometime even the Prof learns out of such doubts. These people are good. But the other category is interesting. These people want to ask doubts that seem to annoy only them. They want to ask questions on the subject the Prof is yet to cover. Some wake up and ask questions relating to previous class. Some repeatedly ask doubts. Ten to Fifteen doubts in each class! It has nothing to do with CP. They have a culture of asking doubts or seeking way. Get into an airplane. We can notice some people ask the air hosts to guide them to their seats. Get into an exam hall, there are people ‘feeling the need’ to be taken to their respective desks. These people are Boss’s nightmares. They would call up the boss every hour to clarify doubts. (Should I send this mail or not. Yes. Okay, then should I cc it or bcc it to you. Use cc. Okay. Should I use regards or cheers?) They would go to a colleague to clarify doubts. (The other day I saw you finish the project report. Did you type single space or double space? Double space. Did you send soft copy or hard copy? Hard copy. Did you use A or B size paper?). One kind of people. Long live diversity.