Sunteți pe pagina 1din 14

Summer Internship for PGDM: Framework for Learning 2012

Objective: The Summer Internships help the PGDMs to acquire competencies beyond what one can acquire from simulations in the Educational Institution. a. The theoretical knowledge from textbooks and journal articles most of the time provide a context independent understanding of organizations and management and hence help in developing context independent competencies. Internships enable students to modify their behaviour understanding the particularities of the organization or the department to which the student is assigned and thereby sensitizing them to particularities. Examples would be: i. Understanding the particular systems and procedures followed which would develop the competency in getting a proposal implemented using such systems and procedures. ii. Sensing the extent of dependence on hierarchy versus collegiality to decide when to say and when not to say what, etc. iii. Understanding the politics in the firm to develop the competency in using appropriate persons to get a proposal implemented. b. The Summer Internship Seminars after the Internship enable the students to sharpen the competency in being context sensitive by probing into what works in what type of firms and why. Mechanism For a student without industry experience, the best way to learn is by being an understudy to an executive at middle or junior levels as she / he will be joining at the junior level. In other words, the Intern works as an Executive Assistant to an executive for 8 weeks provided the firm is ready to accommodate. a. The Intern will share part of the work of the executive that she can do and b. Will observe and learn how the executive works rest of the time. The second best option for the students will be to meet the executives and also non-officer staff one by one to understand their roles, day to day duties, etc. Ideally the student should spend one day each with each role holder, ask questions, listen, observe, undertake odd jobs for the role holder, etc.

a. This can be done starting with the role holder nearest to the customer and then move up the value chain meeting different role holders. b. This sequence will also enable the intern to understand the manner in which the firm gets organized to deliver the goods or services ultimately to the customer. Analysis based on data generated internally (such as sales data and probably in combination with data secondary to the firm) will be another option. This gives an understanding of the type of data available internally and also decision / action value of such processed data. The least preferred option which is traditionally opted for is to make use of the Intern to collect data from the market by interviewing customers. This keeps the Intern away from the firm for two months depriving the Intern of any learning from within the firm. a. A better way of achieving the same is to be a Sales Intern, get involved in selling and learn about the market from success or failure in selling. Students will learn a lot by willingly accepting challenging assignments and thereby learning from the responses of the organisation to their assignment Any other method suggested by the firm.

Problem Solving Projects When a problem-solving-assignment is given by the firm (however small or large or independent of short / long term implications); the following steps may be adopted. 1. Problem Definition: This could be expressed as the gap between the desired and actual situation. 2. Causal Analysis: What / what all probably led to the situation? Could also be expressed in terms of the necessary and sufficient conditions that resulted in the situation. (A conceptual / theoretical model might become useful at this stage to articulate the causal analysis.) a. A formal causal analysis will also trigger need for more information from within or outside the firm leading to designs for collecting and processing such information1.
1

Business Research Methods involving Research Design, Implementation of Research and Assessing the Validity of Conclusions, etc. might be required at this stage if a long and elegant method of collecting and processing information is warranted. Some of the sources of information or means of collecting information will include: Reports and Other Secondary Information within the Firm (Files, Registers and Internal Reports) or Outside (Internet, Business Periodicals, Company Databases) By asking questions to relevant members of the organisation (Use what, why and how a lot)

b. At times, this might necessitate a formal or long and elegant method to arrive at and isolate causes. c. Experimental designs of statistics are part of such formal methods. d. Availability of resources and time constraints may necessitate the use of quick and dirty methods such as informal sourcing of information, intuitive judgements, etc. 3. Statement of Organizational / Managerial Objectives a. While the objectives would have been in existence prior to the emergence of the problem, a re-articulation might be necessary to account for the possibility of any change in those in the light of problem-definition and causal-analysis. b. Assessment of fit between Strategy and Objectives will be required at this stage2. This provides the Strategic Context within which the problem is solved. 4. Decision model to solve the problem a. Generation of alternatives (mutually exclusive) with possible consequences b. This is the creative part of problem solving. Could use brainstorming for this. c. Decision Trees and Mind Mapping could be used for this purpose. d. The decision model could generate need for further information and processing of such information to solve the problem. Again choice has to be made between a quick and dirty or a long and elegant3 method. 5. Criteria for Evaluation of Alternatives

Understanding the Industry and the Firm Industry Historical Outline of the Industry Present Structure of the Industry: Five Forces Analysis Major Governmental Policies Social, Political, Cultural, Economic and Technological Environment of the Industry Predicted Scenario for the Industry Position of the Firm within the Industry Strategic Thrust of the Firm: Generic Strategy (Cost Leadership versus Differentiation, Broad versus Focused) Mission, Vision and Objectives of the Firm Products, Markets, Competition and Competitor Analysis Distinctive Capabilities of the Firm, Core Competence of the Firm Organisational Structure Financial Performance Manufacturing Policies and Practices Human Resources Policies and Practices Information Management Policies and Practices Organisational Culture Systems and Procedures adopted Critical Evaluation of the Above Areas Predicted Scenario for the Firm ^1 Ibid

a. The Statement of Objectives as per Item 3 above would determine this. 6. Choice of Alternative (decision making) and Implementation Plan a. Understanding the Structure of the firm, the Systems and Procedures adopted as well as the Political and Human Dimensions of the firm will help in chalking out an implementable action plan. 7. Contingency Plans a. As action plans assume scenarios that are most likely to happen, contingency plans are required as back-ups for next most probable scenarios.

Evaluation Criteria for Summer Internship Reports 1. The report should be in not more than 1500 words (excluding annexes). 2. Reports need be submitted only in electronic form, uploaded into Moodle. (Please do keep backups of all up-loadings to Moodle as a precaution against a crash.) 3. The report will be evaluated on the following criteria: a. Work Done during Internship: 1. Strategic Context: Weight 0.2 2. Contributions Made to the Firm or Learning beyond the Classroom4: weight 0.4 b. Written Presentation5: 1. Language, Formatting, Spelling, Grammar, Referencing (Care against allegations of plagiarism), etc.: Weight 0.2 c. Regularity of Weekly Reports and Extent of Work Done as evident from the Weekly Reports: Weight 0.2 Rubrics for Summer Internship Reports Criteria for Analytical Understanding of Industry, Firm, Department and the Tasks: 0.20 Structure of the industry Attractiveness of the Industry Positioning of the firm Drivers of success for firms in the industry Explanation for the particular firms level of performance Role of the Department of the Intern or the task undertaken for the success of the firm Linkage between all these All the above with deficiencies or gaps in
4

Grade

Name

When a Group Task is undertaken for the firm, the specific contribution made by each individual should be highlighted within the common Group Report.
5

Contents Page with Page Numbers Acknowledgements Executive Summary: Critical Issues, Brief Analysis and Practicable Actions Proper Chapter Plans, Forming of Sections and Annexure / Appendices Proper Quoting and Paraphrasing as per Conventions Referencing as per Conventions Clarity in Expression Flow in Writing Grammar Spelling Tables, Graphs and Figures as far as possible only in Exhibits

some of the above All the above with deficiencies or gaps in most of the above Mere narration of facts without analytical understanding Totally incoherent understanding

C D F

Criteria for Value Addition / Contribution by the Student to the Firm and the Learning Derived: 0.40 Sophisticated and appropriate use of first year PGDM learning in contributing to the firm Implementation capability, designing systems, launching systems, ensuring sustenance of the systems Ability to learn from experience beyond PGDM learning All or some of the above with some deficiencies All or some of the above with significant deficiencies Contribution of a mundane nature No contribution at all

Grade

Name

B C D F

Criteria for Written Presentation: 0.20 Grammar and Spelling Formatting Referencing Readability o Ability to attract and sustain readers interest Word Limit 1500 Deficiencies in 1 of the above Word Limit 1500 Deficiencies in 2 of the above Word Limit 1500 Deficiencies in 3 of the above Word Limit 1500 Incoherent writing without proper grammar and spelling

Grade A

Name

B C D F

Criteria for Weekly Reports: 0.20 Regularity Analytical Rigor Grammar and Spelling Readability o Ability to attract and sustain readers interest Word Limit 500 Deficiencies in 1 of the above Word Limit 500 Deficiencies in 2 of the above Word Limit 500 Deficiencies in 3 of the above Word Limit 500 Incoherent writing without proper grammar and spelling

Grade A

Name

B C D F

Summer Internship Seminars (SIS) Objectives of SIS 1. To help students get feedback from other students and teachers on the logical consistency and practicability of the contributions made by the student. 2. To develop the capability to deal with organizational situations in a manner appropriate to the context of the firm. (Learning by comparing and contrasting the presentations.) Expectations from the Presentations 1. Significant difference in the manner in which a PGDM contributes to a firm vis--vis a non-MBA / PGDM. (This requires the student to use the competencies developed during the first year in undertaking and completing the work assigned by the firm.) 2. Logical consistency between the strategic context of the firm and the work done. (For example, the value of the contribution will be different if the firm follows a differentiation strategy rather than a low price strategy.) Duration The ideal duration for a presentation cum question answer session would be 60 minutes for a firm if a group presentation; otherwise 30 minutes per student with 15 minutes for presentation and fifteen minutes for discussion (question-answers). Group Work When a group of students has done Internship in a firm, there need be only one Report and a Group presentation. At least one aspect or some aspects should be highlighted by the individual student and the student presenting those aspects would be responsible for defending that part in the presentation. In the report, the part for which an individual student is predominantly responsible should be highlighted. The concerned student will respond to comments on that part of the written report. During such Group Presentations, the SOP owners of all the members of the Group will be present. Weights 1. Analytical Understanding of Industry, Firm, Department and the Tasks (as evident from the Presentation and Defense) : 0.20

2. Value Addition / Contribution by the Student to the Firm, the linkage to the Strategic Context of the Firm and the Learning Derived (as evident from the Presentation and Defense): 0.40 3. Presentation: 0.20 4. Participation (by members of the audience): 0.20

Rubrics for Summer Internship Seminars Criteria for (A) Analytical Understanding of Industry, Firm, Department and the Tasks: 0.20 Structure of the industry Attractiveness of the Industry Positioning of the firm Drivers of success for firms in the industry Explanation for the particular firms level of performance Role of the Department of the Intern or the task undertaken for the success of the firm Linkage between all these to help understand the context of the contribution made by the student. All the above with deficiencies or gaps in some of the above All the above with deficiencies or gaps in most of the above Mere narration of facts without analytical understanding Totally incoherent understanding Criteria for (B) Value Addition / Contribution by the Student to the Firm and the Learning Derived: 0.40 Logical fit between the contribution made by the student and the external / internal context (strategic context) of the firm (Relation between A above and B) Sophisticated and appropriate use of PGDM learning in contributing to the firm.6 Implementation capability, designing systems, launching systems, ensuring sustenance of the systems7 Ability to learn from experience beyond PGDM learning8 Grade

B C D F Grade

Could be through a project or could be through a series of small assignments or routine tasks. Did you do them in a professional manner and not like a layman? Is the learning derived from the first year of PGDM evident in the way you contributed to the firm? 7 Assuming the listener is your boss, he / she should be convinced that you are presenting something that can be implemented by the firm.

All or some the above with some deficiencies All or some of the above with significant deficiencies Contribution of a mundane nature No contribution at all

B C D F

What did you learn new which you did not learn in the first year? What theories do you challenge based on what you learned from the firm and why? If you are facing a placement interview now, what additional capability can you convincingly claim as something gained from the Summer Internship? In other words, what can you do for any firm based on what you learned from the Summer Internship firm?

Criteria for (C) Presentation and Defense including Executive Summary: 0.20 Logical flow of the presentation, Interesting presentation, success in engaging the audience9 Only necessary information but sufficient information in the slides10 Defense to the point11 Good executive summary12 All or some the above with some deficiencies All or some of the above with significant deficiencies Slides communicated more than the student No clarity in presentation and inability to defend Criteria for

Grade

B C D F

Grade

(D)Audience Participation / Questions / Comments on Internship in a Firm: 0.20 Questions which fail to convey any F meaning Questions which elicit information about the D firm and which merely add to your knowledge about firms Questions which ask for reason/s behind a C practice that you do not expect the firm to practice (stating why one does not expect it)

Presentation in logical, interesting sequence which audience can follow. Eye contact with audience, seldom returning to notes. Clear voice, correct and precise pronunciation of terms so that all members of the audience can hear the presentation. Ability to elicit involvement and participation of the members of the audience.
10

Avoid cluttering in slides. Anything that you put in the slides should have a larger purpose, an agenda that follows or it should unfold an interesting story. Avoid paragraphs and essays in the slides. Graphics should explain and reinforce text and presentation. Ensure spelling and grammatical correctness. Ensure plagiarism free slides. Do not use any notes while presenting. Put facts and figures that you can't remember in the slides. Do not limit your presentation to reading the slides. Look at the audience and tell the interesting story of your work in the organization.
11

Ability to respond to questions and comments. Ability to listen and correctly understand the question or comments. Strength of the logic used while responding to the questions or comments. Ability to learn from the questions and comments.
12

An Executive Summary that highlights the most important aspects of the report for a reader who does not have the time to go through the full report. One that enthuses the reader to read the full report as well as listen to the presentation. Should not exceed 500 words. Should be uploaded into Moodle.

OR Questions which ask for reason/s for the firm not adopting a practice which you expect the firm to practice (stating why one expects it) Questions which pose and check your notions on the possible reason/s behind a practice that you do not expect the firm to practice OR pose and check your notions on the reasons for differences between the firm and the one in which you are doing your Internship OR You state that the firm should do something which it is not doing currently, with reasons. You explain that practices defy possible explanations and you argue out. OR You suggest that the firm should adopt a practice which it is not doing currently, with reasons. You also highlight implications for different stages in the value chain as well as on supporting functions.

Format for Weekly Report (Not to exceed 500 words)

Name of the Student Roll No Name of the Reporting Officer in the Firm, Phone, Email Id SOP Owner Week Starting (Date): Day 1 Date:

Day 2 Date:

Day 3 Date:

Day 4 Date:

Day 5 Date:

Day 6 Date:

Day 7 (If applicable) Date:

S-ar putea să vă placă și