‘Softer, subjective issues get less attention in B-schools’

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M. L. Shrikant, Dean, S.P. Jain Institute of Management and Research, is keen that student-managers understand and manage themselves before they can manage others.

He has designed an innovative course that teaches the significance of the spirituality quotient in management. In this interview, he discusses the challenges facing management education.

How do you view the current state of management education in B-schools in India and across the globe?

Management education is too standardised and is following the norms of US society. This is inappropriate given the heterogeneity of business situations and contexts and the emerging environmental trends that question the very basis of business operations. B-schools became and have remained overly scientific, with softer, subjective issues receiving less attention.

In the 21st century, we are passing through an era where business is seen as having failed to deliver and we are grappling with issues like the role of business in society, the so-called triple bottomline and sustainability issues. There is a lot of questioning going on and what is emerging is this tripod of management education under the knowing, doing, being framework, which is more amenable to delivering a customised approach to management education.

Both are important content and delivery, along with technology that provides further options to deliver a portfolio mix.

Across nations, there is a sense of disquiet at the ways of businesses and the methods of business leaders, leading to protests like Occupy Wall Street in the US and similar action in other nations. Is this a passing phase or is there something deeper we as society should be worrying about?

This is not a passing phase. Management education is closely linked to business and business has a role to play in human society. The real issues now facing human society are of two kinds: lack of distributive justice and the attendant issues of resource constraints, pollution and environmental degradation. It certainly means that if the current growth strategy along the path of Western economics if the poor nations were to follow it, its certainly unviable from a resource point of view.

What will be required to rebuild trust between managers/ business leaders and society in the days ahead? In your view, what role do B-schools have in this regard?

Basically, the current social economic structure is unviable and unsustainable. Business will have to play some kind of role in an alternative paradigm.

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‘Softer, subjective issues get less attention in B-schools’

World’s First Robot Astronaut ”Kirobo” Makes Space Station Small Talk – Video

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World #39;s First Robot Astronaut #39; #39;Kirobo #39; #39; Makes Space Station Small Talk
World #39;s First Robot Astronaut #39; #39;Kirobo #39; #39; Makes Space Station Small Talk World #39;s First Robot Astronaut #39; #39;Kirobo #39; #39; Makes Space Station Small Talk World #39;s First...

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World's First Robot Astronaut ''Kirobo'' Makes Space Station Small Talk - Video

Robot Astronaut Kirobo Takes Part in Conversation Experiment Aboard International Space Station – Video

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Robot Astronaut Kirobo Takes Part in Conversation Experiment Aboard International Space Station
Robot Astronaut Kirobo Takes Part in Conversation Experiment Aboard International Space Station Robot Astronaut Kirobo Takes Part in Conversation Experiment ...

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Robot Astronaut Kirobo Takes Part in Conversation Experiment Aboard International Space Station - Video

Spacewalking Astronauts Remove Faulty Space Station Pump

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Two astronauts working speedily outside the International Space Station removed a faulty pump module ahead of schedule, potentially negating the need for a planned Christmas Day spacewalk as they work to repair the outposts critical cooling system.

NASA astronauts Rick Mastracchio and Mike Hopkins ventured outside the space station at 7:01 a.m. EST (1101 GMT) today (Dec. 21), just 10 days after a flow control valve malfunctioned inside the pump module that they were set to remove and replace during another 6.5-hour spacewalk on Monday. Saturdays spacewalk ended at 12:29 p.m. EST (1729 GMT), five hours and 28 minutes after it began.

Originally, the astronauts were just going to prepare the faulty pump for removal today, but the spacewalkers completed the majority of the planned tasks for Saturdays spacewalk in just three hours. The astronauts were then given a go by Mission Control in Houston to press ahead with removing the faulty refrigerator-size pump module and stow it on a nearby platform. [See photos from the speedy spacewalk]

Were about an hour and a half ahead of the timeline, so, choosing your own adventure, were going to go ahead and look forward to doing the pump module exit, Mission Control advised the astronauts.

Ahead of the spacewalk schedule

The early removal could mean that a third spacewalk planned for Dec. 25, Christmas Day, may not be needed.

The faulty valve, which regulates the temperature of ammonia flowing through the pump, ceased working properly on Dec. 11. Non-critical systems and science experiments in two of the stations laboratories have been powered down since.

Saturdays spacewalk was originally focused on only disconnecting the fluid lines from the failed pump module and installing a jumper box to keep the ammonia from over pressurizing during the pumps replacement.

Working along the starboard, or right, side of the stations backbone truss, Mastracchio (riding on the end of the Canadarm2 robotic arm) and Hopkins first set about demating quick disconnect fluid lines from the faulty pump.

As their name implies, the quick disconnects were designed to be plugged in and out, but past spacewalks, including an August 2010 outing to replace the same pump module, ran into problems getting the pressurized lines loose. Learning from previous experiences, the pressure in the lines was reduced in preparation for Saturdays spacewalk.

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Spacewalking Astronauts Remove Faulty Space Station Pump

Spacewalkers, with snorkels, make quick work of space station repairs (+video)

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Two astronauts removed an old space station pump Saturday, well ahead of schedule. That task had been planned for the next spacewalk on Monday.

Astronauts removed an old space station pump Saturday, sailing through the first of a series of urgent repair spacewalks to revive a crippled cooling line.

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The two Americans on the crew, Rick Mastracchio and Michael Hopkins, successfully pulled out the ammonia pump with a bad valve - well ahead of schedule. That task had been planned for the next spacewalk on Monday.

"An early Christmas," observed Mission Control as Mastracchio tugged the refrigerator-size pump away from its nesting spot.

If Mastracchio and Hopkins keep up the quick work, two spacewalks may be enough to complete the installation of a spare pump and a third spacewalk will not be needed on Christmas Day as originally anticipated.

The breakdown 10 days earlier left one of two identical cooling loops too cold and forced the astronauts to turn off all nonessential equipment inside the orbiting lab, bringing scientific research to a near-halt and leaving the station in a vulnerable state.

NASA's Mission Control wanted to keep the spacewalkers out even longer Saturday to get even further ahead, but a cold and uncomfortable Mastracchio requested to go back. The spacewalk ended after 5 hours, an hour short on time but satisfyingly long on content.

Earlier, Mastracchio managed to unhook all the ammonia fluid and electrical lines on the pump with relative ease, occasionally releasing a flurry of frozen ammonia flakes that brushed against his suit. A small O-ring floated away, but he managed to retrieve it.

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Spacewalkers, with snorkels, make quick work of space station repairs (+video)

Space suit issues lead to delay of second spacewalk

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CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. Astronauts removed an old space station pump Saturday, sailing through the first of a series of urgent repair spacewalks to revive a crippled cooling line.

The two Americans on the crew, Rick Mastracchio and Michael Hopkins, successfully pulled out the ammonia pump with a bad valve ---- well ahead of schedule. That task had been planned for the next spacewalk, originally scheduled for Monday but now delayed until Tuesday, Christmas Eve, because of the need for a suit swap.

"An early Christmas," observed Mission Control as Mastracchio tugged the refrigerator-size pump away from its nesting spot.

If Mastracchio and Hopkins keep up the quick work, two spacewalks may be enough to complete the installation of a spare pump and a third spacewalk will not be needed as originally anticipated.

Several hours after Saturday's spacewalk ended, Mission Control bumped spacewalk 2 to Tuesday to give Mastracchio enough time to prepare a spare suit. His original suit was compromised when he inadvertently turned on a water switch in the air lock at the end of Saturday's excursion. NASA officials said Saturday night that it's unclear whether a third spacewalk will be needed and when it might occur, if required. A third spacewalk had been slated for Christmas Day before the latest turn of events. NASA requires a day off between spacewalks for astronaut rest.

The space station breakdown 10 days earlier left one of two identical cooling loops too cold and forced the astronauts to turn off all nonessential equipment inside the orbiting lab, bringing scientific research to a near-halt and leaving the station in a vulnerable state.

Mission Control wanted to keep the spacewalkers out even longer Saturday to get even further ahead, but a cold and uncomfortable Mastracchio requested to go back. The spacewalk ended after 5 1/2 hours, an hour short on time but satisfyingly long on content.

Earlier, Mastracchio managed to unhook all the ammonia fluid and electrical lines on the pump with relative ease, occasionally releasing a flurry of frozen ammonia flakes that brushed against his suit. A small O-ring floated away, but he managed to retrieve it.

"I got it, I got it, I got it. Barely," Mastracchio said as he stretched out his hand.

"Don't let that go, that's a stocking stuffer," Mission Control replied.

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Space suit issues lead to delay of second spacewalk

Spacewalkers, with snorkels, make quick work of space station repairs

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Two astronauts removed an old space station pump Saturday, well ahead of schedule. That task had been planned for the next spacewalk on Monday.

Astronauts removed an old space station pump Saturday, sailing through the first of a series of urgent repair spacewalks to revive a crippled cooling line.

Subscribe Today to the Monitor

Click Here for your FREE 30 DAYS of The Christian Science Monitor Weekly Digital Edition

The two Americans on the crew, Rick Mastracchio and Michael Hopkins, successfully pulled out the ammonia pump with a bad valve - well ahead of schedule. That task had been planned for the next spacewalk on Monday.

"An early Christmas," observed Mission Control as Mastracchio tugged the refrigerator-size pump away from its nesting spot.

If Mastracchio and Hopkins keep up the quick work, two spacewalks may be enough to complete the installation of a spare pump and a third spacewalk will not be needed on Christmas Day as originally anticipated.

The breakdown 10 days earlier left one of two identical cooling loops too cold and forced the astronauts to turn off all nonessential equipment inside the orbiting lab, bringing scientific research to a near-halt and leaving the station in a vulnerable state.

NASA's Mission Control wanted to keep the spacewalkers out even longer Saturday to get even further ahead, but a cold and uncomfortable Mastracchio requested to go back. The spacewalk ended after 5 hours, an hour short on time but satisfyingly long on content.

Earlier, Mastracchio managed to unhook all the ammonia fluid and electrical lines on the pump with relative ease, occasionally releasing a flurry of frozen ammonia flakes that brushed against his suit. A small O-ring floated away, but he managed to retrieve it.

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Spacewalkers, with snorkels, make quick work of space station repairs

Tuba-playing volunteer charms red kettle donors

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Heads turn. People stop to listen. Almost invariably, they dig into their purse or pocket and slip what they can into the red kettle next to Matthew Hall and his silver E-flat tuba.

Its a scene the 20-year-old Salvation Army volunteer has witnessed hundreds of times this holiday season, each one quite by design.

The most common thing I hear is that it sounds way better than the bells, said Hall, who spent most of his Saturday outside Keils market in San Carlos playing tuba and soliciting donations for charity.

One lady wrote me a check because my music stopped her, he said after a slow soulful rendition of O Come All Ye Faithful.

This holiday season, as so many struggle still to meet obligations and provide for their families, donations to the familiar red kettles have plunged by double digits.

Salvation Army officials say donations have dropped 15 percent or more nationally so far this year. They are crossing their fingers for a huge finish before Christmas morning.

Thanksgiving was so late this year, it just knocked five or six days off our schedule, said Adrienne Finley, who oversees fundraising for the Sierra Del Mar division, which includes San Diego, Imperial, Riverside and San Bernardino counties. We kind of lost a week.

The Red Kettle campaign is best known for the nonstop bell-ringing performed by armies of volunteers camped outside stores across the nation. The 150 volunteers deployed in San Diego County are critical to providing recovery, health, emergency and other services all year.

Money raised in San Diego stays in San Diego, Finley said.

Donations in some communities have dropped 30 or 40 percent over last year, the Salvation Army said.

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Tuba-playing volunteer charms red kettle donors