Technology, especially IT has affected our lives. Various activities are getting streamlined due to IT. The world today is characterized by powerful IT, forces of collaboration and digitization.
1. Experience sharing:
A Technologist cum
Management Scientist View
Dr S G Deshmukh
Director
ABV-Indian Institute of Information Technology & Management
Gwalior
6 Feb 2013
INSPIRE Programme, Amity University Gwalior
2. About my institute
MHRD initiative in 1997
Deemed university
Synergistic combination
of IT and Management
Lush-green campus of
160 acres with state-of-
the-art infrastructure
Runs Integrated Master,
MBA, Mtech and Phd
programmes
3. Outline
Observations and philosophy
Experiences in Teaching
Consulting & Research
Observations & Insights
Competencies of a Researcher
Current Trends & Implications for
teachers
Concluding remarks
4. Philosophy: Why bother?
Talks are a
fundamental part of
research process !
Helps to disseminate
knowledge base !
Fallacy
We give talks
mainly to impress
others, gain
recognition, and get
promoted
4
5. Do not be Frightened
Give a talk, about
any idea,
no matter how weedy and insignificant it
may seem to you
Fallacy You need to have a fantastic idea before
you can give a presentation !
(Everyone else seems to.)
06/08/13 5
6. Observation..
“ Mathematical ideas originate in empirics…but
[then] the subject begins to live a peculiar life of
its own and … after much ‘abstract’ inbreeding,
is in danger of degeneration … whenever this
stage is reached, the only remedy seems to me
to be the … reinjection of more or less
directly empirical ideas”
John von Neumann
7. Remarks..
Economics, Finance, Accounting and Marketing all started up
as theoretical disciplines, then enjoyed an explosion of
empirical studies and came to a balance between empirics and
modeling.
How much of our (modeling) research can we utilize in
teaching?
How much of our (modeling) research interests top managers?
Applied research can make us more relevant as researchers,
teachers, consultants as well as stimulate better models!
9. Academic Environment
Demanding students , Competitive peer faculty group
and expectant industry clients
Lot of opportunities to enhance teaching because of
demanding students !
Teaching –led Research OR Research-led Teaching
Consulting opportunities to refine perspective
Training for dissemination of knowledge
11. Objectives of Ph D Programme at
IITB
The broad objectives of the
Ph.D. programme is not only to
keep pace with the expanding
frontiers of knowledge but also
to provide research training
relevant to the present social
and economic objectives of the
country.
The academic programme
leading to the Ph.D. degree is
broad based and involves a
minimum course credit
requirement and research
thesis.
12. Expectations at Doctoral level
(QAA, 2001)
Creation and interpretation of new knowledge
Through original research, or other advanced scholarship
Of a quality to satisfy peer review and merit publication
Systematic acquisition and understanding of a substantial
body of knowledge
At the forefront of an academic discipline or area of
professional practice
Conceptualise, design and implement a project for the
generation of new knowledge, applications or understanding
Detailed understanding of applicable techniques for
research and advanced academic enquiry
13. Why Phd: Ground reality
Cosmetics !
Promotion & Career Advancement
Build, “Think Tank”
Academic Recognition & Team building
R&D in Industry
Promotion of Science & Technology
Problem Solving
Export of Expertise
Learning to work out to minimize efforts to do a
task/job
14. Driving forces & Sources of Ideas
Driving Forces behind
Ph D
Interest
Market forces
Status
Recognition
Dream
Fire & Spark !!
Sources of Ideas
Lab
Library
Computer
Internet
Industry
Mistakes done in past
15. Skills developed during Ph D
at IITB
Ph D in Industrial Engineering & OR :
Interdisciplinary programme
Technical skills : Subject matter (Optimization)
Ability to ask questions
Ability to work independently
Soft skills: Communication, team work,
perseverance , tenacity
16. Insights
Ph D is a prima facie evidence that now you can
do research on your own !
Prof Kripa Shanker, My Ph D examiner
20 Mar 1989
Ph.D. is the beginning, not the culmination, of
your career. Don't worry about making it your
magnum opus. Get out sooner, rather than
later.
17. Enabling agents during Ph
D
Role of supervisor (My supervisor : Prof A
Subash Babu) : Extremely important : Friend ,
Philosopher & Guide !
Role of the peers : Provide technical and
emotional support system , act as buffer
Role of the Institute (IITB) : Enabling
environment, Research driven culture, spirit of
inquiry
18. Emerging Research Paradigm
Easy availability of computational power
Accessibility to software tools
Interdisciplinary character of research
More emphasis on funded research (agencies like
DST, DIT, CSIR etc.)
Demanding industry needs
Enhanced Institute-industry interaction
Networking of institutes /R&D labs enabled by web
Collaborative research
20. Sponsored Research &
Consultancy
An opportunity for technology transfer
Example: CAFIMS(Computer Aided Factory
Integration Management System): A collaborative
project between IITD, IITB, ECIL,and Sumeet
(Sponsored by DIT)
Lean Management System (Sponsored by DST)
with industry partners : a ground for learning and
consolidation
21. Consulting
Optimization Problem : Integration of
Regional electricity grids (World Bank):
INGRID Model (based on GAMS)
Capacity Expansion Problem : (Bhrati
Telecom)
Integrated Procurement –Production-
Distribution Problem (Apollo Tyres)
3-D cutting stock Problem (Nucleus
software )
22. Insights : Consulting
Migration from problem phase to solution phase
to implementation phase : an interesting
journey
Conceptual, Analytical and Design skills
Language barrier !
Problems are just problems- Without any
labels: Ph d helps you in developing a
particular perspective to look at them!!
23. Consulting assignment :Existing Supply
Chain of XYZ
F01 ……. F04
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
1 2 30 47 60 80 98
Fig 1(a) : Existing Distribution network model of XYZ
Plants
RDC’s
DO’s
24. Proposed SC based on TRANSHIPMENT
model
F01 ……. F04
1 2 3 4 5 6
1 2 30 47 60 80 98
Plants
RDC’s
DO’s
Fig 1(b) : Proposed distribution network model of XYZ
25. Challenges faced
Dealing with a very progressive and professionally
managed groups : demanding client !
Tight time lines and Great degree of coordination and
interfacing required
Creativity/innovation and out-of-the-box thinking
required in implementing solutions !
Research driven by industry needs !
Problem solving led to development of new algorithms
and solution procedures
26. Career Insights
Prepare: learn your subject deeply
–Learn how to train yourself; keep learning; be open to
suggestions and ideas
Practice communication and teamwork
Use IT in as an enabler , collaborate and network (web sites,
…)
For corporate: understand the business (es)
Career paths (IITD and IIITM G)
–Technical (keep teaching, research and consulting)
–Project leader (management as well as technical)
–Manager (manage Processes, Projects and People)
27. Today’s Reality :
Technology driven flat world !
Single location
Single utility
Any location
Not only telephone,
but a device to
connect to the
world
28. Trend 1: Shelf life
Interconnected world: Millions of ideas getting
generated, developed and disseminated
Faster publishing cycle
Web enabled submission, review and
publication process
30. Trend 3: Collaboration !
Sharing of information
Institutional
collaboration
Professional networks
Social networks
31. Observations…
Ideas are not limiting factor: usually time is !
Avoid Tunnel Vision
Plan for long-term, beyond immediate
research area
It takes considerable time to design a
research program
Envision Outcomes
Difference that research can make,
significant papers produced,
credited with solution to important problem
32. Suggestion !
Always remember thatAlways remember that
the secret of success isthe secret of success is
passion.passion.
Always think big.Always think big.
Spread love & joy.Spread love & joy.
You'll have blissfulYou'll have blissful
years aheadyears ahead
• Always remember that the secret ofAlways remember that the secret of
good professionalism is passion.good professionalism is passion.
• Always think big. You'll have blissfulAlways think big. You'll have blissful
years of research aheadyears of research ahead
Research is the path you
choose, the road you build
and destination you set.