A fairly new “product”, as the programs have now come to be referred, is the one-year management course being offered by some of the premier institutes of the country. The concept pioneered by the INSEAD way back in 1959, is now increasingly finding favor with institutes and students.

These programs differ from the traditional two-year programs in the nature of participants and the expectations of the participants from the course. The participants in the one-year programs are typically experienced professionals already exposed to the basics of management in their respective industries. As a result there is a marked difference in the role and responsibility targets amongst the two year and one year participants. The primary objective of the one-year course is therefore to capitalize upon the experience of the participants and prepare them for upper echelons in the management hierarchy. The participants find it an appealing proposition as the short duration of the course and a quick return to their respective industries make the program an attractive ROI. However, this does not discount the rigor and focus of the course as can be gauged by the number of faculty-student contact hours, which are comparable to the best globally.

An additional positive fallout of the growing demand is the innovations in the course design. While similar courses offered elsewhere are more generalized in content, S. P. Jain Institute of Management and Research (SPJIMR), has created a niche for itself by offering the one year course (Post Graduate Diploma in Management) with domain and role centric specializations in the fields of Information Management and Operations Management. In its second year of inception of the program and riding high on the huge response to these programs, SPJIMR is working closely with the corporate world on a unique concept called Mass Customization. Participants are encouraged to choose the role and the industry that they would like to get associated with. Mass Customization then involves meeting the specific demands of the industry by grooming these participants as per the industry needs.

Enthused by the success of the one-year programs, the IIM’s are also following suit with the first batch of IIM Ahmedabad starting this year. As more and more institutes like the IIM’s and more recently Narsee Monjee Institute of Management,(Mumbai) join the fray, clearly the one-year programs are here to stay, aiding professionals turning to management.

[ The article was also published in The New Indian Express, on March 24, 2006 under the title "Manager In A Year". Image : Courtsey S.P.J.I.M.R , Mumbai ]