Abhinav’s Blog

So it’s been more than a month since I have joined PGSEM, and so far, so good. Since I was also interested in the Personal MBA concept and actually read quite a few books from the reading list, it would be nice to compare the two programs. Even though this is, in GMAT parlance, going to be comparing Apples to Oranges, hopefully it would be useful to people interested in management education avenues which really dare (pun intended) to go beyond the two-year full-time IIM course

So here goes :

• PMBA is a great selection of books to go through to learn the basics (and advanced theories, sometimes) of management, at your convenience and pace
• PGSEM is a part-time 2.5 year (minimum) course at IIM Bangalore, one of the premier management institutes of India, that caters to software professionals (but is GENERAL management course, like the ful time PGP)

• PMBA costs near to zilch, as the only financial investment required is the cost of around 40-odd books
• PGSEM costs a bit (INR 1,50,000 per year, for a total of INR 3,75,000 over 2.5 years) - not frightfully expensive, as students also work full time throughout the duration of the course.

• PMBA emphasises on self-learning, and requires a lot of dedication in reading the books in a paced manner
• PGSEM emphasises on self-learning, but being a formal course, has examinations, assignments, case studies which ensure application of theories

• PMBA books comprise of all fields, and are more “practical” oriented. They are the bestsellers in their respective areas, and the authors are generally well known business writers/management consultants
• PGSEM course material contains a lot of theoretical text books, augmented by case studies and demonstration of application of these theories through case study discussions/assignments

• PMBA does not have as much interaction and networking as does PGSEM, due to the virtual nature of the PMBA movement. PMBA Live is a great step towards enhancing interaction by live chats and e-collaboration, but this is still a limitation which has not yet been addressed fully (LUG-type meetings would go a long way in removing this disconnect)

• Both PMBA as well as PGSEM provide an opportunity for application of concepts learned to the student’s profession (something a full time course does not)

More to be added when I find time .. got a few assignments to take care of for tomorrow’s class

If you were looking for a verdict as in X was better than Y, sorry ! This is just to highlight some differences in the two courses. Both have their Pros and Cons, and both can provide as much (or as less) value as the person doing it wants. I would love to keep going through the PMBA reading list, as I continue with the PGSEM