World renowned Management Guru Mr. Shrikant Datar, through his book, suggests a curriculum review and stresses on 'doing' things rather than 'knowing' them as a means to achieve success in management. SIBM Pune has embraced this concept and has shifted the focus from class room learning to on-ground management lessons. Following the immense surge in the popularity of IPL and short-format cricket, the little known SIBM Pune Premier League (SPL) has been trudging along for the last 7 years imparting practical lessons of management to the aspiring students and future corporates before they begin their managerial journey in the most unexpected form – Cricket.
With a population of more than a billion and counting, cricket perhaps serves as the defining elixir of this great nation. SIBM Pune has been a pioneer in this regard carrying a rich legacy of 7 years to substantiate this fact. The IPL style auctions which are held about 15 days prior to the event opens up a plethora of opportunities for the budding managers of tomorrow to learn a lesson or two in management. The bidding process is designed in such a way that the students get to formulate their strategy by observing the definitive patterns in the opponent’s line of attack. The skills of observation and having a keen eye for detail are the two attributes that can either make or break their plan. The various twists that are revealed during the process force the participants to think on their feet and restructure their strategies accordingly.
This is noticeably analogous to the corporate world, in that as managers, you are often faced with unsavory situations which make you reevaluate your prior decision in order to prevent loss, gain profit or outwit your competition, emerging victorious. The “virtual” money provided to the participants for forming the team ensures that the teams use the available resources judiciously and efficiently to form a “TEAM” which can win them the tournament. This is extremely challenging and critical as the limited resources need to be put to use to form a well-balanced team wherein the members complement and support each other, much like in an organizational setup.
In the corporate world, managers are entrusted with the task of increasing the ROI of a particular project or of the company as a whole. The same is applicable during the Auctions, as the team captains and owners spend the allotted quota of money to buy players from the available pool, selecting those who can give them the maximum return on the investments made. The tournament fosters a feeling of team spirit and teaches the value of collective teamwork. The players are exposed to the concept of “Crisis Management” which is quite evident during the matches, as players adapt to sudden changes in targets or
The players are exposed to the concept of “Crisis Management” which is quite evident during the matches, as players adapt to sudden changes in targets or an unforeseen situations. Adaptability of the players is also tested as they are put outside their comfort zone and become a part of team which was never their first choice, forcing them to bond with new people while adjusting to a different style of captaincy and management. The captains are entrusted with the task of assigning and defining the role of each and every player in the team and making sure that the strategies made at the TOP are implemented with perfection. He gets the chance to be a role model for many who would remember his name for years to come.
Leading by example is another quality that the tournament promises to promote. Most of the seasons have witnessed that the Captains have emerged to be the “PLAYER OF THE TOURNAMENT”. The concept of Branding also plays an important role during the tournament. Each team has a Brand Ambassador who is responsible for increasing the visibility of their BRAND (The Team). Be it digital or print, the ambassadors leave no stone unturned to enhance the presence of their teams on each and every platform and garner maximum support and following, something the digital age of Marketing exemplifies perfectly.
Along with this for encouraging audience participation, Information Systems and Media Relations Team of SIBM Pune has come up with ‘SPL Super Selector’- A one of its kind online platform where audience can make their own teams and manage them on a daily basis thereby proving their eye for talent, their intuitive skills and proving themselves as strategists for tomorrow. What SPL has come to mean at SIBM Pune is merely an indication of how franchise based tournaments are shaping the new world and the potential that belies any aspiring manager in this area. We look forward to another successful year of SPL when the action begins on 15th
“Management is Just a Game, SPORTS MEAN BUSINESS”