Reputed private B Schools typically focus on physical aspects like stylish buildings, manicured lawns, sports facilities, spacious auditoriums, well-maintained hostels, numerous food parlours (serving a variety of food including Italian, Chinese, continental, etc.), well-designed classrooms with air-conditioned ambience, etc.
B-School authorities feel these outward physical manifestations instill a sense of pride among the students and evoke nostalgic memories among the alumni.
They, in short feel that credibility of an institution revolved around these physical manifestations.
In my opinion, the credibility of institutions goes far beyond swanky buildings and cool classrooms or great pedagogy.
When I was pursuing my PGDM (MBA) from XIMB, Bhubaneswar (1989-91) an incident happened which laid the foundations of the credibility of the B School. In the initial years from 1987-1991, XIMB was no different from other B Schools in eastern India, its distinguishing features were good academics, fair placements, reasonable student engagement, etc.
One momentous decision taken by (Late) Father R D’ Souza the then director of XIMB (who went on to establish Goa Institute of Management and was conferred with a Padma award by the government of India) enhanced the reputation of a fledging B School and catapulted it among the top 10 B Schools Pan India.
In the student manual issued by XIMB to every student during admission, it is mentioned that to get promoted to the next term, a minimum grade point in every term must be attained necessarily by every student pursuing a PGDM (MBA).
This criterion in the formative years was honoured more in the breach than in the observance!
In 1991, Father D’ Souza decided to crack the whip. He summarily dismissed a student from pursuing his PGDM as the student had consistently secured sub-par grades needed to qualify for the next term. In other words, the student could no longer pursue or complete his studies or sit for a summer internship or final placement and his fees for the two terms were forfeited.
This decision initially aroused derision and drew sarcastic comments from the students and faculty.
After all, getting a seat in the prestigious B School was no mean achievement. A student can aspire to get admission to the XIMB only after securing a good rank in the tough XAT exam and clearing the group discussion and personal interview rounds.
Securing a seat in XIMB is paramount, and the rest of the activities, like academic achievements and placements, follow like night follows the day, so the XIMB fraternity thought!
Following the decision taken by Father D' Souza, representations were made by senior students and faculty members to reconsider his decision, with many sob stories, yet Father D’ Souza stood firm by his decision. In the days following the decision, pressure was mounted on him from bureaucrats in Odisha and politicians from the ruling party, but they fell on deaf ears.
When the termination letter was finally issued and the student was asked to vacate the hostel, reality sank in for all the stakeholders of the B School. This news went viral among B Schools in Bhubaneswar and got the attention of major recruiters. Corporates, who till then were looking upon XIMB as a Tier-2 B School suddenly looked at XIMB with new respect. Students who looked upon life at the B School life as a journey of intoxication and pleasure periodically interrupted by classes and exams were stunned.
This decision cemented XIMB’s reputation and instilled a sense of discipline, pride, and integrity among the students.
This single decision cemented the credibility of XIMB as a B School of Difference!
This was the turning point in the fortunes of the B School and the students for decades.
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