Doing Business in India: a synopsis

Doing Business in India: Melissa Barry & Jason Silby (centre back)

Melissa Barry and Jason Silby recently returned from their trip to India and offered the following (condensed and consolidated) synopsis of the Doing Business in India (DBI) programme offered through the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT – in New Delhi, number 6 Business School in India) and funded through scholarships through Education New Zealand.

Melissa described the DBI programme as “a hugely enjoyable and worthwhile experience that was an excellent follow-on from the Otago MBA programme. I fully encourage anyone to apply for similar opportunities that may arise in the future.”

Jason wrote, “Given the opportunity I’d return to India in a heartbeat and highly recommend that anyone considering doing business in India wastes no time in doing the same.”

About the Experience:

Melissa describes her experience as “chaotically wonderful. Nothing you read in books or look at on the internet can prepare you for the smells, heat, crazy traffic, haggling in the markets or diversity and sheer number of people.

Jason adds, “I was delighted to be given the opportunity to spend two weeks experiencing the differences [between NZ and India] first hand as a participant on the DBI programme.

The DBI Programme:

Jason: The programme was designed to make the most of our time in the country combining classroom learning, practical exercises, field work, networking and sightseeing.

 “The topics included Indian manufacturing, services, retail and banking sectors, hedge strategies when operating in int'l markets, mergers & acquisitions, the Indian macro economy, opportunities for int'l trade, trade regulations, WTO trade regulations and the implications of the probable free trade agreement between India and New Zealand."

Melissa: “The IIFT covered a range of subjects that complemented the core classes of the Otago MBA. The programme consisted of general lectures in different areas of business all with a focus on India – Economics, International Business, Marketing, Human Resources and Operations delivered by excellent lecturers who were world class.

Both students commented positively about, “going on site visits to a number of places that included Yakult India and Maruti-Suzuki in New Delhi, a shoe factory in Agra, a 5-Star resort called Chocki Dhani, Mahindra World City and a jewellery manufacturer in Jaipur.”

Comparison with the Otago MBA:

The small size and highly interactive nature of each session made the classroom learning feel… similar to that I have experienced on the Otago MBA. The IIFT faculty were outstanding in their ability to simplify complex material delivering both breadth and depth to what was essentially a very diverse group."

“…the lecturers effectively delivered large amounts of information in an interesting and concise manner. The classes were intense but I found them valuable and …on par with those taught at Otago University.”

Personal Highlights / Key Insights:

Melissa: “For me the stand out lectures were on International Business where we learnt a huge amount about Free Trade Agreements and tariffs,

Jason: “The most obvious lessons learnt during the DBI programme are the importance of face time and personal relationships in Indian business (they don’t rely on email), the level of price sensitivity and the importance of tailoring product offerings to the Indian consumer.

Melissa and Jason’s experience in India was “not all work; we were taken

to visit the Taj Mahal in Agra and the Amber Fort in Jaipur.