Supply chain management

As we know SCM is about procurement, planning, logistics, distribution.. Depending on the

company/ sector that you work for, the elements will have a higher/ lower relative weightage.. Its
difficult to say how interesting or mundane the job is.. coz "interest" is a subjective issue.. for eg.
procurement ( and contracts management which is a part of procurmenet of services) gives me a
High.. a kick.. a sense of power.. when i negotiate and finalize a million dollar contract ( and i m
not exaggerating .. ). The kinda analysis and thought that goes into it is unparalleled.. Thats apart
from the regular bull abt demand estimation.. planning blah blah..

It goes without saying that one needs to have a cross functional knowledge.. from basic finance,
cash flows, payment mechanisms, to understanding of taxation, Incoterms, SAP etc.

* Future
Any body aspiring to make it big in SCM should have a good understanding of Finance and IT
along with SCM..
ERP in its various avtaars is now a part and parcel of the job. Most jobs too are in a SCM + IT
kinda roles where you would help set up a system/ process improvement etc.

* Future 2
As far as FMCG ( a sector that excites quite a few of us) is concerned, it is progressing and
concenterating towards organized retail... If one were to review the trend set by Walmart or
Carrefour, its quite evident that the focus which was on brand establishment till now, is steadily
changing towards operational efficiency ( dont want to elaborate.. else it will sound like some
white paper on IE !!).. SO in short, RETAIL is the sector to look for ..

* BUT I THOUGHT SCM was abt work and TIme Study ??

Well as an MBA in SCM/OPs, you would be well equipped to define and set up processes for say a
bank or an IPO or for a work shop or a cement factory ..
But its surely much more intense and exciting than the Threblings that one studies in the first sem
! Thats the job that CONSULTANTS do... and get paid mighty high for it !

* IS EVERYTHING SO GOOD ??
No. a fin or marketing MBA from any college would fetch good returns.. however for SCM/ OPs ..
you will have to be careful and choosy with the college...

SCM, as a text book would say, is the process of adding economic and consumer value by
integrating the entire value chain from procurement of raw materials till delivery of finished goods.
On the outset, it might seem like a rather simple thing, but trust me, its pretty complicated and
kinda interesting too. So, with that behind, lets get to more interesting stuff..

1) What kind of people ought to take up SCM?

SCM is a highly quantitative subject. Obviously, there should be an interest in understanding

numerous optimization algorithms, which requires a certain amount of logical thinking and number
crunching. It lacks the glamour content of Banking or FMCG Marketing, more of a "quiet" job. One
of the few areas where people skills would take a back seat.

2) What scope does it have?

SCM as a subject is growing leaps and bounds in the Western countries, but is yet to take off fully
in India. The good news is, like finance, SCM is a largely theory-subject, so there is a very good
chance that u can work anywhere in the world.

3) SCM is a vast subject.. what should I be doing..

SCM basically comprises of three parts..

a] Procurement : As the name suggests, its the back end of getting the raw materials. But dont be
fooled, in my opinion, it is the best profile within SCM.

b] Operations : Unfortunately, most companies in India havent really learnt to differentiate

between Operations and SCM {exception being Nestle}, result being, if u get into SCM, u might be
put in operations. Operations is the typical factory job, where u eventually end up as plant
manager. Appeals to some, doesnt appeal to some. For example, P&G operations might involve
handling their factory in Mandideep or Goa.

c] Front-End Logistics : This is where u decide how the product gets on the shelf and what
condition its in and so on. It is basically about managing your distributor network. It may involve
stuff like Demand Forecasting {Sometimes a part of Sales}, Inventory Control etc etc.

4) How much does it pay..?

Well, I reckon that it pays somewhere in between that of FMCG Marketing and IT Jobs with
moderate growth. Travelling oppurtunities may be slightly less initially, but increases later on and
above all has relatively lower stress.

SYSTEMS+MARKETING

Better call it Systems + Marketing . I have opted for "Systems + Marketing" (Dual
specialization), although our Second year is yet to start, this is what I have learnt by working on
an International Marketing project in an IT company (during my summer internship). Marketing
the IT products/solutions is completely different from marketing the FMCG products. You won't
need to go to each and every dealer/retailer to sell your products but you will need to understand
your Software products. Although most companies have a "Sales training programme", you need
to have an overall understanding of various software/platforms etc. and the Industry. This is the
reason why IT companies prefer to take people with technical backgrounds for this job. You can
get involved in activities like Pre-Sales, Product Development/Management, Sales etc.

If you are a Systems fan but not interested in marketing, you can opt for Systems+Finance. Other
options for Systems guys: Business Analyst/Project Leader (if u have work ex)/Consultant/Domain
specialist (SAP, ERP etc.) and so on.

Finance
Finance is not just about commonly quoted "number crunching" game. It is a beautiful
discipline that draws a lot from Economics, Financial, Cost and Management Accounting,
Statistics, Mathematics and in some cases Physics, Quantum Mechanics and Fluid
Dynamics' principles too (techies must be feelin excited I guess). When you enrol for a
finance specialization in the second year of your MBA, be prepared for a career in Banks,
Financial Institutions (covers insurance cos too), Investment Banks, Mutual Funds, Hedge
Funds, Brokerage Houses and Consulting too.

Finance is such a wide field that it has various super specializations in jobs too such as
Investment Banking (techies are favourites here), Financial Services (commerce and arts
grads do well here), Risk Management (techies again score in this area), Corporate
Finance ( CAs, ICWAs and CSs sell like hot cakes here). So just play up to your strength,
your background and play your cards well. Before choosing finance just ask people
working in these positions and take their opinions into consideration.

One word of warning though....dont consider it as just a specialization. Have a wholistic

persective in mind. You should have certain personality traits for becoming a hit in
finance or else you will feel strangled later when you do your job. You should be
comfortable with numbers, you should be able to make out economic trends, should be a
voracious reader as the learning in finance wont stop once you r out of ur b-school and
land up in a job(MBA/PGDM Finance guys generally find themselves doin either CFA or
CIIA courses after completing their respective MBA/PGDM). You should also have a fast
working and a bit more analytical mind too.

MBA programs with a Finance Specialization

One can expect to see courses in areas like portfolio management, global finance, financial
markets, and corporate financial analysis. The course enhances a manager’s experience in
international business and widens career opportunities.

The MBA in finance at any Best Institute provides students with the concepts and tools for
participating in the financial decision-making process for a variety of businesses and organizations
that require special understanding of financial analysis, financial management and financial
systems. Students are prepared to evaluate and recommend financial strategies available to them
in oral and written form.

A focus on Finance will help you learn how to define and identify the key financial levers in an
organization, and as a result, focus an organization in a direction that optimizes its value to both
its employees and shareholders.

MBA with a Marketing Specialization

This degree prepares one for a marketing career working with senior management within a variety
of organizations. A marketing MBA degree teaches you how to understand consumer behavior,
develop effective advertising strategies, and communicate with consumers and businesses. Your
MBA can lead to executive positions in advertising, public relations, and corporate management.

This is a bare-bones marketing plan template. It contains headings for the basic essentials
including situation analysis, market segmentation, alternatives, recommended strategy and its
implications.

The marketing curriculum prepares students with a solid foundation in the fundamentals of
marketing strategy, consumer behavior and marketing research.About 80% of MBA marketing jobs
are in the service sector.
MBA with a HRM specialization

The most effective way to advance your career in Human resources. The MBA program combines
high-quality core curriculum with the Human resources specialization curriculum that is
consistently updated to ensure real-world relevancy to today’s global marketplace.

Human resource management MBA programs combine the essentials of generic MBA programs
with specialized human resource management training such as mediation, planning, recruitment
and labor relations. Typical HR managers come from both human resource and business
backgrounds. Graduates of human resource management MBA programs will be able to integrate
HR strategies into companies' overall plans. All of this means that HR management MBA programs
just make good business sense.

Directors of human resources earn even more. Recent news suggests that both the need for, and
salaries of, graduates of MBA programs are on the rise. All this makes a HR management MBA an
excellent asset to your career goals.

MBA with a International Business specialization

During an International Business course you will have the opportunity to gain an integrated
overview of the whole management field, working on 'real world problems' with small, motivated
teams drawn from many countries. You will also experience different national approaches to
business via exchanges, visits abroad, and by way of an overseas business placement.

An MBA with an international focus, an International MBA. Each year newly graduated Business-
school graduate students compete for limited job opportunities. The MBA IB degree and its global
focus provides the necessary skills to become the kind of global business leader that companies
will utilize in the coming years.