The document discusses the experiences and insights of Dr. S.G. Deshmukh, emphasizing the importance of empirical research and its balance with theoretical modeling in education and consulting. It highlights the evolving nature of PhD programs, their objectives, the skills developed during the process, and the role of interdisciplinary research in addressing industry needs. Furthermore, it addresses the challenges and opportunities in academia, urging a continuous learning mindset and collaboration in a technology-driven world.

1. Experience sharing:
A Technologist cum
Management Scientist View
Dr S G Deshmukh
Director
ABV-Indian Institute of Information Technology & Management
Gwalior
6 Feb 2013
INSPIRE Programme, Amity University Gwalior

2. About my institute
 MHRD initiative in 1997
 Deemed university
 Synergistic combination
of IT and Management
 Lush-green campus of
160 acres with state-of-
the-art infrastructure
 Runs Integrated Master,
MBA, Mtech and Phd
programmes

3. Outline
 Observations and philosophy
 Experiences in Teaching
 Consulting & Research
 Observations & Insights
 Competencies of a Researcher
 Current Trends & Implications for
teachers
 Concluding remarks

4. Philosophy: Why bother?
Talks are a
fundamental part of
research process !
Helps to disseminate
knowledge base !
Fallacy
We give talks
mainly to impress
others, gain
recognition, and get
promoted
4

5. Do not be Frightened
Give a talk, about
any idea,
no matter how weedy and insignificant it
may seem to you
Fallacy You need to have a fantastic idea before
you can give a presentation !
(Everyone else seems to.)
06/08/13 5

6. Observation..
“ Mathematical ideas originate in empirics…but
[then] the subject begins to live a peculiar life of
its own and … after much ‘abstract’ inbreeding,
is in danger of degeneration … whenever this
stage is reached, the only remedy seems to me
to be the … reinjection of more or less
directly empirical ideas”
John von Neumann

7. Remarks..
 Economics, Finance, Accounting and Marketing all started up
as theoretical disciplines, then enjoyed an explosion of
empirical studies and came to a balance between empirics and
modeling.
 How much of our (modeling) research can we utilize in
teaching?
 How much of our (modeling) research interests top managers?
 Applied research can make us more relevant as researchers,
teachers, consultants as well as stimulate better models!

8. REAL -
WORLD
SYSTEM
ASSUMED
REAL-WORLD
SYSTEM
MODEL
• Definition of the Problem
* Construction of the Model
• Solution of the Model
* Validation of the Model
• Implementation of the Final Result

9. Academic Environment
 Demanding students , Competitive peer faculty group
and expectant industry clients
 Lot of opportunities to enhance teaching because of
demanding students !
 Teaching –led Research OR Research-led Teaching
 Consulting opportunities to refine perspective
 Training for dissemination of knowledge

10. Remark..
"To know the road ahead, ask those coming
back.“
- Chinese proverb

11. Objectives of Ph D Programme at
IITB
 The broad objectives of the
Ph.D. programme is not only to
keep pace with the expanding
frontiers of knowledge but also
to provide research training
relevant to the present social
and economic objectives of the
country.
 The academic programme
leading to the Ph.D. degree is
broad based and involves a
minimum course credit
requirement and research
thesis.

12. Expectations at Doctoral level
(QAA, 2001)
 Creation and interpretation of new knowledge
 Through original research, or other advanced scholarship
 Of a quality to satisfy peer review and merit publication
 Systematic acquisition and understanding of a substantial
body of knowledge
 At the forefront of an academic discipline or area of
professional practice
 Conceptualise, design and implement a project for the
generation of new knowledge, applications or understanding
 Detailed understanding of applicable techniques for
research and advanced academic enquiry

13. Why Phd: Ground reality
 Cosmetics !
 Promotion & Career Advancement
 Build, “Think Tank”
 Academic Recognition & Team building
 R&D in Industry
 Promotion of Science & Technology
 Problem Solving
 Export of Expertise
 Learning to work out to minimize efforts to do a
task/job

14. Driving forces & Sources of Ideas
Driving Forces behind
Ph D
 Interest
 Market forces
 Status
 Recognition
 Dream
 Fire & Spark !!
Sources of Ideas
 Lab
 Library
 Computer
 Internet
 Industry
 Mistakes done in past

15. Skills developed during Ph D
at IITB
 Ph D in Industrial Engineering & OR :
Interdisciplinary programme
 Technical skills : Subject matter (Optimization)
 Ability to ask questions
 Ability to work independently
 Soft skills: Communication, team work,
perseverance , tenacity

16. Insights
 Ph D is a prima facie evidence that now you can
do research on your own !
Prof Kripa Shanker, My Ph D examiner
 20 Mar 1989
Ph.D. is the beginning, not the culmination, of
your career. Don't worry about making it your
magnum opus. Get out sooner, rather than
later.

17. Enabling agents during Ph
D
 Role of supervisor (My supervisor : Prof A
Subash Babu) : Extremely important : Friend ,
Philosopher & Guide !
 Role of the peers : Provide technical and
emotional support system , act as buffer
 Role of the Institute (IITB) : Enabling
environment, Research driven culture, spirit of
inquiry

18. Emerging Research Paradigm
 Easy availability of computational power
 Accessibility to software tools
 Interdisciplinary character of research
 More emphasis on funded research (agencies like
DST, DIT, CSIR etc.)
 Demanding industry needs
 Enhanced Institute-industry interaction
 Networking of institutes /R&D labs enabled by web
 Collaborative research

19. Teaching-Research–
Consulting-Training Cycle
Teaching
Training
Consulting
Research

20. Sponsored Research &
Consultancy
 An opportunity for technology transfer
 Example: CAFIMS(Computer Aided Factory
Integration Management System): A collaborative
project between IITD, IITB, ECIL,and Sumeet
(Sponsored by DIT)
 Lean Management System (Sponsored by DST)
with industry partners : a ground for learning and
consolidation

21. Consulting
 Optimization Problem : Integration of
Regional electricity grids (World Bank):
INGRID Model (based on GAMS)
 Capacity Expansion Problem : (Bhrati
Telecom)
 Integrated Procurement –Production-
Distribution Problem (Apollo Tyres)
 3-D cutting stock Problem (Nucleus
software )

22. Insights : Consulting
 Migration from problem phase to solution phase
to implementation phase : an interesting
journey
 Conceptual, Analytical and Design skills
 Language barrier !
 Problems are just problems- Without any
labels: Ph d helps you in developing a
particular perspective to look at them!!

23. Consulting assignment :Existing Supply
Chain of XYZ
F01 ……. F04
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
1 2 30 47 60 80 98
Fig 1(a) : Existing Distribution network model of XYZ
Plants
RDC’s
DO’s

24. Proposed SC based on TRANSHIPMENT
model
F01 ……. F04
1 2 3 4 5 6
1 2 30 47 60 80 98
Plants
RDC’s
DO’s
Fig 1(b) : Proposed distribution network model of XYZ

25. Challenges faced
 Dealing with a very progressive and professionally
managed groups : demanding client !
 Tight time lines and Great degree of coordination and
interfacing required
 Creativity/innovation and out-of-the-box thinking
required in implementing solutions !
 Research driven by industry needs !
 Problem solving led to development of new algorithms
and solution procedures

26. Career Insights
 Prepare: learn your subject deeply
–Learn how to train yourself; keep learning; be open to
suggestions and ideas
 Practice communication and teamwork
 Use IT in as an enabler , collaborate and network (web sites,
…)
 For corporate: understand the business (es)
 Career paths (IITD and IIITM G)
–Technical (keep teaching, research and consulting)
–Project leader (management as well as technical)
–Manager (manage Processes, Projects and People)

27. Today’s Reality :
Technology driven flat world !
 Single location
 Single utility
 Any location
 Not only telephone,
but a device to
connect to the
world

28. Trend 1: Shelf life
 Interconnected world: Millions of ideas getting
generated, developed and disseminated
 Faster publishing cycle
 Web enabled submission, review and
publication process

29. Trend 2: Digitization of research
outcome

30. Trend 3: Collaboration !
 Sharing of information
 Institutional
collaboration
 Professional networks
 Social networks

31. Observations…
 Ideas are not limiting factor: usually time is !
 Avoid Tunnel Vision
Plan for long-term, beyond immediate
research area
 It takes considerable time to design a
research program
 Envision Outcomes
 Difference that research can make,
 significant papers produced,
 credited with solution to important problem

32. Suggestion !
Always remember thatAlways remember that
the secret of success isthe secret of success is
passion.passion.
Always think big.Always think big.
Spread love & joy.Spread love & joy.
You'll have blissfulYou'll have blissful
years aheadyears ahead
• Always remember that the secret ofAlways remember that the secret of
good professionalism is passion.good professionalism is passion.
• Always think big. You'll have blissfulAlways think big. You'll have blissful
years of research aheadyears of research ahead
Research is the path you
choose, the road you build
and destination you set.

33. Thanks a lot
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