Published:17 March, 2023

Development space is desperately looking out for people who understand the sector and are able to contribute in constituting world class, impactful, sustainable social organisations using mantras of leadership and management relevant to the development sector.

While the Indian civilization dates back to at least 6500 BC, India as an Independent nation is only 72 years old. As we complete 72 years of independence, it is a good time to step back and see how far we have come.

In 1947, India had a literacy of 12%; Life expectancy at birth of 32 years; 99% poverty; wide-spread epidemics like plague, malaria, tuberculosis, no infrastructure; no electricity; very few schools and colleges, limited access to villages. The world thought that this was a basket case and India would soon call the Brits back to save them.

But, we did amazingly well and in 72 years our literacy rate is today at 74%; Life Expectancy is at 68 years; Poverty Rates are down to 21%; Our infra-structure, Schools, Hospitals, Health Centers, Roads, etc. have all come a long way.

The social sector or the development sector in India has played a major role in this progress. Despite being a large and complex country, thanks to an active development sector, we have become a vibrant democracy, we are among few countries that have progressive reforms like the Right to Information and Right to Education, we have a Progressive Constitution and a clearly defined ‘idea of India’ captured beautifully in the Preamble of the Constitution.

After several years of working deep and wide in the development sector, I have realized that there is a problem in applying conventional Business Management ideas in the Social Sector.

Here are some ideas that will not make sense intuitively to a Business Management mind:

* There is no such thing as ‘poor people’ - there is ‘poverty’

* Affirmative action is not only about economic equality

* Livelihoods is not just about creating jobs but also addressing complex societal issues ranging from cultural norms and values to security and health issues, education, dignity, inter-generational equations, and more

* Addressing issues of education is not just about teachers and schools but also about issues related to community - culture, values, gender, health, nutrition, sanitation, rights, ecology, language, agriculture cycles, livelihood, hunger, poverty, etc.

* Even solving the problem of open defecation is not only about building functional toilets but also about changing complex behaviors, beliefs and attitudes.

The same subjects will be different or nuanced when it comes to Business Management and Development Management: Whether it is ‘Talent Management’ and understanding reasons for joining/ staying/ leaving or the kind of cultures that will motivate and inspire; Or ‘Finance’ and looking at questions like Return on Investments; understanding the monetary value of some social good like say gender equality; Or, ‘Communication and Engagement’, ‘Systems Thinking’, ‘Organization Behavior and Dynamics’ - they are all quite different.

Development space is desperately looking out for people who understand the sector and are able to contribute in constituting world class, impactful, sustainable social organisations using mantras of leadership and management relevant to the development sector. One should be able to approach a sensitive cause with a very practical, professional, goal oriented approach while still be agile and quick to adjust and stay motivated throughout. Strike a balance between empathy towards highly sensitive issues and pragmatic line of action.

Even the Corporate world has now realised that it is not just the increase in CSR spend which is going to assure their commitment to support initiatives aimed at impacting lives. Corporate sector has gradually started encouraging the hiring of professional leaders and managers for the development sector to create an impactful CSR team which can help them in achieving each milestone of their CSR programme in the most effective manner.

After discussions with numerous leading practitioners in the sector across the country and even around the world, there was universal agreement that it makes absolute sense and there is indeed a crying need for developing the domain of Development Management, as a distinct discipline.

This new discipline would require as its base high quality, world class institutions that can make a difference to the sector and society. These institutions will provide the much needed vibrant & active learning environment to the brightest minds passionate about social change. The institutions will also be at the forefront of research for deeper understanding of the complex multitude of factors that affect development issues. It is very important to realise here that great Development Management institutions will be created by Collective Wisdom and Collective Philanthropy.

(Author Sreedharan is founder and director, Indian School of Development Management (ISDM). Views expressed here are personal.)

ISDM | Published: 29 December, 2023

Hey future changemakers! If you’re reading this, you must be preparing for ISDM’s Online Assessment, which is a critical step that helps us assess your readiness for the program in the admissions process for the PGP-DM program. We know the Online Assessment might seem intimidating at first, but fear not – we've got your back!

Before you start prepping, let's make sure you’re aware of the basics. The Assessment has two main components — an Analytical Test and an English Test. Simple enough, right? If you’re wondering how long the Assessment will be, 40 minutes is all it takes.

Now, you have the option to take the Assessment on your preferred device — desktop, laptop, tab, or even your trusty smartphone. We're flexible like that, although a desktop or laptop might offer a smoother experience. However, if you wish to use an Android or iOS device, please make sure to download the Mobile App first, using the link provided in the Instruction Manual on the Student Dashboard.

Oh, let’s not forget — the Assessment is proctored, so you would need to have your camera and microphone connected and enabled, with a stable internet connection, in a quiet and distraction-free environment.

But hey, we won’t bore you with all the technical requirements here. You can easily find those in the Instruction Manual on your Student Dashboard. We've also curated Preparatory Material, which gives you a sneak peek into the questions that might pop up during the assessment, and added that on the Student Dashboard as well. All clear? Awesome!

With the logistics out of the way, let’s dive into what you’re here for — preparing for the Assessment!

Preparing for the Analytical Test

Let’s look at the Analytical Test first, which evaluates your numerical abilities, attention to detail, data-interpretation skills, logical reasoning and spatial reasoning proficiency.

• Are you worried because you haven’t taken a Math test in years? Just brush up on your 10th grade Math — percentages, ratios, mensuration, basic geometry and statistics. And you’re all set!
• Love playing games? Turn your prep into fun, with games and visual puzzles focussed on spatial reasoning, pattern-recognition, info-logical reasoning, sequencing, Sudoku, and so on.
• If you’re someone who can analyse graphs and datasets, and recognise patterns and identify anomalies, the Analytical component should be a breeze for you!
• If you’re more inclined towards solving questions the traditional way, you could practise with question banks targeting numerical and analytical aptitude — there are plenty available online.

And that’s all! Do these and you’re all set for the Analytical Test!

Preparing for the English Test

Now that we've conquered the intricate tapestry of numerical intricacies and patterns, let us embark on an exploration of the labyrinth of linguistic complexities that underpin the art of communication.

Ahem… sorry we got a little carried away.

Don't worry, this won’t be a plunge into Shakespearean sonnets or arcane literary complexities for eloquent wordsmiths. Our English Test offers a refreshing departure from traditional written assessments, and allows you to showcase your active listening and spoken English prowess in simulated conversations. It is a dynamic assessment that values practical communication skills, making it relevant and entirely manageable. This means that prepping for it is equally easy and intuitive.

• If you enjoy listening to podcasts, audiobooks or TED Talks with a variety of English accents, you’re in luck! The English Test is a breeze for a good listener who is comfortable with accents.
• Love watching English movies, with or without subtitles? Your movie marathons are about to pay off in this test!
• If you want to be better prepared for the Vocab and Grammar sections, you could brush up on English grammar guides and solve practice questions.

In addition to these, you can also look up practice questions for Basic Analytical and English tests online. Just make sure they’re aligned with the sample questions we’ve provided in the Preparatory Material.

Time Management is Key

Alright, seems like we've covered most of the things here, but we hope you remember that our Online Assessment is timed and of 40 minutes only. As you may be aware from your past experience of taking tests of any kind, when time is limited it is important to manage it effectively, so that you can attempt the Assessment in its entirety. This also makes it important to go through sample questions provided by us, especially for the Analytical component, and understand the time you would need to allocate for various question-types. Consider timing yourself when you take practice tests, so that you can find your pace for the actual Assessment.

If you follow these suggestions and utilise the Preparatory Material, you should be sufficiently prepared to ace the test. Did we tell you that unlike many other standardised tests, ISDM’s Online Assessment has no negative marking? Consider that as another concern taken off your shoulders!

Feeling confident yet? All the best with your preparation, and the eventual Online Assessment! We’re rooting for you, and can’t wait to welcome you to the ISDM community!