Curriculum and Programme Structure

The programme is broadly visualized as consisting of 4 phases of course and research work. During the first 2 phases, a student does course work over a period not exceeding the first two academic years, interspersed with a summer research project of 10-12 weeks duration. On successful completion of these phases and the passing of a comprehensive examination (written and viva), the student begins the next two phases of individual research work.

The programme has four categories of courses. They are:

• Research enabling courses (REC)
• Basic discipline courses (DC)
• Breadth courses (BC)
• Dissertation and Allied Area courses (DAC)

Research Enabling Courses: Builds research skills

• A total of 12 Credits should be taken out of which 9 should be completed in First Year, 3 credits in the third year.
• A minimum of 3 courses should be taken from the following courses:
  • - Philosophy of Science (3), Research methodology (3), Qualitative Research Methods (3 ), Introduction to Econometrics (3), Optimization (3), Multivariate Analysis (3)
• Additional courses taken from the above set would be considered as specialization courses (DAC).
• Compulsory course: Academic and Professional Writing & Pedagogy Techniques (3 ) in the third year.
• FPM office ensures offering of these courses.
• GPA requirement for REC is 2.75.

Discipline Courses: Builds theoretical foundations

• A total 12 Credits is required to be completed in the First Year. The courses are:-
  • Statistics for Management Research (3 ), Mathematics for Management Research (3), Microeconomics (3), Macroeconomics (3), Introduction to Organizations (3), Social Psychology (3)
• These courses are offered separately for FPM students.
• Minimum GPA requirement 2.75.
• FPM office ensures offering these courses every year.
• These courses are included in the respective area plan.
• Respective Area may waive off one or more courses requirement based on the previous academic performance of the candidate by administering a challenge examination at least two weeks before the term commences.
• The result is communicated immediately to the FPM office by the area.
• Area designates a faculty member as Area FPM Coordinator who helps students in the choice of course work during the first two years of the programme.

Breadth Courses: Builds general management background

• A minimum of 12 credits should be taken.
• Can be completed anytime during first two years. These are PGP/PGSEM/PGPPM courses and may be offered separately.
• Suggested courses are:-
  • Corporate Finance (3), Marketing (3), Corporate Strategy (3), Production and operations Management (3), Managerial and Financial Accounting (3), Human Resource Management (3), Information Systems (3).
• Area may decide to waive off one or more courses requirement based on the previous academic performance of the candidate by administering a challenge examination at least two weeks before the term commences.
• Breadth courses are not needed if a student has PGP or equivalent programmes from IIMs and has scored at least a B grade.
• Minimum average GPA required for breadth courses is 2.00.

Dissertation Area and Allied Area Courses: Builds specialization

• At least 39 credits to build substantial conceptual/theoretical understanding and equip students with research skills.
• Allied area courses could be from one area or more than one area.
• Major area should have a minimum 24 credits and Minor 15 credits. May opt for a minor or equivalent number of courses from other areas.
• Not more than 12 credits of PGP courses.
• One course (3 credits) can be Reading/Seminar course on a special topic depending on student’s interest.
• Some courses can be from other institutions recognized by IIMB within or outside the country.
• Minimum GPA requirement 2.75.
• Choice of either zero or one minor is available.

3.8.4 Credit Requirements

• Year-wise number of credit requirement is as follows.

Above time duration is indicative. Students can complete the programme in less than 5 years.

Chairperson, Dissertation Advisory Committee (DAC) indicates number of dissertation credits to be recorded in each term at FPM Office. Dissertation credits registration can begin from second year provided DAC is formed.

• For Dissertation Area and Allied Area Courses, the credit requirement is as follows.

First Year Summer

• Objectives: The objectives of the programme during the summer in the first year are
  • Supplement conceptual understanding developed during the first year
  • Involvement in research process
• Methods: The method would be working with a faculty member on a research project with the aim of preparing a publishable quality paper.
• Evaluation: Evaluation will be based on contribution towards publishable paper, a report on the summer work or grade point if any course is taken.
• Research Paper: The student has to submit an original research paper of publication quality to the area. The FPM coordinator and the Area Chair constitute a committee of at least two faculty members to evaluate the paper. The deadline of submission is May end of each year. The evaluation is to be done within a week of submission.
• Evaluation should be based on
  • Originality of research idea
  • Appropriateness of review literature or his/her domain of expertise
  • Clarity of research objectives/Hypotheses
  • Appropriate use/development of conceptual framework
  • Use of appropriate data analysis tools
  • Rigor in analysis and ability to interpret the results
• Area Comprehensive and Viva: Subject to satisfactory submission of the research paper the area shall conduct Area comprehensive exam no later than July 31^st.
• Comprehensive examination is to assess the student's conceptual and methodological capability, perform independent research in his/her area of interest. It is a "gate" towards proposal. The student may be assessed on following parameters (or combination of)
  • Ability to review literature in his/her domain of expertise
  • Ability to develop a conceptual framework
  • Ability to conduct a methodological review
  • Ability to critique
• The Viva may do the following:
  • To assess the student's conceptual understanding and ability to articulate. Understanding of the topic and related fields/streams
  • Engage the student to see a practical problem from theoretical lens
  • Clarity in communication to understand, interpret the questions and respond in an appropriate manner
  • Students are encouraged to present any paper that he/she has written or to present a research proposal based on his/her paper
• The results of the Comprehensive Exam and Viva should be announced by the Area within a week of completion. A student will not be registered in third year if he/she has not completed Area Comprehensive exam. A re-examination will be given before end of August in case any student fails in the Comprehensive examination. A student will be asked to leave the programme if he/she fails in the re-examination.

Dissertation

After clearing the comprehensive examination, the student will work on a thesis in the Area of his/her specialization under the guidance of a Dissertation Advisory Committee (DAC). The first step is to prepare and present a Thesis Proposal. Following this, the candidate will write the thesis. The normal test for the dissertation is that the candidate’s contribution should be clear and should be in the nature of an original idea or original application of an existing idea. After evaluation, the candidate will make a public defense of the thesis.

Successful completion of the defense will qualify the candidate for the award of the title “Fellow of Indian Institute of Management Bangalore” (Area of Specialization).

Research Workshop

From the second year onwards, each student is expected to make at least one presentation a year and to write a paper for the weekly FPM Research Workshop that provides students with an opportunity to get early and continuous feedback on their research.