FPM, offered by the top B-school in Mumbai, helps you innovate in the dynamic business landscape!
In today’s fast-paced business environment, the risk of stagnation is ever-present. Organisations that fail to innovate and evolve risk becoming obsolete and overtaken by more agile and forward-thinking competitors. To remain relevant and competitive, businesses must embrace research and thought leadership as integral components of their strategic vision.
The importance of research in business
- Staying informed: Research keeps businesses up-to-date with industry trends, technological advancements, and market shifts.
- Data-driven decisions: Making decisions based on solid data reduces risks and enhances strategic planning.
- Competitive advantage: Insights gained from research can reveal opportunities and threats that competitors might overlook.
Case study 1: Netflix
Image source: Digiday
Background: Netflix began as a DVD rental service, but it has transformed into a leading global streaming platform. This transformation was driven largely by data-driven research and strategic decision-making.
Research and strategy
- Market research: Netflix conducted extensive market research to understand the growing demand for online streaming and the decline in DVD rentals.
- User data analysis: Netflix invested heavily in data analytics to understand user preferences, viewing habits, and content trends. This data helped them make informed decisions about content acquisition and production.
- Predictive analytics: By analysing user data, Netflix developed sophisticated algorithms to predict which shows and movies would be successful. This led to the creation of original content tailored to audience preferences, such as ‘House of Cards’ and ‘Stranger Things’.
Outcome
- Innovation: Netflix’s research-driven approach allowed it to pivot from DVD rentals to streaming, staying ahead of industry trends.
- Competitive advantage: The company’s ability to predict and cater to audience preferences has given it a significant edge over competitors.
- Subscriber growth: As a result of its data-driven content strategy, Netflix has seen exponential growth in its subscriber base, expanding its reach globally.
The role of thought leadership
Definition
Thought leadership involves positioning oneself or one’s organisation as a leading authority in a particular field and providing innovative ideas and insights.
Benefits
- Establishing authority: Thought leaders gain recognition and respect within their industry, influencing trends and standards.
- Building trust: Customers, partners, and stakeholders are more likely to trust and engage with organisations that demonstrate expertise and forward-thinking.
- Inspiring innovation: Thought leadership fosters a culture of continuous improvement and creative problem-solving.
Integrating research and thought leadership in organisational strategy
Strategies
- Fostering a culture of curiosity: Encourage employees to pursue research, share findings, and explore new ideas.
- Investing in continuous learning: Provide resources for ongoing education and development, ensuring that your team remains knowledgeable and skilled.
- Collaborating with academic and research institutions: Partnering with universities and research centres can keep your organisation at the cutting edge of industry knowledge.
Overcoming challenges
Common obstacles:
- Resistance to change: Overcoming inertia and reluctance within the organisation is critical.
- Resource allocation: Balancing immediate business needs with long-term research investments can be challenging.
- Measuring impact: Assessing the RoI of research and thought leadership initiatives is often complex.
Solutions
- Change management: Implement strategies to foster acceptance and enthusiasm for research initiatives, such as involving employees in the planning process and highlighting the benefits.
- Strategic planning: Prioritise research projects that align with business goals and allocate resources accordingly.
- Performance metrics: Develop key performance indicators (KPIs) to evaluate the effectiveness of research and thought leadership efforts, such as tracking innovation outcomes, market position changes, and customer feedback.
How does FPM help you integrate research and thought leadership through its industry-relevant pedagogy?
The Fellow Programme in Management (FPM), approved by AICTE, encourages in-depth interdisciplinary research in current management areas. It aims to create knowledge addressing contemporary business issues, fostering top-quality thought leaders, management thinkers, and contributors in the management domain. The programme welcomes individuals passionate about research, as well as working professionals seeking to enhance their research skills and gain practical insights for addressing today’s business challenges.
The Fellow Programme in Management ensures that the students are aligned with the following competency goals:
- Create original research questions relevant to business and society
- Craft research using appropriate research methodology
- Disseminate knowledge through research and teaching
Key highlights
Innovative pedagogy
The FPM curriculum is developed with experts from top international business schools, emphasising modern methods and deepening domain knowledge. Aligned with leading schools offering Ph.D. in management, the programme’s robust coursework prepares participants for an academic career, empowering them to make significant intellectual contributions in their research areas.
Dive deeper into FPM’s innovative pedagogy.
Flexibility
Scholars in the programme have the flexibility to select their guide/advisor and engage in multidisciplinary research opportunities. You will also be happy to learn that:
- FPM full-time at S.P. Jain Institute of Management and Research (SPJIMR) is a fully-funded residential programme. Every scholar admitted to the full-time programme receives a stipend for the first four years of the programme.
- FPM part-time is a non-residential programme, designed to cater to the scholarly needs of working professionals, both from corporate and academia. They may continue their career journey while pursuing the programme.
Industry connect
With over 43 years of experience in management studies, SPJIMR offers its scholars the chance to connect and expand their network in various sectors, including MNCs, family-managed businesses, and NGOs, alongside a vast alumni community of over 15,000.
Financial aid
The fully-funded FPM provides scholars with a monthly stipend, substantial research grants, and contingency allowances comparable to the leading management institutes.
Learn more about SPJIMR’s financial aid
Location
SPJIMR, located in the heart of India’s ‘commercial capital’ Mumbai, helps access the corporate headquarters in the vicinity.
Curriculum
Course architecture
The foundation research courses, the research methodology courses, and the interdisciplinary and specialisation courses together comprise 42 credits.
Electives
After the successful completion of the electives, you will have a Comprehensive Qualifying Examination (CQE). This will provide you with an opportunity to either opt for:
- Teaching immersion – Here you get a taste of designing a course outline, practice pieces, case studies, and simulations with renowned academicians, researchers, and simulation experts.
Course Codes Subject Name Credits FPM-CO-01 Teaching Immersion 3 FPM-CO-02 Case Writing 3 - Case writing – Others, including part-time students who are interested in consulting or any non-academic career can opt for case writing.
You also have the option to choose from several additional electives anytime during the programme that can be done at your own pace during your FPM journey.
Elective courses can be done at any time during the programme journey
Course architecture – elective
| Domains | Subjects |
|---|---|
| Foundation | People and performance I (PG Lab) |
| Wise innovation | |
| Decision science | |
| Design thinking/ System thinking/ Critical thinking | |
| Science of spirituality and wisdom | |
| ESG and sustainability | |
| Quantitative research method | |
| Seminar on psychology | |
| Public policy | |
| Thinking about Indian and global economic history | |
| Methods | User-generated content analysis |
| Advanced applied mathematics for management research | |
| Python/ R programme workshop | |
| Ethnography | |
| Structural equation modelling | |
| Social network analysis | |
| Experimental research methods | |
| Survey instrument development and mixed method in management research workshop | |
| Specialisation | Specialisation MBA-level course |
| Seminar | Any other seminar courses offered in other specialisation areas |
The seminar courses
Courses to be completed to be eligible to appear for CQE
Course architecture – compulsory
| Domains | Subjects |
|---|---|
| Foundation | Philosophy of science and introduction to research |
| Workshop on plagiarism and research ethics | |
| Microeconomics and developmental economics | |
| Methods | Applied mathematics for management research |
| Quantitative research methods | |
| Qualitative research methods | |
| Academic writing and publication | |
| Pedagogy | |
| Econometrics | |
| Interdisciplinary | Seminar on grand societal challenges |
| Business research in the age of AI | |
| Seminar | Seminars on specialisation topics |
| Master of research thesis (non-classroom, under the guidance of a faculty) |
A foundation-building exercise that helps the students understand the chosen field, in depth. In the case of:
Finance
The FPM at SPJIMR offers seminar courses in accounting, corporate finance, fintech, and methodologies in finance, where we talk about all kinds of methodologies available in the finance domain.
Strategy
FPM offers seminar courses on business strategy, international strategy, theory of the firm, and organisational theory.
Organisation behaviour and human resource management
FPM offers seminar courses on micro-organisational behaviour, workplace diversity and inclusion, organisational theory, and strategic HRM.
Information management
FPM offers seminar courses on emerging technology for management, and information and communication.
Marketing management
FPM offers seminar courses on not just some basic market research, but advanced market research, marketing models, marketing theory, contemporary issues, consumer behaviour at the front lines, marketing strategy, and execution.
The dissertation phase
With this, you come to the end of your research and your scholarly journey at SPJIMR.
Life@SPJIMR
SPJIMR’s Mumbai campus, hosting full-time and modular programmes, offers a unique living experience. It attracts diverse participants from various geographies and industries, enriching the learning environment and fostering a lifelong supportive peer network.
Here’s what the scholars have said
FPM allows scholars to explore their research ideas independently by choosing their guide/advisor from SPJIMR’s experienced faculty.
