Interview with Dr. Padhmanabhan Vijayaraghavan
Dr. Padhmanabhan Vijayaraghavan
Associate Professor at GIM
Goa, India
Q1. Please share your educational and professional journey with us?
I did my BA in Company Law and secretarial Practice which was followed by Masters in Business Management. Post that, in the year 2000, I joined PSG College of Arts & Science, Coimbatore, where I taught BBM students for a short period of time. It gave me a flavor of teaching; however, I felt a need to gain industry experience. I quit teaching and took a short stint in industry. Between 2001- 2006, worked with couple of organizations including a startup. Later in 2006, I reentered into teaching and thereafter my journey in teaching was consistent. I joined GRD Institute of Management, Coimbatore as lecturer.
I completed my M.Phil in 2008 and subsequently I did a FDP in IIM(A) in 2008. It’s a quite intense short general management program. In fact, it helped to relook at my teaching journey. Thanks to wonderful teachers who facilitated my learning. In 2011, I joined Goa Institute of Management which has offered me a wonderful opportunity to learn and grow. In 2015, I completed my Ph.D in Bharathiyar University, Coimbatore. At present, I am thoroughly appreciating my association with Goa Institute of Management
Q2. What did attract you towards teaching instead of any corporate job?
I found meaning in the teaching profession. It gave me time to think, read, research, write, and consult.
Q3. You had done “Faculty Development Programme” twice from IIM, Ahemdabad. How was it helpful in your career and skills??
As I had mentioned earlier, FDP is a quite intensive program which gave me a chance to redefine my teaching career. The first FDP in 2008 was in General Management program which provided opportunity to learn case method of teaching across number of general management courses. Our days and night went on reading case studies and research paper. Faculties trained our brain in practicing taking decision making and building perspectives.
We were trained to write case studies, using varieties of pedagogical tools to facilitate sessions. It helped us to appreciate the significance of research as an important pillar in the teaching journey. The second FDP in 2017 was OB/HR domain focused program. It gave immense opportunity to read through several OB/HR research papers and case method of teaching in the domain.
Again, it was quite intense in nature. In both the FDPs, I always enjoyed the visiting and spending my time in the library. I often get amazed by the collections. Personally, IIM(A) is like a monastery for me where I get undisturbed time to focus on reading. I treat FDPs as my learning retreat.
Q4. How do you excel students in their academics and career?
I believe in constructivist approach in facilitating learning where learner become the subject of inquiry. I emphasis critical questioning as a method to discover knowledge. I would encourage students build perspective in their approach.
Q5. What are your research interests?
My research interests are in the area of individual & group dynamics, Competency Mapping, Organization Change and development. My curiosity is in observing individual & group processes as a phenomenon and its impact on the group and organizational performance. I see myself as an organizational story gatherer and writes case studies that explore the processes at the self, interpersonal and system levels.
Q6. What was your Thesis topic in Ph.D? Please share some brief about it?
I studied work group characteristics of women Self groups which were involved in income yielding activities. I researched them through the lens Hackman and Oldham Job Characteristics model. As the group are self-managed and self-directed work group, I was curious to understand what made them functional as well as dysfunctional.
Q7. Which one thing do you want to change in yourself and why?
I am happy with whatever I am! However, I also accept the fact that I keep evolving.
Q8. Tell us about one of the moments which changed your perspective towards life?
The moment when I left comfort of home.
Q9. Which one skill do you like most about any MBA person/Management Aspirant?
Critical thinking skill.
Get more about Dr. Padhmanabhan Vijayaraghavan @
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/padhmanabhan-v-9455a318/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Padhmanabhan
