Education blog by Pearson India

Owing to the vast syllabus of Ancient Indian History, it becomes quite challenging for Civil Services’ aspirants to completely understand, comprehend and retain the complexities involved in the ancient Indian history. Also, many come under the spell of bandwagon effect of leaving this major pie of the syllabus, claiming less questions from this section. Even those who gird up their loins to bang on this major topic, focuses the preparation only from the Prelims point of view not from the Mains perspective. Let us try to analyze first why civil services’ aspirants need to take care of ancient Indian history in both Prelims and Mains.

In the syllabus of Preliminary examination, it is categorically mentioned ‘History of India ‘which very well includes the ancient Indian history. But, in Main’s General Studies Paper-1 syllabus, the term ancient history is nowhere mentioned directly instead ‘Indian Heritage, art and culture from ancient till modern times is prescribed’. Any student can not understand the art and culture of any age, era or epoch till the time he/she is not aware of the societal and economical set up of that part of the history.

Moreover, history is a chain of incidents, stories of victory and defeat, rise and fall of empires and events which marked the landmark changes in human life. Therefore, it always advisable to read and comprehend history from its beginning. Therefore, those who decide to chase their dream of serving the nation must go through an arduous journey and should cover very inch of this vast syllabus without leaving and speck or corner.

Some famous myths popular amongst students for avoiding studying ancient Indian history;

1. It is very time consuming as the syllabus of ancient Indian history is humongous and challenging to study and remember.
   
2. It is wastage of time to focus on this as few questions appear from this section as well as this part holds no relevance in Main Examination.
   
3. More weightage should be on Modern Indian History because maximum questions come from this chunk of the syllabus.
   

It is true that studying ancient Indian History requires lots of patience and it is also complex to interlink and complete jigsaw puzzle to fully view the history in a kaleidoscopic view. There are some tips with which a candidate can study and learn ancient Indian history without any hiccup.

1. Try to give a cursory glance at the table of contents first instead of jumping to chapter out rightly. This would give you an insight about what is going to be unfurled in coming pages.
2. Avoid stressing yourself at the first stage of reading, just give a bird’s eye view and keep on marking the things which are new or difficult.
   
3. The second reading will be more mature than the first one as while going through the chapters, one knows the challenging areas. Keep a note book along with for making small notes in case someone wants to.
   
4. In the third round of the book, the clarity regarding concepts, incidents, regimes etc. will begin to emerge.
   
5. At this level of Tier-3 learning start solving the previous years’ questions and through the process of backtracking start revising those topics which are marks resistant. There is no need to cram, mug up or forcibly fix the things into the frame.
   
6. Once there is clarity of concepts, learning will be easy by default and excellence will pave way.
   
7. It is advisable to start and finish one book of ancient history at a time. Sometimes, some aspirants keep on changing the resources in the search of finding the best one and they end up wasting time.
   
8. Make small note of very important historical events which will be extremely helpful at the time of revision. Do not squirrel away notes so that they are out of reach when someone needs it at the hour of revision.
   
9. Start interlinking all the parts of history with art and culture. Nothing happens or happened in vacuum. Each action is co-related with the other and has impact on society.
   
10. ‘Study’ a subject not just ‘Read’! The scope of the term study is very wide in terms of understanding the topics so the UPSC says General Studies not General Knowledge. Study ignites thought, thought propels action and action results in creation of history.

Just give a try to this novel way of learning Ancient History with our ‘A History of Ancient India’ by Ajeet Jha which is highly worked, widely researched and resource rich book on history of India’s glorious past. This book is supplemented with flowcharts, tables etc. at the end of every chapter which helps in taming this lofty syllabus. All the Best!

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The countdown has begun where each moment is leading towards the D-day.

Stress, anxiety, pressure, expectations, hope, fear; such emotions may mar the complete preparation of aspirants. It is pertinent at this juncture to follow some critical tips to sail through the examination seamlessly.

Here are some last-minute tips:

1. Be confident
   Confidence is a virtue. It means striking a fine balance between being aimlessly ambitious and hopelessly helpless. Try to hammer out a condition of your mind where you know you can do it, if not this time, maybe next time.
   
2. ‘Attempt’ is only a number
   Fear of exhausting number of attempts cause useless pain and agony. Also, the false prestige attached to qualify the paper in first attempt causes worthless pressure as well as the guilt for not being able to clear exam in second, third or fourth attempt leads to diminished self-worth.UPSC has given some number of attempts (more or less) to all candidates, considering the difficulty level of this whole journey of examination. So, try to make maximum of these attempts. Do not degrade yourself with the increasing number of attempts.
   
3. Fear of failure
   Most commonly discussed, widely disseminated and categorically talked statement is ‘One should get rid of fear of failure’. Fearing the failure is not a negative sentiment, it is natural. But such negative thoughts drain energy. Therefore, instead of fearing the failure why not start visualizing the fruits of success. Shift your focus on more positive thoughts than on controlling unbearable negative thoughts.
   
4. Health is Wealth
   Maintain your circadian rhythm. Keep yourself hydrated and avoid binging on junk food. Rest your body and mind. Read, revise and rest before the test.
   
5. Stay Positive
   Try to energize yourself by thinking positive and hopeful about your result and future. Stay confident and motivated till the end
   

All the best!

By-
Sherry A Singh
Senior Editor Acquisition- Test Prep

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For a bright future, it is quintessential to make most of your abilities, identify opportunities and stay ahead of the curve. In today’s cutting-edge scenario, where everyone wants to reach the top, one ability that forms the pathway to success is your proficiency in the English language. A person skilled in the English language is confident and has higher chances to grab lucrative career opportunities than others.

Eighty percent of the world’s electronically stored information is in English. Employers seek people that have a strong command of the language because they are more presentable and comprise better professional capacities. Therefore, people continuously work to improve their English language skills to unlock lucrative career prospects.

Let’s do a deeper dive to understand how improving English is helpful for a growing career:

• Majority of Jobs Require Good Command of English: A good command of the English language is often featured as a prerequisite in the selection process for most of the highly-skilled jobs. For this, many aspirants also tend to mention this skill in their resume. If a person wants to be a suitable fit for a high position, a good foundation and fluency of the language are imperative. 
• Assures Cognitive Development: It has been observed that bilingual people have a broader perspective and a different thinking style. They are more efficient in remembering things, better aware of their surroundings, adaptable to changes, and have an ability to focus on important things. If a candidate has these traits, he will be benefitted in the long run and become a valuable employee for the organization. 
• Provides Opportunities for International Exposure: In the era of globalization, all cross-border communication is done in English. More than two million people speak English and a vast number of people can speak English as a second language. If you have a good hold of the language, you will be able to grab better job opportunities abroad. Good command of the language will add to your interpersonal effectiveness and broaden your understanding of the perceptions of people with different backgrounds and cultures. 
• Help you Earn More: There is no denying fact that English speakers earn more money than non-English speakers. Having an excellent command of the language can unleash your opportunities for a well-paid and interesting career and ensure a positive future ahead. 
• Help you Grab Leadership Roles & Responsibilities: English serves as a stepping stone to leadership responsibilities and career advancement. No matter if an aspirant wants to make a career in technical industry or management industry, the importance of English cannot be denied. It has been observed that many professionals (from B.Tech to MCA) take up language improvement courses to polish their communication skills and reach the top management position. Good command in English makes them effective communicators and adds more value to their overall knowledge.

You can check out Pearson MePro – a personalized English Learning Program, to enhance your English skills and experience the new age of language learning. It will take your professional development to a level ahead and help you tap prosperous career opportunities abroad.

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Aspirants who have achieved success in IIT-JEE have stressed on the importance of strategic preparation, rigorous practice and dedication while preparing for the examination. From solving sample papers to practicing mock tests, students leave no stone unturned to crack IIT-JEE and climb the ladder of success. Out of everything, mock tests are highly recommended by experts and toppers as these tests provide real-time test experience to students and help them revise the syllabus better before the real JEE main exams.

If you want to excel in the examinations, you need to practice in the right direction. The key to right preparation is thorough practice and the same is enabled by JEE main mock tests. Mock tests help students to strengthen the crucial topics of each subject and make them develop a winning exam temperament.

Let’s understand in a detailed manner how JEE main mock tests can help you score high:

• Familiarizes Students with Real Exam Pattern: This is one of the topmost benefits of solving JEE main mock tests. If students are familiar with the exam environment, they can eliminate unnecessary fear from their mind and perform better in the exams. Mock tests help them get accustomed to the exam pattern and provide a glimpse of their performance during the real test. Through this, they can observe their preparation level and work hard to improve their problem areas.
• Eliminates the room for mistakes: No matter how hard students have worked for their IIT-JEE, some parameters like lack of attention, exam stress, and performance fear can lead them to mark an incorrect response. By practicing the JEE Main Mock Test, you can identify your mistakes and correct them. It will not only give you an idea of which topics need more practice, but also allow you to make a note of your mistakes. You will develop an ability to solve the maximum number of questions with no mistakes and accelerate your preparation.
• Enables Revision for Complete Syllabus: Students should utilize their time by practicing a lot of mock tests to recognize their weak areas and bring a significant improvement in their preparation. Each time you solve a mock test, you go through all the important topics of the syllabus. It not only encourages you to revise better but also aids you in brushing up all the topics in an effective way. This habit will help you avoid repeating your mistakes in the actual JEE main examination.
• Instils the Art of Time Management: In JEE Main examinations, students have to solve a total of 90 questions in three hours. No matter how strong the concepts are, attempting all the questions accurately, without any experience, appears like tough nut to crack. Time management skills coupled with good speed are also needed to score well in JEE Main. In this situation, mock tests play a very crucial role. By giving a fair idea of the exam pattern, these tests improve the speed and accuracy of students and maximize the chances of completing the paper on time.
• Builds a Positive Attitude: Practicing several mock tests on the current pattern of JEE will habituate you with the actual exam environment and enhance your confidence level. These tests are designed to teach students the art of time management and thus improving performance. Gaining excellence in these major aspects will not only make you confident about your performance but also help you combat nervousness and reinforce a positive attitude.

You can check out Pearson MyInsights – an adaptive assessment for the preparation of IIT-JEE. By providing 4 levels of testing, 500+ topic tests, 80+ chapter tests, 20 mock tests, and previous 10 years JEE papers, it makes aspirants IIT-JEE ready. In addition to this, it also provides a real-time test experience to the aspirants with analytics and personalized scoring. In this way, aspirants get to examine their strengths and weaknesses in a better way.

All the best for your IIT-JEE preparation!

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While preparing for IIT-JEE, it is important to understand that there is no room for error as competition is getting tougher with each passing day. Every year, lakhs of talented aspirants appear for this national level engineering exam with a hope of giving wings to their dreams.

Though getting success in the IIT-JEE examination is a win-win situation for any aspirant, it takes immense hard work and dedication to achieve success in the same. But there is a huge misconception among candidates that only by studying assiduously, they can taste success. Although hard work is essential, few parameters should also be taken into consideration while preparing for IIT-JEE examination. 

Below mentioned are some effective tips that will help you to achieve success in your IIT-JEE preparation:

• Focus on the Basics: It has been said that the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. To excel in the examination, you need to strengthen your basic concepts. After understanding the basic concepts, you can gradually shift towards the advanced concepts.
• Time Management is Quintessential: Strategic management of time is one of the crucial aspects for JEE main preparation. For this, plan a time table and strictly adhere to it. Try to finish the syllabus within the stipulated time. Decide that in how many days you will be able to finish a topic as per the difficulty level. Make sure before proceeding towards the new topic, your previous topics are clear. 
• Refer to Previous Year Question Papers & Topic Wise Coverage: It is highly suggested to the candidates to refer to previous year topics and make a study plan accordingly. Try to analyze previous year question papers and understand the topics which carry more weightage. To know the level of your preparation, practice sample papers. It will help you figure out how much time you will take in solving each question and provide a clear picture of how you will manage your time. The more you practice, the more you will get to know about your improvement areas.
• Revise to Maintain Preparation Consistency: The benefit of revision is twofold as it not only helps to remember important facts and methodologies but also reduces the anxiety levels and builds confidence. It allows students to be able to recall important facts when needed and helps in coping with exam anxiety. For an effective revision, detach yourself from all the possible distractions such as entertainment gadgets or mobile phones and find a peaceful place. Instead of jumping to the difficult topics first, revise subjects you know well to boost your confidence. You can also make a revision plan and ensure that it is flexible so that you can spend extra time on those topics that are taking longer time than expected.
• Stick to the Authentic Study Material: It is important to stick to the authentic study material while preparing for the national level engineering exam. As the marketplace is flooded with a lot of books and study material, having access to the right kind of study material eases the preparation struggle for most of the aspirants. Studying from the correct books hold a lot of significance because students cannot afford to waste their precious time with irrelevant books and course material.

Pearson MyInsights – an adaptive assessment for IIT-JEE, is the best way to prepare for this exam. It empowers aspirants by providing 4 levels of testing, 500+ topic tests, 80+ chapter tests, 20 mock tests, and previous 10 years JEE papers. With analytics and personalized scoring, it provides a real-time test experience to the aspirants, helps them know their strengths and weaknesses, and makes them IIT-JEE ready.

• Build a Peer Group with Similar Goals: A peer group that matches your goals is the best way to stay motivated during the preparation of IIT-JEE. This practice will not only help you stay competitive and up to date with the exam patterns but also help you develop a positive approach throughout your journey.
• Set some time for enjoyment and relaxation: Apart from hard work, it is important to stay relaxed and fit. Studying hard is good but overdoing anything can be counter-productive. If your mind is calm, you will perform much better. Make sure you get adequate sleep, practice yoga, and meditation daily, and take time off to be with your loved ones. Take a balanced diet to ensure good health.  

Also, it is very important to stay aware of any changes in the exams introduced by the concerned authorities. Thoroughly understand the exam pattern, syllabus, marking scheme, etc. so that you can divide your time accordingly. In addition to this, don’t let stress control you! Burdening yourself unnecessarily with stress can hamper your preparation. 

Just stay calm and prepare for the examination!

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Our world is becoming smarter by the day with our phones, gadgets and now even our homes! Now it is time for our classrooms to become smarter, too. Implementing a smart class solution in your school may seem like a daunting proposition that is expensive to boot, but in fact, the advantages of these innovative teaching methodologies can only help your school reap great benefits. Let’s take a look at a few reasons why a smart class is the best bet for your school:

1. highly effective learning outcomes: As any teacher knows, children process visuals better and a class that uses innovative learning strategies such as videos, graphs or 3D images are bound to make students more curious about the subject and learn effectively. Engaging with the subject matter helps students think in the abstract and relate with what they have learnt. This is better than simply being presented with a teacher’s explanation. In fact, research shows that implementing smart class solutions like MyPedia contributes to positive attitudes towards learning.                                                                      
2. Simplifies complex subjects: Certain complex subjects are much easier to teach through the medium of immersive learning. Adopting digital classroom technology for one’s class makes it easier for teachers to teach students and thus enhance their learning.          
   
3. Easier to plan lessons: Most smart learning solutions come with teaching plans that combines the coursebook, application book, digital content and assessments. This allows the teacher to focus on ensuring that the students are thorough with concepts rather than figuring out minor details such as what or when to teach.                                                                   
   
4. Easier assessments: Instead of spending valuable time and energy on creating question papers, teachers can use the smart class solutions’ built-in assessment plans. These are mapped to the school’s education board and exam plan. They  are also analyzed on difficulty and cognitive. Both, the school and the teacher get access to performance analysis that can be broken down according to subjects, grades, students and the school.                                                    
   
5. Helps all learners: Anyone who has taught knows that no two students are alike. With interactive teaching methods such as smart classes, teachers can reach out to all the students. Slow learners or those with learning disabilities benefit particularly from smart classes. These classes help them learn at their own pace by making lessons accessible online. Reports generated by the smart classes also help teachers identify students who are having trouble with certain subjects so that they can be given extra attention.           
   
6. Gets the parents involved: Parents are an important part of a student’s learning process, but it is simply not possible to reach out to each and every one of them individually to keep them abreast with their child’s learning and performance. A smart class helps break down this barrier with apps and portals that help parents stay updated with their child’s progress in the classroom. 
   

Smart classes transform a classroom into a space where both, the learning and teaching process are interactive and fun. The innovations make life easier for both teachers and the school administration and thus helps them provide the best possible learning experience to their students.

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For most of us, classroom education was limited to the traditional blackboard and chalk. The stark contrast of black on white (coloured for special subjects or topics) was the mode of learning and through which generations of stu-dents have  gained an education. With the arrival of a new, technological age, several schools and educational institutions started the shift to white-boards. Now, instead of coating the entire class in a fine layer of chalk dust, teachers could easily use markers to teach their students important concepts. Shortly, smart boards were introduced. These technologically advanced learning systems allowed lessons to be taught with colourful 3D diagrams, videos and other immersive learning methods. But is old still gold? How does a traditional blackboard compare with an interactive smart board? Let’s find out!

Improved interaction and collaboration: Unlike chalk boards, where learning was a one-way interaction (where the teacher taught, and students learned,) interactive smartboard solutions such as MyPedia, increase and simplify the levels of collaboration between students and teachers. The use of a black-board is limited to a single user at any given time, which makes it difficult for the content to be modified or annotated without wiping off the old lessons. In comparison, interactive smart boards allow the content to be annotated, ma-nipulated, made available through an app and so much more. This makes learning a collaborative effort and increases the student’s curiosity and urge to learn, resulting in more effective learning outcomes.

Enhanced visualisation for teachers and students: Research shows that humans respond to and process visual data better than any other type of da-ta. In fact, the human brain processes images 60,000 times faster than text, and 90 per cent of information transmitted to the brain is visual (https://bit.ly/1oUKT4R). humans are visual creatures who are more likely to learn better with visual cues. This means that students are more likely to en-joy and retain lessons where videos and quality images are used to teach. Instead of stark black and white 2D images on a chalkboard, interactive smart learning tools have made it possible for teachers to incorporate high definition images, video and graphics into their lessons. This has not only made learning more visually attractive and engaging, but it has also made it easier to explain difficult concepts in class.

Helps parents keep up with their child’s learning: With chalkboards, a par-ent’s knowledge of what was taught in class was limited to what their child has told them or through direct conversations with the teacher. Blended learning means that lessons are stored online and available on apps. This ensures that parents stay up to date with their child’s progress and educa-tion.

Encourages learning: Anyone who has studied with a chalkboard under-stands the feeling when the teacher wiped away the lesson for the day be-fore one had a chance to fully note down what was taught. With the advent of interactive smart boards, students no longer have to face this fear. All les-sons are stored on the cloud and available for learning whenever a student wishes to access it. This is also helpful for students who have learning disa-bilities or have missed classes.

The nostalgia of a chalkboard is undoubtedly a hard one to shake off, but that doesn’t mean that present students should have to learn the same way. Smartboards are a huge improvement in the field of teaching and can make learning and teaching fun for everyone involved.

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Humans are visual creatures. What we learn from being taught visually is retained better than something that is read out to us. This why the technology of smart classes is such a boon for the students of the 21st century. Let’s take a look at what students and teachers can expect from a digital classroom.

A more interactive way of learning: Instead of staring at chalk drawn diagrams on a blackboard, students can now experience the subject in high-definition on smart screens, making the learning interactive and fun. Teachers can use interactive modules and visually appealing methods of teaching like videos, virtual reality and presentations to help their students better grasp the subject. Immersing the students in the subjects help them learn and retain the subject matter better. After all, textbooks can be fun to read, but nothing can compare seeing the jungles of the Amazon in high definition video to seeing a picture of it in a book!
Help for those who struggle with traditional learning methods: Not all students enjoy the chalk and board teaching methodology and it can be difficult to capture their attention and make them learn. The videos and other interactive modules of a smart classroom work better at capturing their imagination and their attention. Smart classes are also beneficial for students with learning disabilities as they can easily grasp what is being taught through the medium of video and interactive modules.
Saved time: The immersive/blended learning of a smart class is also a time-saving boon for teachers. Instead of wasting time drawing complicated diagrams on the board they can simply pull up richly detailed and accurate diagrams from the smartboard’s memory and use the time saved to pay more attention to the students.
A safer option for teachers and students: Inhaling chalk dust day after day can be detrimental to the health of both teachers and students. Smart classes are easier to teach and have no such associated problems.An easier way for students to catch up: Unlike a chalk and blackboard classroom, where a swipe of the duster can erase the teachings of the day, smart classroom stores the lessons of the day on an accessible platform. Thus, students who were absent or those who wish to review what was taught in the classroom can easily do so from the comfort of their homes. Parents also benefit from this as they can keep an eye on their child’s education at any given time.
Increased student-teacher interaction: The medium of smart classes ignites the sense of curiosity in students. This, in turn, encourages them to ask questions and interact with the teacher allowing for a more holistic and interactive learning process with participation from both sides.

With the proliferation of screens in our daily lives, students of today are exposed to a more visual medium from early childhood. Schools must look toward classroom solutions for better learning outcomes in the form of smart classes.

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We have all read about the risks in entrepreneurship, heard about them, seen people take them (or at least closely observed a dear friend who took several risks in his entrepreneurial journey). We have all seen the elusive successes and also heard the stories of crashed-and-burned. For those of us who harbour entrepreneurial ambitions, what does this mean? That Zero Moment of Truth (Z.M.O.T.) when one has to take a call of leaving his job, breaking his bank or making a crucial decision on whether to invest money in product or marketing – is overwhelming to many. This essay addresses the concept of risk in this context.

Often the job of an entrepreneur is described to be that of risk-seeking. After all, in the game of disruption and displacement of an existing market or the creation of a new market/segment, there is bound to be some risk. There are many articles that provide advice on the risks which entrepreneurs need to take – get used to life without a paycheck, sacrifice personal time, risk personal savings, etc. And then there are family and friends guiding one to either take the jump or be cautious enough to save ample capital and think of the downsides before going down the route. What is the balanced view between the sail and stay ashore recommendations? The real answer is none. A generalised view doesn’t fit the situation of an average individual wanting to take the entrepreneurial route; it does not provide for the context of the individual taking the call. Risk appetite is a personal decision, and it’s much like the running stamina (or love/hate for running) for any individual.

ALSO READ: How to live life without a paycheck, and should you?

In this essay, we bring the views both in and against the notion of risk by quoting popular reads.

The ‘Ayes’ point out various notions including:

1. The future what-if question: What if I had tried this when I was XX years old?
2. It’s tough to disrupt the status quo without taking risks; lack of risk appetite is what’s stopping the incumbent from innovation.
   
3. You learn by taking risks.
   
4. By being ready to seize the opportunity, you will likely be a trailblazer.
   
   

ALSO READ: The various stages of an early entrepreneur’s journey. Where to focus?

And the ‘Nays’,

1. Protect your downside than thinking of the upside (same as the bird-in-hand logic).
   
2. Entrepreneurship is a sustained journey, and you would lose patience along the way, so it’s not worth starting if you are going to fade 6-12 months later.
   
3. It’s a toll not just on you but also on your family and loved ones.
   
4. Displacing heavy giants is not easy and involves a great idea, execution, timing and in some cases, luck. Are you ready for taking the chance of all of these going right for you together?
   

So when one goes through the opinions of the ayes and nays, he is left struggling for the right choice. After all, in some sense, it’s the appeal of the mind vs the heart. So how does one really make a choice? We bring reference to an alternate perspective provided by Adam Grant in his book Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World. The book provides many examples and perspectives, but two of them particularly stand out in reference to the context of this essay.

First, Adam Grant talks about his decision to not invest in a startup where the founders were still in school and looking for internships/jobs to cut risk in case the startup didn’t take off. In Adam’s thinking, they didn’t have enough skin in the game or risk appetite for him to back them up using his personal capital. The startup went to become Warby Parker – an American online retailer of prescription glasses and sunglasses valued above a billion dollars and has raised $300 MM to date. Adam talks a lot about Warby Parker in his book to explain how the founders cut risk at various stages including the risk of carrying inventory.

Second, Adam talks about risk in internal enterprises. This is highly relevant as many readers of this essay may be seeking intrapreneurial ambitions (or want to help reinvent things where they work). In this example, he talks about Carmen Medina at CIA and how her plans to reinvent collaboration around intelligence gathering were considered too risky. She failed only to come back many years later and revive the project to be a big success.

The interesting view that Adam provides is that the role of an entrepreneur is perhaps not to not take risks but instead avoid it – systematically. If one chooses to ascribe to this view, then the key is to identify that risk.

If you wish to become a successful entrepreneur, have an idea in mind or are looking for one, it would be a good idea to learn from a professional course meant to help budding or early-stage entrepreneurs. For more information about the London Business School Entrepreneurial Edge programme, visit us.

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With the emerging technological advancements and fundamental shifts in supply chain activities, it is safe to say that the supply chain landscape is not the same as it was a decade ago. New evolutions in technology such as 3-D printing, autonomous vehicles, the Internet of Things (IoT), big data analytics and omni-channel retailing have brought about tremendous change in supply chain management.
Take the e-commerce giant Amazon for example, which has been working on a drone-based delivery system. The retail corporation Walmart has also developed a global satellite system that collects and shares its real-time store data. While these companies have taken that early step towards redefining their supply chain for optimal success in the future, most industries are finding it difficult to prepare themselves for today’s ever-evolving, exponentially more complex supply chain industry.The question is why?
According to industry analysts and experts, so much progress so quickly calls for new skills in supply chain management and leadership. Unfortunately, most supply chain organizations are unable to meet this demand currently.
Hence, the need of the hour is an advanced workforce who can integrate innovation and technology with their working knowledge of supply chain tools, activities, and goals to carry out strategic, higher-level supply chain activities in the very near future.
Here are some skills that are required for a new-age supply chain manager:

1. Understanding of Information Systems

In the words of Satya Nadella, CEO, Microsoft, “Information Technology is at the core of how you do your business and how your business model evolves itself.” This stands true for supply chain industry as well. Thus, it is important for supply chain managers of tomorrow to gain expertise and adeptness in packaged software systems like WMS, ERP, TMS, etc. for better decision support.

2. Technological Expertise

In the wake of technological revolution, it has become imperative for supply chain managers to gain knowledge in areas like Artificial Intelligence, the Internet of Things, Robotics and Automation, and know how to effectively utilise them to advance their supply chain. Take Alibaba for instance, which was able to reduce the human workforce at one its facilities by 70% by increasing robotic labour.

3. Strategic Planning and Big Thinking

Another capability quickly becoming indispensable in supply chain leaders is data analytics mentality or Big Thinking. The knowledge of advanced analytics provides them the ability to draw on the data sets and information created by supply chain activities to anticipate market trends and make better, faster, holistic decisions while say, optimising their production runs and distribution plans.

4. End-to-End Supply Chain Management

Unlike a few years ago, a supply chain manager today needs to understand the complete end-to-end supply chain – from sourcing to production, planning to delivery and service – through collaboration and networking. This real-time experience can enable future managers to align all key supply chain partners, identify potential risks and address issues as they arise for effective operations.

5. Risk Management Expertise

As new and improved products, processes and services are entering the market, risk management is fast becoming an important asset for supply chain managers. While different businesses will have an array of different potential risks, the knowledge of risk management can help supply chain managers ask the right questions relating to business, quantify risks, and build contingencies effectively.

6. Global Leadership

As the supply chain is becoming global owing to the technological developments and changes in the market, it has become vital for supply chain managers of tomorrow to develop a holistic leadership style. The ability to control the entire supply chain process as a single point of command, and work seamlessly on a multi-channel, multi-partner basis will enable them to drive change and action.

Currently, supply chain management positions are growing at nearly 270,000 opportunities per year, and there is only one skilled candidate for every six job openings. By 2030, the volume of jobs in the supply chain industry would have grown exponentially and the ratio of qualified candidates to job openings could be as high as 1:9.
The question is will you qualify to run the supply chains of 2030? How would you thrive, and not just survive in the rapidly changing and rather complex supply chain environment?If you wish to accelerate your career and master these new-age skills to prepare yourself to lead the supply chain industry to 2030 and beyond, MIT’s Supply Chain Management Program is just the right choice for you. For more details, click here.

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