Dilemma of Management - random thoughts

After having read innumerable blogs of working professionals (including the perspicaciously endowed IIM / ISB graduates), am yet to understand the cause of all pervasive dissatisfaction engulfing these worthies. From an outsider's perspective, these guys ostensibly seem to have the best of all worlds ( grand sals, good career, flashy lifestyles). But the picture ain't so rosy.

They vent their existential angst & frsutration in their blogs which is very depressing. Why do such brilliant people reach the end of their patience and satisfaction levels so soon - within a couple years of passing out. Is it real dissatisfaction or is it overwhelming ambition???
or is it a case of thinking too much of themselves, taking one's careers and education a bit too seriously? or too much faith in their limited abilities -

The question is are they unequal to tasks assigned to them (in a +ve way) -or are they taught something far superior vis-a-vis job requirements??? Are the jobs mundane as compared to their vast intelligence, wisdom and skills ?? or to put it simplistically - are they the right people in the wrong jobs??? are we equipping them with too many skills or the wrong kind of skill set -

The foot soldiers of our industry seem to have too many weapons to fight their battles. If so, it calls for a revamp of our education system (especially in our much touted best schools of management). The most common grouse is that nobody seems to add any value to their jobs -be it in consulting, accounting, taxation, FMCG , banking or marketing. Isn't this a systemic failure of the 'Best' and leading business schools of the country?

The overwhelming impression one gets is these bright management graduates feel that they are doing clerical - once the novelty factor wears off. Why is it so??

Let's begin with the CAT - the competition is immense, the standards very high, 90 odd questions in 120 minutes spanning logical reasoning, mathematics and English language. A tough task requiring months of preparation. Focus of examinatio is on speed & accuracy. Is this level of speed and accuracy called for in manager's day-to-day decsion making?? Am afraid not (I hope am wrong) .

Once you are in one of these elite instituions, it s 24 hour endless slog-lectures, assignments, workshops, projects, presentations, festivals, quiz and what not. And all this as a preapration for what??? Is this effort in synch with the life after graduation???

end of the day, an MBA is just a finishing school. It is not and cannot be a substitute for learning the finer nuances of economics. Finance (may be yes ) but Economics -NO. It definitely is not Diminishing marginal utility of intelligence. Marginal utility of a commodity declines only if one has too much of it and when it cannot be put to construcitve use - i presume the same does not hold true for knowledge ( learnt in the MBA school). The use and utility of knowledge is infinite.

I presume either the knowledge is limited or teaching archaic / jargonistic (or may be it just states the obvious) , adding little value in itself. The real world does not work on management principles (fundas). I presume this assessment carries some sense (not only because its mine), for if it were not so, how does one account for the Collapse of Lehman brothers, Bear sterns, Freddie Mac - and Morgan stanley and Goldman are not in good shape either. am reasonably confident that these instituions were being run by a lot of wise men who graduated from these august instituions - the collapse is not surprising - what is more strage is despite indications, these wsie men could do nothing to stop the rot. It surely is a reflection of their ability , their education, and understanding. No humility and all hubris collapses the market. Human greed and desire fuelled by management education.

The media and public opinion gets swayed so much on government failures - be it delivery of utilites or law and order or disater management. We talk of government reforms , systemic failure, revamp of governance. Why don't we talk of these issues with the same sense of purpose and sincerity - just because it does not affect the common man. Isn't a 85 billion USD bail out coming from the Tax payers money. What do we call it - 'Socialist Capitalism', enlightened Capitalism, Inclusive socisalsim??

Why have these double standards in public life - one set of rules for the market elite and another for the poor government sector? Is creation of wealth for handful via investment banking an excuse for such disasters??