Essay 1: Pre-Read

If we were to admit just one more student, make a compelling argument as to why the
student should be you by describing an (only one) achievement in your
personal/professional life that you are most proud of. What did you do that sets you
apart
from
others?
What
did
you
learn?
400
words
After successfully delivering my responsibilities for GenX Nano, I was moved to Tata ZICA. It
was significantly different from my previous projects in terms of design, complexity and scale.
We had to manufacture two completely different platforms (Nano & ZICA) on a single line. The
idea was to optimize the utilisation of existing Nano assets to compensate for its
underperformance. I worked on transforming the single model line to a highly flexible multi
model
line,
which
is
now
an
internal
benchmark.
The project required a different skill set for quality and craftsmanship proving. We were given
training by three experts from Jaguar Land Rover on Dimensional Variance Analysis (DVA). I
lead a team of three for developing the DVA model to identify issues early at the design stage
and have a flawless launch. In our presentation to the Project Director, Technical Director and
Engineering team we proved that design stood at 56% as against the target of 100% PIST
(Percentage Indices within Specified Tolerance). Thereafter for four months we intensively
worked
in
CFTs
to
resolve
issues
and
achieved
the
target.
We developed a new cluster methodology for body accuracy measurement that was 60% faster
and represented true body quality. I lead two events - namely Screwbody (in South Korea) and
FTN (Fit to Normal) - to prove the new methodology. It was also reviewed by Principal
Engineers of Land Rover and they got so impressed by the time saving that they took our
drawings for reference; personally this was my biggest achievement for our two year's hard
work. Subsequently the new method was horizontally deployed in Pune plant. I could learn the
importance of PDCA cycle and difference between a methodological and an unplanned attempt.
It made me a firm believer of the saying, "Quality cannot be coincidence, it can only be the
result
of
concentrated
efforts.
Leading quality maturation for ZICA gave me the exposure to various phases of car making and
many industry experts. I could develop a holistic approach to problem solving which enhanced
my troubleshooting skills. Through ISBs comprehensive course and global faculty pool I intend
to improve my critical and integrative skills that can help me develop a continuum of strategy,
action, review and evaluation for addressing problems in any field. ISBs experimental learning
model combined with my leadership and analytical abilities can be a Launchpad for providing
rapid advancement and actuating an upshift in my career.

Essay 2: Pre-Read
Describe a (only one) defining moment in your personal/professional life when you had
to make a risky decision, and explain what you did and what was the outcome? 300
words
A ship is safe in harbor, but thats not what ships are for. Tata ZICA is an important pillar of our
design-next philosophy and because of my risk taking abilities, I was appointed to lead its VTTO
(Vendor Tooling Try Out) in South Korea for hemming, one of the most critical processes in
aesthetic development of a car. As ZICA was a completely new car, the aesthetic development
was critical for its timely launch.
When we started trials the initial samples were significantly below the expected levels. This was
due to both poor panel quality and equipment issues. Although the key focus for VTTO was to
improve hemming equipment, the maturation could not be started because of substandard part
quality. There were two choices, either we waited for the correct parts or we shipped the
hemming dies without sufficient trials and did the maturation in India. Waiting for three months
would delay the project and shipping the dies without maturation could be risky, time consuming
and cost intensive. Understanding the impact on products time to market, I prepared a risk
mitigation plan for quality improvement in India. I backed my plan with advance cost approvals
and combined it with increasing capability of our tool room and managing hemming experts
throughout
the
trial.
Although I was grilled for quality, cost and timeline pressures, I learnt to balance among the
three. I understood importance of prioritization for delivering quality targets. This not only
improved my debugging abilities but also enhanced my managerial skills. Customer focus
became an important variable in my decision making. My biggest learning about focus on
contingency plans came from the decisions which failed to meet our expectations. Finally, as a
team, the plant is now capable of a complete maturation cycle and the learnings are useful
during mass manufacturing.

Essay 3: Pre-Read
What are your post ISB plans and how will your past experiences and the Post Graduate
Programme in Management (PGP) contribute to taking you there? 300 words
Having gained experience in technical manufacturing and having a good sense of challenged I
would like to combine it with a better sense of business and leverage it to work within supply
chain or product management roles to better purpose my skills. I intend to work in e-commerce,
manufacturing or FMCG industries offering roles in Strategic Planning, General Management,
Operations or Logistics. Thereafter, I plan to work upwards towards heading operations for a
multinational firm. In the long term my plan is to become a functional expert and work as an
independent
consultant
in
Strategy
and
Operations.
In the past three years I have extensively worked upon product development of three passenger
vehicles. Right from concept finalization through styling, design, prototype development to mass
manufacturing, I have seen the complete cycle of car making. On the basis of previous
learnings, I could identify risks early in project that helped us prepare for a flawless launch.
Having attained the technical skills, I would like to develop my business outlook that will catapult
me in a role that that fits me better and drives me towards my long term goals.
I strongly believe the Indian School of Business is among the few colleges in Asia-Pacific that
can give me the global outlook and career upshift I am searching for. The highbrow global
faculty pool can help me reinforce fundamentals and steer my career in the right direction. The
comprehensive course and experimental learning model can help me learn better management
practices. Core courses in Operations Management will refine my knowledge and the LEAD
program will fortify my leadership skills. The ecosystem at ISB would be a strong boost to my
immediate goals and the dense alumni network can help me establish my medium and long
term goals.

Essay 4: Pre-Read - OPTIONAL

Please use this space to provide any other information not covered elsewhere in the application that
could significantly impact your candidature at ISB.
Note: It is not necessary for you to write this essay. Please use this space only if there is something
really significant that you would like us to know.
(200 words max)
In 2011 (third year of undergraduate) I was elected as the Convener of Mindbend 2011, the
annual technical festival of NIT Surat. It was renowned as the biggest technical festival of the
state and coincidentally, its 2011 version coincided with the golden jubilee of my undergraduate
school.
Mindbend over 16 years had witnessed a diverse national crowd of more than 1000 students.
We decided not only to triple in terms of numbers but also to scale-up the events, prizes money
and quality of lectures. In order to promote innovative measures from budding technocrats we
partnered with leading industries and colleges. Featuring the golden jubilee, two international
teams performed at the opening ceremony. The event saw a mega quiz and an unconventional
film making event. We also had a social cause E-Wastage drive associated with the festival.
I led a team of 6 core members, 12 event heads and more than 200 volunteers. For the four-day
event we generated a sponsorship of more than 18 lakhs. I personally looked into critical
departments as event design, sponsorship and publicity. Mindbend 2011 was budgeted at 43
lakhs, twice of its previous version and four times its older versions.