Ask Sameer Kamat | Author of 'Beyond The MBA Hype'

MBA
102
sulzirsha Says
From his point of view,western management,other religion,countries are jt a bull****(actually tells it minimum 10tms a day).
If that's his attitude, then I'm on your side Sulthana when you say he was wrong.

Most of the time,reasonable amt of money comes along wid the designation.correct me if i'm wrong.
I'd make a small correction to that statement and replace 'designation' with 'right set of skills and experience'.

Sorry i don't understand hindi :-(.
I was just saying your compliments are making me blush. In the rush to get problems solved or even discussed, most folks forget thanking the guy who's trying to help. So little gestures like that are always welcome.

it seemd to be a typical bpo job.calling candidates and sending them to the interview,everythng is via the phone(headset) and updating database.
After leaving my corporate job, that's pretty much what I do nowadays :). I spend all my time on either the phone or the computer.

Could you advise me,what exactly i should be looking for?
Three points:

Point 1 - Never ask anyone on a public forum what you should 'exactly' be doing. There's no way the reader will be able to know all the details required to make an accurate recommendation.

Point 2 - When you are targetting a change of industry, in most cases, you will have to start at the bottom of the ladder. In your case, as you listed HR as an interest area, apply to companies that are willing to hire freshers (e.g. in recruitment). With experience you can try for a change of role, designation or company.

I wouldn't recommend that you invest more in theoretical education at this stage. Use the resources and get some hands-on experience.

Point 3 - Read Point 1 again

This is a single line question for which i need an answer to make ma heart feel lite.
Have you tried switching to Olive Oil? They claim that it makes the heart light and young.

can i get ur book at landmark?i live in chennai.
What! You haven't read the book yet!
Sure, you can get it at Landmark and all the other regular stores. But you'll have to hunt for it behind the huge piles of Chethan Bhagat novels that are dominating modest works of insignificant authors like me.

Or if you don't like playing hide and seek in bookstores, you could go to Flipkart.

- Close your eyes, count to 10 and then -->
103
Hi There.
This is Aashish, age 21, just completed my graduation this year.
Currently in CA-Final, also a CISA.
I want to pursue MBA from an Internation School in the USA or the UK; immediately after passing CA.
I have no full time work-ex .
Can you help me with the requirements in context of a safe GMAT score.
Plus people are telling me that work-ex is a must to get into International B-Schools, is it true?
If yes, are there any good schools which entertain freshers like me?
I am interested in either MBA in SM, Finance or HR.

Or

can you suggest any alternative?
My Academics:
Xth - 85%
XIIth - 78%
B.Com - 75%
CISA - 73% .

RSVP.

TIA.
A.D.T.


Can u help me on this?
104
skctee Says
..work ex is definitely the most important factor but degree factor cannot be ignored also.

Not always the case, specially in India. Depends on the industry and the company culture. I spent the last 5 years in a company where MBA's were rare even at the top mgmt levels.

The MBA culture is more dominant in the US and even there, folks are debating this. Go to Google, type 'how many ceos have mbas' and check out the first Businessweek article (ironically) titled 'Is The MBA Overrated?'. This one is pretty old. Maybe there are more recent surveys that'll paint a more accurate picture.

...i mean say a guy with 7 years w.ex didn't find admission in 1 year programme but...
For your other questions, there is the risk of our discussion going tangential as we are trying to generalise and look at hypothetical situations.

So let's get on the same page first

Let me know if the following is an accurate interpretation of your queries.

- Do GMAT based Indian MBA programs facilitate complete (i.e industry + role) career changes?

- How much does previous experience help in the transition (your 'leverage' wali query)?

- With 7 yrs exp, are you looking considering 2 year programs too?

If it is not as straightforward as I've listed here, we'll sort it out interactively (maybe over the phone) to prevent other readers from scratching their heads.

- Want to know why phones will never go out of fashion?
105
Not always the case, specially in India. Depends on the industry and the company culture. I spent the last 5 years in a company where MBA's were rare even at the top mgmt levels.

The MBA culture is more dominant in the US and even there, folks are debating this. Go to Google, type 'how many ceos have mbas' and check out the first Businessweek article (ironically) titled 'Is The MBA Overrated?'. This one is pretty old. Maybe there are more recent surveys that'll paint a more accurate picture.

For your other questions, there is the risk of our discussion going tangential as we are trying to generalise and look at hypothetical situations.

So let's get on the same page first

Let me know if the following is an accurate interpretation of your queries.

- Do GMAT based Indian MBA programs facilitate complete (i.e industry + role) career changes?

- How much does previous experience help in the transition (your 'leverage' wali query)?

- With 7 yrs exp, are you looking considering 2 year programs too?

If it is not as straightforward as I've listed here, we'll sort it out interactively (maybe over the phone) to prevent other readers from scratching their heads.

- Want to know why phones will never go out of fashion?


yes sirjee,these are my queries in asaan bhasha..regarding 1st question i want to know it out of curiosity although i would like to stay in my pre mba field post mba . For the 2nd question i would like to know abt transition wrt to domain ,industry remaining same,3rd question you have hit it bang on sirjee
106
skctee Says
yes sirjee,these are my queries in asaan bhasha..regarding 1st question i want to know it out of curiosity although i would like to stay in my pre mba field post mba . For the 2nd question i would like to know abt transition wrt to domain ,industry remaining same,3rd question you have hit it bang on sirjee

Great. Back on the same page then. Let's continue with the vartalap.

- Do GMAT based Indian MBA programs facilitate complete (i.e industry + role) career changes?

In theory, they all do. Surprisingly, it is a little easier to manage the transition outside India despite the dependency on work permit, visa etc.

Why? The concept of 'lateral hires' is more accepted in traditional MBA markets (like the US). ISB played a big role in popularising the concept of lateral placements in India.

But many Indian companies are still trying to come to grips with the concept. They'd rather have freshers who can be moulded into their corporate culture. That's a process that has been tested over time with our traditional 2-yr programs. It'll be a slow change of mindset for more industries to open their arms (SRK style) for career changers.

- How much does previous experience help in the transition (your 'leverage' wali query)?

 Helps a LOT. In contrast to the admission committees who primarily granted you the MBA seat based on your potential, a recruiter will view you differently. Your proven practical skills carry more weight than pure potential.

- With 7 yrs exp, are you looking considering 2 year programs too?

If it's purely knowledge you were looking at, I'd have said go ahead. But an MBA is more than that. It's an experience and you won't get the whole benefit if you don't fit into the program.

Also, building on the confused corporate India wala point, if they are not sure what to do with experienced guys from GMAT-based programs, they'd be more confused with an experienced guy graduating with guys who've not been exposed to half of what you've gone through.

If I were you, I'd stay away from these. Don't make it more difficult for India Inc to accept you back from a 2-yr program. It's all about the Fit, buddy.

Which is why Akshay Kumar (in the Dollar Club Ad) also asks the symbolical question...
'Fit' hai boss?
107
sumyrules Says
Sameer jee, Namaste !! :)

Seeing the number of JEE references in your note, I thought it would be about getting into IIT, but I guess I was wrong.

I would request you to please go through my post on PG some 5 months back...
I have viewed and analysed the 5-month old post and come to the conclusion that you are the most adept puy when it comes to the creative and comprehensive usage of PG smilies.

I had also posted another post on PG on the pros and cons of doing MBA in India & Abroad...
13 smilies in that one as opposed to 11 in the first one. Continuous progress is the name of the game, my friend.

But beyond the visual delights of your 2 posts, I see that your main dilemma has been between MS programs and 2-year Indian MBA programs. It's a justified (and pretty common) dilemma to have when folks have very little experience and are driven pretty much by peer pressure and impatience...rather than introspection and personalised goals.

When it comes to international MBA programs (the focus of this thread), the earlier dilemma is mostly non-existent, as folks would've outgrown the 2-year MBA stage and an MS isn't usually preferred, as that'll only drive them further into the technicalities that they are trying to get away from. So I see a disconnect between the earlier posts and what we are discussing here. But let's proceed.

Please advise me Sameer jee..
'Jee, Salman-jee,' said Veena Malik to Sallu bhai on last year's Bigg Boss. And it took her a whole year and a completely different 3-letter acronym (on her arm) to become famous (?).

I want to undergo a full Time Management program only (2 Years) and in India, it is difficult and unsuitable for people with 4+ yrs of exp. I also have a financial constraint about doing MBA abroad.
With 4+ years work-ex under your belt, why do you want to restrict yourself to the (primarily) fresher-level opportunities that come to 2-yr MBA campuses?

You don't have to completely strike off international MBA programs. There are several good programs that offer financial assistance in the form of scholarships, loans, part-time working opportunities etc to help out deserving students. You'll have to start researching those schools and match them with your career objectives.

I cannot spend 50 lakhs for a Mgmt course in UK for 2 years and return to India. 😞 and start working here !! No matter whatever my package would be...I would need a lot of money to overcome my Edu. Loan in India.:-(
Most UK programs are generally for 1 year. Schools like LBS and Manchester have longer programs.

Alternatively you could look at other 1-year programs in India like ISB, XLRI GMP, Great Lakes etc if you want to stick to India. These would still be better than going back a few years and starting the journey from scratch.

So, whats your take on this scenario, Sameer jee ?
:
In summary, if you think you can do well in the Indian entrance exams give it a try. If not work for a few years and try for the GMAT route and include the ideas mentioned above in your strategy.

Parantu, in the excitement to get one of those nice degrees, one key point that you've missed out in all 3 posts or maybe I missed it out. Why do you want an MBA?

Trending on twitter right now: #parleG, #scam2G and...#sameerjee
108

Hi Sameer...some 2 years back i had an id on PG when i'd battle all day preparing for CAT and had to get a new one couple days back when "the needle on my psych-o-meter crossed red mark" and even though I'm still not full of kolaveri di I had to listen to gaane mein daal

I am not the happiest guy to be asking help on an interactive ,informative and a leading career forum but as much i resist saying what i want to say more i find it okay saying it.

I am not happy as i see my career growth ...i passed out from one of the country's finest engineering colleges in 2009 and was selected for TCS and NIC..right before i could actually join the training programme for NIC that i had chosen to go for i met with an accident and was bed ridden for almost a year...with that it became quite obvious that i wouldn't be able to work as they declined to finally hire me...which was not at all okay.I somehow gathered all the courage and went for interviews and started preparing for MBA entrances(wrote mock tests for CAT/GMAT and scored well) that i had planned earlier after a 2 yr work experience...finding a job with almost dysfunctional body wasn't at all easy...it took its toll and i had to resort to a favorable means of earning bread-working as an insurance executive for a U.K based company(work from home) all this while i tried to get my attention towards my MBA studies and other tech topics but miserably failed to do so.

Now that I've already wasted so much time it again becomes hard for me to begin things from the beginning...also i have a feeling that my brain would be an epic failure if i would want to get creative with things,may be because I'm lagging on so much that things would pose so many uncertainties(lost touch with subject matter).Thinking of reinventing the wheel makes me all the more sick that it further adds to my agonies also looking at my friends complete 2 years in office,followed by my juniors now

I do not know whether i should be going forward with what little i know,from my college days or my MBA classes.Or should i change the vertical altogether;should i be going for some specialized software course or a management course or prepare for MBA/GMAT which always had been my dream or may be start a consultancy with a friend or open a dairy farm or may be nothing at all...I still go to a physiotherapist and feel like assisting him on his work(we're almost like thick pals now)..he'd say I am capable of so much more and there is more to life than just thinking about what is not in control.
I don't want to disappoint myself by explaining why am I posting all this HERE neither am I acting pricy and I admit being almost guilty for writing so much awful load of "off topic" matter here.

If at all you have suggestions..I'll be damned 😃

109
This is Aashish, age 21, just completed my graduation this year. Currently in CA-Final, also a CISA.
I want to pursue MBA from an Internation School in the USA or the UK; immediately after passing CA.
:
can you suggest any alternative?

Aashish,

I see that you've posted this on Ask A Consultant thread.

I also see that our friend baccardisprite has given you excellent advice on the same query that you posted on this --> thread.

As the PG rules mention, cross-posting isn't a good idea. Most experts responding on these threads will reach your post, but it will take time as most are also busy with their regular workloads and schedules. So a little patience is always nice :-)

If you have other questions that haven't been addressed on the other threads, I'd be happy to address them.

- SK
110
catfighter Says
Yes I have heard that many ppl are involved from the time of the first draft until the final version of the book is published...
The story actually continues beyond the book publishing date. Like any other product-based business, the sales and distribution process go on for longer and involve more people.

Fascinating industry which has it's own idiosyncracies!

I really hope to publish my book one day..being an avid reader, it will be a dream come true to see my own book being published!
I manage a personal blog where I share tips and advice on how to get published. Check it out to start the learning right now. What are you planning to write - fiction/non-fiction?

PS: want to publish your own book? Ask SK ;). Like your witty signatures. keep them coming :)
I thought nobody reads those signatures. So I've been creating them for my own entertainment. The little dessert after a heavy meal

- Do authors like flattery?
111

Planning to get ur book this weekend.Preparing for my final yr exams.So,hopefully i will start working from jan2012.(Advance Happy New Year)

Thank you:)

112
scrapy007 Says
Hi Sameer...some 2 years back i had an id on PG when i'd battle all day preparing for CAT and had to get a new one couple days back
For PG forums, active members are always better than silent/dormant ones. So welcome back, scrapy-ji!

...when "the needle on my psych-o-meter crossed red mark" and even though I'm still not full of kolaveri di I had to listen to gaane mein daal
For those who are wondering what that means, just do a search for 'frustration release song' in Google and let off some steam.

I am not the happiest guy to be asking help on an interactive ,informative and a leading career forum but as much i resist saying what i want to say more i find it okay saying it.
as long as your identity is kept under wraps and you are getting some direction, it's all worth it my friend. Much better than keeping it all bottled up worrying about what people will think.

I am not happy as i see my career growth ...
:
Sorry to hear about the accident. But what you did after that to set the ball rolling again is commendable.

Quick question: Are you still at a physical disadvantage when it comes to job hunting? Or is all that behind you now?

Now that I've already wasted so much time it again becomes hard for me to begin things from the beginning
:
Thinking of reinventing the wheel makes me all the more sick that it further adds to my agonies also looking at my friends complete 2 years in office,followed by my juniors now
Let me share a different perspective to that. For folks who take the 'conventional' route, the standard options and approaches are laid out pretty well...complete a degree, take up a job, get frustrated, go for higher education, take up another job...build up lather, rinse and repeat.

Your story is not conventional. You were forced to take a detour due to developments that you didn't ask for. Now if you want to do what the other guys have been doing, you are setting the bar too high for yourself and competing with them on an unfair platform, where they've already had a head-start.

Do something that the others won't think about. There are tons of things you could do from home (as you are already comfortable with that model).

should i change the vertical altogether;
:
Hmmm, plenty of options listed in there. Hypothetical question: Forget what employers want. If you had complete freedom to choose, what work would you prefer to do? What field interests you the most?

- SK
113

Milestone Update: The first print run for 'Beyond The MBA Hype' has been sold out within 3 months of getting released. According to industry folks, 95% of the published books don't cross that milestone in their lifetime.

The second print run is in progress, so just a little more patience if you've been hunting for a copy.

For those who managed to get a copy, do share it with your not-so-fortunate friends who are targetting Round 2 deadlines and need some clarity on what to expect before they take the plunge.

Thanks a ton everyone, for giving the book and more importantly the message in it a BIG thumbs up.

- Yo boys, I'm reading book-u, nice book-u, out of stock book-u, wondering which-u?

114

Hi,

I have a query. I am presently working with Oracle Financial Services SW LTD as a Staff Consultant for past 40 months. Though I am in the consulting division my roles and responsibilities are limited to the coding work and our banking product (FLEXCUBE) maintenance.

Within the FLEXCUBE suite, I have worked on the FLEXCUBE Investor Servicing which deals with mainly Mutual Funds.

What role would suit me after doing an MBA. Or atleast what role should I say to the interview panel that would seem like a logical extension to what I am doing currently ?

I am scored 100/175 in SNAP 2011 and expecting calls from SIBM-P and SCMHRD.

Thanks and Regards
Animesh

115
the ace Says
I have a query. I am presently working with Oracle Financial Services SW LTD as a Staff Consultant for past 40 months. Though I am in the consulting division my roles and responsibilities are limited to the coding work and our banking product (FLEXCUBE) maintenance.

Animesh bhai, here's some trivia to demonstrate the 6 degrees of separation funda:
My first company (Citicorp)...spun off another company (iFlex)...which had created the product (Flexcube)...which attracted the interest of Oracle...which finally bought the whole company. Small world!

Within the FLEXCUBE suite, I have worked on the FLEXCUBE Investor Servicing which deals with mainly Mutual Funds.

What role would suit me after doing an MBA. Or atleast what role should I say to the interview panel that would seem like a logical extension to what I am doing currently ?
If I were to logical extend your experience, here are a few options:

- Within the IT industry: Senior roles in the software development arena, business analysis, project management, client engagement manager, business development

- Outside the IT industry: financial services industry, mutual funds, broader asset management roles, research analysis

- Option 3: Completely unrelated to any of these if you can show some overlap. This is something you'd know best, based on your interests and aptitude.

Now going back to the earlier point about what you should be saying to the interview panel that would convince them...I'd suggest not taking that approach of trying to guess what they want.

Convince yourself first that a role would be good for you. That way whether you are talking to the interview panel (for the MBA seat), your current boss at Oracle (say, for a job-rotation) or your future in-laws (for their precious daughter's delicate hand)...the answer would be consistent. Because YOU believe in it first and think it's logical and practical.

I am scored 100/175 in SNAP 2011 and expecting calls from SIBM-P and SCMHRD.
Saar, good to see that you have Indian schools on your list. But curious to know why the green grass abroad and the green green dollars are not attracting you yet?

- Any ideas to keep India clean and green?
116

Hi Sameer, great thread....

I wanted to know something about the post MBA rotational programs that a lot of large firms offer...such as GE, Procter and Gamble (I don't think they have a formal rotational program...but people do seem to move around functional lines a lot), Aditya Birla Group, ITC etc. Are these programs mostly limited to top B-Schools?? Are they meant as grooming grounds for future leadership positions or are they just generic training programs??

Second, I was curious about post Investment Banking and post Consulting opportunities. From what I hear, they have an "up or out" policy.....

Thanks in advance....

117
abhi76 Says
Hi Sameer, great thread....

Thank you Abhi.

I wanted to know something about the post MBA rotational programs that a lot of large firms offer...
Before moving on to the rest of your questions, for the uninitiated, here's a brief intro to MBA rotational programs.

Are these programs mostly limited to top B-Schools??
Not really. The recruitment process is open to anyone who meets their criteria. However, for time and resource reasons, they develop formal relationships only with a select few institutions. If you find a way to get their attention and if you are good, you will be considered for the same position.

Are they meant as grooming grounds for future leadership positions or are they just generic training programs??
In the short term, it's more of the latter i.e. get exposed to various functions before selecting one home for yourself.

The high-potential ones will get more visibility within the organisation as folks who've been handpicked from universities to fill in key positions in the organisation.

Not all rotational 'interns' will go on to take up leadership positions. So it's not a guarantee.

Second, I was curious about post Investment Banking and post Consulting opportunities. From what I hear, they have an "up or out" policy.....
Many of the top consulting firms have that policy, though it doesn't get openly talked about.

In I-banking, after a point in time, it's pretty much a move-out-voluntarily-or-get-kicked-out policy. So make your money quickly and time your exit ;-)

- Do rotational programs cause dizziness?
118

Hi Sameer,
My sad story:

Background

In the summer of 2005 I decided that I want to be a Mechanical Engineer and that I will put my everything to get a Mechanical Engineering seat in a decent college. I achieved this in September 2005. Just one day after my engineering counselling, i.e. after getting a ME seat in a good

college I fell in a ditch so deep that I am still unable to come out even today- My friends convinced me to drop Mechanical

Engineering and take up the flashy world of Computer Science and Information Technology. So, I dropped ME and took up IT in a

lesser known college (since my counselling was over). I lost Rs. 10,000 security deposit for ME seat and gave Rs. 20,000 more for a management seat in the new "college" for Information Technology.

I was happy in the first year as the subjects were same for all the streams. From second year on I realized that IT was never

my cup of tea and I struggled to cope with the pressure. I scrapped through four years with just 67%.
I had attempted CAT 2008 that year without any preparation because I just wanted to measure myself up with the best brains of

India. Little did I know that had I concentrated and gave CAT seriously I wouldn't have been added in the long list of

unemployed youth in 2009. Being good in Verbal I scored 91% but my quant and LR brought me down to 61% overall.
I attempted a few other National level tests and did in fact received some interview calls. But destiny had it and I flunked in all the interviews and by the time I completed B.Tech I knew I'll just be another addition to the unemployed pool.

Family and friends convinced me to take up some other course. A B.Tech. with no job, rejected from MBA interviews naturally

goes for M.Tech, so did I- M.Tech(IT), but luckily I landed in a prestigious institute (non IIT/NIT but better than a few

NITs). I got an internship in the final year of M.Tech. at a US IT services company (now number three in the Indian market and a recent addition to the Fortune 500 list).
I cleared the internship and post-graduated with CGPA 7.7/10 (low again because of obvious reasons)


The M.Tech. degree from a fine institute added to my misery. Now I was seen as a larger than life techie, brimming with

coding logic and programming ideas.
Since I had a job offer from my internship company I wasn't allowed to take up any more campus interviews in the college.
Finally, I joined the same company. My M.Tech tag and the internship was not considered by the company and was forced to work

at the junior most level along with B.Techs, MCAs, BCAs and MCAs at a super terrific CTC of Rs 3.0 lac. I was told that my

internship was done as a part of my college curriculum and thus it wont be taken into account for full time work (even

though the project I did had very high stakes within the organization). As for my masters degree- I was told how every

fresher is treated equally in the organization and how in order to progress I must show my worth (my ASS!). Salt was sprinkled slowly on my wounds when I saw that two of my school mates were my seniors in the same office location (since they joined in 2009 with just a B.Tech!). I felt like quitting the job and doing something else (?).
All these events added up to my hate for the IT industry.

I returned to PG for guidance after a gap of two years and came across your thread. I've put everything in this post and I

hope to get some guidance as to what is wrong with my career and how can I turn it into something I can appreciate.

Is MBA really an option for me, especially after one masters degree? How can I tackle the questions like-

Why another masters degree in such a short time?
What are your goals? (quite frankly I don't know).

I do have some serious inclination towards business consulting but I am not 100% sure as I do not know what to expect here

from head to toe.
How hard will it be for me to convince the interviewers?

Seriously I cannot continue working here at this pay. My educational loan is also there to be repaid. An MBA will stretch my family to the maximum as I cannot afford it on my own with my pay cheque.
Expecting some enlightment..pheww.

119
intennsive Says
I returned to PG for guidance after a gap of two years and came across your thread. I've put everything in this post...

Completely unrelated point first. I had to read the post (all 779 words) twice for me to really understand what was happening.
This is an informal forum, so not a big issue. But in the corporate world, brevity is valued. So in future communications (specially written content), with folks who don't know you, resist the urge to just open up all the pent up emotions and the details. It may clutter the reader's thought process.

and I hope to get some guidance as to what is wrong with my career and how can I turn it into something I can appreciate.
Probably you've been listening to everyone else but yourself.

Is MBA really an option for me...How can I tackle the questions like What are your goals? (quite frankly I don't know).
I don't think any further education at this stage is advisable. If the problem is that you aren't sure about your goals, no degree will automatically add clarity to it. You'd just be repeating the M.Tech story all over again. Plus you say you already have an education loan that hasn't been paid.

Start filling up the hole, rather than digging more furiously to get out of it.

I do have some serious inclination towards business consulting but I am not 100% sure as I do not know what to expect here
Let's build up on this. What is it about consulting that you find attractive? What skills do you think you have that'll help you in a consulting job?

- SK
120

Sir,
I'am caught in a dilemma and I don't know what to do. Please help me. The confusion is that 1st thng 1st I wana go 4 civil services any which way so i thought why not go for MA in eng lit. from DU
coz that will be a safe bet with RAO in delhi, then recently I got my XAT score and I got 80.68 percentile and don't know which all colleges can I apply to, as my parents really want me to do M.B.A. Then, I got a job offer from one of the most reputed social organisations that is involved in educational sector. I just don't know what to do.

121

Hi Team,

I doesn't know what to do in life...Iam a 2009 BE passout,gave CAT 2010 but the result was not good so didn't opt for any colleges.Joined an IT company in the same year now it has been 2yrs for me in this company but i don't have job satisfaction as well as passion.
I attended classes for CAT 2011 but didn't gave the exam due to my carelessness.Now Iam in dilemma.I hate my job and want to do an MBA but Iam not focusing on my preparation.I wanted to pursue MBA program in NIT or any good recognized Institute but something is blocking me in achieving my desire.
Kindly advise me.

Thanks,
Balaji