Imagine a manager using ChatGPT to draft an email in three minutes instead of ten. Time saved? Seven minutes. Real impact on the week's workload? Negligible. This scenario encapsulates the productivity paradox currently facing Indian workplaces, where sporadic AI use fails to translate into meaningful gains.
The Strategic Gap in AI Implementation
Research from the OECD reveals that workers in customer support, software development, and consulting experience productivity gains of 5% to over 25% with generative AI, but only when applied systematically. The Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis found that generative AI users save an average of 5.4% of their work hours weekly, equating to about 2.2 hours in a 40-hour schedule. Yet, most professionals remain stuck in individual task optimisation, unable to transform these micro-savings into genuine workflow improvements.
Recognising this critical gap between casual use and strategic implementation, IIM Indore, a leading FT-100 ranked management institution, has launched a new Executive Programme in Generative and Agentic AI for Business Applications. This initiative aims to equip professionals with the skills to move beyond ad-hoc AI experiments and achieve measurable business impact.
Programme Overview and Differentiation
Unlike conventional AI courses focused on technical skills, this 24-week online programme is designed specifically for non-technical professionals, managers, consultants, and business leaders. It requires no coding and emphasises practical application through real business cases across sectors like BFSI, retail, manufacturing, and consulting.
Core Pillars of the Programme
The curriculum is structured around three distinct pillars that set it apart from generic offerings:
- Business Application Over Technical Theory: Instead of teaching Python or machine learning algorithms, participants learn to apply AI directly to functions such as customer operations, supply chain management, financial analysis, and strategic planning. BCG research indicates that early adopters of agentic AI achieve 20% to 30% faster workflow cycles and significant reductions in back-office costs, outcomes this programme targets.
- Agentic AI Beyond Simple Prompts: IBM defines agentic workflows as systems where autonomous AI agents make decisions, take actions, and coordinate tasks with minimal human intervention. The programme teaches participants to build these multi-step systems. For instance, learners design agents that autonomously monitor customer queries, retrieve relevant data, generate responses, and escalate complex cases without manual oversight.
- ROI-Driven Capstone Project: Every participant completes a faculty-guided capstone project demonstrating measurable business impact. This portfolio-ready business case showcases tangible returns aligned with real organisational challenges in sectors like BFSI, retail, healthcare, manufacturing, or consulting.
Curriculum and Structure
The 24-week programme covers 14 modules spanning GenAI fundamentals, prompt engineering, agent architectures, governance frameworks, and industry-specific applications. It includes 23 hours of pre-recorded content, live masterclasses from industry experts, and hands-on experience with enterprise-grade tools, ensuring practical capabilities from day one.
Programme Details:
- Duration: 24 weeks online, with 4–5 hours weekly commitment
- Format: Pre-recorded lectures, live masterclasses, and hands-on tools
- Approach: No coding required
- Eligibility: Open to any graduate or diploma holder
Target Audience and Benefits
This programme is tailored for working professionals who make decisions, analyse data, or manage workflows, regardless of technical background. Mid-to-senior managers in product, operations, marketing, supply chain, and consulting roles will find immediate applicability. Business consultants can deliver sharper client work faster, while operations leaders learn to reduce cycle times through intelligent automation.
Participants receive a certificate from IIM Indore, eligibility for Executive Education Alumni status, and a portfolio-ready capstone project. The programme is priced at ₹1,60,000 plus GST and processing fee. Industry data shows that roles requiring AI skills command salaries approximately 28% higher, with over half of these roles emerging outside traditional technology sectors, positioning this learning as a strategic career move.
Future Outlook and Applications
As generative and agentic AI become embedded across business functions, competitive advantage will shift from those who merely use AI tools to those who architect AI-driven systems. IIM Indore's Executive Programme aims to provide exactly that capability. The programme begins on 31 March 2026, with applications currently open for the March cohort.
In summary, this initiative addresses a pressing need in Indian workplaces by transforming AI from a buzzword into a driver of business impact, helping professionals navigate the productivity paradox with strategic, ROI-focused implementation.
