IIM Indore launches a new programme to turn office professionals into AI-ready talent

Picture this: a manager uses ChatGPT to draft an email in three minutes instead of ten. Time saved? Seven minutes. Real impact on the week's workload? Negligible. This is the productivity paradox facing Indian workplaces today.

Research from the OECD shows that workers in customer support, software development and consulting have seen productivity gains ranging from 5% to over 25% with generative AI, but only when it's applied systematically, not sporadically¹. Recognising this gap between casual use and strategic implementation, IIM Indore, one of India's leading management institutions and a FT-100 ranked business school, has launched a new Executive Programme in Generative and Agentic AI for Business Applications to help professionals move beyond ad-hoc AI experiments to measurable business impact.The challenge is clear: The Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis found that workers using generative AI save an average of 5.4% of their hours each workweek, or about 2.2 hours in a 40-hour schedule². Yet most professionals remain trapped in individual task optimisation, unable to translate these micro-savings into genuine workflow transformation. The gap isn't technological, it's strategic. 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 who need to translate AI from buzzword to business impact.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, who need to translate AI from buzzword to business impact.This programme addresses that gap by teaching participants to build automated workflows, deploy agentic AI systems, and evaluate ROI, no coding required.

The curriculum emphasises practical application through real business cases across BFSI, retail, manufacturing, and consulting sectors.What makes this programme differentThe IIM Indore programme isn't another introductory AI course. It's structured around three core pillars that distinguish it from generic offerings:1. Business application, not technical theoryRather than teaching Python or machine learning algorithms, participants learn to apply AI directly to functions like customer operations, supply chain management, financial analysis, and strategic planning. Early adopters of agentic AI are seeing 20% to 30% faster workflow cycles and significant reductions in back-office costs³, according to BCG research, outcomes this programme is designed to replicate.2. Agentic AI: Beyond simple promptsIBM defines agentic workflows as systems where autonomous AI agents make decisions, take actions and coordinate tasks with minimal human intervention⁴. The programme teaches participants to build these multi-step systems. For example, instead of asking AI to draft a single email, learners design agents that autonomously monitor customer queries, retrieve relevant data, generate responses, and escalate complex cases, all without manual intervention.3. ROI-driven capstone project Every participant completes a faculty-guided capstone project that demonstrates measurable business impact. This isn't theoretical work, it's a portfolio-ready business case showing tangible returns, aligned to real organisational challenges across BFSI, retail, healthcare, manufacturing, or consulting sectors.The 24-week curriculum covers 14 modules spanning GenAI fundamentals, prompt engineering, agent architectures, governance frameworks, and industry-specific applications.

With 23 hours of pre-recorded content, live masterclasses from industry experts deploying AI today, and hands-on experience with enterprise-grade tools, participants gain practical capabilities applicable from day one.Is this programme right for you?This programme is designed for working professionals who make decisions, analyse data, or manage workflows, regardless of technical background. Mid-to-senior managers across product, operations, marketing, supply chain, and consulting roles will find immediate applicability.

Business consultants can deliver sharper client work faster, whilst operations leaders learn to reduce cycle times through intelligent automation.Programme structure:

What you receive:

The programme is priced at ₹1,60,000 plus GST and processing fee. According to industry data, roles requiring AI skills command salaries that are around 28% higher⁵, with more than half of these roles now emerging outside traditional technology sectors.

This positions AI-focused learning as a strategic career decision rather than just an academic credential. The programme begins on 31 March 2026, with applications currently open.As generative and agentic AI become embedded across business functions, the competitive advantage won't belong to those who use AI tools, but to those who architect AI-driven systems. IIM Indore's Executive Programme equips professionals with exactly that capability. The March cohort is now accepting applications.References:

Disclaimer: This article has been produced on behalf of Emeritus by Times Internet’s Spotlight team.