GUJARAT TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY

CONTRIBUTOR PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT (Modified on 13th March 2014)

SUBJECT CODE: 2990001
B.E. 1ST YEAR
Teaching and Examination Scheme:
Teaching Scheme
Credits
Examination Marks
L
T
P
C
Theory Marks
Practical Marks
ESE
PA
ESE
PA
(E)
(M)
Pr/Viva (V)
(I)
4
0
0
4
70
30*
30
20

Total
Marks

150

L- Lectures; T- Tutorial/Teacher Guided Student Activity; P- Practical; C- Credit; ESE- End Semester Examination; PA- Progressive
Assessment

Note: It is the responsibility of the institute heads that marks for PA of theory & ESE and PA of practical for each
student are entered online into the GTU Portal at the end of each semester within the dates specified by GTU.
Note:
1. This subject is compulsory.
2. 4 Credits will be over and above the existing credit structure.
3. This subject will be taught by faculty of English. For B. Pharm., the institute will have to nominate one faculty member
for the subject.
4. In Institutes, whereas the load is not managed by the lecturers of English only, please nominate the other faculty for
teaching the course of Contributor Personality Development.

(A) Background
The Contributor Personality Program has been designed keeping in mind the following:
1.0

Technology students should not only be excellently trained in the technological field,
they should acquire soft skills if they are to be successful. Every student must also learn
about the techniques of effective participation in a group discussion. He/she must learn
to prepare his/her resume and he/she should also be groomed for presenting
himself/herself at an interview.

2..0 There is a great need to equip students with not only the right skill-sets but also the right
mindsets.

3.0 The mind-sets needed in todays environment must support both (i) effective action and
(ii) Values and service oriented behaviour.
Effective action without human values can lead to personal benefits for individuals but a
long-term cost to both nation and society. Human values without effective action can lead
to an inability on the part of the individual to perform and flourish in todays
environment.
This combination of effectiveness with human values is crystallized in the concept of
contributor ship.
4.0 Students who adopt and develop the right mindsets early in their professional career are
able to bring about a positive and sustainable change in their overall personality.
They are able to grow the right approaches to their peers, seniors, industry, and their own
future. They become more responsible and capable of shaping their own lives.
Therefore, the program may be rightly called a Contributor Personality Development
Program.

5.0 Any program of this sort must, in order to be effective, be inspired and guided by a high
ideal and principles/ practices flowing from that ideal.
The Contributor Personality Program is guided by the ideals and ideas of Swami
Vivekananda who represented in his leonine personality the highest ideals of human
values combined with effective action.

(B) Course Outline

Topics 1-6 relate to the basic axioms or mental models that students carry about themselves,
about success, careers, contribution, etc. The right mental models are a necessary prerequisite
for developing into a Contributor.
Topics 7-12 are 6 core practices that will help a student manifest the ideal of contributor ship in
ones life.
Topics 13-15 relate to the students capability to connect into the job-market.
Topic
1

Course Title
Who is a Contributor
Student develops an appreciation of who the Contributors are and how they
fundamentally differ from Non-contributors in their overall approach to work, to
other human beings, to society as a whole.
The Contributors identity
Student develops his/ her own answer to the question who am I? The student

becomes aware of the fact that Non-contributors usually define themselves in terms of
what they have acquired in life (e.g. qualifications, position, years of experience, etc.)
while Contributors define themselves in terms of what they will become or
accomplish (e.g. capacity to deliver, commitment and ownership of the organizations
purpose, etc.).
3

The Contributors vision of success

The student explores the meaning of success in his life. Through this exploration, the
student is expected to recognize that Contributors have a wider definition of success
than Non-contributors. While Non-contributors define success in terms of material
success, achievement, external impact, etc., Contributors are able to widen this
definition of success to include personal fulfillment, development of self-esteem,
ongoing development of personal capabilities etc.

The Contributors vision of career

The student learns to distinguish between an acquisitive career and a contributive
career. An acquisitive career is one in which the career-seeker is focused on
acquiring higher position, higher salary, more benefits etc. This preoccupation with
selfish interests often damages the individuals career, as well as, damages the
organization and society. A contributive career is one where the career-seeker is
focused on contributing, with rewards being a by-product of the contributions made.

The scope of contribution

The student learns to perceive that in all type of work, every type of role, there is a
possibility of contributing at multiple levels contributing to self, contributing to
organization, and contributing to society.
The student also appreciates the difference between acquisition for self and
contribution to self the former being material acquisition and the latter being
conscious development of oneself through the medium of ones career.

Embarking on the journey to contributor ship

The student recognizes the fundamental building blocks for becoming a Contributor
the first building block being a shift from a victim to being a creator of ones
destiny; the second building block being acceptance of the ideal of contributor ship;
the third building block being the willingness to take full responsibility for ones own
development; the fourth building block being the capacity to reflect on ones
development and make appropriate modifications.

Design Solutions
When faced with a challenge, the Contributors first response is: Can we find a
solution? This is unlike a Non-contributor who may respond to the challenge by
trying a little and giving up, blaming others, or finding excuses to cover up the issue.
Whereas, the Contributor finds a solution. In other words, the Contributor develops
the capacity to find solutions through continuous practice and learning from other
Contributors.
In this topic, students learn the importance of willingness and ability to find solutions.

Focus on value
What does creating value mean? It means making a positive difference, a tangible
impact, a specific contribution to any situation. This positive difference or impact can
be in the form of achieving a specific goal, creating a product, creating human touch
in a particular interaction, or enhancing ones own capacity, or the capacity of ones
colleagues and team- mates.
Contributors are therefore extremely result-focused, but the result is measured in
terms of value created.
In this topic, students learn to clarify the meaning of the word value and how value
is created in various situations.

Engage deeply
Contributors are instantly distinguished by the way they approach work. They get
involved. They are enthusiastic. They go deep into the subject. In short, Contributors
love what they do.
This is in direct contrast to Non-contributors who want to do only what they love - an
approach that seems reasonable until you realize that life and workplaces have so
much variety that you may very often be called upon to do tasks that seem unpleasant
or boring until you get involved.
In this topic, students learn the importance of engaging deeply with whatever work
they do at work, in study, in personal life.

10

Think in Enlightened Self-interest

Contributors think in Enlightened Self-Interest. In every situation they get into, they
find a way to create something good for self and for all at the same time including
team mates, bosses, customers and their organization.
Contrasting to this is the mindset of a Non-Contributor. Such a person is only
concerned with his/ her own self-interest in a situation. He/she is not concerned about
the impact (positive or negative) on the other person. This leads to unpleasant

situations, broken relationships, unhappy team-mates, subordinates, and bosses, and

lower trust in any situation.
Students are expected to learn to appreciate the importance of thinking win-win for
all stakeholders and also in various situations.
11

Practice Imaginative Sympathy

One of the unique qualities of Contributors is their ability to appreciate and
understand others life situation, others mental condition, and others point of view.
How do they do this?
They have consciously developed a way of thinking called Imaginative Sympathy.
In this way of thinking, they are able to give due importance to the human aspects of
a situation, and not just the technical or commercial aspects.
But this is not all. Imaginative Sympathy goes beyond looking at the human aspects
of the situation. It also means that Contributors are able to anticipate possible
interactions or reactions, they are able to take a multi-dimensional view of a situation
and they are able to bring about changes or results while taking everybody along with
them.
Imaginative Sympathy translates itself into active concern for others. Students will
learn the importance and consequences of Imaginative Sympathy in a workplace
situation.

12

Demonstrate Trust Behavior

Contributors recognize that they are able to achieve results and make contributions
with the help of other human beings. They receive this help if and only if they are
trusted and, in turn, trust. Contributors practice trust behavior from very early in their
career, thereby building a huge trust balance (like a bank balance) over their career
and relationships.
The term Trust Behavior may be described as character-in-action. This includes
keeping ones word and commitments, staying with a task, acting with integrity in
every situation, making sure that there is complete transparency in ones actions and
interactions, etc.
Students are expected to learn to develop a deep appreciation of trust behavior and
how it is practiced.

13

Resume Building
In this topic, students learn to develop a resume for the job-market. Students will
learn to develop both a generic resume and resumes specific to some types of jobs.
Students learn about best practices and common errors in developing their resume.

Most important, students learn to analyze the jobs offered and present themselves in
terms of their potential / willingness to contribute to the job.
14

Group Discussions (GDs)

In this topic, students learn (i) how to participate in a group discussion from the
contributors view-point (i.e. how to speak) (ii) how to contribute to the development
of the topic (i.e. what to speak) and (iii) to develop the Contributors view-point on
various GD topics (i.e. how to interpret a topic of discussion from the point of view of
a contributor)

15

Interview Skills
In this topic, students learn about (i) common interview questions and how to develop
answers (ii) typical challenges faced in interviews beyond the questions (such as body
language, grooming, presentation) (iii) most important, the student learns the
importance of trust building and creating confidence in the interview.

(C) Course Plan

The course duration is 48 hours. It can be conducted in sessions of 1 hour each or some of the sessions
can be combined as 2 hours each. The course plan is as follows

Topic 1: Who is a Contributor

2 hours Theory and practice exercises based on Contributor Personality Program Workbook

3 hours

(Vol I)

1 hour Presentations and Projects

Topic 2: The Contributors identity
2 hours Theory and practice exercises based on Contributor Personality Program Workbook

3 hours

(Vol I)

1 hour Presentations and Projects

Topic 13: Resume Building
2 hours for Concepts, Tools, and Techniques
2 hours for Projects

4 hours

Topic 3: The Contributors vision of success

2 hours Theory and practice exercises based on Contributor Personality Program Workbook

3 hours

(Vol I)

1 hour Presentations and Projects

Topic 4: The Contributors vision of career
2 hours Theory and practice exercises based on Contributor Personality Program Workbook

3 hours

(Vol I)

1 hour Presentations and Projects

Topic 5: The scope of contribution
2 hours Theory and practice exercises based on Contributor Personality Program Workbook
(Vol I)

1 hour Presentations and Projects

3 hours

Topic 6: Embarking on the journey to contributorship

3 hours

2 hours Theory and practice exercises based on Contributor Personality Program Workbook
(Vol I)

1 hour Presentations and Projects

Topic 14: Group Discussions (GDs)

4 hours

2 hours for Concepts, Tools, and Techniques

2 hours for Projects and Practice

Topic 7: Design Solutions
2 hours Theory and practice exercises based on Contributor Personality Program Workbook

3 hours

(Vol II)

1 hour Presentations and Projects

Topic 8: Focus on value
2 hours Theory and practice exercises based on Contributor Personality Program Workbook

3 hours

(Vol II)

1 hour Presentations and Projects

Topic 9: Engage deeply
2 hours Theory and practice exercises based on Contributor Personality Program Workbook

3 hours

(Vol II)

1 hour Presentations and Projects

Topic 10: Think in Enlightened Self-interest
2 hours Theory and practice exercises based on Contributor Personality Program Workbook

3 hours

(Vol II)

1 hour Presentations and Projects

Topic 11: Practise Imaginative Sympathy
2 hours Theory and practice exercises based on Contributor Personality Program Workbook

3 hours

(Vol II)

1 hour Presentations and Projects

Topic 12: Demonstrate Trust Behavior
2 hours Theory and practice exercises based on Contributor Personality Program Workbook

3 hours

(Vol II)

1 hour Presentations and Projects

Topic 15: Interview Skills
2 hours for Concepts, Tools, and Techniques
2 hours for Projects and Practice

4 hours

TOTAL

(D)

Examination Approach

Total marks: 150. Break-up of marks -

(i)
(ii)

Final exam: 70 marks (equal weightage for topics 1-15)

(iii)

Projects for topics 13-15: 50 marks

Presentations and projects for topics 1-12: 30 marks

48 hours

(E) Instructional Strategy

1.0 T h e entire course will use a three-level instructional strategy
Level I:
Level II:
Level III:

Classroom Explorations
Projects and Presentations
Self-study by students

2.0 L e v e l I: Classroom Explorations

1.

The Classroom Explorations will be organized around the Contributor Personality

Program Study Book.
The Study Book may be downloaded by the student from the resource site produced
by GTU.

2.

The Classroom Explorations involves two kinds of explorations:

(i) Exploration of key concepts / frameworks such as contributors vision of
success etc.
(ii) Exploration of the examples provided in the CPP Study Book.

3.

The Classroom Explorations will be supported by Session Guide Sheets available

online in the CPP ActivGuide.

3.0 L e v e l II: Projects & Presentations

1.

The entire Classroom Exploration process will be supplemented by projects and

presentations.

2.

Session Guides will provide sample topics for projects and presentations. Individual
instructors will be free to develop their own projects/ presentation topics also.

3.

This will not only enhance conceptual clarity but also build presentation, publicspeaking, report writing, and group discussion skills of the students.

4.0 L e v e l III: Self Study by students

1.

Students will be given extensive learning support (upto 400 learning units) in the
ActivGuide website. This will include videos, presentations, tests, etc.

2.

Students can refer to ActivGuide on their own time through internet.

(F) Reference Material

Basic Study Material

SN
Author/s
1 Illumine Knowledge
Resources Pvt. Ltd.
(Downloadable from
the internet)
2 Illumine Knowledge
Resources Pvt. Ltd.
(will be made
available to all
students on the
Internet)

Name of Reference
Contributor Personality
Program Workbook (Vols
I & II)

Publisher
Illumine Knowledge
Resources Pvt. Ltd

Edition
Latest

Contributor Personality
Program ActivGuide

Illumine Knowledge
Resources Pvt. Ltd

Latest

Reference Books
Topic
Course Title
1
Who is a Contributor

Reference
1. On Contributors, Srinivas V.; Illumine Ideas, 2011
2. Enlightened Citizenship and Democracy; Swami
Ranganathananda, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, 1989
3. Personality Development, Swami Vivekananda;
Advaita Ashrama

The Contributors identity 1. To have or to be, Erich Fromm; Continuum

International Publishing Group, 2005
2. The art of being, Erich Fromm; Continuum
International Publishing Group, 1992
3. Raja Yoga, Swami Vivekananda; Advaita
Ashrama

The Contributors vision 1. Eternal Values for a Changing Society Vol IV

(Ch 25, 35), Swami Ranganathananda; Bharatiya
of success
Vidya Bhavan, 1993
2. Karma Yoga, Swami Vivekananda; Advaita
Ashrama

The Contributors vision 1. Six Pillars of Self Esteem , Nathaniel Branden;

Bantam, 1995
of career
2. Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, Carol
S. Dweck; Random House Publishing Group,
2007

The scope of contribution

1. Awakening
India,
Swami
Vivekananda;
Ramakrishna Mission, New Delhi, 2011
2. Eternal Values for a Changing Society Vol IV

(Ch 35), Swami Ranganathananda; Bharatiya

Vidya Bhavan, 1993
3. Lasting Contribution: How to Think, Plan, and
Act to Accomplish Meaningful Work, Tad
Waddington; Agate Publishing, 2007
6

Embarking on the journey 1. Vivekananda: His Call to the Nation, Swami

Vivekananda; Advaita Ashrama
to contributor ship
2. Eternal Values for a Changing Society Vol IV
(Ch 33), Vol III (Ch 19, 21, 30) Swami
Ranganathananda; Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, 1993
3. Lectures from Colombo to Almora, Swami
Vivekananda; Advaita Ashrama

Design Solutions

1. Why not?: how to use everyday ingenuity to solve

problems big and small, Barry Nalebuff, Ian
Ayres; Harvard Business School Press, 2003
2. How to Have a Beautiful Mind, Edward De Bono;
Vermilion, 2004

Focus on value

1. The value mindset: returning to the first principles

of capitalist enterprise (Ch 8 & 9); Erik Stern,
Mike Hutchinson; John Wiley and Sons, 2004
2. Managing for Results,
HarperCollins, 2009

Engage deeply

Peter

F.

Drucker;

1. The Power of Full Engagement: Managing

Energy, Not Time, is the Key to High
Performance and Personal Renewal, Jim Loehr,
Tony Schwartz; Simon and Schuster, 2003

10

Think in Enlightened Self- 1. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen

R. Covey; Simon and Schuster, 2004
interest
2. Creating Shared Value, Michael E. Porter and
Mark R. Kramer; Harvard Business Review;
Jan/Feb2011, Vol. 89 Issue 1/2

11

Practice
Sympathy

Imaginative 1. Eternal Values for a Changing Society Vol IV

(Ch 8, 10, 23, 35, 37), Swami Ranganathananda;
Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, 1993
2. Eternal Values for a Changing Society Vol III
(Ch 18), Swami Ranganathananda; Bharatiya
Vidya Bhavan, 1993

12

Demonstrate
Behavior

Trust 1. The Speed of Trust: The One Thing That Changes

Everything, Stephen M. R. Covey, Rebecca R.
Merrill, Stephen R. Covey; Free Press, 2008
2. Integrity: The Courage to Meet the Demands of

Reality, Henry Cloud; HarperCollins, 2009

3. Responsibility at work: how leading professionals
act (or don't act) responsibly, Howard Gardner;
John Wiley & Sons, 2007
13

Resume Building

1. What Color Is Your Parachute? 2012: A Practical

Manual for Job-Hunters and Career-Changers,
Richard Nelson Bolles; Ten Speed Press, 2011
2. The what color is your parachute workbook: how
to create a picture of your ideal job or next career,
Richard Nelson Bolles; Ten Speed Press, 2011

14

Group Discussions (GDs)

1. Effective Group Discussion: Theory and Practice,

Gloria J. Galanes, Katherine Adams; McGrawHill, 2004

15

Interview Skills

1. What Color Is Your Parachute? 2012: A Practical

Manual for Job-Hunters and Career-Changers,
Richard Nelson Bolles; Ten Speed Press, 2011
2. The what color is your parachute workbook: how
to create a picture of your ideal job or next career,
Richard Nelson Bolles; Ten Speed Press, 2011

General References:SN
Author/s
1 Swami
Ranganathananda
2 Swami
Ranganathananda
3

Asim Chaudhuri

Swami Vivekananda

Swami Vivekananda

Name of Book
Universal Message of the
Bhagavad Gita (Vol 1-3)
Eternal Values for a
Changing Society (Vol 14)
Vivekananda: A Born
Leader
Complete
Works
of
Swami Vivekananda (Vol
1-9)
Letters
of
Swami
Vivekananda

Publisher
Advaita Ashrama,
Kolkata
Bharatiya Vidya
Bhavan

Edition
Latest

Advaita Ashrama,
Kolkata
Advaita Ashrama,
Kolkata

Latest

Advaita Ashrama,
Kolkata

Latest

Latest

Latest

*PA (M): 10 marks for Active Learning Assignments, 20 marks for other methods of PA
ACTIVE LEARNING ASSIGNMENTS: Preparation of power-point slides, which include videos,
animations, pictures, graphics for better understanding theory and practical work The faculty will allocate
chapters/ parts of chapters to groups of students so that the entire syllabus of Engineering Graphics is
covered. The power-point slides should be put up on the web-site of the College/ Institute, along with the
names of the students of the group, the name of the faculty, Department and College on the first slide. The
best three works should be sent to [email protected].

Note: Passing marks for PA (M) will be 12 out of 30.