From Code to Corporate: Cracking the IIM Interview Question on Programming and Management

For engineers looking to make the transition from writing lines of code to developing strategies in ... Read More

IIM Interview Question

Question - "How is Computer Programming related to Management? "

Your Approach Should Be:

Analytical: Structure your response like a logical flow.

Personalized: Use your real experiences—projects, internships, or team leadership.

Forward-looking: End with how your background will help solve business problems at scale.

Here is the Sample solution of the interview question

Programming has taught me a lot about breaking up large complex problems into smaller modules—exactly how you go about solving business problems. I have also worked with teams within many different team frameworks, which mimic project management frameworks. For example, in one hackathon project, I led a team of 3 people and could monitor deliverables, timeframes, problem solve conflict when two people were trying to fix the same piece of code, and we actually produced a working MVP in 24 hours. Problem-solving, team facilitation, and time management are all transferrable skills in a corporate environment. I want to have an impact beyond completing code, and want to know the strategic side of the technology, and customer-facing side of technology, and that is where an MBA will help.

Why Do IIMs Ask This?

IIM panels are not doubting your credibility but rather they are testing three things:

Clarity of Thought: Do you actually know why you want to switch fields?

Transferability of Skills: Can you link your coding skills to leadership and business roles?

Long-Term Vision: Are you just here to get out of coding, or do you have a roadmap?

Key Points to Emphasize in Your Interview

Problem-Solving – Managers face complex business problems much like programmers face software bugs. The main thing here is structured thinking.

Teamwork & Collaboration – Be sure to mention your experience working in development teams, coordinating across several modules and resolving conflicts.

Decision-Making Under Uncertainty – Relate your experiences with code deployment, tests, or A/B experiments to business decisions that often have incomplete data.

Tech-Enabled Management – Finally, you might want to mention how managers of the future will need to be well-versed in technology trends, such as AI, data science, and digital transformations, to lead their teams effectively.