Inspired by the Tata Motors [Get Quote] Nano project, business schools across the country are keen on learning more about the significant dimensions that led to the phenomenal attention garnered by the car.

Moreover, with the belief that it will encourage students to think out of the box, management institutes are including references to the Nano in their curriculum in the form of case studies, research projects, seminars and marketing assignments.

Students at the Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies recently worked on a project on Tata passenger cars including the Nano. "The Nano part of the project dealt with understanding how the car competes with two-wheelers and not small cars like the Santro, Maruti [Get Quote] 800 and Alto. The target population of Nano resides in the tier 3 & tier 4 cities," says Rahul Lachchhiramka, a JBIMS student.

The project also looked into the specifics of the structure of the Nano in a broad manner and how it differs in make as compared to the other cars in the segment.

The Nano has also become the star attraction at the Indian Institutes of Management. While the students at IIM-Ahmedabad have been discussing the challenges faced by the company, IIM-Bangalore has come up with an advertisement for the car.

As part of the marketing assignment, the students made a video calling Nano a dream-shaped car and urging the common man to 'bring home your dream.' The advertisement conveys the 'common man's car' concept and the emotional value that the car brings.

Two students at the Nirma Institute of Management, Arnab Sinha and Piyush Sharma, have done a case study on the Nano. The study focuses on the stalemate between the Tata Motors officials and the West Bengal government and addresses the issues concerning the dilemma the project faced before it was shifted to Sanand in Gujarat.

"We did a case study specifically on the Tata Motors Nano project because of the various prospects it provides on the industry scenario. However, an analysis of the case was not done and has been left as a prerogative of the end-user," says Arnab Sinha.

The study has recorded a chronology of the events, besides studying aspects like the proposed site and land acquisition, agitation against land acquisition, different perspectives of the state government and the opposition, competition in the small car segment, environmental and safety issues and reaction from competitors and other industrialists.

The subject was also a favourite topic of discussion at the recently-concluded annual Human Resources Conclave organised by the institute. At the conclave, speakers highlighted the current job market and how the Nano would help in creating job opportunities.

Likewise, students at the Bangalore Management Association have also found it to be the right time to study Tata Motors' strategies on how to capture the middle income segment by introducing a low-priced car, which has also led other companies to follow suit.