2014-15 PGDM Services Management Course for PGDM : Bulletin Board

COMMUNICATION WITH THE CLASS

1. I will not directly communicate with any student from the class directly on administrative and evaluation and disciplinary matters. It will be all done through the COCO (Course Coordinator).
2. My main forums for communication with the students, apart from the class room, will be this blog. I shall upload (lightly) edited versions of the summaries received from the class on this blog. I am hoping it will serve as a ready refresher for you of the course. Hopefully it will also reduce the burden of taking notes during the class and focus more on asking questions.The blog address is : http://tchingu-service.blogspot.in/2014/12/2014-15-pgdm-services-management-course.html
3. There is a provision at the end of each post on this blog - for the reader to ask questions. I plan to provide clarifications and answers to all comments within 48 hours of their being posted. 
4. My most direct contact with the class will be COCO who will (1) keep track of which group did what in each module / class (2) make sure the submissions are done to me in the required format and in time (3) compile my evaluations so that declaration of results becomes easier 

EVALUATION

THE OVERALL WEIGHTAGE IS : 

• Terminal Examination ( Individual )        30% weight
• Attendance  (Individual)                             10% weight
• Participation (Individual)                            10% weight
• Class Summaries (Group Effort)                25% weight
• Case Presentations (Group Effort)             25% weight

The whole course will be planned and delivered in modules of 2 sessions each.

In each module, 2 groups will be presenting cases in the class and 2 other groups will be writing class summaries of what happened in the class. Each of these 4 groups will be graded for their respective efforts.

GRADING OF CASES

The case will be presented by two groups of students at the beginning of the module. The case will be given at least 2 days in advance by the COCO so that the designated two groups can prepare a PPT and present the same in the class as mentioned above. These presentations will be graded by me based on the quality of preparation, quality of presentation in the class and how the questions were handled in the class.  Marks will be given out of 10 and will be the same for all the members of the group provided they are present in the class.  A group member not present will not be eligible to get any marks.

How do I grade and score the case presentations ? First, remember that a case is a simulation of real life. In real life, all the necessary data is generally never available. You will find the same when you tackle cases - and, shorter the case, the more you will find that the data is sketchy and soft. But, instead of focusing on what is not there, focus on what is there. You will find that enough data (quantitative as well as conversational) exists to give a definite shape to your thinking. My objective is not to see if you have found the right answer (there may not be a single answer anyway; it is not maths)  but to see if you have thought in the right direction to address the problem given at the end of the case using the reality portrayed in the case.

• Note : The COCO will ensure that the PPTs are sent to me on my e mail id sk.palekar@spjimr.org the previous night so that I have a chance to go through the presentation.
• Note : The COCO will also ensure that both the PPTs (one of each group) is already loaded on the class computer before the class begins so that the class time is not wasted.
• Note :  To ensure that all the members in the group are equally well prepared, I shall choose and call any one person from the group to make a presentation in the class and also answer the questions. No other person from the group will be allowed to help the presenter. 
• Note :  All PPTs will have only 6 slides. The first slide has to be only indicating the Group Number, Group Number names and roll numbers, and the name of the case and the date of preparation. COCO will need to ensure that this exists before sending to me.
• Note :  All the cases I use are short cases : 3-4 pages. Each case will have one or more questions asked at the end of it. The group is expected to work out and present their response to these questions.

GRADING OF CLASS SUMMARIES

Like the case presentations, the class summaries is also a group effort for a module - by two designated groups in the class - and all the members of the group will get equal marks out of 10 provided they are present in the class. Absent members will not get these marks. Each of these two groups will take notes of what happens in the class during the module , consolidate it well , and if possible enhance it through using material available on the net or by including examples etc in such a way that the summary can be uploaded by me on the class blog . The summary should not have more than 6 typewritten pages in WORD format for the whole module. The summary will need to be submitted to me by the COCO within 72 hours of the class timing.    

EXPECTATIONS FROM THE CLASS

• Please come in time
• Please undertake specified reading and preparation before coming.
• Use Phoning / mailing / texting / social is prohibited.
• Please pay attention and participate through relevant questions and comments.
• A student should  raise a hand in order to speak ; and speak only when asked.
• Please enrich the class : Bring your experience, observations, questions