Exams in ISB

Some people are really concerned about the exams held in ISB. Here there is no fixed pattern for the term exams, mid terms or assignments. Each prof is free to choose an optimum mix of the different exam variables. There might be quizes (arbit whenever the prof feels like or weekly) or assignments consisting of problems and/or case studies. Some need to be done in groups and some are individual. There are lotsa variables which the profs can play with in the exams. Multiple choice vs short answer types vs only problems, duration of the exams, closed book/open book, last minute instructions, write with pen/pencil, :-), cheat sheets/Non cheat sheets etc. They can design the exam as they seem fit. (Well these are the variables which I have been introduced to till now and I am sure there are many more up their sleeves).

This diversity in testing the course knowledge has really caught the student body on a wrong footing. And there are many discussions going around on having a set pattern for the exams. I for one dont agree in having a set pattern. First of all most of the course content contains text book problems and solutions which are very difficult to replicate in real life. But hold on, this doesnt mean that they have no significance at all in real life. Nobody can know real life. There can be a hundred things going wrong or right at the same time. What these text book problems actually do is equip us with the basic principles and tools which can be used in a wide variety of situations. Infact some of them can be used in their nascent form in a wide variety of life situations. As good managers and leaders when we venture out into the real world, we are supposed to take decisions based on these basic principles but keeping the particular context which we are in, in mind. Of course teaching each and every nuances of everything in a B School is not possible as well as plausible. What a BSchool can do is equip you with the necessary tools and skills to solve real world problems. Once you understand that you ve got it and ISB is doing a wonderful job out of it with ample number of case studies and real examples. (Enron and World Com are the favourite whipping brats)

Coming back to exams, profs get only the variables mentioned above to make the picture a bit more realistic ofcourse apart from the twisting and turning the text book problems to a certain limit. By introducing variation in the pattern of exams, they can test how people react to the same problems in a different context in a different environment or under different constraints. This leads to not only a holistic learning of the subject matter but also teaches us to be aware of the context while making decisions.

That said, gotta get back to my studies. Tomorrow start the first term exams. This was a long break...