The campus is silent
strange silence prevails in the campus today. The Halloween party was last week when ghosts were seen flying across on their broom sticks. But this silence has nothing to do with it.
Today, Green and Blue streams got their first WAC (Written assessment of a Case). As I write this piece for the Diary, I am aware that 85 students are busy typing on their laptops. Team meetings are going on to figure out the possible angles to the assignment. My Red stream gets their WAC next week. So we breathe easy as of now.
WAC is a very interesting part of Cranfield MBA. In fact, for a few subjects WAC is a major part of term assessment. So what is WAC?
WAC is a written report on a case or problem, which calls for an integrated, rather than a functional solution. There are three important observations on the use of WAC in the curriculum. For one, it is about testing one`s theoretical knowledge and applying it into practice. So the concentration is on the problem, not the details of the technique. Second, it is about team play and yet is an individual assignment. Third, it is about reality of corporate life. I explain each of these a bit more.
We have had five weeks of lectures so far and are mid way in the Term 1. As part of the rigour at Cranfield, we get a business case in the morning hours of a day announced in advance. We get slightly over 24 hours to work on it. Each student has to then understand what the case is about and what is it asking for. It is the same case for every one. So, for example, in the WAC for Economics, depending on the case, we may be evaluating the application of Game Theory and predatory pricing or some other model, or even a mix of a few models. This enhances our understanding of the subject and hones our knowledge too.
Each student understands the case and then the learning teams meet for a “team dump”. Differently explained, each member puts on the table his / her understanding of the case and possible dimensions as well as questions they may have. The objective is to share knowledge with as well as learn from each other. This is one of the many reasons why we do not “compete against each other”. Instead we compete with ourselves, trying to get the best out of us. Once the team meetings are done, then the stream meets for a “stream dump”. Here a few teams volunteer to put forward their ideas about the topic. The object is to create a pool of ideas and thoughts and made available to all.
After team discussions and sharing of resources, each member then works out his / her own written report. The written report is an individual matter, in which you make your own presentation in your own words.
In my view, WAC is testing many things. There are times when a busy executive gets a sudden work and has to do a good job of it. Therefore, we have very tight timelines. A busy executive often places a strict upper limit on the length of report that they are willing to read. Similar discipline is imposed for WAC. We have a word limit and a defined structure to follow. This is very close to reality, isn’t it?
Once the reports are submitted between tonight and tomorrow afternoon, the students wait for about two weeks. We will then get back the WAC report with a grade and comments. These comments form the main element of feedback in assessing our analytical skills and written presentation skills.
So, I have to now wait till tomorrow afternoon when the party begins at The Social when the clock strikes 2:00 p.m. – the deadline for WAC!
Today, Green and Blue streams got their first WAC (Written assessment of a Case). As I write this piece for the Diary, I am aware that 85 students are busy typing on their laptops. Team meetings are going on to figure out the possible angles to the assignment. My Red stream gets their WAC next week. So we breathe easy as of now.
WAC is a very interesting part of Cranfield MBA. In fact, for a few subjects WAC is a major part of term assessment. So what is WAC?
WAC is a written report on a case or problem, which calls for an integrated, rather than a functional solution. There are three important observations on the use of WAC in the curriculum. For one, it is about testing one`s theoretical knowledge and applying it into practice. So the concentration is on the problem, not the details of the technique. Second, it is about team play and yet is an individual assignment. Third, it is about reality of corporate life. I explain each of these a bit more.
We have had five weeks of lectures so far and are mid way in the Term 1. As part of the rigour at Cranfield, we get a business case in the morning hours of a day announced in advance. We get slightly over 24 hours to work on it. Each student has to then understand what the case is about and what is it asking for. It is the same case for every one. So, for example, in the WAC for Economics, depending on the case, we may be evaluating the application of Game Theory and predatory pricing or some other model, or even a mix of a few models. This enhances our understanding of the subject and hones our knowledge too.
Each student understands the case and then the learning teams meet for a “team dump”. Differently explained, each member puts on the table his / her understanding of the case and possible dimensions as well as questions they may have. The objective is to share knowledge with as well as learn from each other. This is one of the many reasons why we do not “compete against each other”. Instead we compete with ourselves, trying to get the best out of us. Once the team meetings are done, then the stream meets for a “stream dump”. Here a few teams volunteer to put forward their ideas about the topic. The object is to create a pool of ideas and thoughts and made available to all.
After team discussions and sharing of resources, each member then works out his / her own written report. The written report is an individual matter, in which you make your own presentation in your own words.
In my view, WAC is testing many things. There are times when a busy executive gets a sudden work and has to do a good job of it. Therefore, we have very tight timelines. A busy executive often places a strict upper limit on the length of report that they are willing to read. Similar discipline is imposed for WAC. We have a word limit and a defined structure to follow. This is very close to reality, isn’t it?
Once the reports are submitted between tonight and tomorrow afternoon, the students wait for about two weeks. We will then get back the WAC report with a grade and comments. These comments form the main element of feedback in assessing our analytical skills and written presentation skills.
So, I have to now wait till tomorrow afternoon when the party begins at The Social when the clock strikes 2:00 p.m. – the deadline for WAC!
posted by Sandeep Gupta at
8:04 am
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