Prof.

Shantanu Dey, IIM-C PGP 2010 MC-II Assignment #1: When Consultants and Clients Clash

1. Your Assignment is: write a commentary the fifth commentary on what is the nature of the problem between the consultants and the client; and how should the problem be solved? (Please see #4) 2. The Assignment has no word limit specified. However, the requirement is that it should be one page long using the ARIAL 12 font (the one used in this Note.) It is expected that single-spacing is used and that a full one page assignment is submitted as per normal understanding. 3. The Assignment does not have any requirement specified in terms of format or headers. 4. The framework for Problem Analysis discussed in class Problem Definition, Diagnosis, Proof and Action Plan can be used. To clarify, it is not necessary that these terms or headers be used in the assignment; you can use it if you find it useful to do your analysis. 5. However, your Commentary should clearly mention: What do you think is the problem between the Consultant and the Client? (Just saying its a clash will not be considered a good answer!) Why do you think this problem between the Consultant and Client has arisen? (also see #5 below) What is the solution to the problem? (Your advisory to the Consultant and/or Client) 6. In terms of levels of the problem mentioned while discussing this case in class this means that for this assignment you have to address yourself to Level 2 of the problem (Consultant-Client issues) rather than Level 1 of the problem (inherent business problem for solving which Consultant was engaged.) It is possible that you locate the source of the Level 2 problem as the Level 1 problem. However, this is not necessary, i.e. the Level 2 problem may or may not be due to the Level 1 problem. 7. If an assignment is to be evaluated as Good/Very Good/Excellent it will need to take into account the views of experts expressed in the other Commentaries attached to the case. This means referring to one or more of the other commentaries what the (other) commentator(s) have mentioned as the problem and its possible solution, i.e. their advice and writing your own commentary taking such views into account. This will involve agreeing or disagreeing with the other views, and in response to them, expressing your own views. (also see #9) 8. If an assignment has not referred to the other commentaries but has responded to the questions in #4 above it may at best be evaluated to be Acceptable. However, this still means that these questions are answered adequately by constructing a good argument in ones own commentary. To clarify, it is not necessary that other commentaries are referred to explicitly

Prof. Shantanu Dey, IIM-C PGP 2010 MC-II Assignment #1: When Consultants and Clients Clash while writing ones assignment. However, it is recommended (please see #6 above.) 9. If your commentary responds to the two questions (for the expert commentators) at the bottom of Pg.6 of the case it will be acceptable. However, you will find that in writing a good advisory on these points you will need to address the fundamental questions as per #4 above, i.e. youll need to do a Problem Analysis. 10. If an assignment is a general commentary, or it provides advice thats merely commonsense without responding to the questions in #4 above it will not be considered Acceptable. 11. The assignment should not present a summary of case details or commentary per se. You should mention case details to the extent that it helps you make your argument i.e. to explain a point, provide contextual details and to present evidence (case information) to buttress your argument. 12. Besides the argument (Content) the Assignment will be evaluated for the other qualities of good writing discussed in Session#1 viz. Clarity, Coherence, Consistency (3-Cs); Structure; and Mechanics (Spelling, Grammar & Punctuation.) 13. In particular, check for coherence too many unrelated or disparate ideas or points should not appear in any paragraph. Each paragraph is considered coherent if it is built around one idea or point or piece of information a topic sentence should convey this primary idea or point or information. Also, check for transitions i.e. how seamlessly are you moving from paragraph to paragraph; and from sentence to sentence within each paragraph. Are the transitions smooth in terms of thought (logic) as well as language? 14. Finally, an acceptable evaluation on Mechanics will require at least a SpellCheck and Grammar-Check! 15. In case you have already submitted your assignment you have the choice of submitting a revised assignment. It is not necessary that you submit a revised assignment. However, if you feel that your submission is not as per the above points in any way you may re-submit. These points will apply to all assignments. Assignments can be continue to be submitted on a rolling basis till the deadlines mentioned at #17 below. If you re-submit please mail the Coordinators informing them of this and mark your assignment as Resubmission with date. 16. No assignment (soft or hard copy) should be submitted to Faculty directly. You have to make submissions through the Section Co-ordinators. 17. In the unfortunate case of instances of plagiarism, the assignments will be dealt with as per Institute rules and policies in such matters. 18. Revised Deadline (Soft Copy): 3pm Monday 29 Nov, 2010; Revised Deadline (Hard Copy): 3pm Tuesday 30 Nov, 2010 [All hard copies need to be signed with Name and Registration Number.]

Prof. Shantanu Dey, IIM-C PGP 2010 MC-II Assignment #1: When Consultants and Clients Clash