Understanding

The Railway Project

A new way to Learn

Your Team is selected to assist the
Railway Ministry to draw up a 5 year
Plan for
The Indian Railways

(2010 to 2015)
Basics
1. 30% Marks for the SMI Term
2. Teams will submit a written Report and make a presentation.
3. Team presentations will be due on 18th, 19th or 20th session (we’ll
decide by lots)
4. Marks will be based on “use of concepts” that you will learn till then

• Group Project
If you do your research well, you’ll have as much data as you could possibly handle -
from the net.

• You could visit sites of other countries and seek information on Railway systems of
those countries.

• You could join the IRFCA and have all your questions answered.

• Important site : “Reforms & Investments to put Indian Railways on a more Commercial
Track”.
Each Team will……..

• Comprise six members. It will be a uniform distribution of background qualifications

of students in your section.
• Will ensure that all members contribute equally.
• All team members must remain present during their team’s presentation
Each Team will……..

• Make a presentation of 20 mins. and answer questions for 5

mins.
• The order of presentations will be determined by lots.
• Presentations will commence from 17th session.
• Presentations may be made by as many members of a team as
possible. Bonus points will be assigned for intra-team participation
• Submit a hard copy of your report on or before the 16th
Session, 1700 hours.
• 1 mark will be deducted from overall scores for each day of late
submission (including off days or when I am not here)
• Report (including annexures, footnotes and charts) will NOT exceed 20,
A4 size, pages.
• All reports will use “11” FONT SIZE, with single spacing.
Evaluation
30% Term Marks – all members of a Team
will be awarded the same marks.
• 10% marks will be awarded by students
– Individual ratings by members of other teams. No student is
expected to rate his or her own team.
– Criteria will be predetermined and related to performance
characteristics. Will discuss rating parameters in due time.
• 15% marks will be awarded for the report
– Structure, Logic, Research base, Presentation Skills.
• 5% marks may be awarded based evidence of participation
within the Group
 Resources
• Time – 5/6 Weeks
• Team – Equalized skill sets in each group
• Information – Web Access

Challenges
• Time – Other Assignments
• Team – Unequal interest of Team Members
• Information – Unlimited Data
• Presentation – 2 stages

Hurdle
• Time is against you from the very start
 You keep 4 Balls in the Air
• Apply knowledge of SM I concepts
– best case study possible :
• Indian case
• Could adapt data as you wish
• Stretch – to recall all Concepts
• Apply knowledge of Business Plans
• Projections to year 2015
• Assumptions
• Choose Focus Topic
• Innovation is possible only when you PROJECT
• Make “Magic” happen outside the class
• Use of group synergy to apply not-so-easy concepts
• Deal with sets of fundamental conflicts – “Social Obligation” versus “Profitability” ,
Huge information about Infrastructure PLUS “Tradition” versus “Modernization”
• Cross fertilize FUNCTIONAL INPUTS
• Practice a few skills that you will need in real life
• Keep Focus – target orientation (stake - 30% Term Marks)
• Manage TIME
• Rating others’ performance (stake – 10% Term Marks)
• Deal with Social Acceptance issues – Participation in meetings, selling your ideas,
presenting to the class, One-on-one, etc.
 Exploration Stage (Individual + Group)
(Compiling views of experts)
1 • Budgets and Plan documents
• Expert Committee Reports
Divergent thinking • ADB Report

Decision Stage (Group Process)

Convergent thinking
• Applying Strategy Concepts
2 • Logic for focus
• Listing Strategic Options

Reinforcement Stage (Group Process)

3 Focus • Choosing Focal Points for your paper
• Drafting the Outline of a Business Plan

Data Mining Stage (Individual + Group)

4 • Collecting supporting data
• Bench Marking
Divergent thinking
• Exploring related areas

Convergent thinking Communication Stage (Group)

5 • Deciding formats
• Report writing
• On-Stage Presentation
• One – on – One
 Do not Expect You

• to prepare for the job of “Chief Auditor” in Indian Railways

• to become “Techies” and floor everybody with jargons
• to suppress “Group Think” in favour of individual dominance
 Watch Out

• Start well but lose your way

• Choosing easy routes to Strategic Options
“Force Fit the Logic”
• Avoid spending time to develop your own Visions for IR
• “Free riders” will tend to pull down others in the Group
• Learn from other countries.
• Avoid too much focus on the technical parts – IT, Maglev, Waste Mgt.
(Information Technology is a “tool” to optimize strategic decision
making or resource utilization)
• “Cow boyish” Approach
• Write a Business Plan – not a fairy tale.
• Many will want to avoid number crunching.