The Decision Review System - A Boon or a Bane

One can't remain too far away from Cricket, can he? Especially when the world cup is on. Glad that the Indian juggernaut ran over Pakistan to enable the country to set-up a summit clash with a team that probably looks most suitable to lift the coveted trophy.Well, the beautiful game has taken all of us into its fold but when the euphoria does die down it is probably worthwhile taking a look at a new technology introduction which to some may have been the best thing that could happen to the game so far as transparency is concerned while to others it may seem as a move that has marred the aesthetics of this gentleman's game.Yes, it is the much discussed Decision Review System (DRS). It would be silly to dismiss something as innovative as this simply as a boon or a bane. But a few points of contemplation may be a good start to help appreciate or criticize this technological introduction.



Better Decision making: The single most important argument in support of the DRS is that it prevents, in so far as it is possible, incorrect decisions. A batsman who believes that he has incorrectly been handed over a leg before decision when his bat clearly hit the ball can now seek for a television intervention to overturn the decision by the technologically handicapped on-filed umpires. A welcome change indeed. One can't help to imagine the fate of the Indian today team had Tendulkar not sought a Decision review when he was handed over a leg before from the bowling of Saeed Ajmal. To be fair to the umpire he seemed gone for all money to the naked eye and I am sure most people in the country would have felt the same but the review proved otherwise and the referral ensured that no team got an undue advantage owing to a manual error. What the DRS also helps prevent are instances of dissent.Many a time in the past players have been reprimanded for displaying their dissatisfaction at decisions by on-filed umpires, a practice which to me was a little harsh on the players. Not only was the player at the receiving end of a seemingly incorrect decision , he was also not allowed to show as much as a sigh of disappointment - an action which is only natural under those circumstances. With the decision review though, he can just symbol it to the umpire that he needs the 3rd umpire to verify the decision. The 3rd umpire's decision is binding .Hence the player has no reason to feel disappointed

Number of reviews: At present every team is allowed a total of 2 unsuccessful reviews. Mind you the Reviews which are successful are not counted in.But if the DRS indeed ensures that the game is played fare and square why limit the number of appeals to 2? A restriction on the number of appeals means that after the appeal quota is exhausted one cannot seek tech help even when the decision may appear incorrect

Time taken for reviews:The time taken for the 3rd umpire to come to any real conclusion is squarely based on the complexity of the decision at hand. Yes ,match situations and player reputation do play a small part but none is as significant as really how close the decision is to being incorrect. With only 2 decision reviews allowed per team, this hasn't resulted in any serious issues w.r.t teams finishing their overs on time.But if the quota were to be enhanced then this may lead to a spilling over of the match into extra time.Not that we need any stretching of the already 7 hour long game :)

Scope of the reviews: At present Teams can go upstairs for almost any kind of decisions. While so far only LBW and caught behinds have really been reviewed, teams may in the future ask for a referral of a wide ball if the teams are neck and neck at any given time. Now for a wide delivery there are no clear cut answers. The ICC needs to be limit the scopre of these reviews so that decisions which would perhaps remain contentious even after a 3rd umpire intervention are best left to the on-filed umpires

Ian Bell got lucky with the 2.5 m rule

Clear demarcation of the role of the on-filed umpires: There were a couple of instances in the Cup's league matches when the umpires had differing views on LBW decisions being reviewed when the point of impact was more than 2.5m from the batter's stumps. While the decision was sustained in the case of an appeal against Ian Bell - a decision that cost India the match - it was overturned by another umpire in another game. The credibility of any new scheme depends on its consistency. Clearly the above incidents have shown that the ICC hasn't paid much attention to the consistency part of it

Umpires embarrassed: And it is with much pain that I write that it is not a pretty picture when one looks at the face of an on-field umpire when his decision is asked to be reviewed. It sometimes feels like they are the culprit in the dock and that their fate would be decided by TV umpires in 2 minutes. Much worse is the picture when they have to overturn the decision and to add some Indian spices to the wound, every spectator can see it on the giant screen. Imagine having to look at a David Shepherd correcting his decision . There is obviously nothing wrong in doing what is right but just that Cricket despite all its scandals has always been perceived as gentleman's game and much of this reputation has for years been kept intact because of the alomost infallible reputation that the on-filed umpires of yester years held. Not that that reputation has taken a beating in this cup - umpires have invariably got their decisions right - but there may be a little less infallibity quotient for the umpires going forward

What a spectator sees on screen

Spectator popularity- I think the DRS has been rather popular among spectators and television viewers. They feel a degree of connection when they see that a decision is up for a review and they can form their own opinion about it. There is also greater spectator participation when a decision is reviewed on the giant screen and if the game is indeed for the spectators, I am not sure if the sponsors will be too happy if the ICC decides to take back the DRS altogether.Though I was really young to have noticed it but I believe that the DRS is having the same effect on the viewers that the Run-out referrals to the 3rd umpires had in the early 1990s

Like I mentioned above, there are no clear cut answers and each person is bound to have his own view. To my mind though, there are more 'goods' than 'bads' in the new system. With a few tweaks, the system could be made agreeable to all

IIMK - The Interview

The last of my IIM calls was scheduled to happen on the 28th of Mar 2011. Though I had not particularly kept up with the latest happening owing to ill health, I had some previous interviews to back me up and give me the confidence required to face this one.

I was required to report at the center at about 8:30 A.M and I did indeed reach about an hour in advance and that point on I so wanted the process to get over as soon as it could.I could hear a few Malayalam words flying around.Incidentally a significant proportion of the candidate population were Malayalis.

Coming to the business end of things,at about 9:00 AM we asked to write a composition on a given topic within half an hour. The topic was a abstract notion really. One could interpret it in any way.I felt this gave me more leeway in drafting the essay and I had quite a few points in mind but I could jot down just about half of them for lack of time. This was followed by a rather strict check of the documents and candidates without the photocopies of the originals were asked to fetch the same.The verification of these documents was the most time consuming part of the selection process. After each verification, the candidate was asked to move to the interview section where one was almost instantly called in for the same .

There were a couple of gentlemen in the room where the interview was meant to take place. I was ushered into the room by a gentleman well into his forties,I would guess.I was asked to submit the photocopies of the documents to the panel during the verification of which they began asking me questions. They did not take a look at the originals which I had carried with myself.I was asked to take my seat. Right from the word go I was getting the feel that the interview would be relaxing. Atleast the professors made me feel really a ease.
Written below in conversational style is what transpired in the next 15 minutes (the interview,I observed, was of a shorter duration). I shall refer to the interviewers as I1 and I2 and myself as Kunal

I1: Good Morning
Kunal: Good Morning

I2: So Kunal tell me about yourself
Kunal:[And thus went my practiced answer in reverse chronological fashion with much elan and fervour.Lol]

I2:[well at ease] Mmmm. Tell me which was your favorite subject in Electronics engineering
Kunal:[Oh I hate that. Why dig the past? In any case I didn't want to drift too far away from Communication] Digital Electronics and Communication system [I was actually tipped off of this potential question by a previous interviewee]

I2: OK. Tell me the difference between the difference between 2G and 3G from a technical stand point. not from a scam perspective.Ha ha
Kunal:[I was obviously not amused having to start the interview with question i was not completely aware about] The primary division is from a modulation perspective. [Explained what modulation was]But I do not clearly know which modulation schemes are used for 3G communication

I2: So why can't they employ 3G enhancements in 2G?
Kunal:[Not sure what the question meant]I think the correct way to look at the question will be from the point of division really which is the modulation scheme rather than looking at it from the point of view of why 2G could not have 3G schemes. The schemes were gradually improved

I2: What is the difference between 3G and 4G?
Kunal:Not sure if I would be able to answer that. I'm sorry

I1: What is an avalanche breakdown?
Kunal:[Was a little rusty but felt I did a good job with answering this question with a detailed explanation]

I2:I see you haven't written your salary here [pointing to the space on the Personal data form where the information was requested]
Kunal: It was an optional question I preferred not to answer

I1: I see you have a good grade point and you have a nice job . Why MBA?
Kunal:[Spitted out my practiced answer this time with more gusto about why I want to start an education firm imparting Financial basics to students of Std 10th and 12th]

I2: So you target will be high school students. How do you think you will be able to attract students when they are busy preparing for the IITs etc?
Kunal: I think much of this would depend on the marketing strategy.My USP would be to allow students to make an informed choice of a career in the future.I would initially want to start my business in the summers where students will have the opportunity to prepare for their entrance exams as well as devote time to learning more about finance and economics.

I2: Okay. Since you mentioned you want to impart financial basics etc., etc., can you tell me what the Limited stands for in Goldman Sachs Pvt Ltd?
Kunal[Damn. I didnt remember.]I remember we were told about this during our training, but I don't think I would remember now

I2: Try.
Kunal: [I thought professing ignorance would be better than darting in the dark]It has something to do with the legal processes.I'm sorry that's I would know

I1:So I see you have got a call from IIMB too .Which among IIMK and IIMB would you choose if given a chance?
Kunal:[Practiced]. It is a tough question. I will cross the bridge when I reach there

I1: What is so unique about IIMK that you would want to join?
Kunal:[I had not done any research on their website, so didn't know what really set IIMK apart]I have spoken to people who have passed I have passed out of IIMK and they were always impressed with the quality of education and faculty. It is a great place to be having proven its worth over the past 8-9 years. Not to mention I did my engineering from NIT Calicut and IIMK had its beginning in the NIT Campus. So I have a natural affinity.[I dunno why I said the last sentence]

I1:Okay. So many scams happening in the country. I am fed up of democracy, I want to get rid of it.What's you take on this?
Kunal:[Smiles]We do not have an option do we ?I would want ti answer this question in 2 parts.[Explained why there is no alternative and the fact that we have a multiparty democracy.Secondly I mentioned about the 4th pillar of democracy which is the press and said that we should be proud of their dynamism. Removal of democracy would mean removal of the freedom of press]
[I ranted on]Part of the circumstances that have shaped my views is that I spent 4 years in Kerala where I have seen students the same age as mine being very politically motivated.It is different from other parts of the country [blah blah blah]

I2: How many states are going into elections in the next month?
Kunal: 4

I2: Sure
Kunal: Yes

I2: Name them
Kunal: Kerala,Tamil Nadu,West Bengal and Assam

I2: Which is the 5th state?
Kunal:[Smiles] Oh. I don't know if there is a fifth state

I2: It is Pondichery
Kunal[Never knew Pondicherry had elections][Smiles]It is a Union territory

I2: [Smiles] Okay Kunal . That should be it.
I1: Do you have any question for us?
Kunal: Yes. I have been meaning to ask that given my entrepreneurial ambitions , will their be electives catering to entrepreneurship?
I1: [He mentioned there will be and that they are willing to improve on a cell catering specifically to entrepreneurship]

Kunal: Are there incubation facilities for new businesse?
I1: Yes . There the new cell could have such facilities. You will also have a holiday placement offer option.

Kunal: What is a holiday placement ?
I1: You can try out different things like your business among other things fresh out of campus and if for some reason you wish to get back and get placed then the campus will allow you after 2 years of your passing out.[Atleast that's what I understood]

Kunal: Wow
I2: [Smiles]Nice option . isn't it?
Kunal: [Smiles].Yes great option. You will be able to hedge your risks.

I1: Okay, Kunal. Thank you
Kunal: Thank you and it was a pleasure talking to you

The professors, like I said before, were incredibly comforting with their mannerisms. Presently hoping for the good news . The results for IIMK ,I learnt, will be out in the first week of May.

Related links:

IIM Bangalore - The interview

IIM Indore - The interview

IIM Shillong - The interview

IIM Bangalore - The interview

Mar 12 2:00 P.M was my date with an enviable challenge - the chance to make it to IIM Bangalore - among India's most sought after B-school if not the most sought after B school. I was glad that I reached the center (which was IIMB itself ) a good 45 minutes before the selection process was meant to commence . Saw a few familiar faces including someone from my own college. After some relaxing chit-chats about how previous interviews had been we were all asked to assemble on the first floor outside a room inside which the destiny of the 10 of us who were in the assigned group would be decided. Sharp at 2 we were asked to enter the room and told to write a one page essay (and that's as much space that is provided. One cannot ask for an extra sheet to write on) on or the most likely reason for price rise . That if it was a productivity or distribution issue.We had a good 10 minutes to think about the topic followed by 20 minutes in which to pen those thoughts which one would imagine is rather sufficient. I thought I did okay with the essay. Nothing great really to talk about.

The panelists took the paper away from us exactly after 30 minutes from the point they directed us ti begin thinking. We were then asked to wait outside the hall and that we would be called in the order in which we sat. I was meant to be No 2. but the first guy had not turned up which made them tell me 'You are first up. Don't go too far away'. I didn't . just waited outside for my turn and was asked to enter the hall at 3:00 P.M

There were 3 panelists inside. One alumnus and 2 professors . The alumnus was from a finance background and there were professors each from Finance and Business communication.
Written below in conversational style is an account of what transpired in the next 20 minutes. I shall refer to the interviewers as I1 (finance prof),I2 (alumnus) and I3 (Business Com prof)

I3: So you have got 2 files.Please hand them over and be seated.
Kunal: Yes[Smiled]. There is one for academic certificates and one for co-curricular. Good afternoon! [Didn't mess it up with a 'Good morning' this time :)]

I2: You work for ... [There was pause .Perhaps meant for me to spell out my company's name,which I did. After which he followed] Goldman Sachs [And I knew where the rest of the discussion was headed. It's all up to you dear firm :) ]Who is the CEO?
[Nice to start with a sitter]
Kunal: LLoyd C. Blanfein

I2: Your C.E.O was in the news recently. What was that for?
['How recent?' I thought.Then I thought I should say the most recent one]
Kunal: Rajat Gupta was on the board of directors of GS in the past. Lloyd Blankfein was reported to have been willing to testify in the trial

I2: What else? Goldman was in the news otherwise too
[I knew this was for what had happened sometime in May last year]
Kunal: Yes there were allegations of fraud.
[I ventured to explain what the CDO containing the mortgage backed security was about and the affected parties ABN Amro ,Paulson and Co and the Royal bank of Scotland . All information available in public domain]

I2: Don't you think that it was wrong?
Kunal: Well if a company (trying to generalise the issue) is found not to have complied with rules and regulations the it does become a question of morality ...

I2: How many employees are there in Goldman globally?
Kunal: there are about 30000 employees

I2:Kunal, I heard after the allegations ,Goldman came up with a 14-point guiding principles for the employees correct? I have only heard it from others. What does it guide you about?
Kunal: [Smiled] Before I answer that just wanted to let everyone know that the 14-point guideline have always been there and were not constituted as a reaction.Also,I can only disclose as much as is available in the public domain. We obviously give primacy to our customers ,our people and reputation. [Explained a little of how it is important to the firm]

I2: What do you think Goldman is there to make money or service its customers?
Kunal: Making money is at the back of everyone's mind.But what is important is how you get there and for Goldman its important that Client is serviced.......

I2: Kunal, I want you to think about this. On the one hand you promise to service your customer but on the other hand hand the activities are ones that are meant to enhance profits. Don't you think this is wrong?
Kunal:[Again trying to generalize. Guess had to repeat my earlier answers in a new way!]I think both the things go together. You would always make a profit if you service your clients and earn there good will and .....

I2: Kunal, so how would a new joiner fresh out of college look at Goldman Sachs ? As a money maker?
Kunal: I was recruited fresh out of college myself from NIT Calicut and I was aware that being a financial services firm the firm would of course make money . What really is important is the underlying principles of ....

I3: What is your job there at Goldman?
Kunal: I work there as a technical analyst for the support and development of Goldman's global P.W.M business. [To put things in perspective told them a little about how a typical day would be for me]

I3: What is the need of technology ?[The question was very long and also supported by I1. the gist of that was I think 'Why do companies invest heavily in technology ?']
Kunal: Technology is an absolute must. For example one of the feature which gives a lot of wall street firms an advantage is the principle of mark to market(which helps hedge against a counter party default) for which you need technology as you need to do the computation daily. This can't be done without technology

I3: Mark to market. Mmm How does it work?
Kunal: You take the latest price and if say you have agreed on a future transaction at Rs 85 kilo of rice to materialize on the 12th of May and the current price rises or falls by one rupee then that rupee has to be exchanged between the interested parties and this helps prevent .....

I2: How do you arrive at the pricing?
Kunal: Since it is done daily I would imagine that the last closing price of a product would be taken as the current price.

I1: Are you sure?
Kunal: Pricing is the responsibility of another department. So ..

I1: [Smiles] Tell me if you know or not?
Kunal: I would not be completely ...

I3: Lets say Reliance share is selling at rs 1000 the whole day and just before the market closes someone buys it at Rs 5000. What will be the price of Reliance at the end of day?
Kunal: The value of the share is always the last price at which it is sold and in this case it would be Rs 5000 ... [Not sure I understood that question completely though]

I3: Don't you think that's wrong?
Kunal: [Smile]Before I answer , would like to state that that this is a doubt that i have had myself about product pricing and i have raised it in different forums> I don't think think such a scenario would happening mature markets

I3: No no, we are not talking about mature markets here. Lets say someone decides to buy Reliance at Rs 5000 a share? How do you think the calculation would work?
Kunal:[Thought a little]I would imagine they would take the average of the prices at which it was traded the whole day and because ..

I3: But that's not easy correct?
Kunal: mm . I don't think there would be any ambiguity w.r.t the prices at which shares were bought. We just add them up and take the average
[I3 responded by saying something. Do not recollect now]

I1: So its all finance? why do you want to take Marketing up?
[Phew ! where did that come from . I didn't mention it in my SOP that I wanted to opt marketing. was a little puzzled]
Kunal: The reason why I want to pursue MBA is that I want to open a business of my own in the education sector. [Told them how teaching is my passion and how I observed the difference in business knowledge in new york between Indians and westerners, was asked to come straight to the point and told them that i want to impart basic financial knowledge to students fresh out of school so that they can make an informed choice ]

I1; Why do you want to do this?
Kunal: To start, teaching is my passion ..

I1: passion is one thing what else?
Kunal: A lot of students want to take up M.B.A without really knowing why.They do an MBA just because everyone else is doing it. i want to help people make an informed choice?

I1: Don't you want to make money. Why do want to glorify your intentions?
[On Dear Lord]
Kunal: Making money is at the back of everyone's mind but ..

I1:I think it is the front of everyone's mind.
Kunal: Well... i was reading this book one minute entrepreneur and there they had stated that for anyone to sustain any business it is important to keep making money and lets say for that reason alone, one would want to earn money.

I1:What skills do you presently have that you think you would make a successful entrepreneur?
[Never thought about that]
Kunal:[kept beating about my being organized and about my organizational skills in the past and then stopped]

I3: Being organized that's it? I would imagine that chaos is what would make a person go for entrepreneurship! [looking at I1 for agreement]
[Aah! Cleaver play of words.]
Kunal: Well i think you need a certain amount of entropy to start with. thereafter its you organizational skills which would give the firm a direction.

I3: IIM Bangalore is not a place famous for entrepreneurs. Of the 300 students barely one turns out to be an entrepreneur.
Kunal: I thought there were quite a few actually.There is the NSCREL. I was going through the websie and I did find quite a few start-ups including Just-books ..

I3:All those are from NSCREL, the PGP program doesn't have anything to do with it.
[I was taken aback as I had all the while being thinking that the 2 were neatly tied]
I1: That should be enough. thank you.
I3: Yes . Thank you. You got any question for us?

Kunal: [Still not completely out of the surprise.I paused] mm PGP and NSCREL are not tied?
I1: No. They aren't . They just operate within the campus

Kunal: but there would be electives catering to entrepreneurship?
I1: Yes, yes that there will be.

Kunal: [Thought that should be it]. Thank you. It was a pleasure


Dunno how to rate this. Was I too assertive or too meek to their linking. Fingers crossed.