Sandee

Sandeep Singh Deo (known as Sandee) after many brilliant stints in some of the word-class- Centres

for Excellence in USA joined an Indian B-school of repute as a professor of Operation Management.

It was mid-nineties, and a different shift had taken a toll all over the world. That was the time when

many B-schools in India scouted seriously for corporate practitioners to join, teach and infuse

practical sense in the class-rooms of business management.

Prot.Sandee mulls Over those nostalgic days and his new Avatar both as an educator as well as

administrator. Soon after his joining, Sandee was assigned some challenging responsibilities. Initially

he was made warden, and then a year after he became Chairperson- Academic Programs, apart from

regular teaching as a part of his Job responsibilities.

In a very short period of time Sandee could create his marked and adored presence among the

student community. Students really liked him not because of his pleasant personality alone but also

as awesome teacher, guide and a friend. He earned many catchy and peppy titles from students

across the batches, such as "AOOE: apple of our eyes", 'PMP: post-modern- professor", "GCP: Great

Case-Prof", 'etc. Students most commonly used to refer him, in their world, as Sandee, of course

with love and respect.

The other side of the world dwells, as well, in any work climate. And this businesS school was also

not an exception. Sandee was not as popular with his colleagues as he was with his students.

Sandee's colleagues expressed unsupportive views about him, like-"He was not that great a teacher

as was projected by students. Probably his charming persona and blessed physical demeanour gelled

well with the students' community.He used to get too friend ly with the student community. It was

unpalatable to us when students used to call him as Prof./ Sandee'. And he would simply chuckle at

them with love. Preposterous! Remember - students can never be yours. And this can have serious

consequences in overall academic culture. We, wish this Institution had a tough administrator and a

male administrator"
However, students had completely different opinion about Prot. Sandee. He was known for his

entrepreneurial teaching pedagogy. In fact, he was a complete packagel He used to storm the class

with whiff of fresh innovative ideas, and create interest, involvement and ownership. Sandee often

says, "I am lucky - I am in- group with students" They are my eyes- I see my past in them.Any great

centre for excellence in education needs to develop a culture of knower and the known Seeker and the
sought; where your mind is free trom rear and your head is held high. It should also be reasonably
tolerant to accept the entrepreneurial madness as well as failure. I am also lucky that ioined this
institution during that time when the new Dean, Prof. Leela was putting all her efforts passionately in the
above direction. 5ut any change needs a little time. I fill my loneliness by engaging myself completely and
use my white- space prudently"

Sandee's passion for unconventional teacner naa the positive support and encouragement of the current
dean- Prof Leela M. Prof. Leela is a B. Iecn Trom Il|-Mumbai ,master from IIM(A). Later did her PhD from
UCLA, USA. With a rich blend or experiences from both corporate and academic. As a dean Leela had
worked with several top tiered institutes with AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS

accreditations before joining this group in 2011.

In one or the campus interviews cum discussions on vision, future mission and culture supports

and do you feel lonely at times? Her reply was- "teaching is twice learning, it is a creative pro

dnd every creator needs to have, freedom, compassion, passion and involvement...but someuime

t Comes with a price! It makes you lonely and at times you are left out- sO Cialy You

unconventional-a price for being different- off the crowd

it

are

Pror. Leela recently received a faculty representation from 10 faculty-members on dos ana don ts

WItn reference to mannerism of a Teacher (euhibit2?). In her 15 years of deanships in various

Institutions of national and international repute (see-exhibitut), this insurgent voice against a racuty

colleague was little strange.

She decIded that she must go through the profiles and files of each and every faculty .Prot. Leela

asked her Personal Assistant (PA) to put all personal files of faculty along with the tabulated
Summary (exisits2) on her table as s0on as possible.

Prof. Leela has to act tough and take a decision soon that would help in building a great environment

based on pertorming culture which she feels is missing when she joined.

An interpretation of Sandy's Case has some merits for OB! Perhaps an -open- in-class-discussion

makes some sense?!