Assistant Professor Graham and Ms Macomber (A)

1. The overall judgment of Prof. Graham’s behaviour in the class, and then predict how
Janet and other students might experience it?
Prof. Graham, faculty of Quantitative Analysis and Operations Management
(QAOM), uses a case study analysis approach rather than lecturing. He is a person
who believes in open house discussions rather than one-way lecturing. He is also
cautious enough not to give a direct answer since he believes it may restrict the
thinking ability of students.
Even when he knew the whole class was going on the wrong track, he was
highly hesitant to give the final solution. He purposely hid his excitement even when,
finally, Janet came up with the proper analysis so that he did not hint that she was on
the right track. If he had given a hint in his lecture, students might get a tendency to
stop thinking further and stick to Janet’s approach.
Since he kept a similar mode when he listened to the whole discussion on the
wrong track and Janet’s right approach, Janet and other students may be in a dilemma
whether they are on the right path. This will lead them to think more about the case
and finally help them analyse every case received in the future.

2. How does this situation appear to Prof. Graham?

From Prof. Graham’s side, even though he was happy that the whole class was
participating in the discussions, he was worried that they had not reached the right
approach even after 70 minutes of discussion. He was in a dilemma about leaving the
whole class, making them feel they were on the right track. He was also highly
hesitant in giving the right approach.
Finally, when Janet put forward the right approach at the last moments of the
class, he was highly cautious not to convey any judgements to the students. He also
helped Janet to convey her approach to the class. He left the class without giving any
hints that she was on the right track so that the whole class themselves thought over it
and finally got their understandings of the case.

3. How well did Prof. Graham handle the questioning and response with Janet?
Prof. Graham wanted the class to understand the reasoning behind Janet’s
analysis of the case. He knew Janet was on the right path, but Janet lacked the
 confidence to express her solution correctly. Prof. Graham guided Janet through
questions based on her reasoning. Sneak comments on Janet by other classmates made
her more nervous.
When Janet finally concludes with her understanding of the case, Prof. Graham
didn’t make any final comment that left her wondering. It can be said that though
Prof. Graham did not mainly make Janet uncomfortable, he could have been more
supportive.

4. At the end of the interchange, Prof. Graham says, “Well, well!” What do you think of
this response? What will be the effect of this response? How else might he have
responded?
“Well, well” shows the appreciation for the answer provided by Janet. It also
hints that prof is relieved to have someone approach the question in the correct
direction finally. Given the time restriction, this response was enough to elucidate the
path they have to think about and continue their decision process. Any other response
would have fallen short and resulted in the professor pointing the finger at the
solution.
5. Should Prof. Graham have dropped by the group around Janet’s desk?
No, Prof. Graham should not approach the group around Macomb. Now it was
upon the class to think and reanalyse the whole scenario and develop a solution. If
Prof. Graham had gone to the group, due to his stature and position, he would be
considered an outsider, which would inhibit the free flow of thinking and knowledge,
thus limiting their path. This might also give them a hint that Janet’s approach was
right, limiting their further thinking on the case.