After a fortnight of confusion and chaos over inflated CAT scores that has caused major embarrassment for top non-IIMs and shaken credibility of CAT amongst MBA community, IIM Lucknow Director Dr Devi Singh feels that IIMs should own this failure as they are directly responsible for all the process relating to CAT.
In a candid chat with MBUniverse.com, Dr Devi Singh admits that IIMs should have adopted a better approach to deal with the crisis over ‘inflated CAT scores’. He says that a better flow of information, after the inflated CAT scores were noticed, would have minimized the hurt caused to brand image of IIMs. The IIM Director, however, said that the strong systems and processes of IIMs will come out of this crisis with full-proof measures on conducting a flawless CAT.
Excerpts of an exclusive interview with MBAUniverse.com
Q: The recent CAT score controversy has shaken the confidence of Non-IIM B-schools as well as the MBA community. How do you see this crisis?
A: This is unfortunate and a blow to this prestigious test which is trusted by hundreds of B-schools and thousands of MBA Aspirants. IIMs must accept that a mistake has incurred on their part. But we are also confident that the credibility of CAT established over the decades will not be much affected by this one blow. We will come out of this, with fool-proof measures so that it does not get repeated in future.
Q: IIMs have been criticized for ‘mishandling of information’ after the revelation of this crisis? What do you think of IIMs crisis-management on this issue?
A: We must accept that IIMs as a system failed to deal with the crisis in terms of coming clean and admitting its mistake. I think this further aggravated the situation with more confusion in the environment. But IIMs are now in action. An IIM committee set-up by MHRD is looking into all the aspects of this issue. The affected institutes are also being informed and they are being provided CAT score data from the master score sheet available with IIMs.
Q: Do you think IIMs should return the money charged from non-IIMs for CAT scores?
A: I think this need to be given a serious thought. The IIMs are responsible for providing correct CAT scores to non-IIMs. But we have not been able to stand on our promise this time. So, there is nothing wrong in accepting this fact. Many B-schools admitted students on the basis of inflated CAT scores. We should own responsibility for this mistake.
Q: What is the mandate of the MHRD Committee set up on this issue?
A: The three-member MHRD Committee will look into all the aspects that relates to this issue. They will figure out the leakage points where the tampering could have happened. They will also investigate into the entire process to identify the culprits and will make recommendation on all corrective measures required.
Q: The company, which managed the official CAT website and alleged to have tampered with the score, was first given the website management contract by IIM Lucknow when it conducted CAT in 2010. What was the merit of the contract?
A: In 2010, when we hired the website management company Web Weavers we looked into all the details related to that web company. We also made them put their special team to work on CAT website under our vigilance. The main reason to appoint a local company to do that crucial work was to keep strict vigil on their functioning and have more control over its working. We did it successfully. In fact, at that time we had also hired a web security company from Bangalore along with Web Weavers.
Q: But this company is suspected to have tampered with the CAT scores now…
A: Might be…But our mandate for the company was for one year only. The next year IIM Calcutta continued with their services while conducting CAT and IIM Kozhikode also continued with them in 2012. They renewed their contract with the company on their own terms of services and it was independent of IIM Lucknow contract with Web Weavers in 2010. They must have rechecked their credibility and services and have put their own criteria for vigilance of their working.
Q: Post this crisis, what is your message to the MBA Aspirants who will be taking CAT this year?
A: The CAT will remain credible and continue to be the gateway to the top B-schools including IIMs. We firmly believe that there will not be any change in perception of CAT for top non-IIMs as well. This crisis is due to a one-time mistake and aspirants can trust in the strong processes of IIMs. We are taking every possible measure to maintain the utmost credibility of CAT by fixing any existing loophole.
Stay tuned to MBAUniverse.com for more news and updates on CAT score scam.
