The CAT examination went on line in India for the first time last week end and went off line soon thereafter for almost 20 percent of candiadtes who took this test!
News of this debacle was flashed all over the print and electronic media throughout the country amidst many a heart beats almost stopping. We all know the great frenzy which normally accompanies this premier gateway to IIM’s in the country paving the way for fame and prosperity in the highly competitive corporate world. This anti-climax was a show stopper for the fame and glory of india’s premier family of business schools and the expected “blame game” followed. Server crash, power outage, overloading of system etc .
What actually went wrong? Was it a system failure or process failure? Did someone carry out all the tests including simulated load tests? Where is the weakest link? How do you prevent such shocks to participants in future?. Valid questions needing answers from the authorities. One cannot help remembering R K Laxman’s famous cartoon in “The Hindu” showing a SLV [satellite launch vehicle] being transported to the launch site in a bullock cart when India launched its first SLV from Sriharikpota[SHAR].
May be the bullock cart metaphor fits the bill here for the power outages – a normal occurence in our country. Let every one learn a lesson from this avoidable public exposure in future and ensure a full due diligence done before LAUNCH.