The unbeatable hero of SIMS - Prof. Gandhi -By Naveen from SIMS Pune

In the first semester, we had to study subjects of all the specializations including Operations, Marketing, Finance and Human Resources. In the very first week, we were taught subjects from all specializations, one after another, throughout the day. One of these subjects was Management of Operations which was taught by Prof. M.K. Gandhi. None of us had an idea of what the subject was about or who the faculty was. We hadn’t expected that this particular teacher was about to turn into a hero for us all, the hero of the college, SIMS Pune.

His unique teaching style

The professor was unlike any other faculty we had come across. In addition to being specific and practical in nature, he had a good sense of humour. The pedagogy of his teaching was based completely on discussion rather than monotonous dialogue which we were all used to. He made us think of all the multiple arenas a manager can pitch in, if and when difficult situations arise.

This intrigued me, made me want to learn and focus on all aspects of managing operations. An experienced teacher, he’d answer questions with another question, one which we wouldn’t have thought about earlier. He was not like the other faculties who start their explanation with a presentation or on a whiteboard. He made each and every concept, even the tiniest of them all, clear in our minds. I have been in awe of his teaching techniques.

The faculty in-charge of the Operations Club

All his teachings were extremely fruitful and the assignments were always application based. He is also a faculty in-charge of the Operations Club of my college. Luckily, I was selected as a member of the club. Managing and coordinating events of the club along with him has taught me a lot.

From cost-cutting in events to interacting and building a network with the Industry’s top management people, his support in the Operations Club has been noteworthy. This exposure will surely benefit us when we begin our jobs in the corporate world, a few months from now.

My mentor in college

Apart from that, Prof. Gandhi helped me during my internship too. He clarified my doubts regarding Warehouse Management and Supply Chain. Because of his teachings, I have been able to apply many operations concepts like the Principles of Plant Layout, Pareto Principle (80/20 Rule), Economic Order Quantity (EOQ), amongst many others.

Also, he currently is my mentor in college. We have had weekly sessions where I cleared the many doubts I had with respect to my career. So, after proper guidance from him, I opted for a major in Operations.

We all agree with the fact that “Experience is the greatest driver to learn about life. It helps you draw the right path for you”. This quote quite rightly aligns with him. Many of our seniors have spoken highly of Prof. Gandhi and many have even labelled him as the “God of Operations Management and the unbeatable faculty member.” He will undoubtedly be remembered by every student of the batch and many more batches to follow. I strongly believe that Prof. Gandhi is one great teacher, the one who helped me pave my career path. He’ll always be the hero of my college, SIMS.