Vidya and BKSM committee selection viral post
XAT 2026 · DM · Medium · Decision Making
Passage / data set
Read the following scenario and answer the THREE questions that follow.
Vidya, a Bachelor of Commerce graduate, secured admission to one of India's premier business schools (B schools) called Best-Known School of Management (BKSM). Not long after her joining BKSM, she was struck by the calibre of her experienced peers. This, in turn, made her anxious about her placement. Hence, she reached out to one of her seniors, who had also joined BKSM as a fresher, for advice.
In conversations with the senior, Vidya learned that freshers were often advised to join student committees to strengthen their curriculum vitae (CVs) for placements. Confident of making it to one, she started preparing. Despite her confidence, she could not secure a spot in the prominent committees she aspired to join.
Frustrated and angry, Vidya began believing that committee selections were biased. Since the processes were entirely student-run, with minimal administrative oversight, she felt that she had no avenue to raise her concerns. Anjali, Vidya's roommate in BKSM, told her about Why MBA, a social media platform where students often voiced their grievances anonymously.
Question 1 of 3
Impulsively, Vidya secretly recorded her next committee interview. The interview turned out to be particularly harsh. Now, she was even more determined to post the transcript of the interview on Why MBA to teach a lesson to her seniors. However, she contemplated the consequences she might face after posting the transcript.
Which of the following considerations will BEST stop her from sharing the transcript on Why MBA?
- A.
Every interview is unique, and it will be easy to guess her identity from the transcript.
- B.
In recent past, many such posts were shared on Why MBA, but not much changed in committee selection processes.
- C.
A few seniors who never made it to committees still secured good placements.
- D.
Sharing such posts on Why MBA may present the committee selection processes in a bad light.
- E.
Sharing such posts on Why MBA may negatively impact the morale of student committee members.
Question 2 of 3
Vidya secretly recorded her next committee interview. The very next day, Vidya was selected for the same committee for which she had recorded the interview. Relieved, she decided not to post anything on Why MBA.
However, a few days later, a post went viral on Why MBA about BKSM, accusing the student committees of unfair practices, claiming that seniors selected juniors based on personal preferences rather than objective criteria. The post created a stir in BKSM, making Vidya anxious.
Vidya's anxiety stemmed from the fact that Anjali, her confidant, knew about Vidya's intent to publish her interview transcript on Why MBA. Hence, Vidya feared that Anjali might assume that she was behind the viral post. Worse still, if Anjali shared Vidya's earlier intent with anyone at BKSM, her reputation and relationships could be damaged.
What BEST can Vidya do in the current situation so that she is NOT negatively impacted by the viral post?
- A.
Request Why MBA to disclose the name of the person who shared the viral post.
- B.
Share a post of admiration on Why MBA about the committee that has selected her.
- C.
Do not worry about Anjali as Anjali has a limited friend circle.
- D.
Inform the committee that, while Vidya had secretly recorded her interview with them, she had nothing to do with the viral post.
- E.
Have a discussion with Anjali and clarify that Vidya had nothing to do with the viral post.
Question 3 of 3
A few committee secretaries complained to the dean of BKSM about some anonymous posts on Why MBA that they felt were unfairly targeting them. Upon visiting the forums on Why MBA, the dean felt that while most of the posts were innocuous, some indeed crossed the line. Further, she felt that such posts tarnished the image of BKSM. Conversely, she observed that such posts led those targeted to reflect, mend their ways, and become more accountable. She wondered what she could do to save the reputation of BKSM being assailed in public forums through anonymous posts; however, she did not want to do anything disproportionately harsh.
What BEST can the dean do to take a sustainable decision to dissuade students from posting their grievances in public forums, presenting the college in a bad light?
- A.
Ask the IT head to run digital surveillance, and catch students posting anything degrading about BKSM in any public forum.
- B.
Announce that she will run daily open houses to hear student grievances.
- C.
Create an anonymous in-house forum within BKSM, where the students could discuss anything without consequences.
- D.
Announce that she will run all committee selections personally.
- E.
Ban access to public forums like Why MBA on the campus.
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