Convocation Ceremony at TIMES: A Process Analysis

This case looks at the issues involved in planning the 2022 convocation (graduation) ceremony at the Delhi-based Trident Institute of Management and Entrepreneurial Studies (TIMES). The dean of academics, who was responsible for piloting the convocation, needed to be certain that the ceremony could be completed within a limited time to accommodate the schedule of the chief guest (the leader of a multinational conglomerate). The convocation had two parts: the award of medals and certificates to outstanding students and the conferring of degrees and diplomas on the other graduands. The challenge faced by the dean of academics was determining whether the graduands could walk across the stage, collect their medal and/or certificate, and pose for a photo within the stipulated time. The case looks at the convocation from a process perspective, whereby a mismatch between supply and demand can result in waiting times and may also mean that an inventory is needed. The problem in the case is suitable for analysis using Little's law, which states that the average inventory equals the average flow time multiplied by the average flow rate. This short case is concerned with various process parameters such as bottlenecks, capacity, loading, inventory, flow rate, throughput rate, takt time, and cycle time.

The case is intended to help students learn about the computation of the various performance characteristics of non-production processes. The process parameters include takt time, cycle time, inventory, flow time, flow rate, and capacity. The techniques and concepts that can be used to address the issues in this case include Little's law. This case allows the participants to apply basic operations and process management concepts in a real-life, easy-to-understand setting.

• takt time
• bottlenecks
• flow rate
• flow time
• inventory
• Little's Law
• capacity