Being cold-called

Maybe like is the wrong words, but the professors here seem to derive some sort of enjoyment from putting us poor students on the spot.

It's a practice known as cold-calling.

Basically they pick someone in class and ask a question straight out of the blue. At least, since the person they pick is usually someone who doesn't seem to be paying attention, it seems like straight out of the blue for the person in question.

I got cold-called today, in Process and Operations Management.

I guess it was mainly my own fault.

Someone in the class asked a question, and the professor replied something. I think most of the class had a slight problem with how the professor pronounced the answer, so there was a collective "huh?" going through the class. So, he answered again.

This time, unfortunately, it was not a collective "huh?" - it was a single "huh?" from yours truly.
Collective laughter from the class.

Turns out that the prof had been referring to the case that we were supposed to have read.

So, next question from the prof - who has read the case?

Fortunately, I'd spent the five minutes just before class skimming through it, so I put my hand up, not expecting much from it.

I guess I had caught the prof's attention though, as he promptly asked me to go up to the front of the class and summarize the case.

Ooops.

I think I managed to wing it well enough, using the few facts that I had picked up.

Such as profit margins dropping from 52% to 43%, and only 15% of sales volume coming from the customized business, etc, etc.

Phew.

Next question: So, what would you recommended solution be?

Ehhh... Once again I think I winged it well enough. At least, I gave the same answer as what the company itself actually did to get (successfully) get out of the situation.

I think I managed to wing it because the case reminded me very much of the situation at my old company, and how it tried to handle the trade-offs between high-value/low-volume and low-value/high-volume business.

Good to see that I have some benefit of my experience.