The case study focuses on the human resources (HR) problems faced by Honda Motor Cycle &

Scooters India (HMSI). The case discusses the various reasons which led to the dispute between the
management and employees of HMSI. It elaborates on the incidents, which led to the strike at the
company that resulted in HMSI workers being severely beaten by the police. Labour strife and the
management's inability to deal with it effectively had resulted in huge losses for the company due to
the fall in the production level at the plant. In addition to this, the company also received a lot of
negative publicity as newspapers and TV channels gave wide coverage to the violence of the action.
The case highlights the growing number of instances of clashes between the employees and the
management of companies in India, which is often guided by external parties such as trade unions
and political parties. The case will help the students to: (1) understand the factors that lead to labour
unrest at a factory and the impact of such incidents on the employees and the company; (2) study HR
policies adopted by organisations to prevent labour unrest at the workplace; (3) examine top
management's role in maintaining a peaceful working environment; and (4) analyse the role of
external parties such as trade unions, political parties etc, in disturbing the working environment in a
company. The case is intended for MBA / MS / PGDBM level students as part of a human resources
management (HRM) / human resource and industrial relations curriculum. The teaching note includes
the abstract, teaching objectives and target audience, teaching methodology, assignment questions
and analysis, feedback of case discussion, and suggested readings and references.

The case study focuses on the HR problems faced by Honda Motor Cycle & Scooters India (HMSI).
The case discusses the various reasons which led to the dispute between the management and
employees of HMSI. It elaborates the incidents, which led to the strike at the company that resulted
in HMSI workers being severely beaten up by the police. Labor strife and the management's
inability to deal with it effectively had resulted in huge losses for the company due to the fall in the
production level at the plant. In addition to this, the company also received a lot of negative
publicity as newspapers and TV channels gave wide coverage to the violence of the action.
The case highlights the growing number of instances of clashes between the employees and the
management of companies in India, which is often guided by external parties such as trade unions
and political parties.

Issues:
Understand the factors that lead to labor unrest at a factory and the impact of such incidents on
the employees and the company.
Study HR policies adopted by organizations to prevent labor unrest at the workplace.
Examine top management's role in maintaining a peaceful working environment.
Analyze the role of external parties such as trade unions; political parties etc., in disturbing the
working environment in a company