Professional Documents
Culture Documents
• There are five scenarios given below and each scenario is followed by five
alternative courses of action. Based on your understanding of inter-personal
issues, group dynamics, politics and conflict management, you have to choose and
analyse the alternative courses of action. The main focus/criteria of analysis are
mentioned just before the alternatives in each scenario
• Each scenario has to be analysed and the total analyses has to be presented in
form of a report.
• The report should not be of more than 10-12 pages using Times New Roman font
twith 12 size font and single spacing.
• Additionally, each group has to create a Process Note on its dynamics and submit
it alongwith the Report. The Process note should capture the norms, group
working, roles played and dynamics observed in the group for the completion of
this assignment. The length for the Note is not being suggested.
• Each group will be evaluated on the basis of the Report as well as the Process
Note
-You follow the direction by the HR Department and depute the team members to
suitable available trainings provided it makes special arrangement for all the executives
to come together for the training
-You lobby with the head of marketing and try to put pressure on the HR Department to
realise the importance of this training given the fact that the importance of marketing
department is much higher than some rules frames by HR
-You withdraw and focus on other things
-You work with the HR Department to see possibilities of finding a common ground
and accordingly arranging for a training suited to your needs.
-You accept the contention of the HR department but at the same time demand that it
makes sure that the trainings are organised soon despite the existing calendar of events
Scenario #2
In an auto company where you are the works manager at a major plant, you are faced
with the challenge of recruiting 100 more people-much beyond the need of the plant since
the government of the state has promised creation of the jobs for the local people around
the area. The implications are very many for your own work. Since the company is based
on cutting edge technology and processes of constant improvement in quality, you are not
sure if you will find the suitable candidates in such large numbers in the given area.
Secondly, there already is pressure on your team for improving productivity and reducing
costs. Such a major influx of workers would definitely impact on your performance.
However given the absence of many industries in the region, you know that the pressure
will be on your plant. You want to argue about the long term problems in such hiring and
the possible pressure to appease politicians as well. However, the company is covertly
suggesting that you need to take this initiative. You understand the pressures on the
higher management, especially the GM of the plant but are also apprehensive about the
possible impact of this step.
In the given scenario, which of the following action would you choose and why? Also
explain why is the most suited to you.
-Approach your friends in the local press and show how the incumbent government is
falling prey to the tactics of a local leader and is incapable of the taking good action for
employment generation.
-Go ahead and recruit 100 people
-Agree to the proposal but make sure that the company asks you only for 50 new workers
on the shop floor and the rest are recruited in other departments/areas.
-Suggest the GM to hold a meeting with the senior bureaucrats in the labour/industry
ministries of the state government where you suggest support for training and
development of youth and employment generation activities though your CSR
department at the HQ
-Put the initiative on the GM and ask him to keep you out of this affair
Scenario #3
There is a deadline of one week for you to complete the work on a product survey for a
major client of the advertising agency where you manage major accounts related to
pharmaceutical companies. Since the draft report is to be shared with the client on three
weeks, it is necessary that all the preliminary findings are sent to the higher management
at the agency and presented to them for discussion in one week. While the pace of the
work is otherwise fine, there are problems with one of the most meticulous and hard
working members of your team, who has not been able to prepare the sales projections,
which is delaying the work of other members as well. While you know that this person
will deliver, the delays are making you concerned.
You know that the deadline is sacrosanct and you have to make the team members
accordingly. However you know that this particular creative team member is a typical
maverick and does not stick to any standard format of work. The rest of the team is also
restive and cannot cope with work if comes close to the deadline. With many members
being dependent on the completion of sales forecast to further or complement their part of
the report, everyone fears the flak they may draw from the higher management in case the
reports are not submitted and duly presented in time.
As a leader you have to manage this situation. What would be your preferred course of
action form the following choices? Substantiate based on your experience.
Scenario #4
Based on your own analysis, rank the following course of action to deal with the issue as
per their suitability in the given context. Also give the rationale for your choice.
-You ask the branch manager to either allot you an exclusive peon or let someone else
take the position of manager personal banking, since it is impacting on your image, which
is of a successful manager who has generated a lot of individual level business for the
branch.
-You give up the position on your own and ask for reassignment.
-You offer special tips to the peon to make him work for you.
-You suggest the revamping of the flow of business in a way that peons do not have to do
much running around.
-You prefer the status quo since you know there is not possible solution
Scenario #5
To deal with the scenario, how would you rank the following suggestions (1 being the
best and 5 being the least suited) ? Explain with reasons.
-You call for a special meeting of all departments where you intend to share the special
demands of your work and get people’s views on the same.
-You ask the department to stop observing the design guidelines so that the management
realises that this activity cannot be done in the absence of hard copies
-You continue to work though you feel it is suffering.
-You ask for permission to use more paper but are ready to concurrently reduce
expenditure in other overheads.
-You accept the decree and accordingly change the process of work which leads to much
adjustments and adaptations to be managed.