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UPSC Mains 2022
You have done MBA from a reputed institution three years back but could not get campus placement due to COVID-19 generated recession. However, after a lot of persuasion and series of competitive tests including written and interview, you managed to get a job in a leading shoe company...
General Studies Paper - 4, Topic - Case Studies
Jan 06, 2023
5 min read
Question -
You have done MBA from a reputed institution three years back but could not get campus placement due to COVID-19 generated recession. However, after a lot of persuasion and series of competitive tests including written and interview, you managed to get a job in a leading shoe company. You have ageur parents who are dependent and staying with you. You also recently got married after getting this decent job. You were allotted the Inspection Section which is responsible for clearing the final product. In first one year, you learnt your job well and was appreciated for your performance by the management. The company is doing good business for last five years in domestic market and this year it is decided even to export to Europe and Gulf countries. However, one large consignment to Europe was rejected by their Inspecting Team due to certain poor quality and was sent back. The top management ordered that ibid consignment to be cleared for the domestic market. As a part of Inspecting Team, you observed the glaring poor quality and brought to the knowledge of the Team Commander. However, the top management advised all the members of the team to overlook these defects as the management cannot bear such a huge loss. Rest of the team members except you promptly signed and cleared the consignment for domestic market, overlooking glaring defects. You again brought to the knowledge of the Team Commander that such consignment, if cleared even for domestic market, will tarnish the image and reputation of the company and will be counter-productive in the long run. However, you were further advised by the top management that if you do not clear the consignment, the company will not hesitate to terminate your services citing certain innocuous reasons.
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A. Under the given conditions, what are the options available to you as a member of the Inspecting Team?
B. Critically evaluate each of the options listed by you.
C. What option would you adopt and why?
D. What are the ethical dilemmas being faced by you? (e) What can be the consequences of overlooking the observations raised by the Inspecting Team?
Answer -
A. The options available to the member of the Inspecting Team in this situation include:
1. Clear the consignment for domestic market despite the defects, as instructed by the top management.
2. Refuse to clear the consignment and risk termination of employment.
3. Attempt to negotiate with the top management to find a compromise solution, such as reworking the defective products before they are sold.
4. Report the situation to external authorities, such as consumer protection agencies, to address the issue.
B. The pros and cons of each option are as follows:
1. Clearing the consignment for domestic market may allow the employee to keep their job, but it goes against their ethical duty to ensure that products are of high quality and may harm the company's reputation if the defects are discovered by customers.
2. Refusing to clear the consignment may result in the employee losing their job, but it aligns with their ethical duty to ensure high quality products and protects the company's reputation.
3. Negotiating a compromise solution may allow the employee to find a middle ground that satisfies the top management's desire to sell the products while still addressing the defects, but it may be difficult to reach such an agreement.
4. Reporting the situation to external authorities may bring attention to the issue and potentially lead to a resolution, but it may also result in negative consequences for the employee and the company.
C. The most appropriate option for the employee would be to refuse to clear the consignment and risk termination of employment. This option aligns with their ethical duty to ensure high quality products and protects the company's reputation, even if it may result in negative consequences for the employee.
D. The ethical dilemma being faced by the employee is whether to prioritize their personal well-being and job security, or their ethical duty to ensure high quality products and protect the company's reputation.
E. The consequences of overlooking the observations raised by the Inspecting Team could include negative feedback from customers who discover the defects, a loss of trust and reputation for the company, and potentially legal consequences if the defective products cause harm to consumers.
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