A case study is a comprehensive and in-depth examination of a particular subject, often within its real-life context. It serves as a methodological tool to explore, analyze, and understand complex issues or phenomena, ranging from individual experiences to organizational challenges. Typically employed in various academic disciplines, business settings, and scientific research, a case study involves an extensive investigation that aims to provide a detailed account of the subject under scrutiny. By delving into the intricate details of a specific case, researchers can uncover valuable insights, draw conclusions, and offer practical solutions. This method offers a holistic approach, allowing for a nuanced understanding of the multifaceted factors influencing the subject, making it an invaluable tool for gaining knowledge and informing decision-making processes.
Q12. You are a young, aspiring and sincere employee in a Government office working as an assistant to the director of your department. Since you have joined recently, you need to learn and progress. Luckily your superior is very kind and ready to train you for your job. He is a very intelligent and well-informed person having knowledge of various departments. In short, you respect your boss and are looking forward to learn a lot from him. Since you have good tuning with the boss, he started depending on you. One day due to ill health he invited you to his place to finish some urgent work. You reached his house and before you could ring the bell you heard shouting noises. You waited for a while. After entering the house the boss greeted you and explained the work. But you were constantly disturbed by the crying of a woman. At last, you inquired with the boss but his answer did not satisfy you. Next day, you were compelled to inquire further in the office and found out that his behavior is very bad at home with his wife. He also beats up his wife. His wife is not well educated and is a simple woman in comparison to her husband. You see that though your boss is a nice person in the office, he is engaged in domestic violence at home.
In such a situation, you are left with the following options. Analyse each option with its consequences.
(a) Just ignore thinking about it because it is their personal matter.
(b) Report the case to the appropriate authority.
(c) Your own innovative approach towards the situation. (250 Words, 20 Marks)
Tag: Case Study
Answer:
The case here presents two faces of a man in his professional and personal life. For a public servant a dilemma is created here between following the call of inner conscience against domestic violence and keeping the professional relation intact. If I follow the voice of my conscience it will deteriorate my relationship with my boss which may hamper my career and efficiency in public service and If I keep quiet it will be against the values and duties of a citizen to report the crime.
Stakeholders involved in the case:
- I, working as an assistant to the director
- The director of my department.
- A woman, the wife of my boss.
As an assistant to the officer, the options available to me are:
- Ignore thinking about it because it is their personal matter: As the boss is a good employee at work and there are no such complaints regarding his behavior with fellow workers, I might ignore it considering the incident as his personal matter. That however, shows that I am only confined to professional ethics, whereas personal ethics has no existence for me. In such a situation I may not have to worry about any pressure from my boss, however the internal conflicts with my own soul would throttle me every other moment. The opportunity of saving someone from cruelty was granted to me, however losing in knowingly will be immoral. This will further decide my attitude towards any such issue & force me to make an indifferent person.
- Report the case to the appropriate authority: If I do so, my boss may come to know about my involvement and as his junior, he could make things difficult for me at work. On the other hand, by informing the authorities about the situation, I would be ensuring that the suffering of the wife is ended and my boss is made accountable for his actions. This is legally, morally and ethically the right course of action.
- Your own innovative approach towards the situation: Since the boss is good to me, I would try to gather as much information about that strange behaviour of my boss as I can. If the findings turn out to be in little favour to the boss, I would try to arrange a personal meeting with the boss to propose some prospective solutions to the problem such as meeting a doctor or so.
- Approaching the wife and making her aware of her rights under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005: Since the wife is uneducated, she may not be aware of her legal rights, and therefore, informing her is important so that she can herself file a case against her husband. In the second option stated above, I would be filing the complaint as a third person which can weaken the case. Also, being ignorant about her rights, if the boss threatens her, she may get covered and not speak the truth. Hence, apprising her of her rights is necessary so that she can state her case without fear of the authorities.
At the same time, I would also engage with my senior to help change his mindset by explaining to him the implications of his actions and also getting him in touch with his relatives and friends to persuade him to see the wrongness of his behavior so that he is dissuaded from doing something similar in future.
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