The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is the apex recruiting body in India responsible for selecting candidates for various prestigious civil services positions. In 2015, the General Studies Paper 4, also known as the Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude paper, presented candidates with a challenging array of questions aimed at evaluating their ethical and moral reasoning, decision-making abilities, and overall aptitude. This paper, a critical component of the UPSC examination, tests not only the knowledge but also the character and judgment of aspiring civil servants. Let’s delve into the solved questions of the UPSC 2015 GS 4 paper to gain insight into the rigorous standards expected of future administrators and leaders in India.
Q9. A private company is known for its efficiency, transparency and employee welfare. The company, though owned by a private individual, has a cooperative character where employees feel a sense of ownership. The company employs nearly 700 personnel and they have voluntarily decided not to form a union.
One day suddenly in the morning, about 40 men belonging to a political party gate-crashed into the factory demanding jobs in the factory. They threatened the management and employees, and also used foul language. The employees feel demoralized. It was clear that those people who gate-crashed wanted to be on the payroll of the company as well as continue as the volunteers/members of the party.
The company maintains high standards in integrity and does not extend favours to civil administration that also includes law enforcement agency. Such incidents occur in the public sector also. (250 Words, 20 Marks)
(a) Assume you are the CEO of the company. What would you do to diffuse the volatile situation on the date of gate crashing with the violent mob sitting inside the company premises?
(b) What can be the long term solution to the issue discussed in the case?
(c) Every solution/action that you suggest will have a negative and a positive impact on you as (CEO), the employees and the performance of the employees. Analyse the consequences of each of your suggested actions.
Tags: Case Studies
Case Summary: I am the CEO of a private company. The company was stormed by a mob of 40 persons belonging to a political party and demanding jobs in the factory. The company maintains high standards in integrity and doesn’t extend favors to anyone.
Stakeholders: CEO of the Private Company, management and employees, 40 men belonging to a political party and political party.
Ethical Issues/Ethical Dilemmas: Integrity of the post, accountability towards company, safety and employment rights of workers, transparency of selection process.
(a) Assume you are the CEO of the company. What would you do to diffuse the volatile situation on the date of gate-crashing with the violent mob sitting inside the company premises?
As the CEO of the company, it would be my responsibility to exhibit leadership in such situations which puts my employees at risk and I need to be courageous in taking a stand for my company and my people. I would take the following steps to diffuse the aggravated situation:
- In the above case study there is a critical situation before the CEO as he has to balance the cooperative character of the company keeping in mind the morale and motivation of employees on one hand and demands of the local people who have entered the company premises.
- With the violent mob sitting inside the company premises threatening the management, using foul language and demanding jobs in the factory, the CEO should make sure that he does not compromise with the standards of the company. He should therefore first try to talk to the people, mainly the leader of that group and listen to their demands. He should persuade him that they cannot be awarded jobs against the rules of the company, they can apply for it on the basis of merit.
- If the violent mob did not listen to him then he should talk to their political leader and try to make them understand about the selection criteria of the company. He should tell him that the company does not extend favors to such demands and the people who are demanding jobs through this way can be given jobs based on merit and if they use proper procedure to get themselves enrolled on the payroll.
- Since the mob is violent it is important to inform the local administration.
b) What can be the long term solution to the issue discussed in the case?
Following steps can be taken in the long term to uplift the morale of the employees, to ensure and uphold the values of non-partisanship and to also take advantage of technological advancements to eventually leading to effective and uninterrupted implementation of the company’s targets and vision:
- I will put a detailed security department within the factory premises providing them all the modern facilities like CCTVs and also extra security personnel for securing the company with any such attacks in the future.
- In the longer run, the CEO should make some changes in the employment procedure so that such a situation does not occur in future. For this, he should talk to the management of the company to make necessary modifications in the selection criteria. Though he shouldnot compromise with the standards of the company and extend favour to a particular section but a local quota can be fixed for the people of that particular area so that some specific jobs are given to them.
- By this way, the local people will extend their cooperation in a better way that will be helpful for the development of the organisation. But fixing such a quota may likely create a sense of discouragement among the existing employees.
- Hence proper steps need to be taken that the local people should not develop unions that can hamper the work of organisation and morale and motivation of other employees has to be maintained to establish proper work culture.
- So the CEO should raise this matter in the meeting of the Industrial Committee platform so that the long term solution to this issue can be addressed. But it is not possible to bring such changes in a short time frame. Meanwhile all the companies should try to arrive at a consensus in their management board about the need for representation of local people in their companies.
(c) Every solution/action that you suggest will have a negative and a positive impact on you as (CEO), the employees and the performance of the employees. Analyse the consequences of each of your suggested actions.
Evaluation of the consequences is as follows:
Action Plan 1: Detailed Security Department.
Merits:
- It will boost the morale of employees, as there will be a sense of security among them.
- It will help in maintaining the performance of the company at highest standards.
Demerits: I would need investment in installing CCTV cameras and appointment of more security personnel, which would put extra financial burden on the company.
Action Plan 2: Issuing strict guidelines regarding Recruitment Policy.
Merits:
- It will foster the cooperative character of the company and also instill a sense of confidence among the employees.
- Our organizational values will be clearly spelt out for everyone.
Demerits:
- It may not be that much effective for outside people.
- There is a possibility of ego clashes and passing down wrong information.
Action Plan 3: Approach the head of Local District Administration.
Merits: This will be a positive way and should be welcomed by all the employees. Involvement of district administration will create a sense of security among the employees.
Demerits: This act might annoy the leaders of the political party and relations with them might suffer. The fallout of this action might put my life in danger as well.
Action Plan 4: Assistance from Media.
Merits: It will help in preventing any such attempt in the future since no political party would risk their reputation in the society.
Demerits: This act might annoy the leaders of the political party and may backfire for the company.
Action Plan 5: Employee Welfare and Brotherhood.
Merits: This step could ensure brotherhood among employees which could prove to be a strength for the company in difficult times whenever encountered.
Demerits: This may or may not be able to involve all the employees inclusively because of differences and biases and in turn could prove to be a measure, not as effective in implementation as planned.
Taking care of the responsibilities at hand and to ensure farfetched goals being met in vision, Professional Ethics in the form of above-discussed steps can help ensure proper and uninterrupted functioning of the company, even when presented with difficult situations.
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