UPSC Mains 2022 · GS IV · Q10 · 20 marks · 250 words · Case study

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 aged 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.

(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?

हिन्दी में

आपने तीन साल पहले एक प्रतिष्ठित संस्थान से एम० बी० ए० किया है लेकिन कोविड-19 से उत्पन्न मंदी के कारण कैंपस प्लेसमेंट नहीं मिल सका। मगर, बहुत अनुनय तथा लिखित और साक्षात्कार सहित बहुत सारी प्रतियोगी परीक्षाओं की शृंखला के बाद, आप एक अग्रणी जूता कंपनी में नौकरी पाने में सफल रहे। आपके वृद्ध माता-पिता हैं, जो आश्रित हैं और आपके साथ रह रहे हैं। आपने भी हाल ही में यह शालीन नौकरी पाकर शादी की है। आपको निरीक्षण अनुभाग में नियुक्त किया गया था, जो अंतिम उत्पाद को मंजूरी देने के लिए जवाबदेह है। पहले एक वर्ष में, आपने अपना काम अच्छी तरह से सीखा और प्रबंधन द्वारा आपके प्रदर्शन की सराहना की गई। कंपनी पिछले पाँच साल से घरेलू बाजार में अच्छा कारोबार कर रही है और इस साल यूरोप और खाड़ी देशों को निर्यात करने का भी फैसला किया गया है। हालाँकि, यूरोप के लिए एक बड़ी खेप को उनके निरीक्षण दल द्वारा कुछ खराब गुणवत्ता के कारण अस्वीकार कर दिया गया और वापस भेज दिया गया था। शीर्ष प्रबंधन ने आदेश दिया कि घरेलू बाजार के लिए पूर्वोक्त खेप की मंजूरी दी जाए। निरीक्षण दल के एक अंग के रूप में आपने स्पष्ट खराब गुणवत्ता को देखा और टीम कमांडर के संज्ञान में लाया। हालाँकि, शीर्ष प्रबंधन ने टीम के सभी सदस्यों को इन कमियों को नज़र-अंदाज करने की सलाह दी क्योंकि इतना बड़ा नुकसान प्रबंधन नहीं सह सकता। आपके अलावा टीम के बाकी सदस्यों ने स्पष्ट दोषों को नज़र-अंदाज करते हुए तुरंत हस्ताक्षर कर दिए और घरेलू बाजार के लिए खेप को मंजूरी दे दी। आपने फिर से टीम कमांडर के संज्ञान में लाया कि इस तरह की खेप की अगर घरेलू बाजार के लिए भी मंजूरी दे दी जाती है, तो कंपनी की छवि और प्रतिष्ठा को धक्का लगेगा तथा लंबे समय में प्रतिकूल असर होगा। हालाँकि, आपके शीर्ष प्रबंधन द्वारा आगे सलाह दी गई थी कि यदि आप खेप को मंजूरी नहीं देते हैं, तो कंपनी कुछ अहानिकर कारणों का हवाला देते हुए आपकी सेवा को समाप्त करने में संकोच नहीं करेगी।

(a) दी गई शर्तों के तहत, निरीक्षण दल के सदस्य के रूप में आपके लिए कौन-से विकल्प उपलब्ध हैं?
(b) आपके द्वारा सूचीबद्ध प्रत्येक विकल्प का समालोचनात्मक मूल्यांकन कीजिए।
(c) आप कौन-सा विकल्प अपनाएँगे और क्यों?
(d) आप किन नैतिक दुविधाओं का सामना कर रहे हैं?
(e) निरीक्षण दल द्वारा उठाई गई टिप्पणियों की अनदेखी के क्या परिणाम हो सकते हैं?

Pressure and Loyalty Integrity Corporate Governance

How a topper answered the closest question

Toppers wrote this one in a test series: “You completed your MBA three years ago and secured a job in a leading shoe company, excelling in the Inspection Section responsible for clearing the final product. The company decides to expand its market to Europe and Gulf countries, but a large consignment to Europe is rejected due to poor quality. The top management orders clearance for the domestic market despite glaring defects. The rest of the team complies, but you voice concerns about tarnishing the company's image. 1.Under the given conditions, what are the options available to you as a member of the Inspecting Team? 2.Critically evaluate each of the options listed by you. 3.What option would you adopt and why? 4.What are the ethical dilemmas being faced by you? 5.What can be the consequences of overlooking the observations raised by the Inspecting Team?”

KoshinderAIR 588 · CSE 2023 · 98 wordsTheir whole copy

Opening · a restatement

The situation talks about overlooking of defected shoe.

Body · points and prose

Options available

Diagram

- Signing the document - Convincing management to reconsider its decision - Sell the product by sign of warning - Refuse to sign the document

Evaluation of each option.

Signing the document

Merit	Demerit
→ Job security	→ Ethical compromise
→ Easy life	→ Damage to image of company

Diagram

- Convincing to Reconsider the decision - Upholds the ethical standards. - Corporate Ethics - Resistance from company - Job insecurity. - Selling the product by warning of defect - Promotes accountability - Transparency - Reduces potential loss due to defect - Rejection by upper management. - Job insecurity. - Refuse to sign the document - Ethical integrity - Prevention of deterioration of company's image - Job security risk - Individual isolation.

(utilitarian principle)

Option I will choose
Convincing the management to reconsider their decision.
If unsuccessful, will ask management to sell by warning logo of defect.
If still unsuccessful, refuse to sign.

Diagram

- Ethical dilemmas - End v/s means - Coworker v/s larger company - Hard life v/s Easy - Self interest v/s Public - Corporate ethics v/s Profit

Diagram

- Consequence of overlooking observations - Loss of trust. - Damage to social image. - Limited product quality - Loss of revenue - Financial recovery challenge

Close · a summary

Thus there are various challenges associated with overlooking of defective products.

How toppers approach this question, and more on its topic: open the question.

Toppers’ answers to other close questions

Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Main) Examination 2022, General Studies Paper IV, Q10. The paper on upsc.gov.in. Themes and links to toppers’ answers are by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.