← All questionsGS4 · 2022 · Case Studies — Private Sector ·Product Safety vs Job Security Case
QUESTION PYQ 12
GS4
20 marks

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. 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?

WRITE IN
14 min
250 words

What the examiner wants

In this Product Safety vs Job Security Case case (You have done MBA from a reputed institution three years back but could not get campus placement due to…), separate facts/constraints from the value conflict and resolve the explicit asks in order: What option would you adopt and why; then What are the ethical dilemmas being faced by you; then What can be the consequences of overlooking the observations raised by the Inspecting Team. Defend the preferred option against realistic alternatives.

Critically evaluateAnswer exactly what the question asks.

Demand-wise check

  1. 1Under the given conditions, what are the options available to you as a member of the Inspecting Team?≈40 words
  2. 2Critically evaluate each of the options listed by you≈40 words
  3. 3What option would you adopt and why?≈40 words
  4. 4What are the ethical dilemmas being faced by you?≈40 words
  5. 5What can be the consequences of overlooking the observations raised by the Inspecting Team?≈40 words

Open in about 30 words and close in about 30.

Answer plan

Facts/constraints in this caseStakeholdersDilemmasOption-by-option consequence/legal testPreferred actionSafeguards. Explicitly answer 4 sub-part(s)

Where marks usually go

  • Over-writing ‘Under the given conditions, what are the options available to you as a member of the…’ while reducing ‘Critically evaluate each of the options listed by you.’ to a token paragraph
  • Naming values without testing each feasible option for legality, affected stakeholders, consequences, implementation risk and reversibility

Value addition

  • Product Safety vs Job Security Case: stakeholder map beside a 4-column option matrix — option | legality/ethics | consequences | mitigation
    → Draw it in the body, next to the point it supports.

Verified value additions

These are verified official-source additions selected for this exact PYQ. Use only the point that strengthens your argument.