1

ASHAB ABID RIZVI | MBA-IB

 2

Objective:

Organizational behavior in times of COVID-19 and future workforce case

study of Robert Bosch GmbH also commonly known as Bosch.

About the Company:

Robert Bosch GmbH, or Bosch, is a German multinational engineering and

technology company headquartered in Gerlingen, near Stuttgart, Germany.
The company was founded by Robert Bosch in Stuttgart in 1886. Bosch is 92%
owned by Robert Bosch Stiftung, a charitable institution.

In India, Bosch is a leading supplier of technology and services in the areas of

Mobility Solutions, Industrial Technology, Consumer Goods, and Energy and
Building Technology. Additionally, Bosch has, in India, the largest
development center outside Germany, for end-to-end engineering and
technology solutions.

The Bosch Group operates in India through thirteen companies, viz, Bosch
Limited, Bosch Chassis Systems India Private Limited, Bosch Rexroth (India)
Private Limited, Robert Bosch Engineering and Business Solutions Private
Limited, Bosch Automotive Electronics India Private Limited, Bosch Electrical
Drives India Private Limited, BSH Home Appliances Private Limited, ETAS
Automotive India Private Limited, Robert Bosch Automotive Steering Private
Limited, Automobility Services and Solutions Private Limited, Newtech Filter
India Private Limited and Mivin Engineering. Technologies Private Limited
and Precision Seals Manufacturing Limited. In India, Bosch set-up its
manufacturing operation in 1951, which has grown over the years to include
18 manufacturing sites, and seven development and application centers.

ASHAB ABID RIZVI | MBA-IB

 3

Changes due to Pandemic:

Bosch shut down its production at nearly 100 plants worldwide in the month
of April 2020. The company systematically prepared for the gradual ramp-up
of the manufacturing and took necessary protection before re-opening the
production in May 2020. During the shut down most of the employees were
furloughed including sales professionals with 80% of the basic pay still intact.

After re-opening of the plants Bosch actively participated in the fight against
the corona virus. They introduced a newly developed rapid COVID-19 test and
a Vivalytic analysis device and focused all their facilities in its production. Due
to this the production hour in some plants increased.

On the other hand, Bosch decreased the working hours for the plants in
Germany because of the cost cutting which is done to brace the economic
recession. Around 3500 labors will have to work less hours and this is said to
last 6 months. This cost cutting is similar in nature to other major automobile
tycoons like BMW, General Motors etc.

Bosch plants all over the world produce their own face masks which are used
locally and in offices to ensure safety against the virus. Along with safety
equipment the company also emphasizes on social distancing. The cafeteria
and canteens in the offices and manufacturing facilities only allow a limited
number of employees to enter at a time. For its technological department
Bosch has allowed 30-40% of the employees to work from home which has
decreased the liability but on the other hand the working hours may
fluctuate for the employee. The company has also been investing in
simulation-based startups so that it can cut costs EMI/EMC labs for electronic
component validation. Regulatory compliance and due diligence require that
electronic components undergo EMI/EMC testing (Electro-Magnetic
Interference or Electro-Magnetic Conduction testing).

ASHAB ABID RIZVI | MBA-IB

 4

Due to pandemic along with economic recession the automotive production

fell by more than 20% in 2020. In India the profit has gone down up to 80%.
Currently, the focus is on extensive measures to reduce costs and secure
liquidity. This includes reductions in working hours and cutbacks in
production already in place at many locations worldwide, salary reductions
for specialists and managers including executive management, and
extended time frames for investments. In addition, Bosch had already
launched a comprehensive program to improve its competitiveness at the
beginning of 2020. The effects are seen in the projects too as most of the non-
delivering projects have been either integrated to other projects or have been
discontinued.

While manufacturing sectors are facing losses and downfall due to the
circumstances, technological sectors are seeing all time high profits. Working
from home decreases the liability for both the company and the employees.
The employees have flexibility to care of errands along with appointments,
along with decrease in distractions and commute time. But they also face
problems such as decrease in leisure time and miscommunications. Same
scenery is also leading to mental health issues for the employees. Employees
are facing trouble applying for leaves and vacations until and unless they
have serious medical conditions which will then lead to taking unpaid leaves
if the condition worsens. The company has also disclosed that there will be no
appraisals this year and the incentives and allowances were also decreased
for the time being.

Future Workforce:

For the post-COVID scenario the company needs to create a safe office
environment along with shifting to the cost cutting / efficiency mode policy
to deal with the losses made in the past year. It has to increase regulation to
drive innovation and also focus on the employee experience for a better
financial year.

ASHAB ABID RIZVI | MBA-IB

 5

The scope of functions and implementation options depend on country-

specific regulations and may therefore vary in different markets.

 Static workplace distancing: desk sensors ensure that there is enough

space between occupied desks.
 Dynamic workplace distancing: the system tracks personnel across
the building and alerts them if a predefined safe distance (e.g., 1m) is
breached. It can remind employees to keep a distance through
different means such as automated messages via the public
announcement system or the ceiling light directly above that starts
blinking or changes color, etc. Push notifications can also be sent to
operators via the dashboard or cellular phones.
 Safety protocols and rules: automated alerts can be created in the
system for different scenarios, depending on your business processes
and in line with your country’s health regulatory requirements and
personal data protection laws.
 Geofencing: a virtual perimeter of particular building spaces ensures
added safety where you need it.
 People density: monitoring helps prevent crowd formation and allows
only a specific number of people in a meeting room or cafeteria.
 Contact tracing: historical data can be retrieved within minutes to
trace and isolate close contacts of virus carriers. The system can identify
high- and lower-risk contacts based on the amount of time spent in
proximity.
 Prevention of surface transmission: people that have had no direct
contact but have used the same equipment can be traced as well.
 Targeted disinfection: meeting rooms, lift lobbies, offices, and other
building spaces visited by a carrier can be quickly identified and
disinfected to prevent a workplace outbreak.
 Face mask usage monitoring: AI-enabled algorithms can track if a
mask is on and if it is used correctly (i.e., covers the nose). This requires
the use of cameras. Bosch cameras can provide a metadata stream,
separate from a video stream, to address privacy concerns.

ASHAB ABID RIZVI | MBA-IB