SUBMITTED BY

GAURAV KUMAR
GUPTA
PGPM-21-083
DIV-B

SOS MAJOR ASSIGNMENT

Engaging in the World
 Theme 4: Engaging in the World
Session 15 & 16: Dealing with Challenges

 Major 2 Assignment (30 marks)

Describe briefly a recent project you undertook at work where the outcome of your actions was
either below or opposite to your expectations.

Project –
In the year July 2020, There was equipment available in my plant worth 2 crores. This equipment
is called the Pond Ash dryer. It has been no longer in use due to its design problem. Before joining
Cement, I also never saw this equipment, which is used to dry the pond ash( A wastage of
Thermal power plants). Thi pond ash is used in cement the industry as a raw material as it is the
cheapest raw material and helps reduce the cost of the cement. But there are certain constraints
available because of that this can’t be used directly and it has to be dried properly before using it
the in the system. As we had the dryer to dry the same but there were some issues in this and
couldn’t be started properly. When I Joined the JK Cement, I noticed that this equipment is idle. So
I thought to take this up as a project to start this all over again and tried to find out the problems,
which occur in the system. I started giving my time to this equipment so that it could function
properly. I started it and run successfully, thought now it could be run continuously so I was happy
for about. But one day I came to know that there is a major breakdown in this equipment and can’t
be restarted without proper maintenance. I called up the maintenance team and showed up the
same. They told me there is a major breakdown and they needed its spare parts, which they need
to order from the vendor. But when we followed up with the vendor regarding the spare parts, we
came to know that they have discontinued producing this equipment and they don’t carry an
inventory of this equipment’s spare parts. So we had to see this equipment in scrap ap as there
was no further use for this equipment. Because this can’t be restarted without maintenance. I could
have made operational that equipment but I couldn’t due to the external factors, which were not in
my control.

STAGES VARIABLES IN DIRECT VARIABLES IN VARIABLES NOT

(Name The CONTROL INDIRECT IN YOUR
Stage) CONTROL CONTROL AT ALL
Initial When I took that project in Initially, before Initially, I needed a
my hand at that moment, I starting the budget for some
had a team, which was equipment, I had to additional
operating in its initial days ask the modification in the
when was it installed in maintenance team equipment, which
our plant. Somewhere to get involved in was to be
they were not operating this project as in the sanctioned by the
the equipment properly as initial phase we had finance department
per the SOP and because to do some but the department
of that equipment went t modifications before didn’t do so. As
into a breakdown. So starting the they were not
when I took this equipment because confident enough
equipmenintoin my control we didn’t want it to about the
then the team was the first get tripped again performance of the
variable that was in my and again. I had equipment. So they

This material has been prepared by Dr.Surya Tahora. It is meant for use only for classes at SPJIMR. No part of this material may be
reproduced, used or transmitted in any form without the permission of Dr.Surya Tahora.
 Theme 4: Engaging in the World
Session 15 & 16: Dealing with Challenges

control. I could make limited control over asked me to first

understand o run the the maintenance take some
equipment properly. team because somtrialsal then if it
AnotOtheriables were like
whenever I had to gets successful we
the resources, which tooask them for are ready to
were in my control as I maintenance then sanctity on
could arrange as much asthey used to give btthedgbudgetr the
possible resources some excuses for equipment. As the
required. engaging in some equipment has
other activities, in already exhausted
that case, I had to a lot of money so
be strict with them no further budget
then only they were cant is sanctioned
given time to the in the name of this
equipment. equipment.
Intermediate After getting clearance During operation, I When the
1, 2, 3, etc. from the maintenance asked the equipment was
team regarding the maintenance team running properly, I
equipment functionality, to check the needed the coal to
we started equipment and equipment generate the heat
in its initial days, we run it frequently so that if within the
under capacity because any kind of normality equipment so I
what I observed from its gets observed then asked the
history was that most of the equipment could procurement team
the time it was run over be instantly stopped to arrange for the
capacity, and because of and maintenance same but
that equipment was could be performed. thecouldn’tnt do so
getting tripped frequently. But somewhere the as there was a
So Capacity utilization was maintenance team shortage In the
in my control as I could was not wholly in my market. I also
run it at any capacity control as they could searched in my
whatever I wanted and I dedicate their time contacts too but I
did so. I Appointed a only when they are couldn’t get so
supervisor for that free but whenever getting the fuel to
equipment particularly, they were free they keep running the
who kept engaged himself always gave their equipment was not
with the other team and time to that in my control as I
was reporting to e on an equipment. In had to be
hourly basis. To addition to this, I dependent on
enthusiasm the team, I needed loading others to keep
told them that whichever equipment, which I running this
team across the whole day needed in feeding equipment.
would be able to run this the material in the
equipment continuously, equipment and
would be awarded. And I loading JCB I could

This material has been prepared by Dr.Surya Tahora. It is meant for use only for classes at SPJIMR. No part of this material may be
reproduced, used or transmitted in any form without the permission of Dr.Surya Tahora.
 Theme 4: Engaging in the World
Session 15 & 16: Dealing with Challenges

got the good results of the call upon whenever I

same. required but
sometimes when the
JCB went into
breakdown it
couldn’t reach the
plant.
After running continuously When the whole When OEM
for more than a month, operation team checked its
suddenly I get a call from inspected the inventory then they
the supervisor that the equipment at their informed me that
equipment has stopped end no issues were they no further
and had not gotten found then I produce this
started. I Asked them informed the product and
immediately to check the maintenance team because of that
equipment inside out to come and check they carry the
properly to find out any at their end. They inventory of this
discrepancy from the inspected the equipment’s spare
maintenance side. They equipment parts. I requested
did so. But they didn’t find thoroughly and them to check with
anything. I asked them to informed that some the other OEMs,
clean the equipment of the parts of the who produce similar
properly and take a trial, equipment got worn products but they
They did so but still, the out because of that informed me that
Final equipment didn’t run. So this equipment cant they can’t help me
these were the activities, be run further by just further in this. As no
which were in my control doing minor other OEMs also
and could perform better. maintenance as produce such
they needed to equipment. At that
replace the worn-out moment I felt that
part and for that, the project is no
they needed at least longer would
10-15 days. continue. So I felt
Because they had to that everything has
order the happened beyond
equipment’s spare my expectation.
parts from the OEM. And I felt
I immediately called dishearted.
the OEM and
informed them about
this major
breakdown.

This material has been prepared by Dr.Surya Tahora. It is meant for use only for classes at SPJIMR. No part of this material may be
reproduced, used or transmitted in any form without the permission of Dr.Surya Tahora.
 Theme 4: Engaging in the World
Session 15 & 16: Dealing with Challenges

I. Select three instances belonging to any of these stages where you found yourself in
negative intervening and/or negative letting go quadrants. Describe the emotions, thoughts,
and behavior corresponding to these situations.  9 marks

QUADRANT
SITUATION (Negative EMOTIONS THOUGHTS BEHAVIOUR
intervening and/or
Negative letting go)
This was the Negative letting Sad How should I Withdrawn
time when I go arrange the behavior
was running fuel?
out of fuel at Should I give
the up on this
intermediate project? Or
stage to keep continue?
running the
equipment. But
as the situation
was not in my
control so I felt
helpless at that
moment.
When the Negative Annoyed How can Rude talk
finance Intervening someone not
department understand
refused me to my point?
sanction the
fund to do
some
modifications
then
somewhere I
blamed them
for not getting
successful
the project.
Whenever I Negative Impatient Why people Rough talk
asked the internvening don’t
maintenance understand
team to the criticality
inspect the of the same?
equipment Why does no
and if they one care
were taking about the

This material has been prepared by Dr.Surya Tahora. It is meant for use only for classes at SPJIMR. No part of this material may be
reproduced, used or transmitted in any form without the permission of Dr.Surya Tahora.
 Theme 4: Engaging in the World
Session 15 & 16: Dealing with Challenges

time to project?
resolve the
issue then I
used to get
impatient.

II. In each of these 3 instances were you able to move towards positive intervening/letting go
quadrants? If yes explain in terms of concepts taught in class. If not, based on concepts
taught in class what could be done differently to shift to more appropriate quadrants?
(Elaborate with the help of your understanding of the four quadrants and your answers to
questions I&II) 15 marks

Situation 1 –
As per situation 1, When I felt that no option left to arrange fuel, and this may take longer than
expected to come fuel to the plant. Then instead be offering in the negation letting go, I self calm
after that and thought that everything couldn’t be controlled by myself. I convinced myself that let’s
give some time to come to fuel the plant and once It would come, then we will restart the
equipment. Till that time, I thought to carry out some modification works, which were going to help
me out in capacity enhancement. And by doing so, I was happy that I am doing something
productive.
Once the fuel shortage got over then I again started the plant and I was happy that there was a
capacity enhancement and could give something better result in that duration. In the meanwhile
when the equipment was not operating, I engaged the extra manpower in other activities such as
housekeeping, gardening, etc. and this gave a certain level of satisfaction.
Initially, when I was in the negative letting go situation, I used to thought why all such things
happened to me? Why god doesn’t help me? Why do I always have to face defeat? But when I
reached the positive letting go situation, I found myself happy and satisfied and thought that
sometimes something happens for a reason. So I didn’t think too much about the past and kept
working towards running that equipment.

Situation 2
When the finance department was not ready to sanction the amount, I got annoyed and
showed my anger at the finance head. This was the situation when I was in a negative
intervening situation. But later on, I realized that the finance head is also doing his job. If
he doesn’t find any fruitful result for this project how can somebody sanction the money for
such a project? Even I wouldn’t have done so if I were in their place of him. And this
realization shifted me from negative intervening to positive intervention and I felt motivated
and took this project as a challenge that I would give my best to make this project
successful.
So in this manner, I shifted myself from negative intervening to positive intervening.
I felt happy when I found myself motivated regarding the same. And as a result, I run that
equipment for one month continuously.
Sometimes because of annoying behavior, I lost a lot of things so I thought to keep myself
always in the positive intervention quadrant.

Situation 3

This material has been prepared by Dr.Surya Tahora. It is meant for use only for classes at SPJIMR. No part of this material may be
reproduced, used or transmitted in any form without the permission of Dr.Surya Tahora.
 Theme 4: Engaging in the World
Session 15 & 16: Dealing with Challenges

A lot of time, I required the help of the maintenance team to inspect the equipment. But
whenever they were busy they were taking time to complete the inspection and that made
me impatient and I found myself in the negative intervening position. But later on, I
realized that I was wrong at my place, as the team was already busy with some other
activities and not the idle. So they were taking time to attend to the equipment. I would
have understood their situation. They were doing their jobs based on the priority and
undoubtedly this project was not in priority if there was a major breakdown in the plant.
Solf found moving from negative intervention to positive intervention and I could be able to
understand that they are right at their place. They were not sitting idle, They keep running
from one piece of equipment to another so somewhere I need to understand their position.
And I considered their business, which help me a lot in moving from nin negative
intervening to positive intervening.

This material has been prepared by Dr.Surya Tahora. It is meant for use only for classes at SPJIMR. No part of this material may be
reproduced, used or transmitted in any form without the permission of Dr.Surya Tahora.