Case studies for Ethics

Champions on Business Ethics

Please present in each case:

What went wrong ?
Who were the culprits ?
What should be the consequences ?
What could/should be done to prevent the
recurrences ?

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Tata Code of Conduct :

Case-A
The company has given a stringent target to the group. Mr. Ganguly, a new joinee and the
Officer In-charge of the group is a good task master, but usually speaks in a rough and
threatening tone. Hence, he didn’t have a very cordial relation in his team. Being frustrated
with the situation Mr. Ganguly’s behaviour became worse. The matter was raised by other
member of the team. When interrogated Mr. Ganguly’s reply was he always wanted to achieve
and surpass the stringent targets given by the management and people were not cooperating
with him. It led to his bad behaviour, otherwise he is a very gentle person.

Q1. Is there any ethical issue involved?

Q2. If yes, what is/are the issue/s?
Q3. Which clause/s is/are relevant to the issue/s?

Disclaimer: All the characters, incidences, etc. mentioned in the case are imaginary. Any incidental resemblance with any person, place etc .
if any is highly regretted.

Corporate Ethics, Tata Steel 2

Tata Code of Conduct :

Case-1
Mr. DB Vaidya, Head, HR/IR was requested by LIMS, a reputed Institute for management
study in the town to deliver an inspiring lecture for its newly enrolled students. Considering it
as social responsibility, Mr. Vaidya delivered the lecture on scheduled date & time and got an
applaud from the students. At the end, the Dean of LIMS handed over a memento to Mr.
Vaidya which he accepted. To his utter surprise, Mr. Vaidya found the memento made of silver
weighing approximately 20gms having the name & monogram of the institute engraved on it. It
was a joyous moment for the entire family and they put it in the showcase of their drawing
room.

Q1. Is there any ethical issue involved?

Q2. If yes, what is/are the issue/s?
Q3. What if Mr. Vaidya had taken leave on the day he had to deliver the lecture?
Q4. Which clause/s is/are relevant to the issue/s?
Q5. What could be done by Mr. Vaidya to comply with the clauses?

Disclaimer: All the characters, incidences, etc. mentioned in the case are imaginary. Any incidental resemblance with any person, place etc .
if any is highly regretted.

Corporate Ethics, Tata Steel 3

Tata Code of Conduct :

Case-2
Mr. S Narayana joined as an intern in the Research wing of the company and worked on a
project under Dr. Venkatesh Rao. Most of the research work was carried out by Mr. Narayana
that was well appreciated by Dr. Rao in person. When Mr. Narayana’s internship was about to
complete, he found the reaserch detail published in a National research journal and the
author’s name was Dr. Venkatesh Rao only. When he approached Dr. Rao with his grievance
for his name too, Dr. Rao replied, “As all the facilities and guidance was provided by me only,
you should not expect your name appearing in such a reputed journal.”

Q1. Is there any ethical issue involved?

Q2. If yes, what is/are the issue/s?
Q3. Which clause/s is/are relevant to the issue/s?

Disclaimer: All the characters, incidences, etc. mentioned in the case are imaginary. Any incidental resemblance with any person, place etc .
if any is highly regretted.

Corporate Ethics, Tata Steel 4

Tata Code of Conduct :

Case-3
Mr. Ramesh, a maintenance contractor in the company has requested Mr. Kartik, a
Maintenance Manager in LD#1, to attend the ‘Vishwakarma’ puja at his residence which Mr.
Kartik accepted as they were known to each other for quite sometime. There was a post puja
party, a cocktail followed by lunch where some other friends of Mr. Ramesh were also present.
When the party was over, Mr. Ramesh presented Mr. Kartik a ‘sweet-packet’ for his family
which he hesitantly accepted.

Q1. Is there any ethical issue involved?

Q2. If yes, what is/are the issue/s?
Q3. Which clause/s is/are relevant to the issue/s?
Q4. What if both were schoolmates and friends? What could be done by them to comply with
the clauses without tarnishing their friendship?

Disclaimer: All the characters, incidences, etc. mentioned in the case are imaginary. Any incidental resemblance with any person, place
etc . if any is highly regretted.

Corporate Ethics, Tata Steel 5

Policy

1. Accepting Gift-
As a general rule, employees should discourage business associates from giving gifts.

However, gift from a business associate may be accepted in following situations:

Occasion Item
1a) Festivals or other ceremonial Flowers, sweets or any other eatables
occasions
1b) New Year Articles of office use like stationeries, desk
accessories with logo of the donor Company.
1c) An event of a ceremonial Any item*
nature (e.g., a customer outing or (* All such gifts irrespective of value are to be
in honour of a business reported to the recipient’s Departmental Head and
transaction) and is impractical or Ethics Counsellor by disclosing in the Gift Register
offensive to refuse. available on intranet http://144.0.1.102/COI.
Gifts should be deposited in the office of Ethics
Counsellor.
Any gift other than mentioned above needs to be returned back to the donor with a
timely and appropriate note explaining to the gift donor the rationale for returning the
gift.
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Tata Code of Conduct :

Case-4
Mr. Marwah, the Head of the section, otherwise a very good person was very casual in
passing vulgar remarks to his subordinates for both good or bad job done. Though unhappily,
everybody was tolerating this considering it as one of his weaknesses. Ms Savita joined as
Maintenance Associate reporting to Mr. Marwah. She could not tolerate it and requested Mr.
Marwah not to repeat this at least to her; but of no use. She remained frustrated but did not
report anybody except sharing her feelings to one of her elderly colleague Ms Vargava who
suggested her to tolerate this as there were no bad intensions.

Q1. Is there any ethical issue involved?

Q2. If yes, what is/are the issue/s?
Q3. Which clause/s is/are relevant to the issue/s?

Disclaimer: All the characters, incidences, etc. mentioned in the case are imaginary. Any incidental resemblance with any person, place etc .
if any is highly regretted.

Corporate Ethics, Tata Steel 7

Sexual Harassment Prevention Policy
What is Sexual Harassment (Supreme Court’s Guidelines)
 Physical contact and advances
 Demand or request for sexual favours
 Sexually colored remarks/Jokes
 Showing pornography
 Any other unwelcome physical, verbal or non-verbal conduct of sexual
nature
Steps Recommended
 Sexual Harassment is a misconduct in the Works Standing order also.
 Female Employees of the Contractors’ also to be made aware of the same.
 Chiefs/Departmental heads to inform all employees male/female of this policy.
 Do not discourage reporting of any misconduct of this nature.
 Strict disciplinary action against the violators.

Corporate Ethics,
8 Tata Steel
Sources For Reporting Concerns

Letter to EC
Telephone Mail to EC Mail Box No. G-33
0657-6645544 ethics.counseller@tatasteel.com Tata Steel
0657-2756595 Jamshedpur

Personal appointment with EC/DEC

Or Leadership whom you trust

•Identity of the person raising concern

will NEVER be disclosed
‘Speak Up’ service
Toll Free No. •Reward & Recognition to Whistle Blower
000800 440 1102 Appreciation letter and/or Cash reward given
Access Code: 26790 by MD in a closed room affair

www.intouchfeedback.co.uk/tsindia • Committee to protect interest of Whistle

Blower
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Thank you