CASE STUDYANALYSIS
– A bird’s eye view
SITUATIONALANALYSIS

Pawan is pursuing MBA and shares a room with you in the private
hostel. He desperately needs a job after completing his course because
of educational loan and weak economic background. In his last two
semesters, he couldn’t secure good grades due to serious illness. In
current semester he has to secure good marks at any cost to satisfy
minimum criteria for placements.
Few days before the final semester exam, he comes to you and asks for
money. He is stressed and nervous. He tells you about his plan to
purchase semester papers to clear the exam and convinces you for the
same by giving reference to his bad health, family status and his
education loan.
In such circumstances, would it be right to lend money to him?
(a) Identify the moral dilemma faced by you.
(b) Analyse your role and duties as a friend, also suggest your course
of action.

The given case tests the ability of a person to stick to the right
means even in difficult circumstances in life. One needs to balance his
role as a true friend by making Pawan realize his mistake and
simultaneously helping him in other ways.
FACTS OF THE CASE
▪ Pawan’s weak economic
background, bad health
and family
responsibilities.
▪ Good grades needed to
satisfy minimum criteria
for placements
▪ Asked for money to
purchase semester
papers.
▪ Stress and nervousness
due to fear of failure.
STAKEHOLDERS
INVOLVED
▪ Pawan
▪ His family
▪ College staff (faculty,
placement committee, etc)
▪ Self (Pawan’s roommate)
VALUES INVOLVED
▪ Integrity
▪ Honesty
▪ Fear
▪ Courage
▪ Fortitude
▪ Empathy
▪ Moral righteousness

a) MORAL DILEMMAS FACED:
•Means v/s Ends: Taking incorrect means of giving Pawan the money to buy the
semester papers to attain the ends of getting good grades which would allow him
to sit for placements.
•Social obligation v/s moral righteousness: Supporting one’s friend in need or
adhering to one’s conscience by not giving him money.
b) ROLES AND DUTIES AS A FRIEND:
•A true friend is one who shows the right path. He is one who not only tells ‘what
is’ rather ‘what ought to be’. Hence, he is a true friend, philosopher and guide for
lifetime.
•He shows the emotional support, empathy, trust, and mutual cooperation in the
hardest of times.
•He encourages and motivates others and imbibes confidence in them so that the
hidden talent and capabilities can be revived.

COURSE OF ACTION MERIT DEMERIT
1.
Knowing and
understanding Pawan’s
condition
▪ It will help him chance to explain
his situation.
▪ He may even realize his own
mistakes.
▪ It will give him
opportunity to lie and
mould facts.
2.
Denying him money to
purchase papers and
motivating him to study
hard.
▪ His fear of failure can be removed.
▪ Upholding his moral conscience
will make him more productive at
work.
▪ He may flunk in exam
and may not get a job.
▪ He may not be able to
repay his bank loans.
3.
Helping him in studies
by making available
required notes, books,
etc.
▪ It may imbibe confidence in him
that he can pass without cheating.
▪ Relieving him nervousness and
pressure.
▪ He may not cope up
with the pressure.
▪ He may become
habitual of other’s help
and ease of access to
resources.
4.
Taking help from faculty,
placement committee,
etc.
▪ Teachers may provide him extra
classes considering his situation.
▪ Placement committee may relax
the minimum criterion for all
students, once majority of
candidates are placed.
▪ Setting wrong
precedent for future.
▪ College staff may
show empathy with
him.

CONCLUSION
•As there is a saying we always have control over the
means but not over the end. Hence, Pawan should
adhere to the correct means by not cheating for the sake
of passing the exam.
•Also, one can only expect short term gains by following
incorrect means. But in the long run, it is always one’s
righteousness, ideal conduct, and truth which lead to a
successful life.
•Hence, Pawan should be made to realize that
excellence is a way of life and in his long career ahead,
it will always be his ‘ethical conduct’ which would allow
him to steer the path towards success.

Yes…Now you can do it

Soomesh Sharma grew up in a robust north Indian
family where taking medicines for petty problems was
frowned upon. Elders in the family believed that minor
ailments could be cured by appropriate precaution and diet
control. Soomesh particularly remembered how he was
chided for wanting to eat ice-cream when his throat was sore.
He was not only denied his favorite ice-cream, but was also
administered liberal doses of ginger juice.
Soomesh majored in commerce in college and
rounded-off his studies with an MBA in marketing from the
USA. He returned to India and bought out Cool Cream Pvt.
Ltd., a company recognized as the manufacturer of finest ice-
creams throughout the country.

Soomesh was visiting his elder sister who stayed in
another town when his throat became infected. Out of old
habit, he gave up ice-cream and asked his sister for some
ginger juice. His sister, out of sympathy for her brother,
mixed some ginger juice in a bowl of ice-cream and Soomesh
ate the innovative product with great delight.
The entrepreneur in Soomesh told him that his sister
had an excellent marketable product. Shortly after returning
to his company, Soomesh instructed the R&D centre at Cool
Cream to develop a ginger ice-cream. The product so
developed was named Adrak Ice-Cream and was tested in the
market. The concept of an icecream containing ginger, which
would protect the throats of those who relished ice-creams,
was seen to have been well received.

Soomesh, thereafter, called a conference of various
department heads to work out a pricing strategy for Adrak
Ice-cream. The manager of finance wanted the price to be
cost of the product plus a 100 per cent profit. The R&D chief
supported him. He emphasised that the product would be
copied in no time and Cool Cream would lose all the
advantages and investments for developing the idea. The
sales team advocated a low price to introduce the product so
that it would be accepted in the market.
The manufacturing manager was not willing to
compromise on the quality to cut the price/cost. He insisted
that Cool Cream must maintain its fair name at all costs. The
purchase manager pointed out to the difficulties of buying
and keeping stocks of an agricultural product like ginger. He
added that this would add to the costs.

You were invited to this brainstorming session as a
consultant and are required to recommend a pricing strategy
to Soomesh Sharma, the owner of Cool Cream Pvt. Ltd.
Q.1. Analyse the case and give appropriate Solution.
Q.2. Do you think the idea of introducing “Ice Cream with
Ginger Flavour” will capture the market and sales will
increase? Why or Why not?

Yes…Now you can do it