CASE SCENARIO 2 – Clarke: Transformation for Environmental Sustainability

Clarke, a pesticide-selling company, has a core business that is environmentally harmful by its
very nature. Its journey to sustainability faced unique challenges even when innovation led to new green
products, processes, technologies and business models. As such, its leadership had to cope with the
overwhelming task of engaging both its employees and customers in the idea that sustainability can be
effective and profitable.
QUESTION:
How does a company overcome the challenges involved in acquiring the necessary buy-in from
employees and customers who are skeptical about environmental sustainability as a potential driver of
business strategy? (15 points)

ANSWER:
Companies can overcome the challenges by adapting new perspectives to help shift the mindsets
of employees and customers. Even when innovation leads to new green products, processes,
technologies and business models, the leadership of the company must cope with the daunting task of
engaging employees and customers in the idea that green can be effective and profitable.

CASE SCENARIO 3 – (Trigger Warning)

If you chose not to answer this due to your emotional unpreparedness to continue reading,
kindly send me a message. This case was based on a true story.
Mukul was a hardworking policeman and married to a beautiful girl from his village. Both of
them stayed in a house at police quarters. Mukul’s boss, Sub-Inspector Sandeep was arrogant and
flirtatious officer. He did not treat his subordinates well. He had an eye on Mukul’s wife ever since he
first saw her on the day of Mukul’s wedding. His house was in the neighbourhood of Mukul’s. Unlike
other superior officers, Sandeep often invited Mukul to visit his home with his wife for dinner and to
other get together parties. Mukul had noticed that Sandeep was trying to get closer to his wife by
making jokes and giving unsolicited advises. Sandeep denied Mukul any holidays. Mukul was tired of
asking for leave so many times and had even mildly protested once. Sandeep wanted Mukul and his wife
to stay at the quarters all the time. Once Mukul wanted a fifteen days of leave to arrange and look after
his only sister’s wedding. He had to go to his native with his family for fifteen days. Mukul officially
kept asking for leave two months well before the wedding date itself, but as expected Sandeep kept
refusing him any leave. Just before the scheduled day Mukul had to leave for his native, he once again
finally asked Sandeep to grant him leave. Sandeep said that he would grant him leave provided he went
alone to the marriage leaving behind his wife in the quarters. Mukul, agitated, took his loaded rifle and
shot the inspector dead. He then surrendered to the police.
QUESTION:
Explain how would have been Mukul and Sandeep’s behaviour if they had possessed high
emotional intelligence?
ANSWER:
This conflict could have been resolved in a much simpler manner had one or both the
parties acted with emotional intelligence and the disasterous result could be avoided.
 Mukul should’ve discussed his concerns with his wife and together reached out on a
consensus to avoid all social contacts with Sandeep, outside office. He should’ve directly talked to
Sandeep and forwarded his concerns strongly. An objective conversation can help a person to
understand that he is crossing the limit. Mukul should have escalated the issue and talked to higher
authorities. He or his wife should have informed the situation to Sandeep's wife. He shouldn’t have
delayed to complain as there was a perceived threat to his wife and prevention is better than cure. Even
though he was provoked, he should have kept calm and complained to disciplinary department/Senior.
Such behaviour is never tolerated and there were all chances that the problem could have been solved by
once for all by the disciplinary bodies.
 Sandeep should have understood the basic humanity and empathy entwined with leadership. He
being the leader, should have undertaken all the steps to set good example, behaviour and character and
create conducive environment for his team to function rather than behaving inappropriately himself.
Even if he felt very strongly about Mukul's wife, it could have faded down had he managed his
infatuation well. At the minimum he should have avoided visiting Mukul's for lunch/dinner, should have
discussed with his own wife creating a virtual self-imposed monitor. He could have distracted himself,
what better than granting the requested leaves. In some cases, meditation helps to control our mind.
Police department keeps doing life skill training, he could have attended them.
 World is full of people like Sandeep. It’s likely that Mukul's wife may encounter more of them
in future too, what good can he be now to protect her from jail.