THE PARABLE OF THE SADHU

Presented By: Santanu Kumar Das Satyanarayan Das Avinash Mohanty Pruthesh Sahoo Pratyutpanna Das Soumya Ranjan Sahoo

CASE FACTS
Based on a real life incident that happened with Bowen H. McCoy, MD of Morgan Stanley Participated in the sabbatical program of six months On a trip to Himalaya for 60 days Met with people from other countries

2. The Sadhu
a. Experience more rugged than expected

b. Attempt a 18,000 ft. pass 30 days into the planned 60 day Himalayans part of the trek, to reach the Muklinath (an ancient holy place for pilgrims). c. 6 years earlier Mc.Coy had suffered pulmonary edema, and acute form of altitude sickness at 16,500 ft. d. Himalayas having wettest spring in 20 yrs., if they failed to cross the pass, they felt the last half of the once-in-lifetime trip would be ruined.
e. Night before the attempt, they stayed at a camp in a hut at 14,500 ft. f. Mc.Coy was already tired from the trek

3. The Ascent
Departed at 3:30 am. New Zealanders left first then followed by Stephen and Mc. Coy
a.

b. Stephen showing early signs of altitude sickness at 15,500 ft. c. Just after daybreak as they rested at 15,500 ft a New Zealander came down holding the body of an almost naked (also shoeless) Indian holy man a Sadhustill alive d. The New Zealander -angry- went back up the mountain to join his group e. The group (Stephen and the Swiss) quickly took outer layers of clothing and clothed the Sadhu f. The Japanese group was climbing up with a horse. g. Mc. Coy concerned about making the pass went ahead with several of the porters.

ETHICAL DILEMMA
Individual Ethics Vs Group Ethics Applicability of Rule based Ethical Theory Implementing Ethics in Corporate World

6. The Individual Vs. The Group Ethic A. Business ethics has to do with the authenticity and integrity of the enterprise. To be ethical is to follow the business as well as the cultural goals of the corporation, its owners, its employees, and its customers. B. A leader is a person who understands, interprets, and manages the corporate value system. Effective managers are therefore action oriented, resolve conflict, tolerant of ambiguity, stress, and change, and have a strong sense of purpose for themselves and the organization.

C. On the mountain perhaps the group did not chose an easier lower path because they did not have a leader who could reveal the greater purpose of the trip.

APPLICABILITY OF RULE BASED ETHICAL THEORY Deontology Utilitarianism Distributive justice

IMPLEMENTING ETHICS IN CORPORATE WORLD

The group acted instinctively as individuals and the cross-culture nature of the group added complexity. No leader to identify with. Mc. Coy still reflects: Its amazing how quickly an outsider to an organization can sense the tone and style of an organization, and to what degree there is tolerance to challenge management. Because corporation and their members are interdependent members, they need to share a preconceived notion of behavior- a business ethic.

STEPHENS ARGUMENTS

Each did their bit as long as it was convenient, then passed on the buck to others.

Ponders about how different the action would have been - Had the person been a well dressed Asian or a Western Woman?

6. The Individual Vs. The Group Ethic

The lesson of the sadhu:

In a complex corporate culture situation the individual requires and deserves the support of the group.

VIRTUE THEORY
Morally good habits developed through training and repetition Moral virtues are the traits that enable us to live well Virtues are not rules to be followed, but habits to be cultivated

VIRTUE THEORY VS RULE BASED THEORY

Rule based theories are threshold theories whereas virtue theory is an optimization theory Rule based theory specifies the minimum requirement for any action Virtue theory aims at excellence

Morale of the Story

Teleological View Point

Deontological View Point

Mc.Coy still feeling guilty about the ordeal asks himself questions, a. Isnt stress the real test of corporate and personal values? b. What are the practical limits of moral imagination and vision? c. Is there a collective or institutional ethic that differs from the ethics of the individual? d. At what level of commitment can one discharge ones responsibilities?

Thank you