The document describes a scenario where a group of hikers from different countries encounter a half-naked sadhu suffering from hypothermia in the mountains of Nepal. While each person or smaller group was willing to offer some assistance, no one was willing to take full responsibility for transporting the sadhu to safety. As a result, it is unknown if the sadhu survived. The case raises questions about the limits of individual and group responsibility during a crisis situation. It also highlights the importance of having agreed upon processes and shared values within an organization to guide decision making, especially under stress.
The document describes a scenario where a group of hikers from different countries encounter a half-naked sadhu suffering from hypothermia in the mountains of Nepal. While each person or smaller group was willing to offer some assistance, no one was willing to take full responsibility for transporting the sadhu to safety. As a result, it is unknown if the sadhu survived. The case raises questions about the limits of individual and group responsibility during a crisis situation. It also highlights the importance of having agreed upon processes and shared values within an organization to guide decision making, especially under stress.
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The document describes a scenario where a group of hikers from different countries encounter a half-naked sadhu suffering from hypothermia in the mountains of Nepal. While each person or smaller group was willing to offer some assistance, no one was willing to take full responsibility for transporting the sadhu to safety. As a result, it is unknown if the sadhu survived. The case raises questions about the limits of individual and group responsibility during a crisis situation. It also highlights the importance of having agreed upon processes and shared values within an organization to guide decision making, especially under stress.
Copyright:
Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
comment that conveys a meaning indirectly by the use of comparison, analogy, or the like. - This case brings about the debate of an Individual Vs the group ethic., super ordinate , subordinate goals and leadership The case facts - Author McCoy was on a six month sabbatical. - He along with his friend Stephen were on "once in a lifetime" trip to Muklinath a place in Nepal for which they had to cross a 18000ft pass over a crest. - They were camping at 14500 ft. where they were joined by four New- Zealanders, a Swiss couple and a Japanese hiking club. - The New-Zealanders left first followed by Steffen and Mccoy with their porters and Sherpa followed by the Swiss, and the Japanese. - They were resting at 15500ft with Stefen suffering altitude sickness also some porters were suffering from the height. - The New- Zealanders found a half naked sadhu in the mountains. - The New-Zealander asked Mccoy to help the sadhu as they had porters and went back to join his team. The case facts - Mccoy found that the Sadhu was suffering from Hypothermia but he was alive. - Stefen and the Swiss couple immediately clothed Sadhu. - Mc Coy & the Swiss couple left soon after leaving Stephen alone with the Sadhu and some of the porters. - Stefen asked the Japanese to help shift the Sadhu to a village down below as the Japanese team had a horse with them. The Japanese refused but gave Sadhu some food and left. - Stefen asked the Sherpas to carry the Sadhu to the hut but they also refused as they thought it was not possible to shift the Sadhu to a hut below and crossed the crest before the snow melted. - They didn't know whether the Sadhu lived or dead. Breakdown between individual ethic and corporate ethic No one was willing to take responsibility for the sadhu. - Each was willing to do his bit as long as it was not too inconvenient. - No person willing to assume ultimate responsibility. - Where is the limit to our responsibility ? - No one on the mountain was willing to commit himself beyond a certain self imposed limits. Individual Vs Group Ethic
- Stress is the real test of personal and
corporate values. - Not every ethical dilemma has the right solution. It is essential that managers agree on a process for dealing with the dilemmas. - The group reacted instinctively as individuals. - The cross cultural nature of the group added a layer further of complexity Ethical Choice - Immediate response - Decision to act. - Action & implementation together. - Not developing consensus. - Group reaction as individual under stress. - Cross cultural group. - No leader identified. - Only Stephen, but not support. - Should have mutually accepted & shared value. - Members need to have preconceived notions. - Correct behavior or business ethics. Parallel to business situations - Failure to act was a decision in itself. - Managers come up with answers to problems. - Organizations that do not have mutually accepted , shared values tend to become unhinged during stress.
Preconceived Notion “Business Think of it as a positive
of correct behavior Ethic” force, not a constraint Effective managers can not run away from risk. - Need to confront & deal with the risk. - Notion of shared value & agreed on process to be at the heart of ethical issues. - Need leaders to understand, interpret to manage corporate value system. - Need effective managers, who are action oriented, conflict resolving, tolerance of ambiguity, stress, change, strong sense of purpose of themselves & the organization. - One can fulfill the need for individual success along with group support, corporate support. Without corporate support, individual is lost. The lesson
- Individual requires deserves support of the
group. - With support forthcoming, individual can contribute to the success of the group. - Managements challenge is to be sensitive to individual needs,to shape them direct focus them for the benefit of the group as a whole. The Sadhu lives………
- For each of us the Sadhu lives
- Whether to stop to comfort him or to rush up towards the high pass. - Which is more ethical? - Perhaps, the best decision would have been to change the value of the group and with all its resources,act the otherway.