The connection between a researcher and a good detective is pretty remarkable. Both of them endeavour to procure evidence and strive to arrive at a solution.
Sherlock Holmes is an extraordinary character ever made in the world of literature. After questioning everything and making a lot of deductions, he settles the facts. These are the attributes of a good researcher. The fundamental trait of Sherlock Holmes is he is a diligent, highly-trained, attention to detail person who never seems to allow a bit of procrastination. He believes in data and nothing else. Hence, putting the highest value in logic while investigating becomes mandatory. He knows what to ask and more importantly when to ask. The timing of a simple question makes all the difference. Another important attribute of Sherlock Holmes is he never guess. In research too, guessing is the mother of all evils. Sherlock tries to understand the problem to be solved, collects the evidence, aligns them and then concludes. Focusing on the problem becomes extremely crucial while investigating a case. Also, practising critical thinking becomes essential, whether it is about solving a case or doing research work. Critical thinking leads you exceedingly.
Investigation or research is nothing if you don’t get a fresh perspective. Dr Watson is the person who provides Sherlock with the viewpoint he needs. Hence, Sherlock always valued him because of his reliable approach to an investigation. His sceptic nature always contributed to the investigation. He sees everything but never believes them if not backed by evidence. He does not inherit the attributes of Sherlock Holmes but his practical thinking and logical reasoning help Sherlock to solve the case.
Corporate/Personal Ethics Ankur Arora Murder Case showed us an instance of how corporate hospitals behave in case of medical negligence. In the film, Shekhawat General Hospital was a reputed hospital which only cares about the business. Hence, when Dr Asthana made a mistake, it took an 8-year-old boy’s life. Doctors are considered as Gods but here, Ankur Arora died due to Dr Asthana’s medical negligence. Ethically, he should have confessed his mistake. Instead, he and the hospital staff tried to cover up his negligence. The owner didn’t want the reputation of the hospital go down and hence, tried to hide the truth. The hospital was always about the money. Dr Romesh, an intern was against this ideology and as a doctor felt violated. He realized that a good surgeon is not necessarily a good person and stood against the system.
Professional Negligence: In any profession, you are expected to be honest. Negligence is not an option, especially in medicine. A child lost his life in a minor operation only because of a doctor’s negligence. As a truly professional doctor, he should have been careful because people put their trust in them blindly. He knew all the conditions of the child but yet failed to take the necessary steps that were required. He ignored the code and ethics of his profession.
Redressal Mechanisms in Organisations: Redressal system in organizations is basically a place where the problems are addressed and treated as a menace to business. However, the situation has changed and now it’s more like a ground to provide compensation. The system has grown to be a hostile position where only the defence’s reactions are considered and not really implementing any assistance or resolution to the problem. In the film, the redressal system was against the mother who is trying for justice for her son’s death. The problem was seen as controversy and nothing else.
Crisis Communication/Management: During a time of crisis, communication is important because the public deserves to know the truth. Crisis communication demands the company to be transparent as people can still forgive a genuine mistake, but not a calculated lie. But now, it has turned more into a blame game and negative publicity is also used as a promotional tool. The management of the companies try to hide the facts and even lie to achieve that.
Workplace Harassment: Workplace harassment originates when there is an environment that does not permit the free flow of thoughts and information. And, if anyone stands against the system for all the right reasons, they will face harassment. In the film, Dr Romesh and Dr Riya faced were constantly targeted because they stood against the management. They prioritized their ethics as doctors and that was not supported by anyone in the hospital. Dr Asthana even threatened the medical staff to keep his medical negligence a secret or else their career is over. He used his power to shush them which is a form of harassment.
Every emotion we have and every choice we make have an impact on our life. We mould our decisions based on various previous experiences we had that framed our positive or negative emotions.
I fear to make mistakes. It gives me anxiety which further deteriorates my work. I fear about the consequences that can happen because of my mistake, even if it is a minor issue.
I like going out and taking a walk. It refreshes my mind and gives me positive energy. I also like to cook. I feel it is very therapeutic especially in this lockdown.
I love eating good food. I love to explore new places and try to relish new cuisines. If the food is good, it makes me happy instantly.
I hate hypocrisy and double standards. That’s why I often find myself engaged in debates with such people. Even though the best way to deal with it is to ignore them, but I just can’t stand double standards and hypocrisy.
I agree with a lot of things. There is nothing specific as such. It depends on that particular moment or context. I agree with the fact that men and women are treated unequally and life is hard for both the genders in their way. I agree that smart work is better than hard work – it is more beneficial and efficient.
I disagree with that fact that everyone loves biriyani, I don’t like biriyani at all. I think this point is enough to start a heated debate.
I want to travel carefree. I want to explore new places with my loved one and try new food from every corner of the street. I want to be a caring yet strong independent woman who can manage each and everything.
I wish I have enough courage not to care about others feelings. I do care a lot and never want to be a reason for someone else’s discomfort which puts me uncomfortable a lot of times. I have an uncontrollable urge to please people and this sometimes works against me.
I would never want to settle outside the country. I don’t know where my fate will take me but this is something I won’t do voluntarily.
I believe everything happens for a reason. Everything has a positive side and things do get better with time. Though I am a little bit of pessimist, still this is something I strongly believe.
We all wish to live a life carefree but the reality is quite different. We fear a lot. Though it can be subjective, we are scared of things – known or unknown. Separation, pain, death, rejection, failure, even something as beautiful as love make us afraid. Love can make you feel content, or it can be astonishingly depressing; it makes you feel a whole range of emotions. You are trusting someone else and developing intimacy – that is a scary thing. Love to your parents, family, friends, children, etc also generates fear within us. When we fail, we start doubting ourselves which eventually leads to falling of self-confidence. We put immense pressure on trying to please and satisfy everyone. Humiliation is a big anxiety for many of us and we fear it. Our experiences with the course of life induce fear within us and to be honest, we rarely combat it with ease. The film Duel deals with nothing but the fear of Unknown. It has no monsters, aliens, ghosts, etc. This movie shows that simple everyday bothersome experience into intimidation and then to horror – the chase, predator vs. prey, and you are the prey.
How do we respond to fear?
Fear can serve as a lifesaver or as destruction. It can be a positive emotion when it clutches our consciousness and encourages us to concrete action. Hence, it is important how we handle this emotion. It is important to put fear into perspective. Though we tend to respond to fear naturally, sometimes, it is necessary to take a minute to breathe and think about it rationally. The fact is to reduce your fear, not eliminate it. It is essential to know your triggers and work about it accordingly.
Where does fear lead us in life?
Fear surely holds us back. It is compelling enough to keep us away from accomplishing our aims and living our most satisfying lives. It fosters stagnation and doesn’t let us take advantage of possibilities. Sometimes, people are breathing in the self-made jails of their own dismay. So it is important to turn this emotion into a positive one and learn from it. Also overcoming fear can make you feel confident. So it totally depends on how you put it into perspective.
Explain: ‘Fear of the unknown’ especially in the current context.
Like a gloomy and scary haunted maze where we don’t know what’s happening next, fear of the unknown does the same work. The unknown creates anxiety because it also deals with “loss of control.” When we don’t possess control of something, we panic. This is the situation right now globally. The coronavirus is a major reason for stress among everyone all around the globe. It is highly contagious and still, we didn’t find any proper vaccine for it. COVID-19 is affecting every aspect of society and is going to hit the economy worst. The entire country is under lockdown and we don’t know what to expect next. We have no clue how to go ahead and the number of patients is surging. People are afraid of their health, business, work, studies, future. This is what fear of the unknown is.
Real management can be defined as a series of decisions taken by a company to achieve its organizational goals. These decisions are taken after considering a lot of factors. This may include hiring or firing employees, making a business deal, sorting teams for projects, etc. Management aims to avoid any kind of problems which might hamper the reputation of the company. Also, some elements involved in management are ethics and morals. A good manager will keep his and the company’s image clean with his ethics and morals. The decisions made will be for the overall growth of the company, not for any short term success. Real management needs lots of dedication along with ethical choices and arrangements. This is what sets you and your company apart.
Are all corporate organizations ethical?
Ethics can be defined as ‘moral principles that govern a person’s behaviour or the conducting of an activity.’ Hence, the concept is subjective and can vary from person to person. The things which are ethical to me may not be ethical to the other person. Similarly, it is hard to judge if all corporates are ethical are not. Sometimes, companies are too much ambitious about making money. This may lead them to adopt some corrupted practices like bribery or other malpractices. Some companies are very firm with their stand and stay ethical no matter what. So it is hard to conclude if a company is ethical or not since the concept is highly idiosyncratic and personal.
How would you define ethics and analyse value-based management?
While ethics are subjective, value-based management determines the company runs consistently on values. These values are generally guided by the founder of the company and each member is expected to follow them, no matter what. They are not framed for personal benefits, but overall portrayal of the company. In the film Corporate we can see, Nishi’s loyalty and dedication towards the company which is commendable but going to the extent of obtaining classified report and assembling information from a reference without the rival’s knowledge was unethical and immoral. Sehegal could have told Nishi to quit spying on the rival since it requires bribing, but instead, he appreciates her and supports it. However, these could have been stopped if the company runs on values. Sehegal should have thought about the consumer’s health as a competent manager. He could have suspend the production, reach to the media and tell them about the incident – this is what expected from a manager.
Examples:
PMC Bank Scam:
The crux of this bank fraud is that the higher management of the PMC bank has given huge loan to the Housing Development and Infrastructure Ltd (HDIL) and its group entities. This fraud case is related to transfer of 70% of the total credit facilities of the PMC bank to HDIL and its associated companies.
D. K. Shivakumar money-laundering case
On 3 September 2019, Shivakumar was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on charges of money laundering and tax evasion. Karnataka State Apex Cooperative Bank President K N Rajanna appeared before the ED in connection with the money laundering case filed against former state minister D K Shivakumar.
India is a developing country, both in terms of economic maturity and human development. India is unfastening her extensive implied economic potential which relies on accelerating and nurturing its skyward trajectory on fundamental human development indicators and striving for inclusive advancement.
The last two decades have witnessed a tumultuous emergence in environmental challenges being confronted by cities and countries all around the world. India is no exception as well. Challenges associated with air pollution, waste management, scarcity of water, conservation of natural resources, and loss of biodiversity, among others, have been increasing at an alarming rate.
The three documentaries that I watched are Our Planet, Ladies First and Daughters of Destiny. While the purpose of “Our Planet” is to make its viewers believe beyond the impressive images onscreen and urges us to think about how to keep their subjects alive i.e. climate action, Ladies First and Daughters of Destiny is all about gender equality, quality education and irradicating poverty. These documentaries are dealing with different SDGs and aim at educating us about the same.
Government and corporates take every measure to achieve this SDGs. Some of the initiatives taken by the Government include Swachh Bharat Mission, Namami Gange Programme, Green Skill Development Programme, Movement against plastic, etc. Corporates are also helping the Government and are working extensively to attain the goals. For example, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd spent INR 8.36 crore on the Nanhi Kali programme which implements educational assistance to underprivileged girls in India through an afterschool support programme. M&M also sponsored a pilot project for Project Nanhi Kali 2.0 which will encourage aspiring girls to complete their graduation as well as gain proficiency in spoken English and digital literacy. Toyota Kirloskar Motor India has actively participated in the “Swachh Bharat Abhiyan”. The company has built more than 650 units of sanitation facilities in 206 government schools across India.
How to manage the mismatch between expectations and reality at work?
When you start your job life, you will observe that it is very different from your expectations. It might not be your dream job and you are stuck there. We all wish to have a boss who is a good teacher and encourages us to achieve our professional aims as we add to the organization’s prosperity. However, getting that kind of a mentor is rare. Thus, many of us are happy to work for someone friendly and pleasent, even if they don’t help us to grow much. At least, worklife is more bearable in such cases. However, The Devil Wears Prada shows us that very terrifying situation. We can see Andy’s sacrifices with Miranda’s efforts to separate her own personal and work lives – a thing which we sometimes interwine. Even if we try to keep both of them separate, in corporate life, you fail to afford a meaningful personal lives. Office politics, orders of boss, all stresses you up so much that the frustration stays with you for a long time. Each success comes with a sacrifice – this is reality. So your expectations makes you think life is a bed of roses, but actual work life shows it is also full of thorns. So to manage it, you need to disentangle your thoughts and try to keep the personal and professional life separate no matter what. You should understand what you are signing up for and try to do it with honesty.
What are some of the real-life challenges and how can one overcome them? Give an example from your own internship/work/professional experience.
Every employee faces some kind of obstacle in their worklife which they thought they can overcome easily. But these real life challenges overburden you over time. Some craved to pursue a dream job or leadership opportunity while others wished to connect more with other workers and build a support system or network at work. Not having work-life balance, workplace politics, dealing with managers and coworkers, lack of passion for the job, etc are some of the challenges emplyees face.
I was lucky enough to get a healthy work environment and super supportive boss and coworkers in internship. There were events where I got scolded for no reason of mine, but that’s how you can learn is what I felt. I had to correct my colleague’s mistakes or do their part of work for which I could not finish mine. I also noticed office politics even though it was not directed towards me. However, I was able to convert my internship into full-time job which was a great achievement. My internship was of 3 months but they offered me a job after 2 months. But, both as an intern and employee, I had seen and faced few challenges which made prepared me for real work life.
How to do what you love and love what you do at work and life?
Do what you love and love what you do – indeed a very catchy line. Don’t we get this advice all the time? However, it’s not always the case. Job life becoming monotonous is an inescapable situation, no matter how much you love your job. Your job involves interacting with people, gettings things done in the stipulated time, following the rules of the company, being productive, etc which builds a lot of pressure over time. In the movie Office Space, we see overburdened Peter is dismayed over the monotony of his job. Frustrating corporate systems make him feel worse. In short, he was unable to balance his work life. So it is extremely important for the company,s side as well to think about the employees before overburdening them with work. Then only, they can do their job sincerely.
But, finding a job you love is a bit of age-old advice. You too need to think the company’s point of view to understand what they expect from you. Demanding a high salary, respectful social status, etc can bound you to love your work. Your job should give you satisfaction and then only other things become secondary. A content employee won’t complain about their work and will do it willingly.
Creativity at the workplace versus the demands of livelihood:
To earn your bread and butter, thinking about the money you earn is quite obvious. And, to get that, we end up doing an unproductive job which only pays well. Those jobs lack creativity, motivation and interest. So it is important to fuel the creativity in your job so that you don’t feel exhausted. You can pay your bills only when you are content and make your bosses satisfied with your work. And to improve your work, you need to develop some creative traits, such as interest, curiosity and an inquisitive, looking for growth possibility, etc. These are mostly inherent and can’t really be imposed by outsiders.
Clash of Personal vs Professional objectives/choices:
It is very hard to get a job that you love. But when you get it, life is easier. Everything around you looks seamless. People have both personal goals that they want to achieve and professional objectives. To achieve this smooth life, you need to align both of them. The more you do what you actually love to, the more you unblur your personal and professional life. This can be a blessing or a curse in disguise. When you are satisfied with your work, you know how to get things done and proceed with your personal life, without hampering anything. Life seems more relaxed. But when you make your work your life instead of making it a part of your life, things can take an ugly turn. At that point, you need to shed off that workaholic nature and get a new perspective to bring back the balance in your life.
Coronaviruses are a genus of viruses that can induce illnesses such as the common cold, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and the Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). Although the symptoms of the coronaviruses are just like normal seasonal flu, however, it is highly contagious and can have fatal consequences. In 2019, a new coronavirus was distinguished as the cause of a disease outbreak that originated in China. Now it is a pandemic issue, spreading globally, killing thousands all over the world. The World Health Organisation mentions that the coronavirus pandemic is the “defining global health crisis of our time”. It is competent in unveiling the best and worst in humanity.
Total coronavirus cases all over the world are 276,293 right now. Italy stated 627 more deaths on 20th March 2020, the biggest day-to-day increment in the country’s four-week epidemic, surpassing China’s death toll. The total number of deaths in Italy touched 4,032.
As of 21st March 2020, the number of reported coronavirus cases in India is 271 along with 4 deaths. The next few weeks are extremely crucial to curb the spreading of this virus. Hence, schools, colleges, malls are al shut down along with restaurants, offices, etc. Social distancing is extremely crucial at this point. Therefore, the government is taking every measure possible so that people stay at their home and break the chain of infection. Employees are advised to work from home until there is a solution to restrict this virus. Hostels and PGs are all closed down and students are sent back to their hometown till further notice. As of now, most of the states in India are under lockdown till 31st March 2020. However, it can be extended depending on the situation. Currently, cases of coronavirus are increasing rapidly.
Coronavirus has delivered a hammer blow to the World’s economy. There are partial or full lockdowns in most countries. A global, new virus that puts us held in our homes, maybe for months, is already reshaping our connection to government, to the outside world, even to each other. India, too, has sufferedsignificant economic clout as sectoral anxieties sketch a grim panorama on the stock markets.
Many of the world’s greatest companies have already told office workers around the globe to stay and work at home. Some of the companies include Ford, General Motors and Unilever. Work from home will greatly reduce the number of people socialising which will, in turn, restrict the potential expanse of infection. Government is taking every required step to control this novel virus and hospitals are working day and night to achieve the same.
Management by Government:
Government of India has taken rapid actions to restrict the entry and spread of Coronavirus. Some management steps taken by them are as follows:
Prompt efforts to restrict travel by suspending visas and isolating all incoming travellers.
All international travellers entering India will go through a Universal Health Screening. As per the health officials, more than 1 million passengers have been screened at airports, restraining the entry of coronavirus.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government urged citizens to withdraw or suspend mass meetings and gatherings until the virus is checked.
The Ministry of External Affairs postponed the Indian cricket league.
State authorities closed schools, gyms and swimming pools, malls, etc. Most of the states declared a partial lockdown till 31st March 2020. However, if the situation worsens, government and institutions itself should extend it.
Restaurants are also locking down, with the National Restaurants Association urging members to close at least until 31 March.
However, despite taking several actions, the nation is still suffering a lot of challenges as other countries, which includes curbing unapproved gatherings and demystifying false health messages that are disseminating on social media.
On March 19, PM Narendra Modi proposed the citizens of India to adopt self-curfew on March 22 from 7 am to 9 pm, describing it as a “Janata Curfew”.
Clinical Management:
Hospitals and clinics are doing their best to control this pandemic and treat the patients with utmost care. Isolation beds have been increased in hospitals as well. Certain management guidelines are undertaken by hospitals all around the world which are as follows:
All patients should be monitored and observed closely.
The decision to examine a patient in the inpatient or outpatient setting will be done on a case-by-case basis.
The decision does not only depend on the clinical presentation of symptoms, but also on the patient’s capability to employ in monitoring, home isolation, and the danger of transmission in the patient’s home environment.
Clinical management incorporates the immediate implementation of sanctioned infection prevention and control measures and supportive management of complexities.
All pneumonia cases to be tested for coronavirus sinch those patients are more susceptible to COVID-19.
Since there are no vaccines for coronavirus yet, the only way to stop its extent is by self-isolation and social distancing. Staying at home, washing your hands with soap or using hand sanitizer, wearing masks, maintaining hygiene and cleanliness are some precautions that should taken. Getting out of the house unless extremely important can help in breaking the chain of infection. The next 2 to 3 weeks are extremely critical and if necessary precautions are not taken, things will get more dangerous.
Management by Companies:
With many people panicking about the spread of COVID-19, companies are witnessing a deterioration in traffic and a rise in isolation. Preserving your business during this pandemic involves much more than providing your business with a good cleansing. It also indicates planning your business for the worst and keeping your team well-informed.
As the novel coronavirus pandemic proceeds to sweep the country, major and influential businesses, from national retailers to chain restaurants have been ordered to re-evaluate their company management to aid protect hourly workers. Some steps which are taken by companies are as follows:
With coronavirus in every state, companies are attaining alternative work arrangements to prevent employees from coming into the office and avoiding contact. Companies are establishing Work from Home policies so that they can run their businesses smoothly.
For employees that are speculated of being ill, or start feeling sick during the day, especially those that have been travelling, companies are notifying the health authorities as soon as possible. The health of the workers is a priority. Thus, the leave policy is no more stringent.
Businesses are utilising platforms that enable teams to cooperate and communicate effectively. These platforms are being used to make work-from-home days productive. Meetings are done over Skype, Google Hangouts, or Zoom.
Providing free masks and sanitisers to office staff and sanitation of the offices are increased.
Usage of biometrics is stopped to limit infection.
India along with other countries have decided to sign the declaration on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, covering seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the Sustainable Development Summit of the United Nations in September 2015.
There are three pillars of the SDG’s which are economic, social and environmental. Each of these divisions has its own challenges when being implemented. India is a vast diversified country with different cultures, ethnicities, beliefs, etc. Hence, following the SDG’s becomes pretty challenging in such a country where people counter against fresh ideas, especially in the case of ideologies. Other than that, internationally, India has faced criticism about a lot of things like India’s coal usage is contributing to pollution, burning fossil fuels, poor infrastructure, etc.
India over the last few years has focused its development pathway to adhere its priorities of employment, economic progress, food, water and energy security, disaster flexibility and poverty alleviation. India has also endeavoured to recover its natural capital and utilise translucent and robust governance along democratic lines. However, arising challenges of climate change consequences, rising inequities, and shuffling human development indices are well known by both the citizens as well as the government.
Government of India has undertaken a lot of policies in order to achieve SDGs. These cover Swachh Bharat Mission, Beti Bacho Beti Padhao, Pradhan Mantri AwasYojana, Smart Cities, Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, Deen Dayal Upadhyay Gram Jyoti Yojana and Pradhan Mantri UjjwalaYojana, among others.
The Namami Gange Mission is a chief policy priority towards attaining the SDG 6. Primary components include sewerage project management, urban and rural sanitation, tackling industrial pollution, water use efficiency and quality improvement, ecosystem conservation and Clean Ganga Fund, among others.
In order to stop the increasing air pollution across the country, the Government of India has started a National Clean Air Programmein 2019.
National Policy on Resource Efficiency (RE) is building upon the existing policies. Different sectors should devise for mainstreaming Resource Efficiency approach in the development pathway for accomplishing SDGs. Resource Efficiency can be a significant tool to meet the resource requirements of the country.
Sustained growth has generated gainful employment and assisted in an increase in wages, directly empowering the poor. The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act has produced over 2 billion person-days of employment during 2016-17, largely for the disadvantaged sections of society.
Stunting among children less than 5 years has decreased from 48% to 38.4% between 2005-06 and 2015-16. During the same period, the percentage of underweight children has diminished as well.
The Infant Mortality Rate has declined from 57 in 2005-06 to 41 in 2015-16. The country’s policy in health is concentrated on rendering basic services to the entire population, with special stress on the poor and vulnerable groups. The government is trying to immunize all children against vaccine-preventable diseases by 2020.
68.4% of women were educated in 2015-16, as contrasted to 55.1% in 2005-06. The Beti Bachao Beti Padao (Save the Girl Child, Educate the Girl Child) initiative concentrates on a complete package of interventions for the girl child including those pertaining to education and protection.
Companies and businesses also work on these SDGs. Wipro’s former chairman and founder Azim Premji has been the greatest philanthropic and contributed to social causes. He contributed 34% of the wealth towards humanitarian causes. He also established the Azim Premji Foundation and University to provide quality education. Tata Memorial Hospital, which is funded by Tata aims to render cost-effective cancer treatment to those who cannot afford a high cost for treatment.
Chain Of Thoughts 