Case studies

The case study aims to achieve the following learning objectives, structured according to the Revised Bloom’s Taxonomy: First, explore the corporate governance framework: recall the roles and responsibilities of key stakeholders at UCICI Bank and AUDIOCON Group and their coordination in governance structures; interpret the principles of stakeholder theory and their application in governance decision-making processes; apply ethical frameworks like the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics Framework and the Josephson Institute Ethical Decision-Making Model to evaluate governance effectiveness; analyse governance lapses and identify gaps in oversight and stakeholder coordination; and propose reforms in governance frameworks to prevent future fraud; evaluate how effectively the governance structure addresses corporate fraud. Second, examine the concept of conflict of interest: understand the ethical and legal implications of conflicts of interest presented in the case; apply knowledge to assess corporate governance failures related to conflict of interest; analyse oversight lapses and identify causes for governance failure; evaluate SEBI regulations on conflict of interest and recommend strategies to mitigate such conflicts in corporate settings; explore the concept of related party transactions (RPTs); understand how RPTs influence governance and stakeholder interests; apply governance principles to assess the legality of RPTs in the case; analyse risks and ethical concerns associated with RPTs and governance failures linked to these transactions; and evaluate proposed regulatory reforms to enhance oversight and transparency. Third, derive key lessons from the case: understand areas for improvement in corporate governance practices, internal reporting mechanisms and whistleblower protections; apply lessons to create strategies for improving governance practices and protecting stakeholders; analyse systemic governance flaws that contributed to the fraud; evaluate the effectiveness of governance practices in preventing similar frauds in the future; and create recommendations for improving governance, ethics and whistleblower policies. Fourth, examine basic issues and remedial measures: understand the root causes of governance failures in the case; apply knowledge of corporate governance principles to recommend reforms in regulatory and accountability frameworks; analyse weaknesses in the existing governance system that enabled fraudulent activities; evaluate the feasibility of proposed remedial measures for transparency and ethical practices; and create new governance policies to enhance accountability and prevent future frauds.

By studying the UCICI AUDIOCON Loan Fraud Case, the above objectives are aimed to shed light on the complex dynamics of corporate governance, conflicts of interest, regulatory compliance, wrongdoing reporting mechanism, whistle-blower policy and reputation risks within the banking industry. The findings and insights from the case study can contribute to improving governance practices and strengthening the integrity of financial institutions.

The UCICI – AUDIOCON loan fraud case epitomises a crisis in corporate governance, spotlighting ethical breaches at the highest echelons of leadership. This case study delves into the dilemma faced by UCICI Bank’s Board of Directors regarding the prosecution of its former CEO, Mhanda Mochhar. Accusations of impropriety stem from a suspicious loan of US$391.57m to AUDIOCON Group, allegedly facilitated by Mochhar in exchange for personal benefits. The ensuing investigation unearthed violations of banking regulations, including non-disclosure, conflict of interest and RPTs. The pivotal board meeting, dissected in this study, underscores the delicate balance between accountability and reputational damage. Through analysis and debate, stakeholders grapple with the repercussions of their decisions on the bank’s integrity and stakeholder trust. The case encapsulates broader lessons on corporate governance, conflict of interest and regulatory oversight, serving as a springboard for critical inquiry and strategic reform in the financial sector. As the saga unfolds in the courtroom, this study provides a lens into the complexities of corporate morality and the imperative for robust governance frameworks.

This case study can be used in classes/subjects such as Finance, Strategic Management, Corporate Governance, Business Ethics and Law for (Vidgen, Hindle, & Randolph, 2020).▪ Graduate students and officials.

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CSS1: Accounting and Finance.

The case was an application of a market demand and supply mechanism and its impact on the product’s price and focus on the following objectives:▪ Analyze the vegetable market in India and the challenges faced by the farmers (tomatoes) using demand and supply concepts.▪ Examine the impact of price elasticity on the revenue of the farmers.▪ Assess the challenges faced by the government in controlling prices of vegetables and food inflation.▪ Evaluate diversification strategies in agriculture to mitigate risk.

The market for tomatoes was highly cyclical because of erratic rainfall, and farmers went through a difficult time, especially when the prices fell below the cost of production. They moved out for crops that had stable prices. They expected government support for price stability. Government and policymakers considered price fluctuations a short-term phenomenon that required limited interventions when prices were high. This case was about Dilip, a farmer who was into farming tomatoes on a large scale in Karnataka, India. He was facing a dilemma as to whether he had to continue or move to other crops because of the low price of tomatoes in May 2023 or to diversify into some small but related business. He was worried at the same time, curious to understand the volatility in the prices of tomatoes, government responses, risks and returns associated with the cultivation of this crop and Agri-supply chain. Based on his understanding, he should make decisions to continue or diversify into some other farming or related business.

This case was written for microeconomics and managerial economics of undergraduate and postgraduate students. This case demonstrates the application of the demand and supply mechanism for a perishable product such as tomatoes. Price fluctuations are common in these markets because of various uncontrollable factors such as rain, pests and natural calamities. The case could show the relationship between the firm’s elasticities and revenue. This case also highlights the policy constraints in controlling the prices in the short run. This case could also be used for understanding macroeconomic concepts such as food inflation and its impact on general price inflation. The students or target audience with a background in the functioning of the markets could very well relate to the concepts discussed.

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CSS: Entrepreneurship (3); Management Science (7).

This case study enables participants to:▪ To understand the fintech landscape in India and assess how market dynamics can impact Paytm’s valuation.▪ To evaluate the drivers affecting the value of Paytm and arrive at Paytm’s valuation.▪ To critically appraise the investment decision made.

Rajani Chandran, a seasoned financial analyst, relooks her recommendation of Paytm in light of the recent revocation of its Payment Bank License. Paytm, the flagship service of One97 Communications Ltd., a financial technology company, is a pioneer in the Indian digital payments and financial services market. However, the developments post going public in 2021 were not always favorable. The frequent fallout with Reserve Bank of India brought restrictions on onboarding new customers and ultimately the revocation of the license. This drastic move is of huge concern to those who have invested in the company. Thus, given this backdrop, Rajani initially explored the dynamic landscape of the Indian digital payments and fintech industry, considering macroeconomic factors, competition and regulatory dynamics. She delved into Paytm’s financial performance to gauge its position in the market. The next phase of the careful scrutiny involved arriving at the equity value of the venture using the discounted cash flow model. Finally, Rajani critically appraised the drivers of valuation, incorporating both quantitative and the story she has crafted around Paytm. Consequently, participants in this case study are prompted to evaluate Paytm and arrive at a valuation and furnish a comprehensive recommendation based on their analyses, thus understanding the intricacies of evaluating a fintech company with immense potential. This case study serves as a valuable resource for students seeking to comprehend the complexities of financial analysis and valuation within the context of a dynamic and evolving industry landscape.

The case is best suited for a course on Financial Statement Analysis while discussing how the financial statements of new-age tech companies can be analyzed and Business Valuation while introducing DCF valuation. The case serves as a comprehensive example of the multifaceted challenges and considerations that a buy-side analyst should have while valuing a company and pitching an investment within the fintech industry. Designed for second-year MBA students, the case assumes familiarity with financial reporting and strategic management concepts such as Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Legal and Environmental (PESTLE) and strength, weakness, opportunity and threat (SWOT) analyses and Business Canvas Model.

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CSS 1: Accounting and Finance.

This case study aims to familiarize the participants with the functioning of the herbal tea industry in an emerging economy like India; understand core concepts, key terminologies and the business relevance of different types of business forecasting; and execute time series forecasting models using MS Excel and interpreting the results.

This case study unveils an important operational concern faced by Deepshika Das, the production manager at Sri Sai Tea Trading Company located at Cuttack in Odisha, India, about future sales projections. The company was gaining popularity for a unique herbal tea called “Chaa Lemon Tea.” However, the company had been experiencing frequent overstocking and understocking due to inappropriate qualitative forecasting. This case study underscores the importance of the concepts associated with quantitative forecasting. It demonstrates the analysis of time series data, building forecasting models and their interpretations using MS Excel.

This case study can be used as a systematic learning tool for postgraduate business school students and master’s level industrial engineering students. This case study can be discussed in courses such as operations and supply chain management, business statistics and quantitative decision-making.

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CSS 9: Operations and Logistics.

1. Understand the impact of macroeconomic factors on investment portfolios:Students will learn how macroeconomic conditions, such as changes in policy rates by central banks, influence investment decisions and portfolio performance. They will analyze how these factors can lead to significant financial challenges for managed funds.2. Develop strategic financial decision-making skills:Through examining the case, students will practice making strategic financial decisions under uncertain and volatile market conditions. They will explore various options for managing an underperforming investment fund and the potential outcomes of these choices.3. Evaluate risk management techniques:The case provides a platform for students to understand different risk management strategies, including the trade-offs between holding long-term bonds versus reinvesting in short-term securities. They will assess the risks and benefits of these strategies and how they impact fund stability and performance.4. Enhance skills in portfolio management:Students will gain practical experience in portfolio management by examining the fund’s investment decisions, performance metrics and the process of presenting and defending investment proposals. This will involve analyzing the financial and strategic implications of different asset allocations.5. Apply theoretical concepts to real-world scenarios:The case encourages students to apply theoretical concepts such as yield to maturity (YTM) calculation, discounted cash flow analysis, capital asset pricing models and benchmarking against indices to real-world scenarios. This helps bridge the gap between academic principles and practical application in finance.

The case study centered on the Sukkur IBA University in Pakistan, highlighting the challenges faced by its student-managed fund (SMF). From November 2015 to January 2023, the case study offers a comprehensive examination of the fund’s activities in the financial services and higher education domains. Mr Shankar Talreja, the fund manager, contemplating with significant investment losses because of macroeconomic fluctuations, specifically the rising policy rates by the State Bank of Pakistan. These losses challenge the sustainability of the SMF, which serves as a practical learning platform for students. The primary dilemma revolves around whether to continue operating the fund amid consistent losses or to dissolve it, redirecting resources to other educational programs. This case focuses on financial decision-making, risk management and investment strategies, tailored for academic settings.

This case study is intended for use in graduate- and undergraduate-level courses on corporate strategy, investment management and finance. It is appropriate for graduate students who are looking to apply these concepts more deeply as well as undergraduate students who have a strong foundation in finance due to the complexity of the financial concepts involved, such as risk management, portfolio strategy and macroeconomic impacts.

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CSS1: Accounting and Finance.

After completion of the case study, the students will be able to analyze the overall competitive environment for telecom sector in India with the use of Herfindahl–Hirschman index tool, execute the fundamental analysis of Jio Platforms Limited (JPL) company, understand the concept of net neutrality and its implications for India market, understand the concept of “Zero debt company” and its implication for companies and understand data privacy concerns.

In early September of 2020, Ashish Aggarwal, a businessman in the northern state of Punjab, India with his usual habit of turning the pages of newspaper on hand and sipping morning chai got excited while reading newspaper with recent investment of Meta Platforms via Facebook buying 9.99% stake in reliance JPL. He explored and saw the potential for small businesses to invest in this and earn money, as a finance-inclined individual Aggarwal thought why not invest and earn from this opportunity. So he started googling and saw all the reviews of analysts on investment site and investors predicted that the deal could be a game changer that would further transform the existing telecom and social media platforms in India. The deal would further open doors for a new market “JioMart” which could be a futuristic design for a “one-stop-shop for e-commerce, social media consumption, instant messaging, and also digital payments”. Mukesh Ambani’s intentions to make the company zero net debt company within next 18 months fascinated him too. All this made Aggarwal interested in investing in JPL on behalf of his company as this investment option was only for business investors. So he called his financial manager, Mr Anish Mahajan for discussing the issue and both started discussing what could be the future of investment, then he told Mahajan to do the complete analysis. Also, Aggarwal was perplexed about the impact that Meta’s investment in Jio would have on consumers, especially in India. How would the telecom regulatory authority in India view it? Aggarwal felt that how the telecommunication industry would plunge into disruption mode in future. What would be the competitors’ stance in India? Would it trigger other players for strategic alliances? Aggarwal was in a dilemma whether he should invest his money in JPL company or not with controversial discussion on net neutrality and data privacy concern?

This case study is suited to master degree programs.

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CSS 1: Accounting and Finance.

After completion of the case study, the students will be able to understand lead and lag indicators, understand job performance and its linkage with job satisfaction, calculate the cost of turnover and design solutions to the problem of attrition and low satisfaction.

Pace Control Gears was a small-scale enterprise based out of Sonipat, India. It was an entrepreneurial venture by Rajesh Kumar, who had set Pace in 2010 to manufacture low-voltage electrical apparatus. Recently, Pace had begun to experience issues with quality control that were largely the result of human error. The company was facing a drop in satisfaction levels and higher attrition levels among the employees. Kumar had to find a solution quickly to address the problem, as it had direct implications for the company’s margins and the assurance of quality that it was associated with in the market.

This case study is suited to undergraduate and postgraduate courses in human resource management and general management.

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CSS 6: Human Resources Management.

After completion of the case study, the students will be able to assess Paytm’s share buyback in the context of conventional practices, especially for loss-making firms, analyze the influence of initial public offering (IPO) performance on market sentiments and the role of subsequent events in shaping investor confidence, explore the regulatory framework for share buybacks in India and its impact on Paytm’s decision, scrutinize Paytm’s post-IPO financials and evaluate the board’s rationale for the share buyback and examine the factors influencing Paytm shareholders’ decisions amid the buyback, considering market conditions and the company’s outlook.

This case study discusses the unorthodox choice made by Paytm, a leading Indian digital payments and financial services provider, to begin a share repurchase program just one year after its substantial IPO. Paytm encountered difficulties as its stock price experienced a sharp decline of 74% following the IPO, which raised concerns among shareholders and elicited mistrust from analysts. This case study explores the reasoning for the buyback, the legislative framework of share buybacks in India and the diverse viewpoints of analysts regarding the company’s financial strategy. This case study provides not only ample opportunity to discuss ethical issues around managers’ corporate actions but also brings investors a dilemma.

This case study is suited to Master of Business Administration/Master of Science/Bachelor of Business Administration/Bachelor of Science.

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CSS 1: Accounting and Finance.

After completion of the case study, students will be able to learn to conduct the 5Cs (Customers, Collaborators, Capabilities, Competitors, Conditions) and Porter’s five forces analysis for understanding the situation of any company; to understand various demand forecasting techniques with the case example of Kaspians Café; to analyse different factors that influence the demand with the case example of Kaspians Café; and to learn how to choose the best time-series forecasting method based on the available dataset.

This case study focuses on operations strategy, specifically analysing the issues encountered by the Kaspians Café, a food joint establishment located within the Kaspians Institute of Management. Kaspians Café, due to its large student clientele, encountered operational inefficiencies such as inadequate inventory management, stockouts and wastage. These issues resulted in financial losses and customer dissatisfaction. This case study focuses on forecasting the demand for different food items at different times to get a better understanding of the stock to be maintained at Kaspians Café. Furthermore, Shyam Manral, the owner of Kaspians Café, was confronted with the difficulties arising from the surging popularity of neighbouring Dhabas and the escalating impact of food delivery platforms such as Zomato and Swiggy. The formerly prosperous Kaspians Café establishment, known for its uniform offers, was now encountering strong competition from the quaint ambience and varied menus of the Dhabas situated in close proximity to the campus entrance. These conventional establishments not only accommodated the changing preferences of students but also functioned as convenient centres for social meetings. The emergence of Zomato and Swiggy had revolutionised the eating patterns of students by providing a wide range of choices that were conveniently delivered to their residences, thereby diminishing the attractiveness of Kaspians Café. Manral was struggling to revive his business in light of these shifting circumstances. He pondered how to keep consumers loyal in the middle of changing cuisine preferences and the convenience provided by contemporary food delivery services.

This case study can be used in the operations management course at the MBA/postgraduate level.

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CSS 9: Operations and logistics.

This case study offers the following learning opportunities for students: to identify and assess how a management team can establish effective working relationships to build a cohesive team during times of severe crisis and to prepare business for the restoration period; and to find alternative ways aimed at restoring the company’s operations and suggest ways of adapting to the new, normal situation.

This case study examines the strategic decisions of IT-Integrator, a Ukrainian IT company, during the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022. It highlights the leadership of vice president Nadiia Omelchenko in navigating the crisis, focusing on initial chaos, the development of a business continuity plan and efforts to restore operations and ensure employee safety. Despite warnings, the outbreak of war on February 24, 2022, was unexpected, with no established emergency protocols. Companies independently decided on measures for safety and business continuity, especially those critical to infrastructure and banking. In 2021, IT-Integrator faced reluctance within its executive team regarding resource allocation for wartime scenarios. Omelchenko’s push for a comprehensive business continuity plan proved crucial. Despite the plan’s effectiveness, unpreparedness for the crisis’s scale hindered recovery efforts. During the early days of the invasion, Omelchenko managed the dual challenge of safeguarding the business and its employees amid uncertainty and workforce reduction. Each decision had significant implications, requiring a balance between immediate survival and future stability. The case of IT-Integrator underscores the importance of proactive crisis management, strategic planning and resilient leadership. Omelchenko’s experience offers valuable lessons for businesses facing similar crises, emphasizing preparedness, adaptability and a focus on both immediate and long-term recovery.

This case study is suitable for MBA and executive development programs.

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CSS 6: human resource management.