Vindhya Steel Limited Case Study Solution

In their effort to bring a new person as Director (Operations), the Managing Director of the company interacted with one of the executive directors of a PSU (Cochin Steels Limited— CSL). Mr. Kalyan Mishra, with whom he had worked earlier, and asked him to join, with complete and independent responsibility for the Allahabad plant. Mr. Mishra was invited to look at the plant. He took a round of the whole plant with the help of the HR chief Col. Kalra and finally confirmed his willingness to loin, without interacting with any senior colleagues of the plant.

Mr. Mishra was a highly competent man with technical skills, who started his career as management trainee in CSL and rose to the position of Executive Director in a span of 30 years. Being a production man, he was familiar with the work culture of steel industry and knew how to get things done by a worker on the shop floor, even sometimes going to the extent of abusing the workers. Therefore, he proved his competency in due course of time.

Mr. Mishra took charge as Director (Operations) in April 1997 and reported to the managing director in corporate office in Delhi. He worked devotedly and planned his activities for three years in collaboration with all the departmental heads and set the target of production of 2.0 MTPA for the current year. Mr. Mishra in order to achieve this, went to the shop floor everyday to supervise how things were being done. Whenever and wherever he found slackness, he even scolded and abused the workers around. At times, even the superiors were treated in the same manner. He gave instructions to the workers even bypassing the hierarchy. He also ensured that whenever there was any breakdown in production, the head of department (HOD) needed to be present to hasten the process of repair and even instructed the shift supervisors in general to immediately inform him in case of any shutdown. With the result, he always reached the spot before the HODs. Consequently, all these efforts led to an increase in production by 30 per cent in just 6 months.

Besides the production activities, Mr. Mishra facilitated the development in and around the plant for environmental management and helped the company bag 150 14001 during this period. He also paved way for the development of township, entertainment club and hospital with all the facilities for the employees and their families. He even started a newsletter to highlight the HRD initiatives taken by the company, and established the training centre and library for the development of workers.

During this period Mr. Mishra felt constrained in operating because whenever he required fund for maintenance and other production requirements, he instructed the Director (Finance) for getting it, but DF never complied with his orders and always went to MD for approval of funds. Similarly Director (Marketing) also did not pay heed to the instructions of Mr. Mishra as all three were reporting to MD directly.
HR chief of the plant Col. Kalra was intending to be the Director (Operations) as he was very close to the promoters and was virtually ruling over the whole system before Mr. Mishra joined the company. Mr. Mishra conducted some of the open house sessions with the technical employees to understand their grievance; he found that there was high dissatisfaction among the employees against HR function of the plant and to be specific, against autocratic attitude of Col. Kalra. Mr. Mishra tried to interfere in HR function to streamline the activities, which Col. Kalra did not like, and he started conspiracy against Mr. Mishra. As a result, the promoters instructed MD to change Col. Kalra’s reporting relationship from Mr. Mishra to MD himself, which gave an indication to the employees that Col. Kalra is powerful enough to change his reporting. Though the employees did not like Col. Kalra, they also did not like the approach and behavior of Mr. Mishra too. This gave an opportunity to Col. Kalra to influence the HODs to complain against Mr. Mishra to promoters. MD also had a tiff with Mr. Mishra on issues of manpower requirement and administration. Taking this advantage Col. Kalra succeeded in changing his reporting from Mr. Mishra to MD.

One fine morning, Mr. Mishra received a letter from promoters in which it was stated that he was being promoted as Advisor to MD in corporate office. After a week-long thought,
Mr. Mishra felt that being a production man for his whole life, it was impossible for him to be in corporate office without having any direct interaction with the plant. He decided to quit and joined another company on a higher position and higher pay package than his present job.

QUESTIONS

1. Was there any mistake in the recruitment and selection process of Mishra?
2. What HR steps should have been taken to avoid the situation?
3. Who benefited from Mr. Mishra’s quitting?
4. Had Cot. Kalra discharged his responsibilities appropriately?
5. Was Mr. Mishra’s departure in the better interest of the company?
6. What role should MD play in this organization?
7. What was wrong in management of this company?

INTRODUCTION:

• Vindhya Steel Limited is the second largest steel manufacturer in private sector in India and the best company in Asia in terms of technology, with the production of 1.2 million tones per annum in March 1997.
• It has 1700 employees.
• The company had earlier hired a number of top executives one by one from the public sector, in a very short span of time for the post of Director(Operations).
• But they were considered as misfit by the company and shown their way.

• Bring a new person as Director (Operations), the Managing Director of the company interacted with one of the executive directors of a (Cochin Steels Limited). Mr. Mishra with whom he had worked earlier, and asked him to join their company with complete and independent responsibility for the Allahabad plant.
• Mr. Mishra was invited to look at the plant.
• He took a round of the whole plant with the help of the HR chief Mr. Kalra.
• After having a round of the whole company Mr. Mishra confirmed his willingness to join the company.

• Mr. Mishra was a highly competent man with technical skills, who started his career as management trainee in CSL and rose to the position of Executive Director in a span of 30 years.
• Being a production man, he was familiar with the work culture of steel industry and knew how to get things done by the workers.
• He wanted that all the workers done their work well and in time.
• Even sometimes going to the extent of abusing the workers or even he uses harsh words with them.
• Therefore, he proved his competency in due course of time.

• Mr. Mishra took charge as Director(Operations) in April 1997 and reported to the managing director in corporate office in Delhi.
• He worked devotedly and planned his activities for three years.
• He set the target of production of 2.0 million for the current year.
• Mr. Mishra in order to achieve this, went to the Production department everyday to supervise how things were being done.
• Whenever and wherever he found slackness, he even scolded and abused the workers around.

• At times, even the superiors were treated in the same manner.
• He gave instructions to the workers even bypassing the hierarchy.
• He also ensured that whenever there was any breakdown in production, the head of departments and shift supervisors to report him immediately.
• He always reached the spot before the HODs.
• Finally these efforts led to an increase in production by 30 per cent in just 6 months.

• Besides the production activities, he also pay attention for the development of entertainment club and hospital with all the facilities for the employees and their families.
• He even started a newsletter to highlight the HRD initiatives taken by the company, and established the training centre and library for the development of workers.
• During this period Mr. Mishra felt constrained in operating because whenever he required fund for maintenance and other production requirements, he instructed the Director (Finance) for getting it, but DF never complied with his orders and always went to MD for approval of funds.
• Similarly Director (Marketing) also did not pay attention to the instructions of Mr. Mishra as all three were reporting to MD directly.

• HR chief of the plant Mr. Kalra was intending to be the Director as he was very close to the promotion and was virtually ruling over the whole system before Mr. Mishra joined the company
• Mr. Mishra conducted some of the open house sessions with the technical employees to understand their problems and issues.
• He found that there was high dissatisfaction among the employees against HR function of the plant and to be specific, against autocratic attitude of Mr. Kalra.
• Mr. Mishra tried to interfere in HR function to the activities, which Mr. Kalra did not like, and he started taking actions against Mr. Mishra.

• As a result, the employees instructed MD to change Kalra’s reporting relationship from Mr. Mishra to MD himself.
• Though the employees did not like Mr. Kalra, they also did not like the approach and behavior of Mr. Mishra too.
• This gave an opportunity to Mr. Kalra to influence the employees and HODs to complain against Mr. Mishra to promoters.
• MD also had a tiff with Mr. Mishra on issues of manpower requirement and administration.

• Taking this advantage Mr. Kalra succeeded in changing his reporting from Mr. Mishra to MD.
• One fine morning, Mr. Mishra received a letter from promoters in which it was stated that he was being promoted as Advisor to MD in corporate office.
• After a week-long thought, Mr. Mishra felt that being a production man for his whole life, it was impossible for him to be in corporate office without having any direct interaction with the plant.
• He decided to quit and joined another company on a higher position and higher pay package than his present job.

Vindhya Steel Limited Case Study Solution – ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

1.Was there any mistake in the recruitment and selection process of Mr. Mishra?

Ans: Yes, there is a mistake in the recruitment and selection of Mr. Mishra because;

• He was selected by the reference of managing director of company.
• As he was selected by the reference so he has not followed the procedure of recruitment and selection.
• He was not able to handle his responsibilities in a good way.
• He try to interfere in work of other’s which other people does not like.
• He use harsh words with employees and he abused employees and supervisors as well.
• There is a dispute among workers and HR chief of the company when Mr. Mishra joined the company.

2.     Had Kalra discharged his responsibilities appropriately?

Ans:   No, Mr Kalra did not perform his responsibilities appropriately because employees are dissatisfied with the HR function of the company performed by Mr.Kalra.

• The attitude of Mr.Kalra was rude and harsh with the employees.
• He just wanted to be promoted at a higher position.
• He has no worries about the performance of the future of the company.

3. Who benefited from Mr. Mishra’s quitting?

Ans:   Mr. kalra was benefited from the quitting of Mr. Mishra because;

• He was the HR chief of the company.
• Mr.Kalra was intending to be the Director as he was very close to the promoters and was virtually ruling over the whole system before Mr. Mishra joined the company.

4. Was Mr.Mishra’s departure in the better interest

Of the company?

Ans:   Yes, Mr.Mishra’s departure was in the better interest of the company because his behavior was not good with employees and even with supervisors as well. He used to abuse workers and supervisors when there is any breakdown in the production. People did not like the approach and behavior of Mr. Mishra. He also interfere in the work of others which other did not like. Workers and supervisors make groups to report against Mr. Mishra. So his departure is better for the company.

5. What role should M.D play in this organization?

Ans: Roles of Managing Director;

• The Managing Director leads the company and develops the corporate culture for the organization.
• The Managing Director needs to manage every thing.
• This includes the staff , the customers, the budget, the company assets and all other company resources to make the best use of them and increase the company profitability.
• The role of Managing Director is to design develop and implement the strategic plan for the company .
• The Managing Director is responsible for both the day to day running of the company and developing business plans for the long term future of the company.

6. What was wrong in management of this company?

Ans:   There was mismanagement in the company because;

• No one is performing his duties and responsibilities properly.
• Everyone was wanted to be promoted to the higher post.
• There was no coordination between them.
• The Managing Director have no direct control on the organization.