CASE STUDY

SHARMA ASSAULTS MAHTO

FACTS OF THE CASE
1. Bharat steels were a large sector undertaking having 40000 employees.
2. Its Fabricated shop fabricated structures and repaired various equipments.
3. This shop was headed by the Deputy Works Manager, who reported to Works
Manager, who in turn report to General Manager.
4. Sharma joined the organization and headed by the supervisor.
5. Sharma was sincere, well behaved and dedicate soon he become one of the best
workers in the shop.
6. After sometime he loses interest in the job and then starting fighting with his fellow
workers.
7. M a h t o , S u p e r v i s o r o f S h a r m a ' s s h i f t , r e p o r t e d a g a i n s t h i m t o t h e I
D e p u t y Wor k s M a n a g e r. Mahto complained that most of the time Sharma was
not available at his work place, and even when he was available he was found
gossiping with other workers.
8. The Deputy Works Manager orally warned Sharma and told him to improve hids
performance otherwise suitable action would be taken against him.
9. On June 18, Sharma and Mahto were in the morning shift (6 a.m. to 2
p.m.). At 12:30 p.m. Mahto left the shop and went to the Administration Building,
which was outside the p l a n t p r e m i s e s t o e n q u i r e a b o u t a f i l e .
10. At 12:40 p.m. Mahto was assaulted and manhandled
road j u s t o u t s i d e t h e m a i n g a t e . M a h t o w a s

taken to the

on

the

hospital

by some workers.
11. M a h t o lodged a complaint that Sharma had assaulted him.
12. Sharma was subsequently charge-sheeted by the Deputy Works Manager for
misconduct and the charge-sheet said "On June 18 at 12:45 p.m. you assaulted Mahto
on the road outside the main gate while he was going out of the plant. During the
previous week he had reported about your lack of interest in work and frequent
absence from work place without permission. Instead of improving your performance,
you assaulted him, apparently because he had complained against you."2. "You
were absent from your duty without permission between 12 :30 p.m.

13. Deputy Works Manager had certain malice against him as he had not
obliged him by manufacturing and supplying a cup board for his household
use. The manager had concocted the case to victimize him. Moreover, he
claimed that he and Mahto were present on their duty up to 1:45 p.m.
Hence, the question of his assaulting Mahto did not arise. He further stated
that he was on good terms with Mahto.
14. The committee held Sharma guilty of the misconducts mentioned in the charge-sheet.

ISSUES OF THE CASE

1. In this case the main problem is with the person Sharma who is working in the shop
and not finding his job interesting.
2. Also when other employees get disturbed with his attitude a conflict between
supervisor and Sharma arises.
3. Mahto assaulted by Sharma as given and proved in the case but Sharma didnt find
himself victim.

SOLUTION TO THE GIVEN PROBLEM

Q1. Identify the problem in the case?
Ans. The several problems in this case are :
The problem in the case is that the Sharma is not able to do work with his full interest.
Behaviour of one employee can effect the whole organization.
Also in this case conflict and relationship between the superior and the subordinate is not
that much strong as it could be in the organization.
The case of assault of Mahota on Sharma create disturbance in the organization.
Q2. How do you see the act of Sharma? Critically evaluate with reference to his reply
to the enquiry committee.
Ans.The act of Sharma is quite indifferent as in starting he is happy with the job but after
sometime he is not enjoying his work and feel bored and he is getting irritated and frustrated

from his routine so he started quarreling with his fellow ones which creates disturbance in the
whole organization.
Also in consideration to his reply for the charge sheet he is lieing in all perspectives are as
follows: First of all he is not present at the duty i.e. without permission when Mahto is going out
for some work.
He is lieing about the that Mahto is present during the shift but he is found at the gate and
taken to the Hospital by the other workers.
He is also lieing about the that he had good terms with Mahto.
He is feeling bad and frustrated because Mahto complained about him.

Q3. How would you tackle the problem to avoid recurrence of such incidents, if you were the
Works Manager?
Ans.In my opinion the best possible solution is:a) Job Rotation- with the help of this the boredom level of employee decreases and he is
able to enjoy his work so that no conflict arises in the organization.
b) Organizational Culture- organizational culture should be like this if any employee feels
bad and indifferent something is happening to him he can easily share with his supervisor
and discuss and make out a solution. The chain between the different levels must be like
if the employee facing any problem he can easily share with them.

Q4. Do you see any role of organizational climate as a factor? Comment.

Ans.Yes, I can see the role of Organizational climate like Sharma is facing the problem of
boredom and indifferent with his work hw wants to learn something new but the culture doesnt
allow him also he might be not able to share his thoughts values, beliefs to the supervisor thats
why he is taken the step of assaulting the supervisor because no one is able to understand him.

KEY LEARNINGS FROM THE CASE