Read the given passage and answer the questions that follow: Innovative Textiles Pvt. Ltd., run by two brothers Krishna and Rajan, is a Raipur based Chattisghari Silk Garment export company. It was set up in 2001 by Krishna, who has a deep knowledge of designing and manufacturing silk garments. Rajan joined the company in 2010 after completing his M.B.A. Krishna was responsible for designing and production of the garments and Rajan for sales and liaisoning with the foreign importers. Personnel management, however was jointly looked after by them. Since the inception of the company, Krishna had worked very hard to ensure its growth. He rewarded his committed workers and had even friendly relations with many such workers: However, he was intolerant to any carelessness, demand for salary hike or bonus demand; and would take no time in firing such workers even if they happened to be very expert and committed ones. Rajan, on the contrary, would never befriend his employees but would give them their due. He would attentively listen to their suggestions, demands and even criticism. He believes in setting high goals for his employees and getting them accomplished by rewarding and motivating them. In view of the increasing demand from the importers, Rajan wanted to reemploy many expert weavers fired by Krishna as to increase production and ensure quality, but it was a very tough task to convince Krishna. Though Krishna somehow agreed to take them back, yet he could not digest the move. He would often express his feelings by speaking sarcastically, bumping his hand on table, raising his eyebrows or getting sulk, which gradually made the atmosphere quite tense for the partners as well workers finally resulting in poor production. Rajan starts pondering over whether to continue with Krishna or to part with him, and set up a new company. However, in view of Krishna's expertise in the field of garments as well as his contribution to the company, Rajan decides to take a chance and negotiate a deal with Krishna. Accordingly, both of them decide to have fifty percent share each and Krishna is made in charge of designing and quality control. For production and personnel management they appoint a team of managers led by Vivek, an experienced M.B.A. Rajan confines himself to sales and liaisoning. Krishna feels satisfied with the deal, so does Rajan. The workers, under the leadership of Vivek, start working as a motivated and result oriented team. Why not so, apart from a congenial atmosphere now they have been assured performance cum profit based incentive in addition to their salary.
If you were Krishna, how would you react to your employees' carelessness or salary/bonus hike?
Employee Management: Understanding Krishna's Approach
The passage describes Innovative Textiles Pvt. Ltd., run by brothers Krishna and Rajan. Krishna, one of the co-founders, was initially responsible for designing and production. His approach to personnel management is clearly outlined:
- Krishna was intolerant of any carelessness from workers.
- He did not tolerate demands for salary hikes or bonus demands.
- He would fire such workers immediately, even if they were expert and committed.
This strict and uncompromising style led to a tense atmosphere and eventually poor production, as workers were fired and the company faced challenges.
Addressing Employee Carelessness and Demands
The question asks, "If you were Krishna, how would you react to your employees' carelessness or salary/bonus hike?" This phrasing is crucial. It does not ask how the original Krishna *did* react, but rather how *you*, as a person in his position, *should* react, implying an ideal or improved management approach, especially given the negative consequences of Krishna's past actions described in the passage.
Let's analyze the given options in the context of effective personnel management:
- Option 1: Fire them immediately
This option describes Krishna's actual historical behavior. While this was his past action, it is highlighted in the passage as a reason for the company's issues (tense atmosphere, poor production). An immediate firing without investigation is often detrimental to employee morale and overall company health. - Option 2: Overlook their carelessness and welcome their demands
This approach is overly lenient and irresponsible. Carelessness can harm production and quality, and uncritically accepting all demands without assessing their feasibility or impact on the company is not sustainable management. - Option 3: Take no action
Taking no action on issues like carelessness or unaddressed demands can lead to a decline in discipline, productivity, and employee satisfaction, creating bigger problems in the long run. - Option 4: Take any action after looking into the matter with open mind
This option represents a balanced and professional management approach. It suggests that before taking action on issues like carelessness or demands for salary/bonus hikes, one should:- Look into the matter: This implies investigation, understanding the root cause of carelessness, or the justification behind demands.
- With an open mind: This signifies fairness, willingness to listen to employees' perspectives, considering various factors, and seeking mutually beneficial solutions.
Therefore, if one were in Krishna's position, especially after understanding the pitfalls of his initial rigid approach, the most effective and beneficial reaction would be to adopt a fair, investigative, and open-minded approach to employee issues.
Important Questions from Passage Based Questions
Read the following passage and answer the questions based on it.
As climate change affects seasonal patterns, water management and distribution become important. Rainwater harvesting has become particularly important in urban areas these days. This process involves collecting and storing rainwater for later use. It recovers groundwater levels, prevents water wastage during the monsoon, reduces soil erosion and helps in the availability of drinking water. Above all, it promotes the method of water conservation.
This paragraph supports which of the following statements the most?
A. Climate change has adversely affected humanity.
B. Forests help maintain groundwater levels.
C. Rainwater harvesting is the need of the hour.
D. There are not enough water reserves for urban areas.
In this question, a passage is given followed by a statement. Read the passage carefully and judge the statement based on the given passage.
China evolved a national working strategy to fight pollution. Under this, they placed a number of restrictions on the use of coal. Thermal power stations were shut down and people were not allowed to burn coal even for household consumption. Also, apart from creating norms for vehicular emissions, a number of precautionary measures that could keep air pollution in check were put in place. For the record, 1,37,000 people in China lost their lives because of PM 2.5 vehicular emissions just this year.
While it is true that Beijing’s air quality has improved, the government is far from achieving its targets. The Chinese government has acknowledged that pollution has not reduced to the extent that it was targeting in as many as 231 out of 338 Chinese cities. To overcome this, another three-year working strategy has been prepared.
Statement:
Thermal Power stations were shut down in China to fight pollution.
A - If the statement is definitely true.
B -If the statement is probably true.
C -If the statement cannot be determined.
D -If the statement is definitely false.
In this question, a passage is given followed by a statement. Read the passage carefully and judge the statement based on the given passage.
Farmers in Kerala have been facing great economic loss due to loss in life and reduction in milk yield due to Foot and mouth Disease every year. Besides this the State incurred large economic losses as a result of the inability to produce and ship processed animal products. It was estimated that the country is losing over Rs 4000 Crore annually due to FMD.Under these circumstances Government of Kerala took the stern decision to implement control of this dreaded disease in the State.
Since the State does not have the economic resources to implement such a large scale project on its own, it was decided to approach an external agency such as National Dairy Development Board to provide infrastructural and monetary support.Consequent to a series of discussions at Government level, NDDB agreed in principle to launch a joint venture programme to control Foot and Mouth Disease in the state.
Statement:
The state decide to approach an external agency to implement a large scale project of controlling FMD because the state wanted to give a chance to the external agencies.
Choose the appropriate one from the following options
A - If the statement is definitely true.
B -If the statement is probably true.
C -If the statement cannot be determined.
D -If the statement is definitely false.
In this question, a passage is given followed by a statement. Read the passage carefully and judge the statement based on the given passage.
For Binny Bansal, the end of his long run as co-founder of India’s most successful startup came Saturday when he began calling colleagues to say he was done. The 37-year-old was stunned that officials from Walmart Inc., his startup’s new owner, were probing details of an affair years earlier. An investigation found no evidence of wrongdoing. Nevertheless, a decade after he created e-commerce leader Flipkart, he was calling to say goodbye.
His ouster, announced Tuesday from Walmart’s hometown of Bentonville, Ark., left workers at Flipkart, half a world away in Bangalore, stunned and struggling to make sense of the cryptic explanation. They worried about Walmart’s motivations and wondered if other Flipkart leaders would exit.
Statement:
Flipkart is one of India's most successful startups.
Choose
A - If the statement is definitely true.
B -If the statement is probably true.
C -If the statement cannot be determined
D -If the statement is definitely false.
Which of the following inferences can be drawn from the above excerpt?
