THE PARABLE OF THE SADHU

Abhijeet Dash UM14001

Abinash Mallick UM14004

Debananda Patra UM14022

Krishna Kumari Sahoo UM14029

Rajendra Kumar Biswal UM14043

Group – 1, Section – A

MBA – I, (2014-16)

THE BACKGROUND STORY

Based on a real life incident that happened with Bowen H. McCoy, MD of

Morgan Stanley during a trekking trip to Nepal while on a six month sabbatical

program.

Destination – Village of Muklinath, through a mountain pass at 18,000 feet.

Accompanied by-

• His friend Stephen, an anthropologist

• A couple of porters with Sherpa Sardar, Pasang

• A team of four New Zealander backpackers

• Two Swiss Couples

• A Japanese hiking club

ENCOUNTER WITH SADHU

One of the New Zealander found an Indian Sadhu

The Sadhu was shivering & suffering from Hypothermia

Each of them contributed to help the Sadhu recover.

However, nobody took complete responsibility for the Sadhu’s

well being and passed on the responsibility to the other.

Ultimately the Sadhu was left 500 feet from a hut after being

shown an easy path to it with him throwing stones at dogs as a sign

of his recovery.

STEPHEN’S ARGUMENTS

No one was willing to take the ultimate responsibility for the Sadhu and only did

their bit till it was convenient for them.

He ponders about how different the action would have been, had the naked

Sadhu been a person of interest to any of the groups like been a well dressed Nepali

for the ‘Sherpas’ or a well dressed Asian for the Japanese or a Western Woman for the

author.”

Even though he wanted to help the Sadhu to full recovery, he himself was

suffering from altitude sickness and didn’t have the support of the rest.

He argues this situation to be a typical Westerner’s response to a problem by

throwing money and not solving the fundamental problem.

MCCOY’S INITIAL VIEWS

At first, McCoy was defensive to Stephen’s arguments.

He tried to justify his actions by stating that –

• He was under physical stress and has been a past victim of acute sickness at higher altitudes

• The successful completion of the trek was a “once in a lifetime opportunity”, which was his superordinate goal.

But in the later part of the text, he describes his realization on how they had ‘walked by an ethical dilemma without appropriate action’.

ETHICAL DILEMMA

The author’s view of the ethical dilemma he and the group had faced

can be analyzed through the following dimensions –

Individual Ethics Vs Group Ethics

Applicability of Rule based Ethical Theory

Implementing Ethics in Corporate World

INDIVIDUAL VS GROUP

Every person did only their bit for the Sadhu and did not see the

completion of their individual responsibilities based on their own values.

There was no clear demarcation between individual and collective

responsibility which was further clouded by the stress.

There was no group consensus with no leader to identify with in that cross

cultural group to tell people what was morally right in that situation.

Although Stephen had a sense of it, he couldn’t proceed due to the lack of

the team’s support.

APPLICABILITY OF RULE

BASED THEORIES

Deontology

Teleology - Utilitarianism

DEONTOLOGICAL

ANALYSIS

कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते र्ा फलेषु कदाचन।र्ा कर्मफलहेतुर्भमर्ाम ते सङ्गोऽस््वकर्मणि॥

This theory focuses on performing the duty without worrying

about the results however satisfactory or unsatisfactory it may be.

Stephen exemplified this behaviour where he wanted to help the

poor Sadhu without even thinking that his actions would result in

abandonment of his trekking expedition.

TELEOLOGICAL

(UTILITARIAN) ANALYSIS

The ends drive the means.

The supporters of this theory believe their actions should be such that

would result in maximum utility or good.

The author McCoy along with the rest of the trekking troop can be

considered Utilitarian.

They decided to help the Sadhu but only up to the limit which did not result

in abandonment of the expedition which would haven’t been a favorable result.

VIRTUE THEORY

Virtue theory is the approach to ethics based on one’s moral values rather

than duties or consequences.

The case talks of handling ethical dilemmas through shared values and

interests of the community.

The virtues should be decided as per the purpose of the community or

business.

In the case of the Sadhu, had the group relied on their virtues and moral

values of helping the poor man survive and recover, they could have achieved a

consensus in their decision.

ANALOGY WITH THE

CORPORATE WORLD

The author presents a perfect analogy of the Sadhu situation with the corporate dilemmas.

Employees usually work within the purview of their duties and responsibilities.

In situations of stress and dilemma, without a common value system to bind them they

act in their own interest.

• E.g. – During takeovers, without a strong culture, the executives bail themselves out

supported by their golden parachutes.

People focusing on their individual values, often face situation where they become

indecisive trying to figure out what to do, and thus the entire organization is at a loss.

ETHICS IN WORKPLACE

Organizations should be driven by their common values aligned

with the corporate vision creating a value system for all to follow.

An effective leader should exist to understand and interpret the

common value system for all employees to follow and tackle ethical

dilemmas through their moral values in the interest of all the stake

holders.

COMING BACK TO THE STORY

Rule base theories can distinguish only between actions that are

morally permissible or justifiable and actions that are not.

The story try to throw light on actions those that are merely

justifiable and those that are actually praiseworthy.

The Sadhu parable brings into relief our notions, about the

different moral characters of persons, rather than our justifications

of the moral worth of actions.

McCoy regrets, not that he and other group members acted impermissibly, but that

they acted merely permissibly.

That they acted only as anyone would be expected to act, and not as a good person

would be expected to act.

McCoy and his fellow hikers were given one of life’s rare opportunities to be

heroes, and they let it pass unmet.

The hikers’ actions, then, were blameworthy, because they were merely justifiable in

a situation which actually called for heroism and sacrifice.

COMING BACK TO THE STORY

LESSONS OF THE SADHU

A corporate tradition should encourage freedom of inquiry,

support personal values, and reinforce a focused sense of direction.

There is need to combine individuality with the prosperity and

success of the group.

Without such corporate support, the individual is lost

In a complex business situation, the individual requires & deserves

the support of the group.

LESSONS OF THE SADHU

If such support is provided, a person has a stake in the success of

the group

It will also direct & focus each member of the team & benefit the

group as a whole.

Management’s challenge is to be sensitive to individual needs, to

shape them, and to direct and focus them for the benefit of the group

as a whole.

THANK YOU