Types:

Scenario Details
Business Relates to business decisions:
expansion,
HR Relates to people. Dealing with
argument/issue in formal setting
Conflict Resolution Relates to people. Dealing with
argument/issue in a
formal/informal area
Ethical Relates to ethical issues in a
broad area

Sketch out
T-Map equation with
who-else
WHO ELSE
WHO (MAIN CHARACTER) WHAT
 Designation  What
 Age/Experience  What Else
 Designation and
Hierarchy
 Potential
impact/Damage
potential
 Behavioural trait

Process:
1. The who (Stakeholder identification)/who else
2. The what (problem/issue/argument/step-up)/what else
3. The why/why else
4. The way forward:
a. Is it Legal
b. Ethical
 c. Timeline
d. Maximise/Minimise
e. Acceptable to relevant stakeholders
5. Process of elimination
6. Arrival at best answer

Basic Rules:
1. Stick to facts/case boundaries
2. Avoid bias
3. Direct right question towards the right answer
4. If in doubt chose the lesser evil
5. Predetermined does not change, case to case yardstick may
change

Options Check
 Match macro to macro and micro to micro.
 Ensure a tonal match
 Look for adverb
 Avoid apple to orange comparison
 Broaden your horizon, then whittle it down. Select the ideal
else go according to the order of preference.
 Avoid passing the buck and deflecting/ignoring the situation
 In certain cases, better to include primary and secondary
reason. When you go to war, go all out. If going justify all the
weaponry required (primary, secondary, tertiary) or include the
fallout/link of the primary, then it should include both.

 Decision Scale Action Scale
Ethical Proactive (Going
Legal the extra mile)
Pragmatic/Practical Active (Bare
Impact Potential minimum)
Maximum Benefit Passive
Limbo (No change Inactive (Doing
in quo) nothing)
Disproportionate Blind Faith (towing
Solves, but creates the line, following
new problem orders without
Solves but violates application of
the timeline mind)
Compounds Role to action
mismatch

Question Stem Area of focus

Is it asking an ethical question Ethics main stakeholder
Is it focusing on profitability Profitability main stakeholder
Is it harping on urgency Time main stakeholder
Is it about convenience Ease main stakeholder
Is it about conviction Time/Values/Morals and strong
body of tangible achievement
main stakeholder
Word List
Word Connotation Area
Urgency Positive Business
Moral Positive Ethical/HR
Reactive (+)/ (-) Positive/Negative Business/HR/Conflict
Timeline Neutral Business/HR/Conflict
Extreme Negative Business/HR/Ethic/
Conflict
Too futuristic Negative Business
Too hasty Negative Business/HR/Conflict
Macro Neutral Business
Micro Neutral Business
Regressive Negative HR/Conflict/Business
Back to square Negative HR/Conflict/Business
Bad to worse Negative Business/HR/Ethic/
Conflict
Proactive Positive Business
Thoughtless Negative Business/HR/Ethic/
Conflict
Inactive Negative Business/HR/Ethic/
Conflict
Relevant Positive Business/HR/Ethic/
Conflict
Negative Loop Negative Business/HR/Ethic/
Conflict
Passive Negative Business/HR/Ethic/
Conflict
Legal Neutral Business/HR/Ethic/
Conflict
Impactful Positive Business/HR/Ethic/
Conflict
Utilitarian Positive Business/HR/Ethic/
Conflict
Ego trip Negative HR/Conflict
Fresh Problem Negative Business/HR/Ethic/
Conflict
Aggressive Negative Business/HR/Ethic/
Conflict
Assertive Positive Business/HR/Ethic/
Conflict
Generalisation Negative Business/HR/Ethic/
Conflict
Cost effective Positive Business
Protocol Positive Business/HR

Cardinal Rules:
1. In every question, you will play a character
a. Make sure that the character’s objectives are fulfilled
b. If grander parameters can be met while fulfilling the main
objectives, then that is the preferred option
c. Try to incorporate other people’s view/objectives. In case
of conflict, your own (character’s) objectives take
precedence
2. There will be copious amount of text. Pay careful attention to
the smallest of details.
3. One has to make certain assumptions and not make
assumptions at the same time.
4. Personal code may vary with the code of the paper setter. Best
path may vary, hence accept.
Certain Maxims:
1. Ethics vs Morals
a. Moral is at personal level, while ethics is at a
group/societal level.

2. Principles of Natural Justice

a. Audi Alteram Partem: Every party has the right to be
heard before any decision is made.
b. Nemo Judex in Casa Sua: No one should be a judge in
their own cause, absence of bias is essential
c. Notice of Charges: All affected parties must receive prior
and adequate notice of allegation, evidence and hearing.
d. Right to present evidence: Every party must be allowed to
submit documents, witness and arguments
e. Right to cross examine: Every party must have the right to
cross examine/challenge adverse witness/evidence
f. Right to legal representative: Every party must have right
to legal representation
g. Decision based on evidence: Verdicts must solely rely on
materials provided during the evidence
h. Opportunity to rebut adverse material: No one should
judge on evidence that they had no chance to contest
i. Reasoned decision: Every decision made must be properly
explained.
j. No undue delay: Proceedings must be timely with no
undue delay
k. Right to appeal or review: Parties must have access to
mechanism challenging decisions
l. Transparency: The entire process must be fair, open and
understandable.
[Link] of innocence: Innocent until proven guilty
n. An accusation is not proof of guilt: Allegations cannot
justify punitive action
 o. Right to face accuser: In most cases, accused must have
right to confront the compliant, except in certain sensitive
cases
p. Conflict interest must be avoided: Any decision maker
with personal interest must recuse
q. Standing: Only those directly affected should participate
in the process
r. Apology not admission of guilt: An apology cannot be
automatically treated as proof of wrong doing
s. Impartial conduct of proceeding: Process must be
unbiased, fair and free from prejudgement.

3. Conflict of interest at work

a. Hiring an unqualified relative to provide services to the
company
b. Starting a company that provides similar services to that
of the employer
c. Failing to disclose relationship with the job candidate
while hiring
d. Making arrangement to work for a vendor/client at a
future date while continuing to business with them
e. Posting on social media about the company’s weakness
f. Offering paid services on time off to the
vendor/client/competitor
g. Working part-time with a competitor
h. Accepting payment from competitor for insider
information
i. Failing to investigate a subordinate owing to friendship
with them.
j. Sharing confidential information to the competitor
k. Failing to disclose relationship with subordinate or
superior to HR
 l. Making a purchase/business choice to boost your existing
business
m. Accepting a favour/gift from a client/vendor over and
above existing renumeration
n. Owing part/whole company that has a relationship with
the company
o. Reporting to a supervisor who is a close friend/relative
p. Doing work for a competitor
q. Accepting consulting fee and providing advice to another
company for personal gain
r. Sharing information about your company of your
employer’s activities/plan
s. Taking advantage of confidential information on the job
t. Cashing in a business opportunity that the company might
have pursued.

4. To influence someone is acceptable, but forcing them to do

something is not acceptable, especially in situation where there
is a power imbalance.
a. Downward communication has to be perfectly worded
and ensure no liability arises

5. Keep track of timeline in questions

a. Solution alternatives may vary of timeline
b. Some may seek immediate, while others long term
c. Pay attention to the requirement of question (urgency vs
effectiveness)
d. Questions may also rank them in ascending or descending
order of immediacy
e. In these cases, make your own proxy/shadow answer and
then check with options.
6. Fruits of a poisoned tree
a. Fruit of the poisonous tree is a legal metaphor used to
describe evidence that is obtained illegally
b. The logic of the terminology is that if the source (the
"tree") of the evidence or evidence itself is tainted, then
anything gained (the "fruit") from it is tainted as well.
c. Exceptions:
i. It was discovered in part as a result of an
independent, untainted source.
ii. Inevitable discovery
iii. The chain of causation between the illegal action
and the tainted evidence is too attenuated.
iv. The search warrant was not found to be valid based
on probable cause but was executed by government
agents in good faith

7. Unless absolutely necessary, a policy should not be changed

and other avenues must be looked. If no other choice is left,
then it is essential to clarify the scope i.e. one time or a
precedent cleanly.

8. If there is a problem an action must be taken, maintain status

quo is strict no
a. If you are in charge and have adequate certainty and
knowledge about the problem, option that takes action is
better
b. Options like “making a committee” or “investigate
further” is not preferred unless a part of a collection of
action
c. Make sure that the action is directly affecting the problem
and is not ancillary or adjacent to the central issue
9. For moral judgement, never take in isolation. Always compare
between the choices.
 a. Intent vs commitment is the key between comparing two
good/bad activities
b. Every good and bad action can be ranked in the order of
goodness or evil

10. Group Accountability

a. On a team, accountability means the team follows
through on its commitment, finishes project on time and
meets its goal
b. Team accountability requires individual accountability for
their own piece too both for long term and short term
c. Members are expected to take ownership of their work,
communicate openly and complete tasks on a timely
manner.
d. Negative connation include stress, fear, anxiety,
disciplinary measures.
e. If things do go south, everyone suffers. No one can take
the lifeboat

11. Whistleblowing
a. Sits at intersection of ethics and controversy. Ethically it
promotes transparency, however it raises concerns as it
can breach confidentiality agreements, compromise
security and harm bystanders.
b. It is a courageous act that balances moral duty with
safeguarding truth and societal responsibility.
c. Legally non-reporting of crime even if covered under NDA
is crim

12. Fear a motivator

a. Fear to an extent is an excellent motivator, when it
reduced overtime and structure are put in place and
dependency on individuals is minimised.
13. Free speech
a. Moderating free speech poses risks to democratic
procedures.
b. Open discourse while controversial, fosters critical
thinking and awareness. Instead of moderation critical
thinking and media literacy is better.
c. For misleading/controversial speeches, reigning in
mechanism has to be established.

14. Change management

a. Identify the need for change
b. Define the change clearly
c. Conduct an impact analysis
d. Analyse and engage stakeholders
e. Develop a structured change management plan
f. Communicate change effectively
g. Build leadership and sponsorship support
h. Prepare and train employees
i. Manage resistance and concern
j. Monitor progress and concerns
k. Reinforce and sustain change
l. Evaluate result and refine as needed
15. Other ideas
a. Caveat emptor
b. Chain of command
c. Lobbying being legal
d. Moral good vs practical application
e. Labor practices of loved companies
f. Legal but grey zone
g. Banning of dogmatic practices tolerant?
h. Blurred lines of copyright
i. Online bullying
j. Cloning