Instructor Resource
Rowe, Cases in Leadership 5e
SAGE Publications, Inc., 2019
Case Notes
Case 14.1: Tata: Leadership with Trust
Professor Oana Branzei wrote this case solely to provide material for class discussion. The
author does not intend to illustrate either effective or ineffective handling of a managerial
Teaching Note
Synopsis
The case illustrates the opportunities, challenges and trade-offs involved in the design, evolution
and institutionalization of corporate social responsibility (CSR) within the Tata Group, an India-
based indigenous multinational enterprise (MNE) with a unique 140-year old commitment to the
community as the key stakeholder of business. Despite the 2008–2009 global recession, the Tata
Group topped the economic value creation charts. In 2008–2009, the Group had grossed
Learning Objectives
• Be able to understand cultural differences between India and other countries
Instructor Resource
Rowe, Cases in Leadership 5e
SAGE Publications, Inc., 2019
Discussion Questions
1. What are the cultural dimensions of India in comparison to your country?
Both Hofstede and the GLOBE assessed culture at the group level. The GLOBE uses bands
to group similar scores which may otherwise give the impression that small differences are
meaningful.
Hofstede’s1 cultural dimension
India
USA
Mexico
France
Japan
Power distance
77
40
81
68
54
Uncertainty avoidance
40
46
82
86
92
Individualism
48
91
30
71
46
Masculinity
56
62
69
43
95
According to Hofstede’s framework, India has higher power distance than the US and lower
levels of individualism.
GLOBE’s2 cultural value dimension
India
USA
Mexico
France
Japan
Performance orientation
B
B
B
C
E
Future orientation
B
B
A
C
B
Gender egalitarianism
B
A
A
B
B
Assertiveness
A
B
B
B
A
In-group collectivism
C
B
B
B
C
Institutional collectivism
B
C
B
B
C
Power distance
C
C
C
C
C
Humane orientation
C
B
C
B
B
1
Hofstede, G. (1980). Culture’s consequences: International differences in work-related values. Beverly Hills, CA:
Sage.
2
House, R. J., Hanges, P. J., Javidan, M., Dorfman, P. W., Gupta, V., & Associates. (2004). Leadership, culture, and
organizations: The GLOBE study of 62 societies. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Instructor Resource
Rowe, Cases in Leadership 5e
SAGE Publications, Inc., 2019
Uncertainty avoidance
B
C
A
C
C
According to GLOBE, people from India are less likely to value gender egalitarianism than
people from the US. People from India are more likely to value assertiveness than people from
2. What are other differences between India and your country?
For students from the US, one of the differences is that India is a developing country whereas
the US is a developed country. The case mentions the lack of a safety net for people in India.
3. How do these differences impact leadership?
There are at least two ways of thinking of this question. One is to assume that you are from India
and you are in a leadership position. The other one is to assume you are not from India but that
you have a leadership position in India.
