Learning outcomes The learning outcomes are as follows: decision-making in the areas of business plan, business strategy, financial management, profit planning and marketing, learning from outer business environment, succession planning for first-generation entrepreneur and choosing appropriate source of financing and drivers for diversification. Case overview/synopsis Immersed in sipping green tea in his capacious office lounge, the octogenarian Arjun Mehta introspected on the trials and tribulations of his journey as an entrepreneur, the voyage which started four decades ago. From 1976 to 2018, the business has now traversed three generations. Starting with Spice Mart (Sole Proprietor) to Hindware and Lament Construction (partnership firms) to Starlite Homes Pvt. Ltd. (corporate entity), Mr Mehta witnessed transformation and restructuring in organization with every new generation which characterized the evolution of family business. Handholding children to take up the reins of Spice Mart was not a calculated choice. Yet it is remarkable to study the growth in organizational structure of the regional family business. As a self-made entrepreneur, morals, ethics and value system are vital ingredients steering the organic growth story. Third-generation Mehta’s are enterprising, aspiring and visionary. With the incorporation of a corporate entity, they convinced themselves to bring inorganic growth in their business. Arjun Mehta gleamed with pride as Spice Mart partakes an organized structure which had lost prominence with the second-generation entrepreneurs. But he is equally hammered with juxtaposed thoughts. He contemplates whether the integration of retail business with real estate corroborates sustainable innovation. Will independent businesses create the brand’s footprints perpetually? Should the millennial confine business natively or should they grow internationally and become a conglomerate? Complexity academic level The case can be exclusively taught to masters and executive education class of students pursuing entrepreneurship and business management courses. The case will supplement understanding of theories of entrepreneurship and dimensions of family businesses in emerging economies. Supplementary materials Teaching Notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email support@emeraldinsight.com to request teaching notes. Subject code CSS 3: Entrepreneurship.
Facebook has voyaged a significant distance since its launch in 2004 as a web-based social media connector.* What initially started off as a way to socially associate people at an individual level has in its journey become a platform for doing business easily. It is currently a huge ring to associate and network across the globe. Sonia Konjeti Agarwal has weaved a comparable success story utilizing Facebook. Her story, like that of Facebook, started with a motive to socially connect people of a geographical area. She created a Facebook group for women in Pune and christened it PULA (Pune Ladies Association), which has now become a vibrant business platform. Research Questions: i. Social entrepreneurs are change agents. In the context of social entrepreneurship which is most important: initiation of an idea, transmission of idea or creating a sustainable impact? ii. Social media is a powerful tool for networking. How did PULA strategically leverage social media for real time interactions and entrepreneurial ventures? Link to Theory: This case draws linkage to Social Cognitive Theory. Social Cognitive theory depicts bidirectional character of causation where behavior, cognitive, emotional factors and environment persistently and jointly persuade each other. Role of the protagonist in creating an exciting platform for indigenous entrepreneurs through the path of social entrepreneurship is linked here. Phenomenon Studied: Social entrepreneurship is a promising field with diverse interpretations. As a social entrepreneur, Sonia’s efforts are directed towards strengthening the identity of indigenous entrepreneurs. She initiated small venture creations within social network. Growth of indigenous entrepreneurs ignites self dependency and magnetizes new investments. Success of the virtual community to hone entrepreneurial skills is studied. Case context - As a social entrepreneur, the protagonist used Facebook to create virtual community of indigenous (women) entrepreneurs. PULA enhanced visibility, reach, network and prominence of indigenous entrepreneurs at low cost. Opportunity to interact with buyers directly expanded vendor registration in the group. It also created level playing field for first generation entrepreneurs. Findings: This case depicts pragmatism of the social entrepreneur. PULA unified the virtual community and resources fostering entrepreneurship. This virtual community signifies uniqueness of domain, novel practices and policies. PULA was initially constituted for social networking. Gradually members discovered business opportunities. Efficacy of social media for virtual engagement and small venture creation resulted in financial independence for women. Status of women transitioned to indigenous entrepreneur from homemaker. Growth of indigenous entrepreneurs being contagious, a wave of first generation entrepreneurs was born. Discussions: PULA encouraged individuals hitherto in the veil of self imposed life situations to become entrepreneurs. Sonia was zealous about empowering women, to create opportunities for them to succeed and advance in lives. As a social influencer her actions are directed towards social well being. Her primary objective is to leverage the trust shown by two hundred forty-five thousand plus members and six thousand five hundred plus verified sellers. Non existence of tangible and quantifiable metrics for measuring the performance of the social entrepreneur creates a challenge. Sonia is exploring new social media engagement strategies for creating a sustainable virtual community.
PurposeThe protagonist of the case is Mr. Prasad Dhumal. Prasad is technically gifted and is considered a subject expert in his line. Prasad exhibits all entrepreneurial traits like high energy, positive and a never say die attitude, technical expertise, etc. In a short career span, Prasad has already been instrumental in opening at least 7 different ventures and is now planning the 8th one and hence the name of the case. None of the ventures have survived. This is a classic case of differences between entrepreneurial qualities and managerial qualities, required for the success of a small business.Design/methodology/approachThe case is ideal for students of management. The focus areas are Career Management and Entrepreneurship. It also discusses the failure of a business unit from a societal and family perspective rather than simply a financial one. The case is also good to impress upon the audience the distinction between entrepreneurial skills and managerial skills. The focus that the protagonist shows in starting multiple ventures is also a good indicator of objective-driven and clear Career Management, but the lack of the identified skill set to run a business.FindingsThe case brings about the clear distinctions between entrepreneurial qualities and managerial qualities. Career Management has three objectives, expression of the self as a person through the activities one does (job/entrepreneurship) and personal fulfilment, to have an effective work-life balance so that the workplace does not become simply a chore and finally financial security which is also expressed as a reward for something one does or contributes. Even a well-defined career management plan may at times, not yield the desired results.Research limitations/implicationsThis is an attempt at a case-based approach highlighting how entrepreneurial zeal and drive may not result in a success of a business venture. Further, the case highlights the serious financial and social isolation that the protagonists faced due to his business failures. The basic learnings from the case are as follows: (1) Start-ups go through phase after establishment; (2) The skill set used to start a venture and sustain it are different and (3) The venture has to survive in a business environment on its merits.Practical implicationsIt is a good source material for students of entrepreneurship to understand that sound entrepreneurial qualities may not ensure business success. Businesses may require a blend of managerial, strategic and entrepreneurial qualities to help them navigate through the business environment.Social implicationsAlthough a lot has been written about entrepreneurship, the social implications of a business failure and the impact on the entrepreneurs, his family and his loved ones forms the crux of the case. Financial losses result in social isolation for the protagonist. The humiliation and isolation associated with a business loss and its serious impact on friends and family also is highlighted in the case.Originality/valueThe case is factual and describes the exact entrepreneurial journey of Prasad.
COVID 19 pandemic has thrown up bitter colors when India witnessed the large scale gory sage of reverse internal migration of unorganized workforce. As compared to intercontinental migration the degree of internal migration is twice. Displacement, lockdowns, loss of employment, starvation and social distancing provoked a frenzied course of mass return for internal migrants in India and other parts of the world. In India there is a peculiar trend of unorganized workforce migration. Out of 29 states and 7 union territories, few states dominate where migrants flock for seeking livelihood. The fleeing of migrants to their inherent origin has weakened the economic activities towards slowdown in the economic growth. This thematic review paper discusses the problems of the internal migrants and their state during and post lockdown announcements in India. The data included extracts of articles, opinions and reviews for which codes were recognized which lead to formulation of research themes. The review also highlights government interventions in addressing the challenges confronted by the internal migrants with social security. This study proposes an arrangement as migrant exchange at state level for efficient policy formulation and accomplishment of social security standards.
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