2023

Introduction:

Welcome to the group assignment on Total Quality Management and Ethics. In this assignment, you will work in groups to analyze a story about a company facing challenges related to total quality management and ethical dilemmas. You will be provided with a series of questions that you need to answer based on the facts in the story.

This assignment is designed to help you understand the concepts of total quality management and ethics, and how they apply to real-world business situations. You will work in groups to discuss the questions and come up with comprehensive responses that demonstrate your understanding of the topics.

Guidelines:

Timeframe: The assignment is due by 9 pm, March 13, 2023, which is the end of the class. Late submissions will not be accepted.

Format: Please submit your assignment in Microsoft Word format. PDF files or other formats will not be accepted.

Evaluation: Your grade will be based on clarity, relevance, practicality, and integration of the concepts learned. Please answer all questions in your own words and be sure to fully comply with the academic integrity policy. Plagiarism is strictly prohibited and will result in a grade of zero.

Collaboration: You are encouraged to collaborate with your group members, but each group member must contribute to the assignment. It is important that all group members have a clear understanding of the concepts and are able to explain their responses.

Academic Integrity: Please ensure that your assignment fully complies with the academic integrity policy. Any form of plagiarism will not be tolerated and will result in a grade of zero.

We wish you the best of luck in completing this assignment and hope that you will find it both challenging and rewarding.

Story of Tata, Indias Largest Automobile Manufactuer

Tata Motors, which is India's largest automobile manufacturer, had a long history of innovation, having created the world's cheapest car, the Tata Nano, in 2009, which was designed to meet the transportation needs of millions of people in India.

As Tata Motors expanded their operations globally, they faced many challenges, including the need to maintain their commitment to sustainability while keeping up with the competition. One of the biggest challenges was to reduce carbon emissions from their vehicles, which required significant investments in research and development.

To address this challenge, Tata Motors invested heavily in R&D to develop eco-friendly vehicles that could meet the needs of consumers while also reducing carbon emissions. They launched the Tata Nexon EV, India's first fully electric SUV, in 2020, which is powered by lithium-ion batteries and has a range of over 300 kilometers on a single charge. The company also developed hybrid vehicles, which use both electric and gasoline engines to reduce emissions.

Tata Motors also set up production facilities in countries with better labor standards and environmental regulations to ensure that their operations were sustainable. They opened a manufacturing plant in the United Kingdom, where they produce Jaguar Land Rover vehicles, and they set up a joint venture with Chery Automobile in China to manufacture and sell electric vehicles in the Chinese market.

Despite these efforts, Tata Motors faced criticism from environmental groups and stakeholders for not doing enough to reduce their carbon footprint. They also faced challenges in maintaining the quality of their products while outsourcing production. To address these issues, Tata Motors implemented stringent quality control measures to ensure that their products met the highest standards, and they partnered with local suppliers who could provide them with sustainable raw materials.

Tata Motors also collaborated with government agencies and environmental groups to develop policies and programs that promoted sustainability. They launched the "Journey to Green" initiative in 2016, which aims to reduce the company's carbon footprint by 30% by 2025. They also partnered with the Indian government to promote electric mobility and reduce air pollution in major cities.

Tata Motors' commitment to sustainability helped them gain the trust of their stakeholders and consumers, and they continue to be a leading player in the global automobile industry. Their success shows that it is possible to achieve both economic growth and sustainability, and that businesses have a responsibility to contribute to a sustainable future.

Questions:

1. What were some of the challenges that Tata Motors faced in maintaining the quality of their products while outsourcing production to countries with lower labor costs?

2. How did Tata Motors address the challenge of reducing carbon emissions from their vehicles while maintaining their commitment to sustainability?

3. What are some of the quality control measures that Tata Motors implemented to ensure that their products met the highest standards?

4. How did Tata Motors collaborate with local suppliers and government agencies to promote sustainability and reduce their carbon footprint?

5. What are some of the ethical dilemmas that Tata Motors faced as they expanded their global operations, and how did they balance economic growth with social and environmental responsibility