Balancing academics and social responsibility: an educational institute’s approach to grooming business leaders

Learning outcomes After completion of the case study, the students will be able to evaluate transformational and authentic leadership in organizational contexts; apply shared value theory to analyse how organizations in emerging markets can drive societal development while fuelling organizational growth; apply institutional theory and the resource-based view to analyse organizational practices; and develop strategic recommendations for navigating conflicts between various stakeholder priorities using stakeholder theory. Case overview/synopsis Following the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, Seema Saini, the chief executive officer of N.L. Dalmia Institute of Management Studies and Research in India faced a profound challenge. The Institute’s deeply ingrained commitment to corporate social responsibility (CSR), a foundational pillar in its mission to cultivate ethically conscious and socially responsible business leaders, was facing an unexpected headwind. A growing and increasingly vocal segment of the student body, grappling with the anxieties of a fiercely competitive and rapidly evolving job market, began questioning the mandatory nature and perceived direct relevance of their involvement in the Institute’s CSR initiatives. Saini’s decision would shape student engagement in the Institute’s CSR activities. She had to balance the Institute’s enduring values with the shifting expectations of its primary stakeholders – the students. This scenario presents a compelling case for evaluating how transformational leaders develop strategic resources, shape organizational culture and navigate the complex interplay between deeply held organizational values and the pragmatic demands of a dynamic environment grappling with both economic imperatives and pressing social needs. Complexity academic level This case study can serve as a teaching tool for CSR, business ethics, strategic management and leadership modules across undergraduate, graduate and executive management programs. Supplementary materials Teaching notes are available for educators only. Subject code CCS7: Management Science.