By engaging with this case, students will:
1. Understand the role of HR Analytics in workforce planning and decision-making.
2. Evaluate the ethical and strategic implications of data-driven HR decisions.
3. Analyze the balance between quantitative data and qualitative human factors in talent management.
4. Apply business intelligence tools (e.g. Power BI) to real-world HR challenges.
5. Develop critical thinking in handling workforce restructuring in an economic downturn.
This case study explores the challenges, ethical dilemmas and strategic implications of HR Analytics at Lotus Tech Solutions, a mid-sized IT firm headquartered in Bangalore, India. Co-founded by Ram Kumar and Rahul Sharma, the company has grown steadily over the years, fostering a strong employee-centric culture. However, an economic downturn has forced the leadership team to reevaluate their workforce strategy, making data-driven decisions on promotions, retention and retrenchments inevitable. At the center of the case is Ram Kumar, the CEO, who faces a complex decision-making dilemma. Recent HR Analytics reports, generated through Power BI dashboards, have flagged seven employees for promotion based on exceptional performance metrics, while identifying 79 employees for potential retrenchment due to persistently low productivity and engagement scores. While the data presents a seemingly straightforward course of action, Ram understands that raw numbers do not capture the full picture – factors such as employee potential, mentorship, morale and institutional knowledge remain crucial but difficult to quantify.
This case is designed for:
• Course: MBA courses in Human Resource Management, Business Analytics, Organizational Behavior and Leadership.
• Level: Postgraduate (MBA, Executive MBA or Senior Undergraduate HRM courses).
• When used: Ideal for use after introducing concepts of HR Analytics, workforce planning and ethical decision-making in HRM.
Teaching notes are available for educators only.
CSS 6: Human Resource Management.
