Arjun as a First Time Leader at NetSol Networks

By : Puneet Gandhi, Narendra M Agrawal, Apurva Sanaria

Page No: 191-203

Abstract
This case study follows the journey of Arjun Mishra, a newly promoted assistant manager at NetSol Networks, as he navigates his first leadership assignment. Tasked with training and leading a newly hired team of thirty fresh graduates, Arjun enthusiastically embraces a “friendly” management style in hopes of being a well-liked boss. The case describes how this approach, while fostering initial camaraderie, leads to unintended consequences – lapses in discipline, perceptions of favoritism, and a sudden wave of attrition in his team. As Arjun faces a crisis with one-third of his team quitting within weeks, he must reflect on what went wrong and how to regain trust and stability. The narrative is set against the backdrop of India’s booming networking industry and touches on themes of leadership styles, first-time manager challenges, and the balance between being approachable and being authoritative. The case ends with Arjun at a crossroads, preparing to explain the situation to his own boss and seeking a path forward.

Authors
Puneet Gandhi: Executive-MBA (Part-time) Participant, Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB).
Narendra M Agrawal: Retired Professor and currently Adjunct Faculty, Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB).
Apurva Sanaria: Assistant Professor, Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB).
 

DOI: https//doi.org/10.32381/BJCS.2025.1.2.5