Case Notes/Answers
BYJU'S In Search of Reviving Reputation among
Stakeholders By Arpita Agnihotri, Saurabh
Bhattacharya
Discussion Questions:
1. Critically analyze if Raveendran’s entrepreneurship offered any benefits to society and BYJU’S.
2. Explain if Raveendran should resign as BYJU’S chief executive officer. What are his alternatives?
3. What could have driven Raveendran to engage in unethical behaviour?
4. How can Raveendran improve BYJU’S reputation among stakeholders?
, W35239
Teaching Note
BYJU’S: IN SEARCH OF REVIVING REPUTATION AMONG
STAKEHOLDERS1
SYNOPSIS
By August 2023, Byju Raveendran, chief executive officer of Think & Learn Private Limited (doing
business as BYJU’S), was facing corporate governance challenges related to financial reporting, ethical
challenges of exploitative sales tactics, and delays in payment to the employees’ pension fund. As a result,
regulatory authorities were scrutinizing the company. BYJU’S valuation, at $21.2 billion in March 2023
and one of the highest in the ed-tech sector globally, declined to $5.1 billion by June 2023. Critics accused
Raveendran of leveraging aggressive growth strategies, resulting in a decline in the company’s performance
and experiencing corporate and ethical challenges. Raveendran was under increasing pressure from
stakeholders and critics to step down from BYJU’S board for the sake of the future of the students in India.
Should Raveendran step down as the chief executive officer? How could he undo the wrongdoing with
stakeholders? What could have driven him to pursue aggressive growth at the cost of ethics and governance?
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
The case deals with challenges faced by an entrepreneur, founder, and chief executive officer who leveraged
aggressive growth tactics to create a big brand name for his start-up. The case discusses how aggressive
growth, especially in the education sector, can deteriorate education quality and result in exploitative
practices for different stakeholders, thus raising reputation and trust issues.
After working through the case and assignment questions, students will be able to accomplish the following
objectives:
• Examine if an entrepreneur creates value for society through aggressive growth measures.
• Understand the reasons why an entrepreneur indulges in unethical behaviour.
• Examine ways of reviving lost reputation among stakeholders.
1
All case facts and case research that are referenced in this teaching note are supported by the sources and information
contained in the associated case document (product No. W35238) unless otherwise specified.
BYJU'S In Search of Reviving Reputation among
Stakeholders By Arpita Agnihotri, Saurabh
Bhattacharya
Discussion Questions:
1. Critically analyze if Raveendran’s entrepreneurship offered any benefits to society and BYJU’S.
2. Explain if Raveendran should resign as BYJU’S chief executive officer. What are his alternatives?
3. What could have driven Raveendran to engage in unethical behaviour?
4. How can Raveendran improve BYJU’S reputation among stakeholders?
, W35239
Teaching Note
BYJU’S: IN SEARCH OF REVIVING REPUTATION AMONG
STAKEHOLDERS1
SYNOPSIS
By August 2023, Byju Raveendran, chief executive officer of Think & Learn Private Limited (doing
business as BYJU’S), was facing corporate governance challenges related to financial reporting, ethical
challenges of exploitative sales tactics, and delays in payment to the employees’ pension fund. As a result,
regulatory authorities were scrutinizing the company. BYJU’S valuation, at $21.2 billion in March 2023
and one of the highest in the ed-tech sector globally, declined to $5.1 billion by June 2023. Critics accused
Raveendran of leveraging aggressive growth strategies, resulting in a decline in the company’s performance
and experiencing corporate and ethical challenges. Raveendran was under increasing pressure from
stakeholders and critics to step down from BYJU’S board for the sake of the future of the students in India.
Should Raveendran step down as the chief executive officer? How could he undo the wrongdoing with
stakeholders? What could have driven him to pursue aggressive growth at the cost of ethics and governance?
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
The case deals with challenges faced by an entrepreneur, founder, and chief executive officer who leveraged
aggressive growth tactics to create a big brand name for his start-up. The case discusses how aggressive
growth, especially in the education sector, can deteriorate education quality and result in exploitative
practices for different stakeholders, thus raising reputation and trust issues.
After working through the case and assignment questions, students will be able to accomplish the following
objectives:
• Examine if an entrepreneur creates value for society through aggressive growth measures.
• Understand the reasons why an entrepreneur indulges in unethical behaviour.
• Examine ways of reviving lost reputation among stakeholders.
1
All case facts and case research that are referenced in this teaching note are supported by the sources and information
contained in the associated case document (product No. W35238) unless otherwise specified.
