Managing Workplace Flexibility: Lessons from a Real-World Case Study | Prof. Jyotsna Bhatnagar

In this episode, Prof. Jyotsna Bhatnagar will share profound insights from her case study, “One Employee Went Freelance. Now Everyone Wants the Same Deal,” published in Harvard Business Review. Blackbird, a Delhi-based advertising agency, made a bold move by allowing a star designer to leave and start his own firm - while simultaneously becoming his first client. This unconventional arrangement proved beneficial, but it has now set a precedent. Other employees are requesting similar freelance opportunities, posing a challenge for Blackbird’s HR director, especially amid a critical client project. How should the company respond to maintain productivity while addressing evolving workplace expectations? This thought-provoking fictional case study by Rakesh Bohra and Prof. Jyotsna Bhatnagar, published in Harvard Business Review, explores the complexities of workplace flexibility. Prof. Jyotsna Bhatnagar earned her PhD from Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi and holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Design Thinking from MIT Sloan Executive Education, Columbia Business School, and The Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth. She is currently the Dean of Research and Dean of Graduate Programmes at Management Development Institute, Gurgaon. She has previously served as a Dean of Graduate Programme, Dean of Continuing Education, and a Board Member at MDI Gurgaon. Prof. Jyotsna Bhatnagar has received numerous prestigious awards, including the Classic Case Award (2024) for her case on Amazon as an employer, recognized on the esteemed Ivey Classic Case Award list. She was ranked among the top 2% most cited global academics by Elsevier in 2023 and 2021 and won the Global Award for HR/OB Best Selling Case (2021). Her dedication to mentoring was acknowledged when her research scholars won the Emerald India Literati Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation Award (2017, 2015). She has also been honored for Excellence in Research (2014) and Teaching (2008) at MDI Gurgaon, alongside accolades like Emerald Literati’s Best Practical Research Award (2009) and Students’ Choice Teaching Awards (2011, 2006). Earlier, she was awarded the Kamla Award (2000) and Entrepreneur’s Award (1999) for her contributions to research, teaching, and mentorship. Since 2015, she has served as a Board Member for recruitment and promotion at Public Sector Banks, IIMs, and private business schools. She has been teaching at IIM Calcutta since 2021, delivering PGPX sessions at IIM Ahmedabad, and has also taught at Aston University. A distinguished scholar and educator, Prof. Bhatnagar continues to shape the fields of management education and human resource development. This podcast is brought to you by Global Management Consultancy. For more information, please visit www.globalmanagementconsultancy.com. Disclaimer: A. The background music used in this video is the property of its respective developer and is protected by Copyright. Although it is a free version, Business Talk, Global Management Consultancy and Deepak Bhatt do not hold the rights to this music. B. Prof. Jyotsna Bhatnagar has generously shared profound insights from her case study, “One Employee Went Freelance. Now Everyone Wants the Same Deal,” during her appearance on the Business Talk Podcast Channel. The uploaded video contains copyrighted material; therefore, any modifications to graphics, music, or the presence of the author or host are strictly prohibited. All content is copyrighted © 2025.