PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present strategic responses of leading Indian pesticide manufacturers to the voice of stakeholders and regulatory authorities regarding environment friendly products and processes. The study has made a unique attempt to analyze the product portfolio of selected Indian vs multinational companies with respect to market attractiveness as well as environmental attractiveness.Design/methodology/approachA comparison of corporate, business and operational level strategies of domestic vs multinational companies impacting environment has been made by selecting two companies of each type from the industry on the basis of their turnover. The product portfolios of selected companies have been analyzed on the basis of a matrix constructed for market attractiveness and environmental attractiveness.FindingsThe study finds that both domestic and multinational companies have been making efforts to reorient their product strategy towards a relatively greener portfolio. Also, multinationals are having more environmentally safer products than their domestic counterparts. Indian firms have been catching up by acquiring brands/companies to expand/reorient their product portfolios, whereas multinationals have been adopting merger and acquisition strategies as well as launching new products using indigenous research and development of their parent companies. Related diversification is the preferred strategic move by both the groups, though in different areas.Practical implicationsThe study classifies the products of various companies on the basis of market as well as environmental attractiveness and also recommends the strategies to manage a product portfolio. Similar kind of portfolios could be constructed and used for analyzing the product mix of firms in other sectors.Originality/valueThe originality of the study lies in the fact that, although the pesticide industry is very important to study from both an environmental and a strategic perspective, no effort has ever been made to study the environmental strategies of firms and also the comparison of domestic as well as multinational firms. The product portfolio based on market as well as environmental attractiveness devised in the study is novel in nature.

Problem statement: This case deled with an Indian pesticide company in the turbulent environment, which had to adopt a strategic shift due to changing environmental factors such as increasing competition from multinationals, regulatory forces, changing technologies. The case presented environmental situation in the industry and also described the events which led to the turbulency. Approach: This is a teaching case written with the objective to familiarize the students with concept of environmental forces affecting the industry in general and a company in particular. The students were also expected to work out strategies for the said company under a given strategic situation. The case had mainly used secondary data published in website, annual reports of the company and also the articles and interviews published in business dailies. Results: The findings indicated the competitive forces affecting the pesticide industry and the said company. The results described how the domestic company had to reorient its strategies in order to cope with environmental turbulence created by regulatory, competitive and market forces. Related diversification, restructuring, international market entry and concentration and new product development were some of the strategies adopted by the company. Conclusion/Recommendations: The case discussion evolved the strategies for the company in corporate, business and functional domain and hence provides useful implications for managers. This is a useful resource for academicians, researchers and students and can be used in strategic management and business environment courses as a teaching case. The study opens new vistas of business management research for the Indian as well as international pesticide industry. Further, both case studies based as well as empirical research could be taken up to find the impact of environmental forces on industry and the strategic reaction of the firms in the industry

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Consumers have legal redress for any harm brought on by a faulty product under product liability law. According to estimates, faulty items have a detrimental impact on millions of individuals throughout the world, and the sellers or producers wind up shelling out a sizable sum for products-liability insurance as well as damages. A product must satisfy a consumer's reasonable expectations, thus it is the duty of the producers and the buyers to guarantee the product's safety and quality in accordance with its description. A modest way of life and locally produced goods meant that anybody who experienced harm from a faulty product could deal with the maker directly without the need for legal action or government regulation. However, owing to the growth in problems emerging from faulty goods, changes in the instruments of production and consumption, such as the industrial revolution and technical advancements, among others, have led to the establishment of products-liability law. To safeguard the rights of its customers and the general public at large, India is recognising and realising the need of developing and implementing a strong product liability framework. In specifically, the article addresses the importance of product liability and professional indemnity insurance plans in India as well as some significant developments and their impact on liability insurance. The Act's whole chapter devoted to product liability provides insight into the anticipated effect on liability insurance.

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