Question

Case Study: A Good Team Player

Topic: Leadership

Involved Parties:

Steven, Assistant Department Manager

Kristin, Newly appointed supervisor of Steven's work team

Having done well as a staff accountant in the accounts payable section of a major industrial firm for several years since his graduation from college, Steven felt that he had learned much about the “ins” and “outs” of survival in an intensely bureaucratic organization. It is thus not surprising that he was relaxed and unconcerned about his circumstances at the company as he entered the employee lounge to attend the late-afternoon welcoming reception for his new supervisor.

The new manager of accounts payable, Kristin, had been transferred to Steven’s division from a similar position in another subsidiary of the company because of her proven talent for organizing and improving the efficiency of operations there. A no-nonsense type of manager, Kristin was experienced and determined to perform her new assignment with the same vigor that had brought her so much success throughout her career.

At the reception, Kristin circulated through the room, introducing herself to her new subordinates and asking each of them if they had any suggestions that would help make the payables section a better place to work. When she approached Steven, he told her about something that had been on his mind lately: that people seemed to him to gain promotions and be given opportunities to work overtime based on who liked them and not on the quality of their work. In reply, Kristin politely stated that she would do everything that she could to see that whatever it was he was referring to would have no place in the team she would lead.

Upon his arrival at work the next day, Steven received a phone call from Kristin’s secretary asking that he meet with his new boss later that morning. He had barely entered her office for the meeting when she looked him straight in the eye and said, “I will not tolerate individuals in this organization who are not good team players. Yesterday afternoon you led me to believe that there are people in this office who are not acting in the best interests of the company, and I want to know who. I want you to tell me the names of the managers you were referring to note, and keep me informed if you see anyone hurting this company, or I’ve got to think that maybe you’re part of the problems around here.”

The assignment:

- explore the possible alternatives and ethics from the Utilitarian Perspective, the Rights Perspective, or the Justice Perspective

Answer 1

Solution:

• “Ethical issues in the business refer to a problem or situation in which a person or organization has to evaluate a situation and make a decision between ethical (Right) in the context and given situation versus what is Unethical (wrong).”

  Ethical principle includes overarching ethical practices include four principles of honesty, fairness, objectivity, and responsibility. The members are encouraged to adhere to these principles and encourage others also to follow these high standards, evaluating them as follows:

  1. Competence: The individual should keep updating his skills and knowledge, update himself with the latest rules and regulation, and ensure to adhere to them. Further, he should use skills to disseminate information in clear and concise form for quick decision making.
  1. Confidentiality: Ensure confidentiality, and make sure subordinates adhere to the rules too. The person should share information according to context and need with the right person. He should refrain from misuse information or use it in an illegal manner.
  1. Integrity: The person should control any conflict or expected conflict, refrain from activities creating conflict, and avoid activities which might discredit him or his profession.
  1. Credibility: Information should be shared with facts and figures in an objective manner. All delays or problems should also be objectively advised.

  Given the above principles we would submit as follows:

  1. Steven thinks he is efficient and knows his way around the organization as he has managed well over several years.
  2. He has discussed a serious matter without any database at an informal introductory meet which is incorrect as per ethics.
  3. He has shared his biases with Kristin without any concrete back up data making him appear very unprofessional.
  4. He has insinuated favoritism and personal preferences as the reason for growth and getting overtime in the organization, impacting his integrity.

  Steven should not have shared the information with Kristin in an informal introductory meeting. If he had a suitable cause of concern regarding apparent favoritism in promotions and getting overtime which was based on peoples personal likes and dislikes not because of their work quality. He has appeared as not having any competence or integrity and person lacking in ethical values which are critical for the role of a Accounts person.