Page 119 - Using MIS

have a bare-bones support department, and we want to get In a black mood of depression, you realize you don’t
rid of the gabby chatters first.” want to work for Yikes! anymore, but your wife is 6 months
You are, understandably, shocked and surprised . . . not pregnant with your first child. You need medical insurance
only at the speed with which the transition has occurred, for her at least until the baby is born. But what miserable tasks
but also because you wouldn’t think the founder would do are you going to be asked to do before then? And you suspect
this to the employees. You call him at home and tell him that if you balk at any task, Parks won’t hesitate to fire you, too.
what is going on. As you leave that night, you run into Lori, the most
“Look,” he explains, “when I sold the company, I asked popular customer support representative and one of your
them to be sure to take care of the employees. They said favorite employees. “Hey,” Lori asks you, “what did you
they would. I’ll call Andrea, but there’s really nothing I can think of that meeting? Do you believe Andrea? Do you think
do at this point; they own the show.” they’ll let us continue to make great bikes?”

disCussion Questions

1. In your opinion, did the new owners take any illegal ac- 5. How do you respond to Lori? What are the consequences
tion? Is there evidence of a crime in this scenario? if you tell her what you know? What are the conse-
2. Consider the ethics of the statement that Parks made to quences of lying to her? What are the consequences
all of the employees. Using both the categorical impera- of saying something noncommittal? Consider both the
tive (pages 20–21) and utilitarianism (pages 56–57), as- categorical imperative and utilitarianism perspectives in
sess the ethics of that statement. Were you to question your response.
her about the ethics of her statement, how do you think 6. If you actually were in this situation, would you leave the
she would justify herself? company? Why or why not?
3. What do you think Parks will tell the founder if he calls 7. In business school, we talk of principles like competitive
as a result of your conversation with him? Does he have strategy as interesting academic topics. But, as you can
any legal recourse? Is Major Capital’s behavior toward see from the Yikes! case, competitive strategy decisions
him unethical? Why or why not? have human consequences. How do you plan to resolve
4. Parks is going to use data to perform staff cuts. What do conflicts between human needs and tough business
you think about her criteria? Ethically, should she con- decisions?
sider other factors, such as number of years of service, 8. How do you define job security?
past employee reviews, or other criteria?

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