Have you ever watched the show Undercover Boss? It features a company’s “boss” working undercover in his or her own company to find out how the organization really works. Typically, the executive works undercover for a week, and then the employees the leader has worked with are summoned to company headquarters and either rewarded or punished for their actions. Bosses from organizations ranging from Waste Management and White Castle to NASCAR and Family Dollar have participated.

17-1. What do you think? Is it ethical for a leader to go undercover in his or her organization? Why or why not?

17-2. What ethical issues could arise? How could managers deal with those issues?