Arete Corporation manufactures and sells industrial cleaning products. It has factories, warehouses, and sales teams spread throughout the United States. Arete once had a sterling reputation for integrity, so much so that its chief strength relative to its competitors was that it was known for its reliably high- quality products and for dealing honestly and fairly with its customers and suppliers. Over time, though, cutting corners has become commonplace. In fact, unsafe products, questionable sales practices, and rude customer service have become the norm.

Realizing that the company’s future is in doubt because of its ethics problems, Arete’s president Dewit Wright has decided to create the job of Chief Ethics Officer. He has offered you the position. You are interested in taking it but will do so only if you have a reasonable chance of succeeding. What conditions should you put on Wright’s offer? If you were to accept the job and then come in and establish an ethics program, what organizational elements would need to be in place for the program to successfully develop long-term solutions to the company’s ethics problems?