Carol Bartz, Yahoo’s hard-driving CEO, was fired “over the telephone” in a conversation with Chairman of the Board Roy Bostock. The firing came with more than a year left on her contract, as Yahoo continued to lose ground to Google and failed to recognize the competitive threat posed by Facebook. Bartz was well known for her abrasive, confrontational communication style, and she was especially known for her extreme use of profanity. A number of observers wondered whether Bartz’s salty language was an issue because she is a woman.

Was it appropriate to fire Carol Bartz via a telephone call? Why or why not? Would a profane communication style be more likely to damage the reputation of a male or female CEO, and why? Do expectations play a role?