Case Incident

Fran$-$Tech

A mid$-$level manager at Fran$-$Tech, a Seattle software company, received a CD$-$

ROM set containing the source code for a competitor's software product. The

competitor is the market leader in the software niche in which both companies

compete; it is crushing Fran$-$Tech in the marketplace. An anonymous note

accompanying the package stated that the package was sent by a disgruntled

employee of the competitor and urged the recipient to use the data $"$as you see

fit." The manager receiving the data was considered to be a "star" performer by

her boss and her peers.

What do you think the manager is likely to do in this situation? What

should she do$,$ and why?

Explain the relevance of ethical leadership in this situation. What will an

ethical leader do$,$ and why? What will an unethical leader do$?$

Source: Based on Thomas, T$.,$ Schermerhorn, J$.$ R$.,$ Jr$.,$ & Dienhart, J$.$ W$.(2004).$

Strategic leadership of ethical behavior in business. Academy of Management

Executive, $18,56-66.$