1. List critical issues found in the case.
2. Categories the issues into themes (note: Five functional areas of business
   1. Strategy Theme,
   2. Marketing Theme
   3. Financial Theme
   4. HR & Leadership
   5. Accounting
3. Rank the themes identified in question 2 according to importance (1 being most important).
4. Identify what sub-themes may be causing the problem to your 1# issue (ex. problem in leadership, organization culture, etc.)
5. Create a problem statement:
   1. Sentence 1: General Area ((hint: show connection to function area (your 1# theme).
   2. Sentence 2: Specific focus area or sub-themes. Case to read:

      MINI CASE: THE GIFT

      You have recently been hired as the purchasing manager at CDI Electronics, a small electronics research firm. Youve been getting settled in your new position and becoming acquainted with the other 26 CDI employees. Youve also started getting to know the vendors with whom CDI does business.

      Its late November and the holidays are approaching. In your mail for the day is a small package containing an expensive watch from one of CDIs main vendors. Your first reaction is to send the watch back because accepting expensive gifts from vendors clearly violates all the company policies youve ever seen in larger companies youve worked in. It is a very fine watch with your name engraved on the back, along with the vendors logo.

      Before you get a chance to return the watch, Jim Fitzpatrick, an employee whos been with CDI since its beginning 12 years ago, approaches you about the situation. Apparently, everyone at CDI except for Joe Balsam, the founder and current CEO, received similar watches. According to Jim, this vendor sends some type of gift each holiday season, and CDI employees look forward to receiving the gift. He goes on to say that while everyone enjoys the gifts and is most appreciative, no preferential treatment is given to the vendor, nor is any expected.

      Jim is concerned. He and the other CDI employees have noticed that your watch has just been sitting on your desk for the past two days. Employees are wondering why and what you may be thinking. Theyre concerned that if you make an issue of the gift, there will be trouble over gifts accepted in past years, because no one knows how Joe Balsam might react if he knew. Joe is apparently unaware of the annual gifts.

      After Jim leaves your office, you sit and think about your options. The easiest solution would be to accept the gift as others have done in the past. Or you could go to Joe for guidance and cover yourself that way. There is a risk, though, that bringing it to Joes attention would cause him to crack down on the practice if he doesnt like it. You havent known Joe for very long, and youre really not sure if hell go along with the gifts.