Question 1: Was an ethical line crossed? Explain your answer.

Question 2: If reprimanded, which employee is most at fault?

Question 3: Read the following reactions. If you were the CEO which would you recommend and why?

• Reaction 1
  • Fort went astray in deceiving the Landrys about why he was photographing Buddy.
  • Crossed the ethical line by intruding in their private lives.
  • It is improper to treat an individual merely as a means to an end (salespeople cannot manipulate in order to get a sale).
  • Jeremys behavior is most upsetting:
    • Doesnt understand his role as a mgr in managing risks.
    • Sending in email invites someone to forward to the Landrys.
    • Email encourages every SFS salesperson to try to top this.

  Conclusion: CEO should publicly reprimand Fort. Jeremy is not salvageable.

• Reaction 2
  • Deception is always unethical. Period.
  • Deception is never allowed in a customer relationship.
  • By sending the email, Jeremy demonstrated he does not understand the policies/behaviors that build long-term shareholder value.

  Conclusion: CEO should immediately fire Jeremy, discipline Fort, send an email to all employees firmly addressing this, rewrite the ethics code, and personally meet with the Landrys before they hear it from someone else.

• Reaction 3
  • Fort was just using a smart sales strategy.
  • Stars like Fort come with certain idiosyncrasies that are tolerated when they accompany above-average success.
  • Fort established a relationship then played on Dales ego-driven nature through a combo of logic and emotion enticing him to take the bait.
  • Fort simply got Dales attention and let his persuasive skills to the rest.

  Conclusion: Let Fort off with a warning that focuses on his having concealed from Dale the knowledge of Dales position at Armadillo. Both parties ended up with something valuable Dale got a superior product and SFS got a new customer.