SHORT CASE $1-1$: Human Resource Decision Making at Canada Importers Ltd$.$

Canada Importers Ltd$.($CIL$)$ is a large importer of linens, dishware, and crystal from a number of Asian, European, and South American countries. While nearly $55$ percent of linens are imported from China, nearly $70$ percent of crystal and diamond items originate in India. Most of the dishware comes from European and South American countries. Several other handicrafts and household products are imported from other East European countries and Japan. Different geographical offices of CIL specialize in different trade and import regions; for example, the Toronto and Vancouver offices primarily deal with suppliers in India $($specializing in different industry groups$),$ while the Calgary office conducts all negotiations with South America. CIL's offices in Montreal and Halifax primarily deal with their European counterparts. Over time, management practices, including HR activities, in various CIL offices have begun to show considerable differences, posing problems for the senior managers. Recently, the following conversation took place between Rob Whittier, the vice$-$president of