Characters:

Joe, District Manager of Computer Operations

Mary, Division Manager - Information Systems

John, President and CEO of a large company

Joe graduated from California State University with a Bachelor of Applied Science. He had a lovely family with two kids. Louis was seven years old and Samantha was twelve years old.

Joe was recently promoted to the position of District Manager of Computer Operations for a large company. The company is an American multinational computer software company headquartered in San Jose, California, United States. The company has historically focused upon the creation of multimedia and creativity software products. As of 2013, the company had 9,117 employees.

Mary, Joe's supervisor, called him to her office. She was informed that the CEO has received an anonymous letter from an employee. This letter stated that a recently installed (and very expensive) system does not perform as expected and has not achieved the expected results.

Joe was aware that the system's actual performance was really as described in the anonymous letter. Joe had reported this performance problem to Mary before. Although Mary had listened to Joe, she had been the original supporter of the system and continually provides only positive feedback to the CEO on its performance.

Mary told Joe that the CEO expects a reply to the letter. She told Joe to draft the reply. It should say that the system is performing as projected and that all savings portrayed in the original justification documents are being achieved. She said the documentation provided with his reply should support those statements.

Joe was upset by this directive. He felt that upper management has been misinformed in the interest of protecting a questionable decision. He approached Mary with his concern.

[Joe went to Mary's office]

Joe: Mary, do you have a minute?

Mary: Sure, come and have a seat.

Joe: I am preparing the reply but there is just one thing that I am not clear. Should we tell the truth to the CEO?

Mary: Listen Joe, I expect you to follow my instruction on this. This is an expensive system and we want to let the CEO know the system is performing just fine.

Joe: But, it's our responsibility to report the actual performance of the system?

Mary: You are a district manager. If you can't do your job, I will have to find another person to do it.

Joe: Hmm...

Mary: Is that clear?

Joe: Yes.

Mary: Let's get it done by the end of this week, alright?

Joe: Sure.

She said that if he does not provide the reply as requested, she will have serious doubts about his ability to perform the functions of a District Manager for the company. Joe worked hard to achieve this position and is very worried about her statement.

Discussion questions:

1. From an "utilitarian" perspective, what are the costs in each of the alternatives? Which of the alternatives has the highest "cost" factor associated with it? how Do the benefits of honesty at all costs outweigh the benefits of obeying the directive of a supervisor?

2. Is Joe's duty to obey Mary or to tell the truth to the CEO? To what extent is Joe responsible for informing others of the situation? Is this a whistle-blowing situation? What are Joe's obligations to his family?

3. From a "justice" perspective, which stakeholders are most affected if Joe replies honestly? Examine and compare the alternatives, what should Joe do? Why?

4. Assume you were the District Manager. Write a reply letter to the CEO and answer the new system's performance.