The Decision

Boris Zvernisky, a senior accountant, has just completed his third year at a large accounting

firm. During this time, Boris has been consistently evaluated as an above average performer

and a $$team player.$$ Lately Boris has been concerned about the heavy work load in this firm

and has decided to enroll in an MBA program. He recently applied for admission to several

of the nation's top business schools. The school in which Boris is most interested had an

October $1$ deadline for a trial financial aid package, designed to attract top candidates, which

covers all costs and pays $$10,000$ per year. This is the first year for the program and there is

no guarantee that the program will be available in future years. Based on his conversations

with university officials, Boris is quite optimistic about being admitted and receiving the

funding, even though a final decision will not be made until February. Boris plans to enter an

MBA program, even without the special funding, beginning in August of the following

years, but he has told no one at the firm of his plans.

Julie Corradino, a partner in charge of training and development for the local office, has just

received information from the national office of the firm related to a five$-$month accounting

internship$-$exchange program the firm has arranged with offices in Europe, Australia, and

$[$Russia$].$ Applicants must have three to five years with the firm, be above$-$average

performers, have long$-$term career potential with the firm, and be fluent in the host country$$s

language. Julie immediately thinks of Boris, who is a first$-$generation American with strong

family connections in $[$Russia$].$ Julie arranges to have lunch with Boris the next day.

At lunch Julie confirms that Boris is fluent in Russian and then presents to him the

information on the five$-$month internship in the Moscow office, from January through May

of the following year. Boris and Julie talk with excitement about the personal and

professional benefits of five other relatives who live in Russia. The firm would benefit by

having someone with experience in the Moscow office. Julie thinks Boris has an excellent

chance of being selected for the program and offers to write a recommendation letter for

him. She gives Boris an application and encourages him to complete it immediately, since it

is now mid$-$October and the application deadline is November $1.$

That night, Boris sits down to consider his career plans. Although he is very excited about

the opportunity to go to Moscow, he is also convinced that he would love to enroll in a fulltime MBA program in the fall. He realizes that it is possible to intern in the Moscow office

from January through May, return to his current office for June and July, and then begin the

MBA program in August. Boris wonders if he should talk to Julie about his MBA plans, but

he hesitates. He knows that firm policy requires only a two$-$week notice prior to leaving the

firm. Boris decides that there is no harm in applying, but he questions his long$-$term

intentions with the firm and wonders what to do$.$