Answer the question:

1. Remember that leaders have ethical responsibilities to shareholders, customers employees, and others. Sometimes those responsibilities are in direct conflict. For example, assume you are the CEO of Acme Airlines, a firm that has made unusually high profits during the last quarter because of a sudden drop in the price of fuel. The industry forecasts predict fuel prices will remain low for at least a couple of years, perhaps for the foreseeable future. Should Acme hold that money in reserve for a rainy day fund, should they pay it to shareholders as a dividend, should they give bonuses to employees who accepted a pay freeze two years ago, should they invest it in aircraft safety or perhaps in passenger comfort? Some choices have short-term consequences while others have long-term consequences. Every choice rewards some stakeholders at the expense of others. Your Acme leadership team members have different views about what is the best use of the money. Some want to do what they think is smart business but they disagree about just which is the smartest choice, and even about what smart means. Some want to do the most ethical thing but they disagree about which is the most ethical choice. Some want to do what is best for them, their department, and their personal career ambitions but they are not about to say so out loud. The team will be meeting with you this afternoon to decide how the unexpected profits will be used. - Explain how you would lead your team in making this decision ----- assume the airlines has an industry-leading safety record and is in full compliance with all FAA safety standards so no additional funding need be allocated toward safety. (NOTE: You may elect to tell me what choice you would make but I do not particularly care. Instead, I want to learn your thoughts about how you would lead your team through the process of making a sound ethical and business decision? Demonstrate what you have learned, not merely what you think.).