You recently received an angry call from the Chairman of the Board of Directors. The Chairman heard through the grapevine that Widget Corp. was recently offered a significant supplier contract with Monolever Group, a massive global corporation, which you have yet to accept. Although the contract would make Widget Corp. a very, very large amount of money, your hesitation is the result of recent news reports about Monolevers reputation for mistreating its workers. Besides these recent reports, there are unsubstantiated rumors that Monolever has been ignoring human rights abuses in its supply chain, including child labor. The accusations are vague and Monolever denies any wrongdoing, but the media is attacking them regardless.

The Chairman acknowledges the complexity of these issues, and admits that many interested parties, including some of the more "do-gooder"-type shareholders, would probably be upset with you for engaging with Monolever. Nonetheless, the Chairman helpfully reminds you that the shareholders expect you to manage the business for their benefit and that the Board has the power to terminate your employment.

Given the importance and controversy of the issue, the Chairman asks you to prepare another memo to the shareholders of Widget Corp. explaining what you intend to do with the Monolever contract. Your memo must include two elements:

• First, please prepare a Power/Interest Grid identifying all of your stakeholders in relation to their interest in the decision and power over the company. (You can upload this in whatever way works for you as long as I can read it.) Make sure your Power/Interest Grid accounts for all of your stakeholders.
• Then, on the basis of your Power/Interest Grid, explain to the shareholders what you intend to do and why. Your explanation should offer specific details on how you intend to manage the interests of the stakeholders you've identified on your Grid. For example, what will you do to appease the stakeholders with the most power over the company? What will you do to manage the interests of the stakeholders who may be very interested in your decision but don't have that much power over the company?

Regardless of whether you choose to accept or reject the Monolever contract, your memo should explain your choice in the context of stakeholder theory and should address the interests of all of your stakeholders, including those in favor of the contract (for example, profit-minded shareholders) and the stakeholders who might oppose the Monolever contract. As always, you must find a way to present your decision to the shareholders in a way that appeals to their interests. You do not get extra points for choosing the most "moral" answer--in fact, choosing morality over profit is going to be a tough sell for your shareholders. Your explanation of your choice in connection with your stakeholder analysis is what matters.