Consequentialism: Morality and Bible Books
CAT: An Intern’s Dilemma
1. Case Facts
a. HBS Intern working for an tech security firm
b. Had trouble getting a visa to work in Asia, so started working in Boston
b.i. Duty was to conduct market research by reaching out to other firms including direct competitors
b.ii. His bosses asked him to identify himself as a HBS student, rather than an intern with that company
b.iii. This made him uncomfortable but it kept coming up
2. Problem Statement
a. Does Yang agree to misrepresent himself as a HBS student rather than an intern of the firm?
3. Issues
a. He agrees to do so
a.i. He compromises his own moral integrity and reputation
a.ii. He compromises the reputation of HBS
a.iii. He may be violating the business ethics of the American office
a.iv. He tricks other firms into giving him information that they shouldn’t offer to competitors
b. He doesn’t agree to do so
b.i. He stands his ground
b.ii. He loses potential future employment
b.iii. He angers his employers
4. Alternatives
a. Ignore the request and continue his work as an intern
b. Refuse to participate in the project and request to work on a separate project
c. Start a new project, put the original project on hold
d. Quit this job, but then he wouldn’t have a job as he rejected all his other offers
5. Recommendations
a. He should stand his ground and uphold his ethical ground. His employers will respect him as they have indicated that they adhere to a set of business ethics.
CAT: Oliver Sparling and Bible Books, Inc.
a.i.1. Case Facts
a.i.1.a. Sparling: senior analyst at a consulting firm, also an openly gay man
a.i.1.b. Was working on a case for a bible book company in Birmingham, AL
a.i.1.b.i. A career-defining case, success would lead to a possible promotion
a.i.1.c. Executives at Bible Books had a problem with his sexuality
a.i.1.c.i. Asked him not to discuss his partner or relationship, wear his commitment band
a.i.2. Problem Statement: not a question
1. Case Facts
a. HBS Intern working for an tech security firm
b. Had trouble getting a visa to work in Asia, so started working in Boston
b.i. Duty was to conduct market research by reaching out to other firms including direct competitors
b.ii. His bosses asked him to identify himself as a HBS student, rather than an intern with that company
b.iii. This made him uncomfortable but it kept coming up
2. Problem Statement
a. Does Yang agree to misrepresent himself as a HBS student rather than an intern of the firm?
3. Issues
a. He agrees to do so
a.i. He compromises his own moral integrity and reputation
a.ii. He compromises the reputation of HBS
a.iii. He may be violating the business ethics of the American office
a.iv. He tricks other firms into giving him information that they shouldn’t offer to competitors
b. He doesn’t agree to do so
b.i. He stands his ground
b.ii. He loses potential future employment
b.iii. He angers his employers
4. Alternatives
a. Ignore the request and continue his work as an intern
b. Refuse to participate in the project and request to work on a separate project
c. Start a new project, put the original project on hold
d. Quit this job, but then he wouldn’t have a job as he rejected all his other offers
5. Recommendations
a. He should stand his ground and uphold his ethical ground. His employers will respect him as they have indicated that they adhere to a set of business ethics.
CAT: Oliver Sparling and Bible Books, Inc.
a.i.1. Case Facts
a.i.1.a. Sparling: senior analyst at a consulting firm, also an openly gay man
a.i.1.b. Was working on a case for a bible book company in Birmingham, AL
a.i.1.b.i. A career-defining case, success would lead to a possible promotion
a.i.1.c. Executives at Bible Books had a problem with his sexuality
a.i.1.c.i. Asked him not to discuss his partner or relationship, wear his commitment band
a.i.2. Problem Statement: not a question