Ethical dilemma
Our story opens with an irate Jim Mclntosh confronting his manager of corporate reporting: “I thought we had an understanding on this issue, Frank. Tina tells me that you are threatening to go public with your stupid statements about the report. For Pete’s sake, Frank, wake up and smell the coffee! You’re about to damage all the important things in your life: your career, your friendships, and your company!”
Frank sat quietly in the overstuffed sofa in his V.P’s expansive office. He thought that the pale green report lying on the desk looked innocent enough but it certainly had provided the basis for some serious turmoil. He stood by his desk trembling with rage. His face was bright red and mottled with anger. Frank had often seen Jim upset, but never in a temper such as this. “I’m sorry, Jim,” Frank replied softly, “I know how much this means to you, but I don’t think that I have a choice in this matter. I can’t sit idle while you and that twit from financial analysis allow this report to go forward. You both know that these numbers have no foundation in fact.”
The report, titled “Endangered Species: The pulp and Paper Industry in the Upper Peninsula,” laid out the industry’s response to the new government proposals to put effluent controls ion the discharge of wastewater from pulp and paper mills in environmentally sensitive regions of the province. One section of the report detailed the financial consequences of emission controls as determined by each of the five pulps and paper companies operating in the region. Amalgamated Forest products had taken the industry lead in developing the report, and the company president, Jean Letourneau, was scheduled to testify before a legislative subcommittee next week, giving the industry perspective on the proposed legislation.
Amalgamated had three major mills located in some of the more remote location in the province. The firm had been facing difficult financial times due to the recession, and this
Frank sat quietly in the overstuffed sofa in his V.P’s expansive office. He thought that the pale green report lying on the desk looked innocent enough but it certainly had provided the basis for some serious turmoil. He stood by his desk trembling with rage. His face was bright red and mottled with anger. Frank had often seen Jim upset, but never in a temper such as this. “I’m sorry, Jim,” Frank replied softly, “I know how much this means to you, but I don’t think that I have a choice in this matter. I can’t sit idle while you and that twit from financial analysis allow this report to go forward. You both know that these numbers have no foundation in fact.”
The report, titled “Endangered Species: The pulp and Paper Industry in the Upper Peninsula,” laid out the industry’s response to the new government proposals to put effluent controls ion the discharge of wastewater from pulp and paper mills in environmentally sensitive regions of the province. One section of the report detailed the financial consequences of emission controls as determined by each of the five pulps and paper companies operating in the region. Amalgamated Forest products had taken the industry lead in developing the report, and the company president, Jean Letourneau, was scheduled to testify before a legislative subcommittee next week, giving the industry perspective on the proposed legislation.
Amalgamated had three major mills located in some of the more remote location in the province. The firm had been facing difficult financial times due to the recession, and this