Week 1 Case Study The Ethical Dilemma At Northlake
Case Study
The ethical dilemma at Northlake
Our story opens with an irate Jim McIntosh 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!'
Jean Letourneau
Company President
Jim McIntosh
Vice-President, Finance
Frank Carbonneau
Manager, Corporate Reporting
Tina Pacquette
Manager, Financial Analysis
Frank sat quietly in the overstuffed sofa in his VP'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: Jim 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, entitled '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 on the discharge of waste water from pulp and paper mills in environmentally sensitive regions of the province. One section of the report detailed the financial consequences of the emission controls as determined by each of the five pulp 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 sub-committee next week, giving the industry perspective on the
The ethical dilemma at Northlake
Our story opens with an irate Jim McIntosh 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!'
Jean Letourneau
Company President
Jim McIntosh
Vice-President, Finance
Frank Carbonneau
Manager, Corporate Reporting
Tina Pacquette
Manager, Financial Analysis
Frank sat quietly in the overstuffed sofa in his VP'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: Jim 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, entitled '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 on the discharge of waste water from pulp and paper mills in environmentally sensitive regions of the province. One section of the report detailed the financial consequences of the emission controls as determined by each of the five pulp 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 sub-committee next week, giving the industry perspective on the