The situation under which we find ourselves in as the directors of this company is very challenging. The best way of addressing this dilemma is to start by defining the primary values of this organisation. The primary value when it comes to employee management is professionalism in hiring and managing the workers. This value does not only come from the laws of this country that requires business entities to avoid any form of discrimination when hiring, but it also comes from the ethical belief that we hold (Shaw 41). We acknowledge that our business is an independent entity, and we have a responsibility as directors to make decisions that will be in its favour.
The company is currently facing a serious ethical problem. The company needs a qualified marketing manager who will help it take off at a time when its market growth has stagnated. Two candidates have presented their papers for consideration. The first candidate has all the qualification and experience we need to penetrate the new market, a task that has proven to be very challenging to both the two directors. This first candidate is the ideal person for this job. She only comes with her experience and expertise in this field. The second candidate has lesser qualification, but has some personal ties with one of the directors. In fact, the second candidate brings with her a gift of $ 50,000, which this company needs so much as it seeks to expand. The two directors are torn between these two candidates.
When making the decision, the management will need to look at the main critical factors that would define the way forward. This company needs two things for it to expand. It needs a highly qualified marketing manager that will help it penetrate the new market. It also needs additional funds that will help it expand its operational activities. The first candidate is offering the first need, while the second candidate is offering the second need. Another critical fact that should not be ignored at this stage is that this move will create a precedent in this firm, as will be discussed in the section below.
The situation that this firm is facing can be solved in any of the two possible ways. The first solution will be to pick the best candidate as per the needs of the firm and ignore any other related issue. This would mean going for the first candidate with the knowledge and experience we need. The second approach that can be taken will be to go for the second candidate in order to get the fringe benefits that are tied to her. Each of the two possible solutions has their own consequences.
The decision that will be made to solve this dilemma will affect a number of stakeholders. The first person will be my partner who already has an opinion over this issue. Decision made in favour of this first candidate will affect him negatively. The second group will be the two candidates who are at the middle of the dilemma. The grandfather who is championing for the employment of his granddaughter will also be affected by the decision. Finally, it is important to understand that the business entity will also be affected by this decision.
The solution taken will affect the stakeholders in various ways. To this business, selecting the most qualified candidate (the first candidate) will have a positive effect because she will bring the needed expertise that will help the firm in taking off. The second candidate’s offer of $ 50,000 is good to the business, but the most pressing need now is the skills and experience in marketing. To the two candidates, a decision in their favour will be pleasant news, and the same case will apply to the business partner and the grandfather. As one of the stakeholders, my conscious will be disturbed if I make a wrong decision.
Based on the facts presented, my decision will be to employ the first candidate that has the right degree and with many years of experience. My decision is largely influenced by the lecture of Badaracco (3) who says that in most of the cases, decision makers make wrong choices at the defining moments, something that would affect their businesses several years to come. The decision to choose the first candidate is supported by best net as one of the frameworks for decision-making. As per this principle, it is important to avoid making compromises just to please people.
The ethics in the decision made above is evident in various ways. As at now, we need an employee, not a business partner. The second candidate has limited qualification, but her weaknesses are being addressed in a corrupt manner. Giving us $ 50,000 to employ the girl is a direct acknowledgement that she lacks the right qualifications. The first candidate has all the qualifications we need, and there is no justifiable ground to deny her this job.
Works Cited
Badaracco, Joseph 2002. Defining Moments. PDF file. 2014. Web.
Shaw, William. Business Ethics. Belmont: Wadsworth, 2008. Print.