You've recently been promoted into the position of marketing manager in thecommunications division of your company. Your new job involves managing a staffand creating the publications and marketing materials for insurance sales professionalsin three regions.
You have met the directors of the three regional sales forces before, and nowyou ask each one for a meeting to discuss in depth how your team can best meet theirneeds. Two of the sales directors were very cordial, and each explained what thetechnical demands of their areas are and how your department can best meet theirneeds.
However, during your meeting with Bill-t he sales direct or of the third region andone of your firm' s biggest moneymakers- he lays down the law. He says that his area is the largest of the three regions, and it produces significantly more revenue for your company than the other two regions combine d. "You and your people need to knowthat when I say, ‘Jump,'" he says, "they need to ask, ‘How high?'"
In return, he says, he'll recommend you and your people for every award the company has to offer. In addition, he says he'll personally give you a monetary bonus,based on your tea m's performance, at the end of the year. Although you have neverheard of a manager giving someone a bonus out of his own pocket, you suspect thatyour company would frown on such a practice.
1. What are the ethical issues in this case?
2. What are some reasons the decision maker in this case might be inclined to go along? Not go along?
3. If you were the decision maker, how would you handle the situation?
4. Would you report the conversation to your manager? Why or why not?