You are the HR manager of an organization and have recently been hired a new manager to head the IT department. To introduce the manager to his new team, you have a dinner party and invite the team members. The dinner party will be tomorrow evening at your new apartment.
1. Tom, a former cattle rancher, from the big island of Hawaii, who has always given very lavish gifts. Whenever you've invited him, he has served great steaks and roast beef.
2. Sarah-she is brining her nine year old daughter, by a second marriage, who throws temper tantrums when she has to eat vegetables.
3. A female graduate student (intern), Gitanjalim from Madras, India. Gita lives in an elegant apartment nearby, and she wears magnificent silk saris. You believe she is Hindu.
4. Howard Ben Zadik, from Passaic, New Jersey, is an old classmate from college whom you like and hired to manage the IT department. Howie always wears a small skullcap with Hebrew letters on it.
5. Linda, a school friend who spends most of her free time working for Greenspace, Save the Whales, and other environmental causes. Linda was diagnosed with childhood diabetes at age ten and always carries insulin and a test kit.
6. Your boss who you'd really like to impress. She always has a box of Godiva chocolates and eats them constantly. As HR manager, you know that she is a recovering alcoholic who is very active in A.A.
You have decided to serve a multi-course meal that will include hors d'oeuvres, entrée, at least three side dishes, and dessert, plus beverages before, with, and after the meal.
Questions for Discussion
1. What will you specifically avoid serving and why? What will you serve and why?
2. In dealing with the conflicting interests and needs of your dinner guests, did you determine that the interest and needs of one or more of your guests should take precedence? Which ones, and why?