Peter Lee, Operations Manager, and Jan Nelson, Maintenance Manager, both report

Question

Peter Lee, Operations Manager, and Jan Nelson, Maintenance Manager, both report to Harry Hart, General Manager of Turbo Chemicals. Peter and Jan are about the same age, are well-educated, and have extensive experience in their respective fields. It would be expected that these two individuals would complement each other and be the answer to every general manager’s prayer. Unfortunately, that is not the case. For some reason, Peter and Jan find it necessary to challenge each other’s decisions and ideas any time they have a mutual problem to solve, and they argue constantly in staff meetings. Recently, Jan began to talk to peers in an effort to get them on her side. Peter learned of this and went to Harry Hart and demanded that he call Jan in and tell her to stop. Peter didn’t realize Harry Hart was aware of what was happening. Nor did he know Harry had just learned that Peter had deliberately changed a unit turnaround schedule so that it would fall during a period when the maintenance department already had a peak workload. The matter has been further complicated by the fact that the employees of the two managers have taken sides and joined the fray. Productive work has come to a standstill.

1. What are the ethics involved in this case?

2. How would you proceed if you were Harry Hart?

Explanation / Answer

The above case involves two well-educated and experienced employees who does not like to work with each other. They do not complement each other and as a result, it creates a lot of problems between the two employees and the company, which results into unproductive work.

1. There is no or less ethics involved in the above case. The only ethics involved in this case is Peter going to Harry Hart and explain the things that has been happening in the company. It is always good to keep superior aware of the unwanted things. There are mostly unethical case in this company which consists of Jan talking to peer and creating buzz in the company. Also, Peter deliberately changed a turnaround schedule affecting the productivity of the company and also Harry being silent and not taking actions.

2. If there is anyone who were Harry, he should do the following things.

1. He must call both in a separate room and discuss the matter. He should listen carefully to their problems stated by both the employees and come to the final conclusion.

2. Training - Training is given by employers to employee and encourages them to follow the rules and regulation. The employers motivate employees to focus on goal of the organization by ethical practice. The leaders should discuss the ethical behaviour and its importance in the organization

3. Create checks and balances - He can create check and balance to reduce unethical behaviour and can enforce penalty on the employees for not following ethical means. For example - Any employee who being unethical in the organization will have to face penalty of some amount of the salary.

Related Questions

Navigate

• Browse (All)
• Browse P
• Subjects

Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.