BUS 5115 - WK 7 - Written Assignment

A Good Team Player
BUS 5115 written assignment (unit 7)
MAY 26, 2021

Case Study: A Good Team Player
Relevant Facts
Steven is an accountant and Assistant department manager that is doing well. He one day went
into the lounge to welcome his new supervisor Kristin who was a no-nonsense person from
another similar role. In the lounge, Steven opened up his mind to Kristin about some partiality he
has observed in the company. The next day at work, Steven had some questions to answer and
obviously the new supervisor may not be what he thought she was initially. Steven has to make a
fast decision and give an answer to Kristin Immediately.
Ethical Issues
Sometimes it is better to watch and observe before speaking in the place of work. Work ethics
demands fairness and impartiality and this was what Steven was trying to ask about but
unfortunately, he may have asked it at the wrong time and maybe in the wrong place too (Bande,
2008).
More so, it is ethically wrong for a manager to Intimidate his/her subordinate either with words
or actions and this is considered in every organization’s code of conduct within employees of all
categories. Managers and supervisors are supposed to be role models and not threats to their
subordinate in the office. Work ethics demand that a manager/supervisor respects every
employee’s right to speech and right to free earing. Steven had the right to speech and free earing
both by organizational policies and government laws on fundamental human right.

Stakeholders
The stakeholders in this case study includes Steven – the assistant department manager, Kritin –
his new supervisor, the Company where they both work and every employee both in Steven’s
team and the organization as a whole.
Possible Alternatives
Steven is an assistant department manager which means he is not a Junior staff in that company
and so he has some leverage. As an employee of the company, he has the right to fair earing as
well so he could air his views but maybe that was a wrong time and a wrong place to make such
public comment. The supervisor was still new and probably knew nothing about the malpractice
happening in that office and may not be able to do much at that time.
However, Kristin has proven otherwise when she spoke in such a manner to Steven privately
after assuring him publicly that nothing of such will be allowed in her team. Steven in his
wisdom as an assistant manager should have just kept his mouth shut and maybe tell her about
the role she was coming into as a fresh employee rather than tell her about the problem at the
first encounter. This was a wrong move from Steven and he could have done better.
Practical Constraints
One major constraint in this case study is the fact that Steven is a Junior staff and subordinate to
Kristin and so he is answerable to her and subject to her in that office. He could have been able
to take this case to the CEO himself but at this point where his supervisor is aware, he may not
be able to take it higher anymore. He may have shot himself in the leg with this action.
Recommendations
Firstly, I would recommend that Steven do not speak more than he has done already but seek to
divert that question and make it clear that he has the right to silence and it is not ethical to make
mentions in such a situation.
Secondly, he needs to thread carefully as this new supervisor seems to be mean and may likely
fix an eye on him therewith making his life there a bit uncomfortable. He needs to mind his
words going forward and also ensure he learns to keep somethings to himself.
Thirdly, in a case where he feels threatened by the new supervisor, he has the right to speak with
the CEO about these actions and speak on notes of strict confidentiality. He needs to learn to
speak to people privately not publicly.
References
Amit Bande. (2008). Workplace Ethics and Value Systems.
https://www.academia.edu/33135939/WORKPLACE_ETHICS_AND_VALUE_SYSTEMS
Dean Bredeson, Keith Goree, Cengage Learning. (2011). Ethics in the Workplace
Thomas Mahan. (2019). How to Define Ethical Behavior & Why It’s Important in the
Workplace. https://workinstitute.com/how-to-define-ethical-behavior-why-its-important-in-
the-workplace-2/#:~:text=Ethics%20in%20the%20workplace%20is,to%20conduct%20and
%20decision%20making.

BUS 5115 - WK 7 - Written Assignment

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

BUS 5115 - WK 7 - Written Assignment

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

BUS 5115 - WK 7 - Written Assignment

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

A Good Team Player

BUS 5115 written assignment (unit 7)

MAY 26, 2021

fast decision and give an answer to Kristin Immediately.

both by organizational policies and government laws on fundamental human right.

team and the organization as a whole.

mentions in such a situation.

speak to people privately not publicly.

Amit Bande. (2008). Workplace Ethics and Value Systems.

You might also like