BUGEN 2630 | Assessment 1 | Main Dilemma in Scenario

Running Head: PRINCIPLES OF RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS
BUGEN 2630: Assessment 1
Name
Institutional Affiliation

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Contents
The main dilemma in a scenario................................................................................................3
Reasons and rationalizations......................................................................................................3
What’s at stake for the key parties.............................................................................................3
What could you use to influence and argue to those who disagree............................................4
The most powerful and rational response..................................................................................4
Individual Script.........................................................................................................................5
References..................................................................................................................................7

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The main dilemma in a scenario
Steve has found out that the new associate in the office was earlier a bookkeeper at
the HOC, the company whose auditing is due with Steve. Due to work pressure, Marcia, the
Managing Director, appoints Ally, to assist Steve. Steve finds that this would be ethically
wrong to assign the former bookkeeper for auditing the same company whom he left some
time ago. This was against the professional standards, and thus Steve decided to talk to
Marcia.
Reasons and rationalizations
 Steve has been working for the company since the time he was in college, depicting
his loyalty towards this second home.
 Steve could not afford to cheat the company due to Marcia’s current mood, which was
mainly due to the pressure of the work.
 Since Steve has been working as a permanent employee, therefore, this is not possible
for him to make such decisions under work pressure that may have serious
consequences in the near future.
 The elements of biasedness and other ethical issues that may raise the questions on the
overall audit report can emerge (Gentile, 2010).
What is at stake for the key parties
 There can be serious trust issues with the company if this is claimed that Ally has
audited the company in which he used to work earlier. Such claims might result not in
the destruction of the ethical principles that the company has set for working but also
result in the loss of employees (Gentile, 2010), who might leave the organization to
get better opportunities in some other company that has enhanced ethical settings.
 If the organization might get to know about Ally and HOC, Steve can lose his job that

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can be emotionally as well as financially affect him, also damaging his reputation
within the social and professional circle.
 The audit of HOC may get delayed if Steve does not obey the instructions of Marcia;
thus, the overall deadline can harm the company in terms of audit reporting.
 If Marcia does not make a substitute for Ally, this may put Steve, Ally, and the
company as a whole in trouble.
 Steve’s co-workers, who have been appreciating his presence in the company, might
also get embarrassed due to Steve’s inability to reveal the truth on time.
What could you use to influence and argue to those who disagree
The company can set an exceptional example of honesty and integrity by allowing an on-time
audit without bypassing the ethical principles. This will help to sustain employees and not
damage their reputation under a situation that was created due to work pressure (Gentile,
2010). Ultimately this, will retain employees in the company and also add value to the
organization.
The most powerful and rational response
 It has come to my attention that Steve is not getting enough space to provide an
insight into the Managing Director about Ally’s work history. The communication
barrier can be devastating for the company (Gentile, 2010). If this situation is not
handled smartly, this can create immense chaos in the organizational culture to
devalue the power of truth and honesty even if the employee has worked in the
company for years.
 Who should the argument be made to and what context
 The argument must be made to Marcia, and it should be made verbally for the clarity
of the situation

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Individual Script
(In my script, I have decided to use a narrator as a way of introducing the facts of the
scenario, and Steve’s conscience to show how Steve has thought about the objections he
needs to raise. And then the main characters of Steve and his MD, Marcia.)
Narrator: Steve has been working for Ryan & Associates as a CPA (Certified Public
Accountant) since college time. Steve has a lot of work under the supervision of his MD,
Marcia, who is also worried about the auditing of the bulk of the company’s files. Steve,
while reading about one of the files of an NGO named HOC (Helping Our Children), came to
know that their bookkeeper has just left the organization. The same day he got to know that a
new associate has joined the company, and he is the same bookkeeper who has been
previously working at HOC. Due to work pressure, Marcia instructs Steve to take Ally’s
assistance to complete the HOC file. Upon this, Steve was concerned about the ethical and
professional issues that may arise if Ally audits the HOC file. Thus, Steve finds himself quite
uncomfortable and raising questions like,
Steve: Shouldn’t Ally’s work history be communicated to Marcia?
Narrator: And…
Steve: I wonder what might my co-workers think of me if conceal the truth
Narrator: And…
Steve: I believe Marcia is not going to listen to me if I raise objections over Ally’s
appointment for auditing the HOC file.
Narrator: Steve did not know how to handle the situation, and his conscience comes into
play
Steve’s conscience: This is true that Marcia would neither reply to email nor listen to any
objections raised, but how about talking to her at lunch in an informal manner when she
would not be busy with the files?

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Steve: But what if she would not join me tomorrow for lunch?
Steve’s conscience: If not at lunch then grasp the opportunity at tea or over a cup of coffee, a
time when she must not be busy with the files and is willing to listen
Steve: Yeah that sounds appropriate
Narrator: The next morning as Marcia enters the café for lunch, Steve already waiting for
her grasp the opportunity to engage her in the conversation
Steve: May I have your permission to share a matter while we have this delicious meal?
Marcia: Yeah, of course, this is a break time you can comfortably share
Steve: I am really concerned about the ethical issues that may occur if we appoint Ally for
auditing HOC’s file because he has been previously working for the same organization. I
value your concerns to complete the work within time, but how about asking Ally to audit
Pogo Retail’s file and myself working on HOC to avoid any biasedness and maintain truth
and honesty while auditing. If we do not take this approach, chances are we might be setting
an example to bypass ethical principles due to work pressure, which is not good for the
company and the employees.
Marcia: Your suggestion is really good. Let me check who can be appointed to assist you
other than Ally for the rest of the work. Thank You for bringing this into my attention.

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References
Gentile, M. (2010). Ways of thinking about our values in the workplace. Giving voice to
values. Wellesley, MA: Babson College [Print]
Gentile, M. C. (2010). Giving voice to values: How to speak your mind when you know what?
s Right. Yale University Press [Print]