Case Study: Analysis of Dual Roles and Conflict of Interest in Law

This case study examines the conflict of interest arising from Dr. Robin Batterham's dual roles as a chief scientist for the federal government and a chief technologist in a mining company. The analysis explores the implications of this dual role, including potential harm to public interest and time management issues. The study applies capture theory, social responsibility theory, and sustainability theory to evaluate the conflict, focusing on the roles of regulatory agencies, government, and the individual involved. The case considers the senate committee's recommendations and the application of different theories to resolve the conflict of interest. The report concludes by highlighting the potential conflicts that can arise when an individual holds multiple positions in different organizations and the importance of addressing these conflicts through ethical considerations and theoretical frameworks.

CASE STUDY LAW

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................3
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................6

INTRODUCTION
The project report includes a case study on issues due to dual roles that is based on a
scientist. Under the report, the case study is analysed along with issues which raised because of
conflict of interest. This case study is liked with capture theory and this theory is based on an
assumption that when government fails in the context of developing public interest then
regulatory agencies come into the act (Jones, Wicks and Freeman, 2017).
MAIN BODY
Overview of case- The given case is about Dr. Robin Batterham' s dual role and its impact. Dr.
Robin Batterham, is working as a chief scientist for federal government as well as chief
technologist in mining company. Due to this, public interest is decreasing in the government
office. Along with as per the senate committee's report, the Dr. is not playing its role
significantly and he should resign from mining company Rio Tinto.
On the basis of above case study, it is important to apply a particular accounting theory
so that conflict of interest may be resolved. There are various kind of theories which are being
applied as per the situation. Herein, this case study the caption theory can be applied because of
condition in case. It is a kind of which comes into the act when government fails to develop the
public interest (Hsu, 2015) . As per the case study, due to dual role of Dr. there are some
conflicts are arising such as: Issue regarding to management of time, harm to the office as well as
minimisation of public interest. So these are the key issues which are being faced by both of
companies.
The theory of caption can be useful in the case study which is mentioned above. On the
basis of this theory, senate committee has various kind of issues that are regarding to the dual
role of Dr. This case study's arguments are supported by the theory of caption. It is so because as
per the caption theory in case the regulatory agency is Senate committee who is overlooking on
case. As well as the government is not interrupting in case and refused to Dr to say to committee.
Apart from it, the committee's recommendation is to leave the job as chief scientist from mining
coal company as well as it is supported by labour, greens and democrats. So as per this theory,
the committee's suggestion seems to be accurate because the dual role of Dr. is becoming as a
cause of various kind of conflicts. Along with as per this theory is also applicable in the case in

which government is not agreeing with the report presented by the senate committee. It is so
because as per the theory in this kind of situation when government is failed then committee's
decision will be preferred first. As well as committee's report about resignation is being
supported by different people, hence their decision is accurate in the context of above mentioned
case study. Additionally, in the another aspect of case study this theory is applicable such as
when the committee does not have any evidence in against Dr. Robin Batterham' s improper
behaviour. In this the theory can be applicable because the role of government in this situation is
limited as well as committee is trying to prove the conflict raised by Dr. Robin Batterham.
So this is all about the theory of caption in the aspect of above mentioned case study and
this theory is applicable too under various kind of situations. Along with, according to case study
the regulatory board is senate committee as well as government is the office in which Dr. Robin
Batterham is working as chief scientist.
In the above case social responsibility theory can be applied. In broad sense, the social
responsibility can be defined as a role which is needed to play an entity or individual (Hilson,
2012). For example in the case the Dr. has to complete its social responsibility which is to paying
attention on one entity which is the government office and to work as the chief scientist. As well
as he should give full time to this office by ignoring the part time job at mining company, so that
public interest can be develop again. In addition, it is not important that only Dr. Robin
Batterham should pay its role as per the social responsibility but also the government office
should also focus on their responsibility. So this is all about the social responsibility theory
which can be applied in this case by Dr. as well as both organisation in which Dr. is working.
Apart from it, the senate committee's social responsibility is that they should play their role
significantly without taking side of any victim. They should finalise the decision as per the
interest of general public.
Except from this theory, sustainability theory can also be applied because it is related to
the sustaining on a particular job without manipulating (Wilding, Wagner, Gimenez and
Tachizawa, 2012). In the case of working at dual jobs can lead to many conflicts. Herein, the
situation of above mentioned case study this theory can be applied because the Dr. Robin
Batterham is doing job on two different companies which is resulting as an issue. As per this
theory, Dr. should sustain at one particular job which is the government federal office as chief
scientist.

CONCLUSION
On the basis of above project report this has been concluded that above there can be
various kind of conflicts if a person works on dual position in various organisations. In the
project report different theories are included to solve the conflict of interest. Majorly, the caption
theory is also applied on various situations of case study. In the end part of project report,
sustainability theory and social responsibility theory is also concluded.

REFERENCES
Books and journals:
Jones, T .M., Wicks, A .C. and Freeman, R. E., 2017. Stakeholder theory: The state of the art.
The Blackwell guide to business ethics. pp.17-37.
Hsu, C. K., 2015. Learning motivation and adaptive video caption filtering for EFL learners
using handheld devices. ReCALL. 27(1). pp.84-103.
Hilson, G., 2012. Corporate Social Responsibility in the extractive industries: Experiences from
developing countries. Resources Policy. 37(2). pp.131-137.
Wilding, R., Wagner, B., Gimenez, C. and Tachizawa, E .M., 2012. Extending sustainability to
suppliers: a systematic literature review. Supply Chain Management: an international
journal.