Analysis of Social and Professional Issues at Firestone Associates

This report provides a detailed analysis of the Firestone Associates case study, focusing on the social and professional issues within the organization. It examines the ethical dimensions of the case, including legal violations such as privacy breaches and obtaining information without consent, professional misconduct like using client platforms for personal gain, and leadership failures such as weak internal controls and a lack of employee recognition. The analysis utilizes David Tuffley's Ethical Decision Model to evaluate the actions of key individuals like Richard Blaine, Sophie Ryder, and Alex McLaren, considering their intrinsic and extrinsic behaviors. The report highlights the impact of unethical business models, weak leadership, and conflicts of interest on the organization's operations and employee morale. It also discusses the prioritization of issues, decision-making processes, and concludes with recommendations for improvement. The case study underscores the importance of ethical conduct, strong internal controls, and effective leadership in maintaining a healthy and legally compliant business environment.

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Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................2
Analysis of the case study..........................................................................................................2
Legal Factors........................................................................................................................2
Professional Factors.............................................................................................................3
Employment and Social factors..........................................................................................4
Personal factors....................................................................................................................5
Intrinsic factors....................................................................................................................5
Prioritisation...............................................................................................................................6
Decision and Discussion............................................................................................................7
Recommendations and Conclusion............................................................................................8
References..................................................................................................................................9

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Introduction
The case study for evaluation revolves around the business of the organisation
Firestone Associates., which further connects the following listed individuals to each other.
The following report is aimed at exploring the various aspects of the case study which
involves Richard Blaine, the Senior partner and Co-Founder of the entity Firestone, Sophie
Ryder, the Technical Consultant of the firm, and Alex McLaren who is the Executive In
charge of the Project in lead. The evaluation of the various facets would be done through the
aid of the Ethical Decision Model (EDM), as designed by David Tuffley in the year 2016
(Tuffley, 2016). A varied range of intrinsic and extrinsic behaviour of each of the characters
above influence their thought processes and behaviours, leading them to recourse to different
set of actions in context of the organisation.
In addition to the above, the business strategies and controls of the Firestone
Associates and the agency of the Alex McLaren would be evaluated in the light of the
applicable ethical principles and theories, legitimacy of the business operations, effectiveness
of the internal controls, and the legal statutes and regulations. Additionally, some of the key
points that give the case study new turns and would be evaluated in detail are listed as
follows.
Analysis of the case study
Legal Factors
Factor 1: Obtaining private information to be used further without the consent of the
people
The organisation Firestone is the co-creation of Richard Blaine. The case study
revolves around the entity being engaged in the development of a marketing database namely
as Reaper, which aims to be demographic repository and is a second income stream of the
company. The database is designed through obtaining information pertaining to name,
occupation, age, marital status, hobbies, and annual income and likewise from the people.
The information is obtained when the people enter the same in hopes of winning competition
and winning the prizes in the form of holiday, products, and others. It is significant to note
that the business objective of Firestone Associates is the breach of the Australian Privacy
Principal 6 (APP6) as related to the acquisition of information from the people with the aid of
their consent, as stated in the Privacy Act 1988 (Australian Government, 2019). Thus, by

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designing the demographic database without the consent of the individuals, that the same
would be further used elsewhere the company has led to serious legal violations on the lines
of the privacy, data security, and individual consent. Thus, this renders the business model of
Firestone Associates in risk, as the privacy breach suites can be initiate by the people if the
said breach is disclosed. In addition, there is a breach of the ethical principle of utilitarianism
where the utility and social wellbeing is not paid attention, rather individual business needs
are placed ahead. Further, it would be right to state that Sophie advocated preserving the
secrecy and privacy of the information of others (Australian Computer Society, 2014).
Professional Factors
Factor 2: Using the client’s platform for the access of the personal information, hence
deceiving them
While the main business of the Firestone Associates is to design creative promotional
campaigns for the clients by using the means of competition, and the organisation receives
payment for the same, Firestone uses the platform of the client that is there campaigns for the
obtaining of information from the customers of their respective clients. It is assumed that
when designing the campaigns for the clients, there must have been a condition of not to
disclose the secret information relating to the campaign or use the platform for the purposes
other than the intended. Thus, there is yet again a fault in the business model by using the
platform of other for own benefit. Thus, it can be stated that establishment of an unethical
business model describes an unethical leadership.
Factor 3: Signing of the non-disclosure agreement and the non-allowance of recording
of instructions
The fact that Sophie was made to sign a non-disclosure agreement in which she would
be required not to disclose the details about the Reaper was an employment technique that
was used by Firestone Associates to keep the secret of the their second income stream.
Further, the usage of client’s campaign for trial run of Reaper demonstrates serious business
contract violations. The clever business tactics are further descriptive when Richard and Alex
ask to cover the issue of the informed consent in the legal veil as against the will of Sophie.
Thus, unethical leadership is open characteristic of both Richard and Alex.

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Factor 4: Weak due diligence practices at Firestone
The business practice of verbal assurance from the third parties through phone call as
in the case of Mr. Rushby, the director of an organisation Moral Guardians of Australia,
depicts weak internal compliance procedure at the end of Firestone’s leaders, for the use of
the information. The incident is further descriptive of violation of ethical principles for
allowance of use of information by random groups for violent uses (Tinker, Sy & Saxe,
2016). Thus, overall there is lack of professionalism in the approach of Richard.
Factor 5: Installation of weak security system as instructed by Richard
Another factor that is essential to note is that Sophie highlights the need for a strong
security system for access of the same in light of the issues like hacking of the sensitive
database, to which Richard opposes. While Richard was in favour of strong security controls
for the outside access, he opposed the same strong internal controls. However, it must be
noted that strong internal controls are equally necessary for enhancement of efficiency of
security (Soomro, Shah & Ahmed, 2016).
Employment and Social factors
Factor 6: Richard using his position
Richard is seen using his position to influence others as he asks Sophie to keep away
the matter of informed consent using the legal tactics. Thus, as a leader he is aware he can get
what he wants, done by the employees using his leading position (Waddell & Pio, 2015).
Factor 7: Alex manipulation of trust using his position
There is this incident where Alex shows concern over the data loss and possible
malfunction. Thus, he asks Sophie to get the backup of the Reaper’ data on hard disc drive.
Thus, as visible Alex uses his position to win over trust of his subordinates and makes them
do task according to his own will.
Factor 8: Richard’s failure to praise the subordinates and share success with him
In spite of Reaper doing well, as a leader, Richard is still not impressed with the
efforts put in by the subordinates and employees. It is significant to note that as a leader,
individuals are in a position to influence the behaviour of others, induce motivation and
collaboration, and thereby leading to boosting up of morale and an overall development of a

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healthy workplace culture (Kim, Kim, Han, Jackson & Ployhart, 2017). As depicted in the
case study, Richard’s leadership suffers a number of flaws, which includes no motivation and
recognition for the employees of the entity. Because of which, Sophie and Alex are annoyed
and do not feel part of the organisation.
Personal factors
Factor 9: Alex’s concern over data loss
Ales shows concern over the sensitive data loss of the company and ask Sophie to
transfer the data on the hard disc drive for the security reasons. However, he puts the same
hard disc drive carelessly in a drawer at home, and not at a safe place. Thus, this depicts that
he is not really concerned of the data security and makes attempt to have the back up of
sensitive data of Reaper for his future intentions.
Factor 10: Sophie and Alex having conflict of interest
Both the lead characters develop conflict of interest because of lack of recognition
form leaders where they consider their personal objectives superior to the organisational
goals (Glavas, 2016). They want to be rich and successful and think more of themselves then
taking the organisation forward in light of lack of motivation.
Factor 11: Glossing Over Trust
Both Alex and Sophie find relaxation in each other companies and enter into romantic
relationship with each other because of their own reasons.
Intrinsic factors
Factor 12: Richard’s aim to make the organisation Firestone a major List Broker
company
Richard has a high aim to make the organisation one of the most popular company in
the sector of List Brokers. His aims are high enough that he wants to put the entity in top
three in the country within the short span of five years. He wants to get their either by hook or
crook and unethical behaviour and culture at workplace is not a concern for him.
Factor 13: Alex wanting to change the job
It is known that Alex is working for the entity since last 10 years, but he has bigger
aims to start something of his own and failure of recognition leads him not to feel part of the
organisation.

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Factor 14: Sophie’s family background
Sophie’s family background is such that she has often felt unappreciated for her
efforts and she faced the same in the work front as well.
Prioritisation
Factor Related Issue
Obtaining private information to be used
further without the consent of the people
Unethical business model
Using the client’s platform for the access of
the personal information, hence deceiving
them
Unethical trade practices
Weak due diligence practices at Firestone Insufficient compliance
Installation of weak security system as
instructed by Richard
Insufficient internal controls
Richard using his position Use of leadership position
Alex manipulation of trust using his
position
Another instance of misuse of leadership
Signing of the non-disclosure agreement
and the non-allowance of recording of
instructions
Making employees do what leader wants
Richard’s failure to praise the subordinates
and share success with him
Lack of motivation for employees
Alex’s concern over data loss Alex is not really concerned of
organisational objectives and does not feel
part of organisation
Richard’s aim to make the organisation
Firestone a major List Broker company
Richard’s aim of achieving quick success
driving him to use unethical means

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Sophie and Alex having conflict of interest Sophie and Alex place their personal
interest above the organisational interest
Alex wanting to change the job Alex has bigger visions and does not feel
recognised in job
Glossing Over Trust Alex wins Sophie’s trust and enters into
romantic relationship
Sophie’s family background Sophie is in need of appreciation
Decision and Discussion
As per the analysis conducted in the previous parts of the work, it can be stated that
there are many ethical facets, which are part of the case study, and demonstrate how the
actors are influenced to conduct their behaviour in a certain manner. However, the most
serious factors are the unethical work culture as depicted in the business model of the
Firestone Associates, weak internal controls, over reliance on employees and yet not praising
the subordinates for their efforts. All of the above mentioned factors are further indicative of
a weak leadership style of the leaders, lack of motivation and recognition of employees, using
position for the personal advantages. Thus, it can be stated that the unethical business model
and weak leadership style triggers other factors in the Firestone Associates.
The case highlights the legal factors such as the issue of data breach, privacy breach
and significance of informed consent which are the pillars of the businesses of the
information and communication technology industry and managers face the same quite often.
The ethical theories like that of theory of virtue, deontology, utilitarianism calls for the
ethical conduct on the part of the organisation considering the interests of the varied range of
stakeholders and not just the business. The ethical considerations are vital and must be
adopted whether or not the same are expressly mentioned and mandatory.
Yet another factor highlighted in the case study is the honesty in character and that the
whatever the individual or organisational vision is, the same must be in line with the overall
wellbeing of the society and must be achieved through ethical means.

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Recommendations and Conclusion
Thus, the case study aid us to include that due to increase in the use of the information
and communication technologies, there is even more need of the transparency and integrity in
business functions of the modern organisations. Some of the recommendations suggested for
the entity as per the highlights of the case are that there is a need to devise ethical objectives
for the business together with a code of conduct to achieve the same for the employees as
well as leaders. The code of conduct must incorporate the legal and other applicable rules for
the conduct of the business. The second recommendation is that the leaders must lead from
the front and create an example for the employees by involving an ethical conduct in the
business practices. Further it is recommended for the leaders and senior managers to indulge
into collaborative activities with employees, consider their feedback, motivate and recognise
them to make them part of the organisation. This will lead to an overall healthy workplace
atmosphere.

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References
Australian Government (2019). Privacy Act 1988. Retrieved from:
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2018C00034
Australian Computer Society. (2014). ACS Code of Professional Conduct v2.1. Retrieved
from: https://www.acs.org.au/content/dam/acs/acs-documents/ACS%20Code-of-
Professional-Conduct_v2.1.pdf
Glavas, A. (2016). Corporate social responsibility and employee engagement: Enabling
employees to employ more of their whole selves at work. Frontiers in psychology, 7,
796.
Kim, A., Kim, Y., Han, K., Jackson, S. E., & Ployhart, R. E. (2017). Multilevel influences on
voluntary workplace green behavior: Individual differences, leader behavior, and
coworker advocacy. Journal of Management, 43(5), 1335-1358.
Soomro, Z. A., Shah, M. H., & Ahmed, J. (2016). Information security management needs
more holistic approach: A literature review. International Journal of Information
Management, 36(2), 215-225.
Tinker, T., Sy, A., & Saxe, E. (2016). Professionalism and professionalisation ethics in
business and industry. International Journal of Critical Accounting, 8(1), 19-29.
Tuffley, D. (2016). The Ethical Technologist (3rd ed.). Altiora Publications.
Waddell, A., & Pio, E. (2015). The influence of senior leaders on organisational learning:
Insights from the employees’ perspective. Management Learning, 46(4), 461-478.