Case Study: Analyzing Leadership Decisions - Who Should Take the Fall?

This case study, titled "Who Should Take the Fall?", examines the aftermath of a data breach at a company and the subsequent leadership crisis. The case focuses on Jake, the CEO, who is pressured to resign after hackers accessed client data, including email addresses. The analysis delves into the board's actions, the CEO's role, and the ethical considerations surrounding the resignation. The assignment explores whether Jake should resign, considering his efforts to resolve the security issues and the potential negative consequences of a forced resignation. It also questions the board's decision to prioritize public image over finding the real culprit, highlighting the risks of a fake resignation and its impact on the company's reputation and long-term trust. The case study emphasizes the importance of responsible leadership and ethical decision-making during crises, urging the consideration of all factors before making a decision.

RUNNING HEAD: WHO SHOULD TAKE THE FALL 1
CASE STUDY-
WHO SHOULD TAKE THE FALL

WHO SHOULD TAKE THE FALL? 2
QUESTION AND ANSWERS
Q.1 what should be done by Jake to manage the board?
Ans) Jake was forced to leave the company and give a resignation to the company after the
incident that happened in the past days. The case included a hacking done by the hackers to their
client’s data and gets all the personal information. They were unable to get access to all data
provided but somehow the hackers managed to know the information related to clients’ email
addresses. This affected Jake’s position and disturbed him too. Jake Santini was CEO of the
company and he had to deal with a situation of resignation from company after the hacking
incidence happened. Here the point of discussion is when things are going in wrong direction
then the board should act wisely. They must be up to date about all the risks and situations that
can happen in their institution. And in case a problem occurs, the board should take
responsibility of the following. The board wasn’t prepared for the risk and then because of
pressure of media and people, Jake was forced by them to leave the office. Jake must assure the
board members for a fast recovery. All he can do is to check all the security processes of the
company and the board could be made silent by assuring the public and the clients of no loss in
this incident and by making commitment for no risk to their property further.
Q.2 resignation should be given by Jake or not? If not then what he must do?
Ans) I would suggest Jake, not to leave the job or give a resignation to the company. This is
because he had decided for the resignation due to pressure of the board members. Board
members were also responsible for the loss and risk which happened to the company in the past
days. This risk was due the carelessness of all the people who were involved with the company

WHO SHOULD TAKE THE FALL? 3
or institution. And Jake worked hard to rescue the problem and work on the issue and resolve it.
He was friendly mate to all his office members and was dedicated to his work. Jake being a
responsible CEO, ordered all the members immediately to work on the issue of hacking. The
process that was passed by him was slow but authentic too. The hackers were unable to get
access to further private data of the people because of the working and security settings arranged
by Jake and his team. And the board members had no other reason to force Jake for resignation
except the pressure from the side of media and people. All the things were set and the problems
were solved inside the company. There was no threat further to the data, all security issues were
solved but this couldn’t be explained to the media and outside people easily, so the resignation
part was decided so as to answer the outside public and to ensure good public image of the
company and its security issues in long run.
Q.3 why do you feel forcing for a fake resignation could make things worse for the company?
Ans) The Company and its board members forced Jake to leave the job and his post for the sake
of answering public and the media men. They wanted to keep the image of their company and its
security safe and sound. After the hacking case, all were questioning the security of company.
Although the problem was solved and security issues were improved but the board members
wanted to bring the reason behind all this problem and remove it in front of public and the media
men. This was done by forcing the CEO of the company to accept that the entire problem
happened in front of him so he should resign from his job. And this was done by Jake finally.
The question arises that, Jake wasn’t responsible for whatever happened to the company and he
was dedicated to his job as well. It might be possible that the hacker was an insider. This fake
resign letter could help him grow stronger. Instead of catching the real culprit, they made one. In
case, media men or the people come to know about this fake resign forced by the company, it

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could ruin all the empire and trust that was built in so many years. This was highly disappointing
and bad decision taken by the board members just as to save and over the case for the present
time.