Business ethics through short case studies.
Situation 1,
James and Jennifer Stolpa and their five-month old son, Clayton, were stranded outdoors in a snowstorm for 8 days. They were rescued after James left Jennifer and Clayton in a cave and hiked 30 miles in subfreezing temperatures to get help. During the time they were stranded, the Stolpas ate Doritos-brand corn chips that they had with them in their car. When they were rescued and taken to the Washoe Medical Center for treatment of severe frostbite, they were visited by boxing champ, George Foreman. Mr. Foreman is a spokesperson for Doritos. His visit to the Stolpas earned national press and television coverage that emphasized the Doritos consumption. If you were an executive with Doritos, would you have sent Mr. Foreman to the hospital? (P)
Situation 2,
Henry Rauzi, the controller for Sunbeam, issued an offer to Linda Croce for an entry-level accounting position at Sunbeam at a salary of $34,000 per year. Ms. Croce accepted the offer and gave notice to her employer. When then-CEO of Sunbeam, Paul Kazarian, was informed of the offer, he demanded that Mr. Rauzi rescind it because Kazarian had not approved it prior to it being made. Mr. Rauzi called Ms. Croce at 10:00 P.M. three days before she was scheduled to being work and told her of Mr. Kazarian's action. Ms. Croce had no job and remained unemployed for several months while she searched for a new job. Evaluate the legality and ethics of Sunbeam's officer's actions with respect to Ms. Croce. (C)