The Risk of Speaking Up
In this case study, in contemplating voicing the ethical concerns to a superior, or even a superior’s superior, there existed many consequences to be considered. One, bringing up concerns directly could seem combative and those confrontational and difficult tones could be exacerbated, as suggested in the text, by South Korea’s work culture. Skipping a direct superior could be perceived as sneaky and untrustworthy. Both of which very well could result in a rescinded internship offer, as Melinda points out in the conversation. Given that this is her primary source of income, that route seems devastating.
The Risk of Falling in Line
On the other hand, following these instructions from her manager, she could end up being just fine. However, she could also be found out by the competition to be omitting professional affiliations. In this case, not only would this cause an ethical scandal for the company, but it would reflect poorly on the MBA program and personal character. This could jeopardize her chances of working at any company within her field in the future which seems catastrophic.
How to Proceed
Although this is a tricky situation that does not seem to have a perfect answer, I think there are ways to proceed. If this would truly be a burden on her conscience and worry her about future job opportunities, I think it would be best to voice these concerns to her superior. In the worst case scenario, she does lose her summer internship, but in the best case scenario, she continues her summer without constant dread and fear of her role. Plus, in either case, while she might not continue a professional relationship with this company, she does not ruin her chance of continuing this field elsewhere.
