Facing an ethical dilemma can be especially challenging as an intern at the start of one’s career. Susan Kim’s dilemma was illustrated in the case study, “Follow Dubious Orders or Speak up”. Susan received instructions from her manager to misrepresent herself through email by contacting competitors with the intent of gaining competitive intelligence. Susan was uncomfortable compromising her ethics in this situation but would also be risking a great amount by speaking up. She was hoping to make a great impression on her manager, Mr. Moon, and did not want to be seen as someone who wouldn’t be easy to work with. Susan was relying on the internship to pay her summer rent and was also hoping for a return offer, and it would not be simple for her just to quit. This is especially true since she cannot rely on her parents to support her financially. She must also think about how her choice would affect her career trajectory, her career prospects, and the impact on how her actions reflect on her MBA program. So, Susan is risking her reputation and future career opportunities when she makes this decision.
This case study relates very much to “How to Speak Up When It Matters” because it provides Susan with a 3-step plan to approach such a difficult ethical dilemma. First, Susan can follow the plan by realizing how psychologically difficult it is to speak up. She should acknowledge the personal risks that she can face and make sure to keep these in mind. This can be helpful in creating a constructive solution that can be very worthwhile. The next step would be to lessen the social threat of speaking up. This can help in framing the situation in a way to make communication as clear as possible. For example, Susan should take care in respecting Mr. Moon’s assignment and aim to do great work but should propose alternatives to achieving this in an ethical way. Finally, Susan should make a plan. The experts in the case study suggest great plans of action that take into account the difficulty of the situation. Instead of straight out accepting or declining Mr. Moon’s requests, the experts suggest that Susan acknowledges the opportunity to work on the project but emphasize how poor ethical decisions may reflect on the firm. The experts also suggest that Susan works to come up with ethical alternatives. Although it may be difficult, taking these steps can help Susan resolve the ethical dilemma in a constructive way and help her stay true to her values.
